Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 17, 2022

12,320 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $173.74/cwt +0.89 vs last sale · ≈ $1,084/hd at 624 lb · 684 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $178.73/cwt -1.81 vs last sale · ≈ $1,025/hd at 574 lb · 664 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $189.64/cwt +1.42 vs last sale · ≈ $1,005/hd at 530 lb · 612 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 12,320 8,468 11,914
Feeder cattle 10,481 6,560 10,107
Slaughter cattle 1,687 1,842 1,041
Replacement cattle 152 66 766

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 5 Colorado auction markets included Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, Sterling Livestock, Livestock Exchange, and Centennial Livestock. Trade activity and demand were moderate to good. Feeder steers under 500 lbs sold mostly 1.00 to 7.00 lower, 500-600 lbs 1.00 to 8.00 higher, 600-800 lbs 2.00 to 4.00 lower with instances of 10.00 to 11.00 lower, and over 800 lbs steady to 5.00 higher with instances of sharply higher. Feeder heifers under 500 lbs sold mostly 5.00 lower, 500-650 lbs were steady to 2.00 higher, and over 650 lbs 2.00 to 5.00 lower. Feeder dairy heifers over 950 lbs sold steady to 4.00 higher. Average dressing slaughter cows and bulls were mostly 1.00 to 4.00 lower. The next available report will be Monday, October 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
252–278 267 22 220.00–262.50 $246.38 $658 +18.88
307–349 336 44 201.00–239.00 $220.35 $740 +11.37
358–386 372 50 200.00–229.00 $211.89 $788 -6.94
400–442 417 251 190.00–226.00 $202.37 $844 -6.91
404–449 fancy 428 87 203.50–232.00 $217.62 $931 +0.72
453–482 fancy 459 44 217.00–221.00 $217.86 $1,000 +17.62
450–497 474 244 186.00–212.50 $196.82 $933 -0.96
475 unweaned 475 3 200.00 $200.00 $950 +14.94
500–536 fancy 526 120 190.00–203.00 $196.93 $1,036 -2.87
512–532 527 11 190.00–191.00 $190.73 $1,005 +9.54
500–549 531 481 175.00–206.00 $187.80 $997 +6.61
551–591 fancy 564 139 178.50–197.00 $182.22 $1,028 -11.64
552–598 576 515 165.00–194.50 $177.85 $1,024 +0.93
590–592 unweaned 591 10 173.00–179.00 $175.40 $1,037 -2.66
603 fancy 603 55 187.50 $187.50 $1,131 +7.00
602–648 622 275 163.00–186.75 $178.61 $1,111 -4.01
601–646 unweaned 629 354 160.50–180.50 $167.81 $1,056 -1.39
661 thin fleshed 661 8 170.00 $170.00 $1,124 —
650–696 unweaned 667 148 156.00–174.00 $168.91 $1,127 +6.73
651–688 667 127 157.00–182.00 $168.70 $1,125 -9.62
663–686 fancy 668 166 174.00–188.00 $177.54 $1,186 +7.04
713–721 unweaned 717 117 157.00–173.00 $163.96 $1,176 +0.20
702–748 722 209 158.00–178.00 $168.10 $1,214 -11.32
758–795 776 70 156.00–174.00 $165.19 $1,282 -2.30
751–795 unweaned 779 60 155.00–166.00 $159.85 $1,245 —
817 unweaned 817 9 167.00 $167.00 $1,364 —
809–839 836 106 158.50–178.75 $172.47 $1,442 -0.17
866–883 869 18 162.00–163.00 $162.17 $1,409 +4.51
901–939 911 289 160.00–176.00 $172.70 $1,573 +17.36
950–973 961 16 135.00–159.00 $149.63 $1,438 —
1000 1000 6 150.00 $150.00 $1,500 —
1060 1060 2 158.00 $158.00 $1,675 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
271–293 281 11 220.00 $220.00 $618 +5.00
305–340 324 9 205.00–215.00 $213.31 $691 —
365–395 376 6 200.00–208.00 $202.53 $762 -2.47
400–448 433 31 180.00–205.00 $198.56 $860 +3.56
466–499 480 35 162.00–194.00 $182.72 $877 -7.28
509–549 526 78 142.50–186.00 $167.31 $880 -16.38
553–596 571 41 155.00–182.00 $169.15 $966 -3.44
605–643 619 61 137.50–182.00 $167.13 $1,035 -9.90
611–635 unweaned 628 59 162.00–165.00 $164.16 $1,031 +14.16
650–695 679 31 147.00–172.00 $163.24 $1,108 -6.30
714 unweaned 714 13 152.00 $152.00 $1,085 —
706–736 726 21 145.00–165.00 $159.97 $1,161 -10.47
775–777 777 6 149.00–151.00 $149.33 $1,160 —
831 831 16 145.25 $145.25 $1,207 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510–541 530 61 168.00–175.00 $171.79 $910 -4.06
712 unweaned 712 21 160.00 $160.00 $1,139 —
1025 1025 1 143.00 $143.00 $1,466 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450–456 452 15 185.00 $185.00 $836 —
708–724 715 9 152.50–161.00 $156.32 $1,118 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
426 426 14 167.00 $167.00 $711 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450 450 3 182.50 $182.50 $821 —
555 555 1 162.00 $162.00 $899 —
615 615 6 171.00 $171.00 $1,052 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
207 207 3 375.00 $375.00 -100.00
278 278 3 425.00 $425.00 —
313 313 4 610.00 $610.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
195 195 11 229.00 $229.00 $447 —
247 247 16 234.00 $234.00 $578 —
275–276 276 27 190.00–229.00 $218.40 $603 —
313–342 330 14 198.00–205.00 $201.16 $664 +23.16
353–396 385 68 170.00–203.00 $183.75 $707 +2.72
393 fancy 393 8 218.00 $218.00 $857 +1.50
400–439 fancy 423 45 179.00–183.00 $180.73 $764 +1.73
407–449 424 199 169.00–206.00 $183.58 $778 +5.36
450–495 484 353 160.00–195.00 $167.20 $809 -5.28
500–549 521 558 154.00–187.50 $168.66 $879 +2.37
548 548 4 166.00 $166.00 $910 -0.29
551 fancy 551 18 180.00 $180.00 $992 +14.60
550–597 574 321 151.00–181.00 $164.88 $946 +2.15
556–595 unweaned 576 133 155.00–159.00 $156.84 $903 -2.03
605–634 618 81 160.00–173.00 $165.30 $1,022 +0.01
600–638 unweaned 619 214 150.00–161.50 $157.21 $973 +7.06
650–694 unweaned 663 74 146.00–153.00 $148.22 $983 -12.25
679 fancy 679 10 164.00 $164.00 $1,114 -1.00
651–694 680 27 160.00–166.00 $161.04 $1,095 -2.36
702–738 714 49 152.00–165.00 $160.48 $1,146 -3.09
750–793 769 30 150.00–161.00 $157.76 $1,213 -4.71
806–843 816 26 134.00–170.25 $158.19 $1,291 -3.33
851 851 8 158.00 $158.00 $1,345 —
918–922 921 41 141.75–159.75 $144.81 $1,334 —
953–965 962 14 141.00–156.00 $144.18 $1,387 +17.18
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
293 293 3 182.50 $182.50 $535 —
325–328 327 3 182.50–195.00 $190.86 $624 —
350–396 378 28 187.50–195.00 $191.25 $723 +1.59
428–444 434 44 172.50–188.00 $183.70 $797 -7.80
459–495 475 61 155.50–185.00 $167.51 $796 -3.74
505–544 527 118 150.00–175.00 $161.54 $851 -3.10
550–597 566 129 145.50–165.00 $155.02 $877 —
602 unweaned 602 10 150.00 $150.00 $903 -3.69
600–623 612 93 148.00–160.50 $157.17 $962 -3.59
651–697 673 31 145.00–158.00 $154.75 $1,041 -3.38
949 949 12 138.00 $138.00 $1,310 —
1019 1019 10 128.00 $128.00 $1,304 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
561 unweaned 561 16 151.00 $151.00 $847 —
563–594 576 19 146.00–148.00 $146.87 $846 —
605 unweaned 605 28 150.50 $150.50 $911 —
660 660 11 156.00 $156.00 $1,030 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
358 358 13 151.00 $151.00 $541 —
482–486 485 24 145.00–150.00 $148.13 $718 —
500–517 508 26 146.00–148.00 $146.68 $745 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
582 unweaned 582 12 151.00 $151.00 $879 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
758 758 8 122.50 $122.50 $929 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
444 444 4 155.00 $155.00 $688 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
208 208 2 310.00 $310.00 —
283 283 2 560.00 $560.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450 450 3 163.00 $163.00 $734 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1375 1375 1 123.00 $123.00 $1,691 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
407 407 3 209.00 $209.00 $851 —
481 481 9 174.00 $174.00 $837 -7.00
570 570 4 170.00 $170.00 $969 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1150–1363 1263 80-85% 50 60.00–67.00 $63.35 $800 +0.26
1170–1370 1270 80-85% 2 73.00–90.00 $82.17 $1,044 +19.08
1060–1695 1351 80-85% 162 55.00–69.00 $63.30 $855 —
1120–1578 1383 80-85% 183 67.00–87.00 $76.93 $1,064 -2.22
1020–1693 1408 80-85% 175 66.00–83.00 $73.05 $1,029 +26.73
1115–1730 1434 80-85% 49 30.00–59.00 $48.61 $697 +2.29
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
890 890 85-90% 1 81.00 $81.00 $721 —
835–1143 1030 85-90% 16 79.00–90.00 $81.65 $841 -0.12
805–1465 1152 85-90% 134 45.00–64.50 $53.31 $614 -11.64
820–1540 1152 85-90% 91 21.00–58.00 $43.05 $496 -21.90
815–1295 1186 85-90% 114 60.00–71.00 $65.04 $771 -6.52
845–1315 1198 85-90% 26 65.00–85.00 $68.85 $825 -2.71
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230–1822 1440 75-80% 50 61.00–73.50 $67.54 $973 —
1322–2270 1611 75-80% 122 68.00–88.00 $74.88 $1,206 —
1430–1840 1625 75-80% 13 74.50–95.00 $84.80 $1,378 —
1797 1797 75-80% 6 55.00 $55.00 $988 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
893–1270 1019 3 90.00–91.00 $90.42 $921 —
1080–1130 1112 3 108.00–111.00 $109.98 $1,223 +7.49
1255–2495 1741 43 75.00–91.00 $86.46 $1,505 —
1315–2300 1857 35 90.00–96.00 $92.90 $1,725 —
1775–2335 2000 6 97.00–101.50 $100.06 $2,001 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
850–1110 904 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 91.00–98.00 $97.04 $877
965–1190 1102 (<2 yrs)Open 3 104.00–115.00 $111.04 $1,224

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1281 1281 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 11 860.00 $860.00
1085–1615 1312 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 48 1,100.00–1,285.00 $1,199.31
1225–1655 1374 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 17 900.00–1,150.00 $1,019.86
1630 1630 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,350.00 $1,350.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1272–1648 1450 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 22 1,300.00–1,385.00 $1,321.79
1705 1705 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1028–1073 1046 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 1,050.00–1,185.00 $1,129.61
1230 1230 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 950.00 $950.00
1313 1313 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,025.00 $1,025.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1000–1175 1088 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,050.00–1,075.00 $1,063.51
Small 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
868–898 883 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 700.00–725.00 $712.71

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1290 1290 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 975.00 $975.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1800 1800 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00 —
1830 1830 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
866 866 14 116.50 $116.50 $1,009 —
905–910 908 2 111.00–114.00 $112.50 $1,022 -1.26
954 954 8 118.00 $118.00 $1,126 +3.40
1010–1045 1019 4 115.00–116.50 $115.63 $1,178 -0.04
1055–1065 1060 2 115.00–116.00 $115.50 $1,224 -0.27
1110–1140 1127 3 116.50–117.00 $116.67 $1,315 +1.21
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
777–778 778 17 80.00–82.50 $82.06 $638 -2.94
920 920 1 80.00 $80.00 $736 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
841 841 4 108.00 $108.00 $908 -3.00
1105 1105 1 109.00 $109.00 $1,204 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1360 1360 1 121.00 $121.00 $1,646 -1.00
1740 1740 1 87.50 $87.50 $1,522 —

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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.