Cattle Market Pulse

Winter Livestock (Tuesday) Market Report

La Junta, Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, September 26, 2023

1,752 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Winter Livestock (Tuesday) report →

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $303.53/cwt +10.41 vs last sale · ≈ $1,438/hd at 474 lb · 125 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $298.34/cwt +5.34 vs last sale · ≈ $1,547/hd at 519 lb · 117 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $236.56/cwt +1.96 vs last sale · ≈ $1,921/hd at 812 lb · 95 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,752 1,728 2,448
Feeder cattle 1,490 1,477 2,265
Slaughter cattle 198 180 183
Replacement cattle 64 71 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to two weeks ago: Trade activity and demand were moderate. Feeder steers less than 450 lbs sold 9.50 to 32.00 higher on a light test. Feeder steers over 450 lbs sold mostly 1.00 to 2.00 lower. Feeder heifers under 550 lbs sold 3.00 to 14.50 higher, while those between 550-650 lbs sold 4.00 to 8.00 lower and heifers over 650 lbs sold 1.50 to 2.00 higher. In slaughter cows, average dress boner and breaker cows sold unevenly steady and lean cows sold 7.00 lower. Average dress slaughter bulls sold 5.00 higher. Replacement cattle did not have enough comparisons for an accurate market trend. The next available report will be Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

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
327–345 329 8 324.00–327.50 $324.46 $1,067 +31.96
388 388 8 304.00 $304.00 $1,180 —
423–448 446 35 293.00–297.00 $296.67 $1,323 +9.67
455–495 value added 469 91 306.00–310.00 $308.24 $1,446 —
450–498 487 34 289.00–299.00 $290.93 $1,417 -2.19
513–531 516 42 291.00–292.00 $291.80 $1,506 -1.20
516–526 value added 520 75 300.00–303.00 $302.00 $1,570 —
555 555 16 282.00 $282.00 $1,565 -1.00
625 unweaned 625 3 261.00 $261.00 $1,631 —
724 724 11 249.00 $249.00 $1,803 -15.75
759–791 782 77 252.00–256.00 $253.04 $1,979 -1.00
814 814 7 252.00 $252.00 $2,051 —
904–945 917 76 236.00–244.50 $241.73 $2,217 —
1331 1331 3 134.00 $134.00 $1,784 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318 318 10 304.00 $304.00 $967 +21.50
430–449 437 27 280.00–288.00 $283.83 $1,240 +13.83
482–498 488 15 276.00–280.00 $276.53 $1,349 +8.53
556–590 571 7 263.00–270.50 $267.18 $1,526 +7.18
600–623 619 30 254.00–259.00 $255.43 $1,581 +3.45
663–689 677 43 236.00–247.50 $244.29 $1,654 -15.78
705–725 712 3 242.50–243.00 $242.83 $1,729 -8.29
755–796 764 39 239.00–246.00 $243.24 $1,858 -1.88
830–845 837 14 231.00–237.50 $232.04 $1,942 -2.91
904–940 906 23 226.00–231.00 $230.62 $2,089 -1.38
1010 1010 4 213.00 $213.00 $2,151 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 240 2 295.00 $295.00 $708 —
376 376 17 271.00 $271.00 $1,019 —
412 412 11 272.50 $272.50 $1,123 —
453 453 21 266.00 $266.00 $1,205 +10.00
532–538 537 14 260.00–261.00 $260.79 $1,400 +1.17
550–590 574 13 243.00–258.00 $247.76 $1,422 +5.13
605–640 627 16 232.50–241.00 $239.70 $1,503 -1.30
675–697 681 9 232.50–235.00 $233.38 $1,589 -2.62
725 725 1 222.50 $222.50 $1,613 —
750–785 770 3 220.00–232.50 $226.76 $1,746 —
805–820 813 3 221.00–227.50 $223.65 $1,818 +0.14

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
407–447 421 62 281.00–288.00 $284.00 $1,196 +14.69
453–485 465 54 270.00–277.00 $275.02 $1,279 +13.02
505–518 512 22 258.00–262.00 $261.10 $1,337 +3.00
554–581 567 28 250.00–255.00 $252.34 $1,431 -4.13
599 599 5 211.00 $211.00 $1,264 -45.47
635 unweaned 635 13 232.00 $232.00 $1,473 —
623–642 639 30 246.00 $246.00 $1,572 —
801–836 812 95 235.00–239.00 $236.56 $1,921 +1.96
869–881 874 33 229.00–235.00 $233.17 $2,038 +1.68
910 910 1 228.00 $228.00 $2,075 -10.00
956 956 4 226.00 $226.00 $2,161 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
321–333 329 12 280.00–282.00 $280.65 $923 —
381–395 383 9 274.00–280.00 $274.69 $1,052 +9.44
401–445 428 51 265.00–270.00 $266.16 $1,139 +8.71
451–495 478 51 259.00–267.00 $262.83 $1,256 +11.69
523–535 530 33 243.00–252.00 $248.23 $1,316 +7.23
554 554 10 246.00 $246.00 $1,363 -5.00
612 612 4 241.00 $241.00 $1,475 -1.92
825 825 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,898 +5.89
1000–1005 1001 4 172.50–180.00 $178.12 $1,783 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 1 267.50 $267.50 $910 —
366–373 368 11 251.00–257.50 $252.80 $930 +5.17
411–445 415 8 240.00–245.00 $240.67 $999 —
470 470 1 242.50 $242.50 $1,140 —
565–573 571 4 237.50–238.00 $237.88 $1,358 +6.88
629–647 634 7 229.00–232.00 $229.87 $1,457 —
653–692 671 16 227.00–233.00 $230.77 $1,548 —
700 700 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,610 —
795 795 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,789 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
602 602 4 232.50 $232.50 $1,400 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
571 571 6 217.00 $217.00 $1,239 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
802–840 815 3 187.50–195.00 $192.42 $1,568 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1223 1223 80-85% 4 116.00 $116.00 $1,419 —
1220–1550 1297 80-85% 18 84.00–99.00 $90.39 $1,172 —
1205–1475 1322 80-85% 48 101.00–113.00 $108.55 $1,435 —
1310–1425 1383 80-85% 3 115.00–122.00 $118.09 $1,633 +3.09
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520–1130 887 85-90% 3 54.00–68.00 $62.10 $551 —
1063 1063 85-90% 3 112.00 $112.00 $1,191 +18.70
675–1255 1066 85-90% 25 92.00–104.00 $96.24 $1,026 +2.94
700–1280 1085 85-90% 39 74.00–91.00 $87.64 $951 -5.66
1130 1130 85-90% 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,198 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1425–1660 1552 75-80% 6 116.00–118.00 $116.82 $1,813 +1.06

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985 985 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,478 +4.00
985–990 988 2 101.00 $101.00 $998 -45.00
1005–1220 1177 5 123.00–128.00 $123.85 $1,458 -7.15
1170–1695 1528 10 91.00–112.00 $103.33 $1,579 —
1575–2090 1780 14 115.00–124.00 $119.16 $2,121 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
795–910 896 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 147.00–152.50 $147.61 $1,323

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1027 1027 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 1,800.00 $1,800.00
1200 1200 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,775.00 $1,775.00
1176–1367 1285 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,300.00–1,475.00 $1,406.37
1220–1627 1342 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 11 1,775.00–2,000.00 $1,860.42
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
965 965 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,650.00 $1,650.00
915–1280 1042 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 1,325.00–1,475.00 $1,413.65
1115–1215 1182 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 975.00–1,100.00 $1,060.68
1375–1640 1547 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,400.00–1,575.00 $1,523.14
1550 1550 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,650.00 $1,650.00
Small 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
679 679 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 700.00 $700.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1190 1190 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
855 855 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 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
1535 1535 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 2,250.00 $2,250.00 -50.00

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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.