Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 20, 2023

4,169 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $191.45/cwt +6.04 vs last sale · ≈ $1,102/hd at 576 lb · 201 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $193.91/cwt +5.56 vs last sale · ≈ $1,297/hd at 669 lb · 129 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $175.29/cwt +1.35 vs last sale · ≈ $1,558/hd at 889 lb · 121 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,169 5,751 2,612
Feeder cattle 2,808 4,981 2,078
Slaughter cattle 673 730 515
Replacement cattle 688 40 19

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 moderate to good. In the feeder cattle supply, steers under 450 lbs sold mostly 7.00 to 11.00 higher on a light test, 500-700 lb steers 1.00 to 7.00 lower, and 700-900 lb steers 1.00 to 8.00 higher. Feeder heifers across all weight classes sold mostly steady to 6.00 higher with 450 lb heifers 14.00 higher. Feeder dairy heifers 850-1200 lbs sold mostly 1.00 to 4.00 higher. Average dressing slaughter cows sold 5.00 to 9.00 higher, bulls sold 1.00 lower.

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
300–341 320 35 248.00–255.00 $251.03 $803 +8.27
359–393 375 42 239.50–247.00 $245.15 $919 +7.15
405 unweaned 405 3 200.00 $200.00 $810 —
401–446 431 72 236.00–248.00 $244.04 $1,052 +10.10
458–493 479 27 215.00–230.00 $222.92 $1,068 -11.20
477–498 unweaned 481 11 198.00–199.00 $198.81 $956 —
503–549 526 72 204.00–220.00 $215.02 $1,131 -7.38
552 value added 552 7 222.50 $222.50 $1,228 —
564–595 580 66 197.00–217.00 $208.62 $1,210 -3.07
606 fancy 606 17 203.00 $203.00 $1,230 —
603–625 615 42 184.00–210.50 $203.79 $1,253 -0.91
651–691 669 129 184.00–205.00 $193.91 $1,297 +5.86
705–744 729 89 181.00–187.00 $185.60 $1,353 +1.21
767–786 775 92 183.00–185.50 $184.04 $1,426 +7.56
816–830 817 73 177.00–182.50 $182.04 $1,487 +5.64
856–897 889 121 173.25–178.00 $175.29 $1,558 —
937 937 12 166.00 $166.00 $1,555 -5.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
508 508 5 203.00 $203.00 $1,031 —
575–594 590 40 196.00–206.00 $202.82 $1,197 —
602 602 5 192.00 $192.00 $1,156 +2.00
699 699 6 183.00 $183.00 $1,279 +8.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255 255 5 208.00 $208.00 $530 —
348 348 4 202.50 $202.50 $705 —
355–363 360 3 200.00–202.50 $201.68 $726 —
538 538 5 192.00 $192.00 $1,033 —
552–555 553 4 182.00–188.00 $186.49 $1,031 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
378 378 3 225.00 $225.00 $850 -11.38
428–443 436 8 205.00–210.00 $207.54 $905 -25.79
596 596 3 198.50 $198.50 $1,183 -7.38
613 613 6 198.00 $198.00 $1,214 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
411–434 421 35 197.00–215.00 $207.49 $874 +0.23
462–480 478 67 197.00–219.00 $214.82 $1,027 +14.07
500–548 515 52 194.00–203.00 $199.68 $1,028 +5.71
566 fancy 566 8 192.00 $192.00 $1,087 —
557–593 576 193 176.00–203.50 $191.43 $1,103 +6.02
606–627 617 90 175.00–186.00 $182.75 $1,128 -0.11
652–693 678 98 171.00–185.00 $175.94 $1,193 +4.27
700–731 720 38 163.50–175.00 $173.06 $1,246 -1.87
751–792 758 28 168.00–175.00 $170.83 $1,295 +4.76
814–815 814 8 163.00–164.00 $163.38 $1,330 +2.54
836 fancy 836 8 171.00 $171.00 $1,430 —
860 860 14 158.00 $158.00 $1,359 -4.00
919 919 26 156.00 $156.00 $1,434 —
995 995 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,343 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350–394 373 38 191.00–209.00 $197.18 $735 -5.27
418–443 426 23 193.00–208.00 $197.42 $841 -7.99
429 unweaned 429 4 182.00 $182.00 $781 —
514–519 516 12 184.00–192.00 $189.32 $977 +14.52
570 570 4 174.00 $174.00 $992 +3.70
637 637 3 162.00 $162.00 $1,032 -11.29
915 915 1 126.00 $126.00 $1,153 —
950 950 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,235 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 2 207.50 $207.50 $712 +6.50
359–390 378 10 192.00–198.00 $194.28 $734 -0.45
485 485 5 185.00 $185.00 $897 —
630 630 2 151.00 $151.00 $951 —
711 711 6 134.00 $134.00 $953 —
818 818 2 121.00 $121.00 $990 +5.50
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
489 489 9 194.50 $194.50 $951 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
503 503 6 198.00 $198.00 $996 —
696 696 9 173.00 $173.00 $1,204 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
819 819 4 142.00 $142.00 $1,163 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1213–1510 1280 80-85% 10 89.00–94.00 $90.76 $1,162 —
1014–1650 1294 80-85% 60 71.00–85.00 $78.53 $1,016 —
1195–1570 1311 80-85% 34 90.00–105.00 $94.08 $1,233 —
1370–1415 1381 80-85% 4 98.50–101.00 $99.14 $1,369 +3.39
1125–1700 1434 80-85% 177 83.00–97.00 $90.76 $1,301 +4.82
1500–1560 1530 80-85% 2 60.00–67.50 $63.82 $976 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
655–1175 920 85-90% 12 37.50–68.00 $56.05 $516 —
740–1105 951 85-90% 8 91.50–111.00 $99.51 $946 —
820–1330 1048 85-90% 29 63.00–79.00 $71.86 $753 —
980–1170 1094 85-90% 4 79.00–86.00 $80.99 $886 -8.18
487–1365 1138 85-90% 63 76.00–93.00 $84.30 $959 +15.33
940–1253 1168 85-90% 42 82.00–102.00 $95.26 $1,113 +10.26
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1310–1657 1450 75-80% 13 91.00–96.50 $93.12 $1,350 +13.91
1275–1910 1573 75-80% 93 85.50–105.00 $95.57 $1,503 —
1277–1910 1679 75-80% 24 84.50–92.50 $89.46 $1,502 +3.43

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1340–1850 1597 3 95.00–100.00 $97.23 $1,553 -0.03
1470–2125 1659 10 97.00–109.00 $101.24 $1,680 —
1445–2145 1808 23 103.00–114.50 $107.19 $1,938 —
1900–2155 2013 4 117.00–121.00 $118.07 $2,377 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
925–1075 1044 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 7 105.00–116.00 $108.61 $1,134

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1068 1068 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 25 1,175.00 $1,175.00
1040–1488 1201 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 62 1,800.00–1,950.00 $1,871.42
1160–1392 1298 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 77 2,150.00–2,250.00 $2,198.26
1148–1372 fancy 1301 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 38 2,375.00 $2,375.00
1198–1477 1314 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 180 1,275.00–1,425.00 $1,343.63
1376–1493 1458 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 18 1,750.00–1,950.00 $1,844.92
1480–1738 1674 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,410.00–1,585.00 $1,546.31
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1220–1223 1222 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 850.00–1,000.00 $899.92
1143–1340 1242 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 1,150.00–1,235.00 $1,195.87
1155–1436 1318 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 20 1,325.00–1,650.00 $1,624.96
1425 1425 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,450.00 $1,450.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1066 1066 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 45 2,050.00 $2,050.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1105 1105 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 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
1075–1145 1117 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 10 1,285.00–1,350.00 $1,324.98 —
1175 1175 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 5 1,485.00 $1,485.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
888 888 3 124.50 $124.50 $1,106 +4.00
900–947 930 8 122.00–125.00 $124.51 $1,158 +2.25
952–960 953 6 124.00 $124.00 $1,182 +0.40
1007–1032 1016 8 125.50–127.50 $126.74 $1,288 +0.87
1085 1085 2 123.00–125.50 $124.25 $1,348 -1.02
1114–1116 1115 18 127.50 $127.50 $1,422 +2.66
1185–1193 1193 20 122.00–128.00 $127.70 $1,523 +1.20
1210–1220 1215 2 124.50–126.50 $125.50 $1,525 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1600–1675 1638 2 99.00–101.00 $100.02 $1,638 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230 1230 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,476 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
565 565 1 77.50 $77.50 $438 —
Medium 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915 915 1 87.50 $87.50 $801 —

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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.