Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 1, 2024

5,696 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $271.45/cwt -11.05 vs last sale · ≈ $1,573/hd at 580 lb · 147 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $319.03/cwt -7.84 vs last sale · ≈ $1,861/hd at 583 lb · 131 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $249.38/cwt -0.48 vs last sale · ≈ $1,953/hd at 783 lb · 99 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,696 5,017 9,106
Feeder cattle 4,362 4,025 7,908
Slaughter cattle 1,173 804 1,111
Replacement cattle 161 188 87

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 4 Colorado auction markets included: Centennial Livestock, Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Feeder cattle offerings were down from last week as auctions markets transition or are looking to transition into their summer sale schedules, reducing the amount of auctions in the month or combining feeders with slaughter cattle auctions. Feeder steers under 550 lbs sold sharply lower on a light test, 550-800 lbs with any volume were steady to 1.00 higher, and over 800 lbs were too thinly tested to trend. Feeder heifers across all weights were mostly steady to 6.00 lower. Feeder dairy heifers over 950 lbs sold 1.00 to 3.00 lower. Average dressing slaughter cows and bulls sold 1.00 to 3.00 lower.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
258 258 2 376.00 $376.00 $970 -54.00
383–393 386 14 370.00–376.00 $374.27 $1,445 -26.73
400–420 408 12 360.00–370.00 $362.91 $1,481 -16.74
461–478 464 15 320.00–340.00 $334.26 $1,551 -23.22
500–508 fancy 505 20 354.00–359.00 $355.25 $1,794 -1.21
504–548 527 26 315.00–337.00 $320.58 $1,689 -17.42
524–540 thin fleshed 529 7 342.00–348.00 $346.25 $1,832 -12.59
551 thin fleshed 551 7 328.00 $328.00 $1,807
566–594 fancy 585 16 330.00–334.00 $331.21 $1,938 -15.42
575–598 585 108 309.00–319.00 $316.64 $1,852 +0.13
615 615 3 301.00 $301.00 $1,851 -3.11
651 fancy 651 3 287.00 $287.00 $1,868 -10.30
669–695 677 43 257.00–279.00 $270.16 $1,829 +0.57
708–744 722 15 252.00–255.00 $253.76 $1,832 -8.21
753–798 783 99 214.00–263.00 $249.38 $1,953 -0.48
848 848 11 248.00 $248.00 $2,103 +14.62
915–946 932 13 202.00–216.00 $209.65 $1,954 -6.35
1023 1023 2 197.00 $197.00 $2,015
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
334 334 4 353.00 $353.00 $1,179
350–369 361 7 340.00–355.00 $346.24 $1,250
419–444 433 29 341.00–350.00 $346.68 $1,501 +9.18
453 453 2 311.00 $311.00 $1,409
512–538 523 22 287.50–300.00 $294.74 $1,541 -1.26
570–592 572 43 292.00–300.00 $294.07 $1,682 +6.57
621 unweaned 621 6 246.00 $246.00 $1,528
693 693 14 240.00–250.00 $248.57 $1,723
718–745 730 22 240.00–255.00 $248.04 $1,811
760–788 771 38 181.00–241.00 $219.51 $1,692 -1.49
829–849 840 15 190.00–231.00 $219.00 $1,840
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 2 326.00 $326.00 $1,060
390 390 2 311.00 $311.00 $1,213 -4.89
415–434 430 9 322.50–326.00 $323.25 $1,390 +3.25
452–494 471 28 290.00–301.00 $295.34 $1,391
545 545 2 262.50 $262.50 $1,431
630 630 2 230.00 $230.00 $1,449
693 693 4 226.00 $226.00 $1,566
738 738 7 171.00 $171.00 $1,262
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 4 355.00 $355.00 $1,172 -52.00
765 765 2 247.50 $247.50 $1,893
855 855 2 228.00 $228.00 $1,949
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 2 307.50 $307.50 $846
389 389 4 301.00 $301.00 $1,171 -18.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
99 99 6 600.00 $600.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
595 595 4 255.00 $255.00 $1,517

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
354–391 375 26 308.00–330.00 $320.14 $1,201 -0.41
404–425 413 12 319.00–342.50 $327.33 $1,352 +10.70
452–497 476 58 290.00–305.00 $297.01 $1,414 -2.12
505–549 524 36 283.00–287.50 $285.16 $1,494 -19.09
563–571 thin fleshed 570 18 275.00 $275.00 $1,568 -7.00
562–596 581 129 254.00–277.50 $270.96 $1,574 -3.62
620–644 641 36 243.00–255.00 $249.63 $1,600 -6.35
672 value added 672 3 262.00 $262.00 $1,761
670–685 677 29 245.00–252.50 $249.17 $1,687 -0.60
723–730 725 4 222.50–225.00 $224.37 $1,627 -8.42
737 737 8 240.00 $240.00 $1,769 +7.21
752–799 788 82 216.00–221.00 $220.44 $1,737
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
263 263 5 320.00–326.00 $323.60 $851
313–323 318 7 312.50–316.00 $315.02 $1,002
365–397 388 7 306.00–308.00 $307.46 $1,193
400–446 421 45 281.00–315.00 $294.03 $1,238 -9.00
468–497 484 25 266.00–288.00 $279.10 $1,351 +6.10
523 unweaned 523 8 265.00 $265.00 $1,386
525–547 534 34 269.00–270.00 $269.06 $1,437 -18.29
573–598 595 32 251.00–261.00 $259.83 $1,546 +4.79
639 639 8 232.00 $232.00 $1,482 -14.72
720 720 1 212.50 $212.50 $1,530 +8.50
890 890 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,669
965–985 975 2 180.00–185.00 $182.53 $1,780
1035 1035 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,863
1150 1150 1 177.00 $177.00 $2,036
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 4 291.00 $291.00 $946 +40.00
388–398 394 5 251.00–281.00 $269.18 $1,061
457–490 475 25 230.00–265.00 $251.32 $1,194
542–548 544 19 231.00–267.50 $249.10 $1,355 -21.76
584 584 4 192.50 $192.50 $1,124
647 647 5 212.00 $212.00 $1,372
681 681 3 201.00 $201.00 $1,369
787–790 789 13 205.00–208.00 $206.38 $1,628
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 2 294.00 $294.00 $1,044
430 430 2 290.00 $290.00 $1,247 -8.00
491 491 4 287.50 $287.50 $1,412 -13.50
588 588 9 248.00 $248.00 $1,458 -9.50
591 thin fleshed 591 6 257.00 $257.00 $1,519
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
100 100 6 575.00 $575.00
203 203 2 700.00 $700.00
273 273 4 925.00 $925.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
454 454 5 255.00 $255.00 $1,158

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
381–389 385 9 325.00–351.00 $336.42 $1,295
459 thin fleshed 459 9 331.00 $331.00 $1,519
465 465 2 332.00 $332.00 $1,544
493 493 2 280.00 $280.00 $1,380
528 thin fleshed 528 2 342.00 $342.00 $1,806
575 575 3 271.00 $271.00 $1,558 -16.00
696 696 5 242.50 $242.50 $1,688
815 815 5 201.00 $201.00 $1,638
863 863 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,640
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
96 96 10 500.00 $500.00
213 213 2 875.00 $875.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
842 842 3 197.50 $197.50 $1,663

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Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
820–1285 1082 85-90% 174 103.00–148.00 $120.33 $1,302 -4.29
713–1540 1096 85-90% 31 67.00–111.00 $99.37 $1,089 -25.25
900–1154 1116 85-90% 40 114.00–130.00 $126.09 $1,407 +1.43
810–1420 1188 85-90% 37 94.00–133.00 $122.14 $1,451
915–1555 1210 85-90% 13 67.50–97.50 $83.52 $1,011 -21.68
910–1700 1227 85-90% 89 87.00–124.00 $117.75 $1,445 +12.55
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
860–1495 1198 80-85% 68 113.00–187.00 $144.64 $1,733
955–1410 1215 80-85% 12 128.00–147.50 $134.70 $1,637
1290 1290 80-85% 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,367
1025–1630 1307 80-85% 23 110.00–120.00 $118.03 $1,543
1095–1743 1386 80-85% 39 134.00–145.00 $138.34 $1,917 +2.95
1075–1815 1484 80-85% 174 121.00–133.00 $128.28 $1,904 +0.42
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1520–1695 1585 75-80% 11 110.00–149.00 $131.61 $2,086 ±0.00
1430–1935 1607 75-80% 8 125.00–132.00 $128.75 $2,069
1495–1870 1743 75-80% 64 134.00–140.00 $135.40 $2,360 -2.43
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1870 1870 65-75% 5 141.00 $141.00 $2,637 +6.00
1820–2010 1880 65-75% 5 128.00–144.00 $139.24 $2,618 +4.24

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
813–1135 992 8 145.00–197.00 $173.07 $1,717
1385–1935 1649 6 126.00–138.00 $133.31 $2,198 +1.24
1480–1980 1730 2 118.00–140.00 $130.59 $2,259
1005–2385 1773 62 114.00–190.00 $149.55 $2,652
1050–2380 1788 11 105.00–156.50 $144.05 $2,576

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
693 thin fleshed 693 (<2 yrs)Open 1 201.00 $201.00 $1,393
705 705 (<2 yrs)Open 1 163.00 $163.00 $1,149
710–838 thin fleshed 795 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 201.00–207.00 $205.21 $1,631
740–1011 865 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 50 160.00–188.00 $179.80 $1,555
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
675 675 (<2 yrs)Open 1 142.50 $142.50 $962
765–1185 977 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 28 145.00–168.00 $152.03 $1,485
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
775–1224 1066 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 13 115.00–141.00 $131.86 $1,406

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
970 970 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,725.00 $1,725.00
930–1345 1147 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,700.00–1,850.00 $1,784.59
990–1365 1171 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,775.00–1,950.00 $1,866.20
1130–1380 1223 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,850.00–2,025.00 $1,971.12
1280 1280 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,500.00 $1,500.00
1145–1400 1289 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,175.00–1,860.00 $1,539.88
1220–1325 1290 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,425.00–1,775.00 $1,664.66
1400 1400 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,625.00 $1,625.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1055 1055 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00
985–1270 1060 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,200.00–1,550.00 $1,345.46
1105–1225 1145 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,210.00–1,285.00 $1,258.25
1166 1166 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 1,375.00 $1,375.00
1200 1200 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,475.00 $1,475.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
815 815 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 625.00 $625.00
875 875 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 925.00 $925.00
870–900 885 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 900.00–1,000.00 $950.85

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Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1028 1028 5 169.00 $169.00 $1,737
1137 1137 3 172.00 $172.00 $1,956
1164 1164 4 168.00 $168.00 $1,956
1200 1200 1 170.00 $170.00 $2,040
1279 1279 6 166.00 $166.00 $2,123

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Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
908 908 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,544

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1050 1050 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,700.00 $2,700.00
1110 1110 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,900.00 $2,900.00
1200 1200 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,525.00 $1,525.00
1205 1205 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,510.00 $1,510.00
1415 1415 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,300.00 $2,300.00

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Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 235 4 310.00 $310.00 $728
265 265 1 350.00 $350.00 $928
315–321 317 20 325.00–352.50 $336.12 $1,066
389 389 12 265.00 $265.00 $1,031
430 430 5 230.00 $230.00 $989
451–493 471 19 240.00–255.00 $249.35 $1,174
512–531 527 16 230.00–245.00 $232.73 $1,226
568–595 575 4 207.50–225.00 $212.03 $1,219
663–670 666 5 175.00–176.00 $175.60 $1,169
820–830 825 2 170.00–174.50 $172.24 $1,421
908–910 908 5 173.00 $173.00 $1,571
955–985 980 6 172.00–173.00 $172.16 $1,687 -2.34
1010–1046 1028 26 168.00–174.00 $172.50 $1,773 -2.50
1050–1085 1068 28 165.00–173.00 $172.07 $1,838 -1.74
1103–1145 1128 14 168.00–185.00 $171.93 $1,939 -2.78
1153–1183 1168 23 170.00–172.00 $171.04 $1,998 -3.46
1250–1293 1283 16 159.00–172.00 $168.02 $2,156
1405 1405 1 151.00 $151.00 $2,122
1455 1455 1 163.00 $163.00 $2,372
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 3 295.00 $295.00 $959
388 388 26 215.00 $215.00 $834
504–540 509 7 170.00–210.00 $176.06 $896 +6.06
618 618 3 180.00 $180.00 $1,112
708–734 723 23 169.00–175.00 $171.32 $1,239
795 795 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,272
920–948 941 45 163.00–171.00 $170.24 $1,602
1080 1080 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,674 -7.00
1179–1197 1189 27 171.00–172.00 $171.56 $2,040
1200–1213 1207 2 156.00–173.00 $164.45 $1,985
1290 1290 3 162.50 $162.50 $2,096
1315–1325 1318 4 131.00–137.50 $132.63 $1,748
1350–1370 1365 4 161.00–163.50 $162.88 $2,223
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307 307 18 385.00 $385.00 $1,182
357–361 358 28 350.00–400.00 $382.01 $1,368
404–417 412 25 265.00–295.00 $286.14 $1,179
457–488 466 35 260.00–330.00 $289.23 $1,348
570 570 2 250.00 $250.00 $1,425
615 615 5 245.00 $245.00 $1,507
670 670 2 216.00 $216.00 $1,447
871 871 5 175.00 $175.00 $1,524
918 918 4 173.00 $173.00 $1,588
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
236 236 4 217.50 $217.50 $513
310–326 314 30 195.00–202.50 $200.68 $630
402–448 427 30 172.00–177.50 $174.42 $745
506–549 528 19 160.00–180.00 $176.28 $931
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
226 226 12 165.00 $165.00 $373
273–290 286 10 165.00–195.00 $175.26 $501
300 300 8 172.50 $172.50 $518
528 528 3 130.00 $130.00 $686

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Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
256–285 269 86 301.00–320.00 $302.34 $813
316–338 328 185 270.00–302.50 $294.53 $966
357–399 382 92 180.00–300.00 $278.57 $1,064
402–447 432 123 257.50–280.00 $271.55 $1,173
458–483 471 168 254.00–279.50 $263.39 $1,241
500–528 505 81 245.00–262.25 $259.78 $1,312
560–573 567 52 225.00–235.00 $233.76 $1,325
663–676 667 13 200.00–207.50 $205.16 $1,368
745 745 1 172.50 $172.50 $1,285
920 920 21 155.00 $155.00 $1,426
2231 2231 4 116.00 $116.00 $2,588
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
303–306 304 23 400.00–405.00 $402.19 $1,223
353–365 359 49 390.00–400.00 $399.00 $1,432
433–442 437 37 392.50–395.00 $393.84 $1,721
468 468 32 324.00 $324.00 $1,516
546 546 5 282.50 $282.50 $1,542
589 589 22 261.00 $261.00 $1,537
621 621 8 280.00 $280.00 $1,739
702–717 708 8 226.00–230.00 $227.52 $1,611
818–823 820 7 210.00 $210.00 $1,722
912 912 8 207.00 $207.00 $1,888
962 962 13 206.00 $206.00 $1,982
Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
356–371 365 32 225.00–337.50 $300.81 $1,098
400–445 429 31 310.00–325.00 $316.74 $1,359
459–497 470 47 275.00–300.00 $288.99 $1,358
509–545 518 11 187.50–287.50 $261.84 $1,356
611–647 638 20 260.00–263.00 $260.45 $1,662
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
247 247 6 265.00 $265.00 $655
264–294 275 11 263.00–272.50 $266.69 $733
320–345 338 13 259.00–262.50 $261.86 $885
352–398 376 33 252.50–267.50 $258.47 $972
421–448 437 34 232.50–247.00 $240.05 $1,049
451–484 464 37 235.00–241.00 $238.27 $1,106
605 605 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,210

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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.