Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 3, 2023

9,106 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 heifers $204.75/cwt +8.96 vs last sale · ≈ $1,274/hd at 622 lb · 290 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $214.55/cwt +6.54 vs last sale · ≈ $1,240/hd at 578 lb · 282 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $195.31/cwt +9.57 vs last sale · ≈ $1,323/hd at 677 lb · 267 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 9,106 6,990 8,848
Feeder cattle 7,908 6,090 7,815
Slaughter cattle 1,111 830 915
Replacement cattle 87 70 118

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 4 Colorado auction markets included: Centennial Livestock, Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Trade activity and demand moderate to good. Feeder steers under 550 lbs sold mostly 1.00 to 5.00 lower, and over 550 lbs mostly 1.00 to 7.00 higher. Feeder heifers 400-700 lbs sold mostly 8.00 to 16.00 higher. Heifers over 700 lbs sold unevenly steady. Feeder dairy heifers over 1050 lbs sold mostly steady to 2.00 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
330 330 5 301.00 $301.00 $993 +13.50
385–397 392 16 286.00–292.00 $288.58 $1,131 +2.98
403–418 409 18 274.00–278.00 $275.91 $1,128 -9.17
450–498 469 48 253.00–277.00 $270.21 $1,267 -1.46
507 thin fleshed 507 7 268.00 $268.00 $1,359 —
506–547 529 125 239.00–268.00 $255.34 $1,351 -5.20
550–594 563 155 234.00–246.00 $240.14 $1,352 +19.64
615–637 630 116 213.00–241.00 $233.15 $1,469 +6.71
641–645 thin fleshed 643 42 221.00–226.00 $223.14 $1,435 —
662 thin fleshed 662 14 215.00 $215.00 $1,423 —
650–696 667 62 201.00–242.50 $218.89 $1,460 +28.53
710–745 733 95 201.00–222.00 $204.23 $1,497 +2.76
750–791 764 59 186.00–202.00 $193.93 $1,482 -0.50
806–815 810 15 184.00–194.00 $189.87 $1,538 +1.57
850–868 857 80 178.00–186.50 $183.30 $1,571 +7.02
900–944 908 46 171.00–179.00 $177.82 $1,615 +5.32
976 976 27 169.50 $169.50 $1,654 —
1070 1070 10 163.00 $163.00 $1,744 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380 380 5 278.00 $278.00 $1,056 +5.79
400–438 412 27 241.00–269.00 $258.77 $1,066 -2.24
456–492 471 86 231.00–264.00 $244.49 $1,152 -11.33
505–542 524 89 226.00–245.00 $239.44 $1,255 -6.43
574–595 582 40 225.00–236.00 $229.60 $1,336 -3.07
609–642 627 76 201.50–227.50 $212.59 $1,333 +0.75
664–675 671 29 196.00–214.00 $201.85 $1,354 -0.42
700–723 708 44 188.00–208.00 $194.23 $1,375 +3.61
750–790 775 50 179.00–188.00 $183.64 $1,423 —
800–845 816 4 174.00–180.00 $177.45 $1,448 -5.24
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
396 396 22 238.00 $238.00 $942 —
465 465 21 236.00 $236.00 $1,097 —
519 519 21 241.00 $241.00 $1,251 —
624 624 27 210.00 $210.00 $1,310 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
502–525 508 20 202.00–208.00 $203.55 $1,034 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
482 482 6 235.00 $235.00 $1,133 —
503–540 512 9 202.50–225.00 $209.96 $1,075 -28.19
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
635 635 7 208.00 $208.00 $1,321 —
993 993 5 169.50 $169.50 $1,683 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
292 292 5 775.00 $775.00 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
638 638 4 207.00 $207.00 $1,321 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
309 309 8 219.00 $219.00 $677 -2.64
353 fancy 353 3 270.00 $270.00 $953 —
350–393 377 33 224.00–267.00 $249.61 $941 +28.33
404–442 420 54 224.00–246.00 $231.67 $973 +16.04
451–498 472 145 208.00–235.00 $224.22 $1,058 +4.50
456–494 thin fleshed 479 40 240.00–241.00 $240.62 $1,153 —
500–537 519 117 200.00–226.00 $217.34 $1,128 +8.66
520–540 fancy 530 14 228.00–232.00 $229.96 $1,219 —
552 thin fleshed 552 39 227.00 $227.00 $1,253 —
560–597 582 243 195.00–223.00 $212.55 $1,237 +1.53
605–634 fancy 616 41 206.50–213.00 $210.55 $1,297 —
600–645 623 249 192.50–216.00 $203.80 $1,270 +8.52
650–693 670 156 181.00–209.00 $194.77 $1,305 +12.06
677 value added 677 17 201.00 $201.00 $1,361 —
668–691 fancy 689 94 195.00–197.00 $195.19 $1,345 -9.81
700–715 fancy 712 44 186.50–191.00 $189.99 $1,353 —
701–748 719 145 178.00–185.00 $181.60 $1,306 -1.06
720 720 40 200.00 $200.00 $1,440 +17.34
723 723 13 163.00 $163.00 $1,178 -19.66
752 fancy 752 26 188.00 $188.00 $1,414 —
750–765 758 65 175.00–179.00 $177.21 $1,343 -1.75
802–826 814 8 171.50–172.00 $171.75 $1,398 -1.71
855–890 871 50 164.00–170.50 $169.03 $1,472 +2.96
935 935 1 161.00 $161.00 $1,505 +0.07
1005–1041 1035 6 161.00 $161.00 $1,666 +16.00
1057 1057 4 168.00 $168.00 $1,776 +22.50
1113 1113 4 149.00 $149.00 $1,658 +25.22
1245 1245 3 131.00 $131.00 $1,631 -8.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
407 407 5 220.00 $220.00 $895 +17.78
466–480 473 39 214.00–220.00 $217.66 $1,030 +12.18
522 522 20 213.00 $213.00 $1,112 —
552–579 557 29 192.50–201.00 $199.13 $1,109 +10.79
600–632 616 55 193.00–202.00 $195.92 $1,207 +13.90
740 740 3 171.00 $171.00 $1,265 +1.89
766–783 769 18 164.00–165.00 $164.83 $1,268 -1.51
806–825 813 8 163.00–165.00 $163.76 $1,331 +5.75
890 890 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,335 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500–533 509 14 200.00–207.50 $203.56 $1,036 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1309 1309 4 147.00 $147.00 $1,924 —
1225–1374 1355 8 112.50–115.00 $114.72 $1,554 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
674 674 6 154.00 $154.00 $1,038 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
820–1240 1015 (<2 yrs)N/A 27 1,000.00–1,350.00 $1,179.05 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
554 554 6 205.00 $205.00 $1,136 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
687 687 5 166.00 $166.00 $1,140 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1405–1640 1523 (<2 yrs)N/A 2 1,750.00–1,900.00 $1,819.21 —
1415–1710 1563 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 2 2,100.00–2,200.00 $2,145.28 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1080–1100 1090 (<2 yrs)N/A 2 2,000.00–2,200.00 $2,100.92 —
1595 1595 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00 —
Medium 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
825–860 843 (<2 yrs)N/A 2 950.00 $950.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1157–1415 1291 80-85% 11 100.00–106.00 $103.07 $1,331 —
1053–1700 1362 80-85% 144 88.50–99.50 $92.59 $1,261 -9.56
1230–1572 1392 80-85% 53 100.00–107.50 $104.03 $1,448 +12.95
1220–1585 1419 80-85% 31 93.00–99.50 $97.48 $1,383 +33.48
1048–1740 1451 80-85% 81 71.00–93.00 $83.39 $1,210 —
1335–1710 1542 80-85% 6 50.00–69.00 $61.93 $955 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
785–1270 1038 85-90% 37 47.50–76.00 $64.25 $667 -12.08
905–1355 1068 85-90% 52 71.00–84.50 $80.02 $855 +19.62
950–1225 1142 85-90% 6 100.00–106.00 $101.86 $1,163 —
1150–1190 1174 85-90% 5 91.00–93.00 $91.78 $1,077 +1.44
865–1295 1181 85-90% 97 85.00–95.00 $88.51 $1,045 -1.83
995–1290 1185 85-90% 35 85.00–96.50 $93.94 $1,113 +3.60
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1425–1690 1548 75-80% 6 105.00–106.00 $105.34 $1,631 +0.29
1300–2090 1623 75-80% 132 89.50–104.00 $96.22 $1,562 +0.05
1350–1880 1668 75-80% 24 82.50–95.00 $87.90 $1,466 -0.86
1865–1870 1868 75-80% 2 74.00–75.00 $74.50 $1,392 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080 1080 1 112.50 $112.50 $1,215 —
965–1240 1103 2 133.00–148.00 $139.56 $1,539 —
1165–2125 1646 21 91.00–109.00 $99.69 $1,641 —
1338–2370 1824 40 104.00–118.50 $111.54 $2,034 —
1925–2230 2060 4 116.00–123.50 $120.03 $2,473 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
925–1110 1005 (<2 yrs)Open 17 152.50–167.00 $158.00 $1,588
1011–1210 1066 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 130.00–134.00 $131.00 $1,396
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
868–1230 1070 (<2 yrs)Open 17 131.00–144.00 $140.06 $1,499
1070–1125 1098 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 125.00–126.00 $125.49 $1,378

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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
1530–1725 1628 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,625.00–1,660.00 $1,641.45 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
277–288 280 17 255.00–265.00 $257.42 $721 —
341–342 342 28 225.00–235.00 $227.85 $779 —
391 391 9 250.00 $250.00 $978 —
423–432 427 38 220.00–230.00 $222.48 $950 —
476 476 6 270.00 $270.00 $1,285 —
503–546 524 40 205.00–217.50 $215.18 $1,128 —
562–590 579 73 168.00–180.00 $176.53 $1,022 —
623–634 630 24 165.00–169.00 $167.52 $1,055 —
670 670 64 166.00 $166.00 $1,112 —
706–732 728 106 153.00–170.00 $158.26 $1,152 —
785 785 16 161.00 $161.00 $1,264 —
870–894 891 8 140.00–158.00 $155.80 $1,388 —
910–934 932 15 147.50–150.00 $149.84 $1,397 —
1295 1295 1 142.50 $142.50 $1,845 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
241 241 10 240.00 $240.00 $578 —
352–395 389 59 215.00–225.00 $221.31 $861 —
486 486 6 185.00 $185.00 $899 —
506 506 16 160.00 $160.00 $810 —
698 698 36 142.00 $142.00 $991 —
708 708 11 144.00 $144.00 $1,020 —
761 761 5 135.00 $135.00 $1,027 —
830 830 18 140.00 $140.00 $1,162 —
1072–1073 1072 19 125.00–138.50 $129.19 $1,385 -6.93
1100–1103 1103 11 138.00–138.50 $138.45 $1,527 +1.95
1169–1183 1174 9 137.50 $137.50 $1,614 ±0.00
1200 1200 1 137.00 $137.00 $1,644 +1.89
1325 1325 1 134.00 $134.00 $1,776 —
1370 1370 6 134.00 $134.00 $1,836 —
1445 1445 1 133.00 $133.00 $1,922 —
1484 1484 6 130.00 $130.00 $1,929 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
243 243 10 195.00 $195.00 $474 —
304 304 10 182.50 $182.50 $555 —
405 405 2 155.00 $155.00 $628 —
556–592 582 28 137.50–152.50 $147.93 $861 —
633 633 9 139.00 $139.00 $880 —
1000 1000 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,300 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
185 185 11 100.00 $100.00 $185 —
219 219 13 140.00 $140.00 $307 —
293 293 6 101.00 $101.00 $296 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1270–1573 1529 10 124.00–134.00 $125.68 $1,922 —
Large 2-3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
264 264 9 450.00 $450.00 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985 985 1 77.50 $77.50 $763 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
271–276 272 44 232.50–237.50 $236.12 $642 —
321–338 327 138 225.00–255.00 $231.70 $758 —
350–390 375 93 240.00–252.00 $246.81 $926 —
418–430 418 53 230.00–235.00 $234.90 $982 —
465–495 466 24 200.00–215.00 $200.66 $935 —
543 543 18 200.00 $200.00 $1,086 —
627–645 632 7 165.00 $165.00 $1,043 —
683 683 34 158.00 $158.00 $1,079 —
727 727 3 148.00 $148.00 $1,076 —
755 755 1 147.50 $147.50 $1,114 —
916 916 5 136.00 $136.00 $1,246 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
281 281 28 207.50 $207.50 $583 —
300–336 318 91 185.00–210.00 $196.36 $624 —
359–384 372 16 170.00–180.00 $174.83 $650 —
406 406 52 170.00 $170.00 $690 —
486–493 491 45 155.00–160.00 $156.54 $769 —
507–525 508 61 157.50–165.00 $159.60 $811 —
571–595 577 28 145.00–160.00 $150.61 $869 —
601–648 609 50 140.00–152.50 $149.49 $910 —
828 828 5 110.00 $110.00 $911 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
274–295 276 30 260.00–270.00 $261.07 $721 —
308–325 318 57 262.50–290.00 $270.90 $861 —
362–395 373 48 275.00–276.00 $275.65 $1,028 —
402–415 407 20 245.00–247.50 $245.89 $1,001 —
480–496 487 9 240.00–300.00 $267.15 $1,301 —
526–535 533 41 225.00–232.50 $226.26 $1,206 —
578–597 584 9 200.00–210.00 $206.59 $1,206 —
613–648 638 35 180.00–202.50 $193.98 $1,238 —
668–679 674 16 187.50–195.00 $191.22 $1,289 —
710–745 739 14 163.00–175.00 $170.19 $1,258 —
820 820 17 165.50 $165.50 $1,357 —
942 942 17 162.00 $162.00 $1,526 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
180 180 1 210.00 $210.00 $378 —
231 231 18 130.00 $130.00 $300 —
305–315 313 11 150.00–171.00 $163.43 $512 —
519 519 4 132.50 $132.50 $688 —
Large 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
273 273 8 460.00 $460.00 —

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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.