Cattle Market Pulse

Winter Livestock (Tuesday) Market Report

La Junta, Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, October 1, 2024

3,188 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $305.11/cwt -2.11 vs last sale · ≈ $1,327/hd at 435 lb · 169 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $337.24/cwt +14.90 vs last sale · ≈ $1,539/hd at 456 lb · 167 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $270.38/cwt -10.38 vs last sale · ≈ $1,395/hd at 516 lb · 140 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,188 3,269 844
Feeder cattle 2,761 2,976 701
Slaughter cattle 295 235 124
Replacement cattle 132 58 19

Market comments — USDA reporter

Trade activity and demand was moderate to good. Feeder steers under 500lbs sold mostly 5.00 to 7.00 higher with instances of sharply higher. Steers over 500lbs sold mostly 5.00 to 11.00 lower with instances of sharply lower. Feeder heifers under 450lbs sold mostly 28.00 to 31.00 higher. Heifers between 450lbs and 800lbs sold 3.00 to 4.00 lower with instances of sharply lower. Heifers over 800lbs sold 31.00 higher. Breaker slaughter cows of average dressing sold 1.00 higher. Boner cows of average dressing sold 1.00 higher and lean cows of average dressing sold 2.00 lower. The next feeder calf and slaughter cow sale is next Tuesday October 8, 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
194 194 6 352.50 $352.50 $684 —
266–295 292 82 407.50–417.00 $408.24 $1,192 +18.65
325–348 334 43 340.00–355.00 $344.21 $1,150 +28.77
378–384 379 109 351.00–358.00 $356.89 $1,353 +6.15
404–420 406 29 344.00–345.00 $344.14 $1,397 -11.55
451–458 thin fleshed 456 139 337.00–340.00 $339.19 $1,547 —
457–460 458 28 327.00–328.00 $327.57 $1,500 +5.23
523 thin fleshed 523 57 305.50 $305.50 $1,598 -7.00
514–538 526 75 280.00–293.00 $287.55 $1,513 -4.06
550–553 552 86 290.00 $290.00 $1,601 +19.18
609–649 634 91 242.00–257.00 $249.58 $1,582 -14.76
669–671 670 40 240.00–253.00 $248.12 $1,662 -9.43
709–742 722 24 219.00–231.00 $223.75 $1,615 -10.41
751–792 766 25 223.00–225.00 $224.26 $1,718 -21.07
980 980 3 210.00 $210.00 $2,058 —
1028 1028 2 197.50 $197.50 $2,030 -12.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
292 292 6 340.00 $340.00 $993 —
372–391 384 33 269.00–329.00 $290.44 $1,115 +9.41
410–420 414 13 230.00–301.00 $264.15 $1,094 -4.21
460–498 469 126 239.00–296.00 $273.63 $1,283 +7.12
540–549 543 20 261.00–264.00 $262.94 $1,428 -1.14
565 565 3 230.00 $230.00 $1,300 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
285 285 3 387.50 $387.50 $1,104 —
303 303 3 307.50 $307.50 $932 +66.50
363–364 364 21 338.00–340.00 $338.67 $1,233 +28.67
424–444 442 36 326.00–331.00 $330.47 $1,461 -12.05
451–492 479 75 300.00–312.00 $308.96 $1,480 +1.26
545 545 6 277.00 $277.00 $1,510 -4.69
550–583 577 45 261.00–266.00 $264.31 $1,525 +1.23
672 672 5 225.00 $225.00 $1,512 -24.00
749 749 5 207.50 $207.50 $1,554 -5.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
413–417 416 8 315.00–322.50 $320.64 $1,334 —
500 500 25 292.00 $292.00 $1,460 —
593 593 23 267.00 $267.00 $1,583 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
241 241 10 345.00 $345.00 $831 —
257–295 271 11 315.00–330.00 $321.25 $871 —
306 fancy 306 78 352.00 $352.00 $1,077 +30.33
309–334 321 19 327.00–335.00 $330.94 $1,062 +27.82
350–382 376 106 318.00–323.00 $320.32 $1,204 +27.32
405–441 435 169 304.00–309.00 $305.11 $1,327 +5.28
454–458 457 37 283.00–290.50 $286.01 $1,307 -3.24
508 thin fleshed 508 3 281.00 $281.00 $1,427 —
502–535 516 137 263.00–272.00 $270.15 $1,394 -10.61
555–585 565 86 241.00–252.00 $248.39 $1,403 -17.01
626–644 634 38 231.00–241.00 $235.60 $1,494 -3.06
654–679 664 23 220.00–236.00 $229.60 $1,525 -3.91
777–787 784 18 226.00–232.00 $230.35 $1,806 -3.77
875–888 877 11 217.50–227.00 $225.25 $1,975 +2.25
919–942 928 23 225.00–227.00 $225.79 $2,095 +30.27
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
262 262 5 307.50 $307.50 $806 —
323 323 2 306.00 $306.00 $988 +17.60
357–399 392 47 290.00–303.00 $299.65 $1,175 +38.65
403–445 428 21 275.00–287.50 $281.68 $1,206 -4.82
471–488 476 32 261.00–271.00 $267.80 $1,275 -9.45
506–545 524 60 252.00–268.00 $258.25 $1,353 -1.44
564–588 582 24 233.00–239.00 $237.90 $1,385 -2.95
643 643 3 226.00 $226.00 $1,453 —
787–795 790 15 201.00–212.00 $205.69 $1,625 +16.39
913–948 934 31 191.00–209.00 $197.81 $1,848 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
356–388 361 24 240.00–282.50 $244.85 $884 —
426–430 426 90 236.50–267.00 $237.18 $1,010 -1.23
476–477 476 13 253.00–257.00 $254.54 $1,212 +10.32
510 510 3 232.00 $232.00 $1,183 -17.42
568–596 589 8 201.00–223.00 $217.70 $1,282 +6.70
918 918 9 175.00 $175.00 $1,606 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
483–487 484 36 274.00–279.00 $275.26 $1,332 —
557 557 13 260.00 $260.00 $1,448 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
374 374 5 307.50 $307.50 $1,150 -7.50
503 503 9 257.00 $257.00 $1,293 —
613 613 2 255.00 $255.00 $1,563 —
654 654 4 245.00 $245.00 $1,602 —
739 739 15 201.00 $201.00 $1,485 -6.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
908 908 3 161.00 $161.00 $1,462 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
795–1265 1110 85-90% 63 90.00–109.00 $104.93 $1,165 —
912–1295 1174 85-90% 88 110.00–119.00 $112.03 $1,315 +7.31
1085–1298 1270 85-90% 19 120.50–142.50 $123.13 $1,564 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1301–1433 1335 80-85% 10 120.00–126.00 $124.37 $1,660 +0.90
1308–1410 1355 80-85% 4 102.00–104.00 $103.00 $1,396 -2.39
1300–1495 1368 80-85% 58 109.00–119.00 $115.14 $1,575 +9.75
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1515–1540 1528 75-80% 2 121.00–124.00 $122.51 $1,872 +16.51
1555–1605 1564 75-80% 6 109.00–118.00 $116.00 $1,814 -16.00

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1240–1960 1561 13 119.00–129.00 $125.72 $1,962 —
1350–2055 1771 24 130.00–154.00 $142.69 $2,527 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
715–941 845 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 201.00–212.50 $205.02 $1,732
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
795–925 860 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 160.00–182.50 $172.10 $1,480

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1029 1029 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 10 2,225.00 $2,225.00
1098 1098 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 2,450.00 $2,450.00
1035–1172 1117 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,800.00–2,100.00 $1,988.83
1118 1118 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,700.00 $1,700.00
1238 1238 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,125.00 $2,125.00
1284 1284 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 1,850.00 $1,850.00
1320 1320 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00
1400–1525 1463 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,100.00–2,450.00 $2,282.48
1451–1605 1464 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 12 2,000.00–2,100.00 $2,009.14
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1040 1040 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,225.00 $1,225.00
1085 1085 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,450.00 $1,450.00
825–1242 1138 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,350.00–1,475.00 $1,452.34
1075–1323 1261 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,275.00–1,675.00 $1,589.75
1308 1308 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,850.00 $1,850.00
1333 1333 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 1,600.00 $1,600.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
765 765 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,700.00 $1,700.00
836–846 840 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 17 1,800.00–1,950.00 $1,896.65
875 875 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,725.00 $1,725.00
1125 1125 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,475.00 $2,475.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1302–1330 1309 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 3,200.00–3,300.00 $3,274.60 —
1350 1350 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 3,150.00 $3,150.00 —
1280–1483 1427 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 13 2,025.00–2,250.00 $2,188.72 -61.28
1475 1475 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 2,500.00 $2,500.00 —
1596 1596 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 8 2,400.00 $2,400.00 —

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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.