Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 18, 2024

3,062 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 $347.66/cwt -12.69 vs last sale · ≈ $1,621/hd at 466 lb · 111 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $290.18/cwt +3.31 vs last sale · ≈ $1,633/hd at 563 lb · 100 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $314.87/cwt -16.72 vs last sale · ≈ $1,352/hd at 430 lb · 89 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,062 11,341 3,286
Feeder cattle 1,760 9,728 1,475
Slaughter cattle 923 703 1,036
Replacement cattle 379 910 775

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for three Colorado auction markets, including La Junta Livestock, Livestock Exchange and Winter Livestock. Trade activity and demand were moderate to good. Feeder steers weighing between 350-850 lbs sold mostly 2.00 to 12.00 lower on a much lighter test when compared to last week. Feeder heifers weighing 450-650 lbs sold 12.00 to 20.00 lower. Average dressing slaughter cows sold steady to 4.00 higher, while average dressing slaughter bulls sold 3.00 lower. The next available report will be Monday, April 1, 2024.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
339 339 5 392.00 $392.00 $1,329 +2.51
348 fancy 348 2 400.00 $400.00 $1,392 -17.50
368 value added 368 3 399.00 $399.00 $1,468
375–393 378 21 365.00–382.50 $368.12 $1,391 -12.34
412–445 value added 422 16 372.00–382.00 $379.95 $1,603 -10.05
435–449 444 14 358.00–367.50 $362.96 $1,612 -8.83
451–493 465 100 342.00–362.50 $346.50 $1,611 -3.61
465–495 thin fleshed 479 11 355.00–361.00 $358.18 $1,716 -8.83
516–544 524 33 317.50–330.00 $320.78 $1,681 -5.38
550 fancy 550 2 340.00 $340.00 $1,870
563–585 value added 570 6 310.00–322.00 $317.90 $1,812 +2.70
560–596 592 36 300.00–313.00 $302.60 $1,791 -5.59
602 fancy 602 11 315.00 $315.00 $1,896
618–649 634 41 286.00–297.50 $291.63 $1,849 -2.05
665 value added 665 9 270.00 $270.00 $1,796 -5.30
673–699 688 29 254.50–291.00 $264.82 $1,822 -10.14
700–744 736 58 248.00–274.00 $253.37 $1,865 +0.86
750 fancy 750 17 251.00 $251.00 $1,882 -4.04
752–780 763 5 229.00–231.00 $230.18 $1,756 -8.73
795 795 4 226.00 $226.00 $1,797 -12.91
825–833 832 30 230.00–235.00 $234.34 $1,950 -7.46
883 883 3 203.00 $203.00 $1,792 -26.13
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
293 293 3 361.00 $361.00 $1,058
373 373 2 331.00 $331.00 $1,235 -18.55
413 413 5 326.00 $326.00 $1,346 -23.03
544–545 544 14 291.00–306.00 $301.71 $1,641 -6.53
638 638 2 272.50 $272.50 $1,739 +3.09
818 818 3 197.50 $197.50 $1,616
873 873 5 186.00 $186.00 $1,624 +1.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323 323 3 341.00 $341.00 $1,101
360 value added 360 4 365.00 $365.00 $1,314
583 thin fleshed 583 6 291.00 $291.00 $1,697
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
334 334 5 322.50 $322.50 $1,077
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
684 684 5 196.00 $196.00 $1,341

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
317–337 327 12 342.50–372.00 $357.25 $1,168 +25.37
356 value added 356 15 311.00 $311.00 $1,107 -14.20
369 fancy 369 6 331.00 $331.00 $1,221 -41.09
390 390 6 320.00 $320.00 $1,248 -15.22
411–433 thin fleshed 429 42 321.00–323.00 $322.68 $1,384 -18.41
406–445 430 47 301.00–312.50 $307.90 $1,324 -15.21
450 450 5 292.00 $292.00 $1,314 -15.46
479 fancy 479 31 338.00 $338.00 $1,619
509 fancy 509 45 330.00 $330.00 $1,680 +2.50
512–535 519 21 271.00–297.50 $285.34 $1,481 -11.86
550–572 thin fleshed 560 82 290.00–299.00 $296.26 $1,659 +2.72
571 value added 571 5 263.00 $263.00 $1,502
576 576 13 255.00–274.00 $262.31 $1,511 -19.83
624–638 628 12 248.00–250.00 $249.49 $1,567 -20.05
639–648 value added 641 15 251.00–256.00 $254.99 $1,634
653–680 663 77 240.00–257.00 $249.99 $1,657 +4.30
723–740 728 10 220.00–241.00 $234.60 $1,708 -13.41
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
277 277 3 322.00 $322.00 $892 -30.89
422–444 430 24 283.00–317.50 $301.75 $1,298 -12.98
470–477 475 7 280.00–282.00 $281.43 $1,337 -0.02
531 531 4 258.00 $258.00 $1,370 -26.80
553 553 2 251.00 $251.00 $1,388 -8.69
698 698 3 218.00 $218.00 $1,522 -19.79
850 850 3 207.50 $207.50 $1,764 +27.21
918 918 6 173.00 $173.00 $1,588
1011–1030 1019 12 167.50–177.50 $171.99 $1,753
1079 1079 4 170.00 $170.00 $1,834
1135 1135 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,930
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 5 315.00 $315.00 $1,055
358 358 2 281.00 $281.00 $1,006 -27.14
493 493 3 246.00 $246.00 $1,213 -39.31
538–542 540 8 246.00–251.00 $247.88 $1,339 -27.55
717 717 5 207.50 $207.50 $1,488
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
444 444 6 262.00 $262.00 $1,163 -3.46
468–485 478 5 254.00–268.00 $259.48 $1,240 -11.72
603 603 4 219.00 $219.00 $1,321 -3.00
743 743 6 199.00 $199.00 $1,479

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 9 363.00 $363.00 $1,216
470 470 2 291.00 $291.00 $1,368
551 fancy 551 4 301.00 $301.00 $1,659
603 603 4 287.50 $287.50 $1,734

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Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
684–1525 894 85-90% 46 66.00–103.00 $80.69 $721
995–1200 1093 85-90% 4 114.00–125.00 $118.99 $1,301 +2.49
825–1289 1125 85-90% 228 101.00–150.00 $122.73 $1,381 +34.53
870–1595 1212 85-90% 25 50.00–90.00 $73.04 $885 -33.82
935–1545 1273 85-90% 81 90.00–116.00 $110.86 $1,411 +34.53
970–1598 1302 85-90% 34 96.00–128.00 $119.70 $1,558
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
975–1600 1334 80-85% 98 111.00–167.00 $131.08 $1,749 -0.59
935–1529 1353 80-85% 28 123.50–157.50 $131.56 $1,780 +21.43
1245–1530 1388 80-85% 2 77.50 $77.50 $1,076 -52.32
1210–1670 1402 80-85% 11 129.00–140.00 $131.95 $1,850 +22.95
1130–1813 1489 80-85% 99 115.00–127.00 $120.97 $1,801 +0.93
1315–1750 1541 80-85% 11 110.00–114.00 $112.18 $1,729
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1445–1780 1610 75-80% 13 119.00–142.00 $127.75 $2,057 -0.84
1525–2078 1889 75-80% 54 126.00–136.00 $129.22 $2,441
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1770–1825 1798 65-75% 2 119.50–141.00 $130.41 $2,345
1920–2060 2039 65-75% 12 132.00–139.00 $133.10 $2,714

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
865–1407 1237 15 128.50–177.50 $136.62 $1,690
1015–2020 1654 12 111.00–142.00 $132.75 $2,196
1295–2240 1703 31 106.00–155.50 $146.85 $2,501
960–2305 1807 31 120.00–168.50 $147.75 $2,670

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
628–705 650 (<2 yrs)Open 7 182.00–186.00 $183.24 $1,191
689 thin fleshed 689 (<2 yrs)Open 15 207.00 $207.00 $1,426
690 fancy 690 (<2 yrs)Open 1 216.00 $216.00 $1,490
725–882 thin fleshed 820 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 41 206.00–218.00 $211.17 $1,732
725–1055 876 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 46 172.00–204.00 $185.42 $1,624
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
715–1120 846 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 35 151.00–177.00 $167.44 $1,417
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
721–1295 985 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 35 116.00–149.00 $134.65 $1,326

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
845 845 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,450.00 $1,450.00
1028 1028 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,775.00 $1,775.00
1095 1095 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00
1072–1345 1140 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,550.00–1,700.00 $1,594.23
1148 1148 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 1,425.00 $1,425.00
1094–1375 1252 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 29 1,475.00–1,710.00 $1,640.77
1273 1273 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,675.00 $1,675.00
1231–1372 1281 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 21 1,575.00–1,860.00 $1,700.23
1296 1296 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 2,400.00 $2,400.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
948–1060 990 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 2,200.00–2,300.00 $2,240.15
1099 1099 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 2,750.00 $2,750.00
1172 1172 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 2,325.00 $2,325.00
1225–1500 1252 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 16 1,835.00–2,125.00 $2,049.79
1237–1295 1278 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 18 2,100.00–2,800.00 $2,682.43
1310 fancy 1310 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,300.00 $2,300.00
1480 1480 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,100.00 $2,100.00
1590 1590 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,885.00 $1,885.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
755 755 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 775.00 $775.00
910–925 918 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,025.00–1,150.00 $1,088.01

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1075 1075 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 2,800.00 $2,800.00
1090 1090 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,100.00 $2,100.00

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Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
955–964 962 5 172.00–173.00 $172.20 $1,657
1030 1030 1 173.00 $173.00 $1,782
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 400 1 160.00 $160.00 $640

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
989 fancy 989 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 2,275.00 $2,275.00
1188 1188 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 2,400.00 $2,400.00 -509.00
1220 1220 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00 -300.61
1200–1630 1239 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 16 2,400.00–2,900.00 $2,780.08 +304.98
1297 1297 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 11 2,600.00 $2,600.00 +525.00
1390 fancy 1390 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,800.00 $2,800.00 -100.00
1408 1408 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 2,950.00 $2,950.00
1480 1480 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 2,700.00 $2,700.00
1500 1500 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 2,300.00 $2,300.00
1580 1580 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00

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Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 1 192.50 $192.50 $712
575 575 2 177.50 $177.50 $1,021
730 730 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,241
844 844 19 172.50 $172.50 $1,456
865–885 875 2 171.00–172.50 $171.76 $1,503 -0.74
900–945 939 7 168.50–173.00 $172.38 $1,619 +3.88
970–995 983 4 168.00–172.50 $171.00 $1,681 -1.50
1067–1098 1078 24 172.00–172.50 $172.46 $1,859 +0.19
1123–1148 1138 19 170.50–172.50 $171.97 $1,957 -3.03
1165–1195 1182 19 171.50–172.50 $172.10 $2,034 +0.67
1200–1240 1220 4 171.50–172.50 $171.99 $2,098 +2.93
1258–1296 1280 17 166.00–169.50 $168.17 $2,153 +0.22
1312 1312 9 168.50 $168.50 $2,211 +1.00
1364 1364 6 163.50 $163.50 $2,230
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410 410 2 175.00 $175.00 $718 -2.50
665–670 668 2 155.00–165.00 $160.02 $1,069
825 825 4 165.00 $165.00 $1,361
960 960 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,584
1160 1160 1 164.00 $164.00 $1,902
1380 1380 4 157.50 $157.50 $2,174
1418 1418 3 136.00 $136.00 $1,928

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Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1094 1094 9 174.50 $174.50 $1,909
1730 1730 1 146.50 $146.50 $2,534

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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.