Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 5, 2022

19,437 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 $190.59/cwt +4.91 vs last sale · ≈ $1,180/hd at 619 lb · 892 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $195.12/cwt +2.84 vs last sale · ≈ $1,125/hd at 576 lb · 809 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $175.45/cwt +5.53 vs last sale · ≈ $1,009/hd at 575 lb · 793 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 19,437 11,707 17,053
Feeder cattle 17,203 9,117 15,085
Slaughter cattle 2,062 1,918 1,869
Replacement cattle 172 672 99

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 5 Colorado auction reports included: Centennial Livestock, Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, Sterling Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Trade activity and demand were moderate to good. Feeder steers under 500 lbs sold mostly 8.00 to 13.00 higher, 500-850 lbs sold steady to 7.00 higher, and over 850 lbs were lightly tested at 1.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 750 lbs sold mostly 4.00 to 8.00 higher. Heifers over 750 lbs were too thinly tested to trend. Dairy heifers over 1000 lbs sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Average dressing slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00 to 4.00 lower; bulls sold steady. The next available report will be Monday, December 19, 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
313–314 314 16 234.00–237.00 $235.12 $738 -1.58
320 unweaned 320 10 221.00 $221.00 $707 —
370–380 unweaned 378 17 230.00–236.00 $233.01 $881 —
351–391 383 82 240.00–261.00 $252.94 $969 +8.06
406–439 418 116 222.50–247.00 $239.25 $1,000 +10.67
401–443 unweaned 421 62 214.00–232.50 $219.20 $923 +5.99
425 fancy 425 7 248.00 $248.00 $1,054 —
425 value added 425 27 252.00 $252.00 $1,071 —
450–493 466 257 210.00–242.00 $226.95 $1,058 +13.81
480 value added 480 18 222.00 $222.00 $1,066 —
454–489 fancy 481 43 235.00–241.00 $239.12 $1,150 +12.12
490–497 unweaned 495 7 207.50–209.00 $207.92 $1,029 +10.23
500–507 value added 505 47 215.00–223.00 $217.11 $1,096 -2.39
501–540 519 259 201.00–227.00 $210.35 $1,092 +3.08
505–546 unweaned 535 156 200.00–208.00 $203.72 $1,090 +12.12
555–557 fancy 556 31 217.00 $217.00 $1,207 —
550–597 572 438 188.00–215.75 $200.89 $1,149 +7.18
568–596 unweaned 584 340 172.00–195.00 $185.70 $1,084 +3.00
600–616 fancy 605 78 191.00–205.00 $196.33 $1,188 —
600–626 value added 606 103 202.00–207.75 $205.56 $1,246 —
602–644 unweaned 620 171 181.00–186.00 $184.27 $1,142 +5.66
603–648 623 536 180.00–206.00 $188.92 $1,177 +0.07
631 631 4 188.00 $188.00 $1,186 -0.85
652–677 value added 658 117 193.00–201.00 $198.73 $1,308 +1.05
650–687 fancy 659 139 181.00–194.50 $188.76 $1,244 —
652–699 668 336 170.00–200.50 $184.33 $1,231 +1.74
652–691 unweaned 677 151 174.50–184.00 $177.75 $1,203 +3.80
705–740 unweaned 718 139 164.00–171.00 $167.14 $1,200 +1.53
700–746 723 596 171.50–191.50 $181.34 $1,311 +6.14
735–749 fancy 746 22 193.00–198.50 $197.27 $1,472 —
750–795 769 126 170.50–189.00 $179.44 $1,380 +6.12
800–842 823 416 170.00–178.25 $176.62 $1,454 +7.60
854–886 868 58 169.00–170.00 $169.54 $1,472 —
915 915 55 172.25 $172.25 $1,576 +0.75
958–983 970 160 150.50–170.00 $168.70 $1,636 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
319–324 320 16 222.50–240.00 $235.57 $754 —
400–427 unweaned 415 11 210.00–215.00 $212.81 $883 —
415–441 431 12 209.00–217.50 $212.42 $916 —
453–496 478 54 186.00–221.00 $205.20 $981 +1.47
502–546 521 41 200.00–209.00 $205.73 $1,072 +15.87
532–541 unweaned 538 15 190.00–197.00 $194.60 $1,047 —
562 unweaned 562 3 177.50 $177.50 $998 —
551–590 575 92 173.00–204.00 $195.42 $1,124 +17.35
608–646 623 49 170.00–197.00 $186.83 $1,164 +17.48
602–646 unweaned 624 35 166.00–173.00 $169.64 $1,059 —
671–696 680 39 172.00–193.00 $182.07 $1,238 +12.07
708 708 15 175.00–181.00 $178.60 $1,264 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
476 unweaned 476 25 181.00 $181.00 $862 —
540 unweaned 540 24 196.00 $196.00 $1,058 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
600 unweaned 600 20 175.00 $175.00 $1,050 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
429 429 15 152.50 $152.50 $654 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
512 512 11 175.00 $175.00 $896 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
684 684 7 171.00 $171.00 $1,170 +3.34
728 728 3 162.00 $162.00 $1,179 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330–343 339 3 211.00–215.00 $213.70 $724 +6.15
350–398 378 134 191.00–221.00 $203.65 $770 -1.50
368–394 unweaned 386 18 205.00–210.00 $208.32 $804 —
394 fancy 394 26 204.00 $204.00 $804 —
401–442 fancy 419 68 193.00–220.00 $200.13 $839 -3.96
429 value added 429 23 198.00 $198.00 $849 +4.35
401–448 432 194 177.50–221.00 $202.48 $875 +7.58
449 unweaned 449 8 198.00 $198.00 $889 +7.43
450–498 470 351 172.00–209.00 $188.49 $886 +6.73
461–485 fancy 474 50 185.00–215.00 $198.42 $941 —
483 unweaned 483 27 173.00 $173.00 $836 -0.90
492 492 10 194.50 $194.50 $957 +12.74
500 fancy 500 8 185.00 $185.00 $925 —
500–548 522 336 171.00–200.00 $182.09 $951 +3.91
502–544 unweaned 531 222 161.00–190.00 $168.98 $897 +0.11
550–593 unweaned 570 234 163.50–169.00 $166.43 $949 +0.46
568–581 fancy 573 73 180.00–181.00 $180.60 $1,035 —
550–591 575 385 168.00–188.50 $175.07 $1,007 +3.43
584–591 587 101 193.00–195.00 $194.10 $1,139 +22.10
600–647 unweaned 616 335 153.00–168.00 $161.74 $996 -1.12
600–648 616 252 165.50–181.00 $174.08 $1,072 +4.17
638 fancy 638 51 183.00 $183.00 $1,168 —
650–683 unweaned 665 83 161.00–168.50 $164.89 $1,097 —
650–691 674 438 161.00–179.50 $173.93 $1,172 +5.93
717 unweaned 717 11 167.00 $167.00 $1,197 —
707–730 721 151 160.00–175.00 $167.34 $1,207 +3.87
750–787 767 144 156.00–170.00 $166.34 $1,276 -2.11
907–924 917 149 162.25–167.50 $165.43 $1,517 +20.43
971–996 981 42 141.00 $141.00 $1,383 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
303–341 314 10 208.00–217.50 $212.77 $668 +26.77
393 393 2 196.00 $196.00 $770 -1.50
407–437 424 11 185.00–191.00 $187.13 $793 —
439–448 unweaned 441 17 177.00–190.00 $187.67 $828 +7.67
454–493 478 31 187.00–205.00 $193.13 $923 +6.03
452–499 unweaned 489 19 174.00–179.00 $176.11 $861 —
508–541 519 30 175.00–182.00 $179.93 $934 +2.31
527–534 unweaned 532 20 175.00 $175.00 $931 —
550–598 574 69 169.00–196.00 $175.08 $1,005 +5.93
560–591 unweaned 585 26 166.00–170.00 $166.44 $974 —
600–649 622 119 162.00–172.00 $167.77 $1,044 +10.90
636–640 unweaned 638 7 152.50–160.00 $155.73 $994 —
667 unweaned 667 3 152.00 $152.00 $1,014 —
650–690 672 58 157.50–168.00 $164.15 $1,103 -0.85
703–740 713 8 151.00–155.00 $152.13 $1,085 -5.72
888 888 2 146.00 $146.00 $1,296 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
498 498 25 166.00 $166.00 $827 —
636 unweaned 636 41 163.00 $163.00 $1,037 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 10 152.50 $152.50 $503 —
421 421 17 152.50 $152.50 $642 —
526 526 7 142.50 $142.50 $750 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
566–574 571 12 169.00 $169.00 $965 +9.56

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
462 462 5 205.00 $205.00 $947 —
621 621 12 175.00 $175.00 $1,087 —
778 778 6 142.00 $142.00 $1,105 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
368 368 4 225.00 $225.00 $828 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
984–1475 1283 80-85% 134 59.00–69.00 $64.89 $833 +1.27
1302–1570 1326 80-85% 15 75.50–89.00 $77.16 $1,023 —
1050–1570 1347 80-85% 109 64.00–82.00 $71.26 $960 —
1255–1515 1368 80-85% 3 83.00–100.00 $88.83 $1,215 +17.31
1030–1660 1395 80-85% 146 59.00–81.00 $68.73 $959 -2.79
1095–1712 1450 80-85% 206 55.00–69.00 $62.42 $905 -0.36
1275–1643 1492 80-85% 68 30.00–55.50 $52.59 $785 -19.50
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
836–1167 976 85-90% 37 80.00–87.50 $83.88 $819 -7.10
856–1054 986 85-90% 55 45.50–57.00 $47.73 $471 -43.25
675–1300 1107 85-90% 78 27.50–61.00 $50.63 $560 -4.93
695–1495 1129 85-90% 76 58.00–70.00 $62.39 $704 +1.08
992–1275 1143 85-90% 69 57.50–65.00 $63.23 $723 +1.92
775–1420 1171 85-90% 239 47.00–65.50 $55.18 $646 -12.20
805–1321 1174 85-90% 86 62.00–76.00 $66.90 $785 -0.48
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1263–2100 1599 75-80% 127 69.00–87.50 $77.00 $1,231 —
1369–1950 1720 75-80% 32 61.00–74.50 $69.38 $1,193 -12.73
1724–2015 1799 75-80% 14 89.00–91.50 $91.05 $1,638 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1990 1463 13 91.00–97.50 $93.45 $1,367 —
1160–1910 1517 8 84.00–89.00 $86.45 $1,311 —
1170–2400 1798 49 76.00–89.50 $85.23 $1,532 —
1715–2405 1977 14 90.00–98.00 $92.75 $1,834 —

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Stock Cows

Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
823–905 837 (<2 yrs)Open 6 88.00–90.00 $89.64 $750
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
860–1215 1015 (<2 yrs)Open 5 108.00–118.00 $112.92 $1,146
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1070–1125 1098 (<2 yrs)Open 2 121.00–128.00 $124.41 $1,366

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Bred Cows

Small 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
898–1040 921 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)All Stages (1-9 mo) 78 425.00–575.00 $518.26
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1000 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 985.00 $985.00
1231 1231 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 16 785.00 $785.00
1055–1563 1280 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 19 835.00–1,325.00 $1,140.31
1175–1650 1333 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 700.00–1,025.00 $834.06
1435 1435 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1163–1355 1192 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 725.00–825.00 $748.68
1275–1600 1380 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,025.00–1,100.00 $1,054.37

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1355 1355 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
246 246 4 175.00 $175.00 $430 —
268–283 274 5 170.00–177.50 $174.40 $478 —
322–348 335 17 170.00–190.00 $180.63 $605 —
350–395 374 6 185.00–200.00 $192.32 $719 —
400–416 407 58 203.00–220.00 $213.83 $870 —
510–530 520 2 164.00–165.00 $164.49 $855 —
554–555 554 25 162.50–167.50 $167.10 $926 —
603 603 13 141.00 $141.00 $850 —
903 903 10 128.00 $128.00 $1,156 —
952 952 7 114.00 $114.00 $1,085 —
1058 1058 1 131.00 $131.00 $1,386 —
1101 1101 9 117.00 $117.00 $1,288 —
1268 1268 4 137.00 $137.00 $1,737 —
1420 1420 1 111.00 $111.00 $1,576 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 2 150.00 $150.00 $420 —
480 480 1 137.50 $137.50 $660 —
590–595 591 7 136.00–157.50 $151.32 $894 —
621 621 6 127.00 $127.00 $789 —
808–815 808 18 116.00–120.50 $116.25 $939 —
870–875 872 3 115.00–122.00 $117.34 $1,023 —
910–930 919 19 119.00–123.50 $119.50 $1,098 -2.26
958–990 977 22 109.00–124.50 $119.77 $1,170 —
1013–1028 1017 20 123.50–125.50 $124.79 $1,269 +0.94
1055–1073 1063 8 123.00–125.00 $123.88 $1,317 +0.10
1105–1120 1115 3 125.50–126.00 $125.67 $1,401 +1.17
1179–1195 1185 11 125.50–126.00 $125.82 $1,491 +1.00
1200–1235 1214 7 123.00–125.50 $124.57 $1,512 +1.69
1276–1285 1277 8 105.00–123.50 $107.33 $1,371 -15.39
1320 1320 1 124.00 $124.00 $1,637 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
209 209 10 110.00 $110.00 $230 —
257–289 272 30 100.00–110.00 $104.53 $284 —
303–348 329 12 100.00–107.50 $104.62 $344 —
356–392 376 45 100.00–107.50 $102.08 $384 —
407 407 5 105.00 $105.00 $427 —
597 597 7 102.50 $102.50 $612 —
650–665 658 8 102.00–102.50 $102.25 $673 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
523–530 528 7 112.00–122.50 $114.97 $607 —
591 591 4 103.00 $103.00 $609 —
709–731 714 19 109.00–110.00 $109.78 $784 —
776 776 17 112.50 $112.50 $873 —
820 820 1 118.00 $118.00 $968 —
925 925 1 118.00 $118.00 $1,092 —
956 956 4 115.00 $115.00 $1,099 —
1060 1060 1 119.00 $119.00 $1,261 —
Small 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
780–789 785 24 60.00–62.00 $60.83 $478 —
856 856 10 71.00 $71.00 $608 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220 220 1 80.00 $80.00 $176 —
250 250 2 70.00 $70.00 $175 —
575–598 589 13 75.00–91.00 $87.68 $516 —
610 610 4 80.00 $80.00 $488 +2.50
670–675 673 2 80.00 $80.00 $538 —
700 700 2 75.00 $75.00 $525 -10.00
Small 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1027 1027 14 90.00 $90.00 $924 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
273–289 286 41 170.00–200.00 $174.88 $500 —
316–347 335 99 150.00–169.00 $163.39 $547 —
350–399 373 125 150.00–169.00 $163.99 $612 —
453–495 475 38 146.00–182.50 $147.00 $698 —
525–533 533 29 139.00–145.00 $139.20 $742 —
556–590 575 9 150.00–162.50 $157.13 $903 —
617–635 622 8 135.00–145.00 $142.45 $886 —
653 653 4 147.50 $147.50 $963 —
853–868 858 6 129.00–130.00 $129.34 $1,110 —
1110 1110 1 100.00 $100.00 $1,110 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
254–295 278 43 155.00–159.00 $156.32 $435 —
319–330 319 28 135.00 $135.00 $431 —
355–398 385 17 130.00–135.00 $133.65 $515 —
418–448 439 12 130.00–142.00 $138.01 $606 —
482 482 3 122.00 $122.00 $588 —
513–527 520 35 126.00–136.00 $131.36 $683 —
570 570 28 130.00 $130.00 $741 —
616–620 618 64 117.50–130.00 $128.98 $797 —
661–674 665 22 120.00–125.00 $123.62 $822 —
708 708 2 119.00 $119.00 $843 —
755–779 769 25 115.00–122.50 $115.29 $887 —
828 828 2 122.50 $122.50 $1,014 —
871 871 4 121.00 $121.00 $1,054 —
1046 1046 7 104.00 $104.00 $1,088 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
304–349 337 23 202.50–222.00 $217.41 $733 —
350–386 367 56 201.00–230.00 $223.48 $820 —
405–442 416 128 202.00–230.00 $219.35 $912 —
458–481 472 12 200.00–215.00 $211.94 $1,000 —
514–529 521 9 192.00–216.00 $205.16 $1,069 —
578 578 12 185.00 $185.00 $1,069 —
610–645 625 12 160.00–162.50 $161.67 $1,010 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
266–267 267 15 130.00 $130.00 $347 —
337 337 3 130.00 $130.00 $438 —
355–395 381 5 110.00–150.00 $125.96 $480 —
415 415 2 104.00 $104.00 $432 —
508–516 514 11 110.00–117.50 $115.48 $594 —
595 595 1 115.00 $115.00 $684 —
690 690 1 107.50 $107.50 $742 —
779 779 5 110.00 $110.00 $857 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 2 60.00 $60.00 $138 —
526 526 7 39.00 $39.00 $205 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 105.00 $105.00 $346 —
363 363 2 105.00 $105.00 $381 —
Small 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 1 67.50 $67.50 $206 —

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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.