Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 27, 2024

2,604 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $276.23/cwt +35.23 vs last sale · ≈ $1,950/hd at 706 lb · 161 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $256.40/cwt +25.68 vs last sale · ≈ $1,774/hd at 692 lb · 68 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $271.30/cwt ≈ $1,731/hd at 638 lb · 62 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,604 2,642 911
Feeder cattle 1,517 1,683 219
Slaughter cattle 799 632 632
Replacement cattle 288 327 60

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Combined weighted average report for 2 Colorado auction markets included: La Junta Livestock, and Livestock Exchange. Trade activity and demand moderate to good. Feeder steers and heifers too thinly traded for a trend. Feeder dairy heifers sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Average dressing slaughter cows sold 1.00 to 3.00 higher; average dressing slaughter bulls 6.00 higher. The next available report will be Monday, June 10, 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
302–303 303 7 370.00–372.50 $371.07 $1,124 —
353 353 2 370.00 $370.00 $1,306 -0.13
500 500 7 310.00 $310.00 $1,550 -15.68
574 value added 574 12 307.00 $307.00 $1,762 —
592–598 593 11 289.00–299.00 $290.83 $1,725 —
603 value added 603 2 298.00 $298.00 $1,797 —
600–626 615 24 277.00–285.00 $279.97 $1,722 —
692–696 695 21 270.00–282.50 $271.78 $1,889 —
704–731 706 161 255.00–279.50 $276.23 $1,950 +35.23
790 790 56 263.75 $263.75 $2,084 —
813 thin fleshed 813 4 253.00 $253.00 $2,057 —
825 825 3 241.00 $241.00 $1,988 -20.00
967–993 976 9 189.00–200.00 $196.27 $1,916 —
1046 1046 6 182.00 $182.00 $1,904 +9.00
1170–1178 1176 5 160.00–187.50 $165.47 $1,946 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 3 337.50 $337.50 $1,158 —
389 389 5 355.00 $355.00 $1,381 —
438–448 443 16 291.00–312.00 $299.25 $1,326 -8.10
486–498 492 10 294.00–300.00 $297.04 $1,461 —
543 543 3 271.00 $271.00 $1,472 -1.52
550 550 2 331.00 $331.00 $1,820 +70.00
765 765 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,434 —
1076 1076 7 182.00 $182.00 $1,958 —
1141 1141 5 182.00 $182.00 $2,077 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
308 308 4 344.00 $344.00 $1,060 —
433–435 435 9 332.00–334.00 $332.44 $1,446 -14.69
471–490 475 9 310.00–319.00 $316.94 $1,505 +15.09
500–515 507 13 294.00–301.00 $295.31 $1,497 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
579 579 20 305.00 $305.00 $1,766 —
1076 1076 5 176.00 $176.00 $1,894 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
535 535 2 292.00 $292.00 $1,562 —
567 567 9 279.00 $279.00 $1,582 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
75 thin fleshed 75 1 175.00 $175.00 —
80 80 1 250.00 $250.00 -110.00
118 118 2 450.00 $450.00 —
213 213 3 960.00 $960.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–315 312 7 320.00–327.00 $321.95 $1,004 -4.50
353 353 4 319.00 $319.00 $1,126 —
408 value added 408 4 330.00 $330.00 $1,346 —
408–436 428 14 319.00–322.50 $320.89 $1,373 +2.20
465–499 480 9 285.00–330.00 $309.21 $1,484 +16.44
514 514 5 294.00 $294.00 $1,511 —
553–576 563 56 260.00–276.00 $274.02 $1,543 +15.51
620–642 638 62 262.00–274.50 $271.30 $1,731 —
678–698 692 68 235.00–260.50 $256.40 $1,774 +25.68
711 value added 711 26 244.00 $244.00 $1,735 —
794 794 8 222.00 $222.00 $1,763 —
829 829 13 221.00 $221.00 $1,832 —
880 thin fleshed 880 6 226.00 $226.00 $1,989 —
1055–1060 1058 3 180.00–185.00 $181.67 $1,922 —
1155 1155 2 175.00 $175.00 $2,021 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
347 347 3 294.00 $294.00 $1,020 -16.00
404–442 425 12 281.00–305.00 $296.74 $1,261 +1.13
470 470 2 274.00 $274.00 $1,288 —
528–540 534 20 264.00–280.00 $272.32 $1,454 +9.82
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
272–289 284 11 291.00–307.00 $302.83 $860 —
391 391 4 271.00 $271.00 $1,060 -41.28
435 435 3 312.00 $312.00 $1,357 +16.98
527–541 535 7 241.00–280.00 $257.46 $1,377 +21.46
870 870 1 197.50 $197.50 $1,718 —
1000 1000 1 177.50 $177.50 $1,775 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
192 192 5 585.00 $585.00 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
573 value added 573 3 259.00 $259.00 $1,484 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
85 thin fleshed 85 1 235.00 $235.00 —
90 90 1 300.00 $300.00 —
115 115 1 375.00 $375.00 -185.00
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–845 830 2 150.00–155.00 $152.45 $1,265 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000 1000 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,650 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520 520 8 280.00 $280.00 $1,456 —
592 592 26 271.00 $271.00 $1,604 +8.36
721–749 742 15 220.00–240.00 $225.19 $1,671 —
801–810 802 13 197.50–211.00 $209.95 $1,684 —
878 878 4 190.00 $190.00 $1,668 —
1002–1015 1005 10 167.00–182.50 $170.06 $1,709 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
426 426 6 279.00 $279.00 $1,189 —
635 635 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,524 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
965–1175 1033 (<2 yrs)N/A 8 1,400.00–2,050.00 $1,686.65 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
85–90 87 3 240.00–250.00 $246.54 —
195 195 1 750.00 $750.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
805–1276 1078 85-90% 193 109.00–147.00 $137.02 $1,477 +8.60
790–1725 1122 85-90% 23 67.50–96.00 $90.28 $1,013 -30.77
1090–1235 1181 85-90% 4 122.00–132.00 $127.16 $1,502 +22.80
860–1520 1217 85-90% 25 77.00–112.50 $107.17 $1,304 -9.14
970–1433 1221 85-90% 22 125.00–132.00 $126.74 $1,547 +10.43
900–1630 1254 85-90% 69 113.00–124.50 $119.78 $1,502 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1140 1140 80-85% 1 129.00 $129.00 $1,471 —
1035–1800 1281 80-85% 14 136.00–144.50 $139.60 $1,788 +1.29
870–1505 1290 80-85% 75 126.00–161.00 $138.22 $1,783 -0.09
975–1480 1294 80-85% 55 135.00–170.00 $148.23 $1,918 +9.92
1290–1550 1420 80-85% 2 99.00–108.00 $103.91 $1,476 -16.85
1135–1895 1425 80-85% 13 115.00–122.50 $119.01 $1,696 -10.36
925–1935 1454 80-85% 106 125.00–135.00 $130.40 $1,896 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1390–1523 1486 75-80% 19 139.50–143.50 $140.14 $2,082 —
1265–1660 1514 75-80% 7 139.00–154.00 $148.38 $2,246 +9.69
1255–1800 1518 75-80% 39 136.50–145.50 $140.67 $2,135 +1.98
1725–1995 1818 75-80% 3 130.00–134.50 $132.70 $2,412 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1730–1800 1762 65-75% 3 144.00–155.00 $148.62 $2,619 —
1535–1985 1818 65-75% 9 146.00–149.50 $147.88 $2,688 —
1645–2045 1838 65-75% 4 138.00–145.50 $141.63 $2,603 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
970–1155 1068 5 182.50–197.50 $188.19 $2,010 —
1105–1505 1201 9 150.00–184.00 $164.97 $1,981 +21.15
1170–2135 1563 16 132.50–151.00 $145.49 $2,274 —
1190–2450 1753 23 121.00–180.00 $149.56 $2,622 -0.46
1305–2530 1873 19 102.00–164.50 $156.03 $2,922 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
680 680 (<2 yrs)Open 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,292
745–840 thin fleshed 794 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 207.00–228.00 $216.04 $1,715
710–1003 907 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 30 171.00–191.00 $181.89 $1,650
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
920–1075 1009 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 147.00–161.00 $155.83 $1,572
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
840–988 913 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 132.00–147.00 $137.54 $1,256

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
955 955 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,610.00 $1,610.00
840–1075 993 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 19 1,500.00–1,925.00 $1,803.31
1100 1100 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,635.00 $1,635.00
1040–1230 1140 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,500.00–1,650.00 $1,602.30
1250 1250 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,675.00 $1,675.00
1120–1340 1297 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,535.00–1,800.00 $1,761.85
1264–1600 1376 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,675.00–2,235.00 $1,892.05
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
797 797 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,310.00 $1,310.00
943 943 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,310.00 $1,310.00
1035 1035 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,275.00 $1,275.00
1195 1195 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00
1215 1215 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00
1170–1540 1293 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,450.00–2,025.00 $1,678.22
1438 1438 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,750.00 $1,750.00
1548 1548 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 2,350.00 $2,350.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
962–988 972 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,510.00–1,525.00 $1,516.10
990–1040 1015 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,710.00–1,750.00 $1,729.51
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
688 688 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,275.00 $1,275.00

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Beef Dairy Steers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
919 919 7 182.00 $182.00 $1,673 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
823 823 4 159.00 $159.00 $1,309 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1045 1045 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00 —
1050–1140 1105 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 2,175.00–2,835.00 $2,744.92 —
1160 1160 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 2,825.00 $2,825.00 +595.15
1071–1340 1193 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 13 2,000.00–2,610.00 $2,455.69 +370.69
1278–1350 1288 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 7 2,325.00–2,375.00 $2,367.51 —
1333 1333 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 2,810.00 $2,810.00 —
1360 1360 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 11 2,725.00 $2,725.00 —
1398 1398 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 2,635.00 $2,635.00 —
1425 1425 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,075.00 $2,075.00 —
1443 1443 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 2,225.00 $2,225.00 —
1460 1460 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00 -184.43
1153–1712 1464 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 9 2,775.00–2,825.00 $2,792.51 -7.49
1502 1502 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 2,510.00 $2,510.00 —
1517–1715 1567 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 4 2,575.00–2,700.00 $2,609.21 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
955 955 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,675.00 $1,675.00 -25.00
1135 1135 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,825.00 $1,825.00 —
1080–1352 1271 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 5 1,675.00–1,975.00 $1,895.23 —
1400 1400 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00 -900.00
1555–1645 1600 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 2,250.00–2,300.00 $2,274.30 -925.70

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 455 1 187.50 $187.50 $853 —
527–543 532 24 184.00–185.00 $184.66 $982 —
607 607 9 182.00 $182.00 $1,105 —
820–848 838 6 176.50–181.50 $179.85 $1,507 +0.85
895 895 1 179.50 $179.50 $1,607 +0.65
910–925 919 6 179.00–181.00 $179.66 $1,651 +0.60
950–993 979 6 179.00–181.00 $179.83 $1,761 -1.67
1010–1040 1019 16 179.50–182.00 $180.93 $1,844 +1.53
1063–1099 1090 24 179.50–181.50 $181.25 $1,976 +1.35
1113–1145 1119 7 179.00–181.50 $180.64 $2,021 +2.90
1164–1170 1166 11 179.00–181.50 $181.27 $2,114 +0.77
1210–1235 1214 7 175.50–179.50 $178.50 $2,167 —
1250–1275 1263 2 177.00–179.50 $178.24 $2,251 +2.24
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 8 171.00 $171.00 $641 —
705 705 1 178.00 $178.00 $1,255 +0.50
860 860 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,471 -3.03
1055–1065 1060 2 167.50–175.00 $171.27 $1,815 —
1105–1115 1110 2 174.00–175.00 $174.50 $1,937 —
1164 1164 5 170.00 $170.00 $1,979 —
1245 1245 1 163.00 $163.00 $2,029 —
1265–1280 1273 2 167.50–171.00 $169.26 $2,155 —
1380 1380 1 163.00 $163.00 $2,249 —
Small 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
610 610 1 115.00 $115.00 $702 —
750 750 1 130.00 $130.00 $975 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
890–995 933 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 2,025.00–2,150.00 $2,081.07 —
823–1097 975 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 34 2,725.00–2,875.00 $2,852.65 —

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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.