Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 26, 2024

6,104 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $367.59/cwt +18.29 vs last sale · ≈ $1,735/hd at 472 lb · 266 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $259.19/cwt -8.50 vs last sale · ≈ $1,637/hd at 632 lb · 264 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $302.61/cwt +6.63 vs last sale · ≈ $1,594/hd at 527 lb · 250 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 6,104 7,187 6,481
Feeder cattle 5,199 5,838 5,160
Slaughter cattle 729 722 1,122
Replacement cattle 176 627 199

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 were moderate to good. Feeder steers under 450 lbs sold 3.00 higher, and 450-750 lbs steers were 11.00 to 19.00 higher. Trade mixed on a light test for feeder heifers under 450 lbs, 450-550 lbs sold 2.00 to 10.00 higher, and over 550 lbs sold mixed. Feeder dairy heifers over 900 lbs sold 1.00 to 5.00 higher. Average dressing slaughter cows sold 1.00 to 4.00 higher; average dressing slaughter bulls sold 16.00 lower. The next available report will be Monday, March 11, 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
268–292 fancy 283 17 422.50–445.00 $438.24 $1,240 +27.21
290 value added 290 3 410.00 $410.00 $1,189 —
303 fancy 303 3 435.00 $435.00 $1,318 +23.36
305–347 324 18 405.00–415.00 $411.27 $1,333 +17.05
350–381 fancy 360 42 400.00–407.50 $404.86 $1,457 -10.64
362–385 369 45 375.00–392.50 $381.42 $1,407 -6.37
407–433 value added 419 16 380.00–390.00 $384.20 $1,610 +7.07
400–445 428 72 360.00–377.50 $366.84 $1,570 +3.49
428 fancy 428 6 400.00 $400.00 $1,712 —
451–498 471 167 335.00–370.00 $360.02 $1,696 +18.83
473 thin fleshed 473 72 387.50 $387.50 $1,833 +29.58
468–483 value added 475 27 359.00–365.00 $361.29 $1,716 +14.41
500–548 530 127 325.00–340.00 $331.72 $1,758 +16.72
570 fancy 570 11 303.00 $303.00 $1,727 -28.00
552–582 value added 574 30 315.00–317.50 $315.49 $1,811 —
559–597 575 154 287.00–338.00 $314.39 $1,808 +12.68
601–639 629 99 274.00–308.00 $299.84 $1,886 +12.07
650–685 659 124 260.00–282.00 $274.69 $1,810 +10.81
700 thin fleshed 700 14 260.50 $260.50 $1,824 -5.14
700–747 733 198 241.00–275.00 $256.88 $1,883 +4.21
757–771 value added 760 38 247.00–250.50 $248.78 $1,891 +0.28
760–780 768 66 227.00–242.50 $233.60 $1,794 -7.33
801–815 807 20 228.00–235.50 $231.73 $1,870 -7.08
861–883 865 77 223.00–243.50 $238.64 $2,064 +9.56
927–928 927 15 210.00–227.00 $212.27 $1,968 —
1049 1049 4 182.50 $182.50 $1,914 —
1104 1104 4 182.00 $182.00 $2,009 —
1485 1485 3 167.50 $167.50 $2,487 —
1577 1577 3 155.00 $155.00 $2,444 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
344 344 7 385.00 $385.00 $1,324 —
366–391 386 39 330.00–365.00 $356.13 $1,375 -9.87
409–447 427 17 337.50–350.00 $345.13 $1,474 -5.33
459–498 471 21 320.00–345.00 $330.30 $1,556 +11.62
523–528 526 6 302.00–306.00 $304.01 $1,599 +0.88
567–587 575 65 270.00–322.50 $305.32 $1,756 +23.65
603–649 630 59 261.00–304.50 $282.55 $1,780 +13.88
654–697 685 45 241.00–258.00 $248.84 $1,705 -4.58
715–742 732 39 234.00–257.00 $252.61 $1,849 +11.84
767–776 770 55 221.00–231.00 $225.38 $1,735 —
847 847 8 229.00 $229.00 $1,940 -6.25
975 975 2 177.50 $177.50 $1,731 —
1218 1218 3 139.50 $139.50 $1,699 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
426–436 428 19 275.00–312.50 $283.04 $1,211 —
464–498 467 24 281.00–320.00 $316.12 $1,476 —
529–548 535 20 276.00–302.00 $287.37 $1,537 +16.98
558–597 589 28 254.00–307.00 $291.39 $1,716 —
602 602 6 250.00 $250.00 $1,505 -8.58
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
387 fancy 387 3 366.00 $366.00 $1,416 —
459 fancy 459 3 348.00 $348.00 $1,597 —
533–549 543 23 285.00–322.50 $309.74 $1,682 +10.38
625–636 632 6 254.00–260.00 $255.98 $1,618 -10.02
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
297 297 13 1,150.00 $1,150.00 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
526 526 12 321.00 $321.00 $1,688 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 3 275.00 $275.00 $1,279 —
573–587 581 5 260.00–287.50 $270.84 $1,574 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 480 2 293.00 $293.00 $1,406 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
248 248 8 410.00 $410.00 $1,017 —
280 fancy 280 5 422.50 $422.50 $1,183 +20.27
304–335 value added 323 10 367.50–395.00 $384.63 $1,242 +9.64
300–340 326 48 317.00–360.00 $337.19 $1,099 -8.52
310–344 fancy 327 15 390.00–420.00 $407.64 $1,333 +18.96
369 thin fleshed 369 6 340.00 $340.00 $1,255 -9.20
363–377 fancy 372 36 345.00–407.50 $361.93 $1,346 +10.93
351–398 381 84 307.50–395.00 $342.72 $1,306 +16.23
404–436 value added 424 22 340.00–345.00 $341.73 $1,449 —
405–448 438 113 320.00–331.00 $324.11 $1,420 -9.59
472 fancy 472 84 328.00 $328.00 $1,548 -4.62
455–495 474 68 277.50–315.00 $300.25 $1,423 +1.57
456–497 thin fleshed 480 66 310.00–316.00 $313.44 $1,505 —
500–520 value added 513 34 311.00–312.00 $311.66 $1,599 —
500–548 529 216 285.00–305.00 $301.19 $1,593 +9.83
554 fancy 554 8 300.00 $300.00 $1,662 -3.35
553–586 value added 564 58 276.00–288.00 $286.22 $1,614 —
552–599 580 133 260.00–281.50 $271.62 $1,575 -5.52
608 value added 608 5 266.00 $266.00 $1,617 —
603–648 632 259 250.00–268.00 $259.06 $1,637 -8.63
654 thin fleshed 654 7 261.00 $261.00 $1,707 —
651–664 value added 661 39 251.00–258.00 $256.59 $1,696 +9.59
654–696 671 134 236.00–259.50 $249.60 $1,675 +16.50
706 thin fleshed 706 7 243.00 $243.00 $1,716 —
703–749 726 118 225.00–239.00 $233.38 $1,694 +2.32
759–768 thin fleshed 760 23 228.00–235.00 $234.08 $1,779 —
762–796 778 28 215.00–232.00 $222.30 $1,729 -3.76
829–832 831 86 214.00–217.00 $214.90 $1,786 —
862 862 10 210.00 $210.00 $1,810 —
947 947 3 199.00 $199.00 $1,885 —
1290 1290 1 162.00 $162.00 $2,090 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 2 320.00 $320.00 $1,088 -14.00
388–392 391 22 292.50–330.00 $309.12 $1,209 —
400–443 416 45 295.00–312.00 $302.02 $1,256 -4.91
453–496 472 61 272.00–294.00 $282.34 $1,333 -4.62
505–547 530 62 251.00–285.00 $270.98 $1,436 -1.04
555–590 573 13 246.00–260.00 $254.15 $1,456 +3.32
608–638 625 43 242.50–250.00 $247.86 $1,549 +6.80
651–692 672 15 232.50–242.50 $236.67 $1,590 +12.22
753 753 5 210.00–212.50 $211.00 $1,589 -5.00
845 845 6 204.00 $204.00 $1,724 —
890 890 1 167.50 $167.50 $1,491 —
965–990 980 10 160.00–170.00 $168.25 $1,649 —
1125 1125 1 144.00 $144.00 $1,620 -22.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383 383 11 315.00 $315.00 $1,206 -10.00
445 445 5 290.00 $290.00 $1,290 -7.84
445–447 thin fleshed 447 50 316.00–318.00 $317.88 $1,421 —
454 fancy 454 17 295.00 $295.00 $1,339 —
488 488 3 279.00 $279.00 $1,362 —
511 511 4 262.00 $262.00 $1,339 -3.00
558–590 575 31 232.00–267.00 $250.46 $1,440 +10.54
633 633 10 248.00 $248.00 $1,570 +22.50
635–642 thin fleshed 637 11 251.00–252.00 $251.27 $1,601 —
735 735 17 216.00 $216.00 $1,588 -2.03
797 thin fleshed 797 23 227.00 $227.00 $1,809 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 2 305.00 $305.00 $1,190 —
406–410 408 12 279.00–286.00 $280.91 $1,146 -21.62
460–499 472 29 246.00–277.50 $271.97 $1,284 —
528 528 2 259.00 $259.00 $1,368 +11.72
576–599 590 16 234.00–255.00 $240.72 $1,420 +9.72
600–648 629 18 227.50–230.00 $229.29 $1,442 +14.96
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
361–364 363 10 275.00–277.50 $275.75 $1,001 —
542 542 15 288.00 $288.00 $1,561 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 6 235.00 $235.00 $1,140 —
659 659 4 202.50 $202.50 $1,334 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
208 208 10 650.00 $650.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
261 261 8 850.00 $850.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
300 300 3 975.00 $975.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
273 fancy 273 2 420.00 $420.00 $1,147 —
427 thin fleshed 427 12 357.50 $357.50 $1,527 —
502 502 8 315.00 $315.00 $1,581 —
570–580 575 4 272.00–282.50 $277.30 $1,594 -7.70
600 thin fleshed 600 14 284.00 $284.00 $1,704 —
716 716 4 229.00 $229.00 $1,640 —
796 796 9 213.00 $213.00 $1,695 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
396 396 4 372.50 $372.50 $1,475 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
860–1435 1095 85-90% 93 101.00–145.00 $110.51 $1,210 +4.81
693–1525 1100 85-90% 30 71.00–91.00 $83.55 $919 -19.18
880–1560 1169 85-90% 37 93.00–111.50 $103.76 $1,213 +3.12
940–1360 1182 85-90% 21 104.00–131.00 $115.36 $1,364 +14.72
795–1560 1244 85-90% 85 83.00–105.00 $98.40 $1,224 +1.88
775–1597 1306 85-90% 22 37.50–77.50 $62.58 $817 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1620 1275 80-85% 48 105.00–132.00 $119.68 $1,526 —
1085–1440 1331 80-85% 40 104.00–140.00 $114.10 $1,519 +2.33
1255–1725 1397 80-85% 12 90.00–100.00 $97.48 $1,362 —
1200–1670 1409 80-85% 5 116.50–123.00 $119.51 $1,684 +7.38
1040–1847 1461 80-85% 128 89.00–115.00 $111.00 $1,622 —
1740 1740 80-85% 1 72.50 $72.50 $1,262 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1400–1480 1440 75-80% 2 124.50–143.00 $134.01 $1,930 —
1335–1675 1506 75-80% 5 114.50–136.00 $121.77 $1,834 —
1494–1640 1541 75-80% 22 105.00–121.00 $115.61 $1,782 —
1415–2055 1687 75-80% 18 84.00–120.50 $113.72 $1,918 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1585 1585 65-75% 1 128.00 $128.00 $2,029 —
1340–1925 1664 65-75% 9 121.00–131.00 $125.11 $2,082 —
1535–2000 1720 65-75% 3 134.00–139.00 $135.88 $2,337 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1600 1600 1 92.00 $92.00 $1,472 —
1050–2295 1635 17 116.00–137.00 $128.24 $2,097 —
1180–2175 1682 3 96.50–108.00 $103.04 $1,733 -16.47

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
808 fancy 808 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 231.00 $231.00 $1,866
755–872 thin fleshed 839 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 44 201.00–230.00 $210.14 $1,763
725–1135 936 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 45 161.00–199.00 $183.55 $1,718
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
810–1113 995 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 21 132.50–159.00 $147.90 $1,472
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
925–1198 1106 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 121.00–132.50 $127.05 $1,405

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1148–1305 1179 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,210.00–1,350.00 $1,240.98
1227 1227 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 1,285.00 $1,285.00
1277 1277 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,475.00 $1,475.00
1285 1285 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,425.00 $1,425.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1190 1190 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,675.00 $1,675.00
1155–1240 1198 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,750.00–1,950.00 $1,853.55
1090–1433 1319 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,525.00–1,650.00 $1,559.44
1380 1380 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,675.00 $1,675.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
910 910 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,625.00 $1,625.00
910–1075 993 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,675.00–1,825.00 $1,743.77
1225 1225 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,650.00 $1,650.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
725 725 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,375.00 $1,375.00
860–905 883 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,450.00–1,550.00 $1,501.27

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
982 982 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,975.00 $1,975.00 —
1045 1045 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,850.00 $1,850.00 —
1070 1070 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,025.00 $2,025.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
620 620 2 165.00 $165.00 $1,023 —
900–945 925 3 159.00–162.50 $160.82 $1,488 +3.18
986–995 991 12 159.50–163.50 $161.58 $1,601 +3.49
1017–1043 1028 6 161.50–163.50 $162.17 $1,667 +4.59
1059–1093 1072 18 161.00–163.00 $162.08 $1,737 +4.09
1101–1148 1125 25 158.50–161.50 $160.80 $1,809 +1.54
1166–1188 1180 23 158.50–162.50 $160.41 $1,893 +2.95
1208–1236 1227 8 157.50–163.00 $158.99 $1,951 —
1281–1299 1290 14 157.50–159.50 $158.54 $2,045 —
1337 1337 6 159.50 $159.50 $2,133 —
1400 1400 7 154.50 $154.50 $2,163 —
1695 1695 1 135.00 $135.00 $2,288 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
308–310 309 9 155.00–170.00 $165.02 $510 —
428 428 2 140.00 $140.00 $599 —
685 685 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,096 +7.50
760 760 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,178 +2.50
895 895 1 159.00 $159.00 $1,423 —
1110 1110 1 158.00 $158.00 $1,754 —
1255–1295 1265 4 155.00–156.00 $155.26 $1,964 +13.26
1475 1475 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,991 —
1515 1515 1 131.00 $131.00 $1,985 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1140 1140 1 137.50 $137.50 $1,568 —

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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.