Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 6, 2021

17,053 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary report →

heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $166.78/cwt +8.28 vs last sale · ≈ $1,114/hd at 668 lb · 948 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $178.03/cwt +7.72 vs last sale · ≈ $1,111/hd at 624 lb · 943 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $189.21/cwt +12.64 vs last sale · ≈ $1,070/hd at 565 lb · 732 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 17,053 11,914 12,918
Feeder cattle 15,085 8,799 9,428
Slaughter cattle 1,869 2,566 1,409
Replacement cattle 99 549 2,081

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 5 Colorado auction markets included: Centennial Livestock Auction, Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, Sterling Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Trade activity and demand moderate to good. The number of calves marketed continue to increase week-over-week as cattleman receive elevated premiums for their market offerings. Feeder steers under 500 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher with instances of 11.00 to 13.00 higher, 500-800 lbs sold 8.00 to 9.00 higher, and over 800 lbs mostly 1.00 to 4.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 400 lbs too thinly tested for an accurate market trend, 400-700 lb heifers 1.00 to 4.00 higher with instances of 8.00 to 12.00 higher, and over 700 lbs mostly 5.00 to 8.00 higher. Average dressing slaughter cows sold steady to 3.00 lower with bulls 1.00 higher. The next available report will be Monday, December 20, 2021.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
319 319 11 227.00 $227.00 $724 +10.55
350–390 373 56 214.00–228.00 $223.57 $834 +0.31
383 fancy 383 13 227.00 $227.00 $869 +4.73
402–449 430 148 207.00–227.00 $219.34 $943 +13.25
453–455 fancy 453 29 204.00–208.00 $204.42 $926 +2.36
450–493 474 158 191.00–214.00 $201.65 $956 +7.62
486 unweaned 486 9 197.00 $197.00 $957 —
475–497 value added 490 10 218.00–220.50 $219.77 $1,077 —
502–503 fancy 502 52 198.00–200.00 $198.50 $996 —
505–524 value added 512 28 214.00–215.00 $214.63 $1,099 —
503–548 526 359 184.00–206.00 $193.84 $1,020 +9.45
552–564 fancy 557 141 190.00–192.00 $191.14 $1,065 +7.85
553–581 value added 563 92 194.00–211.50 $207.39 $1,168 —
553–598 568 490 174.00–198.00 $185.68 $1,055 +10.70
578 unweaned 578 9 165.00 $165.00 $954 -1.00
602 fancy 602 59 190.00 $190.00 $1,144 +8.66
600–643 624 725 169.00–190.00 $179.58 $1,121 +17.89
603–645 unweaned 632 159 161.00–173.00 $166.55 $1,053 +4.95
650–691 667 792 150.00–182.50 $167.61 $1,118 +8.71
650–685 thin fleshed 670 115 162.00–167.00 $165.62 $1,110 —
669–693 unweaned 680 41 154.00 $154.00 $1,047 -2.14
700 fancy 700 75 176.00 $176.00 $1,232 —
700–730 716 267 151.00–180.00 $164.31 $1,176 +7.54
706–729 unweaned 721 90 151.00–158.00 $153.12 $1,104 +11.31
751–792 767 230 151.00–175.75 $163.29 $1,252 +10.32
758–781 unweaned 774 70 144.00–151.00 $146.33 $1,133 —
801–843 810 142 148.00–163.50 $155.39 $1,259 +4.06
852–897 861 196 146.00–156.00 $154.61 $1,331 +1.04
883 value added 883 120 159.00 $159.00 $1,404 —
908 value added 908 142 159.10 $159.10 $1,445 —
950–975 957 112 143.00–154.00 $150.64 $1,442 -1.36
1017 1017 53 150.25 $150.25 $1,528 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
396 396 17 215.00 $215.00 $851 +26.32
415–445 425 6 204.00–205.00 $204.35 $868 +10.19
450–492 483 69 183.00–204.00 $190.13 $918 +8.56
500–542 527 131 170.00–182.00 $177.64 $936 +1.17
550–588 565 73 168.00–176.00 $170.11 $961 +3.60
611–645 626 69 158.00–174.00 $171.40 $1,073 +18.18
638–647 unweaned 644 15 151.00–154.00 $153.41 $988 +5.41
658–697 683 33 156.00–165.00 $159.98 $1,093 +5.28
702–749 733 16 150.00–163.00 $156.25 $1,145 +12.25
756–786 764 21 140.50–153.00 $149.22 $1,140 +11.36
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
493–496 494 85 180.00–191.00 $187.62 $927 —
600–641 619 59 162.00–171.00 $166.02 $1,028 —
655–699 unweaned 673 66 141.00–152.00 $146.61 $987 —
710 710 3 150.00 $150.00 $1,065 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383 383 3 197.50 $197.50 $756 —
549 549 6 150.00 $150.00 $824 —
576 576 26 164.00 $164.00 $945 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
566–589 580 15 152.00–166.00 $159.39 $924 —
643 643 3 148.00 $148.00 $952 —
695 695 1 151.00 $151.00 $1,049 —
748 748 3 149.00 $149.00 $1,115 —
775–795 783 5 138.00–146.00 $141.25 $1,106 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
283 283 7 191.00 $191.00 $541 -39.00
325–335 327 25 180.00–181.00 $180.20 $589 -12.25
364–385 374 95 178.00–189.00 $181.41 $678 -11.93
400–441 423 150 165.00–189.00 $173.17 $733 +2.73
433 unweaned 433 10 172.00 $172.00 $745 +4.00
457–478 fancy 471 93 175.00–176.99 $176.23 $830 +1.97
451–495 479 361 153.00–183.00 $166.76 $799 +1.57
500–545 522 370 146.00–177.00 $165.22 $862 +7.54
505–530 fancy 523 43 176.00–181.50 $176.89 $925 +4.37
550–556 fancy 554 104 173.00–174.00 $173.62 $962 +10.03
557–575 unweaned 569 28 147.00–151.00 $149.60 $851 +2.75
550–596 579 520 140.00–170.00 $158.45 $917 +3.96
600–636 unweaned 616 138 136.00–147.00 $143.53 $884 +1.19
602–648 625 463 143.00–168.00 $157.85 $987 +12.43
655–685 666 223 140.00–165.00 $149.66 $997 +3.08
659–677 unweaned 669 34 143.00–143.50 $143.23 $958 +10.44
700 unweaned 700 11 130.50 $130.50 $914 -12.50
706 fancy 706 26 165.00 $165.00 $1,165 —
715–733 725 11 132.00–136.00 $134.21 $973 -10.83
703–735 728 153 143.50–158.00 $150.84 $1,098 +5.80
754–796 770 226 142.50–151.50 $149.29 $1,150 +4.81
794 fancy 794 8 163.00 $163.00 $1,294 —
840–843 841 45 137.00–143.00 $140.07 $1,178 -4.93
849 unweaned 849 8 125.00 $125.00 $1,061 —
864–874 value added 870 208 149.00–150.50 $149.94 $1,304 —
895 895 33 144.50 $144.50 $1,293 +7.68
918 918 16 131.00 $131.00 $1,203 -1.86
959–994 977 10 133.00–145.50 $139.14 $1,359 +16.64
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353–358 355 15 174.00–176.00 $174.94 $621 -1.53
409–432 426 43 155.00–173.00 $160.15 $682 -6.26
450–495 493 29 162.00–164.00 $163.94 $808 +11.84
500–548 530 126 141.00–165.00 $151.35 $802 +6.96
550–598 583 45 146.00–156.00 $151.80 $885 +5.77
616–649 639 22 144.00–148.00 $144.54 $924 +6.77
645 645 4 141.00 $141.00 $909 +3.23
650–698 664 40 140.00–149.00 $146.37 $972 +7.05
706 706 4 131.00 $131.00 $925 +3.00
724–730 726 8 141.00–142.00 $141.62 $1,028 +13.62
750–787 785 19 140.00–153.00 $152.35 $1,196 +19.36
850–860 854 14 129.00–139.00 $133.31 $1,138 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
414–436 429 64 165.50–169.00 $166.56 $715 -11.44
533–542 537 41 154.00–156.00 $154.94 $832 —
576–589 582 92 145.00–150.00 $146.93 $855 -16.07
627 627 5 150.00 $150.00 $940 +4.00
765 unweaned 765 5 134.00 $134.00 $1,025 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
361–387 377 16 170.00–173.00 $171.34 $646 —
488 unweaned 488 3 142.50 $142.50 $695 —
516–528 520 6 143.00–149.00 $145.03 $754 —
608–615 613 9 134.00–138.00 $134.88 $827 —
686 unweaned 686 5 132.50 $132.50 $909 —
747 747 13 134.00 $134.00 $1,001 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
474 474 37 141.00 $141.00 $668 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
572 572 27 126.00 $126.00 $721 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510 unweaned 510 6 150.00 $150.00 $765 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525 525 4 162.00 $162.00 $850 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
583 583 5 169.00 $169.00 $985 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895–1265 1126 80-85% 85 51.00–59.00 $54.60 $615 —
1105–1670 1304 80-85% 149 49.00–70.00 $58.76 $766 —
925–1560 1320 80-85% 187 54.00–70.00 $62.77 $829 +10.23
920–1803 1360 80-85% 381 41.00–59.75 $53.18 $723 -16.24
1405–1425 1417 80-85% 3 72.00–77.50 $74.82 $1,060 —
1415–1656 1522 80-85% 32 32.50–45.00 $40.87 $622 +3.95
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
703–1445 944 85-90% 62 15.00–41.00 $25.31 $239 —
1060–1061 1061 85-90% 17 47.00–48.00 $47.94 $509 +18.87
745–1585 1100 85-90% 120 36.00–50.00 $45.43 $500 +0.86
830–1305 1123 85-90% 43 50.00–64.00 $57.77 $649 +13.20
830–1455 1154 85-90% 115 49.00–59.00 $52.13 $602 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320–1660 1455 75-80% 97 60.00–69.00 $65.33 $951 +1.97
1380–1995 1671 75-80% 70 51.00–63.00 $58.07 $970 -11.32
1395–1805 1671 75-80% 4 76.00–81.00 $78.41 $1,310 +9.02
1255–2153 1697 75-80% 59 52.00–75.50 $66.59 $1,130 —
1760–1790 1775 75-80% 2 35.00–46.00 $40.55 $720 -44.68

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1236–1466 1361 22 78.00–81.50 $80.06 $1,090 —
1180–2330 1740 20 70.00–84.50 $79.13 $1,377 —
1590–2675 1914 35 83.00–92.50 $87.69 $1,678 -7.31
1923–2480 2055 6 93.00–97.00 $94.11 $1,934 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
825–1275 1115 (<2 yrs)Open 9 114.00–126.00 $120.02 $1,338
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
900–1095 1002 (<2 yrs)Open 3 113.00–116.00 $114.23 $1,145
845–1290 1068 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 87.50–98.00 $93.84 $1,002
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
860–1225 1065 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 71.00–75.00 $72.59 $773

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1093–1110 1102 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 1,010.00–1,025.00 $1,017.56
1102–1450 1204 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 24 635.00–760.00 $734.16
1498 1498 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 975.00 $975.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
992 992 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1235–1545 1333 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 13 825.00–935.00 $897.41
1383–1463 1424 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,125.00–1,275.00 $1,196.79
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1159–1221 1189 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 21 1,510.00–1,550.00 $1,540.49

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
344 344 15 130.00 $130.00 $447 —
390 390 6 130.00 $130.00 $507 —
788 788 5 93.00 $93.00 $733 —
817–845 824 4 94.00–97.00 $94.77 $781 -2.73
853 853 2 96.00 $96.00 $819 +1.00
903–943 919 22 96.00–97.50 $96.96 $891 -0.28
963–991 982 18 96.50–98.00 $97.73 $960 +0.61
1040 1040 1 95.50 $95.50 $993 —
1078–1098 1087 24 97.00–98.50 $97.83 $1,063 +1.14
1110–1145 1127 15 98.00 $98.00 $1,104 +0.26
1150–1198 1182 24 97.00–98.00 $97.96 $1,158 -0.27
1203–1230 1215 9 97.50–98.00 $97.78 $1,188 +1.10
1286 1286 4 98.00 $98.00 $1,260 +7.00
1455–1465 1462 3 88.00–96.00 $93.35 $1,365 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
272–280 278 13 102.00–103.00 $102.23 $284 —
332 332 5 106.00 $106.00 $352 —
412–428 420 10 94.00–100.00 $96.94 $407 —
666 666 9 93.00 $93.00 $619 —
823 823 3 87.00 $87.00 $716 +6.00
956–994 971 15 100.00–109.00 $103.68 $1,007 —
1091 1091 4 105.00 $105.00 $1,146 +18.68
1100–1133 1127 27 100.00–106.00 $102.67 $1,157 —
1169 1169 6 107.00 $107.00 $1,251 —
1213 1213 2 82.50 $82.50 $1,001 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
291 291 8 91.00 $91.00 $265 —
304 304 4 91.00 $91.00 $277 —
376 376 4 88.00 $88.00 $331 —
402 402 18 88.00 $88.00 $354 —
458–496 484 13 82.00–89.00 $84.04 $407 —
540–545 541 14 75.00–87.00 $85.27 $461 —
608–615 608 15 71.00–75.00 $74.73 $454 +4.73
720 720 1 71.00 $71.00 $511 -4.00
765 765 1 70.00 $70.00 $536 -1.44
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
362–393 376 13 124.00–128.00 $126.07 $474 —
407 fancy 407 5 138.00 $138.00 $562 —
415–422 419 32 125.00–129.00 $126.61 $530 —
577 577 15 134.00 $134.00 $773 —
603 603 6 131.00 $131.00 $790 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
755 755 4 40.00 $40.00 $302 —
801 801 5 41.00 $41.00 $328 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
695 695 4 61.00–62.50 $62.13 $432 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1620 1620 2 71.00 $71.00 $1,150 -27.00

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
238 238 7 112.00 $112.00 $267 —
267–294 281 31 116.00–127.50 $122.34 $344 —
296 fancy 296 48 131.00 $131.00 $388 —
304 thin fleshed 304 27 132.00 $132.00 $401 —
317–344 326 79 110.00–128.00 $123.05 $401 —
358–398 378 166 114.00–122.00 $117.30 $443 —
409 409 9 106.00 $106.00 $434 —
453–473 458 98 101.00–115.00 $112.20 $514 —
508–531 513 75 105.00–108.00 $107.54 $552 —
628–634 632 50 94.00–101.00 $97.62 $617 —
650–668 656 18 100.00–102.00 $101.32 $665 —
773 773 10 104.00 $104.00 $804 —
1207 1207 22 111.50 $111.50 $1,346 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 9 144.00 $144.00 $494 —
385 fancy 385 19 155.00 $155.00 $597 —
385–395 386 15 135.00–148.00 $136.77 $528 —
421 421 31 142.00 $142.00 $598 —
420–444 fancy 437 32 150.00–160.00 $152.70 $667 —
490–491 491 7 136.00–143.00 $137.00 $673 —
554 554 5 142.00 $142.00 $787 —
604 604 12 139.50 $139.50 $843 —
650–661 656 7 135.00–140.00 $137.88 $904 —
950–952 952 4 108.00–120.00 $117.00 $1,114 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
199 199 4 106.00 $106.00 $211 —
259 259 4 109.00 $109.00 $282 —
310–313 312 3 106.00–107.00 $106.33 $332 —
352–398 384 15 100.00–105.00 $103.68 $398 —
487 487 15 102.00 $102.00 $497 —
539 539 5 100.00 $100.00 $539 —
575 575 3 95.00 $95.00 $546 —
785 785 6 88.00 $88.00 $691 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
258 258 2 137.50 $137.50 $355 —
358–393 376 4 127.50–130.00 $128.69 $484 —
487 487 18 129.00 $129.00 $628 —
585 585 4 126.00 $126.00 $737 —
655 655 2 118.00 $118.00 $773 —
Small 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 2 82.00 $82.00 $250 —
585 585 4 70.00 $70.00 $410 —
768 768 2 71.00 $71.00 $545 —
953 953 2 74.00 $74.00 $705 —

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle scores — common across the Southeast.

What is $/cwt?

Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at $450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per cwt but less per head.

Why are some prices per head?

Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a $/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News — federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the official USDA document at the top of the page.