Cattle Market Pulse

Winter Livestock (Tuesday) Market Report

La Junta, Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, April 16, 2024

1,762 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $281.13/cwt +25.54 vs last sale · ≈ $1,978/hd at 704 lb · 96 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $246.00/cwt ≈ $1,990/hd at 809 lb · 63 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $210.83/cwt -11.49 vs last sale · ≈ $1,841/hd at 873 lb · 36 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,762 4,062 917
Feeder cattle 933 3,697 767
Slaughter cattle 236 186 150
Replacement cattle 593 179 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Trade activity and demand was moderate. Feeder steers under 700lbs sold 2.00 to 8.00 lower with instances of sharply lower. Steers over 700lbs sold 2.00 to 10.00 higher with instances of sharply higher. Feeder heifers sold mostly 2.00 to 9.00 higher across all weight classes. Slaughter cows sold steady across all weight classes while slaughter bulls sold 1.00 higher. The next feeder calf and slaughter cow sale will be next Tuesday April 23, 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
303 303 2 397.50 $397.50 $1,204 +1.84
368 368 3 371.00 $371.00 $1,365 -4.76
406–418 408 15 362.50–363.00 $362.90 $1,481 +1.27
453–465 thin fleshed 456 19 340.00–342.50 $341.13 $1,556 -19.07
485 485 4 327.50 $327.50 $1,588 -7.91
533 thin fleshed 533 21 321.00 $321.00 $1,711 -18.72
548 548 5 308.00 $308.00 $1,688 -13.72
550 fancy 550 5 319.00 $319.00 $1,754 -14.47
561–584 572 13 291.00–304.00 $297.87 $1,704 -3.45
604 thin fleshed 604 13 305.00 $305.00 $1,842 —
618–640 629 8 280.00–281.00 $280.49 $1,764 -13.51
665–672 669 32 273.00–289.00 $278.96 $1,866 +15.24
703 fancy 703 85 283.00 $283.00 $1,989 +22.00
704–705 thin fleshed 704 9 270.00–272.50 $270.56 $1,905 —
725 725 2 249.00 $249.00 $1,805 +1.54
765 765 12 245.00 $245.00 $1,874 +10.61
809 809 63 246.00 $246.00 $1,990 —
868–895 873 36 210.00–211.00 $210.83 $1,841 -5.17
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
698 698 18 240.00 $240.00 $1,675 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
634 634 4 260.00 $260.00 $1,648 —
802 802 5 216.00 $216.00 $1,732 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
536 536 9 268.00 $268.00 $1,436 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
312–339 329 8 325.00–332.50 $329.83 $1,085 -6.17
372 372 16 339.00 $339.00 $1,261 +16.24
408–445 427 11 312.50–318.50 $314.75 $1,344 +2.25
454–482 470 19 296.00–306.50 $303.12 $1,425 -0.07
514 514 15 295.00 $295.00 $1,516 +1.66
553–565 563 20 265.00–273.00 $271.43 $1,528 +8.62
617 617 14 252.00 $252.00 $1,555 -7.00
667 thin fleshed 667 13 250.00 $250.00 $1,668 —
669 669 8 236.00 $236.00 $1,579 -6.20
795 fancy 795 9 241.00 $241.00 $1,916 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
427 427 5 295.00 $295.00 $1,260 +2.49
497 497 7 281.00 $281.00 $1,397 -11.93
510–543 535 22 270.00–276.00 $274.96 $1,471 +1.27
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
571–597 589 24 243.00–251.00 $245.26 $1,445 -7.74

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
633 633 9 261.00 $261.00 $1,652 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
814–1225 941 85-90% 11 90.00–99.00 $92.78 $873 —
1065–1245 1152 85-90% 3 76.00–89.00 $84.00 $968 —
910–1295 1158 85-90% 97 102.00–134.00 $121.27 $1,404 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1510–1660 1591 75-80% 34 115.00–129.00 $124.66 $1,983 +3.53
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1385 1385 80-85% 1 88.00 $88.00 $1,219 -44.07
1330–1477 1411 80-85% 24 104.00–131.00 $123.51 $1,743 —
1420 1420 80-85% 1 91.00 $91.00 $1,292 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1725 1725 65-75% 1 114.00 $114.00 $1,966 —
1715–1765 1745 65-75% 3 125.00–131.00 $127.68 $2,228 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145–2475 1804 50 121.00–165.00 $141.77 $2,558 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
795–1028 953 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 25 165.00–186.00 $180.88 $1,724
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
775–1135 1071 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 141.00–160.00 $151.34 $1,621
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1090–1185 1153 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 132.00–132.50 $132.34 $1,526

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
973–1140 1029 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 2,100.00 $2,100.00
1171 1171 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 19 2,000.00 $2,000.00
1181 1181 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 2,100.00 $2,100.00
1118–1297 fancy 1205 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 109 2,950.00–2,975.00 $2,966.06
1225 fancy 1225 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 15 2,800.00 $2,800.00
1255–1731 1618 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 2,000.00–2,150.00 $2,060.87
1669 1669 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 15 1,925.00 $1,925.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1037–1265 1075 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,650.00–1,725.00 $1,664.71
1040–1428 1105 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 12 1,525.00–1,750.00 $1,573.48
1180 1180 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00
915–1399 1196 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 24 1,650.00–1,900.00 $1,804.35
1223 1223 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 13 1,550.00 $1,550.00
1195–1430 1281 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,625.00–1,750.00 $1,692.54
1240–1380 1310 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,575.00–1,700.00 $1,640.84
1095–1555 1384 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,750.00–1,875.00 $1,814.27
1390–1425 1408 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,685.00–1,700.00 $1,692.41
950–1570 1449 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 20 1,700.00–1,850.00 $1,749.53
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
933 933 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,250.00 $1,250.00
945 945 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,425.00 $1,425.00
825–1150 981 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,125.00–1,475.00 $1,289.97
930–1225 1004 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 975.00–1,375.00 $1,097.04
1005–1105 1025 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,325.00–1,400.00 $1,383.83
1055 1055 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,375.00 $1,375.00
1058 1058 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 1,350.00 $1,350.00
1065 1065 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,260.00 $1,260.00
1105 1105 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,350.00 $1,350.00
1173 1173 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 1,350.00 $1,350.00
1208 1208 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,475.00 $1,475.00
675–1585 1469 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 15 900.00–1,000.00 $905.62

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
810–1043 927 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 2,300.00–2,550.00 $2,440.72
1070–1190 fancy 1087 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 2,600.00–2,750.00 $2,682.23

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
883–1030 932 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 2,500.00–2,700.00 $2,626.32 —
950–1010 990 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,900.00–1,950.00 $1,934.01 —
1095 fancy 1095 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 2,400.00 $2,400.00 —
939–1445 1106 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 15 2,850.00–3,050.00 $2,974.99 —
1136 fancy 1136 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 3,000.00 $3,000.00 —
1205 1205 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00 —
1215–1345 1301 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 33 2,400.00–2,600.00 $2,491.00 +16.00
1270–1390 1330 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 2,000.00–2,100.00 $2,052.26 -422.74
1378–1396 1386 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 9 2,600.00–2,900.00 $2,734.30 +455.84
1386 fancy 1386 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 4 2,400.00 $2,400.00 —
1133–1538 1407 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 11 2,000.00–2,100.00 $2,041.59 —
1402–1496 1456 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 14 2,300.00–2,500.00 $2,417.45 —
1470 1470 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00 —
1579 fancy 1579 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 20 3,175.00 $3,175.00 —
1590 1590 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,400.00 $2,400.00 —
1526–1647 1594 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 16 2,450.00–2,500.00 $2,479.06 —
1598 fancy 1598 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 6 3,200.00 $3,200.00 —
1489–2060 1603 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 5 2,750.00–2,800.00 $2,762.85 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
930 930 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00 —
1100 1100 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,450.00 $2,450.00 —
1055–1275 1165 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 1,800.00–1,900.00 $1,854.72 +129.72
1223 1223 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 4 1,850.00 $1,850.00 —
1275 1275 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,950.00 $1,950.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
730 730 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00 —
1010 1010 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,450.00 $1,450.00 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
999–1063 1012 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 3,000.00–3,250.00 $3,197.47 —
851–1216 1019 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 39 3,200.00–3,350.00 $3,240.20 —

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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.