Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 16, 2024

3,778 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 steers $283.13/cwt +0.40 vs last sale · ≈ $1,524/hd at 538 lb · 157 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $230.82/cwt +1.72 vs last sale · ≈ $1,667/hd at 722 lb · 150 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $246.21/cwt -2.41 vs last sale · ≈ $1,438/hd at 584 lb · 139 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,778 4,982 614
Feeder cattle 2,738 3,815 182
Slaughter cattle 794 999 415
Replacement cattle 246 168 17

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 400-550 lbs sold 1.00 to 3.00 higher, and 550-800 lbs 3.00 to 4.00 lower with instances of 8.00 to 12.00 lower. Feeder heifers under 450 lbs sold 10.00 to 12.00 lower, 450-700 lbs mostly 2.00 to 5.00 lower, and 700-850 lbs sold unevenly steady. Dairy feeder heifers over 800 lbs sold steady to 3.00 lower. Average dressing slaughter cows sold 4.00 to 8.00 lower and average dressing slaughter bulls were 4.00 lower. The next available report will be Monday, September 30, 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
270 270 2 356.00 $356.00 $961 —
315 315 2 320.00 $320.00 $1,008 -50.93
353–391 370 33 327.00–336.00 $331.23 $1,226 -19.19
405–434 427 66 299.00–324.00 $319.33 $1,364 +2.63
456 unweaned 456 8 270.00 $270.00 $1,231 —
450–496 473 83 290.00–308.00 $299.43 $1,416 -6.94
516 unweaned 516 6 267.50 $267.50 $1,380 —
513–547 539 151 271.00–288.25 $283.75 $1,529 +1.02
555–599 587 96 260.00–271.00 $263.22 $1,545 -12.43
603–628 616 102 251.00–265.00 $261.92 $1,613 -7.71
660–698 680 51 248.00–260.00 $252.59 $1,718 -3.84
709–736 727 47 243.00–255.00 $247.66 $1,800 -2.78
752–792 772 80 235.00–247.00 $242.13 $1,869 -4.02
803–848 821 31 206.00–246.00 $232.25 $1,907 -8.44
853–882 859 15 220.00–229.00 $227.15 $1,951 -4.92
932–937 934 20 189.00–221.00 $211.36 $1,974 -11.86
962–980 964 17 201.00–220.00 $217.73 $2,099 +4.80
1021 1021 94 223.50 $223.50 $2,282 +21.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 5 291.00 $291.00 $1,004 —
355–392 367 6 277.50–305.00 $295.22 $1,083 -24.78
431–434 432 26 281.00–287.00 $282.86 $1,222 +11.94
467–492 481 23 281.00–287.50 $286.19 $1,377 +4.62
506–546 526 31 261.00–267.50 $263.55 $1,386 -6.23
575 575 3 247.00 $247.00 $1,420 -18.27
617 617 7 232.50 $232.50 $1,435 -19.88
698 698 2 236.00 $236.00 $1,647 -10.19
878 878 3 214.00 $214.00 $1,879 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
393 393 2 271.00 $271.00 $1,065 —
453–498 480 23 246.00–266.00 $255.71 $1,227 —
510 510 5 233.00 $233.00 $1,188 -18.00
814 814 5 223.00 $223.00 $1,815 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
479 479 4 251.00 $251.00 $1,202 —
517 517 6 271.00 $271.00 $1,401 —
559 559 5 252.50 $252.50 $1,411 —
788 788 3 240.00 $240.00 $1,891 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
893 893 3 201.00 $201.00 $1,795 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
277 277 2 322.50 $322.50 $893 +41.50
305–330 315 5 291.00–307.50 $297.91 $938 -24.01
351–393 381 55 291.00–306.00 $297.24 $1,132 -9.97
403–436 424 41 251.00–287.00 $267.15 $1,133 -12.44
452–489 475 95 246.00–267.00 $257.77 $1,224 -4.44
503–549 528 62 242.50–258.00 $252.20 $1,332 +0.35
565–598 584 139 235.00–258.00 $246.21 $1,438 -2.41
600–636 619 41 233.00–263.00 $244.83 $1,515 -3.33
652–699 677 21 221.00–236.25 $230.25 $1,559 -8.08
702–744 722 150 216.00–241.00 $230.82 $1,667 +1.72
759–769 764 84 226.00–227.00 $226.47 $1,730 +0.10
763–778 767 47 221.00–229.50 $227.28 $1,743 +0.91
810–844 831 51 213.00–222.50 $221.18 $1,838 -1.78
844 844 10 213.00 $213.00 $1,798 -9.96
856–886 877 29 211.00–213.00 $212.73 $1,866 -6.79
903 903 16 210.00 $210.00 $1,896 +10.00
950–990 963 9 180.00–190.50 $186.90 $1,800 —
1000 1000 8 190.00 $190.00 $1,900 —
1062 1062 3 180.00 $180.00 $1,912 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 2 241.00 $241.00 $795 -51.00
383–394 391 25 272.50–276.00 $275.18 $1,076 -6.04
441–443 442 8 231.00–241.00 $236.01 $1,043 -8.45
468–473 469 8 236.00–240.00 $238.99 $1,121 +8.47
553–598 574 27 217.00–240.00 $225.74 $1,296 -12.10
600–622 602 30 216.00–240.00 $237.52 $1,430 +5.67
689 689 10 202.00 $202.00 $1,392 -23.67
723–748 736 8 194.00–225.00 $216.93 $1,597 —
758–796 783 6 199.00–204.00 $202.39 $1,585 -15.61
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
396 396 6 237.00 $237.00 $939 —
584 584 9 236.00 $236.00 $1,378 —
665 665 3 202.50 $202.50 $1,347 —
915 915 1 186.00 $186.00 $1,702 —
1077 1077 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,750 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
621 621 4 240.00 $240.00 $1,490 —
662 662 5 235.00 $235.00 $1,556 ±0.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
278 278 3 850.00 $850.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 3 237.00 $237.00 $1,102 —
540 540 7 259.00 $259.00 $1,399 +34.00
657 657 23 243.00 $243.00 $1,597 +33.00
769 769 12 219.00 $219.00 $1,684 —
863 863 5 204.00 $204.00 $1,761 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
397 397 4 304.00 $304.00 $1,207 —
458 458 2 288.00 $288.00 $1,319 +29.00
503–530 520 7 257.00–264.00 $260.24 $1,353 —
574 574 5 234.00 $234.00 $1,343 —
637–641 640 17 220.00–226.00 $223.18 $1,428 —
668 668 3 220.00 $220.00 $1,470 —
743 743 4 201.00 $201.00 $1,493 —
810 810 5 197.50 $197.50 $1,600 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1138–1495 1242 80-85% 17 112.00–117.50 $115.78 $1,438 -39.48
1130–1560 1285 80-85% 75 121.00–133.00 $129.25 $1,661 —
1330–1535 1350 80-85% 17 135.00–138.50 $136.53 $1,843 +6.48
1325–1475 1393 80-85% 11 120.00–135.00 $124.90 $1,740 -4.32
1425–1455 1440 80-85% 3 93.00–101.00 $97.31 $1,401 -4.72
1155–1770 1465 80-85% 180 108.00–122.00 $115.96 $1,699 +3.39
1320–1825 1502 80-85% 34 103.50–113.00 $108.84 $1,635 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045–1325 1080 85-90% 8 99.00–104.00 $99.77 $1,078 -16.23
1015–1154 1102 85-90% 47 111.00–116.00 $113.10 $1,246 +34.80
1060–1175 1118 85-90% 2 126.00–134.00 $129.79 $1,451 +51.49
945–1497 1145 85-90% 83 81.00–108.00 $100.92 $1,156 -14.80
830–1375 1159 85-90% 25 115.00–140.00 $120.12 $1,392 -4.02
805–1465 1196 85-90% 17 50.00–86.00 $72.12 $863 -52.02
990–1455 1228 85-90% 142 104.00–119.00 $111.03 $1,363 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1500 1500 75-80% 1 121.00 $121.00 $1,815 —
1515 1515 75-80% 1 133.00 $133.00 $2,015 —
1580–1595 1588 75-80% 2 120.00–120.50 $120.25 $1,910 -7.59
1450–1810 1655 75-80% 20 113.00–130.50 $126.20 $2,089 —
2015 2015 75-80% 1 106.00 $106.00 $2,136 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1755 1755 65-75% 1 126.00 $126.00 $2,211 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
865–1130 977 3 177.50–190.00 $182.45 $1,783 —
1120–1400 1274 5 121.00–141.00 $131.65 $1,677 —
1100–1650 1314 7 137.50–155.00 $143.02 $1,879 —
1128–1955 1560 23 111.00–152.00 $137.77 $2,149 -9.25
1055–1855 1590 4 110.00–141.00 $134.42 $2,137 —
1080–2300 1703 36 140.00–164.00 $149.90 $2,553 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
771–855 785 (<2 yrs)Open 6 161.00–167.50 $166.32 $1,306
925–973 thin fleshed 941 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 17 181.00–191.00 $187.45 $1,764
740–1068 972 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 23 160.00–224.00 $175.85 $1,709
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
870–935 899 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 151.00–191.00 $178.67 $1,606
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
750–968 926 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 151.00–161.00 $154.08 $1,427

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1127–1175 1128 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 45 1,675.00–1,750.00 $1,748.26
1135 1135 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 1,325.00 $1,325.00
1164 1164 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 12 1,325.00 $1,325.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
980 980 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 7 2,400.00 $2,400.00
952–1195 1009 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 1,800.00–1,925.00 $1,849.48
1055 1055 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,100.00 $2,100.00
970–1305 1203 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 13 2,025.00–2,575.00 $2,436.17
1198–1431 1315 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 2,325.00–2,350.00 $2,338.61
1315 1315 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,100.00 $2,100.00
1332 1332 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,925.00 $1,925.00
1327–1360 1339 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 14 1,950.00–2,000.00 $1,968.14
1386 1386 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,150.00 $2,150.00
1320–1550 1435 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,850.00–2,250.00 $2,066.03
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
960 960 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 975.00 $975.00
1020 1020 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,025.00 $1,025.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
808–850 822 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,550.00–1,750.00 $1,681.06
860–985 940 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,500.00–1,775.00 $1,685.93
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
735 735 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,275.00 $1,275.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1255 1255 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00 —
1365 1365 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 3,100.00 $3,100.00 —
1461 1461 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 3,000.00 $3,000.00 —
1511 1511 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 2,550.00 $2,550.00 —
1517 1517 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 7 2,700.00 $2,700.00 —
1532 1532 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 7 3,150.00 $3,150.00 —
1567 1567 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 2,600.00 $2,600.00 —
1615 1615 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 2,900.00 $2,900.00 —
1645–1715 fancy 1657 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 6 3,050.00–3,300.00 $3,256.87 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840–845 843 2 174.00–175.00 $174.50 $1,471 —
900–940 925 3 174.00–177.00 $175.34 $1,622 -3.16
985–988 988 7 176.00 $176.00 $1,739 -0.50
1015–1025 1022 3 174.00–175.50 $175.00 $1,788 -0.62
1055–1065 1062 3 173.00–175.00 $173.66 $1,844 -1.98
1105–1140 1123 6 173.00–175.00 $174.33 $1,958 -1.42
1215 1215 1 170.00 $170.00 $2,066 -1.00
1220–1245 1234 5 172.00–174.00 $172.80 $2,132 +1.80
1250–1270 1260 2 172.00 $172.00 $2,167 —
1333–1346 1339 16 164.00–167.00 $165.79 $2,220 -0.71
1365–1386 1384 9 165.00–168.00 $167.67 $2,321 —
1415–1440 1428 2 141.00–166.00 $153.39 $2,190 -10.11
1460 1460 1 151.00 $151.00 $2,205 —
1530 1530 1 131.00 $131.00 $2,004 —
1610 1610 1 139.00 $139.00 $2,238 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 385 6 170.00 $170.00 $654 —
465 465 1 160.00 $160.00 $744 —
510 510 1 160.00 $160.00 $816 —
755–795 775 4 150.00–177.50 $163.80 $1,269 -3.69
950 950 1 172.00 $172.00 $1,634 —
1010 1010 1 169.00 $169.00 $1,707 —
1440 1440 1 164.00 $164.00 $2,362 —
Medium 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
805 805 1 157.50 $157.50 $1,268 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
855 855 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,112 —
Small 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
705 705 1 100.00 $100.00 $705 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
828 828 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,100.00 $2,100.00 —

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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.