Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 29, 2024

8,847 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 steers $244.80/cwt -1.42 vs last sale · ≈ $1,763/hd at 720 lb · 424 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $240.59/cwt +4.88 vs last sale · ≈ $1,609/hd at 669 lb · 361 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $268.03/cwt +6.17 vs last sale · ≈ $1,809/hd at 675 lb · 309 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 8,847 11,157 9,848
Feeder cattle 7,171 7,858 8,837
Slaughter cattle 1,263 1,634 991
Replacement cattle 413 1,665 20

Market comments — USDA reporter

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 across all weight classes sold mostly steady to 8.00 higher with instances of 13.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 650 lbs sold mostly 4.00 to 11.00 higher with instances of sharply higher, and heifers over 650 lbs sold uneven. Feeder dairy heifers over 900 lbs sold mostly 3.00 higher. Average dressing slaughter cows and bulls sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. The next available report will be Monday, February 12, 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
298 298 4 356.00 $356.00 $1,061 -4.00
304–340 326 31 345.00–389.00 $369.42 $1,204 +18.04
326–339 fancy 333 21 400.00–401.00 $400.53 $1,334 —
353 value added 353 3 395.00 $395.00 $1,394 —
363–371 thin fleshed 368 46 384.50–386.00 $385.01 $1,417 —
370–393 383 41 353.00–377.50 $363.43 $1,392 +7.08
393 393 2 352.50 $352.50 $1,385 -3.85
420 value added 420 7 354.00 $354.00 $1,487 —
413–447 431 138 317.00–373.00 $342.22 $1,475 +5.11
450–488 465 96 316.00–340.00 $330.41 $1,536 -0.30
471 value added 471 22 338.00 $338.00 $1,592 —
475–494 thin fleshed 494 81 334.00–335.00 $334.02 $1,650 —
507–525 thin fleshed 518 13 324.00–327.50 $326.18 $1,690 —
530 value added 530 59 330.00 $330.00 $1,749 —
508–543 533 74 312.00–328.00 $320.10 $1,706 +12.52
547 547 7 303.00 $303.00 $1,657 -4.58
555 fancy 555 31 319.00–340.00 $327.81 $1,819 +15.81
559 value added 559 18 312.00 $312.00 $1,744 —
551–594 576 207 289.00–312.00 $300.22 $1,729 +6.57
582 582 38 290.00 $290.00 $1,688 -3.65
605–648 626 195 281.00–295.00 $286.28 $1,792 -3.71
658 value added 658 36 271.00 $271.00 $1,783 —
651–697 677 273 257.00–279.00 $267.64 $1,812 +5.78
704 fancy 704 26 256.50 $256.50 $1,806 -9.50
717 value added 717 43 251.00 $251.00 $1,800 -4.50
700–748 722 355 235.00–252.00 $243.19 $1,756 +7.61
751–752 value added 752 22 238.00–239.50 $238.89 $1,796 —
764 fancy 764 25 239.00 $239.00 $1,826 -4.50
751–799 775 231 223.00–251.00 $231.90 $1,797 +3.06
802 802 6 213.00 $213.00 $1,708 -8.36
802–848 821 103 209.00–225.00 $220.04 $1,807 -1.32
820–846 value added 832 66 229.00–230.00 $229.54 $1,910 —
855 value added 855 95 230.00 $230.00 $1,966 —
852–899 879 48 216.00–217.50 $216.89 $1,906 +7.64
916 916 11 204.00 $204.00 $1,869 -4.00
962–998 965 25 193.00–210.00 $208.59 $2,013 —
1035 1035 10 198.00 $198.00 $2,049 —
1338 1338 3 158.00 $158.00 $2,114 —
1423 1423 2 158.00 $158.00 $2,248 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 3 340.00 $340.00 $1,105 +8.41
350–398 367 12 325.00–340.00 $333.40 $1,224 -6.93
403–443 422 16 302.00–340.00 $313.92 $1,325 +8.43
453–487 476 71 310.00–322.50 $312.86 $1,489 +0.10
517–549 531 71 283.00–305.00 $291.64 $1,549 -0.10
553–599 578 106 274.00–295.00 $283.33 $1,638 +5.44
600–648 630 91 260.00–281.00 $273.31 $1,722 +5.47
656–698 684 134 242.00–262.00 $248.39 $1,699 +5.89
745 745 2 223.00 $223.00 $1,661 -4.41
790 790 2 219.00 $219.00 $1,730 +1.50
908 908 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,680 -20.00
953–984 970 9 185.00–191.00 $187.62 $1,820 +13.62
1168 1168 5 167.00 $167.00 $1,951 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 2 292.00 $292.00 $1,139 +4.74
413–420 416 5 271.00–282.00 $275.44 $1,146 -7.82
465–499 490 35 221.00–306.00 $257.54 $1,262 -26.70
501 501 4 230.00 $230.00 $1,152 -35.85
552–593 569 33 236.00–256.00 $247.61 $1,409 -8.87
602–640 627 56 240.00–264.00 $252.17 $1,581 +4.12
652–691 675 66 228.50–238.00 $230.31 $1,555 -3.13
984 984 16 177.00 $177.00 $1,742 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
341 341 5 311.00 $311.00 $1,061 —
370 fancy 370 2 350.00 $350.00 $1,295 —
410 fancy 410 3 315.00 $315.00 $1,292 —
455 455 4 300.00 $300.00 $1,365 -6.00
518–543 526 6 243.00–293.00 $275.81 $1,451 -3.19
576 576 4 256.00 $256.00 $1,475 —
631–641 634 19 245.00–275.00 $267.01 $1,693 —
652–693 657 16 240.00–246.00 $245.21 $1,611 —
797 797 3 200.00 $200.00 $1,594 —
818 818 8 214.50 $214.50 $1,755 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
472–479 478 23 271.00–325.00 $318.05 $1,520 —
543 543 7 260.00 $260.00 $1,412 —
663 663 9 221.00 $221.00 $1,465 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
523 523 3 245.00 $245.00 $1,281 —
736 736 4 195.00 $195.00 $1,435 —
778 778 2 197.50 $197.50 $1,537 —
1037 1037 3 172.00 $172.00 $1,784 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
301 fancy 301 4 387.50 $387.50 $1,166 +40.00
300–340 316 40 300.00–368.00 $328.04 $1,037 +24.37
321 321 4 345.00 $345.00 $1,107 +41.33
355 fancy 355 22 367.50 $367.50 $1,305 +35.50
350–383 365 35 315.00–328.00 $317.86 $1,160 +18.50
387 387 14 307.50 $307.50 $1,190 +8.14
406–426 thin fleshed 413 36 311.00–313.00 $312.55 $1,291 +10.86
408–449 430 71 297.50–310.00 $301.60 $1,297 +7.39
433 fancy 433 15 317.50 $317.50 $1,375 -4.50
446 value added 446 26 317.50 $317.50 $1,416 +4.47
465–466 thin fleshed 465 28 296.00–297.00 $296.46 $1,379 —
473 fancy 473 12 328.00 $328.00 $1,551 +29.00
458–498 482 141 279.00–305.00 $287.75 $1,387 -0.72
522 fancy 522 23 298.00 $298.00 $1,556 —
510–546 thin fleshed 525 39 280.00–286.00 $282.94 $1,485 —
503–546 528 190 258.00–302.50 $280.84 $1,483 +10.97
548 548 8 260.00 $260.00 $1,425 -9.87
558–574 thin fleshed 564 102 265.00–272.50 $268.92 $1,517 —
554–574 fancy 569 37 263.00–293.00 $285.90 $1,627 —
553–596 574 148 245.00–277.00 $258.71 $1,485 +8.76
601–640 614 228 239.00–249.00 $244.77 $1,503 +8.51
623–632 thin fleshed 627 67 252.00–256.00 $253.69 $1,591 —
636–645 639 9 232.00–232.50 $232.17 $1,484 -4.09
654–673 thin fleshed 668 79 244.00–246.50 $245.87 $1,642 —
653–688 669 282 232.00–249.00 $239.11 $1,600 +3.40
708–735 718 160 214.00–229.00 $223.08 $1,602 +0.05
752–783 768 162 198.00–220.00 $211.69 $1,626 -7.31
813 fancy 813 6 218.00 $218.00 $1,772 —
821–828 826 14 202.50–206.00 $205.01 $1,693 -5.99
867–895 881 6 191.50–200.00 $195.68 $1,724 +13.77
914–926 920 29 185.00–193.00 $189.00 $1,739 +1.50
1022 1022 12 175.00 $175.00 $1,788 —
1125 1125 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,800 —
1205 1205 2 158.00 $158.00 $1,904 —
1390 1390 2 150.00 $150.00 $2,085 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
317–348 339 14 282.00–310.00 $288.33 $977 -3.16
359–394 374 12 285.00–300.00 $293.41 $1,097 +11.29
402–445 431 34 278.00–295.00 $288.24 $1,242 +16.24
470–489 480 17 268.00–278.00 $273.70 $1,314 +1.59
507–547 531 60 246.00–270.00 $254.41 $1,351 -1.31
560–595 581 57 231.00–260.00 $248.24 $1,442 +9.39
611–645 630 41 225.00–237.50 $230.87 $1,454 +4.77
654–695 673 125 191.00–232.00 $224.27 $1,509 +10.46
706–737 727 43 210.00–220.00 $216.82 $1,576 +8.97
773–778 777 13 207.00–207.50 $207.08 $1,609 +5.59
821–823 822 21 175.00–192.50 $187.49 $1,541 +2.98
865 865 1 176.00 $176.00 $1,522 —
904 904 5 175.00 $175.00 $1,582 —
1351 1351 5 152.00 $152.00 $2,054 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
418 fancy 418 4 279.00 $279.00 $1,166 —
428 428 3 252.00 $252.00 $1,079 —
470–498 490 16 275.00–305.00 $295.69 $1,449 —
499 fancy 499 20 280.00 $280.00 $1,397 —
512–520 514 29 239.00–252.50 $249.67 $1,283 +14.27
585 fancy 585 16 249.00 $249.00 $1,457 —
714 714 8 215.00 $215.00 $1,535 —
753 753 3 198.00 $198.00 $1,491 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
283 283 6 300.00 $300.00 $849 +23.46
338 338 3 290.00 $290.00 $980 +19.44
350–385 370 13 212.00–280.00 $248.82 $921 -10.60
406–448 422 31 242.50–270.00 $263.70 $1,113 +6.19
458–495 478 20 225.00–264.00 $253.58 $1,212 +1.15
547 547 10 242.00 $242.00 $1,324 -3.03
955 955 1 151.00 $151.00 $1,442 +8.00
1030 1030 1 152.00 $152.00 $1,566 —
1080 1080 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,620 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
677–688 682 10 212.50–220.00 $214.74 $1,465 —
906–948 924 24 170.00–173.00 $172.60 $1,595 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1310 1310 1 143.00 $143.00 $1,873 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
342 342 3 332.50 $332.50 $1,137 —
474–488 478 7 261.00–300.00 $288.62 $1,380 -4.38
550 550 6 271.00 $271.00 $1,490 —
688 688 5 228.00 $228.00 $1,569 +20.00
700 700 3 214.00 $214.00 $1,498 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
681–693 686 10 187.50–209.00 $196.19 $1,346 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–1530 1124 85-90% 69 52.00–86.00 $77.20 $868 —
965–1288 1124 85-90% 22 95.00–112.50 $100.29 $1,127 —
825–1275 1144 85-90% 45 100.00–126.50 $102.81 $1,176 —
870–1475 1174 85-90% 219 90.00–104.00 $94.79 $1,113 -5.97
870–1690 1281 85-90% 181 84.00–99.00 $92.04 $1,179 +33.11
945–1590 1286 85-90% 15 42.50–71.00 $60.55 $779 +1.62
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1123–1640 1271 80-85% 123 91.00–114.00 $102.41 $1,302 -12.44
900–1495 1298 80-85% 52 101.00–145.00 $109.04 $1,415 +3.75
1010–1518 1308 80-85% 90 100.00–120.00 $109.60 $1,434 +6.63
1040–1835 1454 80-85% 160 83.00–105.00 $99.49 $1,447 —
1470–1560 1505 80-85% 3 81.00–91.50 $86.26 $1,298 -3.02
1550–1830 1690 80-85% 2 55.00–77.50 $67.18 $1,135 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1524–1625 1542 75-80% 11 107.00–107.50 $107.40 $1,656 +2.27
1505–1785 1594 75-80% 30 98.00–114.50 $107.72 $1,717 +2.39
1290–1965 1609 75-80% 55 91.00–109.50 $103.89 $1,672 +8.89
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1675–1960 1859 65-75% 13 96.00–112.50 $109.65 $2,038 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1255 1138 2 110.00–147.50 $126.81 $1,443 —
1360–1810 1608 7 85.00–102.00 $95.93 $1,543 —
1210–2185 1707 23 101.00–120.00 $111.71 $1,907 —
1080–2400 1855 40 111.00–134.50 $121.83 $2,260 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
710–785 746 (<2 yrs)Open 6 151.00–190.00 $170.00 $1,268
725–775 fancy 750 (<2 yrs)Open 2 205.00–212.50 $208.88 $1,567
800–935 fancy 850 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 7 200.00–207.50 $204.03 $1,734
700–1365 928 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 249 151.00–196.00 $168.09 $1,560
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
710 710 (<2 yrs)Open 1 111.00 $111.00 $788
880–1419 1184 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 24 111.00–123.00 $118.54 $1,404
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
710 710 (<2 yrs)Open 1 138.00 $138.00 $980
920–1050 976 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 15 133.00–150.00 $142.15 $1,387

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
920 920 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00
1011 fancy 1011 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 17 2,125.00 $2,125.00
1226 1226 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,275.00 $1,275.00
1135–1590 1321 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 1,525.00–1,800.00 $1,649.01
1168–1515 1342 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,700.00–1,875.00 $1,767.73
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
975 975 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
1090–1245 1200 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,175.00–1,300.00 $1,216.22
1203–1500 1280 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,075.00–1,400.00 $1,211.33
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
603–660 622 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 485.00–525.00 $499.15
1085–1115 1100 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 975.00–1,050.00 $1,013.01
1170 1170 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,150.00 $1,150.00
1179 1179 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,075.00 $1,075.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
823 823 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,510.00 $1,510.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1200 1200 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,425.00 $2,425.00 —
1255 1255 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,750.00 $1,750.00 —
1375 1375 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,975.00 $1,975.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
616 616 5 185.00 $185.00 $1,140 —
790 790 2 145.00 $145.00 $1,146 —
920 920 1 153.50 $153.50 $1,412 +2.75
965–990 970 5 154.50 $154.50 $1,499 +2.50
1010 1010 1 152.00 $152.00 $1,535 +0.90
1050–1075 1069 19 153.50–155.00 $154.60 $1,653 +1.60
1100–1140 1107 43 151.00–155.50 $154.88 $1,715 +3.70
1153–1190 1172 19 152.00–155.50 $153.76 $1,802 +2.86
1200–1235 1212 3 153.50 $153.50 $1,860 +3.00
1265 1265 1 151.50 $151.50 $1,916 —
1315–1320 1318 2 148.00–152.50 $150.25 $1,980 -1.01
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420 420 4 160.00 $160.00 $672 —
533 533 4 147.50 $147.50 $786 —
562 562 6 142.50 $142.50 $801 —
615 615 1 145.00 $145.00 $892 —
745 745 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,043 —
1140 1140 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,710 +14.97

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Dairy Steers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
684 684 11 165.00 $165.00 $1,129 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
950 950 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,025.00 $2,025.00 —

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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.