Cattle Market Pulse

La Junta Livestock Commision Market Report

La Junta, Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, May 15, 2024

1,659 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $288.11/cwt +3.11 vs last sale · ≈ $1,529/hd at 531 lb · 39 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $257.13/cwt +2.44 vs last sale · ≈ $1,607/hd at 625 lb · 31 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $250.46/cwt ≈ $1,796/hd at 717 lb · 30 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,659 1,517 0
Feeder cattle 949 954 0
Slaughter cattle 217 241 0
Replacement cattle 493 322 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Trade activity and demand was moderate. Feeder steers under 700lbs sold mostly 1.00 to 8.00 lower. Steers over 700lbs sold 3.00 to 10.00 higher. Feeder heifers were too light for an accurate test but a steady to higher trend was noticed. Breaker slaughter cows sold steady, Boner cows sold 1.00 higher and Lean cows sold 1.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold 3.00 lower. The next feeder calf and slaughter cow sale will be next Wednesday May 22, 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
387 387 4 364.00 $364.00 $1,409 ±0.00
405–426 414 9 351.00–360.00 $355.89 $1,473 —
454–482 467 18 334.00–337.00 $335.63 $1,567 +13.45
505–548 533 10 301.00–311.00 $303.67 $1,619 —
520–543 value added 533 9 320.00–321.00 $320.43 $1,708 —
579 579 25 291.00 $291.00 $1,685 +2.77
611–648 629 23 281.00–287.00 $282.07 $1,774 -4.03
678–681 680 9 263.00–266.00 $264.67 $1,800 +8.67
714–726 717 30 249.00–251.00 $250.46 $1,796 —
789 789 4 231.00 $231.00 $1,823 —
803 803 8 239.00 $239.00 $1,919 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
420–423 422 5 347.00–348.00 $347.40 $1,466 -1.60
535 535 3 294.00 $294.00 $1,573 -11.29
620–643 632 10 263.00–271.00 $267.07 $1,688 —
675 675 7 251.00 $251.00 $1,694 —
830 830 2 221.00 $221.00 $1,834 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
516 516 7 281.00 $281.00 $1,450 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
426 426 4 326.00 $326.00 $1,389 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
354–394 365 15 301.00–304.00 $301.86 $1,102 —
428 value added 428 4 323.00 $323.00 $1,382 —
455 fancy 455 2 314.00 $314.00 $1,429 —
463 463 6 285.00 $285.00 $1,320 -13.22
460–484 value added 481 14 298.00–300.00 $299.73 $1,442 —
502 value added 502 3 295.00 $295.00 $1,481 —
508–549 533 36 283.00–291.00 $287.54 $1,533 +2.54
621–623 622 15 241.00–247.00 $243.40 $1,514 -11.29
628 fancy 628 16 270.00 $270.00 $1,696 —
660–696 689 25 241.00–247.00 $245.85 $1,694 —
704 704 6 238.00 $238.00 $1,676 —
713 713 3 236.00 $236.00 $1,683 —
801–809 807 17 241.00–242.00 $241.23 $1,947 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
263–275 269 8 308.00–313.00 $310.56 $835 -10.44
402–440 419 15 301.00–305.00 $301.98 $1,265 +8.04
463 463 4 279.00 $279.00 $1,292 +7.72
535–539 537 17 266.00–276.00 $271.86 $1,460 +5.23
613 613 7 241.00 $241.00 $1,477 +10.00
614 614 6 239.00 $239.00 $1,467 +8.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
398 thin fleshed 398 5 310.00 $310.00 $1,234 —
600 thin fleshed 600 2 248.00 $248.00 $1,488 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
737–1185 862 85-90% 18 71.00–86.00 $78.16 $674 -17.84
845–925 885 85-90% 2 91.00–101.00 $96.23 $852 +0.23
770–1278 1135 85-90% 122 106.00–143.50 $127.67 $1,449 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315–1490 1415 80-85% 31 121.00–144.00 $132.82 $1,879 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1505 1505 75-80% 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,595 -17.28
1500–1640 1558 75-80% 5 129.00–141.00 $136.46 $2,126 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1783 1783 65-75% 3 139.00 $139.00 $2,478 +9.86

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1065–2425 1668 26 120.00–163.00 $140.24 $2,339 -0.40
2025 2025 1 91.00 $91.00 $1,843 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
663–697 thin fleshed 685 (<2 yrs)Open 12 201.00–231.00 $220.18 $1,508
721–844 thin fleshed 797 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 27 201.00–223.00 $208.20 $1,659
705–950 870 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 17 171.00–191.00 $181.96 $1,583
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
705–1164 1031 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 44 150.00–168.00 $157.14 $1,620
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
815–1180 996 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 21 121.00–148.00 $142.95 $1,424

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
953–1320 1090 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 17 2,000.00–2,175.00 $2,154.81
1028–1243 1173 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 47 2,150.00–2,460.00 $2,391.66
1190 1190 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00
1218 1218 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 2,250.00 $2,250.00
1348–1355 1350 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,950.00–2,000.00 $1,987.45
1365–1465 1430 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11 1,900.00–2,100.00 $1,956.55
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
792 792 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 700.00 $700.00
773–823 798 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 950.00–1,035.00 $991.17
850 850 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 785.00 $785.00
914 914 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,125.00 $1,125.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
865–1035 963 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,600.00–1,850.00 $1,709.03
970–985 978 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,525.00–1,625.00 $1,575.38
940–1140 985 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,575.00–1,825.00 $1,681.85
1080 1080 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,825.00 $1,825.00
1080 1080 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,775.00 $1,775.00
1362 1362 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,760.00 $1,760.00
1505 1505 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,875.00 $1,875.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
865–970 940 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,975.00–2,350.00 $2,201.54
995–1235 1043 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 2,175.00–2,325.00 $2,210.52
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
840 840 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,550.00 $1,550.00
880 880 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,675.00 $1,675.00
990 990 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
921 921 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 17 1,375.00 $1,375.00 -75.00
935–1040 951 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 33 1,535.00–1,600.00 $1,551.62 —
909–975 953 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 1,475.00–1,535.00 $1,515.92 —
966 966 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 16 1,625.00 $1,625.00 —
953–1028 974 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 29 1,460.00–1,710.00 $1,637.19 —
985 985 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,475.00 $1,475.00 —
1134 1134 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 7 1,760.00 $1,760.00 —
1175 1175 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,425.00 $1,425.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1043 1043 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 2,100.00 $2,100.00 —
1140 1140 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,150.00 $2,150.00 —
1070–1280 1175 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,075.00–2,125.00 $2,102.23 -199.84
1173–1263 1229 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 2,475.00–2,625.00 $2,571.32 +621.32
1315 1315 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,125.00 $2,125.00 -100.00
1385 1385 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,250.00 $2,250.00 +325.00
1405 1405 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,010.00 $2,010.00 -415.00
1388–1504 1437 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 26 2,310.00–2,750.00 $2,504.82 +79.82
1410–1630 1483 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 2,075.00–2,525.00 $2,360.17 —
1481–1494 1486 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 27 2,510.00–2,725.00 $2,644.93 —
1455–1506 1500 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 17 2,350.00–2,700.00 $2,660.06 +110.06
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
745 745 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 875.00 $875.00 -125.00

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
995–1156 1085 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 15 2,535.00–2,675.00 $2,572.36 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
850 850 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,975.00 $1,975.00 —

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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.