Cattle Market Pulse

Winter Livestock (Tuesday) Market Report

La Junta, Colorado · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Tuesday, February 17, 2026

1,581 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $451.48/cwt +33.40 vs last sale · ≈ $2,298/hd at 509 lb · 87 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $528.08/cwt +53.04 vs last sale · ≈ $2,214/hd at 419 lb · 70 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $527.63/cwt +46.25 vs last sale · ≈ $2,683/hd at 508 lb · 58 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,581 1,785 0
Feeder cattle 793 1,705 0
Slaughter cattle 244 55 0
Replacement cattle 544 25 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Trade activity and demand was good. Boner slaughter cows of average dressing sold 3.00 lower. Lean cows of average dressing sold 7.00 higher and slaughter bulls sold 2.00 higher. Feeder steers sold mostly sharply higher across all weight classes. Feeder heifers sold 5.00 to 8.00 higher with instances of sharply higher. The next slaughter cow and feeder calf sale will be next Tuessday February 24, 2026.

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
225 225 5 750.00 $750.00 $1,688 —
275 275 2 707.50 $707.50 $1,946 —
319 319 19 700.00 $700.00 $2,233 —
323 unweaned 323 2 645.00 $645.00 $2,083 +35.00
374 374 9 626.00 $626.00 $2,341 —
403 unweaned 403 6 600.00 $600.00 $2,418 +70.00
406 406 20 645.00 $645.00 $2,619 +57.40
468 468 3 540.00 $540.00 $2,527 +12.00
500–511 504 42 530.00–537.00 $534.35 $2,693 +47.89
520 unweaned 520 16 510.00 $510.00 $2,652 +43.04
561–593 580 22 455.00–465.00 $460.14 $2,669 -4.24
586 unweaned 586 11 443.00 $443.00 $2,596 -6.01
609 609 4 432.50 $432.50 $2,634 -5.63
684 unweaned 684 4 380.00 $380.00 $2,599 —
680–693 687 20 397.50–401.00 $399.27 $2,743 +9.17
710–730 718 8 387.50–396.00 $392.76 $2,820 +0.78
773 773 6 370.00 $370.00 $2,860 -13.00
805 805 16 362.50–367.50 $366.56 $2,951 +8.13
866–883 869 10 351.00–355.00 $354.19 $3,078 +0.81
1067 1067 9 312.50 $312.50 $3,334 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
532 unweaned 532 11 480.00 $480.00 $2,554 —
685 unweaned 685 2 350.00 $350.00 $2,398 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
443 unweaned 443 5 554.00 $554.00 $2,454 —
475 unweaned 475 3 442.50 $442.50 $2,102 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
458 unweaned 458 4 463.00 $463.00 $2,121 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
226 226 3 735.00 $735.00 $1,661 —
300–322 316 23 620.00–630.00 $622.47 $1,967 +107.47
320 unweaned 320 2 590.00 $590.00 $1,888 +125.00
382 382 3 545.00 $545.00 $2,082 —
405–433 416 22 485.00–500.00 $493.90 $2,055 +14.35
418 fancy 418 42 555.00 $555.00 $2,320 —
439 unweaned 439 6 465.00 $465.00 $2,041 +5.00
465–484 477 14 467.50–480.00 $473.30 $2,258 +13.58
501–515 508 83 445.00–462.00 $452.88 $2,301 +26.19
531 unweaned 531 4 422.50 $422.50 $2,243 +8.64
581–590 586 27 425.00–427.50 $426.01 $2,496 -4.50
600–647 626 30 398.00–408.00 $400.35 $2,506 +9.37
652–654 653 11 387.00–399.00 $395.73 $2,584 +21.73
690 unweaned 690 17 361.00 $361.00 $2,491 +7.85
731 731 29 351.00 $351.00 $2,566 -14.30
763 763 15 349.50 $349.50 $2,667 +14.88
804 804 15 332.50 $332.50 $2,673 —
965 965 5 310.00 $310.00 $2,992 +5.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
549 unweaned 549 4 420.00 $420.00 $2,306 +20.00
765 765 2 337.50 $337.50 $2,582 -8.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
333 unweaned 333 2 555.00 $555.00 $1,848 —
813 813 2 297.50 $297.50 $2,419 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
413 413 2 530.00 $530.00 $2,189 —
547 unweaned 547 9 417.50 $417.50 $2,284 —
565 565 2 445.00 $445.00 $2,514 —
618 618 3 428.00 $428.00 $2,645 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
946–1280 995 85-90% 51 170.00–181.00 $172.86 $1,720 —
955–1225 1065 85-90% 14 145.00–156.00 $151.53 $1,614 —
999–1170 1080 85-90% 94 162.00–168.00 $164.29 $1,774 —
925–1265 1153 85-90% 24 158.00–167.00 $164.37 $1,895 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1500–1660 1598 75-80% 20 172.00–178.00 $173.79 $2,777 —
1640 1640 75-80% 1 163.00 $163.00 $2,673 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1388 1388 80-85% 1 158.00 $158.00 $2,193 +12.34
1350–1480 1414 80-85% 5 156.00–169.00 $163.97 $2,319 —
1400–1475 1431 80-85% 10 171.00–177.00 $173.67 $2,485 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1830 1830 65-75% 1 163.00 $163.00 $2,983 +44.00

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1170–1765 1512 5 178.00–187.00 $183.13 $2,769 —
1720–2445 1948 11 191.00–198.00 $194.69 $3,793 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
966–1240 thin fleshed 1019 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 227.50–247.50 $231.72 $2,361
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1050–1155 1103 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 191.00–194.00 $192.57 $2,124

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1100–1188 1136 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 4,050.00–4,200.00 $4,101.74
1159 1159 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 3,400.00 $3,400.00
930–1320 1186 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 19 3,100.00–3,350.00 $3,293.55
1213–1358 1268 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 14 3,700.00–4,100.00 $3,936.39
1297–1420 1329 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 52 3,000.00–3,250.00 $3,125.34
1203–1451 1337 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 13 2,750.00–2,850.00 $2,808.46
1352 1352 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 3,625.00 $3,625.00
924–1523 1360 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 62 3,950.00–4,375.00 $4,117.01
1323–1501 1420 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 107 3,000.00–3,350.00 $3,220.52
1130–1653 1452 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 40 2,500.00–2,650.00 $2,543.60
1305–1583 1454 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 3,150.00–3,450.00 $3,244.12
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
923–1135 994 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 3,450.00–3,850.00 $3,602.30
1000 1000 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,650.00 $2,650.00
1035–1118 1093 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 3,500.00 $3,500.00
1030–1310 1180 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 25 2,150.00–2,400.00 $2,285.44
1200 1200 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00
1136–1645 1228 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 55 2,700.00–2,950.00 $2,806.94
1203–1500 1256 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 3,050.00–3,450.00 $3,111.62
1258 1258 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 2,850.00 $2,850.00
1260–1318 1306 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 2,400.00 $2,400.00
1085–1655 1370 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,650.00–2,950.00 $2,831.20
1310–1440 1375 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,650.00–2,750.00 $2,697.64
1195–1492 1452 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 15 2,500.00–2,575.00 $2,566.77
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
868–1015 917 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,550.00–2,750.00 $2,676.21
1055 1055 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,950.00 $1,950.00
1165 1165 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,150.00 $2,150.00
980–1375 1207 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 2,250.00–2,600.00 $2,471.38
1090–1350 1220 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,650.00–2,950.00 $2,784.02
1220 1220 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 2,350.00 $2,350.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
738 738 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,700.00 $2,700.00
918 918 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 2,400.00 $2,400.00
960 960 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,250.00 $2,250.00
985 985 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,900.00 $3,900.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
996 996 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 2,500.00 $2,500.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1135–1175 1155 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 3,100.00–3,150.00 $3,125.43 —
1202 1202 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 3,200.00 $3,200.00 —
1225 1225 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 4,500.00 $4,500.00 —
1305 1305 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 3,700.00 $3,700.00 —
1345 1345 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 5 3,200.00 $3,200.00 —
1650 1650 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 4,550.00 $4,550.00 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
855 855 (<2 yrs)Open 1 3,550.00 $3,550.00 —
955 955 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 3,800.00 $3,800.00 —

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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.