Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 13, 2023

10,425 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 $227.98/cwt +12.61 vs last sale · ≈ $1,424/hd at 624 lb · 756 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $212.90/cwt +12.85 vs last sale · ≈ $1,217/hd at 571 lb · 611 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $194.70/cwt -6.66 vs last sale · ≈ $1,221/hd at 627 lb · 518 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 10,425 7,150 6,561
Feeder cattle 9,510 4,829 5,037
Slaughter cattle 863 1,031 1,108
Replacement cattle 52 1,290 416

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average price for 3 Colorado auction markets included Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Trade activity and demand moderate to very good. Feeder steers 300-700 lbs sold mostly 12.00 to 17.00 higher, and 700-850 lbs sold 1.00 to 5.00 higher. Feeder heifers 400-600 lbs sold mostly 11.00 to 14.00 higher, and 600-900 lb heifers sold uneven, trading from 4.00 lower to 3.00 higher. Feeder Dairy heifers 800-1000 lbs sold steady to 3.00 higher, 1000-1200 lbs 4.00 to 8.00 higher. Average dressing slaughter cows and bulls sold 1.00 to 3.00 higher.

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
300 300 10 294.00–297.00 $294.60 $884 -1.46
350–385 373 29 285.00–292.00 $290.83 $1,085 +14.03
413 value added 413 14 292.00 $292.00 $1,206 —
402–439 422 70 267.00–277.00 $271.22 $1,145 +0.88
467 fancy 467 17 271.00 $271.00 $1,266 —
453–497 473 106 260.00–271.00 $269.01 $1,272 +14.61
474–478 value added 477 78 288.00–291.00 $290.24 $1,384 —
500–548 522 247 246.00–258.00 $251.98 $1,315 +17.55
500–538 value added 533 112 263.00–267.00 $263.47 $1,404 +13.14
553–574 565 29 236.00–237.50 $236.61 $1,337 +15.62
568 value added 568 19 247.50 $247.50 $1,406 +11.18
550–596 574 188 230.00–255.00 $237.01 $1,360 +16.02
612 value added 612 78 237.00 $237.00 $1,450 —
601–617 fancy 614 103 230.00–233.00 $231.97 $1,424 +10.97
600–643 628 575 218.00–243.00 $226.04 $1,420 +11.69
659–663 fancy 662 19 211.00–222.00 $217.96 $1,443 —
655–694 670 199 190.00–229.00 $211.65 $1,418 +15.04
701 value added 701 22 206.00 $206.00 $1,444 —
703–723 fancy 706 84 195.00–197.00 $195.34 $1,379 —
709–745 728 290 181.00–219.00 $192.12 $1,399 +4.17
761 761 21 192.00 $192.00 $1,461 +8.01
752–787 772 71 181.00–196.50 $188.69 $1,457 +4.70
802–842 818 229 171.00–182.50 $179.86 $1,471 +1.86
850–890 867 142 168.00–187.00 $181.97 $1,578 —
901–938 917 139 173.50–178.50 $175.38 $1,608 -2.12
960 960 1 169.00 $169.00 $1,622 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
414–443 435 47 262.00–265.00 $264.00 $1,148 —
451–489 467 51 247.50–259.00 $253.63 $1,184 —
506–525 518 31 222.50–235.00 $231.17 $1,197 +16.67
556 556 6 212.00 $212.00 $1,179 —
614–619 617 23 201.00–207.00 $205.18 $1,266 —
719–739 728 65 194.50–205.00 $202.02 $1,471 —
846 846 5 179.50 $179.50 $1,519 —
923 923 10 170.50 $170.50 $1,574 —
973 973 2 160.00 $160.00 $1,557 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
563 563 17 228.00 $228.00 $1,284 —
673–694 684 27 196.00–220.00 $207.37 $1,418 —
701 701 8 200.00 $200.00 $1,402 —
865 865 2 189.00 $189.00 $1,635 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
729 729 10 180.00 $180.00 $1,312 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
230–240 237 6 750.00–785.00 $761.34 —
265 265 3 766.00 $766.00 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
604 604 4 216.00 $216.00 $1,305 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1620 1620 2 119.00 $119.00 $1,928 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 295 10 273.00 $273.00 $805 —
303–318 312 7 249.00–252.00 $250.17 $781 —
354–394 376 34 231.00–242.00 $233.56 $878 +0.10
412 fancy 412 20 240.00 $240.00 $989 —
410–445 432 72 228.00–238.00 $233.12 $1,007 +13.57
450–498 469 296 216.00–237.00 $229.74 $1,077 +11.79
523 fancy 523 12 211.00 $211.00 $1,104 —
500–547 526 262 191.00–230.00 $214.47 $1,128 +1.28
550 550 4 206.00 $206.00 $1,133 +7.93
557–581 value added 569 198 221.00–225.00 $222.62 $1,267 +15.41
572 unweaned 572 85 204.50 $204.50 $1,170 +29.50
551–597 573 324 180.00–228.00 $209.24 $1,199 +11.17
600–648 627 391 178.00–200.00 $192.86 $1,209 -10.63
605–636 627 127 192.50–215.00 $200.36 $1,256 -3.13
668 668 58 179.25 $179.25 $1,197 -19.81
655–696 681 227 171.00–196.00 $183.27 $1,248 -4.42
704–745 722 155 177.50–184.00 $181.43 $1,310 -7.57
753–771 764 90 173.00–180.50 $178.89 $1,367 -5.11
812–835 824 36 170.00–171.00 $170.53 $1,405 -0.02
821–827 826 17 158.00–164.50 $162.98 $1,346 -7.57
873 873 64 160.50 $160.50 $1,401 -1.41
893 893 17 164.00 $164.00 $1,465 +2.09
914 914 15 156.00 $156.00 $1,426 —
977 977 3 148.00 $148.00 $1,446 —
1020–1045 1039 4 139.00–147.00 $145.04 $1,507 +2.54
1204–1219 1214 14 135.00–137.50 $136.61 $1,658 —
1287–1297 1292 10 133.00 $133.00 $1,718 —
1333 1333 3 134.00 $134.00 $1,786 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338–343 341 12 240.00–241.00 $240.50 $820 —
375–394 381 17 220.00–224.00 $222.78 $849 —
428 428 24 219.00 $219.00 $937 —
469 469 4 208.00 $208.00 $976 +17.66
509–535 528 42 187.00–202.50 $198.59 $1,049 +13.54
602–641 629 230 189.50–194.00 $192.49 $1,211 +20.49
675–694 688 49 175.00–181.00 $176.73 $1,216 —
702–737 714 58 166.00–171.00 $170.13 $1,215 —
772 772 10 154.00 $154.00 $1,189 —
807–812 811 37 145.00–160.25 $156.56 $1,270 —
860 860 2 135.00 $135.00 $1,161 -12.25
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 2 215.00 $215.00 $1,054 —
574 574 6 202.50 $202.50 $1,162 —
627 627 3 195.00 $195.00 $1,223 —
665–696 675 16 178.00–192.00 $187.49 $1,266 +16.49
1020 1020 15 142.00 $142.00 $1,448 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
454–478 464 10 182.50–187.50 $184.56 $856 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
724 724 8 162.00 $162.00 $1,173 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
463 463 8 202.50 $202.50 $938 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475 475 2 225.00 $225.00 $1,069 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430 430 3 237.50 $237.50 $1,021 —
551 551 11 220.00 $220.00 $1,212 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1612 1334 80-85% 68 71.00–86.00 $79.54 $1,061 -20.65
1120–1585 1350 80-85% 12 93.00–101.50 $97.82 $1,321 +4.08
1270–1525 1380 80-85% 10 53.00–66.00 $59.78 $825 -33.96
1215–1565 1430 80-85% 50 86.00–96.50 $92.78 $1,327 +6.51
865–1666 1440 80-85% 166 83.00–95.50 $87.65 $1,262 +1.38
1215–1550 1448 80-85% 12 97.00–106.00 $98.56 $1,427 +12.29
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790–1335 1013 85-90% 36 37.50–72.00 $63.95 $648 -15.11
905–1245 1073 85-90% 6 85.00–92.00 $88.91 $954 +23.13
830–1340 1084 85-90% 83 66.00–82.00 $74.81 $811 +9.03
938–1215 1094 85-90% 16 94.00–107.50 $98.70 $1,080 +32.92
1100–1165 1159 85-90% 10 77.00–79.00 $77.19 $895 -5.74
1015–1295 1189 85-90% 91 80.00–92.00 $85.77 $1,020 -9.23
1205–1215 1210 85-90% 2 94.00–95.00 $94.50 $1,143 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1583 1583 75-80% 4 97.50 $97.50 $1,543 +4.42
1413–1940 1654 75-80% 98 87.00–98.50 $94.46 $1,562 —
1487–1803 1706 75-80% 12 71.00–88.00 $81.87 $1,397 -1.24

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945 945 1 90.00 $90.00 $850 —
945–1015 984 4 120.00–136.00 $128.86 $1,268 —
950–1250 1144 18 107.50–116.00 $114.44 $1,309 —
1000–2095 1687 13 80.00–105.00 $97.53 $1,645 —
1340–2725 1876 60 104.00–115.00 $108.88 $2,043 +2.97
2265 2265 1 115.00 $115.00 $2,605 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
875–1255 956 (<2 yrs)Open 12 121.00–140.00 $134.48 $1,286
945–1315 1130 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 115.00–117.50 $116.05 $1,311
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
742 742 (<2 yrs)Open 6 127.50 $127.50 $946

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1185 1185 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,310.00 $1,310.00
1312 1312 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,275.00 $1,275.00
1163–1480 1372 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 1,325.00–1,660.00 $1,596.75
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1616–1632 1623 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,600.00–1,675.00 $1,642.68
1648 1648 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,900.00 $1,900.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1490–1550 1530 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 3 1,650.00–1,675.00 $1,658.12 —
1555 1555 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,850.00 $1,850.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
824 824 4 131.00 $131.00 $1,079 ±0.00
850–882 862 20 131.00–132.00 $131.64 $1,135 +1.64
915–925 922 3 133.50–134.00 $133.67 $1,232 +0.97
958–998 978 23 132.00–135.50 $134.24 $1,313 +2.41
1000–1015 1008 2 132.00–140.00 $135.97 $1,371 +8.29
1061–1080 1063 10 134.00–136.50 $136.25 $1,448 +5.34
1111–1145 1115 8 134.50–135.50 $134.63 $1,501 +4.58
1153–1172 1167 8 135.00–136.50 $136.13 $1,589 +7.48
1205 1205 1 136.50 $136.50 $1,645 +21.12
1267–1285 1272 4 132.00–136.00 $134.99 $1,717 —
1335 1335 1 134.00 $134.00 $1,789 +13.00
1410 1410 3 134.50 $134.50 $1,896 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
740 740 2 120.00 $120.00 $888 —
757–785 759 13 125.00–126.00 $125.08 $949 —
875 875 1 112.50 $112.50 $984 —
1005 1005 3 126.00 $126.00 $1,266 —
1133 1133 2 128.00 $128.00 $1,450 —
1265 1265 2 129.00 $129.00 $1,632 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
705 705 1 95.00 $95.00 $670 —
821 821 5 98.00 $98.00 $805 —
852 852 3 95.00 $95.00 $809 —
942 942 5 99.00 $99.00 $933 —
1031 1031 6 93.00 $93.00 $959 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
625 625 3 75.00 $75.00 $469 —
683 683 4 70.00 $70.00 $478 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1165 1165 (<2 yrs)Open 2 1,925.00 $1,925.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
825 825 (<2 yrs)Open 1 1,650.00 $1,650.00 —

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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.