Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 13, 2024

3,516 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $286.47/cwt -0.21 vs last sale · ≈ $1,508/hd at 526 lb · 51 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $310.57/cwt -28.86 vs last sale · ≈ $1,612/hd at 519 lb · 38 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $257.13/cwt -3.96 vs last sale · ≈ $1,607/hd at 625 lb · 31 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,516 6,639 950
Feeder cattle 1,723 5,288 293
Slaughter cattle 894 889 574
Replacement cattle 899 462 83

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 3 Colorado auction reports included: Winter Livestock, La Junta Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Feeder steers under 600 lbs sold mostly sharply lower, and over 600 lbs sold mostly 5.00 to 9.00 lower. Feeder heifers under 600 lbs sold 1.00 to 3.00 lower with instances of sharply lower on a light test. Feeder dairy heifers 900-1050 lbs sold 1.00 lower and over 1050 lbs sold steady to 2.00 higher. Average dressing slaughter cows sold unevenly steady and average dressing slaughter bulls sold 5.00 lower. The next available report will be Tuesday, May 28, 2024 due to the Memorial Day holiday.

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 4 364.00 $364.00 $1,409 -27.02
405–426 414 9 351.00–360.00 $355.89 $1,473 -14.12
454–482 466 26 334.00–342.50 $337.73 $1,574 -17.51
505 thin fleshed 505 6 330.00 $330.00 $1,666 —
505–548 517 23 300.00–311.00 $301.65 $1,560 -35.26
520–543 value added 533 9 320.00–321.00 $320.43 $1,708 -8.44
560–579 577 28 290.00–291.00 $290.90 $1,678 -25.12
611–648 629 23 281.00–287.00 $282.07 $1,774 -14.80
654–681 669 20 263.00–285.00 $272.78 $1,825 -9.10
714–726 717 30 249.00–251.00 $250.46 $1,796 +12.96
789 789 4 231.00 $231.00 $1,823 -20.66
803–838 815 12 212.50–239.00 $229.91 $1,874 -4.26
911 911 20 218.00 $218.00 $1,986 +11.00
1145 1145 1 176.00 $176.00 $2,015 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
393 393 3 347.50 $347.50 $1,366 -18.03
420–423 422 5 347.00–348.00 $347.40 $1,466 -4.86
533–535 534 5 287.50–294.00 $291.41 $1,556 -0.16
593 593 8 282.00 $282.00 $1,672 —
620–643 632 10 263.00–271.00 $267.07 $1,688 -4.89
675 675 7 251.00 $251.00 $1,694 +3.35
830 830 2 221.00 $221.00 $1,834 +3.85
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1420–1690 1618 25 166.00–176.00 $167.28 $2,707 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
516 516 7 281.00 $281.00 $1,450 -5.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
413 413 2 320.00 $320.00 $1,322 —
493 493 2 297.50 $297.50 $1,467 -40.50
605 605 3 275.00 $275.00 $1,664 +6.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
426 426 4 326.00 $326.00 $1,389 —
553 553 2 295.00 $295.00 $1,631 -6.28
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
697 697 3 245.00 $245.00 $1,708 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
783 783 2 212.50 $212.50 $1,664 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
354–394 367 17 301.00–330.00 $305.36 $1,121 -36.03
410 thin fleshed 410 4 327.50 $327.50 $1,343 —
428 value added 428 4 323.00 $323.00 $1,382 —
455 fancy 455 2 314.00 $314.00 $1,429 -2.00
463–495 476 10 285.00 $285.00 $1,357 -10.50
460–484 value added 481 14 298.00–300.00 $299.73 $1,442 —
502 value added 502 3 295.00 $295.00 $1,481 —
500–549 528 48 270.00–291.00 $285.94 $1,510 -0.74
553–579 573 17 265.00–270.00 $268.57 $1,539 -2.75
587 thin fleshed 587 12 281.00 $281.00 $1,649 —
621–623 622 15 241.00–247.00 $243.40 $1,514 -14.70
628 fancy 628 16 270.00 $270.00 $1,696 ±0.00
660–696 689 25 241.00–247.00 $245.85 $1,694 +2.82
704 704 6 238.00 $238.00 $1,676 —
713–730 717 4 236.00–240.00 $237.02 $1,699 +7.47
801–809 807 17 241.00–242.00 $241.23 $1,947 +29.59
988 988 8 194.00 $194.00 $1,917 —
1020–1030 1025 2 178.00–180.00 $179.00 $1,835 —
1125 1125 1 173.50 $173.50 $1,952 -5.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
263–275 269 8 308.00–313.00 $310.56 $835 —
402–440 419 15 301.00–305.00 $301.98 $1,265 -0.42
463 463 4 279.00 $279.00 $1,292 -9.74
535–539 537 17 266.00–276.00 $271.86 $1,460 -3.84
613 613 7 241.00 $241.00 $1,477 +1.30
614 614 6 239.00 $239.00 $1,467 -0.70
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 2 277.50 $277.50 $1,041 —
465 465 2 247.50 $247.50 $1,151 -12.71
679–693 683 7 237.50–246.00 $239.96 $1,639 +2.46
763 763 2 211.00 $211.00 $1,610 -6.50
802–823 810 8 205.00–208.00 $206.14 $1,670 +21.14
853–862 858 5 182.50–185.00 $184.01 $1,579 —
968 968 4 177.50 $177.50 $1,718 +6.53
1125 1125 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,800 —
1170 1170 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,872 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1383 1383 14 167.00 $167.00 $2,310 —
1385–1430 1408 2 141.00–147.00 $143.95 $2,027 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
398 thin fleshed 398 5 310.00 $310.00 $1,234 —
600 thin fleshed 600 2 248.00 $248.00 $1,488 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790 790 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,382 —
850 850 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,488 —
1043 1043 2 158.00 $158.00 $1,648 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
70 70 1 325.00 $325.00 -95.83
105 105 1 400.00 $400.00 -214.20

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
548 548 2 302.50 $302.50 $1,658 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
737–1600 1024 85-90% 43 71.00–113.00 $96.94 $993 —
815–1605 1076 85-90% 22 72.50–92.50 $84.72 $912 -44.52
935–1290 1115 85-90% 5 122.00–137.50 $129.61 $1,445 +2.67
770–1285 1131 85-90% 220 101.00–152.50 $128.14 $1,449 -2.56
835–1610 1237 85-90% 56 91.00–124.50 $117.87 $1,458 +36.00
1010–1405 1280 85-90% 6 125.00–128.00 $125.65 $1,608 +6.25
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1026–1615 1307 80-85% 69 132.00–146.50 $139.89 $1,828 —
1110–1670 1359 80-85% 10 137.00–145.00 $139.52 $1,896 -0.68
945–1490 1389 80-85% 99 121.00–172.00 $136.05 $1,890 -4.15
1110–1675 1397 80-85% 17 109.00–123.50 $118.59 $1,657 -21.61
990–1830 1453 80-85% 68 125.50–136.50 $131.07 $1,904 +0.31
1495–1520 1508 80-85% 2 90.00–101.00 $95.55 $1,441 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1481–1605 1509 75-80% 16 138.00–143.00 $139.15 $2,100 —
1465–1640 1565 75-80% 24 129.00–148.00 $139.85 $2,189 +4.97
1420–1950 1577 75-80% 53 106.00–143.50 $138.77 $2,188 +3.89
1580 1580 75-80% 1 144.50 $144.50 $2,283 +9.62
1490–1940 1744 75-80% 7 127.00–136.00 $132.48 $2,310 +0.78
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1435–1810 1584 65-75% 8 144.50–151.50 $146.96 $2,328 —
1725–1783 1769 65-75% 4 139.00–153.00 $142.41 $2,519 —
1845–2295 1983 65-75% 4 135.50–143.00 $140.95 $2,795 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1260–1375 1318 2 143.00–150.00 $146.35 $1,929 —
1350–1575 1463 2 150.00–150.50 $150.23 $2,198 —
1065–2520 1718 54 120.00–174.50 $146.21 $2,512 —
1380–2775 1932 16 148.50–158.50 $153.42 $2,964 -4.58
2025–2775 2396 5 91.00–147.50 $132.84 $3,183 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
663–697 thin fleshed 685 (<2 yrs)Open 12 201.00–231.00 $220.18 $1,508
721–868 thin fleshed 803 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 36 201.00–223.00 $209.18 $1,680
705–1073 919 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 39 160.00–191.00 $175.17 $1,610
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
705–1164 1029 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 63 147.50–168.00 $156.17 $1,607
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
815–1180 996 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 21 121.00–148.00 $142.95 $1,424

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
953–1320 1087 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 19 2,000.00–2,175.00 $2,146.60
1098 1098 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,500.00 $2,500.00
1028–1365 1187 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 52 2,050.00–2,460.00 $2,367.55
1095–1218 1189 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 2,000.00–2,250.00 $2,171.23
1190 1190 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00
1348–1355 1350 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,950.00–2,000.00 $1,987.45
1365–1465 1430 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11 1,900.00–2,100.00 $1,956.55
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
865–1035 963 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,600.00–1,850.00 $1,709.03
970–985 978 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,525.00–1,625.00 $1,575.38
940–1140 985 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,575.00–1,825.00 $1,681.85
1080 1080 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,825.00 $1,825.00
1080–1130 1105 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,400.00–1,775.00 $1,583.26
1000–1420 1210 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,600.00–1,825.00 $1,732.02
1263–1405 1299 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,625.00–2,600.00 $1,888.74
1265–1362 1339 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,550.00–1,850.00 $1,738.41
1415–1485 1450 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,250.00 $2,250.00
1505–1540 1523 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,875.00–2,200.00 $2,039.37
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
792 792 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 700.00 $700.00
773–823 798 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 950.00–1,035.00 $991.17
850–1105 901 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 785.00–1,400.00 $935.85
914 914 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,125.00 $1,125.00
1125 1125 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,375.00 $1,375.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
788–970 864 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 1,900.00–2,350.00 $2,064.05
995–1235 1036 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,950.00–2,325.00 $2,168.60
1352 fancy 1352 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,750.00 $2,750.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
840 840 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,550.00 $1,550.00
880 880 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,675.00 $1,675.00
990 990 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00
1370 1370 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,600.00 $2,600.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1043 1043 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 2,100.00 $2,100.00 —
1110 1110 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,100.00 $2,100.00 —
1070–1280 1175 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,075.00–2,125.00 $2,102.23 +235.96
998–1460 1270 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 46 2,000.00–2,900.00 $2,481.49 +42.32
1140–1318 1270 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 2,150.00–2,900.00 $2,547.36 +108.19
1070–1385 1291 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 5 1,800.00–2,125.00 $2,034.57 -404.60
1133–1443 1301 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 10 1,900.00–2,150.00 $2,043.61 —
1105–1440 1321 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 4 1,900.00–2,250.00 $2,058.23 —
1405 1405 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,010.00 $2,010.00 -590.00
1388–1504 1439 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 27 2,100.00–2,750.00 $2,489.40 -110.60
1410–1630 1483 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 2,075.00–2,525.00 $2,360.17 +416.70
1481–1494 1486 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 27 2,510.00–2,725.00 $2,644.93 +701.46
1455–1506 1500 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 17 2,350.00–2,700.00 $2,660.06 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
935–1040 951 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 33 1,535.00–1,600.00 $1,551.62 —
909–975 953 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 1,475.00–1,535.00 $1,515.92 —
966 966 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 16 1,625.00 $1,625.00 —
953–1110 978 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 30 1,460.00–1,710.00 $1,635.78 —
921–1540 1019 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 21 1,375.00–2,250.00 $1,460.51 —
1015–1140 1078 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 1,625.00–1,650.00 $1,636.77 —
840–1235 1128 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 1,650.00–2,500.00 $2,351.48 —
1134 1134 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 7 1,760.00 $1,760.00 —
1175 1175 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,425.00 $1,425.00 —
985–1377 1279 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 4 1,475.00–2,000.00 $1,898.92 —
1320 1320 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00 -410.25
1415 1415 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 8 1,350.00 $1,350.00 —
1435 1435 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,600.00 $2,600.00 —
1528 1528 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 2,700.00 $2,700.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
745 745 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 875.00 $875.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
875–897 892 4 175.50–176.00 $175.62 $1,567 —
935–940 938 3 174.00–176.50 $175.67 $1,648 -0.83
960–985 973 2 174.50–175.00 $174.75 $1,700 -1.18
1015–1040 1032 6 174.50–175.50 $174.83 $1,804 -0.50
1050–1083 1080 18 175.50–176.50 $176.42 $1,905 +2.11
1105–1145 1124 21 174.50–176.50 $175.45 $1,972 +0.12
1185–1195 1190 2 174.50–175.50 $175.00 $2,082 +0.46
1203–1235 1217 5 172.50–175.00 $173.99 $2,117 +2.14
1265 1265 1 175.50 $175.50 $2,220 +2.26
1315 1315 1 175.50 $175.50 $2,308 +8.00
1415–1433 1429 10 165.00–166.00 $165.20 $2,361 —
1481 1481 7 163.50 $163.50 $2,421 —
1515 1515 1 164.00 $164.00 $2,485 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
710 710 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,100 —
1148 1148 3 171.00 $171.00 $1,963 +3.01
1220 1220 1 166.00 $166.00 $2,025 —
1281 1281 8 169.50 $169.50 $2,171 +4.00
1377 1377 5 163.50 $163.50 $2,251 +4.73

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Dairy Steers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
967 967 6 178.00 $178.00 $1,721 —
1072 1072 6 178.50 $178.50 $1,914 —
1125–1145 1131 17 176.50–177.50 $177.20 $2,004 —
1257 1257 11 176.50 $176.50 $2,219 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230 1230 2 171.50 $171.50 $2,109 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
838–1175 1047 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 214 2,535.00–3,150.00 $2,999.55 —
1340 1340 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 3,100.00 $3,100.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
895 895 (<2 yrs)Open 1 2,400.00 $2,400.00 —
850–1230 1117 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 13 1,975.00–2,600.00 $2,407.41 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
615 615 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,110.00 $1,110.00 —

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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.