Cattle Market Pulse

Winter Livestock (Tuesday) Market Report

La Junta, Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, December 10, 2024

7,746 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $314.08/cwt +6.21 vs last sale · ≈ $1,822/hd at 580 lb · 802 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $294.44/cwt +0.65 vs last sale · ≈ $1,562/hd at 530 lb · 691 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $302.24/cwt +10.57 vs last sale · ≈ $1,876/hd at 621 lb · 471 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 7,746 4,791 4,879
Feeder cattle 6,927 4,050 4,244
Slaughter cattle 419 480 458
Replacement cattle 400 261 177

Market comments — USDA reporter

Trade activity and demand was moderate to good. Feeder steers under 500lbs sold mostly 5.00 to 9.00 higher. Feeder steers between 500lbs and 600lbs sold 4.00 to 10.00 lower while steers over 600lbs sold mostly 7.00 to 10.00 higher with instances of sharply higher. Feeder heifers under 550lbs sold 2.00 to 10.00 lower with instances of sharply lower. Feeder heifers over 550lbs sold mostly 2.00 to 8.00 higher with instances of sharply higher. Breaker slaughter cows of average dressing sold 1.00 lower. Boner cows of average dressing sold 2.00 lower and lean cows sold 1.00 lower. Slaughter bulls of average dressing sold 2.00 higher. The next feeder calf and slaughter cow sale will be next Tuesday December 17, 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
302–331 318 16 415.00–420.00 $417.92 $1,329 +4.62
365–399 387 45 402.50–417.50 $412.36 $1,596 -1.81
452–498 472 344 343.00–380.00 $362.53 $1,711 +8.86
465–480 fancy 473 89 384.00–393.00 $388.49 $1,838 +0.80
500–541 fancy 519 210 342.50–367.00 $346.98 $1,801 -10.67
510–549 534 86 307.50–338.00 $326.24 $1,742 -3.32
551–599 580 802 290.00–335.00 $314.08 $1,822 +6.21
609 fancy 609 6 345.00 $345.00 $2,101 —
602–646 621 465 280.00–316.00 $301.69 $1,873 +10.02
656–695 669 393 272.50–290.00 $282.90 $1,893 +10.67
670 fancy 670 2 325.00 $325.00 $2,178 —
709–743 727 363 253.00–276.00 $269.08 $1,956 +4.29
771–794 777 78 248.00–265.00 $262.22 $2,037 +13.46
810–849 831 118 245.00–253.50 $252.39 $2,097 -1.68
872 872 15 236.00 $236.00 $2,058 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
384 384 32 420.00 $420.00 $1,613 —
442 442 7 390.00 $390.00 $1,724 -5.77
471–478 477 101 343.00–351.00 $345.88 $1,650 +14.88
516 516 16 305.00 $305.00 $1,574 -1.16
552–579 556 120 292.00–308.00 $307.33 $1,709 +11.38
603–616 609 70 274.00–283.00 $279.08 $1,700 -14.51
652–676 654 36 255.00–266.00 $265.05 $1,733 -2.34
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
396 396 6 387.50 $387.50 $1,534 +5.00
405–447 422 51 360.00–375.00 $368.66 $1,556 -13.08
535–544 542 24 301.00–306.00 $302.23 $1,638 +28.49
561–591 575 63 278.00–285.00 $279.97 $1,610 +12.86
631 631 5 275.00 $275.00 $1,735 +12.18
661–699 690 37 258.00–266.00 $260.52 $1,798 +11.56
708–724 718 42 240.00–244.00 $242.14 $1,739 +11.53
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
358–393 384 29 342.50–357.50 $353.50 $1,357 —
430–444 436 17 341.00–352.50 $345.15 $1,505 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 5 372.50 $372.50 $1,583 —
450 450 3 313.00 $313.00 $1,408 —
586–587 587 16 281.00–282.00 $281.75 $1,654 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
267 267 9 1,060.00 $1,060.00 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
333 333 5 375.00 $375.00 $1,249 -1.17
352–396 374 115 342.50–365.00 $349.46 $1,307 -19.53
414 fancy 414 21 367.50 $367.50 $1,521 +5.61
405–449 434 155 307.50–342.50 $323.18 $1,403 -16.93
455–461 fancy 459 71 343.00–355.00 $346.52 $1,591 —
451–497 471 394 300.00–329.00 $319.17 $1,503 -1.13
513–533 fancy 521 285 306.00–315.50 $311.15 $1,621 —
506–549 537 406 269.00–302.50 $282.71 $1,518 -11.08
554 fancy 554 54 300.00 $300.00 $1,662 +17.91
551–596 570 302 256.00–287.50 $277.63 $1,582 +8.42
605–615 fancy 611 85 270.00–280.50 $276.83 $1,691 -0.67
603–645 628 239 243.00–264.00 $258.52 $1,624 +14.47
659–671 thin fleshed 667 121 251.00–264.75 $261.47 $1,744 —
660–691 682 43 237.00–243.00 $241.59 $1,648 +1.22
702–730 716 58 240.00–247.00 $243.90 $1,746 +13.05
752–785 770 18 229.00–238.00 $232.90 $1,793 -2.30
826–832 828 20 221.00–228.00 $225.89 $1,870 —
985 985 12 203.00 $203.00 $2,000 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 9 385.00 $385.00 $1,251 —
380 380 34 340.00 $340.00 $1,292 —
430–449 442 68 305.00–325.50 $312.33 $1,380 -0.67
452 452 6 315.00 $315.00 $1,424 +22.37
519–522 521 118 261.00–277.00 $274.30 $1,429 —
556–566 564 26 242.00–252.50 $249.94 $1,410 -26.54
590 thin fleshed 590 25 280.00 $280.00 $1,652 —
609 609 6 251.00 $251.00 $1,529 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
344–346 345 10 352.50–357.50 $354.51 $1,223 -2.77
375–394 385 11 320.00–336.00 $328.92 $1,266 —
473–496 480 19 287.50–292.50 $289.13 $1,388 +1.40
588 588 5 242.50 $242.50 $1,426 —
614 614 8 231.00 $231.00 $1,418 -6.52
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
201–237 221 9 825.00–875.00 $854.79 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
497 497 6 256.00 $256.00 $1,272 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
351 351 3 384.00 $384.00 $1,348 -34.13
435 435 6 355.00 $355.00 $1,544 -15.00
472 472 4 347.00 $347.00 $1,638 +9.50
530 530 3 295.00 $295.00 $1,564 +7.57
591 591 13 280.00 $280.00 $1,655 -2.50
625 625 5 252.50 $252.50 $1,578 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1031 1031 85-90% 7 109.00 $109.00 $1,124 +2.00
1022–1275 1055 85-90% 18 120.00–130.00 $126.38 $1,333 +22.10
910–1220 1072 85-90% 7 54.00–89.00 $83.76 $898 -38.29
1029–1242 1117 85-90% 49 110.00–117.00 $113.03 $1,263 -2.37
950–1295 1121 85-90% 89 91.00–109.00 $102.89 $1,153 -12.51
985–1297 1200 85-90% 138 100.00–119.00 $114.58 $1,375 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1220–1475 1357 80-85% 14 84.00–108.00 $100.57 $1,365 -2.96
1300–1495 1383 80-85% 33 110.00–119.00 $115.25 $1,594 -1.92
1360–1405 1392 80-85% 5 120.00–126.00 $121.78 $1,695 +4.61
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1510 1510 75-80% 1 82.00 $82.00 $1,238 -24.00
1545–1550 1546 75-80% 4 120.00–121.00 $120.25 $1,859 +3.36
1510–1685 1572 75-80% 9 112.00–118.00 $115.97 $1,823 -6.03
1580 1580 75-80% 1 97.00 $97.00 $1,533 -25.00
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1720 1720 65-75% 1 118.00 $118.00 $2,030 —
1875 1875 65-75% 2 123.00 $123.00 $2,306 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1578 1578 2 119.00 $119.00 $1,878 —
1175–1930 1596 8 125.00–132.00 $127.63 $2,037 —
1565–2240 1859 20 136.00–154.00 $144.90 $2,694 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
655 655 (<2 yrs)Open 1 207.50 $207.50 $1,359
733–954 thin fleshed 880 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 41 201.00–235.00 $209.00 $1,839
703–1068 917 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 34 172.50–195.00 $182.81 $1,676
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
675 675 (<2 yrs)Open 1 182.50 $182.50 $1,232
735–1087 944 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 14 150.00–170.00 $156.23 $1,475
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
756–1050 849 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 137.50–145.00 $138.66 $1,177

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1143 1143 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 2,425.00 $2,425.00
1177 1177 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,850.00 $1,850.00
1180 1180 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,575.00 $1,575.00
1145–1260 1181 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 124 1,625.00–1,750.00 $1,709.96
1164–1345 1211 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 52 1,525.00–1,750.00 $1,685.15
1193–1260 1245 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 64 1,875.00–1,950.00 $1,893.87
1460 1460 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 1,925.00 $1,925.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
900–1216 968 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 14 1,450.00–1,525.00 $1,470.19
942–1214 1061 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 16 1,600.00 $1,600.00
1197 1197 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,410.00 $1,410.00
1297 1297 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 1,500.00 $1,500.00
1383 1383 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,625.00 $1,625.00

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1085 1085 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,510.00 $1,510.00 —
1135 1135 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 1,575.00 $1,575.00 —
1390 1390 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00 —

↑ 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.