Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 31, 2022

7,317 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $168.89/cwt +14.41 vs last sale · ≈ $1,223/hd at 724 lb · 385 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $175.47/cwt +13.12 vs last sale · ≈ $1,175/hd at 670 lb · 367 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $184.29/cwt +12.64 vs last sale · ≈ $1,153/hd at 626 lb · 350 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 7,317 5,462 10,756
Feeder cattle 6,292 3,045 9,223
Slaughter cattle 829 1,098 872
Replacement cattle 196 1,319 661

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 4 Colorado auction markets included: Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, Sterling Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Trade activity and demand were moderate to good. Feeder steers under 400 lbs sold unevenly steady on a light test, and steers over 400 lbs were mostly 9.00 to 13.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 500 lbs sold mostly 1.00 to 4.00 lower, 500-600 lb 10.00 to 12.00 higher, and over 600 lbs 3.00 to 7.00 higher. Feeder dairy heifers sold mostly 4.00 to 6.00 higher. In the slaughter cow supply, average dressing Breakers sold 1.00 higher while average dressing Boners and Leans were 6.00 to 8.00 higher. Average dressing slaughter bulls sold 2.00 lower on a light test. The next available report will be Monday, February 14, 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
305–348 324 26 207.00–237.50 $219.27 $710 -1.73
362–392 384 31 205.00–226.00 $219.03 $841 +0.80
400–449 429 108 202.00–227.50 $214.01 $918 +12.15
458–498 469 31 212.00–217.50 $215.53 $1,011 +18.01
504 thin fleshed 504 29 207.75 $207.75 $1,047 +11.99
509–548 530 171 192.00–204.50 $199.23 $1,056 +7.31
554 554 9 176.00 $176.00 $975 -6.34
563–595 575 246 180.00–202.50 $194.63 $1,119 +12.29
608–614 fancy 611 128 187.50–195.50 $191.43 $1,170 —
615 615 3 159.00 $159.00 $978 -12.65
601–649 634 214 174.00–191.50 $180.73 $1,146 +9.08
643 unweaned 643 5 169.00 $169.00 $1,087 —
654 thin fleshed 654 9 170.50 $170.50 $1,115 —
651–686 670 354 157.00–184.00 $175.86 $1,178 +13.51
693 693 4 152.00 $152.00 $1,053 -10.35
712–726 fancy 721 187 163.50–180.00 $171.63 $1,237 —
702–744 727 198 155.00–172.00 $166.31 $1,209 +11.83
751–771 763 198 160.00–172.00 $164.29 $1,254 +13.21
775 775 3 148.00 $148.00 $1,147 -3.08
805–840 833 93 155.00–165.00 $162.39 $1,353 +11.76
833 833 6 147.50 $147.50 $1,229 -3.13
851–888 874 106 150.00–162.75 $155.92 $1,363 +9.92
1204 1204 7 114.50 $114.50 $1,379 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 3 202.50 $202.50 $638 —
411–435 424 34 192.00–206.00 $201.46 $854 —
453–455 454 10 191.00–204.00 $198.79 $903 +12.79
500–544 518 42 177.00–188.00 $182.73 $947 -0.27
556–593 574 24 173.00–189.00 $178.36 $1,024 —
616–627 619 18 164.00–174.50 $171.94 $1,064 —
713 713 2 161.00 $161.00 $1,148 —
793 793 5 150.00 $150.00 $1,190 —
887 887 5 152.50 $152.50 $1,353 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
384 384 9 185.00 $185.00 $710 —
478 478 26 197.00 $197.00 $942 —
512 512 3 174.00 $174.00 $891 —
600–624 623 68 159.00–169.75 $169.14 $1,054 —
698 698 2 159.00 $159.00 $1,110 —
749 749 4 141.00 $141.00 $1,056 —
805 805 25 146.00 $146.00 $1,175 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
692 692 3 151.00 $151.00 $1,045 —
735 735 6 157.00 $157.00 $1,154 —
739 739 6 158.00 $158.00 $1,168 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
392 392 13 190.00 $190.00 $745 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315–349 324 15 186.00–195.00 $188.58 $611 +3.26
364–396 383 127 174.00–197.50 $182.92 $701 -3.81
417 unweaned 417 19 166.00 $166.00 $692 —
418 fancy 418 5 184.00 $184.00 $769 —
400–446 427 75 174.50–185.00 $178.66 $763 -1.11
460 fancy 460 35 187.00 $187.00 $860 —
450–498 480 213 168.50–183.00 $175.02 $840 -2.18
502 fancy 502 39 175.50 $175.50 $881 —
501–542 528 130 157.00–182.00 $173.53 $916 +11.82
550–597 571 319 155.00–170.00 $163.52 $934 +9.54
605 fancy 605 34 168.25 $168.25 $1,018 —
603–644 629 58 149.00–162.00 $154.02 $969 +2.60
638 638 2 143.00 $143.00 $912 -8.42
657–671 fancy 663 74 157.00–158.00 $157.41 $1,044 —
652–697 678 272 148.50–156.50 $152.79 $1,036 +5.42
704 704 52 153.00 $153.00 $1,077 +7.34
716 716 26 144.00 $144.00 $1,031 -1.66
709–744 723 147 147.00–152.00 $149.99 $1,084 +4.33
755–777 764 95 143.25–153.00 $148.57 $1,135 +6.94
801–816 805 46 138.50–148.50 $146.12 $1,176 —
806 806 9 131.00 $131.00 $1,056 —
882 882 6 135.00 $135.00 $1,191 —
891 891 35 135.00 $135.00 $1,203 —
900 900 5 129.50 $129.50 $1,166 —
962 962 8 125.00 $125.00 $1,202 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
316–346 330 18 173.00–184.00 $179.46 $592 —
362–391 378 40 165.00–181.00 $173.73 $657 +0.04
421 421 6 169.00 $169.00 $711 -7.00
451–471 462 28 161.00–163.00 $162.02 $749 —
516–549 531 59 158.00–171.00 $165.28 $878 —
559–570 562 11 150.00–154.00 $151.11 $849 —
623–644 632 18 148.50–150.00 $149.18 $943 —
661–683 672 44 140.00–145.00 $141.58 $951 —
700–745 714 52 138.00–147.00 $143.47 $1,024 —
794 794 21 141.50 $141.50 $1,124 —
941 941 4 128.00 $128.00 $1,204 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
403 403 23 165.00 $165.00 $665 —
476 476 64 159.00 $159.00 $757 —
557–565 560 79 152.00–155.00 $153.97 $862 —
576 576 3 130.00 $130.00 $749 —
685 685 11 142.00 $142.00 $973 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
489–493 490 52 161.00–164.00 $163.19 $800 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
585 585 8 142.00 $142.00 $831 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
371 371 8 152.50 $152.50 $566 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
457–483 473 8 175.00–190.00 $180.43 $853 -4.57
502 502 8 160.00 $160.00 $803 —
569–595 579 17 144.00–151.50 $148.64 $861 —
604–648 640 33 141.00–161.00 $148.61 $951 —
717–740 724 29 135.00–137.00 $136.03 $985 —
765 765 4 132.00 $132.00 $1,010 —
808 808 4 132.00 $132.00 $1,067 —
914 914 11 112.00 $112.00 $1,024 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035–1580 1197 80-85% 45 50.00–68.00 $62.08 $743 —
1047–1387 1214 80-85% 34 61.00–66.00 $63.55 $771 —
1060–1373 1232 80-85% 53 65.00–80.00 $73.28 $903 —
990–1695 1418 80-85% 186 66.00–78.50 $73.38 $1,041 +11.73
1320–1608 1539 80-85% 19 79.00–88.00 $81.17 $1,249 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
929–1005 942 85-90% 6 79.00–84.00 $83.11 $783 —
920–1190 1030 85-90% 40 49.50–61.00 $54.38 $560 +12.04
872–1480 1033 85-90% 26 42.00–59.00 $51.77 $535 +9.43
813–1167 1047 85-90% 22 66.50–76.00 $70.95 $743 +28.61
865–1443 1194 85-90% 43 57.00–75.50 $69.22 $826 —
845–1420 1223 85-90% 8 30.00–37.50 $36.43 $446 —
1070–1270 1241 85-90% 7 76.00–79.00 $78.63 $976 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1350–1625 1445 75-80% 48 71.00–74.25 $72.91 $1,054 —
1225–1845 1605 75-80% 12 63.00–74.00 $69.70 $1,119 —
1315–2005 1613 75-80% 82 70.50–85.00 $76.50 $1,234 -5.82
1565–1740 1650 75-80% 3 87.00–88.50 $87.97 $1,452 +12.05

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1360–2025 1627 7 84.00–90.00 $88.01 $1,432 —
1495–2375 1792 29 92.50–101.50 $96.35 $1,727 —
1620–2260 1946 20 100.00–114.00 $105.27 $2,049 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
850 850 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 16 103.00 $103.00 $876

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1243–1525 1350 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 52 825.00–1,125.00 $927.53
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
877 877 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 14 760.00 $760.00
1055–1075 1060 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 12 1,060.00–1,075.00 $1,071.20
Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
796–861 829 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 885.00–910.00 $897.99
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1252 1252 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 910.00 $910.00
1586 1586 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,275.00 $1,275.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
910–1000 968 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 14 925.00 $925.00 —
995 995 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 18 1,160.00 $1,160.00 —
1000 1000 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 13 885.00 $885.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
876 876 7 108.50 $108.50 $950 —
955–991 985 6 107.50–112.00 $111.27 $1,096 +3.58
1020 1020 6 113.50 $113.50 $1,158 +6.34
1064–1088 1078 26 113.00–114.50 $113.78 $1,227 +5.41
1100 1100 1 111.00 $111.00 $1,221 +2.00
1180 1180 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,298 +2.25
1305 1305 2 101.00 $101.00 $1,318 —
1409–1410 1409 5 112.00–114.00 $113.60 $1,601 +5.10

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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.