Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 27, 2023

6,990 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $185.75/cwt +8.32 vs last sale · ≈ $1,253/hd at 674 lb · 352 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $178.96/cwt +10.96 vs last sale · ≈ $1,383/hd at 773 lb · 331 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $201.96/cwt +17.63 vs last sale · ≈ $1,448/hd at 717 lb · 265 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 6,990 3,286 8,323
Feeder cattle 6,090 1,475 7,152
Slaughter cattle 830 1,036 967
Replacement cattle 70 775 204

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Weighted average of three Colorado auction markets including La Junta Livestock, Livestock Exchange and Winter Livestock. Trade activity and demand were moderate to good. Feeder steers and heifers were too thinly traded last week for an accurate comparison, though an overall higher undertone was noted. Dairy feeder heifers traded mostly 2.00 to 3.00 higher. Average dress slaughter cows traded 1.00 to 2.00 higher and bulls were 3.00 higher. The next available report will be Monday, April 10, 2023.

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
345 345 2 287.50 $287.50 $992 +5.04
351–385 368 24 285.00–290.00 $285.60 $1,051 +1.60
408–446 441 33 267.50–288.00 $285.08 $1,257 +6.68
450–482 468 89 262.50–278.00 $271.67 $1,271 -3.04
500–548 518 106 252.50–266.00 $260.54 $1,350 —
573 573 42 220.50 $220.50 $1,263 -15.73
560–593 582 153 237.00–247.00 $239.95 $1,397 +3.72
614 fancy 614 26 243.00 $243.00 $1,492 —
603–640 625 72 216.00–234.00 $226.44 $1,415 +4.12
665–690 669 29 187.00–195.50 $190.36 $1,274 —
701–747 716 214 191.00–205.00 $201.47 $1,443 +17.14
720 fancy 720 51 204.00 $204.00 $1,469 —
759–795 765 121 188.50–197.00 $194.43 $1,487 +9.93
801–824 813 200 185.50–197.50 $188.30 $1,531 +6.30
873–890 879 31 175.00–177.00 $176.28 $1,550 +1.28
919 919 25 172.50 $172.50 $1,585 —
1404 1404 7 150.00 $150.00 $2,106 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
282 282 3 285.00 $285.00 $804 —
355–387 378 18 270.00–279.00 $272.21 $1,029 +12.25
401–440 421 48 250.00–270.00 $261.01 $1,099 —
463–492 472 52 251.00–267.00 $255.82 $1,207 +6.10
513–544 533 38 240.00–249.00 $245.87 $1,310 +16.87
591 591 49 232.00–235.00 $232.67 $1,375 +10.63
602–641 628 38 206.00–220.00 $211.84 $1,330 —
675–698 681 90 201.00–205.00 $202.27 $1,377 —
724–749 732 150 186.00–191.50 $190.62 $1,395 —
838–845 838 31 171.00–183.50 $182.69 $1,531 —
890–898 891 44 179.00–179.50 $179.43 $1,599 —
900 900 57 179.00 $179.00 $1,611 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
463 463 15 221.00 $221.00 $1,023 —
555–581 572 64 206.00–214.00 $210.18 $1,202 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353 353 2 252.50 $252.50 $891 —
435 435 1 245.00 $245.00 $1,066 —
523–533 530 14 236.00–239.00 $238.15 $1,262 —
628–648 636 15 198.00 $198.00 $1,259 —
680–682 682 13 184.00–187.00 $184.38 $1,257 —
791 791 14 166.50 $166.50 $1,317 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280–298 292 3 226.00–231.00 $229.40 $670 —
326–343 331 11 220.00–224.00 $221.64 $734 -4.36
355–397 381 24 217.00–228.00 $221.28 $843 —
402–448 427 55 210.00–224.00 $215.63 $921 +0.63
454 fancy 454 10 219.00 $219.00 $994 —
450–496 468 122 208.00–230.00 $219.72 $1,028 +13.98
506–549 527 160 199.00–213.00 $208.68 $1,100 +12.72
532 532 8 224.00 $224.00 $1,192 +28.04
550–598 570 47 190.00–206.00 $199.02 $1,134 +8.02
564–592 574 140 209.00–212.50 $211.02 $1,211 +20.02
604 604 18 200.50 $200.50 $1,211 +15.97
603–639 628 163 189.00–206.00 $195.28 $1,226 +10.75
650–673 654 55 187.50–197.00 $189.59 $1,240 +12.16
650–699 677 266 175.00–189.00 $182.71 $1,237 +5.28
688 fancy 688 31 205.00 $205.00 $1,410 —
703–745 722 169 173.00–190.00 $182.66 $1,319 +6.88
737 737 10 190.00 $190.00 $1,400 +14.22
750–796 773 331 170.00–181.50 $178.96 $1,383 +10.96
805–834 830 72 161.00–176.00 $173.46 $1,440 —
850–890 879 45 160.00–171.00 $166.07 $1,460 +10.07
901–944 923 23 160.00–162.00 $160.93 $1,485 —
950–995 965 10 151.00–160.00 $151.93 $1,466 —
977 977 17 166.00 $166.00 $1,622 —
1009 1009 4 166.00 $166.00 $1,675 +26.00
1023 1023 6 145.00 $145.00 $1,483 +5.00
1061 1061 19 145.50 $145.50 $1,544 —
1105–1140 1127 8 120.50–146.00 $123.78 $1,395 —
1160 1160 1 139.00 $139.00 $1,612 —
1215 1215 1 139.00 $139.00 $1,689 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 6 227.50 $227.50 $780 +7.50
365 365 1 215.00 $215.00 $785 —
400–449 422 12 195.00–207.00 $202.22 $853 -1.31
460–493 465 14 197.00–207.00 $205.48 $955 +18.82
551–594 584 96 181.00–195.00 $188.34 $1,100 +5.84
611–648 637 41 178.00–185.00 $182.02 $1,159 +1.28
710–743 723 10 166.00–171.00 $169.11 $1,223 —
770–790 782 3 165.00–168.00 $166.34 $1,301 —
845–848 847 3 152.00–161.00 $158.01 $1,338 -5.49
908 908 6 149.00 $149.00 $1,353 -6.00
950 950 2 148.00 $148.00 $1,406 —
1180 1180 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,298 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
595 595 7 181.00 $181.00 $1,077 —
713 713 25 177.75 $177.75 $1,267 +11.75
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
283–293 285 13 206.00–211.00 $207.18 $590 —
433 433 2 191.00 $191.00 $827 —
494 494 13 191.00 $191.00 $944 —
855–870 863 2 132.00–135.00 $133.49 $1,152 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
115 115 2 385.00–500.00 $442.50 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
418 418 3 271.00 $271.00 $1,133 —
467 467 3 245.00 $245.00 $1,144 +27.50
765 765 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,300 —
840 840 1 161.00 $161.00 $1,352 +17.00
1050 1050 1 147.00 $147.00 $1,544 —
1132 1132 3 141.00 $141.00 $1,596 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
115–145 135 3 485.00–575.00 $549.44 —
150 150 1 560.00 $560.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845 845 1 122.50 $122.50 $1,035 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1245–1435 1346 80-85% 22 85.00–96.00 $91.44 $1,231 -6.33
1175–1695 1351 80-85% 40 97.00–108.00 $102.15 $1,380 —
1151–1705 1390 80-85% 195 84.00–100.00 $91.08 $1,266 +4.78
1276–1495 1397 80-85% 36 97.00–106.50 $99.42 $1,389 +5.91
1075–1675 1403 80-85% 75 71.00–90.00 $82.16 $1,153 —
1305–1540 1408 80-85% 6 60.00–69.00 $64.00 $901 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
785–1305 1045 85-90% 48 67.00–82.50 $76.33 $798 —
680–1395 1074 85-90% 22 50.00–65.00 $60.40 $649 -45.50
985–1190 1090 85-90% 27 92.00–106.00 $95.76 $1,044 -10.14
1072–1201 1160 85-90% 12 97.00–107.00 $98.71 $1,145 +20.41
875–1315 1164 85-90% 102 81.00–93.50 $87.19 $1,015 +11.83
1080–1215 1169 85-90% 5 86.00–95.00 $90.34 $1,056 +14.98
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1355–1830 1542 75-80% 12 103.00–110.00 $105.05 $1,620 +7.68
1255–1990 1621 75-80% 59 90.00–103.00 $96.17 $1,559 —
1545–1690 1648 75-80% 5 98.50–104.50 $99.93 $1,647 —
1565–1905 1684 75-80% 21 82.50–93.50 $88.76 $1,495 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1001–1210 1048 18 105.00–114.00 $111.82 $1,172 —
1150 1150 1 102.50 $102.50 $1,179 —
1050–2145 1676 38 86.00–110.50 $102.44 $1,717 —
1085–2260 1777 40 103.00–120.50 $109.02 $1,937 —
1725–2310 2018 2 115.50–126.50 $121.80 $2,458 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1050–1425 1229 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 110.00–120.00 $117.25 $1,441
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1205 1205 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 105.00 $105.00 $1,265

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1373 1373 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,525.00 $1,525.00
1357–1625 1411 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 1,775.00–1,825.00 $1,786.52
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1130–1363 1285 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,425.00–1,475.00 $1,460.35
1305 1305 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,150.00 $1,150.00
1458 1458 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,625.00 $1,625.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1135 1135 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,085.00 $1,085.00

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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
1187 1187 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 1,300.00 $1,300.00 —
1220–1325 1290 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 1,325.00–1,400.00 $1,348.64 —
1325 1325 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
870–897 890 4 130.00 $130.00 $1,157 —
955–997 991 27 133.00–136.50 $136.05 $1,348 —
1003–1044 1025 11 133.00–136.00 $135.28 $1,387 —
1077–1090 1080 4 135.00–136.50 $136.12 $1,470 +1.88
1105 1105 1 136.50 $136.50 $1,508 +2.00
1184 1184 8 137.50 $137.50 $1,628 +2.50
1205–1245 1219 4 133.00–136.50 $135.11 $1,647 -0.89
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
697 697 5 95.00 $95.00 $662 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
760 760 1 110.00 $110.00 $836 -10.00
940 940 1 121.00 $121.00 $1,137 —
1130 1130 1 117.50 $117.50 $1,328 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 480 1 92.50 $92.50 $444 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1000 fancy 1000 (<2 yrs)Open 6 4,000.00 $4,000.00 —
1075–1100 1086 (<2 yrs)Open 17 3,000.00–3,300.00 $3,089.38 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
830 830 (<2 yrs)Open 1 1,575.00 $1,575.00 —
Small 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
770 770 (<2 yrs)Open 1 1,325.00 $1,325.00 —

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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.