Cattle Market Pulse

La Junta Livestock Commision Market Report

La Junta, Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, May 29, 2024

1,334 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $274.02/cwt +15.51 vs last sale · ≈ $1,543/hd at 563 lb · 56 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 bulls $271.00/cwt +8.36 vs last sale · ≈ $1,604/hd at 592 lb · 26 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $244.00/cwt +21.00 vs last sale · ≈ $1,735/hd at 711 lb · 26 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,334 1,650 0
Feeder cattle 829 1,147 0
Slaughter cattle 257 242 0
Replacement cattle 248 261 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Trade activity and demand was good. Feeder steers under 600lbs sold 1.00 to 5.00 lower. Feeder steers over 600llbs sold 9.00 to 18.00 higher. Feeder heifers sold mostly 3.00 to 16.00 across all weight classes. Breaker slaughter cows sold 16.00 higher, Boner cows sold 8.00 higher and lean cows sold 10.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold 6.00 lower. The next feeder calf and slaughter cow sale will be next Wednesday June 5, 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
302–303 303 7 370.00–372.50 $371.07 $1,124 —
353 353 2 370.00 $370.00 $1,306 —
500 500 7 310.00 $310.00 $1,550 -1.00
574 value added 574 12 307.00 $307.00 $1,762 —
592–598 593 11 289.00–299.00 $290.83 $1,725 —
603 value added 603 2 298.00 $298.00 $1,797 —
600–626 615 24 277.00–285.00 $279.97 $1,722 —
696 696 18 270.00 $270.00 $1,879 —
710–731 719 16 255.00–262.00 $258.11 $1,856 +17.11
813 thin fleshed 813 4 253.00 $253.00 $2,057 —
825 825 3 241.00 $241.00 $1,988 —
993 993 3 189.00 $189.00 $1,877 —
1046 1046 6 182.00 $182.00 $1,904 +9.00
1178 1178 4 160.00 $160.00 $1,885 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
308 308 4 344.00 $344.00 $1,060 —
433–435 435 9 332.00–334.00 $332.44 $1,446 -14.69
471–490 475 9 310.00–319.00 $316.94 $1,505 +15.09
500–515 507 13 294.00–301.00 $295.31 $1,497 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 3 337.50 $337.50 $1,158 —
438–448 443 16 291.00–312.00 $299.25 $1,326 +0.37
486–498 492 10 294.00–300.00 $297.04 $1,461 —
543 543 3 271.00 $271.00 $1,472 -1.52
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
535 535 2 292.00 $292.00 $1,562 —
567 567 9 279.00 $279.00 $1,582 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
213 213 3 960.00 $960.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–315 312 7 320.00–327.00 $321.95 $1,004 +3.16
353 353 4 319.00 $319.00 $1,126 —
408 value added 408 4 330.00 $330.00 $1,346 —
408–436 428 7 319.00–320.00 $319.27 $1,366 +4.80
499 499 4 285.00 $285.00 $1,422 -7.77
514 514 5 294.00 $294.00 $1,511 —
553–576 563 56 260.00–276.00 $274.02 $1,543 +15.51
620–642 638 17 262.00–263.00 $262.83 $1,677 —
678–698 690 16 235.00–246.00 $243.03 $1,677 +12.31
711 value added 711 26 244.00 $244.00 $1,735 —
794 794 8 222.00 $222.00 $1,763 —
829 829 13 221.00 $221.00 $1,832 —
880 thin fleshed 880 6 226.00 $226.00 $1,989 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
347 347 3 294.00 $294.00 $1,020 -16.00
404–442 425 12 281.00–305.00 $296.74 $1,261 +1.13
470 470 2 274.00 $274.00 $1,288 —
528–540 534 20 264.00–280.00 $272.32 $1,454 +9.82
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
272–289 284 11 291.00–307.00 $302.83 $860 —
391 391 4 271.00 $271.00 $1,060 -15.00
541 541 4 241.00 $241.00 $1,304 +5.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
192 192 5 585.00 $585.00 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
573 value added 573 3 259.00 $259.00 $1,484 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520 520 8 280.00 $280.00 $1,456 —
592 592 26 271.00 $271.00 $1,604 +8.36
749 749 11 220.00 $220.00 $1,648 —
801 801 12 211.00 $211.00 $1,690 —
1002–1006 1004 9 167.00–170.00 $168.66 $1,693 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
426 426 6 279.00 $279.00 $1,189 —
635 635 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,524 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
805–1276 1078 85-90% 193 109.00–147.00 $137.02 $1,477 +9.07
1080 1080 85-90% 1 77.00 $77.00 $832 -50.95
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1300–1425 1354 80-85% 32 135.00–153.00 $146.79 $1,988 +7.32
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1585–1660 1622 75-80% 3 139.00–154.00 $147.75 $2,397 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1730–1800 1762 65-75% 3 144.00–155.00 $148.62 $2,619 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1305 1305 1 102.00 $102.00 $1,331 —
1270–2450 1707 18 121.00–164.00 $142.10 $2,426 -5.90

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
680 680 (<2 yrs)Open 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,292
745–840 thin fleshed 794 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 207.00–228.00 $216.04 $1,715
710–1003 907 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 30 171.00–191.00 $181.89 $1,650
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
920–1075 1009 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 147.00–161.00 $155.83 $1,572
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
840–988 913 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 132.00–147.00 $137.54 $1,256

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
955 955 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,610.00 $1,610.00
840–1075 993 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 19 1,500.00–1,925.00 $1,803.31
1100 1100 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,635.00 $1,635.00
1040–1230 1140 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,500.00–1,650.00 $1,602.30
1250 1250 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,675.00 $1,675.00
1120–1340 1297 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,535.00–1,800.00 $1,761.85
1264–1600 1376 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,675.00–2,235.00 $1,892.05
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
797 797 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,310.00 $1,310.00
943 943 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,310.00 $1,310.00
1035 1035 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,275.00 $1,275.00
1170 1170 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,450.00 $1,450.00
1215 1215 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
962–988 972 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,510.00–1,525.00 $1,516.10
990–1040 1015 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,710.00–1,750.00 $1,729.51
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
688 688 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 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
1045 1045 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00 —
1050–1140 1105 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 2,175.00–2,835.00 $2,744.92 —
1160 1160 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 2,825.00 $2,825.00 +595.15
1071–1340 1193 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 13 2,000.00–2,610.00 $2,455.69 +370.69
1278–1350 1288 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 7 2,325.00–2,375.00 $2,367.51 —
1333 1333 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 2,810.00 $2,810.00 —
1360 1360 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 11 2,725.00 $2,725.00 —
1398 1398 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 2,635.00 $2,635.00 —
1425 1425 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,075.00 $2,075.00 —
1443 1443 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 2,225.00 $2,225.00 —
1460 1460 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,200.00 $2,200.00 -184.43
1153–1712 1464 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 9 2,775.00–2,825.00 $2,792.51 -7.49
1502 1502 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 2,510.00 $2,510.00 —
1517–1715 1567 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 4 2,575.00–2,700.00 $2,609.21 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
955 955 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,675.00 $1,675.00 -25.00
1135 1135 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,825.00 $1,825.00 —
1080–1352 1271 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 5 1,675.00–1,975.00 $1,895.23 +42.43
1400 1400 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
890–995 933 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 2,025.00–2,150.00 $2,081.07 —
823–1097 975 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 34 2,725.00–2,875.00 $2,852.65 —

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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.