Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 9, 2024

4,982 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $240.69/cwt -7.05 vs last sale · ≈ $1,974/hd at 820 lb · 255 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $246.15/cwt -5.44 vs last sale · ≈ $1,883/hd at 765 lb · 214 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $232.07/cwt -3.51 vs last sale · ≈ $2,045/hd at 881 lb · 184 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,982 4,267 4,129
Feeder cattle 3,815 3,362 3,238
Slaughter cattle 999 820 792
Replacement cattle 168 85 99

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 were moderate to good. In the feeder supply, steers under 500 lbs sold 5.00 lower to sharply lower, 500-650 lbs 3.00 to 9.00 higher, and over 650 lbs mostly 2.00 to 7.00 lower. Feeder heifers under 450 lbs sold uneven, 450-650 lbs mostly 1.00 to 4.00 higher with instances of sharply higher, and over 650 lbs 3.00 to 8.00 lower. Average dressing slaughter cows sold steady to 4.00 higher; average dressing slaughter bulls 6.00 lower. The next available report will be Monday, September 23, 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
325–340 334 19 369.00–372.00 $370.93 $1,239 +0.93
352–380 369 15 343.00–355.00 $350.42 $1,293 -9.62
425 fancy 425 35 334.00 $334.00 $1,420 —
415–448 445 97 284.00–324.00 $316.70 $1,409 -19.75
456–479 464 20 285.00–316.00 $306.37 $1,422 -5.34
500–544 512 166 265.00–288.00 $282.73 $1,448 +3.37
554–592 577 172 266.00–280.00 $275.65 $1,591 +8.84
600–646 628 89 260.00–277.00 $269.63 $1,693 +7.72
650–688 672 93 251.50–269.00 $256.43 $1,723 -2.57
712–747 730 70 247.00–253.00 $250.44 $1,828 +1.68
752–796 765 214 234.00–252.75 $246.15 $1,883 -5.44
803–842 820 255 230.00–245.00 $240.69 $1,974 -7.05
860–895 881 184 222.50–233.50 $232.07 $2,045 -3.51
900–921 911 56 220.00–228.50 $223.22 $2,034 -2.14
950–984 970 138 210.00–221.00 $212.93 $2,065 -10.95
1045 1045 3 202.00 $202.00 $2,111 -13.81
1082 1082 4 203.00 $203.00 $2,196 -12.25
1235 1235 2 170.00 $170.00 $2,100 —
1325 1325 2 167.50 $167.50 $2,219 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
368 368 12 320.00 $320.00 $1,178 -10.78
420–430 423 21 261.00–276.00 $270.92 $1,146 -43.19
477–496 485 21 275.00–290.00 $281.57 $1,366 +27.74
500–548 537 14 266.00–271.00 $269.78 $1,449 +27.04
555–593 579 43 256.00–267.00 $265.27 $1,536 —
621–647 637 26 246.00–257.00 $252.38 $1,608 —
653–699 690 39 236.00–250.00 $246.19 $1,699 —
714–736 725 8 231.00 $231.00 $1,675 —
794–795 794 19 222.00–236.00 $232.31 $1,845 -15.69
809–849 832 23 226.00–231.00 $228.54 $1,901 -4.59
1000–1005 1002 5 179.00–204.00 $193.97 $1,944 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
337 337 5 301.00 $301.00 $1,014 —
363 363 2 256.00 $256.00 $929 —
439 439 15 236.00 $236.00 $1,036 —
670 670 2 254.00 $254.00 $1,702 +28.00
730 730 2 249.00 $249.00 $1,818 —
750–751 751 16 244.00–246.00 $244.25 $1,834 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338 338 2 231.00 $231.00 $781 -34.00
430 430 5 211.00 $211.00 $907 —
516 516 16 251.00 $251.00 $1,295 —
628 628 6 237.00 $237.00 $1,488 —
728 728 10 210.00 $210.00 $1,529 —
895 895 1 197.00 $197.00 $1,763 —
1023 1023 2 181.00 $181.00 $1,852 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
160 160 1 725.00 $725.00 -75.00
225 225 3 950.00 $950.00 -25.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
273 273 2 281.00 $281.00 $767 -30.00
315–336 328 5 313.00–327.50 $321.92 $1,056 +6.25
356–388 363 26 302.50–311.00 $307.21 $1,115 -5.12
408 thin fleshed 408 27 292.50 $292.50 $1,193 —
418–448 431 67 271.00–281.00 $279.59 $1,205 -12.12
451–498 478 97 255.00–265.00 $262.21 $1,253 +11.23
503–548 534 71 241.00–257.50 $251.85 $1,345 +2.91
552–597 575 105 240.00–253.50 $248.62 $1,430 +0.68
600–640 621 51 240.00–253.50 $248.16 $1,541 +3.39
652–698 676 179 233.00–242.00 $238.33 $1,611 -7.67
713–742 721 24 228.00–231.00 $229.10 $1,652 -3.52
754–796 770 174 223.00–231.00 $226.37 $1,743 -7.33
805–848 816 28 217.50–226.50 $222.96 $1,819 -2.04
855–858 856 21 218.00–220.00 $219.52 $1,879 +1.03
908–911 910 14 200.00 $200.00 $1,820 +2.50
1245 1245 1 184.00 $184.00 $2,291 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
328 328 6 241.00 $241.00 $790 —
402–430 415 18 226.00–275.00 $238.16 $988 —
654 654 43 235.00 $235.00 $1,537 —
748 748 67 226.00 $226.00 $1,690 +1.00
873 873 13 218.00 $218.00 $1,903 +6.00
943 943 2 193.00 $193.00 $1,820 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318 318 2 292.00 $292.00 $929 +16.00
356–395 377 28 271.00–286.00 $281.22 $1,060 —
394 unweaned 394 10 212.50 $212.50 $837 —
400–443 422 4 235.00–253.00 $244.46 $1,032 -26.14
474–489 486 32 202.50–243.00 $230.52 $1,120 -4.48
526–542 532 8 240.00–241.00 $240.38 $1,279 +9.38
560–583 578 10 233.00–239.00 $237.84 $1,375 —
618–633 622 12 229.00–239.00 $231.85 $1,442 —
655–699 677 11 223.00–228.00 $225.67 $1,528 -9.88
771–792 774 23 218.00 $218.00 $1,687 -2.50
945 945 5 183.00 $183.00 $1,729 —
1165 1165 1 175.50 $175.50 $2,045 —
1230 1230 1 164.00 $164.00 $2,017 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 12 261.00 $261.00 $940 —
419 419 14 212.00 $212.00 $888 —
676 thin fleshed 676 4 220.00 $220.00 $1,487 —
700 700 2 222.00 $222.00 $1,554 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
198 198 2 710.00 $710.00 —
233 233 3 875.00 $875.00 +65.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035 1035 2 150.00 $150.00 $1,552 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
543 543 6 225.00 $225.00 $1,222 -12.50
563 563 4 245.00 $245.00 $1,379 —
679 679 27 210.00 $210.00 $1,426 —
907–932 923 22 194.00–200.00 $196.14 $1,810 —
953 953 2 193.00 $193.00 $1,839 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 2 340.00 $340.00 $1,224 —
467 467 6 259.00 $259.00 $1,210 —
985 985 1 177.50 $177.50 $1,748 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1500–1575 1538 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 2 2,800.00–3,300.00 $3,056.10 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1495–1500 1498 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 2 2,200.00–2,300.00 $2,249.92 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
975 975 85-90% 1 91.00 $91.00 $887 -65.78
810–1175 991 85-90% 6 140.00–154.00 $147.14 $1,458 -9.64
840–1485 1060 85-90% 72 88.00–109.00 $101.57 $1,077 +0.52
1075 1075 85-90% 1 116.00 $116.00 $1,247 +14.95
815–1360 1129 85-90% 9 60.00–90.00 $78.30 $884 —
795–1398 1137 85-90% 276 109.00–121.00 $115.72 $1,316 —
900–1293 1185 85-90% 134 119.00–152.00 $124.14 $1,471 -1.96
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1375 1248 80-85% 6 151.00–166.00 $155.26 $1,938 +2.19
1205–1618 1365 80-85% 26 120.00–137.00 $130.05 $1,775 -1.42
1300–1600 1380 80-85% 68 120.00–136.50 $129.22 $1,783 -2.25
1140–1795 1446 80-85% 13 77.50–105.00 $102.03 $1,475 -20.85
1100–1875 1452 80-85% 157 111.00–129.00 $122.57 $1,780 +8.17
1250–1725 1456 80-85% 37 106.00–117.00 $112.57 $1,639 -1.83
1560–1730 1660 80-85% 3 111.00–113.00 $112.03 $1,860 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1505–1695 1579 75-80% 10 120.00–134.00 $127.84 $2,019 —
1525–1865 1733 75-80% 6 129.50–139.00 $134.60 $2,333 +3.72
1715–2050 1801 75-80% 21 120.00–128.00 $126.51 $2,278 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1700 1700 65-75% 1 131.00 $131.00 $2,227 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1065–1085 1078 3 175.00–185.00 $180.98 $1,951 +1.35
1220–1580 1363 6 131.00–146.00 $137.77 $1,878 +10.52
1285–1820 1553 2 143.50–152.00 $147.02 $2,283 —
1075–2050 1635 20 111.00–163.00 $141.34 $2,311 +0.34
1070–2245 1698 40 136.00–168.50 $155.17 $2,635 —
1675–1985 1843 4 127.00–141.00 $135.39 $2,495 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
735–1014 907 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 30 201.00–217.50 $211.41 $1,917
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
765–1085 867 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 167.50–182.50 $174.99 $1,517
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
835–1140 1025 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 136.00–151.00 $144.29 $1,479

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1020 1020 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,875.00 $1,875.00
1067–1315 1124 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,625.00–1,800.00 $1,744.82
1138–1165 1147 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,500.00–1,710.00 $1,571.10
1250–1267 1263 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,825.00–2,025.00 $1,975.50
1266 1266 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 2,200.00 $2,200.00
1295 1295 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 25 2,350.00 $2,350.00
1305 1305 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,015.00 $2,015.00
1376 1376 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 2,050.00 $2,050.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
920 920 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,575.00 $1,575.00
1083 1083 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,260.00 $1,260.00
1083 1083 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 9 1,260.00 $1,260.00
1150 1150 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,410.00 $1,410.00
1298 1298 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,750.00 $1,750.00
1305 1305 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 17 1,635.00 $1,635.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
830–870 850 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,625.00–1,725.00 $1,676.18
935–955 942 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,525.00–1,625.00 $1,558.81
1150 1150 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,100.00 $2,100.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
875 875 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,475.00 $1,475.00

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Beef Dairy Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1162 1162 5 165.00 $165.00 $1,917 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
905–915 910 2 175.00–177.50 $176.24 $1,604 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
910 910 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,775.00 $1,775.00 —
740–1240 990 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,225.00–1,525.00 $1,412.88 —
1075 1075 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,025.00 $2,025.00 —
1445 1445 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,100.00–2,800.00 $2,450.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
803–808 807 12 174.00–176.50 $176.09 $1,421 —
947 947 20 178.50 $178.50 $1,690 +1.00
952–960 953 10 176.50 $176.50 $1,682 +1.42
1001–1025 1007 13 175.50–176.00 $175.62 $1,768 +0.05
1058–1090 1071 21 173.00–177.00 $175.64 $1,881 +4.02
1115–1140 1121 4 175.00–176.00 $175.75 $1,970 +0.74
1156–1194 1173 16 172.50–174.50 $173.68 $2,037 +1.02
1210 1210 1 171.00 $171.00 $2,069 —
1344 1344 7 166.50 $166.50 $2,238 +1.39
1440 1440 2 163.50 $163.50 $2,354 +6.50
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 310 1 175.00 $175.00 $542 —
435–445 442 3 160.00–165.00 $161.64 $714 —
447 thin fleshed 447 3 155.00 $155.00 $693 —
650 thin fleshed 650 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,008 —
690 690 1 172.50 $172.50 $1,190 —
720 720 3 172.50 $172.50 $1,242 —
780–785 783 2 165.00–170.00 $167.49 $1,311 -3.51
945 945 1 172.50 $172.50 $1,630 +1.50
1085 1085 2 171.00 $171.00 $1,855 —
1168 1168 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,898 —
1267 1267 3 162.50 $162.50 $2,059 —
1334 1334 4 163.50 $163.50 $2,181 —
Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350 350 4 160.00 $160.00 $560 —
Small 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
750 750 1 125.00 $125.00 $938 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1085–1305 1158 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 2,875.00–2,900.00 $2,890.61 —

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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.