Sale reports / Colorado / Winter - La Junta / 2025-01-07

Winter - La Junta

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · La Junta, Colorado · Tue, Jan 7
● Final77 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1901
Feeder Cattle receipts
3,063 head
▼ 2,679 vs last sale 5,742▼ 1,133 vs year ago 4,196 · −27.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
304 head
▼ 171 vs last sale 475▲ 122 vs year ago 182 · +67.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
185 head
▲ 22 vs last sale 163▲ 117 vs year ago 68 · +172.1%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Trade activity and demand was good. Feeder steers sold mostly 8.00 to 12.00 higher across all weight classes. Feeder heifers sold mostly 6.00 to 11.00 higher across all weight classes. Breaker slaughter cows of average dressing sold 2.00 higher. Boner cows of average dressing sold 1.00 lower and lean cows sold 2.00 lower. Slaughter bulls of average dressing sold 5.00 higher. The next feeder calf and slaughter cow sale will be next Tuesday January 14, 2025.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $326.32/cwt on 611 head. That ranks 1 of 10 comparable sales and sits −86.18 against this barn's trailing median of $412.50.
Average price
$326.32
611 head · 558 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,821
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$106
per head · Large 1 over Large 1-2
$19.25/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−8.10
vs CO average
−15.76 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Large 1527326.751,72010thin
Medium and Large 1559326.501,825595
Large 1-2525307.501,6146thin
One grade step is worth $19.25/cwt here — about $106 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 300–400 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale611 hd
326.32
—
CO average3 barns · 1,400 hd
334.42
−8.10
National average155 barns · 22,672 hd
342.08
−15.76
This barn, trailing median10 sales
412.50
−86.18
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

10 sales
499444388333median 412.5003/0303/1710/0610/2011/03
Steers 500–600 lb: high $485.36, low $346.70, median $412.50 across 10 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

Slaughter cattle

By class and quality grade · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Bulls—Average1,384135.601,87677
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,557125.181,9499thin
CowsPremium White 65-75%High1,748121.002,1152thin
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,394119.941,67222
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,151117.851,356183

Replacement cattle Per head

By class, stage and age
Bred stock and pairs are reported per head, not per hundredweight — these prices are never mixed with the $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,375$2,5002thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,168$2,4002thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,197$1,9254thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,172$1,8535
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,189$1,72531
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,040$1,7251thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,363$1,7003thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,053$1,55212
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,180$1,5495
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,241$1,5255
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,095$1,4253thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,043$1,2501thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)855$1,2251thin
Bred Heifers2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)900$1,8252thin

Every lot

77 lots · USDA AMS · Winter Livestock (Tuesday) - La Junta, CO
Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Feeder Cattle · Steers21 lots · lightest first
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2383379.38/cwt360.00–392.501,45313
Steers350–400Large 2396286.00/cwt286.00–286.001,13311
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2419370.70/cwt366.00–375.001,55323
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2435346.84/cwt327.00–355.001,50949
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1471347.28/cwt336.00–355.001,63691
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2471291.00/cwt291.00–291.001,3715
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed503360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,81111
Steers500–550Large 1510335.00/cwt335.00–335.001,7097
Steers500–550Large 1-2525307.50/cwt307.50–307.501,6146
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1540326.10/cwt318.00–347.001,761230
Steers550–600Large 1565307.50/cwt307.50–307.501,7373
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1573325.72/cwt290.00–339.001,866354
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1627305.99/cwt287.50–318.001,91967
Steers600–650Large 1630293.49/cwt291.00–297.001,84928
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1668292.75/cwt278.00–301.001,956338
Steers700–750Large 1723269.50/cwt269.50–269.501,9486
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1731276.13/cwt267.50–281.002,019174
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1777267.12/cwt259.00–272.752,076113
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1844258.46/cwt258.00–258.502,18171
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1879243.71/cwt227.50–247.502,14220
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1900238.50/cwt238.50–238.502,1475
Feeder Cattle · Heifers18 lots · lightest first
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2320333.00/cwt333.00–333.001,0662
Heifers350–400Large 1-2350280.00/cwt280.00–280.009804
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1380349.28/cwt335.00–367.501,32741
Heifers350–400Large 1380327.50/cwt327.50–327.501,2452
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1424332.93/cwt326.00–346.001,41249
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1470327.15/cwt305.00–342.501,538179
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2491256.00/cwt256.00–256.001,2579
Heifers500–550Large 1523286.51/cwt275.00–293.001,49823
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1531286.44/cwt275.00–297.001,521107
Heifers550–600Large 1558289.00/cwt289.00–289.001,61317
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1579281.09/cwt261.00–292.501,628243
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2588230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,3523
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1617273.83/cwt257.00–289.001,690199
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1670262.46/cwt247.00–274.001,75898
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1720255.07/cwt236.00–264.001,837180
Heifers750–800Large 1762246.50/cwt246.50–246.501,87825
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1778246.50/cwt246.50–246.501,91840
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1855235.00/cwt235.00–235.002,00923
Feeder Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1415356.00/cwt356.00–356.001,4777
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1481347.00/cwt347.00–347.001,66914
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1645278.00/cwt278.00–278.001,79321
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1768234.00/cwt234.00–234.001,79713
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,298132.46/cwt125.00–135.001,71962
Bulls——1,738148.60/cwt141.00–159.002,58315
Slaughter Cattle · Cows11 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%95080.55/cwt73.00–87.007653
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,050102.77/cwt93.00–109.001,07915
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,097117.31/cwt110.00–119.001,28732
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,161115.57/cwt111.00–119.001,34263
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,196124.97/cwt120.00–132.001,49570
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,348106.99/cwt105.00–109.001,4422
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,354117.89/cwt112.00–119.001,59612
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,466126.24/cwt125.00–128.001,8518
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,535119.00/cwt119.00–119.001,8271
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,560125.95/cwt123.00–135.001,9658
Cows—Premium White 65-75%1,748121.00/cwt121.00–121.002,1152
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows16 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 28551,225.00/head1,225.00–1,225.001,2251
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 29201,075.00/head1,075.00–1,075.001,0751
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-29531,508.79/head1,250.00–1,675.001,5092
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,0231,325.00/head1,325.00–1,325.001,3252
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,0401,725.00/head1,725.00–1,725.001,7251
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,0431,250.00/head1,250.00–1,250.001,2501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0741,655.83/head1,625.00–1,750.001,6569
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,0951,425.00/head1,425.00–1,425.001,4253
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1682,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4002
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1801,548.68/head1,425.00–1,575.001,5495
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1891,725.00/head1,725.00–1,725.001,72531
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1971,925.00/head1,925.00–1,925.001,9254
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2411,525.00/head1,525.00–1,525.001,5255
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3182,082.81/head2,075.00–2,100.002,0833
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3631,700.00/head1,700.00–1,700.001,7003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3752,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5002
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed897224.93/cwt222.50–233.002,01832
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1971192.58/cwt170.00–210.001,87055
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,014158.17/cwt152.50–167.501,6044
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 21,102134.12/cwt129.00–147.501,47815
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 19001,825.00/head1,825.00–1,825.001,8252

This sale against other markets

Colorado weighted averages
One sale is one barn on one day. The state ladder is every Colorado auction USDA reported that week, weighted by head — the fairer test of whether a lot sold well.