Cattle Market Pulse

La Junta Livestock Commision Market Report

La Junta, Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, October 9, 2024

2,208 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $280.38/cwt +9.72 vs last sale · ≈ $1,201/hd at 428 lb · 81 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $309.47/cwt -0.02 vs last sale · ≈ $1,586/hd at 512 lb · 80 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $252.53/cwt +4.01 vs last sale · ≈ $1,356/hd at 537 lb · 51 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,208 1,988 2,171
Feeder cattle 1,799 1,683 1,825
Slaughter cattle 255 250 222
Replacement cattle 154 55 124

Market comments — USDA reporter

Trade activity and demand was good. Feeder steers sold 2.00 to 14.00 higher with instances of sharply higher across all weight classes. Feeder heifers sold 2.00 to 14.00 higher with instances of sharply higher across all weight classes. Breaker slaughter cows of average dressing sold 1.00 higher. Boner cows of average dressing sold 1.00 higher and lean cows sold 3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls of average dressing sold 3.00 higher. The next feeder calf sale will be next Wednesday October 16, 2024. The next slaughter cow and bred cow sale will be next Thursday October 17, 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
282 282 3 345.00 $345.00 $973 —
303 fancy 303 12 397.50 $397.50 $1,204 +47.50
322–344 333 22 364.00–367.50 $365.75 $1,218 +43.27
371 fancy 371 11 362.50 $362.50 $1,345 —
393 393 10 332.50–348.00 $344.90 $1,355 +37.97
413–422 fancy 418 9 340.00–345.00 $342.20 $1,430 +11.20
403–448 423 36 321.00–334.00 $329.61 $1,394 +18.38
468 thin fleshed 468 6 323.00 $323.00 $1,512 —
454–476 469 24 311.00–318.00 $314.47 $1,475 +7.44
501 thin fleshed 501 4 319.00 $319.00 $1,598 +2.00
503–526 513 76 306.00–312.00 $308.97 $1,585 +10.63
552–593 580 29 285.00–290.00 $287.74 $1,669 +24.20
601–632 615 20 271.00–279.50 $277.14 $1,704 +19.31
664–682 679 50 250.00–258.00 $251.59 $1,708 +3.72
708–741 725 28 246.00–256.00 $250.40 $1,815 +3.94
753–786 770 36 250.00–256.00 $252.81 $1,947 +10.79
801–826 817 26 236.00–248.00 $244.29 $1,996 +13.55
858 thin fleshed 858 12 240.00 $240.00 $2,059 —
866–890 871 9 221.00–226.00 $224.87 $1,959 -2.29
923–937 934 22 222.00–227.00 $226.10 $2,112 +9.05
955–998 959 28 209.00–221.00 $219.29 $2,103 +15.29
1040 1040 3 200.00 $200.00 $2,080 -7.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
337 337 5 347.50 $347.50 $1,171 —
412–447 425 16 313.00–314.00 $313.61 $1,333 +8.68
482–493 490 16 291.00–302.00 $299.85 $1,469 +14.71
503–543 515 33 290.00–299.00 $295.61 $1,522 +7.47
565–598 576 24 261.00–273.00 $270.49 $1,558 +19.95
613–647 626 37 252.00–261.00 $257.27 $1,611 —
657–682 675 15 229.00–236.00 $231.57 $1,563 +2.38
703–723 706 18 231.00–241.00 $238.20 $1,682 —
752–797 784 10 238.00–241.00 $238.86 $1,873 +38.86
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
413–417 416 8 251.00–301.00 $269.64 $1,122 +6.29
475–495 485 11 242.00–296.00 $261.24 $1,267 +11.24
530–540 537 9 255.00–285.00 $267.25 $1,435 +9.33
573–590 582 4 221.00–251.00 $236.22 $1,375 —
603–631 622 23 229.00–248.00 $242.77 $1,510 +6.77
725–735 730 4 211.00–218.00 $214.52 $1,566 +9.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338 338 2 320.00 $320.00 $1,082 —
365 365 2 318.00 $318.00 $1,161 —
553–568 562 14 261.00 $261.00 $1,467 +25.00
610 610 4 260.00 $260.00 $1,586 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
253–293 276 9 300.00–305.00 $301.73 $833 +5.78
284 fancy 284 12 345.00 $345.00 $980 —
342 fancy 342 25 328.00 $328.00 $1,122 +27.00
339–345 344 25 311.00–312.00 $311.84 $1,073 +30.84
375 fancy 375 2 323.00 $323.00 $1,211 +32.00
368–395 382 7 271.00–296.00 $279.77 $1,069 +1.93
409 thin fleshed 409 7 291.00 $291.00 $1,190 —
405–443 430 74 273.00–284.00 $279.37 $1,201 +8.71
456–485 thin fleshed 463 8 270.00–271.00 $270.26 $1,251 —
458–493 481 23 256.00–266.00 $256.96 $1,236 +3.02
525–546 537 51 246.00–258.00 $252.53 $1,356 +8.45
558–599 579 35 241.00–252.00 $246.52 $1,427 +13.35
605–648 625 47 240.00–253.00 $244.99 $1,531 +15.86
650–690 683 23 236.00–249.00 $242.92 $1,659 +11.30
708–722 718 40 224.00–235.00 $228.27 $1,639 -1.71
814–836 826 45 217.50–228.00 $224.08 $1,851 +20.64
890–895 893 14 206.00–210.00 $207.36 $1,852 -18.64
898 thin fleshed 898 8 219.00 $219.00 $1,967 —
928 928 4 192.00 $192.00 $1,782 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
327 327 3 287.00 $287.00 $938 +62.00
387 387 3 244.00 $244.00 $944 -16.42
415–448 440 22 253.00–262.00 $257.84 $1,134 +7.16
473–485 479 12 244.00–245.00 $244.49 $1,171 +3.31
502–538 524 23 236.00–241.00 $239.08 $1,253 +6.62
553–583 572 16 225.00–236.00 $234.01 $1,339 —
628–643 640 9 236.00–237.00 $236.22 $1,512 —
658 658 2 231.00 $231.00 $1,520 +21.82
722–748 739 22 216.00–218.50 $216.69 $1,601 +20.69
810 810 3 200.00 $200.00 $1,620 +11.44
918 918 4 171.00 $171.00 $1,570 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
368–370 369 9 200.00–210.00 $205.54 $758 -31.36
433–447 442 21 220.00–245.00 $231.27 $1,022 +6.27
460 460 2 219.00 $219.00 $1,007 +0.51
563 563 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,126 —
611–613 612 6 207.00–215.00 $209.67 $1,283 —
740–745 742 5 202.00–206.00 $204.39 $1,517 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
373 373 3 307.00 $307.00 $1,145 —
450 450 2 247.00 $247.00 $1,112 —
503 503 2 211.00 $211.00 $1,061 -20.00
690 690 3 237.00 $237.00 $1,635 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 5 251.00 $251.00 $979 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475 475 2 241.00 $241.00 $1,145 —
503–527 514 19 264.00–273.00 $268.51 $1,380 +8.30
575 575 2 235.00 $235.00 $1,351 —
642 642 3 233.00 $233.00 $1,496 —
669 669 4 223.00 $223.00 $1,492 —
835 835 3 217.00 $217.00 $1,812 +20.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
530 530 2 242.00 $242.00 $1,283 —
571 571 4 211.00 $211.00 $1,205 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
855–1235 1076 85-90% 56 84.00–109.00 $104.02 $1,119 —
930–1290 1181 85-90% 110 110.00–119.00 $113.45 $1,340 +2.84
910–1280 1188 85-90% 18 121.00–140.00 $123.98 $1,473 +13.37
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1305–1465 1368 80-85% 4 80.00–108.00 $100.06 $1,369 -16.62
1315–1490 1389 80-85% 9 116.00–119.00 $117.20 $1,628 +0.52
1345–1460 1411 80-85% 4 121.00–129.00 $124.53 $1,757 +1.76
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1510–1650 1575 75-80% 3 99.00–105.00 $101.73 $1,602 —
1500–1655 1586 75-80% 4 111.00–119.00 $115.52 $1,832 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1880 1880 65-75% 1 118.50 $118.50 $2,228 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
940–1905 1432 9 117.00–138.00 $128.55 $1,841 —
1020–2035 1741 21 140.00–177.50 $148.59 $2,587 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
694–1202 879 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 29 136.00–151.00 $139.85 $1,229
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
845–1053 946 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 121.00–131.00 $126.46 $1,196
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
815–850 837 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 166.00–170.00 $167.46 $1,402

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1186 1186 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 1,975.00 $1,975.00
1183–1435 1256 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 2,175.00–2,300.00 $2,226.86
1150–1326 1291 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 10 2,050.00–2,135.00 $2,119.85
1252–1410 1292 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,625.00–1,800.00 $1,752.24
1273–1308 1296 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,510.00–1,525.00 $1,520.09
1310 1310 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 2,000.00 $2,000.00
1372 1372 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,575.00 $1,575.00
1398–1405 1399 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,510.00–1,625.00 $1,522.83
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
930 930 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00
955 955 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,450.00 $1,450.00
965–1035 1000 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,025.00–1,050.00 $1,037.94
1140 1140 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,350.00 $1,350.00
1153–1247 1197 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 15 1,275.00–1,360.00 $1,304.09
1205 1205 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,325.00 $1,325.00
1245 1245 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,575.00 $1,575.00
1284–1285 1284 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,500.00–1,575.00 $1,559.99

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
770–820 791 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 1,250.00–1,425.00 $1,361.12
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1000 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,525.00 $1,525.00
1175 1175 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,300.00 $2,300.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1155–1185 1170 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,525.00–1,825.00 $1,673.08 —
1115–1397 1327 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 2,425.00–2,825.00 $2,740.94 —
1562 1562 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 2,925.00 $2,925.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
790 790 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,025.00 $1,025.00 —
955 955 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,275.00 $1,275.00 —

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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.