Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 29, 2024

2,962 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 $294.83/cwt -17.61 vs last sale · ≈ $1,705/hd at 578 lb · 60 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $268.21/cwt -8.79 vs last sale · ≈ $1,405/hd at 524 lb · 45 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $297.87/cwt -4.37 vs last sale · ≈ $1,406/hd at 472 lb · 35 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,962 2,364 6,122
Feeder cattle 1,604 1,414 4,775
Slaughter cattle 882 711 936
Replacement cattle 476 239 411

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 moderate. Feeder steers under 700 lbs were thinly tested, trading 4.00 lower to sharply lower. No market test on steers and heifers over 700 lbs. Feeder heifers 450-700 lbs thinly tested, trading mostly 3.00 to 7.00 lower. Average dressing slaughter cows and bulls sold unevenly steady. The next available report will be Monday, May 13, 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
387 387 6 364.00–366.00 $365.00 $1,413 -11.42
450–495 478 25 321.00–332.00 $325.58 $1,556 -16.17
556 value added 556 14 301.00–307.00 $305.29 $1,697 -22.71
560–592 585 46 286.00–295.50 $291.65 $1,706 -14.49
600–618 608 17 281.00–294.00 $286.10 $1,739 -4.72
608 value added 608 7 301.00 $301.00 $1,830 —
650 fancy 650 4 290.00 $290.00 $1,885 —
692 692 3 256.00 $256.00 $1,772 -26.63
700–706 701 21 253.00–264.00 $261.89 $1,836 +21.08
903 903 11 209.00 $209.00 $1,887 —
960 960 1 210.00 $210.00 $2,016 +22.50
1180 1180 1 185.00 $185.00 $2,183 —
1210 1210 1 182.00 $182.00 $2,202 +7.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295–297 296 5 363.00–374.00 $369.62 $1,094 —
356–383 371 16 345.00–348.00 $346.74 $1,286 -10.76
419 419 4 349.00 $349.00 $1,462 -2.00
458–483 472 24 312.00–317.00 $313.71 $1,481 —
503–549 518 21 304.00–306.00 $305.29 $1,581 —
575 575 2 272.00 $272.00 $1,564 —
695 695 2 247.50 $247.50 $1,720 +5.01
753 753 13 219.00 $219.00 $1,649 —
862 862 18 206.50 $206.50 $1,780 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338 338 9 325.00 $325.00 $1,098 —
427–447 432 24 317.00–325.00 $322.93 $1,395 +9.93
475 475 3 306.00 $306.00 $1,454 -10.00
538–541 540 9 260.00–281.00 $274.03 $1,480 -29.97
573–590 584 8 236.00–266.00 $254.95 $1,489 -32.55
603 603 4 235.00 $235.00 $1,417 —
685 685 2 211.00 $211.00 $1,445 -67.00
803–837 833 29 191.00–193.00 $192.80 $1,606 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
376 376 4 332.00 $332.00 $1,248 —
475 thin fleshed 475 11 310.00 $310.00 $1,472 —
494 494 6 293.00 $293.00 $1,447 —
503–528 509 8 291.00–292.00 $291.74 $1,485 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
377 377 3 330.00 $330.00 $1,244 —
425 425 4 327.50 $327.50 $1,392 —
588 588 5 290.00 $290.00 $1,705 —
750 750 3 240.00 $240.00 $1,800 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
518 518 5 287.50 $287.50 $1,489 —
745 745 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,341 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1440 1440 1 174.00 $174.00 $2,506 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
286 286 4 321.00 $321.00 $918 -18.00
318–343 328 19 295.00–301.00 $298.33 $979 -15.79
350 value added 350 7 302.00 $302.00 $1,057 —
370–394 382 8 287.00–295.00 $290.87 $1,111 —
400–405 403 35 287.00–297.00 $293.94 $1,185 +1.05
488 488 18 271.00–272.00 $271.28 $1,324 -5.60
506–533 524 45 261.00–278.50 $268.21 $1,405 -8.79
559–585 567 10 251.00–257.00 $253.05 $1,435 +0.87
642–645 644 20 231.00–240.00 $235.96 $1,520 +5.46
651 651 8 228.00 $228.00 $1,484 +3.89
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
352 352 3 332.00 $332.00 $1,169 —
432–433 433 12 303.00–311.00 $306.33 $1,326 —
466–485 472 35 291.00–301.00 $297.87 $1,406 -3.45
506–545 510 20 285.00–309.00 $306.43 $1,563 -6.57
560–597 585 24 265.00–270.00 $268.17 $1,569 +11.17
603–623 616 16 250.00–258.00 $252.22 $1,554 -3.38
690 690 12 235.00 $235.00 $1,622 -6.94
965 965 2 197.50–200.00 $198.75 $1,918 +8.75
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250 250 2 300.00 $300.00 $750 —
414–432 426 13 266.00–302.50 $291.60 $1,242 +9.83
511–546 536 14 241.00–256.00 $245.09 $1,314 -22.47
663 663 8 216.00 $216.00 $1,432 —
870 870 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,740 —
995 995 2 165.00–172.50 $168.75 $1,679 —
1025 1025 1 172.50 $172.50 $1,768 -0.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
387 387 6 300.00 $300.00 $1,161 —
451–460 455 9 261.00–274.00 $266.84 $1,214 —
698 698 5 225.00 $225.00 $1,570 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
464 464 11 272.50 $272.50 $1,264 —
628 628 3 247.50 $247.50 $1,554 —
750 750 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,388 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
402 402 3 251.00 $251.00 $1,009 +11.00
450–463 459 6 236.00–241.00 $237.64 $1,091 —
598 598 2 230.00 $230.00 $1,375 —
600 600 3 228.00 $228.00 $1,368 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
208 208 2 700.00 $700.00 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1060–1260 1160 2 170.00–177.50 $173.43 $2,012 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
472 472 5 311.00 $311.00 $1,468 —
585 585 4 271.00 $271.00 $1,585 —
773 773 3 202.50 $202.50 $1,565 -10.50
1012 1012 3 170.00 $170.00 $1,720 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
583 583 3 251.00 $251.00 $1,463 —
715 715 2 203.00 $203.00 $1,451 —
783 783 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,449 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1190 1093 85-90% 5 111.00–134.00 $122.97 $1,344 -0.14
665–1310 1095 85-90% 248 101.00–165.00 $123.26 $1,350 +0.15
745–1560 1221 85-90% 46 71.00–111.50 $102.80 $1,255 —
1010–1400 1243 85-90% 8 122.00–131.00 $126.02 $1,566 —
823–1555 1255 85-90% 83 92.00–120.00 $115.59 $1,451 —
935–1550 1261 85-90% 20 65.00–92.50 $79.60 $1,004 -34.19
1360 1360 85-90% 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,496 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1660 1309 80-85% 31 125.00–146.00 $134.41 $1,759 —
1020–1490 1319 80-85% 126 106.00–185.00 $133.81 $1,765 +18.46
1240–1620 1409 80-85% 11 134.00–142.50 $137.18 $1,933 +1.72
1100–1900 1528 80-85% 64 121.00–131.50 $124.78 $1,907 -2.51
1140–1985 1549 80-85% 37 102.00–120.50 $115.76 $1,793 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1405 1405 75-80% 1 143.00 $143.00 $2,009 —
1502–1710 1569 75-80% 28 111.00–139.50 $125.39 $1,967 -2.43
1415–1860 1635 75-80% 15 132.00–138.00 $135.50 $2,215 +0.88
1465–2030 1728 75-80% 8 124.50–130.00 $128.12 $2,214 —
1760 1760 75-80% 1 92.50 $92.50 $1,628 -34.49
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1700–1865 1758 65-75% 3 120.00–132.00 $126.18 $2,218 —
1800 1800 65-75% 1 119.50 $119.50 $2,151 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
950–1400 1123 4 135.00–170.00 $145.78 $1,637 —
1025–1470 1180 8 119.00–137.00 $128.89 $1,521 —
1030–2535 1692 84 118.00–165.00 $142.82 $2,417 —
1345–2190 1731 7 131.00–139.00 $136.77 $2,367 —
1620–2255 1923 14 140.50–150.50 $147.27 $2,832 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
694 694 (<2 yrs)Open 4 180.00 $180.00 $1,249
702–1065 794 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 71 171.00–199.00 $186.38 $1,480
727–876 thin fleshed 797 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 21 200.00–211.00 $205.60 $1,639
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
695 695 (<2 yrs)Open 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,112
715–1245 939 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 50 150.00–167.50 $157.24 $1,476
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
813–1220 1017 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 28 122.00–147.50 $138.71 $1,411

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
864–1480 948 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 36 1,800.00–2,275.00 $1,993.18
945–1180 1023 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,700.00–1,875.00 $1,767.26
1094 1094 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,825.00 $1,825.00
1088–1195 1109 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 10 1,725.00–1,985.00 $1,928.99
1159 1159 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 2,100.00 $2,100.00
1187–1363 1237 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,760.00–1,875.00 $1,796.20
1336 1336 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 1,710.00–1,825.00 $1,756.00
1207–1520 1395 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 25 1,810.00–2,035.00 $1,874.26
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
930–1065 980 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,350.00–1,475.00 $1,427.42
805–1160 983 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,425.00–1,510.00 $1,459.82
880–1195 1030 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,200.00–1,510.00 $1,449.81
1045–1095 1062 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,525.00–1,575.00 $1,542.19
1185 1185 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,450.00 $1,450.00
1165–1245 1207 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,425.00–1,610.00 $1,522.79
1185–1325 1255 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,750.00 $1,750.00
1138–1710 1329 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,275.00–2,150.00 $1,650.38
1379 1379 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 8 1,875.00 $1,875.00
1610 1610 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,150.00 $2,150.00
1705 1705 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
890 890 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,025.00 $1,025.00
835–1070 953 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,310.00–1,325.00 $1,318.43
960 960 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00
1035 1035 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,375.00 $1,375.00
1145 1145 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,325.00 $1,325.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
900–1150 971 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 2,000.00–2,425.00 $2,207.70
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
765–965 838 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,250.00–1,375.00 $1,328.38
720–975 868 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,275.00–1,725.00 $1,478.98

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Beef Dairy Heifers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
618 618 2 175.00 $175.00 $1,082 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
965 965 1 177.50 $177.50 $1,713 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
653 653 2 192.50 $192.50 $1,257 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
941–1440 994 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 18 2,250.00–2,350.00 $2,318.96 —
948–1385 1060 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 10 1,850.00–2,100.00 $2,032.44 -567.56
1000–1150 1075 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,025.00–2,050.00 $2,036.63 -563.37
1227–1257 1246 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 8 1,825.00–1,950.00 $1,871.17 +46.17
1158–1340 1261 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 2,200.00–2,575.00 $2,475.02 —
1327 1327 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 22 2,225.00 $2,225.00 +77.42
1200–1376 1344 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 9 1,925.00–2,250.00 $2,038.61 -108.97
1418 1418 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 5 2,425.00 $2,425.00 +150.00
1519 1519 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 9 2,550.00 $2,550.00 —
1539 1539 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 5 2,325.00 $2,325.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
895 895 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,675.00 $1,675.00 +475.00
913 913 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,450.00 $1,450.00 —
653–1215 933 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 9 1,250.00–1,625.00 $1,508.28 —
1020 1020 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,260.00 $1,260.00 —
1030–1110 1068 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,350.00–1,600.00 $1,461.51 —
1140 1140 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,775.00 $1,775.00 +400.00
1350 1350 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,625.00 $1,625.00 —
1446 thin fleshed 1446 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 2,250.00 $2,250.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
745 745 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
493 493 2 175.00 $175.00 $863 —
546 546 7 178.00 $178.00 $972 —
621–624 623 9 177.00–177.50 $177.22 $1,104 —
750–755 754 6 171.00–175.00 $174.34 $1,315 —
850–865 861 5 171.00–173.00 $172.20 $1,483 -3.30
922–948 932 8 170.00–174.50 $172.44 $1,607 -1.93
980–990 981 12 173.50–174.50 $174.42 $1,711 -0.38
1020–1031 1029 8 170.00–174.50 $173.37 $1,784 -1.13
1050–1098 1093 12 170.00 $170.00 $1,858 -4.50
1103–1129 1119 28 170.00–176.50 $172.38 $1,929 -2.53
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
422 422 3 170.00 $170.00 $717 —
550 550 1 165.00 $165.00 $908 —
710 710 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,172 —
760–795 780 3 160.00–169.00 $165.01 $1,287 -3.99
800–845 823 2 165.00 $165.00 $1,358 -3.00
855 855 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,411 —
920–935 928 2 161.00 $161.00 $1,494 -5.75
956–995 963 7 161.00–171.50 $167.83 $1,616 —
1260 1260 1 160.00 $160.00 $2,016 —
1310–1338 1329 3 160.00 $160.00 $2,126 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
720 720 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,080 —
770 770 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,155 -10.00

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Dairy Steers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
781 781 10 166.00 $166.00 $1,296 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
805 805 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,610.00 $1,610.00 —
1170 1170 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,400.00 $2,400.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
750 750 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,025.00 $2,025.00 +25.00

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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.