Sale reports / Colorado / La Junta / 2025-03-26

La Junta

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · La Junta, Colorado · Wed, Mar 26
● Final124 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1903
Feeder Cattle receipts
4,788 head
3,865 vs last sale 923 1,422 vs year ago 3,366 · +42.2%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
174 head
73 vs last sale 101 102 vs year ago 72 · +141.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
83 head
35 vs last sale 118 19 vs year ago 102 · 18.6%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Trade activity and demand was very good. This was the anniversary sale and quality and demand was high. Feeder steers sold 4.00 to 8.00 higher with instances of sharply higher across all weight classes. Feeder heifers sold 6.00 to 8.00 higher with instances of sharply higher across all weight classes. Breaker and boner slaughter cows sold steady while lean cows of average dressing sold 3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls of average dressing sold 3.00 higher. The next feeder calf and slaughter cow sale will be next Wednesday April 2, 2025.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $326.59/cwt on 530 head. That ranks 1 of 12 comparable sales and sits 75.86 against this barn's trailing median of $402.45.
Average price
$326.59
530 head · 540 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,763
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$249
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1-2
$46.71/cwt at this weight
vs the market
2.01
vs CO average
+4.85 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1535340.271,821271
Large 1562324.331,82485
Medium and Large 1-2536311.721,672123
Large 1-2535293.561,57251
One grade step is worth $46.71/cwt here — about $249 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 400–500 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

12 sales
471426381336median 402.4512/1701/2102/1103/0403/25
Heifers 500–600 lb: high $456.58, low $350.42, median $402.45 across 12 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale530 hd
326.59
CO average3 barns · 648 hd
328.60
−2.01
National average178 barns · 15,613 hd
321.74
+4.85
This barn, trailing median12 sales
402.45
−75.86
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

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
BullsLow1,617162.022,62023
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,349148.542,00424
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,580147.402,3297thin
CowsLean 85-90%High1,056140.181,480116

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)1,260$2,4751thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,520$1,9251thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,240$1,7251thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,010$1,7251thin

Every lot, as filed

124 lots · USDA AMS · La Junta Livestock Commision - La Junta, CO
Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed500–550517397.77/cwt390.00–400.002,056128
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed650–700673317.32/cwt312.00–330.002,13661
SteersMedium and Large 1-2600–650631302.45/cwt290.00–317.501,90855
SteersLarge 1700–750722292.04/cwt277.50–295.002,109138
SteersMedium and Large 1550–600582354.26/cwt342.00–368.002,062125
SteersMedium and Large 1700–750733295.00/cwt277.50–299.002,16225
SteersLarge 1-2400–450418392.50/cwt392.50–392.501,6413
SteersLarge 1550–600589338.76/cwt335.00–348.001,99538
SteersLarge 1-2500–550536346.40/cwt315.00–355.001,85722
SteersMedium and Large 1750–800768284.00/cwt281.00–285.002,18143
SteersLarge 1-2650–700655261.00/cwt261.00–261.001,7106
SteersMedium and Large 1-2650–700692280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,9383
SteersMedium and Large 1-2550–600572332.50/cwt332.50–332.501,90210
SteersMedium and Large 1Fancy350–400383489.13/cwt485.00–495.001,87381
SteersMedium and Large 1Fancy400–450409494.96/cwt490.00–500.002,02443
SteersLarge 1-2450–500485374.87/cwt370.00–385.001,81815
SteersLarge 1Fancy450–500488465.00/cwt465.00–465.002,2699
SteersMedium and Large 1Fancy450–500451480.00/cwt480.00–480.002,1654
SteersMedium and Large 1200–2502331,400.00/head1,400.00–1,400.001,4006
HeifersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed550–600558342.57/cwt342.00–345.001,91262
HeifersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed400–450417402.42/cwt395.00–407.501,67871
SteersMedium and Large 1-2450–500455387.50/cwt387.50–387.501,7634
SteersMedium and Large 1Fancy650–700679342.50/cwt342.50–342.502,3264
SteersMedium and Large 1Fancy300–350342540.00/cwt540.00–540.001,84715
SteersLarge 1Fancy250–300273525.00/cwt525.00–525.001,4336
HeifersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed350–400363427.48/cwt425.00–435.001,55218
HeifersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed450–500459378.83/cwt375.00–385.001,73926
SteersLarge 1500–550530370.00/cwt370.00–370.001,96148
HeifersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed700–750709291.00/cwt291.00–291.002,06341
HeifersLarge 1Thin Fleshed600–650611302.97/cwt300.00–310.001,85177
HeifersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed500–550518343.80/cwt340.00–350.001,781126
HeifersLarge 1350–400394422.50/cwt422.50–422.501,6658
HeifersLarge 1500–550508340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,72717
SteersLarge 1-2700–750730255.17/cwt246.00–261.001,86313
SteersMedium and Large 1600–650640330.85/cwt322.50–332.502,11760
SteersMedium and Large 1450–500486399.40/cwt392.50–417.501,94167
SteersMedium and Large 1500–550536382.23/cwt360.00–387.502,04962
SteersLarge 1450–500484410.00/cwt410.00–410.001,98482
SteersMedium and Large 1900–950903242.50/cwt242.50–242.502,1902
SteersMedium and Large 1400–450434447.47/cwt435.00–450.001,94233
SteersLarge 1650–700654323.02/cwt307.50–327.502,11368
SteersMedium and Large 1350–400387462.52/cwt450.00–475.001,79012
SteersMedium and Large 1800–850818268.00/cwt268.00–268.002,1928
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed700–750713308.93/cwt305.00–313.002,203116
SteersLarge 1300–350348500.00/cwt500.00–500.001,74012
SteersMedium and Large 1250–300277511.77/cwt505.00–520.001,41811
SteersMedium and Large 1650–700658298.25/cwt292.50–306.001,96219
SteersLarge 1400–450434435.00/cwt435.00–435.001,88813
SteersLarge 1750–800767286.90/cwt286.00–287.002,201111
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed300–350327493.15/cwt485.00–495.001,61311
SteersLarge 1600–650624322.76/cwt317.50–330.002,01465
SteersMedium and Large 1300–350337465.72/cwt460.00–475.001,56913
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed600–650617347.23/cwt345.00–350.002,14289
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed550–600567375.38/cwt372.50–390.002,12869
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed400–450422478.01/cwt470.00–485.002,01728
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed450–500478434.42/cwt420.00–445.002,077105
BullsMedium and Large 1700–750708287.50/cwt287.50–287.502,0362
BullsMedium and Large 1550–600596327.50/cwt327.50–327.501,9524
BullsMedium and Large 1450–500489390.00/cwt390.00–390.001,9074
BullsMedium and Large 1400–450430440.00/cwt440.00–440.001,8925
BullsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed550–600577352.50/cwt352.50–352.502,0343
BullsMedium and Large 1500–550521381.35/cwt380.00–385.001,98711
CowsLean 85-90%1,060146.97/cwt141.00–153.001,55875
CowsLean 85-90%1,068137.15/cwt130.00–140.001,46516
Bulls1,395132.63/cwt124.00–144.001,8505
CowsLean 85-90%87091.00/cwt91.00–91.007921
CowsLean 85-90%1,008111.13/cwt101.00–129.001,12011
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,580147.40/cwt141.00–151.002,3297
CowsBoner 80-85%1,349148.54/cwt145.00–151.002,00424
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed974123.66/cwt123.00–126.001,2045
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,133139.01/cwt136.00–140.001,5758
Bulls1,428159.81/cwt146.00–169.002,2829
Bulls1,930180.56/cwt171.00–186.003,4859
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1958208.25/cwt200.00–222.001,99546
Stock CowsMedium and Large 21,025170.17/cwt158.00–175.001,74412
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2924189.65/cwt180.00–192.501,7528
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed799235.21/cwt231.00–237.501,87910
HeifersLarge 1550–600576320.41/cwt315.00–332.501,84668
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2401,725.00/head1,725.00–1,725.001,7251
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2602,475.00/head2,475.00–2,475.002,4751
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,5201,925.00/head1,925.00–1,925.001,9251
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,0101,725.00/head1,725.00–1,725.001,7251
HeifersLarge 1850–900880251.00/cwt251.00–251.002,2094
HeifersLarge 1-2550–600598284.00/cwt284.00–284.001,6986
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fancy450–500457396.07/cwt395.00–400.001,81043
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fancy400–450403428.06/cwt420.00–440.001,72537
BullsMedium and Large 1900–950915221.00/cwt221.00–221.002,0222
HeifersLarge 1-2350–400365382.50/cwt382.50–382.501,3962
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fancy600–650625318.10/cwt310.00–320.001,98884
HeifersLarge 1Fancy600–650613324.10/cwt322.00–325.001,98738
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2450–500490347.50/cwt347.50–347.501,70311
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2550–600573307.32/cwt292.50–312.501,76131
HeifersLarge 1-2500–550527294.84/cwt277.00–315.001,55445
SteersMedium and Large 1Fancy500–550504415.00/cwt415.00–415.002,09218
HeifersLarge 1700–750739260.56/cwt260.00–275.001,926127
HeifersLarge 1400–450420405.12/cwt402.50–407.501,70222
HeifersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed600–650624300.62/cwt298.00–305.001,87683
HeifersLarge 1650–700663281.04/cwt280.50–281.501,863193
HeifersMedium and Large 1500–550529333.45/cwt327.50–335.001,76445
HeifersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed650–700664314.53/cwt312.50–315.002,08811
HeifersLarge 1450–500480381.33/cwt365.00–390.001,830150
HeifersMedium and Large 1450–500484364.65/cwt350.00–370.001,76554
HeifersLarge 1800–850819262.50/cwt262.50–262.502,15012
HeifersMedium and Large 1600–650631288.55/cwt280.00–293.501,82172
HeifersMedium and Large 1650–700669288.90/cwt271.00–294.001,933109
HeifersLarge 1600–650633287.63/cwt280.00–290.001,821103
HeifersMedium and Large 1300–350316436.44/cwt425.00–440.001,37912
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2300–350336408.63/cwt385.00–422.501,37349
HeifersMedium and Large 1350–400390413.88/cwt410.00–420.001,61410
HeifersLarge 1-2300–350344385.00/cwt385.00–385.001,3244
HeifersLarge 1-2450–500489337.94/cwt332.50–340.001,65311
HeifersMedium and Large 1250–300277445.00/cwt445.00–445.001,23311
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2350–400371397.06/cwt380.00–405.001,47339
HeifersMedium and Large 1550–600562332.91/cwt327.50–335.001,87138
HeifersMedium and Large 1400–450440382.85/cwt372.50–390.001,685102
HeifersMedium and Large 1150–2001881,250.00/head1,250.00–1,250.001,2503
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2400–450413310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,2806
HeifersMedium and Large 1800–850808257.29/cwt250.00–265.002,07925
HeifersLarge 1-2650–700678269.00/cwt269.00–269.001,8243
HeifersMedium and Large 1200–2502081,275.00/head1,275.00–1,275.001,2752
HeifersMedium and Large 1700–750731273.17/cwt271.00–274.501,99777
HeifersMedium and Large 1750–800762270.02/cwt264.00–272.002,05861
HeifersLarge 1250–300250445.00/cwt445.00–445.001,1132
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2500–550524313.20/cwt289.00–318.001,64192

How this sale compares

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.