Cattle Market Pulse

La Junta Livestock Commision Market Report

La Junta, Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, April 24, 2024

1,123 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest La Junta Livestock Commision report →

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $350.96/cwt +5.96 vs last sale · ≈ $1,685/hd at 480 lb · 47 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $316.54/cwt +7.73 vs last sale · ≈ $1,821/hd at 575 lb · 42 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $299.15/cwt +2.05 vs last sale · ≈ $1,410/hd at 471 lb · 28 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,123 2,574 734
Feeder cattle 774 2,340 549
Slaughter cattle 215 121 125
Replacement cattle 134 113 60

Market comments — USDA reporter

Trade activity and demand was good. Feeder steers sold 4.00 to 16.00 higher across all weight classes. Feeder heifers sold mostly 5.00 to 6.00 lower across all weight classes. Slaughter cows sold steady with a higher trend noticeable while slaughter bulls sold 3.00 lower. The next feeder calf and slaughter cow sale will be next Wednesday May 1, 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
325–339 thin fleshed 335 7 392.00–397.50 $393.52 $1,318 —
343 343 3 381.00 $381.00 $1,307 —
355–362 value added 358 12 389.00–393.00 $391.32 $1,401 —
385–396 391 7 376.00–377.00 $376.42 $1,472 +4.95
435 435 7 367.00 $367.00 $1,596 +3.77
453–487 value added 474 25 354.00–364.00 $358.51 $1,699 —
475–494 487 22 330.00–350.00 $342.38 $1,667 +15.37
504–530 value added 509 10 339.00–345.00 $340.25 $1,732 +8.97
506–538 520 9 316.00–322.00 $318.76 $1,658 -3.96
525 fancy 525 3 351.00 $351.00 $1,843 +7.08
559–572 value added 567 17 327.00–331.00 $328.00 $1,860 +10.55
564–598 581 25 301.00–314.00 $308.75 $1,794 +5.49
619 619 12 286.00 $286.00 $1,770 +9.00
709 709 6 232.00 $232.00 $1,645 -13.00
745 fancy 745 2 252.00 $252.00 $1,877 —
769 769 5 226.00 $226.00 $1,738 -5.60
813 813 6 230.00 $230.00 $1,870 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
443 443 14 311.00 $311.00 $1,378 —
515 515 16 291.00 $291.00 $1,499 —
633 633 2 261.00 $261.00 $1,652 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
514 fancy 514 6 321.00 $321.00 $1,650 -9.00
650 650 6 245.00 $245.00 $1,592 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
501 501 10 243.00 $243.00 $1,217 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
643 643 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,736 -1.00
673–695 684 4 242.00–243.00 $242.49 $1,659 +1.49
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430 430 3 313.00 $313.00 $1,346 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340–349 346 7 328.00–334.00 $332.32 $1,150 -6.08
362 value added 362 3 326.00 $326.00 $1,180 —
392 392 9 306.00 $306.00 $1,200 -27.14
462–484 471 16 295.00–296.00 $295.51 $1,392 +1.12
472 value added 472 12 304.00 $304.00 $1,435 -0.37
556–565 value added 558 14 271.00–276.00 $274.91 $1,534 -6.78
562 fancy 562 5 284.00 $284.00 $1,596 -6.00
618–643 629 20 251.00–260.00 $255.60 $1,608 -25.40
655 655 6 231.00 $231.00 $1,513 -6.84
667 value added 667 4 244.00 $244.00 $1,627 —
705 705 12 220.00 $220.00 $1,551 -28.29
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
292 292 5 339.00 $339.00 $990 —
313–338 326 6 311.00–317.00 $314.12 $1,024 —
402–443 422 12 282.00–301.00 $292.89 $1,236 -12.32
465–487 473 13 270.00–280.00 $274.82 $1,300 -12.18
540 540 3 277.00 $277.00 $1,496 +2.34
573–595 592 13 241.00–253.00 $251.21 $1,487 +1.82
613–615 614 4 230.00–231.00 $230.50 $1,415 -13.72
675–690 683 6 220.00–225.00 $222.47 $1,519 -2.53
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423 423 4 251.00 $251.00 $1,062 +2.29
466 466 4 246.00 $246.00 $1,146 —
532–545 540 10 251.00–259.00 $255.62 $1,380 -12.38
625 625 4 211.00 $211.00 $1,319 -15.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
427 427 3 240.00 $240.00 $1,025 —
530–535 533 6 230.00–261.00 $245.43 $1,308 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
413 413 4 293.00 $293.00 $1,210 —
515 515 4 279.00 $279.00 $1,437 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
651–663 655 9 247.50–250.00 $249.16 $1,632 -9.84
718 718 3 229.00 $229.00 $1,644 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
766 766 85-90% 10 71.00 $71.00 $544 —
820–1270 1075 85-90% 82 106.00–144.00 $122.67 $1,319 +5.69
1115 1115 85-90% 1 90.00 $90.00 $1,004 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1290–1480 1379 80-85% 17 126.00–136.00 $131.09 $1,808 +10.81
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1563 1563 75-80% 2 131.00 $131.00 $2,048 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235–2595 1647 13 120.00–161.00 $139.69 $2,301 -2.04

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
730 fancy 730 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 222.00 $222.00 $1,621
715–1005 thin fleshed 811 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 14 201.00–211.00 $206.11 $1,672
760–1052 931 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 29 169.00–198.00 $177.72 $1,655
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
885–1275 1048 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 25 144.00–166.00 $155.49 $1,630
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
715–1225 1003 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 121.00–140.00 $132.29 $1,327

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
773–945 830 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,425.00–1,450.00 $1,440.52
960–985 977 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,575.00–1,625.00 $1,591.38
1035 1035 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00
1020–1155 1088 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,525.00–1,600.00 $1,560.17
1140 1140 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00
1178 1178 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,650.00 $1,650.00
1218 1218 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,610.00 $1,610.00
1308 1308 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 1,675.00 $1,675.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
910–1165 1038 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,825.00–2,075.00 $1,965.36
1055–1180 1115 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,825.00–2,100.00 $1,953.55
1048–1358 fancy 1181 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 2,225.00–2,250.00 $2,237.68
1413–1497 1463 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,810.00–1,900.00 $1,865.24
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
885 885 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,060.00 $1,060.00
893 893 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,275.00 $1,275.00
1070 1070 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,400.00 $1,400.00
1103 1103 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,110.00 $1,110.00
1126 1126 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,325.00 $1,325.00

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
675 675 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,325.00 $1,325.00
735 735 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00
720–975 818 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,375.00–1,550.00 $1,469.43
1043 1043 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,525.00 $1,525.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
680 680 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00
820 820 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1070 1070 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,075.00 $2,075.00

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1188–1440 1251 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 2,000.00–2,375.00 $2,267.09 —
1282 1282 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 26 2,100.00 $2,100.00 —
1307 1307 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 2,425.00 $2,425.00 —
1447 1447 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 9 2,275.00 $2,275.00 —
1455 1455 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,825.00 $1,825.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
830 830 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00 —
885 885 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,200.00 $1,200.00 —
1107–1155 1119 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 1,375.00 $1,375.00 —
1290 1290 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,650.00 $1,650.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
890 890 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,125.00 $1,125.00 —

↑ Back to top

Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
661 661 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 1,450.00 $1,450.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
670 670 (<2 yrs)Open 1 1,175.00 $1,175.00 —

↑ Back to top

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.