Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 20, 2023

3,286 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 steers $236.23/cwt -1.58 vs last sale · ≈ $1,358/hd at 575 lb · 52 head
light 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $203.53/cwt -15.47 vs last sale · ≈ $879/hd at 432 lb · 44 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $204.89/cwt -24.85 vs last sale · ≈ $981/hd at 479 lb · 38 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,286 10,425 2,372
Feeder cattle 1,475 9,510 1,303
Slaughter cattle 1,036 863 993
Replacement cattle 775 52 76

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 3 Colorado auction markets included Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Trade activity and demand moderate to good. Feeder steers and heifers were too thinly traded for an accurate trend. Dairy feeder heifers sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower. Average dressing slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 higher, bulls 2.00 lower. The next available report will be Monday, April 3, 2023.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
313–327 319 5 280.00–286.00 $282.46 $901 -12.14
382 fancy 382 5 297.50 $297.50 $1,136 —
386 386 8 284.00 $284.00 $1,096 -6.83
403–441 425 22 270.00–280.00 $278.40 $1,183 +7.18
456–495 475 32 222.50–286.00 $274.71 $1,305 +5.70
553–595 575 52 231.00–239.00 $236.23 $1,358 -0.78
600–617 610 9 216.00–225.00 $222.32 $1,356 -3.72
700–710 703 23 183.00–187.50 $184.33 $1,296 -7.79
765–780 779 26 184.50 $184.50 $1,437 -4.19
809 809 8 182.00 $182.00 $1,472 +2.14
866 866 5 175.00 $175.00 $1,516 -6.97
1025 1025 1 142.50 $142.50 $1,461 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
382–391 388 8 257.00–265.00 $259.96 $1,009 —
452–469 458 29 249.00–250.00 $249.72 $1,144 -3.91
532 532 3 229.00 $229.00 $1,218 -2.17
558–578 574 14 221.00–226.00 $222.04 $1,275 +10.04
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
928 928 2 166.00 $166.00 $1,540 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
110 110 1 400.00 $400.00 —

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–333 unweaned 313 5 202.50–212.50 $208.25 $652 —
316 316 7 226.00 $226.00 $714 -24.17
412 412 20 215.00 $215.00 $886 -18.12
467 unweaned 467 3 195.00 $195.00 $911 —
459–497 480 35 200.00–210.00 $205.74 $988 -24.00
510–546 539 34 193.00–203.00 $195.96 $1,056 -18.51
564 564 6 191.00 $191.00 $1,077 -18.24
604–630 621 24 175.00–187.50 $184.53 $1,146 -8.33
653–673 663 19 173.00–181.00 $177.43 $1,176 -1.82
710–728 725 7 175.50–177.50 $175.78 $1,274 -5.65
778 778 2 168.00 $168.00 $1,307 -10.89
873 873 2 156.00 $156.00 $1,362 -4.50
1010 1010 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,414 -5.04
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
313 313 6 220.00 $220.00 $689 -20.50
413–443 432 44 200.00–207.50 $203.53 $879 -15.47
468–472 469 9 186.00–187.00 $186.66 $875 -21.34
590 590 6 182.50 $182.50 $1,077 —
604–637 612 8 180.00–181.00 $180.74 $1,106 -11.75
826 826 22 163.50 $163.50 $1,351 +6.94
940 940 13 155.00 $155.00 $1,457 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 2 217.50 $217.50 $859 —
738 738 4 166.00 $166.00 $1,225 —
935 935 1 152.00 $152.00 $1,421 —
1050 1050 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,155 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
70–85 78 2 350.00 $350.00 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915 915 1 157.50 $157.50 $1,441 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
875 875 1 132.50 $132.50 $1,159 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
730 730 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,278 —

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 unweaned 320 1 205.00 $205.00 $656 —
390 390 2 230.00 $230.00 $897 —
487 487 5 217.50 $217.50 $1,059 —
543 543 6 192.50 $192.50 $1,045 —
580 unweaned 580 1 177.50 $177.50 $1,030 —
608 608 2 172.50 $172.50 $1,049 —
815 815 1 144.00 $144.00 $1,174 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
80 80 1 250.00 $250.00 —

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Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–1600 1184 80-85% 11 100.00–113.00 $104.48 $1,237 —
840–1810 1284 80-85% 54 72.50–89.00 $82.82 $1,063 —
1215–1675 1316 80-85% 29 96.00–104.00 $97.77 $1,287 +18.23
1365–1430 1394 80-85% 5 85.00–87.50 $86.30 $1,203 +26.52
1235–1545 1397 80-85% 24 88.00–98.50 $93.51 $1,306 +33.73
1010–1910 1465 80-85% 131 84.00–96.00 $89.58 $1,312 —
1540 1540 80-85% 1 52.00 $52.00 $801 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
965–1175 1070 85-90% 2 105.00–107.00 $105.90 $1,133 +16.99
990–1350 1107 85-90% 9 35.00–61.00 $51.48 $570 —
740–1475 1135 85-90% 31 35.00–75.00 $58.43 $663 —
1015–1370 1161 85-90% 9 71.00–83.00 $78.30 $909 +1.11
785–1690 1166 85-90% 62 67.50–83.00 $75.36 $879 -1.83
940–1370 1173 85-90% 13 84.00–93.00 $87.90 $1,031 +10.71
935–1633 1276 85-90% 70 82.00–91.00 $86.93 $1,109 —
1050–1440 1300 85-90% 5 94.00–102.50 $96.59 $1,256 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1360 1360 75-80% 1 88.00 $88.00 $1,197 —
1220–1905 1489 75-80% 6 85.00–87.00 $85.92 $1,279 —
1390–1845 1495 75-80% 23 98.00–107.00 $100.14 $1,497 —
1400–1890 1540 75-80% 18 94.00–105.00 $97.37 $1,499 —
1245–1955 1549 75-80% 73 89.50–99.00 $94.46 $1,463 —

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
888–1430 1117 8 127.50–137.00 $134.07 $1,498 +19.63
980–1355 1126 4 77.50–93.00 $84.74 $954 -29.70
1115–2050 1351 9 100.00–117.50 $106.22 $1,435 —
1045–2203 1814 34 99.00–116.50 $106.99 $1,941 —
1165–2305 1826 5 111.00–119.00 $115.06 $2,101 —
990–2680 1851 21 86.00–104.50 $96.91 $1,794 -11.97

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
940–1385 1179 (<2 yrs)Open 5 126.00–131.00 $128.96 $1,520
1225 1225 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 134.00 $134.00 $1,642
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1430 1430 (<2 yrs)Open 2 129.00 $129.00 $1,845
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
790–1095 943 (<2 yrs)Open 2 137.50–142.50 $140.40 $1,324
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1055 1055 (<2 yrs)Open 1 134.00 $134.00 $1,414
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
760 760 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 130.00 $130.00 $988

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1114–1415 1215 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 25 1,200.00–1,350.00 $1,294.65
1238 1238 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00
1110–1453 1275 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 110 1,850.00–1,960.00 $1,914.73
1228–1353 1277 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 14 1,650.00–1,700.00 $1,661.35
1140–1455 fancy 1289 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 48 2,000.00–2,050.00 $2,013.98
1340–1547 1430 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 37 1,775.00–1,950.00 $1,870.75
1345–1485 1437 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 39 1,400.00–1,650.00 $1,516.46
1409–1586 1485 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)All Stages (1-9 mo) 14 1,550.00–1,650.00 $1,595.78
1358–1589 1513 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 16 1,675.00–1,750.00 $1,687.62
1440–1595 1518 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,475.00–1,510.00 $1,493.39
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1407–1658 1528 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 41 1,550.00–1,700.00 $1,634.69
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1125 1125 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,325.00 $1,325.00
1227 1227 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)All Stages (1-9 mo) 3 1,275.00 $1,275.00
1273 1273 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)All Stages (1-9 mo) 5 1,335.00 $1,335.00
1395–1490 1443 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,350.00–1,425.00 $1,388.73
1470 1470 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,375.00 $1,375.00

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1053–1145 1096 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 28 2,000.00–2,100.00 $2,048.52

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1230 1230 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 14 1,700.00 $1,700.00 —
1200–1590 1242 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 24 1,525.00–1,700.00 $1,583.43 —
1150–1350 1261 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 27 1,925.00–2,025.00 $1,996.22 —
1175–1325 1270 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 57 2,200.00–2,300.00 $2,257.60 —
1275 fancy 1275 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 10 2,200.00 $2,200.00 —
1280 1280 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 18 2,300.00 $2,300.00 —
1361 fancy 1361 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 19 2,525.00 $2,525.00 —
1640–1760 1670 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 1,810.00–1,875.00 $1,827.13 —
1700–1790 1745 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,660.00–1,675.00 $1,667.31 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1240 1240 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —
1373–1396 1388 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 6 1,700.00–1,710.00 $1,706.70 —
1395 1395 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,525.00 $1,525.00 —
1450 1450 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,550.00 $1,550.00 —
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1175 1175 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,625.00 $1,625.00 —
1665 1665 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,750.00 $1,750.00 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1215 1215 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,325.00 $1,325.00 —

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Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
903 903 3 134.50 $134.50 $1,215 +0.83
1050–1087 1059 13 134.00–135.00 $134.24 $1,422 -2.01
1127 1127 3 134.50 $134.50 $1,516 -0.13
1194 1194 11 135.00 $135.00 $1,612 -1.13
1220 1220 10 136.00 $136.00 $1,659 -0.50
1258–1276 1269 8 134.00 $134.00 $1,700 -0.99
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525–530 528 2 62.50–82.50 $72.55 $383 —
720–723 723 7 85.00–87.50 $85.36 $617 —
820 820 1 85.00 $85.00 $697 —
1320 1320 1 94.00 $94.00 $1,241 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
645 645 1 110.00 $110.00 $710 —
667–675 669 4 95.00 $95.00 $636 —
740 740 1 110.00 $110.00 $814 -10.00
755 755 1 120.00 $120.00 $906 -5.08
875 875 1 118.00 $118.00 $1,032 +5.50
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1005 1003 3 133.00–133.50 $133.33 $1,337 —
1150–1155 1152 3 133.50–136.00 $135.00 $1,555 —
1415 1415 1 129.00 $129.00 $1,825 —
Small 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920 920 1 88.00 $88.00 $810 —

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Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250 1250 3 133.00 $133.00 $1,662 —

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Medium and Large 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
858 858 (<2 yrs)Open 2 1,475.00 $1,475.00 —

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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.