Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 25, 2024

5,017 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 $285.54/cwt +19.49 vs last sale · ≈ $1,915/hd at 671 lb · 350 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $381.40/cwt +33.74 vs last sale · ≈ $1,807/hd at 474 lb · 226 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $268.90/cwt +16.36 vs last sale · ≈ $1,672/hd at 622 lb · 194 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,017 3,062 6,990
Feeder cattle 4,025 1,760 6,090
Slaughter cattle 804 923 830
Replacement cattle 188 379 70

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 udner 450 lbs sold sharply higher on a light test, 450-650 lbs 11.00 to 18.00 higher, and over 650 lbs mostly 5.00 to 8.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 400 lbs sold steady to 3.00 lower on a light test, 400-600 lbs 7.00 to 12.00 higher, and over 600 lbs steady to 6.00 higher. Feeder dairy heifers over 950 lbs sold 1.00 to 3.00 higher. Average dressing slaughter cows sold 7.00 to 8.00 higher; average dressing slaughter bulls 1.00 higher. The next available report will be Monday, April 8, 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
257 fancy 257 8 470.00 $470.00 $1,208 —
277 277 3 430.00 $430.00 $1,191 —
314 fancy 314 8 438.00 $438.00 $1,375 +38.00
300–344 value added 328 55 421.00–429.00 $423.44 $1,389 —
312–347 335 31 405.00–413.00 $409.63 $1,372 +17.63
356 fancy 356 7 423.00 $423.00 $1,506 —
364–373 value added 369 40 414.00–417.00 $414.97 $1,531 +15.97
398 398 4 401.00 $401.00 $1,596 +32.88
405–424 fancy 416 18 414.00–416.00 $414.87 $1,726 —
405–440 428 20 368.00–386.00 $379.65 $1,625 +16.69
403–449 thin fleshed 432 78 391.00–406.00 $397.48 $1,717 —
451–489 fancy 468 73 391.00–416.00 $404.54 $1,893 —
450–488 475 75 349.00–365.00 $357.48 $1,698 +10.98
472–486 value added 478 78 375.00–388.00 $382.75 $1,830 —
505–531 fancy 519 43 342.00–378.00 $356.46 $1,850 —
501–547 522 53 319.00–348.00 $338.00 $1,764 +17.22
506–539 thin fleshed 530 79 355.00–366.00 $358.84 $1,902 —
560 fancy 560 32 345.00–347.00 $346.63 $1,941 +6.63
582–587 586 55 302.00–321.00 $316.51 $1,855 +13.91
580–591 thin fleshed 589 59 317.00–335.00 $325.80 $1,919 —
605–617 fancy 616 18 318.00–323.00 $318.55 $1,962 +3.55
633 thin fleshed 633 17 300.00 $300.00 $1,899 —
619–648 635 152 293.00–308.00 $304.11 $1,931 +12.48
650–660 fancy 659 147 293.00–298.00 $297.30 $1,959 —
650–681 value added 674 119 276.00–285.00 $282.27 $1,902 +12.27
668–695 687 84 260.00–285.00 $269.59 $1,852 +4.77
713–745 731 101 246.00–269.00 $261.97 $1,915 +8.60
739 fancy 739 20 273.00 $273.00 $2,017 —
750–789 760 102 239.00–256.00 $249.86 $1,899 +19.68
808–837 814 40 226.00–234.00 $233.38 $1,900 -0.96
870–898 882 57 214.00–222.50 $220.60 $1,946 +17.60
917 917 11 216.00 $216.00 $1,981 —
968 968 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,839 —
1053 1053 4 191.00 $191.00 $2,011 —
1310 1310 1 167.00 $167.00 $2,188 —
1435 1435 1 163.00 $163.00 $2,339 —
1655 1655 1 152.00 $152.00 $2,516 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
302 302 3 407.00 $407.00 $1,229 +66.00
375 fancy 375 7 420.00 $420.00 $1,575 —
410 410 3 379.00 $379.00 $1,554 —
472 472 65 375.00 $375.00 $1,770 —
525 525 6 343.00 $343.00 $1,801 —
558 fancy 558 18 342.00 $342.00 $1,908 —
621 621 4 306.00 $306.00 $1,900 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415–443 428 7 331.00–342.00 $337.50 $1,444 +11.50
547 547 6 296.00 $296.00 $1,619 -5.71
595 595 3 287.50 $287.50 $1,711 —
775 775 2 221.00 $221.00 $1,713 —
898 898 2 206.00 $206.00 $1,850 +20.00
932 932 4 203.00 $203.00 $1,892 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
373–385 377 6 305.00–337.00 $315.89 $1,191 —
434 434 7 320.00 $320.00 $1,389 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383 383 3 319.00 $319.00 $1,222 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
278 278 4 382.50 $382.50 $1,063 —
304–321 value added 312 19 370.00–382.50 $377.57 $1,178 —
302–349 329 55 342.00–361.00 $354.95 $1,168 -2.30
329 fancy 329 14 390.00 $390.00 $1,283 —
361–393 378 25 308.00–337.00 $320.55 $1,212 +0.55
360–396 value added 383 50 333.00–347.00 $340.09 $1,303 +29.09
383 fancy 383 2 361.00 $361.00 $1,383 +30.00
402–404 fancy 402 35 336.00–339.00 $338.66 $1,361 —
413–449 442 78 314.00–322.00 $316.63 $1,400 +8.73
457–463 thin fleshed 460 18 314.00–317.00 $314.78 $1,448 —
472–499 482 141 295.00–306.00 $299.13 $1,442 +7.13
498 498 9 295.00–317.00 $312.11 $1,554 —
502–526 thin fleshed 516 55 301.00–319.00 $306.82 $1,583 —
513–525 522 7 302.00–310.00 $304.25 $1,588 +18.91
517–537 fancy 527 35 316.00–328.00 $319.61 $1,684 -10.39
500–548 536 88 287.00–299.00 $296.02 $1,587 +10.68
550 thin fleshed 550 2 282.00 $282.00 $1,551 -14.26
554 fancy 554 6 295.00 $295.00 $1,634 —
551–599 562 46 266.00–307.00 $291.58 $1,639 +29.27
567–587 574 62 264.00–288.00 $274.58 $1,576 +12.27
601–604 thin fleshed 603 33 283.00–286.00 $284.18 $1,714 —
607 value added 607 32 266.00–271.00 $270.22 $1,640 +15.23
613–639 626 56 268.00–280.00 $275.99 $1,728 +26.50
609–649 634 73 251.00–268.00 $255.98 $1,623 +6.49
658 fancy 658 3 262.00 $262.00 $1,724 —
662–694 672 56 245.00–248.00 $245.63 $1,651 -4.36
672–684 681 22 241.00–253.00 $249.77 $1,701 -0.22
710–726 716 26 241.00–248.00 $243.46 $1,743 +8.86
703–745 722 103 229.00–244.00 $232.79 $1,681 -1.81
845 845 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,690 —
1060 1060 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,908 —
1148 1148 2 172.00 $172.00 $1,975 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 fancy 240 2 407.50 $407.50 $978 —
344–348 346 14 349.00–355.00 $352.02 $1,218 +37.02
393–398 395 12 314.00–318.00 $315.68 $1,247 —
443–447 445 6 298.00 $298.00 $1,326 —
494 494 102 301.00 $301.00 $1,487 +55.00
499 499 30 296.00 $296.00 $1,477 +50.00
500–537 533 20 277.00–292.00 $290.59 $1,549 +42.71
568–598 595 19 257.00–262.00 $257.50 $1,532 —
602 602 5 258.00 $258.00 $1,553 —
658 658 6 249.00 $249.00 $1,638 —
763 763 3 210.00 $210.00 $1,602 —
820 820 2 204.00 $204.00 $1,673 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
434–442 437 25 298.00–306.00 $303.03 $1,324 +1.28
492 492 9 273.00 $273.00 $1,343 -8.43
507–510 509 9 280.00–291.00 $287.35 $1,463 +29.35
561–585 574 25 253.00–258.00 $255.04 $1,464 +4.04
622–649 627 20 238.00–249.00 $246.72 $1,547 —
655–698 672 5 226.00–229.00 $227.25 $1,527 +9.25
705 705 2 204.00 $204.00 $1,438 —
768–776 774 9 211.00–216.00 $212.10 $1,642 —
800 800 4 207.00 $207.00 $1,656 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
326 326 4 320.00 $320.00 $1,043 —
548 548 10 259.00 $259.00 $1,419 —
581 581 9 239.00 $239.00 $1,389 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 2 251.00 $251.00 $766 —
428 428 2 288.00 $288.00 $1,233 +26.00
529–533 530 16 256.00–273.00 $270.86 $1,436 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
570 570 4 287.00 $287.00 $1,636 —
630 630 2 283.00 $283.00 $1,783 -4.50

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040–1485 1349 80-85% 54 115.00–167.50 $131.82 $1,778 +0.74
1185–1630 1357 80-85% 11 113.00–119.00 $116.47 $1,580 -15.09
1000–1615 1376 80-85% 43 125.00–144.00 $135.39 $1,863 +57.89
1180–1796 1463 80-85% 41 133.00–145.00 $136.88 $2,003 +15.91
995–1900 1486 80-85% 158 120.00–132.00 $127.86 $1,900 +6.89
1320–1670 1495 80-85% 2 105.00–107.00 $105.88 $1,583 -15.09
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
880–1245 1063 85-90% 4 118.00–135.00 $124.62 $1,325 +5.63
830–1282 1133 85-90% 105 103.00–132.00 $124.66 $1,412 +1.93
670–1665 1138 85-90% 16 57.50–91.00 $79.04 $899 -43.69
1010–1450 1201 85-90% 29 100.00–133.00 $127.46 $1,531 +54.42
850–1615 1218 85-90% 25 81.00–111.00 $105.20 $1,281 +32.16
870–1584 1262 85-90% 87 86.00–124.00 $118.10 $1,490 +7.24
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1520–1561 1554 75-80% 6 137.50–138.00 $137.92 $2,143 —
1455–1640 1558 75-80% 9 117.00–146.50 $131.61 $2,050 —
1445–1905 1698 75-80% 3 121.00–130.00 $126.07 $2,141 —
1480–1890 1709 75-80% 60 134.00–141.00 $137.83 $2,356 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1865 1865 65-75% 1 135.00 $135.00 $2,518 —
1770–2475 2002 65-75% 22 137.00–142.00 $140.90 $2,821 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015 1015 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,320 —
1100–1400 1240 3 143.00–168.00 $152.09 $1,886 +15.47
1465–1910 1643 5 121.00–140.00 $132.07 $2,170 —
1035–2482 1844 49 112.00–164.50 $149.08 $2,749 —
1510–2400 1954 13 142.50–154.50 $147.61 $2,884 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
700 700 (<2 yrs)Open 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,452
706–786 fancy 771 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 24 221.00–230.00 $228.78 $1,764
817–945 thin fleshed 903 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 13 201.00–217.00 $205.83 $1,859
765–1118 969 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 25 132.00–191.00 $177.13 $1,716
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
735–1235 980 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 17 148.00–169.00 $161.11 $1,579
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
725 725 (<2 yrs)Open 1 126.00 $126.00 $914
930–1160 1029 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 121.00–149.00 $141.39 $1,455

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1180 1180 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,600.00 $2,600.00
1225 1225 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,975.00 $1,975.00
1410 1410 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,400.00 $2,400.00
1568 1568 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 9 2,125.00 $2,125.00
1760 1760 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
935 935 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1023 1023 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,275.00 $1,275.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1200 1200 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00
1380 1380 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,860.00 $1,860.00
1405 1405 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,875.00 $1,875.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1265 1265 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 2,700.00 $2,700.00 +100.00
1268 1268 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 9 2,400.00 $2,400.00 -200.00
1295–1330 1313 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 2,400.00–2,650.00 $2,523.33 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1045 1045 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
895 895 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985 985 1 174.50 $174.50 $1,719 +3.50
1008–1035 1015 8 174.50–175.50 $175.00 $1,776 —
1050–1089 1077 13 173.00–175.50 $173.81 $1,872 +1.35
1105–1145 1131 10 172.50–175.50 $174.71 $1,976 +2.74
1175–1191 1188 6 174.50 $174.50 $2,073 +2.40
1205–1233 1217 9 173.00–174.50 $173.99 $2,117 +2.00
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
503 503 9 170.00 $170.00 $855 —
845 845 1 161.00 $161.00 $1,360 -4.00
850–865 857 3 157.50–169.00 $164.16 $1,407 —
1065 1065 1 162.00 $162.00 $1,725 —
1245 1245 1 169.00 $169.00 $2,104 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
959 959 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 2,900.00 $2,900.00 —
1022–1143 1068 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 15 3,400.00–3,600.00 $3,503.25 —
1103–1409 1291 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 13 3,100.00–3,400.00 $3,301.44 —
1264–1359 fancy 1312 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 3,800.00–3,900.00 $3,851.81 —

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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.