Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 1, 2024

4,986 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $230.01/cwt ≈ $1,672/hd at 727 lb · 225 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $248.40/cwt ≈ $1,811/hd at 729 lb · 163 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $336.76/cwt ≈ $1,740/hd at 517 lb · 154 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,986 395 6,727
Feeder cattle 4,530 112 5,627
Slaughter cattle 456 283 1,100

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 3 Colorado auction markets included: Livestock Exchange, Centennial Livestock, and Sterling Livestock. Trade activity and demand light to good. No comparable trades this week on feeder steers and heifers as we come off the holiday break from last week. Auction markets this week kicked off their Stock Show Specials with price levels trending sharply higher than what was seen prior to the holidays. Dairy feeder heifers over 950 lbs sold mostly 1.00 to 3.00 higher. Average dressing slaughter cows and bulls sold steady to 3.00 higher. The next available report will be Monday, January 15, 2024.

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
369 369 5 307.50 $307.50 $1,135 —
411–446 431 60 374.00–375.00 $374.41 $1,614 —
461–465 461 45 275.00–361.00 $357.15 $1,646 —
508 fancy 508 64 347.50 $347.50 $1,765 —
507–547 523 90 320.00–336.00 $329.13 $1,721 —
557–586 576 69 262.50–312.50 $306.24 $1,764 —
603–605 fancy 603 51 300.00–303.00 $302.35 $1,823 —
600–638 622 86 284.00–297.50 $288.98 $1,797 —
653 fancy 653 35 282.50 $282.50 $1,845 —
653–692 676 71 261.00–274.00 $266.27 $1,800 —
700–748 729 163 235.00–251.00 $248.40 $1,811 —
765–779 777 123 217.50–239.00 $237.14 $1,843 —
807–826 815 27 230.00–235.00 $232.75 $1,897 —
861–865 861 59 200.00–229.00 $228.13 $1,964 +15.63
939 939 10 214.00 $214.00 $2,009 —
1525 1525 1 105.00 $105.00 $1,601 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
334 334 4 330.00 $330.00 $1,102 —
356–396 371 23 353.00–362.50 $356.70 $1,323 —
432 unweaned 432 5 280.00 $280.00 $1,210 —
447 447 13 337.50 $337.50 $1,509 —
473 unweaned 473 6 297.50 $297.50 $1,407 —
486–495 492 54 322.50–336.00 $334.40 $1,645 —
536 unweaned 536 8 298.00 $298.00 $1,597 —
515–542 539 31 282.50–316.00 $304.76 $1,643 —
551–587 572 37 242.50–298.00 $288.15 $1,648 —
619–637 624 21 257.50–281.00 $269.44 $1,681 —
650–691 683 45 241.00–255.00 $253.40 $1,731 —
705 unweaned 705 2 221.00 $221.00 $1,558 —
700–743 729 3 200.00–207.50 $205.10 $1,495 —
779–795 781 9 173.00–224.00 $218.23 $1,704 —
873 873 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,484 —
910 910 1 147.50 $147.50 $1,342 —
1050 1050 1 147.50 $147.50 $1,549 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
306–322 313 12 297.50–302.50 $300.35 $940 —
443 443 24 297.50 $297.50 $1,318 —
494 494 4 317.50 $317.50 $1,568 —
545 545 4 297.50 $297.50 $1,621 —
596 596 4 262.00 $262.00 $1,562 —
647 647 5 251.00 $251.00 $1,624 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 435 3 322.50 $322.50 $1,403 —
469 469 7 315.00 $315.00 $1,477 —
595 595 3 288.00 $288.00 $1,714 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
406 406 5 302.50 $302.50 $1,228 —
566 566 4 286.00 $286.00 $1,619 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
265 265 5 725.00 $725.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
384 384 36 323.00 $323.00 $1,240 —
403–444 424 52 275.00–325.00 $313.63 $1,330 —
455–487 459 49 290.00–301.00 $293.75 $1,348 —
470–480 fancy 473 49 314.00–332.00 $318.85 $1,508 —
505–523 513 28 287.00–291.00 $289.20 $1,484 —
557–581 571 113 227.50–277.50 $268.61 $1,534 +43.61
600 600 16 238.00 $238.00 $1,428 —
602 fancy 602 22 252.50 $252.50 $1,520 —
606–648 628 100 225.00–241.00 $234.78 $1,474 —
651–691 675 63 197.00–234.00 $223.05 $1,506 —
706–748 727 225 195.00–238.00 $230.01 $1,672 —
775–792 788 35 216.00–225.00 $222.98 $1,757 —
804–805 805 27 216.00–217.50 $217.11 $1,748 —
975 975 5 157.50 $157.50 $1,536 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323–335 329 6 300.00–302.50 $301.23 $991 —
361–395 380 11 293.00–300.00 $296.97 $1,128 —
430–447 443 9 290.00–300.00 $295.32 $1,308 —
490 490 11 278.00 $278.00 $1,362 —
501–504 503 15 265.00–288.00 $275.70 $1,387 —
524 unweaned 524 5 260.00 $260.00 $1,362 —
554–592 580 19 248.00–257.50 $250.87 $1,455 —
606–649 626 11 200.00–252.00 $227.48 $1,424 —
626 unweaned 626 8 220.00 $220.00 $1,377 —
696–697 697 19 215.00–216.00 $215.42 $1,501 —
705–716 710 36 206.00–218.00 $212.17 $1,506 —
796 796 6 199.00 $199.00 $1,584 —
865 865 1 152.50 $152.50 $1,319 —
1000 1000 1 152.50 $152.50 $1,525 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
371 371 7 251.00 $251.00 $931 —
438 438 4 251.00 $251.00 $1,099 —
497 497 7 262.00 $262.00 $1,302 —
595–599 598 13 238.00–240.00 $238.31 $1,425 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
398 398 3 283.50 $283.50 $1,128 —
409–449 428 13 281.00–285.00 $283.82 $1,215 —
508 508 4 258.00 $258.00 $1,311 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
289 289 6 775.00 $775.00 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
905 905 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,267 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
397 397 3 330.00 $330.00 $1,310 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
870–1330 1144 80-85% 18 84.00–122.50 $108.35 $1,240 —
1080–1315 1173 80-85% 4 99.50–128.00 $114.87 $1,347 -14.13
1060–1845 1409 80-85% 125 78.50–90.00 $84.82 $1,195 +9.48
1130–1786 1522 80-85% 35 91.00–94.00 $92.17 $1,403 +3.04
1355–1760 1592 80-85% 5 70.00–77.50 $73.23 $1,166 -11.36
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
925–1220 1073 85-90% 2 72.50–82.50 $76.81 $824 —
965–1520 1192 85-90% 14 83.50–89.00 $86.05 $1,026 +45.51
845–1570 1240 85-90% 16 61.00–72.50 $67.81 $841 —
905–1560 1263 85-90% 91 74.00–83.00 $80.09 $1,012 -21.85
975–1500 1279 85-90% 24 30.00–60.00 $47.27 $605 -15.22
1060–1515 1376 85-90% 16 84.00–87.50 $84.88 $1,168 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1360 1360 75-80% 1 107.00 $107.00 $1,455 —
1345–1965 1619 75-80% 54 87.00–97.00 $93.80 $1,519 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1425–1776 1687 65-75% 10 98.50–105.00 $99.99 $1,687 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
980–1595 1251 4 57.50–77.50 $69.97 $875 —
995–2330 1770 4 97.50–103.50 $101.29 $1,793 —
1720–2140 1930 2 107.50–110.50 $109.16 $2,107 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
319–334 324 14 255.00–265.00 $258.68 $838 —
460 460 3 200.00 $200.00 $920 —
547 547 21 140.00 $140.00 $766 —
585–596 592 18 170.00–180.00 $176.16 $1,043 —
675 675 23 126.00–135.00 $131.87 $890 —
724–731 726 17 135.00–151.00 $140.14 $1,017 —
778–791 787 7 139.00–140.00 $139.72 $1,100 —
851–860 854 7 144.50–146.00 $144.93 $1,238 —
902–933 914 5 143.50–144.00 $143.80 $1,314 —
963–993 971 8 145.00–147.50 $146.01 $1,418 +2.51
1000–1036 1026 34 141.00–147.50 $145.68 $1,495 —
1055–1085 1078 28 142.50–147.50 $146.69 $1,581 +2.02
1120–1143 1130 13 134.00–148.00 $144.71 $1,635 —
1155–1186 1170 31 142.50–146.50 $144.87 $1,695 +1.37
1230–1233 1232 14 143.00–146.00 $145.46 $1,792 —
1263 1263 2 145.00 $145.00 $1,831 +2.50
1325–1343 1334 6 140.50–142.00 $141.26 $1,884 -1.24
1380–1385 1383 2 138.50–141.50 $140.00 $1,936 -1.75
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353 353 15 130.00 $130.00 $459 —
409 409 5 182.50 $182.50 $746 —
461–467 464 16 185.00–190.00 $187.48 $870 —
525–540 529 4 135.00–175.00 $164.79 $872 —
553–571 567 26 155.00–168.00 $158.38 $898 —
611 611 7 152.50 $152.50 $932 —
651 651 4 152.00 $152.00 $990 +26.00
715 715 25 147.00 $147.00 $1,051 —
916 916 4 135.00 $135.00 $1,237 —
950–983 976 9 133.00–136.00 $133.65 $1,304 —
1022 1022 13 126.00 $126.00 $1,288 —
1180 1180 1 139.50 $139.50 $1,646 —
1280 1280 2 131.00 $131.00 $1,677 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
319–349 342 22 275.00–280.00 $276.06 $944 —
358–396 366 50 252.50–277.50 $271.16 $992 —
419 419 5 242.50 $242.50 $1,016 —
459–498 474 8 217.50–232.50 $226.59 $1,074 —
956–985 965 10 146.00–150.50 $147.38 $1,422 —
1030 1030 11 145.00 $145.00 $1,494 —
1205–1222 1216 11 132.00–137.50 $135.52 $1,648 —
1253–1275 1260 6 130.00–132.00 $131.33 $1,655 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
287 287 3 170.00 $170.00 $488 —
310–344 333 9 170.00 $170.00 $566 —
410–438 431 8 120.00–125.00 $123.81 $534 —
457 457 16 155.00 $155.00 $708 —
534 534 6 155.00 $155.00 $828 —
553–574 562 28 140.00–149.00 $146.01 $821 —
625–639 636 10 125.00–130.00 $125.98 $801 —
802 802 3 110.00 $110.00 $882 —
886 886 10 124.00 $124.00 $1,099 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
329 329 14 137.50 $137.50 $452 —
360–387 379 10 135.00 $135.00 $512 —
410–438 420 17 115.00–136.00 $122.73 $515 —
502 502 3 129.00 $129.00 $648 —
Small 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
333–343 339 10 188.00–190.00 $188.79 $640 —
368 368 8 185.00 $185.00 $681 —
490 490 2 150.00 $150.00 $735 —
1130 1130 1 112.50 $112.50 $1,271 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
248 248 11 85.00 $85.00 $211 —
696 696 6 52.50 $52.50 $365 —
Large 3-4 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
310 310 9 250.00 $250.00 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
714 714 4 155.00 $155.00 $1,107 —
1035 1035 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,346 —
Medium 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
468 468 2 150.00 $150.00 $702 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
273 273 37 235.00 $235.00 $642 —
314–345 325 131 227.50–240.00 $233.16 $758 —
357–395 363 177 220.00–235.00 $232.67 $845 —
462 462 37 197.00 $197.00 $910 —
518–545 532 12 168.00–185.00 $176.28 $938 —
555–585 569 31 161.00–176.00 $173.01 $984 —
615–646 640 19 152.00–168.00 $165.34 $1,058 —
696 696 12 150.00 $150.00 $1,044 —
764 764 19 152.00 $152.00 $1,161 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
220–248 238 46 212.50–225.00 $213.00 $507 —
255–293 267 37 200.00–210.00 $206.45 $551 —
346 346 18 223.00 $223.00 $772 —
352 352 3 217.50 $217.50 $766 —
404–418 407 11 200.00–201.00 $200.81 $817 —
450–484 467 67 186.00–192.50 $189.48 $885 —
514 514 9 162.50 $162.50 $835 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
321–329 323 23 327.50–330.00 $328.05 $1,060 —
351–399 383 73 300.00–327.50 $319.64 $1,224 —
421–445 432 30 270.00–300.00 $279.56 $1,208 —
462–494 482 18 260.00–265.00 $263.03 $1,268 —
538–546 543 12 245.00–250.00 $247.92 $1,346 —
559–583 572 28 230.00–250.00 $236.13 $1,351 —
614 614 3 222.50 $222.50 $1,366 —
715 715 3 200.00 $200.00 $1,430 —
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
302–342 327 33 150.00–295.00 $244.79 $800 —
353–395 378 70 145.00–275.00 $200.47 $758 —
440–444 443 12 152.50–251.00 $185.14 $820 —
450 450 13 230.00 $230.00 $1,035 —
506 506 5 150.00 $150.00 $759 —
579 579 12 190.00–210.00 $203.33 $1,177 —
617 617 3 142.50 $142.50 $879 —
780 780 2 142.00 $142.00 $1,108 —
1170 1170 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,638 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
399 399 5 200.00 $200.00 $798 —
404–405 405 12 175.00–194.00 $184.49 $747 —
461 461 5 165.00 $165.00 $761 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,084 —
536 536 4 215.00 $215.00 $1,152 —
Small 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
382 382 3 42.50 $42.50 $162 —

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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.