Cattle Market Pulse

Winter Livestock (Tuesday) Market Report

La Junta, Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, January 30, 2024

4,195 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $245.26/cwt -7.00 vs last sale · ≈ $1,767/hd at 720 lb · 290 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $246.62/cwt +8.24 vs last sale · ≈ $1,522/hd at 617 lb · 284 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $240.87/cwt +4.56 vs last sale · ≈ $1,612/hd at 669 lb · 224 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,195 5,611 3,107
Feeder cattle 3,857 5,094 2,960
Slaughter cattle 220 336 147
Replacement cattle 118 181 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Trade activity and demand was very good. Feeder steers sold 4.00 to 17.00 with instances of sharply higher across all weight classes. Feeder heifers sold 2.00 to 11.00 with instances of sharply higher across all weight classes. Slaughter cows of average dressing sold unevenly steady and slaughter bulls of average dressing sold 3.00 higher. The next feeder calf and slaughter cow sale will be Tuesday February 6, 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
329–340 332 15 380.00–389.00 $385.03 $1,278 +45.00
326–339 fancy 333 21 400.00–401.00 $400.53 $1,334 —
353 value added 353 3 395.00 $395.00 $1,394 —
363–371 thin fleshed 368 46 384.50–386.00 $385.01 $1,417 —
373–390 379 14 362.50–377.50 $371.99 $1,410 +17.34
393 393 2 352.50 $352.50 $1,385 -2.15
420 value added 420 7 354.00 $354.00 $1,487 —
413–440 430 105 336.00–351.00 $345.95 $1,488 +12.64
450–471 463 61 320.00–331.00 $327.51 $1,516 -0.45
471 value added 471 22 338.00 $338.00 $1,592 —
475–494 thin fleshed 494 81 334.00–335.00 $334.02 $1,650 —
507–525 thin fleshed 518 13 324.00–327.50 $326.18 $1,690 —
530 value added 530 59 330.00 $330.00 $1,749 —
531–543 541 48 312.00–320.00 $318.39 $1,722 +8.44
547 547 7 303.00 $303.00 $1,657 -6.95
555 fancy 555 18 319.00 $319.00 $1,770 +7.00
559 value added 559 18 312.00 $312.00 $1,744 —
551–594 576 130 297.00–309.00 $300.96 $1,734 +7.64
582 582 38 290.00 $290.00 $1,688 -3.32
618–630 622 89 282.00–287.50 $285.10 $1,773 -4.89
658 value added 658 36 271.00 $271.00 $1,783 —
660–697 688 106 257.00–264.50 $260.90 $1,795 -3.93
704 fancy 704 26 256.50 $256.50 $1,806 -9.50
717 value added 717 43 251.00 $251.00 $1,800 -4.50
701–748 723 221 235.00–245.00 $242.82 $1,756 +4.68
751–752 value added 752 22 238.00–239.50 $238.89 $1,796 —
752–799 783 123 223.00–233.00 $227.95 $1,785 -2.19
802 802 6 213.00 $213.00 $1,708 -4.30
802–832 819 59 220.50–225.00 $221.92 $1,818 +4.62
820–846 value added 832 66 229.00–230.00 $229.54 $1,910 —
855 value added 855 95 230.00 $230.00 $1,966 —
899 899 28 217.50 $217.50 $1,955 +16.50
962 962 23 210.00 $210.00 $2,020 —
1035 1035 10 198.00 $198.00 $2,049 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
398 398 2 325.00 $325.00 $1,294 -15.70
475–487 482 39 311.00–317.00 $312.98 $1,509 -1.85
531 531 9 291.00 $291.00 $1,545 +0.31
553–599 579 75 274.00–287.00 $280.31 $1,623 +0.45
612–648 630 71 270.00–281.00 $275.73 $1,737 +2.14
672–698 686 70 243.00–246.00 $244.89 $1,680 -1.95
790 790 2 219.00 $219.00 $1,730 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465–493 485 7 281.00–306.00 $287.85 $1,396 -2.57
593 593 2 246.00 $246.00 $1,459 -14.96
602–640 629 25 240.00–264.00 $258.59 $1,627 +7.63
682–690 689 17 228.50–231.00 $228.94 $1,577 -6.33
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 455 4 300.00 $300.00 $1,365 -6.00
543 543 2 243.00 $243.00 $1,319 -36.00
576 576 4 256.00 $256.00 $1,475 —
631 631 14 275.00 $275.00 $1,735 —
652 652 14 246.00 $246.00 $1,604 —
818 818 8 214.50 $214.50 $1,755 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
301 fancy 301 4 387.50 $387.50 $1,166 +40.00
305 305 11 368.00 $368.00 $1,122 +55.50
321 321 4 345.00 $345.00 $1,107 +32.50
355 fancy 355 22 367.50 $367.50 $1,305 +35.50
350–383 373 16 316.00–328.00 $320.52 $1,196 +20.95
387 387 14 307.50 $307.50 $1,190 +7.93
406–426 thin fleshed 413 36 311.00–313.00 $312.55 $1,291 +10.86
408–448 431 36 297.50–300.00 $299.28 $1,290 +5.33
446 value added 446 26 317.50 $317.50 $1,416 +4.47
465–466 thin fleshed 465 28 296.00–297.00 $296.46 $1,379 —
473 fancy 473 12 328.00 $328.00 $1,551 +29.00
458–498 482 100 281.00–292.00 $286.21 $1,380 -0.70
522 fancy 522 23 298.00 $298.00 $1,556 —
510–546 thin fleshed 525 39 280.00–286.00 $282.94 $1,485 —
510–546 534 98 265.00–277.00 $272.56 $1,455 +4.49
548 548 8 260.00 $260.00 $1,425 -8.07
558–574 thin fleshed 564 102 265.00–272.50 $268.92 $1,517 —
553–588 573 100 253.00–262.00 $258.52 $1,481 +8.57
601–640 613 208 239.00–249.00 $244.97 $1,502 +8.55
623–632 thin fleshed 627 67 252.00–256.00 $253.69 $1,591 —
636–645 639 9 232.00–232.50 $232.17 $1,484 -4.25
654–673 thin fleshed 668 79 244.00–246.50 $245.87 $1,642 —
655–682 670 145 233.00–242.00 $238.14 $1,596 +1.83
708–721 715 96 222.50–229.00 $224.78 $1,607 +1.74
752–783 768 129 209.75–217.00 $212.63 $1,633 -6.37
821 821 4 202.50 $202.50 $1,663 -8.50
895 895 3 191.50 $191.50 $1,714 +9.00
926 926 7 185.00 $185.00 $1,713 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
394 394 5 285.00 $285.00 $1,123 —
423 423 2 282.50 $282.50 $1,195 +10.60
485 485 6 278.00 $278.00 $1,348 +2.34
507 507 7 252.00 $252.00 $1,278 -3.10
560–590 572 14 231.00–236.00 $232.52 $1,330 -7.18
664–693 687 41 224.00–230.00 $227.85 $1,565 +11.85
706–729 725 31 219.00–220.00 $219.16 $1,589 +13.09
773–778 777 13 207.00–207.50 $207.08 $1,609 +1.95
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350 350 5 237.50 $237.50 $831 —
445–448 447 5 242.50–256.00 $250.62 $1,120 -7.38
547 547 10 242.00 $242.00 $1,324 -3.22
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470–498 487 5 275.00 $275.00 $1,339 +30.00
520 520 6 239.00 $239.00 $1,243 +3.60
714 714 8 215.00 $215.00 $1,535 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
550 550 6 271.00 $271.00 $1,490 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
693 693 4 209.00 $209.00 $1,448 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
820–1025 903 85-90% 13 65.00–82.00 $74.04 $669 —
945–1255 1102 85-90% 28 84.00–89.00 $87.26 $962 —
945–1295 1162 85-90% 55 90.00–99.00 $95.12 $1,105 —
1025–1275 1216 85-90% 24 100.00–105.00 $103.19 $1,255 +2.57
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315–1350 1333 80-85% 2 83.00–86.00 $84.52 $1,127 -3.48
1325–1490 1387 80-85% 9 91.00–99.00 $94.89 $1,316 -7.13
1290–1465 1402 80-85% 22 101.00–107.00 $106.48 $1,493 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1526–1625 1546 75-80% 9 108.00–114.50 $112.99 $1,747 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1715 1715 1 100.00 $100.00 $1,715 -5.50
1570–2125 1825 8 107.00–110.00 $108.26 $1,976 -11.40
1080–2400 1908 13 112.00–130.00 $119.06 $2,272 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
725–775 fancy 750 (<2 yrs)Open 2 205.00–212.50 $208.88 $1,567
800–935 fancy 850 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 7 200.00–207.50 $204.03 $1,734
700–1365 924 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 172.50–195.00 $183.46 $1,695
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1096–1419 1276 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 15 111.00–123.00 $120.60 $1,539
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
710 710 (<2 yrs)Open 1 138.00 $138.00 $980
987–1050 1004 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 135.00–150.00 $139.06 $1,396

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1011 fancy 1011 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 17 2,125.00 $2,125.00
1135–1590 1321 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 1,525.00–1,800.00 $1,649.01
1168–1515 1342 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,700.00–1,875.00 $1,767.73
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1090–1233 1185 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,200.00–1,300.00 $1,230.65
1260–1500 1357 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,285.00–1,400.00 $1,332.21
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1115 1115 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00
1170 1170 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,150.00 $1,150.00
1179 1179 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,075.00 $1,075.00

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
823 823 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,510.00 $1,510.00

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1200 1200 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,425.00 $2,425.00 —
1255 1255 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,750.00 $1,750.00 —
1375 1375 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 1,975.00 $1,975.00 —

↑ Back to top

Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
950 950 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,025.00 $2,025.00 —

↑ Back to top

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.