Cattle Market Pulse

Colorado Weekly Cattle Auction Summary

Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 23, 2024

5,528 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $302.74/cwt +35.59 vs last sale · ≈ $1,302/hd at 430 lb · 235 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $261.45/cwt -0.47 vs last sale · ≈ $1,634/hd at 625 lb · 210 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $294.89/cwt +11.76 vs last sale · ≈ $1,561/hd at 529 lb · 201 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,528 3,778 4,103
Feeder cattle 4,607 2,738 3,225
Slaughter cattle 789 794 756
Replacement cattle 132 246 122

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 Light to Good. Feeder steers 400-700 lbs sold steady to 1.00 higher with instances of sharply higher. All other weight classes of steers were too thinly tested to trend. Feeder heifers 400-600 lbs sold 11.00 higher to sharply higher, and 750-850 lb heifers sold 3.00 to 6.00 higher. All other weight classes of feeder heifers were too thinly tested to trend. Dairy feeder heifers over 900 lbs sold unevenly steady on a light test. Average dressing slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00 to 2.00 lower; average dressing slaughter bulls sold 5.00 higher. The next available report will be Monday, October 7, 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
269–296 288 19 276.00–399.50 $361.64 $1,042 +5.64
306–349 317 81 314.00–330.00 $316.82 $1,004 -3.18
369 fancy 369 34 381.00 $381.00 $1,406 —
388 unweaned 388 2 310.00 $310.00 $1,203 —
370–397 389 32 300.00–357.00 $337.92 $1,315 +6.69
400–439 433 150 299.00–364.00 $348.86 $1,511 +29.53
470 fancy 470 36 311.00 $311.00 $1,462 —
460–491 473 120 289.00–324.00 $316.04 $1,495 +16.61
519–527 thin fleshed 525 95 293.00–312.50 $306.81 $1,611 —
505–548 533 106 264.00–292.00 $284.21 $1,515 +0.46
554 thin fleshed 554 24 285.00 $285.00 $1,579 —
551–594 561 52 265.00–277.50 $273.32 $1,533 +10.10
604–649 625 210 249.00–268.00 $261.45 $1,634 -0.47
652–699 687 145 236.00–260.00 $252.66 $1,736 +0.07
709–729 thin fleshed 711 53 238.00–250.00 $247.94 $1,763 —
700–740 722 27 220.00–235.00 $231.36 $1,670 -16.30
755–784 thin fleshed 765 33 237.00–243.00 $240.95 $1,843 —
763–798 784 70 221.00–247.00 $239.93 $1,881 -2.20
801–847 820 57 231.00–246.50 $234.07 $1,919 +1.82
858–898 879 9 211.00–226.00 $216.14 $1,900 -11.01
924 thin fleshed 924 35 232.00 $232.00 $2,144 —
945 945 5 212.50–216.00 $214.60 $2,028 +3.24
974–989 981 16 215.00–222.00 $218.91 $2,148 +1.18
1023–1037 1033 10 206.00–210.00 $208.81 $2,157 -14.69
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
308–320 318 30 241.00–300.00 $257.21 $818 -33.79
350–382 353 30 251.00–310.00 $303.62 $1,072 +8.40
400–418 409 27 261.00–347.50 $330.71 $1,353 +47.85
454–496 477 79 271.00–311.00 $300.20 $1,432 +14.01
506–548 530 63 240.00–287.00 $277.32 $1,470 +13.77
552–594 574 81 241.00–267.00 $256.98 $1,475 +9.98
618–645 630 13 211.00–252.50 $237.29 $1,495 +4.79
653 653 4 249.00 $249.00 $1,626 —
726 726 4 213.00 $213.00 $1,546 —
783 783 4 196.00 $196.00 $1,535 —
815 815 2 222.50 $222.50 $1,813 —
911 911 4 199.00 $199.00 $1,813 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
317 317 6 213.00 $213.00 $675 —
367–391 389 43 231.00–287.50 $281.03 $1,093 +10.03
405–449 429 57 211.00–317.00 $267.56 $1,148 —
463–498 490 60 241.00–279.00 $264.52 $1,296 +8.81
531–548 540 42 248.00–271.00 $264.08 $1,426 +31.08
713 713 3 231.00 $231.00 $1,647 —
800–843 822 4 227.00–228.00 $227.49 $1,870 +4.49
957 957 1 200.00 $200.00 $1,914 —
1207 1207 3 157.50 $157.50 $1,901 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
203–235 220 5 775.00–985.00 $889.42 —
267–295 274 4 1,010.00–1,050.00 $1,020.77 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
529 529 8 265.00 $265.00 $1,402 -6.00
Medium and Large 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
255 255 4 825.00 $825.00 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
782 782 3 192.50 $192.50 $1,505 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
230 230 3 760.00 $760.00 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505 505 2 235.00 $235.00 $1,187 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 280 3 301.00 $301.00 $843 -21.50
303–305 fancy 304 12 321.00–322.00 $321.67 $978 —
317–347 339 55 298.00–309.00 $302.50 $1,025 +4.59
355–388 377 24 287.00–300.00 $292.55 $1,103 -4.69
370–394 fancy 389 18 307.50–317.00 $309.51 $1,204 —
428 fancy 428 143 311.00 $311.00 $1,331 —
410–443 433 92 249.00–302.50 $289.91 $1,255 +22.76
454–499 470 79 256.00–295.00 $281.87 $1,325 +24.10
477 thin fleshed 477 42 273.00 $273.00 $1,302 —
500–533 510 95 240.00–286.00 $275.27 $1,404 +23.07
551–590 557 83 231.00–265.50 $257.06 $1,432 +10.85
603–609 thin fleshed 609 77 250.00–252.00 $251.92 $1,534 —
605–643 625 118 221.00–240.50 $237.57 $1,485 -7.26
650–693 661 133 225.00–240.00 $232.78 $1,539 +2.53
700–740 719 38 213.00–241.50 $233.38 $1,678 +2.56
746 thin fleshed 746 18 237.00 $237.00 $1,768 —
757–797 773 52 216.00–238.50 $230.56 $1,782 +3.28
819–849 831 49 211.00–230.50 $227.11 $1,887 +5.93
851–893 886 116 217.00–224.00 $223.08 $1,976 +10.35
913–927 919 33 189.00–203.00 $195.52 $1,797 -14.48
973 973 6 198.00 $198.00 $1,927 +11.10
1015 1015 1 207.00 $207.00 $2,101 +17.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
267 267 5 252.50 $252.50 $674 —
330–349 337 32 282.00–290.00 $286.73 $966 +45.73
359–382 371 13 261.00–281.00 $269.92 $1,001 -5.26
422–441 434 62 239.00–288.00 $257.30 $1,117 +21.29
456–495 483 113 231.00–278.00 $266.86 $1,289 +27.87
503–546 527 60 221.00–261.00 $240.38 $1,267 —
568–598 584 14 234.00–244.00 $240.85 $1,407 +15.11
628 628 2 211.00 $211.00 $1,325 -26.52
685 685 3 215.00 $215.00 $1,473 +13.00
763–772 770 9 186.00–201.00 $189.30 $1,458 -13.09
883 883 4 205.00 $205.00 $1,810 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
303–330 321 66 202.50–271.00 $263.63 $846 —
407–447 443 104 222.50–271.00 $238.41 $1,056 —
493–495 494 8 227.50–261.00 $244.22 $1,206 —
527–529 528 12 249.00–250.00 $249.42 $1,317 —
590 590 2 211.00 $211.00 $1,245 -25.00
618–623 620 10 205.00–215.00 $209.02 $1,296 —
865–876 875 22 186.00–210.00 $188.16 $1,646 —
970–985 978 2 191.00–195.00 $193.02 $1,888 —
1060 1060 1 177.00 $177.00 $1,876 +14.50
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
217–220 217 10 750.00–810.00 $756.07 —
252–266 262 22 725.00–775.00 $740.33 -109.67
263 fancy 263 2 900.00 $900.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
242–245 243 9 585.00–600.00 $593.29 —
290 290 13 610.00 $610.00 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
642 642 9 180.00 $180.00 $1,156 —
794 794 7 152.50 $152.50 $1,211 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
473 473 2 231.00 $231.00 $1,093 —
645 645 3 226.00 $226.00 $1,458 -14.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
695 695 18 224.00 $224.00 $1,557 —
823–826 826 18 185.00–204.00 $201.90 $1,668 —
851 851 8 207.00 $207.00 $1,762 +3.00
955–960 958 2 197.50–200.00 $198.75 $1,904 —
1025 1025 5 185.00 $185.00 $1,896 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353–372 367 7 294.00–315.00 $309.22 $1,135 +5.22
478 478 3 261.00 $261.00 $1,248 -27.00
503 503 3 240.00 $240.00 $1,207 -20.24
612–636 629 10 230.00–241.00 $233.21 $1,467 +10.03
694 694 4 207.00 $207.00 $1,437 -13.00
744 744 4 207.50 $207.50 $1,544 +6.50
880 880 11 195.00 $195.00 $1,716 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
635 635 3 216.00 $216.00 $1,372 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
225 225 1 900.00 $900.00 —
Medium and Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
730 730 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,204 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
780–1070 942 85-90% 3 135.00–146.00 $140.55 $1,324 —
820–1275 1025 85-90% 4 90.00–105.00 $99.16 $1,016 —
995–1135 1074 85-90% 5 110.00–130.00 $119.71 $1,286 +19.94
705–1445 1119 85-90% 195 51.00–109.00 $99.19 $1,110 -30.60
908–1285 1123 85-90% 15 114.00–142.00 $129.53 $1,455 -0.26
740–1360 1146 85-90% 13 40.00–85.00 $69.32 $794 -31.60
830–1445 1206 85-90% 157 104.00–118.00 $109.28 $1,318 -1.75
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1163–1415 1226 80-85% 4 139.00–142.50 $141.49 $1,735 +25.71
1285–1555 1347 80-85% 18 120.00–126.00 $123.29 $1,661 —
1200–1535 1358 80-85% 11 115.00–126.50 $122.35 $1,662 -14.18
1340–1525 1462 80-85% 7 70.00–104.50 $91.94 $1,344 -24.02
1160–1805 1477 80-85% 187 110.50–122.00 $114.87 $1,697 -1.09
1310–1632 1480 80-85% 20 101.00–109.50 $105.10 $1,555 -10.86
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1555 1555 75-80% 1 132.00 $132.00 $2,053 +11.75
1530–1865 1634 75-80% 15 114.00–124.50 $119.18 $1,947 —
1502–1965 1676 75-80% 8 106.00–121.00 $113.56 $1,903 -12.64
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1790–1805 1791 65-75% 16 118.00–127.00 $126.43 $2,264 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1125–1650 1266 4 170.00–182.00 $176.13 $2,230 +44.48
1100–1835 1385 16 121.00–139.00 $132.26 $1,832 —
1255–1785 1563 6 87.50–134.00 $111.73 $1,746 -26.04
1115–2125 1571 4 141.00–167.50 $153.30 $2,408 +15.53
930–2320 1722 40 131.00–159.50 $142.78 $2,459 -7.12
990–2185 1725 7 122.00–151.50 $142.51 $2,458 -7.39

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
823–885 thin fleshed 844 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 200.00 $200.00 $1,688
790–1162 1014 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 21 145.00–195.00 $161.14 $1,634
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
730–1130 974 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 124.00–147.50 $134.65 $1,311

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1000–1260 1054 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,625.00–1,725.00 $1,694.06
1053–1103 1073 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 2,125.00–2,325.00 $2,207.24
1115 1115 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 7 2,400.00 $2,400.00
970–1215 1154 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,225.00–1,425.00 $1,382.96
1195–1225 1210 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,525.00–1,550.00 $1,537.35
1215 1215 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 2,100.00 $2,100.00
1090–1435 1296 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,475.00–2,025.00 $1,805.59
1295–1335 1315 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,925.00–2,000.00 $1,961.93
1335 1335 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,475.00 $2,475.00
1375 1375 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00
1415–1450 1433 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,625.00–1,975.00 $1,802.14
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
715 715 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00
945–1070 1008 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,425.00–1,550.00 $1,491.38
1047 1047 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,275.00 $1,275.00
1050 1050 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,185.00 $1,185.00
1185 1185 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 1,310.00 $1,310.00
1310 1310 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,475.00 $1,475.00
1330 1330 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 1,650.00 $1,650.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
745 745 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 675.00 $675.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
745–880 823 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,200.00–1,525.00 $1,350.07
768–895 832 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,260.00–1,960.00 $1,584.21
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
765–870 818 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 910.00–975.00 $940.41

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Beef Dairy Heifers

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050 1050 1 179.50 $179.50 $1,885 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
975–1070 1023 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,875.00–2,375.00 $2,113.39 —
1030–1448 1396 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 1,225.00–2,250.00 $2,155.45 -944.55
1455 1455 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,425.00 $2,425.00 -575.00

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Dairy Heifers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
875 875 1 176.50 $176.50 $1,544 —
940–945 943 2 174.50–175.50 $175.00 $1,650 -0.34
971–990 985 15 173.50–175.50 $174.03 $1,714 -1.97
1005–1045 1020 15 174.00–175.50 $174.87 $1,784 -0.13
1055–1095 1085 12 173.50–175.50 $174.97 $1,898 +1.31
1100–1117 1107 7 175.00 $175.00 $1,937 +0.67
1178–1188 1185 7 172.50–173.00 $172.86 $2,048 —
1213–1223 1220 18 167.50–170.00 $169.25 $2,065 -0.75
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380–390 385 2 182.50–190.00 $186.20 $717 +16.20
450 450 1 177.50 $177.50 $799 +17.50
565–597 586 3 170.00–176.50 $174.41 $1,022 —
600–625 613 2 172.50 $172.50 $1,057 —
880–895 888 2 173.00–173.50 $173.25 $1,538 —
985 985 1 173.50 $173.50 $1,709 +1.50
1125 1125 1 168.00 $168.00 $1,890 —
1235 1235 2 165.00 $165.00 $2,038 —
1261 1261 5 163.50 $163.50 $2,062 —
1323–1340 1332 4 145.00–152.50 $148.73 $1,981 —
1405 1405 1 154.00 $154.00 $2,164 -10.00
Small 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
885 885 2 167.50 $167.50 $1,482 —

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Dairy Steers

Small 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
808 808 3 90.00 $90.00 $727 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
775 775 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,675.00 $1,675.00 —

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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.