Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 8, 2024

16,989 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 steers $257.59/cwt -14.04 vs last sale · ≈ $1,720/hd at 668 lb · 800 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $229.81/cwt -7.33 vs last sale · ≈ $1,761/hd at 766 lb · 746 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $295.31/cwt -10.93 vs last sale · ≈ $1,689/hd at 572 lb · 691 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 16,989 4,986 32,159
Feeder cattle 15,490 4,530 30,520
Slaughter cattle 1,172 456 1,516
Replacement cattle 327 — 123

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 5 Colorado auction markets included: Centennial Livestock, Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, Sterling Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Trade activity and demand were moderate to good. This week marked the second week of stock show specials. Feeder steers under 500 lbs sold sharply lower, 500-750 lbs 10.00 to 15.00 lower, and over 750 lbs mostly 15.00 to 18.00 lower. Feeder heifers under 450 lbs sold sharply lower, 450-700 lbs mostly unevenly steady, and over 700 lbs sharply lower. Dairy feeder heifers over 750 lbs sold mostly steady to 4.00 higher. Average dressing slaughter cows and bulls sold mostly 3.00 to 5.00 higher. The next available report will be Monday, January 22, 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
267–291 287 20 350.00–355.00 $350.70 $1,007 —
322 value added 322 5 362.00 $362.00 $1,166 —
338 thin fleshed 338 8 356.00 $356.00 $1,203 —
325–343 340 34 339.00–351.00 $349.17 $1,187 —
354 fancy 354 36 392.50 $392.50 $1,389 —
355–396 383 110 353.00–400.00 $378.50 $1,450 +71.00
403 value added 403 6 345.00 $345.00 $1,390 —
409 fancy 409 9 375.00 $375.00 $1,534 —
420 thin fleshed 420 118 342.00 $342.00 $1,436 —
405–441 430 96 320.00–395.00 $342.04 $1,471 -32.37
465 thin fleshed 465 15 324.00 $324.00 $1,507 —
453–485 473 192 313.00–355.00 $339.42 $1,605 -17.73
469–491 unweaned 484 100 335.00–338.00 $337.10 $1,632 —
500–536 517 275 280.00–341.00 $315.59 $1,632 -13.54
550–588 569 595 260.00–328.00 $296.69 $1,688 -9.55
589–594 unweaned 589 96 280.00–287.50 $286.79 $1,689 —
600–609 fancy 608 92 293.00 $293.00 $1,781 -9.35
623 thin fleshed 623 9 271.00 $271.00 $1,688 —
602–646 624 469 241.00–304.00 $273.57 $1,707 -15.41
623–638 unweaned 630 36 270.00 $270.00 $1,701 —
658 fancy 658 20 259.00 $259.00 $1,704 -23.50
658 thin fleshed 658 77 264.50 $264.50 $1,740 —
653–685 669 703 239.00–274.00 $256.79 $1,718 -9.48
700–749 724 497 218.00–247.00 $237.41 $1,719 -10.99
705–737 thin fleshed 727 82 230.00–231.00 $230.90 $1,679 —
750–795 766 721 208.00–238.00 $230.68 $1,767 -6.46
773 value added 773 6 216.00 $216.00 $1,670 —
775 775 19 201.00 $201.00 $1,558 -36.14
808 unweaned 808 2 218.00 $218.00 $1,761 —
801–842 825 213 201.00–231.00 $217.55 $1,795 -15.20
824–841 thin fleshed 837 95 221.00–224.00 $223.32 $1,869 —
850–898 870 92 196.00–226.00 $210.38 $1,830 -17.75
871 thin fleshed 871 102 216.50 $216.50 $1,886 —
900–941 915 19 198.50–201.00 $199.45 $1,825 -14.55
968 968 2 213.00 $213.00 $2,062 —
1005–1030 1019 8 170.00–204.00 $182.50 $1,860 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
256 256 7 365.00 $365.00 $934 —
346 346 6 323.00 $323.00 $1,118 -7.00
350–395 373 53 325.00–370.00 $343.95 $1,283 -12.75
418–442 429 63 308.00–327.50 $318.40 $1,366 -19.10
454–497 476 118 301.00–325.00 $312.24 $1,486 -22.16
493 unweaned 493 7 297.50 $297.50 $1,467 ±0.00
512 unweaned 512 3 282.00 $282.00 $1,444 -16.00
515–524 thin fleshed 521 6 283.00–286.00 $283.99 $1,480 —
501–549 531 208 266.00–322.50 $297.27 $1,579 -7.49
550–599 576 406 252.50–301.00 $290.47 $1,673 +2.32
600–649 634 267 223.00–279.00 $265.50 $1,683 -3.94
651–699 675 291 226.00–260.00 $245.53 $1,657 -7.87
687 unweaned 687 3 236.00 $236.00 $1,621 —
715–749 723 88 214.50–230.00 $222.88 $1,611 +17.78
749 unweaned 749 5 195.00 $195.00 $1,461 —
751–799 785 168 196.00–225.50 $219.52 $1,723 +1.29
810–842 833 44 200.00–218.00 $204.84 $1,706 —
905 905 3 185.00 $185.00 $1,674 +37.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
270 270 2 325.00 $325.00 $878 —
303–337 322 24 282.50–340.00 $305.04 $982 +4.69
362–398 388 32 290.00–314.00 $310.23 $1,204 —
409–449 432 19 276.00–303.00 $285.33 $1,233 -12.17
458–498 476 139 243.00–302.50 $277.09 $1,319 -40.41
500–549 532 91 226.00–294.00 $268.58 $1,429 -28.92
560–598 588 49 243.00–267.00 $263.10 $1,547 +1.10
641 641 19 252.00–257.00 $253.84 $1,627 +2.84
727–748 741 25 193.00–213.00 $204.13 $1,513 —
766–787 777 25 182.50–205.00 $199.76 $1,552 —
868 868 3 182.00 $182.00 $1,580 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
356–362 358 9 301.00–312.50 $304.88 $1,091 —
430 430 3 300.00 $300.00 $1,290 —
463 463 14 284.00 $284.00 $1,315 —
520–533 529 10 260.00–266.00 $264.23 $1,398 —
575–595 583 20 240.00–292.50 $271.07 $1,580 —
603 603 7 256.00 $256.00 $1,544 —
651 value added 651 6 245.00 $245.00 $1,595 —
669–690 679 16 216.00–236.00 $226.53 $1,538 —
709–729 718 70 208.00–247.00 $240.41 $1,726 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
448 448 5 230.00 $230.00 $1,030 —
472–474 473 19 260.00–295.00 $278.38 $1,317 —
563–586 571 19 246.00–252.00 $248.27 $1,418 -37.73
633–641 640 60 232.00–258.00 $252.94 $1,619 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500–538 523 14 250.00–293.00 $269.65 $1,410 —
593 593 7 276.00 $276.00 $1,637 -12.00
694 694 7 248.00 $248.00 $1,721 —
775 775 2 192.50 $192.50 $1,492 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
291–293 292 9 925.00–950.00 $941.63 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
257–293 280 13 266.00–332.50 $306.14 $857 —
303–345 325 24 298.00–317.50 $309.37 $1,005 —
351–399 379 207 281.00–332.00 $294.67 $1,117 -28.33
406–447 429 265 265.00–310.00 $280.19 $1,202 -33.44
436 unweaned 436 51 300.00 $300.00 $1,308 —
438–443 thin fleshed 442 68 281.00–289.00 $288.07 $1,273 —
455–499 477 345 262.00–312.00 $294.38 $1,404 +0.63
506–511 unweaned 508 20 267.50–273.00 $269.44 $1,369 —
501–546 526 523 240.00–295.00 $279.87 $1,472 -9.33
550 unweaned 550 135 255.00 $255.00 $1,402 —
553–589 572 474 234.00–280.50 $266.42 $1,524 -2.19
609–620 unweaned 612 43 210.00–221.00 $218.15 $1,335 —
615 thin fleshed 615 22 238.00 $238.00 $1,464 —
600–644 621 573 220.00–259.00 $236.24 $1,467 +1.46
659 thin fleshed 659 40 234.00 $234.00 $1,542 —
675 unweaned 675 2 202.50 $202.50 $1,367 —
650–698 676 612 220.00–240.00 $226.91 $1,534 +3.86
703–737 727 166 203.00–222.00 $211.41 $1,537 -18.60
737 thin fleshed 737 7 211.00 $211.00 $1,555 —
743 743 25 188.00 $188.00 $1,397 -42.01
751–790 766 356 202.00–227.00 $207.97 $1,593 -15.01
813–849 829 9 192.00–195.00 $193.63 $1,605 -23.48
865–873 869 4 186.00–195.00 $190.52 $1,656 —
919 919 5 179.00 $179.00 $1,645 —
1004–1015 1010 11 164.00–169.00 $166.74 $1,684 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
334 334 4 282.00 $282.00 $942 -19.23
377 unweaned 377 6 265.00 $265.00 $999 —
364–392 383 82 267.00–312.50 $286.51 $1,097 -10.46
403–449 421 147 245.00–291.00 $269.84 $1,136 -25.48
451–495 483 274 237.00–295.00 $255.51 $1,234 -22.49
500–549 526 202 231.00–280.00 $247.39 $1,301 -28.31
550–599 581 294 219.00–262.00 $236.27 $1,373 -14.60
600–649 628 323 211.00–244.00 $233.90 $1,469 +6.42
650–693 674 128 210.00–227.00 $217.08 $1,463 +1.66
726–749 736 47 190.00–208.00 $203.64 $1,499 -8.53
766–798 783 261 194.00–212.00 $205.74 $1,611 +6.74
802 802 3 173.00 $173.00 $1,387 —
895–899 898 10 176.00–185.00 $182.31 $1,637 +29.81
910–933 927 7 153.00–170.00 $160.47 $1,488 —
970 970 1 145.00 $145.00 $1,406 —
1005 1005 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,508 -2.50
1080 1080 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,620 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
306–345 325 13 250.00–272.00 $265.61 $863 —
375–395 386 19 236.00–265.00 $255.77 $987 +4.77
413–438 428 52 215.00–244.00 $221.52 $948 -29.48
450–497 480 56 210.00–274.00 $241.02 $1,157 -20.98
500–543 524 71 223.50–262.00 $233.88 $1,226 —
575–598 589 32 211.00–237.50 $222.38 $1,310 -15.93
633 633 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,203 —
665–697 685 22 201.00–211.00 $203.91 $1,397 —
765 765 3 176.00 $176.00 $1,346 —
862 862 5 152.50 $152.50 $1,315 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
434 434 17 251.00 $251.00 $1,089 —
521–543 532 33 235.00–252.50 $237.33 $1,263 —
566–573 570 28 228.00–257.00 $243.62 $1,389 —
570 value added 570 2 236.00 $236.00 $1,345 —
630–633 632 22 220.00–225.00 $223.19 $1,411 —
677 677 49 225.00 $225.00 $1,523 —
703–742 737 49 201.00–205.00 $204.53 $1,507 —
845 845 2 180.00 $180.00 $1,521 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
610–640 626 17 194.00–238.00 $221.58 $1,387 —
696 696 10 201.00 $201.00 $1,399 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
436 436 7 256.00 $256.00 $1,116 —
490 490 4 251.00 $251.00 $1,230 —
503 503 10 252.50 $252.50 $1,270 —
553 553 6 201.00 $201.00 $1,112 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
483 483 4 257.50 $257.50 $1,244 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
422 422 7 289.00 $289.00 $1,220 —
500 500 6 260.00 $260.00 $1,300 —
573 573 2 191.00 $191.00 $1,094 —
688 688 7 216.00 $216.00 $1,486 —
745 745 2 187.50 $187.50 $1,397 —
775 775 5 182.00 $182.00 $1,410 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
515 515 3 245.00 $245.00 $1,262 —
560 560 10 267.50 $267.50 $1,498 —
690 690 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,484 —
724 724 4 213.00 $213.00 $1,542 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
576 576 4 223.00 $223.00 $1,284 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920–1175 1044 80-85% 11 111.00–142.50 $121.37 $1,267 —
920–1715 1232 80-85% 186 83.50–130.00 $94.97 $1,170 —
1220–1575 1373 80-85% 86 91.00–100.00 $93.32 $1,281 —
1307–1575 1403 80-85% 14 76.00–91.00 $80.56 $1,130 -4.26
1085–1860 1416 80-85% 284 80.00–92.50 $87.35 $1,237 +2.53
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835–1295 1005 85-90% 90 54.00–82.00 $72.60 $730 —
895–1615 1160 85-90% 199 73.00–90.00 $84.92 $985 -1.13
833–1641 1180 85-90% 62 85.00–96.00 $92.37 $1,090 +6.32
905–1501 1187 85-90% 22 81.00–117.50 $85.83 $1,019 -0.22
1210–1540 1371 85-90% 10 31.00–51.00 $45.89 $629 -38.99
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1415 1415 75-80% 1 111.00 $111.00 $1,571 —
1260–1540 1435 75-80% 3 76.00–81.00 $79.25 $1,137 —
1315–1745 1529 75-80% 41 86.00–97.50 $92.84 $1,420 —
1433–1695 1629 75-80% 47 91.00–100.00 $93.83 $1,528 +0.03
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1545–2105 1802 65-75% 6 94.00–101.00 $98.07 $1,767 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1425 1212 5 102.00–127.00 $117.59 $1,425 —
1130–1955 1586 8 86.00–99.00 $93.51 $1,483 —
1060–2300 1766 21 100.50–109.50 $106.02 $1,872 +4.73
1340–2430 1989 12 111.00–126.00 $114.60 $2,279 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
813–1115 897 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 125 160.00–182.50 $170.80 $1,532
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
679–778 721 (<2 yrs)Open 17 136.00–157.00 $145.57 $1,050
803–1171 1006 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 80 130.00–159.00 $145.51 $1,464
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
750–1493 1081 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 63 102.00–137.50 $117.71 $1,272

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
915–1280 1121 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,025.00–1,250.00 $1,133.50
1155 1155 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,100.00 $1,100.00
1373 1373 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,210.00 $1,210.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
715–990 822 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 685.00–850.00 $791.88
1034 1034 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 835.00 $835.00
1087 1087 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 950.00 $950.00
1115 1115 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 900.00 $900.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
760–925 867 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,225.00–1,350.00 $1,298.70
1052 1052 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,700.00 $1,700.00
1210 1210 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,325.00 $1,325.00
1340 1340 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,550.00 $1,550.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1160 1160 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,635.00 $1,635.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
765 765 1 141.00 $141.00 $1,079 +1.28
910–948 932 4 146.00–147.00 $146.50 $1,365 +2.70
960 960 3 147.00 $147.00 $1,411 +0.99
1020–1038 1032 6 145.50–147.00 $146.17 $1,508 +0.49
1060–1098 1082 22 145.50–146.50 $146.07 $1,580 -0.62
1110–1145 1126 4 146.00–146.50 $146.37 $1,648 +1.66
1178 1178 3 146.00 $146.00 $1,720 +1.13
1200 1200 1 144.50 $144.50 $1,734 -0.96
1280 1280 1 143.50 $143.50 $1,837 -1.50
1325–1329 1328 23 144.00–154.50 $145.83 $1,937 +4.57
1358–1398 1382 11 143.00–143.50 $143.09 $1,978 +3.09
1421–1424 1423 9 142.50–143.00 $142.72 $2,031 —
1461 1461 3 142.00 $142.00 $2,075 —
1500–1502 1502 6 133.00–137.00 $136.33 $2,048 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 1 117.50 $117.50 $634 -47.29
670–686 683 6 125.00–132.50 $131.27 $897 -20.73
749 749 4 138.00 $138.00 $1,034 -9.00
1118 1118 4 139.00 $139.00 $1,554 —
1290 1290 1 131.00 $131.00 $1,690 ±0.00
1508 1508 2 107.50 $107.50 $1,621 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
705 705 3 157.50 $157.50 $1,110 +2.50
945 945 2 167.00 $167.00 $1,578 —

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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.