Cattle Market Pulse

La Junta Livestock Commision Market Report

La Junta, Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, May 22, 2024

1,650 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $262.50/cwt -9.36 vs last sale · ≈ $1,391/hd at 530 lb · 77 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 steers $284.08/cwt -9.92 vs last sale · ≈ $1,543/hd at 543 lb · 54 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $316.31/cwt -6.69 vs last sale · ≈ $1,315/hd at 416 lb · 37 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,650 1,659 0
Feeder cattle 1,147 949 0
Slaughter cattle 242 217 0
Replacement cattle 261 493 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Trade activity and demand was good. Feeder steers under 600lbs sold 2.00 to 8.00 higher. Feeder steers under 600lbs sold 10.00 lower. Feeder heifers under 500lbs sold 2.00 to 8.00 higher while feeder heifers over 500lbs had a lower trend noticeable. Breaker slaughter cows sold 5.00 lower. Boner cows sold 7.00 higher and lean cows sold 1.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold 8.00 higher. The next feeder calf and slaughter cow sale will be next Wednesday May 29, 2024.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
391 391 4 367.00 $367.00 $1,435 —
425–447 437 10 336.00–352.50 $347.13 $1,517 -0.27
467–474 473 14 301.00–305.00 $301.85 $1,428 —
533–549 543 54 281.00–290.00 $284.08 $1,543 -9.92
554–589 567 34 271.00–281.00 $277.05 $1,571 —
614–619 616 9 267.00–271.00 $268.79 $1,656 +1.72
668–697 688 25 241.00–250.00 $247.51 $1,703 -3.49
729 729 5 226.00 $226.00 $1,648 —
927–928 928 9 192.00–201.00 $198.00 $1,837 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
328 fancy 328 4 405.00 $405.00 $1,328 —
363–373 value added 365 11 397.50–400.00 $397.96 $1,453 —
369 fancy 369 9 417.50 $417.50 $1,541 —
407 value added 407 8 370.00 $370.00 $1,506 —
447 447 7 357.50 $357.50 $1,598 +1.61
461–468 464 25 330.00–342.50 $337.43 $1,566 +1.80
521 521 4 311.00 $311.00 $1,620 +7.33
556–559 557 21 293.50–298.00 $295.43 $1,646 +4.43
707 707 3 241.00 $241.00 $1,704 -9.46
750 fancy 750 13 263.00 $263.00 $1,972 —
1037 1037 6 173.00 $173.00 $1,794 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
432–439 435 15 281.00–311.00 $298.88 $1,300 —
518–533 526 6 271.00–274.00 $272.52 $1,433 —
563 563 2 261.00 $261.00 $1,469 —
643 643 6 246.00 $246.00 $1,582 —
650–663 654 9 180.00 $180.00 $1,177 —
906 906 6 176.00 $176.00 $1,595 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
427 427 3 301.00 $301.00 $1,285 —
574 574 4 251.00 $251.00 $1,441 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
658 658 5 240.00 $240.00 $1,579 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
328 328 4 310.00 $310.00 $1,017 —
430–448 441 8 288.00–300.00 $295.61 $1,304 -6.37
513–547 530 77 246.00–284.00 $262.50 $1,391 -9.36
564–598 580 13 249.00–254.00 $251.18 $1,457 —
601–616 608 11 241.00–246.00 $244.27 $1,485 +3.27
665 665 3 226.00 $226.00 $1,503 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318–329 325 6 317.00–322.50 $318.79 $1,036 —
397 397 3 304.00 $304.00 $1,207 +2.14
403–422 412 29 309.00–319.00 $314.47 $1,296 —
429 fancy 429 8 323.00 $323.00 $1,386 —
469–492 484 15 286.00–296.00 $292.77 $1,417 +7.77
560–588 574 6 258.00–259.00 $258.51 $1,484 —
685–698 694 7 230.00–231.00 $230.72 $1,601 -15.13
723 723 3 223.00 $223.00 $1,612 -13.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405–435 424 11 271.00–283.00 $275.17 $1,167 —
481 481 9 258.00 $258.00 $1,241 —
538 538 2 226.00 $226.00 $1,216 —
577 577 30 245.00 $245.00 $1,414 —
695 695 19 228.00 $228.00 $1,585 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
303–316 310 7 282.00–287.00 $284.91 $883 —
386 386 4 286.00 $286.00 $1,104 —
428–445 437 6 281.00 $281.00 $1,228 —
544 544 14 236.00 $236.00 $1,284 —
619–640 623 15 226.00–231.00 $229.97 $1,433 —
738 738 6 194.00 $194.00 $1,432 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423–445 442 13 251.00–261.00 $259.53 $1,147 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
561 561 7 247.00 $247.00 $1,386 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 fancy 365 2 398.00 $398.00 $1,453 —
398 398 3 360.00 $360.00 $1,433 —
408 408 3 340.00 $340.00 $1,387 —
463–476 472 18 295.00–306.00 $302.40 $1,427 —
558–569 567 11 261.00–263.00 $262.64 $1,489 —
607 607 9 244.00 $244.00 $1,481 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
398 398 2 330.00 $330.00 $1,313 —
705 705 13 201.00 $201.00 $1,417 —
967–968 968 10 151.00–154.00 $152.50 $1,476 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
589 589 7 223.00 $223.00 $1,313 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
805–1000 901 85-90% 4 91.00–100.00 $96.43 $869 —
853–1080 929 85-90% 3 80.00–89.00 $85.51 $794 —
725–1275 1063 85-90% 146 104.00–151.00 $127.95 $1,360 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320 1320 80-85% 1 101.00 $101.00 $1,333 —
1300–1450 1356 80-85% 27 121.00–151.00 $139.47 $1,891 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1545 1545 75-80% 1 132.00 $132.00 $2,039 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1585 1585 1 111.00 $111.00 $1,759 —
1155–2415 1728 48 121.00–170.00 $148.00 $2,557 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
685–695 692 (<2 yrs)Open 3 179.00–196.00 $184.61 $1,278
750 thin fleshed 750 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 206.00 $206.00 $1,545
715–1040 889 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 77 167.00–192.00 $180.00 $1,600
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
685 685 (<2 yrs)Open 2 142.00 $142.00 $973
710–1120 991 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 38 131.00–160.00 $151.61 $1,502

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
947–951 950 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 2,225.00–2,325.00 $2,291.76
1053 1053 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,950.00 $1,950.00
1130 1130 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,825.00 $1,825.00
1148–1300 1186 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,875.00–1,925.00 $1,888.70
1255 1255 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,810.00 $1,810.00
1070–1450 1320 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,875.00–2,050.00 $1,988.40
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
770 770 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00
828 828 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,750.00 $1,750.00
853 853 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,475.00 $1,475.00
945–1090 995 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,535.00–1,710.00 $1,635.31
1080 1080 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00
1007–1330 1088 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,610.00–1,675.00 $1,629.87
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
710 710 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 825.00 $825.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
825 825 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00
795–836 827 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,475.00–1,800.00 $1,699.77
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
828–1140 899 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,835.00–1,950.00 $1,866.39

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
978–1015 989 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 30 2,175.00–2,400.00 $2,364.38 —
1083–1463 1158 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 16 2,150.00–2,500.00 $2,229.85 +127.62
1173 1173 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 6 2,085.00 $2,085.00 -17.23
1227 1227 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 6 2,160.00 $2,160.00 -411.32
1320–1595 1458 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 2,275.00–2,475.00 $2,384.43 +24.26
1465 1465 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,800.00 $2,800.00 +439.83
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
870 870 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,525.00 $1,525.00 —
960 960 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00 +75.00
1020 1020 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,410.00 $1,410.00 —
1120–1360 1258 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 1,725.00–1,975.00 $1,852.80 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
750 750 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
887 887 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 2,375.00 $2,375.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
720 720 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —
865 865 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00 -375.00

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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.