Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 22, 2024

2,364 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 steers $312.44/cwt +4.29 vs last sale · ≈ $1,785/hd at 571 lb · 59 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $349.51/cwt +6.00 vs last sale · ≈ $1,681/hd at 481 lb · 54 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $242.12/cwt -10.30 vs last sale · ≈ $1,615/hd at 667 lb · 47 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,364 5,350 4,181
Feeder cattle 1,414 3,607 2,606
Slaughter cattle 711 946 1,083
Replacement cattle 239 797 492

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 3 Colorado auction markets, including Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock and Livestock Exchange. Trade activity and demand were moderate to good. Feeder steers under 500 lbs sold unevenly steady. Steers weighing between 550 to 700 lbs sold 2.00 to 13.00 higher and steers over 700 lbs were too thinly tested for an accurate market trend. Feeder heifers under 500 lns sold 3.00 to 26.00 lower, while those weighing 500 to 600 lbs sold 5.00 to 12.00 higher and heifers over 600 lbs sold unevenly steady on a thin test. Average dress slaughter cows sold unevenly steady and average dress slaughter bulls sold 4.00 lower. The next available report will be Monday, May 6, 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
309–343 324 7 381.00–387.50 $384.55 $1,246 -2.98
325–339 thin fleshed 335 7 392.00–397.50 $393.52 $1,318 —
355–362 value added 358 12 389.00–393.00 $391.32 $1,401 —
385–396 391 7 376.00–377.00 $376.42 $1,472 +5.04
418–435 433 14 350.00–367.00 $359.65 $1,557 -3.45
453–487 value added 474 25 354.00–364.00 $358.51 $1,699 —
470–496 487 29 327.50–357.00 $341.75 $1,664 +14.56
504–530 value added 509 10 339.00–345.00 $340.25 $1,732 +8.97
500–538 514 13 316.00–322.50 $319.88 $1,644 -0.22
525 fancy 525 3 351.00 $351.00 $1,843 +7.08
559–572 value added 567 17 327.00–331.00 $328.00 $1,860 +10.55
560–598 573 42 301.00–314.00 $306.14 $1,754 +3.65
613–623 619 20 286.00–306.00 $290.82 $1,800 +13.26
660–685 662 38 265.00–299.00 $282.63 $1,871 +1.88
709–727 715 9 232.00–258.00 $240.81 $1,722 -5.32
745 fancy 745 2 252.00 $252.00 $1,877 —
764–769 766 12 226.00–240.00 $234.14 $1,794 -0.03
813–838 824 11 212.50–230.00 $221.97 $1,829 -24.03
862 862 11 214.00 $214.00 $1,845 +2.93
980 980 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,838 —
1200 1200 1 175.00 $175.00 $2,100 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
443 443 14 311.00 $311.00 $1,378 —
515 515 16 291.00 $291.00 $1,499 +23.00
633 633 2 261.00 $261.00 $1,652 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430 430 3 313.00 $313.00 $1,346 -9.50
477 477 5 316.00 $316.00 $1,507 +16.00
544 544 4 304.00 $304.00 $1,654 —
596 596 6 287.50 $287.50 $1,714 —
661 661 6 278.00 $278.00 $1,838 —
955 955 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,719 —
1010 1010 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,894 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
378 378 3 357.50 $357.50 $1,351 +5.24
441 441 6 351.00 $351.00 $1,548 +6.72
643 643 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,736 -1.78
673–695 684 4 242.00–243.00 $242.49 $1,659 +2.40
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
514 fancy 514 6 321.00 $321.00 $1,650 -9.00
633 633 2 262.50 $262.50 $1,662 +2.50
650 650 6 245.00 $245.00 $1,592 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
501 501 10 243.00 $243.00 $1,217 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340–349 346 7 328.00–334.00 $332.32 $1,150 -2.87
362 value added 362 3 326.00 $326.00 $1,180 —
390–392 392 11 306.00–327.50 $309.89 $1,215 -25.15
453–484 466 23 295.00–322.00 $301.32 $1,404 +5.05
472 value added 472 12 304.00 $304.00 $1,435 -0.37
511 511 14 313.00 $313.00 $1,599 +21.73
556–565 value added 558 14 271.00–276.00 $274.91 $1,534 -6.78
562 fancy 562 5 284.00 $284.00 $1,596 -6.00
573 573 7 257.00 $257.00 $1,473 -13.00
618–643 629 20 251.00–260.00 $255.60 $1,608 -25.40
655–688 667 43 225.00–262.00 $241.94 $1,614 +4.32
667 value added 667 4 244.00 $244.00 $1,627 —
705–710 707 22 220.00–260.00 $238.25 $1,684 -10.04
950 950 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,805 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
292 292 5 339.00 $339.00 $990 —
313–338 326 6 311.00–317.00 $314.12 $1,024 —
402–443 422 12 282.00–301.00 $292.89 $1,236 -9.33
465–494 479 18 270.00–282.00 $276.88 $1,326 -3.85
540 540 3 277.00 $277.00 $1,496 +2.22
568–595 589 18 241.00–259.00 $252.18 $1,485 +2.79
613–615 614 4 230.00–231.00 $230.50 $1,415 -14.24
660–690 675 9 220.00–227.50 $224.11 $1,513 -12.60
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423–448 436 11 251.00–307.50 $281.77 $1,229 +33.06
466 466 4 246.00 $246.00 $1,146 —
529–545 537 14 251.00–298.00 $267.56 $1,437 -0.44
570 570 10 285.00 $285.00 $1,624 +51.79
625–645 638 19 211.00–258.50 $248.52 $1,586 +22.52
725 725 1 242.50 $242.50 $1,758 —
1010 1010 1 173.00 $173.00 $1,747 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
427 427 3 240.00 $240.00 $1,025 —
530–535 533 6 230.00–261.00 $245.43 $1,308 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
413 413 4 293.00 $293.00 $1,210 —
515 515 4 279.00 $279.00 $1,437 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
585 585 2 237.00 $237.00 $1,386 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1293 1293 2 167.50 $167.50 $2,166 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 3 322.50 $322.50 $1,161 —
633 633 4 261.00 $261.00 $1,652 ±0.00
651–663 655 9 247.50–250.00 $249.16 $1,632 -8.55
718 718 3 229.00 $229.00 $1,644 —
798 798 6 213.00 $213.00 $1,700 —
940 940 2 177.50 $177.50 $1,668 -5.00

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
770–1380 1081 85-90% 9 60.00–89.00 $80.09 $866 -37.66
810–1290 1088 85-90% 126 102.00–161.00 $123.11 $1,339 +5.36
990–1270 1115 85-90% 4 90.00–110.00 $102.41 $1,142 -18.33
740–1615 1140 85-90% 59 71.00–110.00 $100.26 $1,143 -0.13
915–1300 1145 85-90% 8 112.00–132.00 $120.43 $1,379 +20.04
1150 1150 85-90% 1 132.00 $132.00 $1,518 +21.00
990–1800 1296 85-90% 64 90.00–120.00 $113.79 $1,475 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1480 1345 80-85% 3 115.00–116.00 $115.35 $1,551 —
980–1635 1363 80-85% 32 125.00–142.50 $132.46 $1,805 -0.68
1010–1499 1379 80-85% 46 109.00–175.00 $129.01 $1,779 +6.64
1305–1540 1400 80-85% 4 134.50–137.00 $135.46 $1,896 —
1445 1445 80-85% 1 86.00 $86.00 $1,243 -34.11
1125–1875 1508 80-85% 28 121.00–133.00 $127.29 $1,920 +2.85
1165–1800 1564 80-85% 54 102.50–120.50 $115.35 $1,804 +24.74
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1701–1940 1716 65-75% 16 121.00–125.00 $121.28 $2,081 -6.40
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1500–1665 1559 75-80% 7 120.00–132.00 $127.82 $1,993 +2.97
1530–1730 1630 75-80% 4 133.00–137.00 $134.62 $2,194 —
1770–1790 1780 75-80% 2 125.00–129.00 $126.99 $2,260 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
955 955 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,791 —
930–1560 1287 3 138.00–150.00 $143.38 $1,845 +1.85
1295–1650 1504 6 125.00–143.50 $136.64 $2,055 —
1045–2595 1624 52 104.00–171.50 $141.59 $2,299 —
1310–2330 1763 8 145.00–152.50 $148.85 $2,624 +5.75

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
730 fancy 730 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 222.00 $222.00 $1,621
715–1005 thin fleshed 809 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 16 200.00–211.00 $205.66 $1,664
760–1052 911 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 46 169.00–198.00 $179.87 $1,639
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
775–1275 1032 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 33 144.00–166.00 $154.38 $1,593
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
715–1225 1007 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 121.00–140.00 $133.68 $1,346

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
773–945 830 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,425.00–1,450.00 $1,440.52
960–985 977 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,575.00–1,625.00 $1,591.38
1015 1015 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00
1035 1035 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00
1070 1070 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,325.00 $1,325.00
1020–1155 1088 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,525.00–1,600.00 $1,560.17
1140 1140 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00
1178 1178 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,650.00 $1,650.00
1218 1218 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,610.00 $1,610.00
1174–1308 1258 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 17 1,425.00–1,675.00 $1,593.29
1284 1284 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11 1,625.00 $1,625.00
1289 1289 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,575.00 $1,575.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1020 1020 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 2,000.00 $2,000.00
910–1165 1038 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,825.00–2,075.00 $1,965.36
957–1188 1074 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 1,825.00–2,150.00 $2,045.87
1048–1358 fancy 1181 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 2,225.00–2,250.00 $2,237.68
1370–1490 1430 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,725.00–1,875.00 $1,803.15
1413–1497 1463 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,810.00–1,900.00 $1,865.24
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
885 885 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,060.00 $1,060.00
893 893 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,275.00 $1,275.00
1070 1070 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00
1126 1126 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,325.00 $1,325.00
1103–1575 1292 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 875.00–1,110.00 $995.39

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
675 675 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,325.00 $1,325.00
735 735 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00
720–975 818 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,375.00–1,550.00 $1,469.43
1043 1043 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,525.00 $1,525.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
680 680 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00
820 820 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1070 1070 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,075.00 $2,075.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1065 1065 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,600.00 $2,600.00 —
970–1440 1195 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 2,000.00–2,375.00 $2,231.84 —
1233 1233 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 1,825.00 $1,825.00 -675.00
1307 1307 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 2,425.00 $2,425.00 -66.00
1282–1567 1328 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 31 2,100.00–2,350.00 $2,147.58 +95.32
1340–1455 1363 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 1,825.00–2,150.00 $2,080.61 -653.69
1447 1447 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 9 2,275.00 $2,275.00 —
1460 1460 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00 -417.45
1625 1625 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,250.00 $2,250.00 -512.85
1725 1725 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,775.00 $2,775.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
830 830 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00 —
885 885 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,200.00 $1,200.00 —
1107–1155 1119 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 1,375.00 $1,375.00 -1,075.00
1120–1240 1179 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 5 1,625.00–1,875.00 $1,763.93 —
1040–1360 1195 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 4 1,650.00–1,875.00 $1,773.35 —
1260 1260 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00 -1,156.62
1290 1290 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,650.00 $1,650.00 -1,231.62
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
780 780 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 875.00 $875.00 —
890 890 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
585 585 1 182.50 $182.50 $1,068 —
890 890 12 175.50 $175.50 $1,562 +2.85
906–930 913 12 171.00–175.50 $174.37 $1,592 +0.87
960–990 977 36 173.00–175.50 $174.80 $1,708 +0.94
1008 1008 11 174.50 $174.50 $1,759 +1.64
1060–1090 1072 5 174.50 $174.50 $1,871 +2.23
1115–1135 1121 12 173.50–175.50 $174.91 $1,961 +1.95
1150–1170 1157 5 172.00–174.50 $173.80 $2,011 +0.30
1229 1229 6 173.50 $173.50 $2,132 +1.40
1343 1343 3 167.00 $167.00 $2,243 —
1368 1368 3 168.00 $168.00 $2,298 —
1420–1441 1430 20 160.00–167.50 $164.10 $2,347 —
1463 1463 3 158.00 $158.00 $2,312 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 3 167.50 $167.50 $575 —
475 475 1 170.00 $170.00 $808 —
754 754 4 169.00 $169.00 $1,274 +1.50
835 835 1 168.00 $168.00 $1,403 —
900–905 903 2 165.00–168.50 $166.75 $1,506 —
1025 1025 1 166.00 $166.00 $1,702 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
484 484 3 160.00 $160.00 $774 —
790 790 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,264 +65.00

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
661 661 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 1,450.00 $1,450.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
760 760 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
670 670 (<2 yrs)Open 1 1,175.00 $1,175.00 —

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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.