Cattle Market Pulse

Winter Livestock (Tuesday) Market Report

La Junta, Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, January 23, 2024

5,611 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $231.45/cwt -2.83 vs last sale · ≈ $1,819/hd at 786 lb · 357 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $238.38/cwt +5.08 vs last sale · ≈ $1,490/hd at 625 lb · 260 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $291.25/cwt +7.01 vs last sale · ≈ $1,817/hd at 624 lb · 257 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,611 4,343 1,282
Feeder cattle 5,094 4,075 1,150
Slaughter cattle 336 169 74
Replacement cattle 181 99 58

Market comments — USDA reporter

Trade activity and demand was good. Feeder steers under 500lbs sold unevenly steady with steers over 500lbs sold 6.00 to 12.00 higher with instances of sharply higher across all weight classes. Feeder heifers sold 5.00 to 14.00 higher with instances of sharply higher across all weight classes. Slaughter cows of average dressing sold unevenly steady across all weight classes while slaughter bulls sold 1.00 lower. The next feeder calf and slaughter cow sale will be next Tuesday January 30, 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
295 295 3 360.00 $360.00 $1,062 —
316–343 333 15 333.00–342.50 $340.03 $1,132 —
330–348 value added 336 6 357.50–359.00 $358.48 $1,204 —
359–398 370 41 351.00–357.50 $354.65 $1,312 -17.27
401–447 425 111 322.50–339.00 $333.31 $1,417 +1.31
430 fancy 430 10 352.50 $352.50 $1,516 -15.50
452–495 469 194 320.00–335.00 $327.96 $1,538 +9.38
511 fancy 511 11 326.00 $326.00 $1,666 —
502–544 529 105 301.00–316.00 $309.95 $1,640 +9.78
556 fancy 556 35 312.00 $312.00 $1,735 —
550–593 581 121 290.00–303.00 $293.32 $1,704 +11.74
606 value added 606 27 302.00 $302.00 $1,830 —
608–641 626 230 285.00–297.00 $289.99 $1,815 +15.56
654–699 685 248 257.00–270.50 $264.83 $1,814 +8.73
701 fancy 701 36 266.00 $266.00 $1,865 +15.00
706 value added 706 45 255.50 $255.50 $1,804 —
702–749 733 47 235.00–242.50 $238.14 $1,746 +6.00
736 thin fleshed 736 31 253.00 $253.00 $1,862 +13.12
766 fancy 766 35 243.50 $243.50 $1,865 —
753–798 788 322 224.00–234.50 $230.14 $1,814 -4.14
801 thin fleshed 801 8 224.00 $224.00 $1,794 -0.25
813–845 819 29 211.00–221.00 $217.30 $1,780 -0.70
870 fancy 870 26 224.50 $224.50 $1,953 —
871 thin fleshed 871 62 219.00 $219.00 $1,907 —
892–899 895 9 201.00 $201.00 $1,799 -8.47
902 902 2 208.00 $208.00 $1,876 —
909 thin fleshed 909 19 214.00 $214.00 $1,945 +0.75
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
258 thin fleshed 258 2 310.00 $310.00 $800 —
293 293 3 337.50 $337.50 $989 +10.00
312 312 3 320.00 $320.00 $998 —
352–398 372 57 334.00–345.00 $340.70 $1,267 -8.30
409 409 7 317.50 $317.50 $1,299 +4.53
452–499 480 44 312.00–317.00 $314.83 $1,511 +9.59
504–547 528 117 280.00–298.50 $290.69 $1,535 +14.79
553–593 575 103 270.00–288.00 $279.86 $1,609 —
632–636 634 22 272.00–275.00 $273.59 $1,735 +27.20
650–698 671 161 240.00–253.00 $246.84 $1,656 +2.44
883 883 2 176.00 $176.00 $1,554 —
940 940 2 205.00 $205.00 $1,927 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353 353 3 291.00 $291.00 $1,027 —
404–415 406 22 261.00–298.00 $292.84 $1,189 —
473–483 477 52 280.50–292.00 $290.42 $1,385 +3.59
508–548 523 44 249.00–278.00 $271.74 $1,421 +7.12
562–591 572 87 251.00–267.50 $260.96 $1,493 —
621–649 632 150 243.00–258.00 $250.96 $1,586 —
663–698 689 38 226.00–239.00 $235.27 $1,621 +6.02
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
481 481 5 306.00 $306.00 $1,472 +10.00
512–549 527 17 271.00–285.00 $279.00 $1,470 -3.00
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
421 421 5 286.00 $286.00 $1,204 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
328 fancy 328 2 347.50 $347.50 $1,140 +26.50
331 value added 331 18 330.00 $330.00 $1,092 +23.71
339 339 5 312.50 $312.50 $1,059 +17.07
359–379 368 43 292.00–307.50 $299.57 $1,102 +10.57
368 fancy 368 19 332.00 $332.00 $1,222 —
365–383 value added 377 32 312.00–323.00 $313.94 $1,184 —
418 fancy 418 26 322.00 $322.00 $1,346 +29.71
405–431 value added 422 14 311.00–315.00 $313.03 $1,321 —
413–426 thin fleshed 423 13 300.00–307.50 $301.69 $1,276 —
413–448 434 162 289.00–299.00 $293.95 $1,276 +12.67
450 fancy 450 4 299.00 $299.00 $1,346 —
453–489 466 98 281.00–292.50 $286.91 $1,337 +13.05
504–519 514 122 263.00–274.00 $268.07 $1,378 +19.94
558 value added 558 36 260.00 $260.00 $1,451 +6.38
553–570 560 72 246.00–258.00 $249.95 $1,400 +12.60
624 value added 624 29 254.00 $254.00 $1,585 +10.52
601–649 625 231 232.00–240.00 $236.42 $1,478 +7.75
651–694 671 124 233.00–240.00 $236.31 $1,586 +1.31
718 fancy 718 3 227.50 $227.50 $1,633 —
712–745 721 84 220.00–225.00 $223.04 $1,608 +18.42
778 778 52 219.00 $219.00 $1,704 +16.35
812–845 832 47 203.00–215.00 $211.00 $1,756 +14.09
856–878 863 23 182.50 $182.50 $1,575 -8.75
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307–348 337 14 289.00–298.00 $294.38 $992 +11.88
421–448 433 37 266.00–279.00 $271.90 $1,177 +8.75
459–491 485 73 271.00–279.00 $275.66 $1,337 +20.66
506–547 532 140 250.00–261.00 $255.10 $1,357 +19.08
552–580 565 98 236.00–243.00 $239.70 $1,354 +13.36
648 648 13 226.00 $226.00 $1,464 +5.00
681 681 4 216.00 $216.00 $1,471 ±0.00
701–746 715 21 200.00–213.00 $206.07 $1,473 +15.07
772–780 779 56 202.50–205.50 $205.13 $1,598 —
815 815 2 193.00 $193.00 $1,573 +10.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
282 282 6 292.00 $292.00 $823 —
320–348 332 7 262.50–275.00 $268.12 $890 —
395 395 18 260.00 $260.00 $1,027 +14.00
438 438 42 258.00 $258.00 $1,130 —
453–497 480 61 232.50–265.00 $254.12 $1,220 —
514–549 537 42 240.00–249.00 $245.22 $1,317 +29.22
551–598 581 15 227.00–234.00 $230.59 $1,340 —
617 617 3 212.00 $212.00 $1,308 —
690 690 2 204.00 $204.00 $1,408 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,139 -21.00
536–538 537 15 231.00–237.00 $235.40 $1,264 —
562–598 595 38 232.00–234.00 $233.85 $1,391 +12.85

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
462 462 3 293.00 $293.00 $1,354 —
779 779 21 205.50 $205.50 $1,601 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
820–1180 985 85-90% 18 57.00–82.00 $75.57 $744 —
925–1290 1089 85-90% 66 83.00–89.50 $86.68 $944 -1.17
925–1295 1145 85-90% 133 90.00–99.00 $95.15 $1,089 —
990–1275 1206 85-90% 33 100.00–108.00 $100.62 $1,213 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1340–1345 1343 80-85% 3 86.00–90.00 $88.00 $1,182 -15.00
1290–1435 1345 80-85% 14 91.00–98.00 $95.30 $1,282 -7.70
1307–1490 1396 80-85% 11 101.00–104.00 $102.02 $1,424 +13.58
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1522–1640 1558 75-80% 10 99.00–108.00 $102.05 $1,590 +9.32
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1730 1730 65-75% 1 98.00 $98.00 $1,695 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155 1155 1 97.00 $97.00 $1,120 —
1505–2045 1737 6 102.00–110.50 $105.50 $1,833 —
1300–2565 1830 13 111.00–135.00 $119.66 $2,190 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
710–1003 883 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 69 155.00–198.00 $173.61 $1,533
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
800–1170 1057 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 27 130.00–144.50 $139.68 $1,476
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
765–1405 1056 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 19 106.00–122.50 $113.74 $1,201

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1045 1045 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 900.00 $900.00
987–1170 1074 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 19 860.00–975.00 $927.73
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
877 877 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,050.00 $1,050.00
1080 1080 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,375.00 $1,375.00
1090 1090 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,075.00 $1,075.00
1196–1575 1257 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 11 1,025.00–1,450.00 $1,164.37
1455–1470 1463 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,375.00–1,450.00 $1,412.69
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
960 960 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00
955–1130 1045 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,625.00–1,700.00 $1,677.15
1205 fancy 1205 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 2,225.00 $2,225.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
885–915 900 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,210.00–1,350.00 $1,281.17

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1195 1195 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,950.00 $1,950.00 —

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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.