Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 20, 2024

2,642 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $220.50/cwt ≈ $1,938/hd at 879 lb · 117 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $262.50/cwt -9.36 vs last sale · ≈ $1,391/hd at 530 lb · 77 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $261.00/cwt +31.09 vs last sale · ≈ $2,096/hd at 803 lb · 66 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,642 3,516 882
Feeder cattle 1,683 1,723 280
Slaughter cattle 632 894 550
Replacement cattle 327 899 52

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 2 Colorado auction markets included: La Junta Livestock and Livestock Exchange. Feeder steers and heifers were too thinly traded for an accurate trend. Feeder dairy heifers over 850 lbs sold mostly 2.00 to 7.00 higher. Average dressing slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 lower; average dressing bulls 3.00 lower. The next available report will be Monday, June 3, 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
328 fancy 328 4 405.00 $405.00 $1,328 —
363–373 value added 365 11 397.50–400.00 $397.96 $1,453 —
358–383 366 13 369.00–372.50 $370.13 $1,355 +6.13
369 fancy 369 9 417.50 $417.50 $1,541 —
407 value added 407 8 370.00 $370.00 $1,506 —
447 447 7 357.50 $357.50 $1,598 +1.61
461–468 464 25 330.00–342.50 $337.43 $1,566 -0.30
521–525 523 13 311.00–332.50 $325.68 $1,703 +24.03
556–559 557 21 293.50–298.00 $295.43 $1,646 +4.53
707 707 3 241.00 $241.00 $1,704 -9.46
750 fancy 750 13 263.00 $263.00 $1,972 —
803 803 66 261.00 $261.00 $2,096 +31.09
1037 1037 6 173.00 $173.00 $1,794 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
391 391 4 367.00 $367.00 $1,435 +19.50
425–447 437 10 336.00–352.50 $347.13 $1,517 -0.27
467–474 473 14 301.00–305.00 $301.85 $1,428 —
533–549 543 54 281.00–290.00 $284.08 $1,543 -7.33
554–589 567 34 271.00–281.00 $277.05 $1,571 -4.95
614–619 616 9 267.00–271.00 $268.79 $1,656 +1.72
668–697 688 25 241.00–250.00 $247.51 $1,703 -3.49
729 729 5 226.00 $226.00 $1,648 —
927–928 928 9 192.00–201.00 $198.00 $1,837 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
432–439 436 20 281.00–332.50 $307.35 $1,340 -12.65
518–533 526 6 271.00–274.00 $272.52 $1,433 —
563 563 2 261.00 $261.00 $1,469 —
643 643 6 246.00 $246.00 $1,582 —
650–663 654 9 180.00 $180.00 $1,177 —
906 906 6 176.00 $176.00 $1,595 —
1305 1305 1 148.00 $148.00 $1,931 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
433 433 3 322.50 $322.50 $1,396 —
618 618 5 267.50 $267.50 $1,653 —
697 697 3 245.00 $245.00 $1,708 ±0.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
427 427 3 301.00 $301.00 $1,285 —
574 574 4 251.00 $251.00 $1,441 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
658 658 5 240.00 $240.00 $1,579 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
298 298 3 1,075.00 $1,075.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
85 85 1 360.00 $360.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318–338 330 10 317.00–337.50 $326.45 $1,077 —
397 397 8 304.00–362.50 $340.56 $1,352 +35.20
403–433 414 32 309.00–357.50 $318.69 $1,319 —
429 fancy 429 8 323.00 $323.00 $1,386 —
469–492 484 15 286.00–296.00 $292.77 $1,417 +7.77
560–588 574 6 258.00–259.00 $258.51 $1,484 -10.06
685–698 694 7 230.00–231.00 $230.72 $1,601 -15.13
723 723 3 223.00 $223.00 $1,612 -14.02
863–896 879 117 220.50 $220.50 $1,938 —
910–925 925 53 207.50–218.00 $217.81 $2,015 —
1005 1005 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,859 +6.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
328 328 4 310.00 $310.00 $1,017 —
430–448 441 8 288.00–300.00 $295.61 $1,304 -6.37
513–547 530 77 246.00–284.00 $262.50 $1,391 -9.36
564–598 580 13 249.00–254.00 $251.18 $1,457 —
601–616 608 11 241.00–246.00 $244.27 $1,485 +3.27
665 665 3 226.00 $226.00 $1,503 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
303–316 310 7 282.00–287.00 $284.91 $883 —
386–388 388 16 286.00–321.00 $312.28 $1,212 +34.78
420–445 429 11 281.00–312.50 $295.02 $1,266 —
461 461 6 307.50 $307.50 $1,418 +60.00
544 544 14 236.00 $236.00 $1,284 —
619–640 626 18 226.00–256.00 $234.41 $1,467 —
667–668 667 5 251.00–252.00 $251.60 $1,678 +11.64
738 738 6 194.00 $194.00 $1,432 —
940 940 1 197.50 $197.50 $1,856 —
1075 1075 1 187.50 $187.50 $2,016 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405–435 424 11 271.00–283.00 $275.17 $1,167 —
481 481 9 258.00 $258.00 $1,241 —
538 538 2 226.00 $226.00 $1,216 —
577 577 30 245.00 $245.00 $1,414 —
695 695 19 228.00 $228.00 $1,585 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423–445 442 13 251.00–261.00 $259.53 $1,147 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
499 499 4 252.50 $252.50 $1,260 —
810–840 830 3 185.00–190.00 $186.63 $1,549 —
920 920 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,725 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
561 561 7 247.00 $247.00 $1,386 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
130 130 1 560.00 $560.00 +160.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 fancy 365 2 398.00 $398.00 $1,453 —
398 398 3 360.00 $360.00 $1,433 —
408 408 3 340.00 $340.00 $1,387 —
463–476 472 18 295.00–306.00 $302.40 $1,427 —
558–569 567 11 261.00–263.00 $262.64 $1,489 —
607 607 9 244.00 $244.00 $1,481 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
398 398 2 330.00 $330.00 $1,313 —
705 705 13 201.00 $201.00 $1,417 —
967–968 968 10 151.00–154.00 $152.50 $1,476 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
589 589 7 223.00 $223.00 $1,313 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
850 850 2 204.00 $204.00 $1,734 —
950 950 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,805 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
975–1025 1000 85-90% 2 100.00–114.00 $107.18 $1,072 +10.24
725–1275 1060 85-90% 149 104.00–177.50 $128.42 $1,361 +43.70
930–1310 1136 85-90% 5 116.50–126.50 $121.05 $1,375 -7.09
775–1510 1189 85-90% 22 80.00–112.50 $104.36 $1,241 —
1060–1495 1198 85-90% 14 124.50–131.00 $128.04 $1,534 —
805–1705 1248 85-90% 51 91.00–123.50 $116.31 $1,452 -1.56
1125–1550 1321 85-90% 5 85.00–90.00 $86.89 $1,148 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915 915 80-85% 1 105.00 $105.00 $961 —
980–1485 1278 80-85% 58 126.00–142.50 $138.31 $1,768 —
945–1480 1307 80-85% 35 121.00–182.50 $142.81 $1,867 +2.92
1085–1510 1318 80-85% 15 136.00–144.00 $139.34 $1,837 -0.55
1305–1500 1403 80-85% 2 123.00–132.00 $127.81 $1,793 —
1020–1820 1409 80-85% 27 112.50–124.50 $120.76 $1,702 —
1065–1790 1438 80-85% 105 101.00–135.00 $129.37 $1,860 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1510–1605 1532 75-80% 14 137.50–140.50 $138.69 $2,125 -0.46
1545 1545 75-80% 1 132.00 $132.00 $2,039 —
1385–1880 1571 75-80% 25 135.50–142.50 $138.86 $2,181 +0.09
1445–1895 1735 75-80% 13 129.50–134.00 $133.48 $2,316 +1.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1555 1555 65-75% 1 146.00 $146.00 $2,270 -0.96

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1065–1390 1228 2 141.00–147.50 $143.82 $1,766 —
1175–2025 1488 6 147.50–172.00 $155.15 $2,309 +4.92
1155–2485 1773 53 121.00–171.50 $150.02 $2,660 —
1555–2245 1833 9 111.00–158.50 $150.53 $2,759 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
685–695 692 (<2 yrs)Open 3 179.00–196.00 $184.61 $1,278
750 thin fleshed 750 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 206.00 $206.00 $1,545
715–1040 889 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 77 167.00–192.00 $180.00 $1,600
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
685 685 (<2 yrs)Open 2 142.00 $142.00 $973
710–1120 991 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 38 131.00–160.00 $151.61 $1,502

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
947–951 950 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 2,225.00–2,325.00 $2,291.76
1053 1053 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,950.00 $1,950.00
1130 1130 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,825.00 $1,825.00
1148–1300 1186 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,875.00–1,925.00 $1,888.70
1255 1255 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,810.00 $1,810.00
1070–1450 1320 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,875.00–2,050.00 $1,988.40
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
770 770 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00
853 853 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,475.00 $1,475.00
945–1090 995 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,535.00–1,710.00 $1,635.31
828–1263 1046 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,750.00–2,400.00 $2,142.61
1080 1080 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00
1007–1330 1135 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,610.00–1,775.00 $1,663.75
1275 1275 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,075.00 $2,075.00
1455–1480 1463 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,450.00–2,475.00 $2,458.43
1723 1723 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,275.00 $2,275.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1312 1312 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,125.00 $2,125.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
710 710 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 825.00 $825.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
825 825 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00
795–836 827 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,475.00–1,800.00 $1,699.77
1245 1245 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,650.00 $2,650.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
828–1140 899 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,835.00–1,950.00 $1,866.39

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Beef Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
684 684 4 207.50 $207.50 $1,419 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
978–1015 989 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 30 2,175.00–2,400.00 $2,364.38 —
1083–1463 1158 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 16 2,150.00–2,500.00 $2,229.85 +127.62
1173 1173 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 6 2,085.00 $2,085.00 -17.23
1227 1227 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 6 2,160.00 $2,160.00 —
1320–1595 1458 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 2,275.00–2,475.00 $2,384.43 +24.26
1465 1465 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,800.00 $2,800.00 +439.83
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
960 960 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00 +75.00
1020 1020 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,410.00 $1,410.00 -50.51
870–1483 1177 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,525.00–3,100.00 $2,517.66 +1,092.66
1120–1360 1241 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 7 1,725.00–2,550.00 $2,247.03 —
1249 1249 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 9 2,425.00 $2,425.00 —
1300 1300 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,700.00 $2,700.00 +700.00
1409 1409 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 4 2,625.00 $2,625.00 +1,275.00
1458 1458 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 2,400.00 $2,400.00 —
1615 1615 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 3,200.00 $3,200.00 —
Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1630 1630 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,600.00 $2,600.00 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1115 1115 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,400.00 $2,400.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
750 750 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
575 575 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,035 —
700–735 718 2 180.00 $180.00 $1,292 —
775 775 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,395 —
810 810 1 179.00 $179.00 $1,450 —
850–891 878 9 177.00–180.00 $178.85 $1,570 +3.23
900–930 912 10 177.00–180.50 $179.06 $1,633 +3.39
975 975 1 181.50 $181.50 $1,770 +6.75
1000–1040 1020 4 175.50–181.00 $179.40 $1,830 +4.57
1075–1090 1082 5 179.50–180.00 $179.90 $1,947 +3.48
1105–1140 1112 13 177.00–181.00 $177.74 $1,976 +2.29
1160–1170 1165 2 179.50–181.50 $180.50 $2,103 +5.50
1270 1270 1 176.00 $176.00 $2,235 +0.50
1335–1345 1344 12 169.50–170.50 $170.42 $2,290 -5.08
1361–1396 1384 12 169.50 $169.50 $2,346 —
1449 1449 7 168.50 $168.50 $2,442 +3.30
1455–1486 1483 11 168.00–168.50 $168.46 $2,498 +4.96
1570 1570 1 164.00 $164.00 $2,575 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
574 574 5 178.00 $178.00 $1,022 —
663–665 664 3 177.00–177.50 $177.17 $1,176 —
735 735 1 177.50 $177.50 $1,305 +22.50
878–896 895 19 170.00–174.50 $174.03 $1,558 —
915 915 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,556 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
445 thin fleshed 445 9 90.00 $90.00 $400 —
605 605 1 167.50 $167.50 $1,013 —
650 650 1 150.00 $150.00 $975 —
750 750 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,200 —
1150 1150 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,898 —
1405 1405 1 160.00 $160.00 $2,248 —
Small 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
980 980 1 122.50 $122.50 $1,200 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
887 887 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 2,375.00 $2,375.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
720 720 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —
865 865 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00 -800.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
845 845 (<2 yrs)Open 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00 —

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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.