Cattle Market Pulse

Winter Livestock (Tuesday) Market Report

La Junta, Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, April 9, 2024

4,062 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $347.63/cwt +1.42 vs last sale · ≈ $1,837/hd at 528 lb · 291 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $309.15/cwt +24.15 vs last sale · ≈ $1,646/hd at 532 lb · 269 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $225.48/cwt ≈ $1,735/hd at 769 lb · 265 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,062 686 1,693
Feeder cattle 3,697 444 597
Slaughter cattle 186 158 240
Replacement cattle 179 84 856

Market comments — USDA reporter

Trade activity and demand was good. Feeder steers under 550lbs sold 3.00 to 16.00 higher. Feeder steers over 550lbs sold 1.00 to 3.00 lower. Feeder heifers sold 4.00 to 10.00 higher across all weight classes. Slaughter cows sold steady across all weight classes while slaughter bulls sold 3.00 higher. The next feeder calf and slaughter cow sale will be next Tuesday April 16, 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
264 264 4 389.00 $389.00 $1,027 —
298 fancy 298 2 415.00 $415.00 $1,237 —
333–343 336 9 395.00–396.00 $395.66 $1,329 —
317–345 fancy 337 11 403.00–412.00 $405.31 $1,366 —
360 fancy 360 12 413.00 $413.00 $1,487 —
354–377 362 9 372.50–377.50 $375.76 $1,360 —
366 thin fleshed 366 22 400.00–401.00 $400.73 $1,467 —
404 fancy 404 15 384.00 $384.00 $1,551 —
404–446 420 36 358.00–365.00 $361.63 $1,519 -3.37
410–443 thin fleshed 422 32 370.00–379.00 $373.36 $1,576 —
451–487 fancy 465 103 370.00–378.00 $372.82 $1,734 —
453–497 474 42 321.00–347.00 $335.41 $1,590 +15.41
456–480 thin fleshed 474 66 349.00–367.00 $360.20 $1,707 —
503–528 thin fleshed 513 47 336.00–348.00 $339.72 $1,743 —
513–546 528 45 316.00–325.00 $321.72 $1,699 -10.45
503–542 fancy 532 199 350.00–360.00 $355.35 $1,890 +1.35
553–594 thin fleshed 564 24 319.00–327.50 $325.26 $1,834 -2.74
553–579 fancy 567 51 330.00–341.00 $333.47 $1,891 -0.53
560–597 584 58 290.00–310.00 $301.32 $1,760 -13.17
606–634 fancy 630 153 301.00–307.50 $305.28 $1,923 —
635–641 638 42 287.50–299.00 $294.00 $1,876 —
650–692 thin fleshed 673 51 271.00–276.00 $274.54 $1,848 —
653–698 686 39 260.00–267.00 $263.72 $1,809 +6.72
704–741 729 12 240.00–251.00 $247.46 $1,804 -7.54
730 fancy 730 18 261.00 $261.00 $1,905 —
753–782 770 120 229.00–239.00 $234.39 $1,805 -1.61
796 fancy 796 34 254.75 $254.75 $2,028 —
877 877 12 216.00 $216.00 $1,894 —
889 fancy 889 64 223.50 $223.50 $1,987 —
909–911 910 13 206.00–209.50 $208.42 $1,897 —
954 954 51 201.25 $201.25 $1,920 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
357–397 379 21 347.50–366.00 $357.56 $1,355 +2.56
408–445 420 40 341.00–349.00 $344.13 $1,445 —
538–543 541 4 300.00–303.00 $301.49 $1,631 —
635–643 641 18 266.50–276.00 $268.59 $1,722 —
744–748 745 30 230.00–235.00 $234.33 $1,746 —
807 807 5 225.00 $225.00 $1,816 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
565 565 2 261.00 $261.00 $1,475 —
613–648 640 17 257.50–262.00 $260.57 $1,668 +30.57
808–848 814 14 212.00–216.00 $215.40 $1,753 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
308 fancy 308 6 385.00 $385.00 $1,186 —
328 328 6 336.00 $336.00 $1,102 —
310–336 thin fleshed 330 9 347.50–357.00 $355.02 $1,172 —
357–382 thin fleshed 364 20 339.00–346.00 $341.81 $1,244 —
373–395 fancy 380 39 356.00–360.00 $359.40 $1,366 —
385–399 397 16 322.00–327.00 $322.76 $1,281 -2.48
417 417 6 312.50 $312.50 $1,303 -6.50
402–449 thin fleshed 424 87 320.00–331.00 $325.90 $1,382 —
452–465 fancy 461 123 329.00–337.00 $335.91 $1,549 —
454–492 481 53 301.00–309.00 $303.19 $1,458 +6.68
454–490 thin fleshed 482 43 313.00–320.00 $316.64 $1,526 —
501–538 fancy 528 142 318.00–325.00 $320.39 $1,692 —
516–539 thin fleshed 528 29 306.00–308.00 $307.53 $1,624 —
517–544 540 98 287.00–297.00 $293.34 $1,584 +8.34
555–582 567 29 257.50–268.00 $262.81 $1,490 +3.25
558–597 thin fleshed 580 124 270.00–285.00 $278.92 $1,618 +3.92
618–640 628 37 250.00–269.00 $259.00 $1,627 +9.06
650–698 678 112 231.00–250.00 $242.20 $1,642 —
665–682 fancy 678 54 263.00–270.00 $264.27 $1,792 —
704 fancy 704 69 281.00 $281.00 $1,978 —
722 thin fleshed 722 19 251.00 $251.00 $1,812 —
714–739 731 39 229.00–237.50 $234.22 $1,712 —
758 fancy 758 19 242.00 $242.00 $1,834 —
751–787 766 143 219.00–222.50 $219.66 $1,683 —
762–794 thin fleshed 776 103 227.50–233.50 $230.52 $1,789 —
816–832 831 157 216.00–220.00 $216.18 $1,796 —
853 853 15 206.50 $206.50 $1,761 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
293 293 2 337.00 $337.00 $987 —
429–442 437 14 287.50–295.00 $292.51 $1,278 —
450–498 484 25 290.00–295.00 $292.93 $1,418 —
515–542 529 20 267.50–284.00 $273.69 $1,448 +3.69
592 592 10 251.00 $251.00 $1,486 -1.00
603–645 639 28 240.00–243.00 $242.48 $1,549 +10.48
672–675 673 13 225.00–227.50 $226.92 $1,527 —
736 736 4 218.00 $218.00 $1,604 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
313 313 2 307.50 $307.50 $962 —
516 516 8 263.00 $263.00 $1,357 —
565 565 4 253.00 $253.00 $1,429 +5.00
573 fancy 573 4 268.00 $268.00 $1,536 —
630 630 8 249.00 $249.00 $1,569 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 4 259.00 $259.00 $1,399 —
741 741 7 205.00 $205.00 $1,519 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
378 378 2 342.50 $342.50 $1,295 +17.50
408 408 4 307.50 $307.50 $1,255 —
486 486 4 340.00 $340.00 $1,652 —
498 fancy 498 23 362.50 $362.50 $1,805 —
562 562 16 291.00 $291.00 $1,635 +20.00
734 734 10 235.00 $235.00 $1,725 —
858 858 3 210.00 $210.00 $1,802 +20.00

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
738 738 85-90% 2 90.00 $90.00 $664 —
850 850 85-90% 1 86.00 $86.00 $731 —
790–1635 1140 85-90% 124 101.00–147.50 $124.11 $1,415 -0.07
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1305–1480 1383 80-85% 16 123.00–144.00 $132.07 $1,827 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1510–1670 1568 75-80% 4 109.00–136.00 $121.13 $1,899 -6.63

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145–2335 1712 23 118.00–174.00 $141.72 $2,426 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
690 690 (<2 yrs)Open 1 192.00 $192.00 $1,325
680–700 thin fleshed 693 (<2 yrs)Open 3 207.00–221.00 $213.51 $1,480
735–833 thin fleshed 803 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 14 202.50–217.50 $206.67 $1,660
709–1185 818 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 41 167.50–187.50 $178.50 $1,460
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
753–1180 949 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 131.00–145.00 $139.04 $1,319
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
823–983 884 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 7 153.50–162.50 $157.54 $1,393

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
934–1295 1018 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 15 2,100.00–2,250.00 $2,131.94
1136 1136 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,950.00 $1,950.00
1158 1158 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,200.00 $2,200.00
1670 1670 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,950.00 $1,950.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1142–1177 1155 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 13 1,625.00–1,700.00 $1,670.62
1220 1220 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,750.00 $1,750.00
1359 1359 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,875.00 $1,875.00
1410 1410 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,650.00 $1,650.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
800 800 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 825.00 $825.00
820 820 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00
861 861 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 7 1,235.00 $1,235.00
1030 1030 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00
1015–1170 1088 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,150.00–1,310.00 $1,246.19

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1065 1065 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 2,400.00 $2,400.00 -300.00
1086 1086 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 2,525.00 $2,525.00 —
1090 1090 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 5 2,175.00 $2,175.00 —
1191 1191 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 4 2,450.00 $2,450.00 —
1271–1297 1282 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 7 2,500.00–2,550.00 $2,528.32 —
1323 1323 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 6 2,475.00 $2,475.00 —
1163–1525 1363 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 8 2,100.00–2,500.00 $2,278.46 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1190 1190 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00 —

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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.