Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 17, 2022

14,396 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 $162.33/cwt -8.07 vs last sale · ≈ $1,095/hd at 674 lb · 957 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $154.47/cwt -1.02 vs last sale · ≈ $962/hd at 623 lb · 855 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $185.55/cwt -6.26 vs last sale · ≈ $1,073/hd at 578 lb · 616 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 14,396 25,202 16,098
Feeder cattle 12,318 22,211 13,459
Slaughter cattle 1,030 1,744 603
Replacement cattle 1,048 1,247 2,036

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 4 Colorado auction markets included Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, Centennial Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Trade moderate to active on moderate to good demand. Feeder steers under 500 lbs sold mostly unevenly steady, and steers over 500 lbs sold 2.00 to 8.00 lower. Feeder heifers under 450 lbs sold mostly 6.00 to 9.00 lower, 450-750 lbs steady to 5.00 lower, and heifers over 750 lbs too thinly tested for an accurate market trend. Average dressing slaughter cows and bulls sold mostly 3.00 to 5.00 higher. The next available report will be Monday, January 31, 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
260–298 290 5 214.00–218.00 $214.72 $623 —
300–321 311 11 226.00–231.00 $228.19 $710 -4.45
352 thin fleshed 352 12 254.00 $254.00 $894 —
377 fancy 377 12 240.00 $240.00 $905 -2.00
360–397 381 70 227.00–240.00 $232.65 $886 -0.94
400–444 427 48 211.00–226.00 $217.98 $931 -6.06
463 unweaned 463 8 190.00 $190.00 $880 —
453–499 476 184 199.00–216.00 $205.42 $978 +1.25
498 fancy 498 33 217.00 $217.00 $1,081 —
520–528 fancy 522 255 192.00–220.50 $212.36 $1,109 +14.32
501–548 525 231 179.00–202.00 $191.91 $1,008 -4.86
560 thin fleshed 560 19 195.00 $195.00 $1,092 +8.00
553–597 579 597 174.00–192.50 $185.25 $1,073 -6.55
600–619 fancy 605 22 180.00–182.00 $181.44 $1,098 -15.53
609 unweaned 609 5 154.00 $154.00 $938 —
605–644 627 342 163.00–181.00 $176.12 $1,104 -3.31
649 649 6 162.00 $162.00 $1,051 -17.43
655–675 unweaned 666 20 152.00–156.00 $153.77 $1,024 -0.64
650–692 674 894 155.50–168.50 $162.81 $1,097 +0.62
651–698 687 43 151.00–160.00 $156.38 $1,074 -5.81
702–747 720 548 152.00–164.50 $158.81 $1,143 -2.73
724 724 4 150.00 $150.00 $1,086 -11.54
750–790 769 348 149.00–158.00 $154.94 $1,191 -1.73
750–792 778 56 136.00–150.50 $146.30 $1,138 -10.37
801–835 810 226 148.50–154.00 $152.11 $1,232 -4.06
802–847 821 53 139.00–145.00 $142.06 $1,166 -14.11
863 863 6 134.00 $134.00 $1,156 -23.72
851–894 871 206 144.50–154.00 $151.02 $1,315 -6.70
954–978 961 7 140.00–149.75 $146.91 $1,412 +1.27
995 995 2 117.50 $117.50 $1,169 —
1062 1062 5 126.00 $126.00 $1,338 —
1328 1328 3 109.50 $109.50 $1,454 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
324–345 332 25 213.00–218.00 $213.83 $710 -0.53
371 371 15 187.00 $187.00 $694 -20.79
420–443 430 37 195.00–202.00 $196.82 $846 -7.28
451–492 476 61 168.00–202.50 $192.06 $914 +1.26
508–536 529 100 167.00–188.00 $182.54 $966 -2.61
559–596 586 111 161.00–182.00 $174.79 $1,024 -5.24
605–640 625 115 147.00–169.00 $162.77 $1,017 -10.45
628 unweaned 628 27 158.00 $158.00 $992 +9.00
654–672 664 98 154.00–162.00 $158.84 $1,055 -7.96
700–715 712 78 151.00–154.00 $151.50 $1,079 -6.51
757–784 765 16 145.00–150.50 $146.76 $1,123 -7.33
869 869 18 135.50 $135.50 $1,177 -12.29
964 964 9 126.00 $126.00 $1,215 -12.00
1135 1135 1 112.00 $112.00 $1,271 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520 520 25 170.50 $170.50 $887 —
619–648 634 35 158.00–169.00 $163.22 $1,035 -0.28
699 699 18 156.50 $156.50 $1,094 +0.50
732 732 31 151.00 $151.00 $1,105 —
762 762 5 143.50 $143.50 $1,093 +1.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
314 314 7 150.00 $150.00 $471 -36.00
505–540 526 32 170.00–179.00 $174.95 $920 +10.95
588 588 9 171.00 $171.00 $1,005 +9.00
611–639 633 24 164.00–167.00 $164.48 $1,041 +1.67
680 680 3 154.00 $154.00 $1,047 -0.83
726 726 11 146.50 $146.50 $1,064 +0.50
797 797 5 129.00 $129.00 $1,028 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
499 499 5 180.00 $180.00 $898 -17.00
622 622 5 173.00 $173.00 $1,076 +15.21
650 650 12 143.00 $143.00 $930 —
741 741 15 148.00 $148.00 $1,097 —
767–780 777 13 148.00–150.00 $148.46 $1,154 +4.46
888 888 6 140.75 $140.75 $1,250 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
697 697 10 152.00 $152.00 $1,059 —
737 737 38 148.50 $148.50 $1,094 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
673 673 7 130.00 $130.00 $875 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
798 798 6 129.00 $129.00 $1,029 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
310 310 2 585.00 $585.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
304–341 328 72 183.00–196.00 $187.87 $616 -10.13
365–395 378 114 179.00–188.00 $183.74 $695 -8.36
402–436 426 30 179.00–183.00 $181.52 $773 -5.55
431 fancy 431 18 191.00 $191.00 $823 -9.91
452–491 467 164 166.00–184.00 $174.59 $815 -1.26
508 508 6 152.00 $152.00 $772 -19.82
503–520 fancy 517 126 171.00–176.00 $171.73 $888 -7.74
503–544 520 258 160.00–174.00 $166.16 $864 -5.66
558–598 thin fleshed 569 37 166.00–168.00 $167.43 $953 —
550–594 570 465 151.00–164.00 $158.21 $902 -4.42
596 unweaned 596 15 141.00 $141.00 $840 —
609 unweaned 609 5 145.00 $145.00 $883 +23.00
600–649 623 850 144.00–160.00 $154.53 $963 -1.20
650–691 664 431 144.50–156.00 $149.90 $995 -0.05
700–749 718 313 140.00–151.50 $147.25 $1,057 -1.90
725 725 3 129.00 $129.00 $935 -20.15
755–792 765 101 131.00–145.50 $140.56 $1,075 -6.87
802–830 806 71 142.00–144.00 $142.77 $1,151 +1.20
809 809 5 125.00 $125.00 $1,011 -16.57
811 fancy 811 62 147.85 $147.85 $1,199 —
857 857 3 138.00 $138.00 $1,183 -1.00
975–978 977 3 123.00–129.00 $127.00 $1,241 -9.75
1089 1089 18 109.00 $109.00 $1,187 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338 338 5 169.00 $169.00 $571 -15.21
378–383 381 11 178.00–181.00 $179.35 $683 -1.10
415–444 425 33 170.00–174.00 $171.78 $730 -6.13
452–495 464 48 151.00–168.00 $163.22 $757 -6.10
500–545 517 40 140.00–161.00 $153.83 $795 -12.08
563–593 577 135 151.00–158.00 $155.77 $899 +1.28
604–645 621 67 140.00–146.00 $143.64 $892 -2.47
657–681 669 90 130.00–144.50 $140.38 $939 -1.64
905 905 6 101.00 $101.00 $914 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
431–442 435 8 166.00–167.00 $166.38 $724 —
497–498 497 13 160.00–163.00 $161.39 $802 —
513–543 527 32 151.00–155.00 $152.94 $806 +1.75
571–595 586 12 142.00–149.00 $145.71 $854 -5.40
700 700 12 128.00 $128.00 $896 —
764–772 767 16 122.00–125.00 $124.06 $952 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
530–547 537 48 157.00–159.00 $157.89 $848 —
653–669 662 12 148.00–150.00 $149.18 $988 —
796 796 23 139.50 $139.50 $1,110 —
848 848 7 133.00 $133.00 $1,128 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
441 441 30 175.00 $175.00 $772 —
468–479 471 20 159.00 $159.00 $749 —
518 518 4 151.00 $151.00 $782 -8.55
567–594 578 23 147.00–151.00 $150.09 $868 +8.34
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 9 169.00 $169.00 $744 +25.63
481 481 13 167.00 $167.00 $803 —
566–594 579 12 144.00–148.00 $146.69 $849 —
696 696 21 143.00 $143.00 $995 —
723 723 5 134.00 $134.00 $969 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
577 577 9 141.00 $141.00 $814 —
621–639 635 22 130.00–136.00 $131.33 $834 —
770 770 4 114.00 $114.00 $878 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
530 530 2 173.00 $173.00 $917 —
668 668 8 143.00 $143.00 $955 -4.00
715 715 2 140.00 $140.00 $1,001 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150–1945 1276 80-85% 33 57.00–62.00 $59.64 $761 -3.29
1000–1925 1371 80-85% 166 60.00–74.00 $65.29 $895 —
975–1675 1405 80-85% 104 61.00–80.00 $69.39 $975 +11.97
1330–1585 1458 80-85% 2 63.50–64.00 $63.73 $929 —
1270–1710 1490 80-85% 2 79.00–82.00 $80.28 $1,196 —
1330–1890 1667 80-85% 38 75.00–85.00 $79.78 $1,330 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
870 870 85-90% 1 37.50 $37.50 $326 —
700–1535 922 85-90% 34 30.00–43.00 $38.66 $356 —
930–1170 1082 85-90% 21 57.00–64.00 $60.14 $651 —
780–1420 1213 85-90% 38 42.50–50.50 $48.72 $591 —
735–1735 1224 85-90% 156 50.00–65.00 $58.17 $712 —
815–1675 1387 85-90% 41 60.00–78.00 $68.20 $946 —
1540 1540 85-90% 1 77.50 $77.50 $1,194 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1407–1544 1488 75-80% 38 65.00–71.00 $69.73 $1,038 —
1525 1525 75-80% 1 61.00 $61.00 $930 -10.61
1345–1780 1526 75-80% 25 63.00–76.00 $65.63 $1,002 -5.98
1470–2060 1748 75-80% 20 69.50–88.00 $78.40 $1,370 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1345–1415 1380 2 81.00–87.50 $84.33 $1,164 —
1440–2240 1737 10 75.00–89.00 $82.90 $1,440 +2.59
1430–2325 1793 27 85.00–99.00 $93.32 $1,673 —
1640–2455 2110 9 99.00–103.50 $101.15 $2,134 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
973–1175 1086 (<2 yrs)Open 25 85.00–90.00 $87.62 $952
1245 1245 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 86.00 $86.00 $1,071
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
748–1175 995 (<2 yrs)Open 4 72.00–83.00 $78.06 $777
1330–1470 1390 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 66.00–71.00 $69.41 $965
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1145 1145 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 70.00 $70.00 $802

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
994–1191 1095 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 56 860.00–985.00 $936.67
1000–1278 1147 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 75 1,110.00–1,275.00 $1,200.15
977–1382 1220 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 107 1,400.00–1,525.00 $1,470.73
1150–1378 1277 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 15 1,425.00–1,525.00 $1,471.19
1172–1475 1279 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 111 810.00–975.00 $913.74
1281 fancy 1281 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 17 1,710.00 $1,710.00
1033–1447 1315 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 57 1,385.00–1,500.00 $1,440.00
1288–1444 1403 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 28 1,250.00–1,350.00 $1,304.92
1538–1683 1574 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,175.00 $1,175.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1068–1232 1168 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 710.00–760.00 $746.28
1190 1190 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,350.00 $1,350.00
1180–1520 1256 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 20 1,010.00–1,050.00 $1,021.20
1275 1275 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,250.00 $1,250.00
1163–1730 1306 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 975.00–1,175.00 $1,096.31
1346–1623 1397 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 16 950.00–1,160.00 $1,069.57
1433 1433 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 925.00 $925.00
1435–1505 1463 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 950.00–1,035.00 $984.98
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1271–1275 1272 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 810.00–825.00 $812.51
1405 1405 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 975.00 $975.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
907–1312 1047 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 54 1,310.00–1,475.00 $1,410.48
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1000–1190 1095 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,150.00–1,300.00 $1,218.49

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1100 1100 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 850.00 $850.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
865–875 870 2 106.00–108.00 $107.01 $931 —
927 927 5 107.00 $107.00 $992 +1.32
959–995 964 8 104.00–106.50 $104.32 $1,006 -2.07
1000–1031 1021 20 104.50–108.50 $107.31 $1,096 +0.57
1060–1085 1073 2 105.50–108.00 $106.76 $1,146 -0.87
1130 1130 1 104.50 $104.50 $1,181 -2.37
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
670–690 677 3 78.00–80.00 $78.68 $533 +1.18
775 775 3 77.50–79.00 $78.50 $608 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200 1200 3 109.00 $109.00 $1,308 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895 895 1 100.00 $100.00 $895 —
975 975 1 101.00 $101.00 $985 —
1105 1105 1 101.00 $101.00 $1,116 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505 505 1 42.50 $42.50 $215 —
630 630 1 57.50 $57.50 $362 —
795 795 1 67.50 $67.50 $537 +7.50

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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.