Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 3, 2022

9,853 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $148.43/cwt ≈ $1,130/hd at 761 lb · 639 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $170.39/cwt ≈ $1,148/hd at 674 lb · 385 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $157.72/cwt ≈ $1,300/hd at 824 lb · 334 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 9,853 682 14,132
Feeder cattle 8,486 291 10,947
Slaughter cattle 996 382 774
Replacement cattle 371 9 2,411

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 5 Colorado auction markets included: Centennial Livestock, Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, Livestock Exchange, and Sterling Livestock. Trade activity and demand was moderate to very good. This weekend kicked off the first of several Stock Show Specials to be hosted over the next couple weeks. No trend available on feeder cattle this week due to limited offerings from the last report. Average dressing slaughter cows sold unevenly steady with bulls selling 5.00 higher. The next available report will be Monday, January 17, 2022.

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
309 fancy 309 8 233.00 $233.00 $720 —
316–341 325 16 219.00–226.00 $222.04 $722 —
381–399 386 59 218.00–226.00 $220.10 $850 —
408–429 414 33 205.00–209.00 $207.39 $859 —
439–445 fancy 445 105 215.00–217.00 $215.13 $957 —
468–484 fancy 476 8 203.00–208.00 $205.46 $978 —
464–495 479 156 195.00–222.50 $213.53 $1,023 —
501–523 514 51 187.00–210.00 $194.35 $999 —
546 fancy 546 15 186.00 $186.00 $1,016 —
558–586 fancy 571 121 180.00–207.00 $194.40 $1,110 —
552–598 577 172 167.00–200.00 $186.00 $1,073 —
600 fancy 600 13 177.00 $177.00 $1,062 —
602–640 632 150 165.00–183.00 $177.86 $1,124 —
646–647 unweaned 647 22 162.00–163.00 $162.50 $1,051 —
654–695 673 365 153.00–179.50 $171.04 $1,151 —
686 unweaned 686 20 158.50 $158.50 $1,087 —
702–745 729 236 159.00–171.00 $165.31 $1,205 —
764 unweaned 764 20 146.00 $146.00 $1,115 —
757–782 769 169 155.00–163.25 $161.27 $1,240 —
801–847 824 334 153.00–162.00 $157.72 $1,300 —
850–883 866 167 152.00–158.75 $155.99 $1,351 —
913–946 935 43 152.50–155.00 $153.28 $1,433 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 26 192.00 $192.00 $634 —
388 388 6 187.00 $187.00 $726 —
411–445 426 41 172.00–215.00 $198.81 $847 —
459–493 469 17 205.00–208.00 $207.51 $973 —
513–549 538 33 189.00–197.50 $194.26 $1,045 —
551–595 574 82 159.00–189.00 $176.69 $1,014 —
601–614 605 19 170.00–175.50 $171.76 $1,039 —
663–683 674 28 148.00–169.00 $164.18 $1,107 —
716–734 727 110 158.00–162.00 $161.36 $1,173 —
750–774 772 34 156.00–157.00 $156.91 $1,211 —
1073 1073 3 118.00 $118.00 $1,266 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
484–491 486 31 187.00 $187.00 $909 —
618 618 10 157.00 $157.00 $970 —
694 694 18 152.50 $152.50 $1,058 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
302 302 12 190.00 $190.00 $574 —
363 fancy 363 4 202.00 $202.00 $733 —
369–397 377 59 189.00–199.00 $190.87 $720 —
403–446 441 111 186.00–187.00 $186.89 $824 —
453–478 470 126 168.00–191.00 $182.17 $856 —
500–548 528 228 158.00–182.50 $165.88 $876 —
559 fancy 559 59 182.00 $182.00 $1,017 —
553–595 565 158 152.00–174.00 $164.56 $930 —
601–646 623 254 145.00–156.50 $152.37 $949 —
637 unweaned 637 19 146.00 $146.00 $930 —
657–692 668 264 140.00–152.50 $148.73 $994 —
690 unweaned 690 20 138.50 $138.50 $956 —
704–748 726 130 146.50–150.00 $147.29 $1,069 —
750–784 761 639 142.50–149.75 $148.43 $1,130 —
803–845 818 93 135.00–145.00 $139.10 $1,138 —
855–870 866 16 135.50–137.25 $136.82 $1,185 —
1057 1057 7 120.00 $120.00 $1,268 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–398 377 34 161.00–185.00 $173.04 $652 —
404–443 428 26 155.00–185.00 $169.63 $726 —
458–460 459 27 178.50–179.00 $178.67 $820 —
514–548 529 87 143.00–168.50 $161.57 $855 —
574–597 587 94 144.00–158.75 $153.48 $901 —
604–644 633 43 140.00–149.50 $145.35 $920 —
684–687 686 20 142.00–144.00 $142.70 $979 —
742 742 50 142.00 $142.00 $1,054 —
838 838 22 131.00 $131.00 $1,098 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420–445 427 22 165.00–176.00 $171.05 $730 —
476–499 490 10 160.50–162.00 $161.08 $789 —
535–536 535 28 152.00–156.00 $153.72 $822 —
628 628 8 136.00 $136.00 $854 —
663 663 8 130.00 $130.00 $862 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
491–493 492 17 160.00–165.00 $162.65 $800 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 15 147.50 $147.50 $796 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423–430 427 34 203.00 $203.00 $867 —
552 552 12 149.00 $149.00 $822 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1089–1250 1148 80-85% 13 55.00–61.00 $59.57 $684 —
930–1605 1325 80-85% 82 61.00–74.00 $69.31 $918 +9.84
1005–1684 1369 80-85% 182 60.00–69.50 $62.55 $856 -3.07
1070–1666 1382 80-85% 149 48.00–60.75 $56.76 $784 -8.86
1360–1455 1409 80-85% 9 34.00–43.50 $41.59 $586 —
1335–1565 1483 80-85% 7 75.00–78.00 $76.62 $1,136 +12.72
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
780–1335 1060 85-90% 13 26.00–44.00 $34.61 $367 —
875–1420 1061 85-90% 58 36.00–50.00 $44.23 $469 —
780–1240 1064 85-90% 23 56.00–65.50 $61.54 $655 —
1015–1240 1103 85-90% 9 67.50–75.00 $71.72 $791 +9.72
890–1330 1160 85-90% 114 50.00–60.00 $55.10 $639 +27.04
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1335–1478 1450 75-80% 35 60.00–68.00 $65.61 $951 —
1110–2075 1539 75-80% 61 60.00–75.00 $66.84 $1,029 —
1175–1767 1567 75-80% 36 53.00–64.50 $58.94 $924 —
1335–1860 1585 75-80% 21 71.00–82.00 $74.76 $1,185 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1117 1117 3 75.00 $75.00 $838 —
1180 1180 1 85.00 $85.00 $1,003 —
1510–2125 1788 13 70.00–83.50 $80.70 $1,443 —
1510–2310 1799 21 84.00–98.00 $91.02 $1,637 —
1727–2325 1969 13 92.00–107.00 $98.87 $1,947 —

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1028–1426 1204 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 27 1,250.00–1,400.00 $1,338.42
1080–1710 1352 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 55 1,100.00–1,250.00 $1,179.74
1253–1538 1395 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 35 800.00–985.00 $908.98
1342–1455 1399 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 12 1,050.00 $1,050.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1163–1309 1230 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 19 1,475.00–1,635.00 $1,560.31
1220–1485 1325 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 67 1,300.00–1,525.00 $1,463.58
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1001–1298 1210 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 16 1,100.00 $1,100.00
1172–1253 1213 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 650.00–775.00 $714.59
1449–1525 1464 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 1,025.00–1,075.00 $1,035.42

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
996 996 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,410.00 $1,410.00
1067–1134 1103 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 50 1,410.00–1,600.00 $1,484.79
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
991–1021 999 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 15 1,375.00 $1,375.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1140–1190 1157 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,010.00–1,100.00 $1,053.29

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1328–1633 1531 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 12 1,425.00–1,575.00 $1,531.64 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1253 1253 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,250.00 $1,250.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
232 232 5 102.50 $102.50 $238 —
352 352 3 95.00 $95.00 $334 —
405–428 420 39 82.50–90.00 $87.32 $367 —
461–483 469 55 72.00–82.50 $75.65 $355 —
872 872 10 103.00 $103.00 $898 —
941 941 9 103.00 $103.00 $969 —
955 955 1 96.00 $96.00 $917 —
1003 1003 2 103.00 $103.00 $1,033 —
1075–1098 1086 30 95.00–105.50 $101.67 $1,104 —
1102 1102 13 105.50 $105.50 $1,163 —
1201–1206 1203 8 105.00–106.50 $105.94 $1,274 —
1326 1326 7 106.00 $106.00 $1,406 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
259–270 265 10 146.00–148.00 $146.98 $389 —
319–345 321 30 135.00–139.00 $138.71 $445 —
361–369 362 28 137.50–141.00 $140.36 $508 —
462 462 3 132.50 $132.50 $612 —
600 600 5 122.50 $122.50 $735 —
878–890 881 7 100.00 $100.00 $881 -3.50
925–948 931 12 101.50–103.50 $102.79 $957 -2.01
993 993 5 102.50 $102.50 $1,018 -2.43
1029 1029 4 102.50 $102.50 $1,055 -2.08
1052–1088 1069 14 102.50–104.50 $103.30 $1,104 -1.18
1140 1140 4 104.50 $104.50 $1,191 +1.35
1168–1180 1170 5 103.50–104.50 $104.30 $1,220 -0.91
1260–1285 1270 3 98.50–103.50 $101.15 $1,285 +3.82
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
251–286 264 11 87.50–95.00 $92.04 $243 —
322 322 7 87.50 $87.50 $282 —
368–374 371 37 80.00 $80.00 $297 —
471 471 6 75.00 $75.00 $353 —
661–665 661 12 77.00–80.00 $79.75 $527 +8.24
755–769 761 16 76.00–80.00 $76.25 $580 —
1147 1147 3 90.00 $90.00 $1,032 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307–321 314 10 145.00–157.50 $151.11 $474 —
361 fancy 361 50 164.00 $164.00 $592 —
418–435 423 7 140.00–152.00 $148.47 $628 —
466 466 6 147.50 $147.50 $687 —
590 590 3 140.00 $140.00 $826 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
158 158 6 65.00 $65.00 $103 —
212–228 224 27 75.00 $75.00 $168 —
804 804 4 70.00 $70.00 $563 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
263–267 fancy 264 109 166.00–171.00 $169.61 $448 —
259–297 283 41 144.00–149.00 $147.33 $417 —
303–344 334 130 148.00–155.00 $150.84 $504 —
353–377 366 43 130.00–150.00 $140.53 $514 —
410–432 416 63 129.00–139.00 $137.19 $571 —
460–488 471 82 110.00–121.00 $119.91 $565 —
507–533 509 34 110.00–124.00 $123.14 $627 —
575–596 580 23 103.00–111.00 $109.21 $633 —
609–645 623 34 100.00–101.00 $100.40 $625 —
892 892 3 104.00 $104.00 $928 —
1090 1090 4 102.50 $102.50 $1,117 —
1478 1478 6 109.50 $109.50 $1,618 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
311–349 322 20 167.50–176.00 $170.26 $548 —
364–398 391 46 170.00 $170.00 $665 —
416–432 423 66 162.50–168.00 $165.57 $700 —
462–480 475 11 160.00–173.00 $163.45 $776 —
502–523 510 36 145.00–151.00 $146.52 $747 —
576 576 8 150.00 $150.00 $864 —
1070 1070 3 123.00 $123.00 $1,316 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
257 fancy 257 6 180.00 $180.00 $463 —
288 288 2 164.00 $164.00 $472 —
303–328 318 57 152.50–160.00 $158.60 $504 —
319 fancy 319 12 179.00 $179.00 $571 —
371 371 32 161.00 $161.00 $597 —
418–424 422 9 157.50–162.00 $158.99 $671 —
464 464 6 159.00 $159.00 $738 —
580 580 4 143.50 $143.50 $832 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
237 237 13 147.00 $147.00 $348 —
267 267 39 149.00 $149.00 $398 —
347 347 21 142.50 $142.50 $494 —
353–357 355 10 137.00–142.50 $139.73 $496 —
434 434 13 110.00 $110.00 $477 —
Small 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
369 369 11 135.00 $135.00 $498 —
480 480 8 123.00 $123.00 $590 —

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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.