Sale reports / Colorado / La Junta / 2025-04-16

La Junta

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · La Junta, Colorado · Wed, Apr 16
● Final116 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1903
Feeder Cattle receipts
2,232 head
1,783 vs last sale 449 108 vs year ago 2,340 · 4.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
102 head
14 vs last sale 88 19 vs year ago 121 · 15.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
94 head
207 vs last sale 301 19 vs year ago 113 · 16.8%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Trade activity and demand was very good. Feeder steers sold 2.00 to 8.00 higher with instances of sharply higher across all weight classes. Feeder heifers sold 6.00 to 9.00 higher with instances of sharply higher across all weight classes. Breaker and boner slaughter cows of average dressing sold steady on a light test. Lean cows of average dressing sold 4.00 higher. Slaughter bulls of average dressing sold 3.00 lower. The next feeder calf and slaughter cow sale will be next Wednesday April 23, 2025 as receipts warrant.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $355.63/cwt on 288 head. That ranks 1 of 12 comparable sales and sits 87.35 against this barn's trailing median of $442.98.
Average price
$355.63
288 head · 542 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,928
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$531
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$95.84/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.00
vs CO average
9.13 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1538376.842,026124
Large 1575362.842,08628
Medium and Large 1-2548343.441,88347
Large 1-2532338.271,80170
Large 2551315.001,73611thin
Medium and Large 2532281.001,4958thin
One grade step is worth $95.84/cwt here — about $531 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 500–600 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

12 sales
499466434401median 442.9812/1701/2102/1103/0403/25
Steers 500–600 lb: high $484.95, low $415.25, median $442.98 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 sale288 hd
355.63
CO average1 barns · 288 hd
355.63
+0.00
National average169 barns · 11,281 hd
364.76
−9.13
This barn, trailing median12 sales
442.98
−87.35
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
BullsHigh1,474151.422,23114
CowsPremium White 65-75%High1,722154.002,6527thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,548149.462,3142thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,373145.732,00220
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,109142.901,58453

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)1,210$2,6251thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,365$2,4001thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,460$2,2001thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)995$1,9252thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,013$2,5142thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,414$2,8254thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,122$2,6613thin

Every lot, as filed

116 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
SteersLarge 1-2600–650642300.33/cwt287.50–301.001,928100
SteersMedium and Large 1-2500–550544349.20/cwt340.00–367.501,90034
SteersMedium and Large 1-2400–450433398.37/cwt395.00–405.001,7256
SteersMedium and Large 1-2550–600560328.36/cwt326.00–336.001,83913
SteersMedium and Large 1-2750–800782263.00/cwt263.00–263.002,05711
SteersMedium and Large 1-2350–400374412.37/cwt410.00–415.001,5424
SteersMedium and Large 1-2700–750704254.00/cwt254.00–254.001,7885
SteersMedium and Large 1-2600–650630316.84/cwt304.00–322.501,99632
SteersLarge 1-2450–500495360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,78216
SteersMedium and Large 2500–550532281.00/cwt281.00–281.001,4958
SteersLarge 2550–600551315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,73611
SteersMedium and Large 1250–300284480.00/cwt480.00–480.001,3634
SteersMedium and Large 1300–350337451.64/cwt445.00–455.001,5226
SteersLarge 1350–400385437.50/cwt437.50–437.501,68412
SteersLarge 1600–650604312.92/cwt312.50–315.001,89012
HeifersMedium and Large 1Value Added450–500458371.11/cwt370.00–375.001,70018
HeifersMedium and Large 1Value Added250–300264475.00/cwt475.00–475.001,2545
SteersMedium and Large 1Fancy550–600550390.00/cwt390.00–390.002,1454
SteersMedium and Large 1Fancy400–450431432.59/cwt430.00–435.001,86432
SteersMedium and Large 1550–600572355.82/cwt350.00–362.502,03528
SteersMedium and Large 1400–450427417.82/cwt412.50–425.001,78444
HeifersMedium and Large 1Replacement650–700674341.00/cwt341.00–341.002,29894
HeifersMedium and Large 1Replacement600–650608305.00/cwt305.00–305.001,85414
HeifersMedium and Large 1Replacement750–800778297.00/cwt297.00–297.002,31144
HeifersLarge 1650–700670287.00/cwt287.00–287.001,92341
HeifersMedium and Large 1Value Added300–350315452.74/cwt445.00–455.001,4269
HeifersMedium and Large 1Value Added400–450410394.90/cwt390.00–397.501,61914
HeifersMedium and Large 1500–550545340.35/cwt337.50–342.501,85523
HeifersLarge 1700–750727257.11/cwt257.00–257.501,86914
SteersLarge 1-2650–700672286.59/cwt282.50–290.001,92613
SteersLarge 1-2550–600589342.50/cwt342.50–342.502,0174
SteersLarge 1-2350–400382392.50/cwt392.50–392.501,4993
SteersMedium and Large 1750–800751302.50/cwt302.50–302.502,27248
SteersMedium and Large 1700–750740275.58/cwt270.00–276.002,03945
SteersMedium and Large 1850–900869250.46/cwt250.00–252.502,17627
SteersLarge 1-2500–550529338.01/cwt322.50–346.001,78866
SteersLarge 1-2400–450447375.00/cwt375.00–375.001,67640
SteersMedium and Large 1450–500470403.36/cwt397.00–410.001,89661
SteersLarge 1850–900860262.50/cwt262.50–262.502,2583
SteersMedium and Large 1650–700660359.00/cwt359.00–359.002,36916
SteersMedium and Large 1350–400360430.62/cwt425.00–435.001,5507
SteersMedium and Large 1900–950909235.00/cwt235.00–235.002,1366
SteersMedium and Large 1200–250247535.00/cwt535.00–535.001,3213
SteersMedium and Large 1600–650615356.43/cwt341.00–357.002,19257
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed700–750708287.50/cwt282.50–289.002,03613
SteersLarge 1Thin Fleshed700–750748286.00/cwt286.00–286.002,13918
SteersMedium and Large 1Value Added500–550514391.52/cwt390.00–395.002,01223
SteersMedium and Large 1Value Added300–350324462.07/cwt460.00–465.001,4977
SteersLarge 1450–500455420.00/cwt420.00–420.001,9114
SteersLarge 1700–750712270.80/cwt269.00–271.001,92852
SteersLarge 1550–600575362.84/cwt352.50–365.002,08628
SteersMedium and Large 1500–550531379.72/cwt372.50–385.002,01669
BullsMedium and Large 1500–550543355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,9282
BullsMedium and Large 1600–650612317.50/cwt317.50–317.501,9433
BullsMedium and Large 1550–600550355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,9532
BullsMedium and Large 1750–800766275.00/cwt275.00–275.002,1077
BullsMedium and Large 1400–450418427.50/cwt427.50–427.501,7872
BullsLarge 1550–600553301.00/cwt301.00–301.001,6652
CowsLean 85-90%915106.81/cwt101.00–111.009773
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,548149.46/cwt148.00–151.002,3142
CowsBoner 80-85%1,341139.99/cwt136.00–142.001,8774
CowsBoner 80-85%1,450131.00/cwt131.00–131.001,9001
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,087147.14/cwt142.00–156.001,5999
Bulls1,685176.09/cwt171.00–181.002,9674
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,722154.00/cwt154.00–154.002,6527
CowsLean 85-90%1,141139.55/cwt136.00–141.001,5928
Bulls1,438160.50/cwt156.00–167.002,3083
Bulls1,368133.44/cwt121.00–147.501,8257
CowsLean 85-90%1,030131.00/cwt131.00–131.001,3491
CowsLean 85-90%1,124147.73/cwt142.00–155.001,66027
CowsBoner 80-85%1,377148.24/cwt146.00–151.002,04115
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,145138.57/cwt138.00–141.001,5875
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,0132,513.58/head2,500.00–2,525.002,5142
Bred CowsMedium and Large 19951,925.00/head1,925.00–1,925.001,9252
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3652,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4001
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4602,200.00/head2,200.00–2,200.002,2001
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,105186.69/cwt182.50–195.002,0639
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,049210.79/cwt200.00–220.002,21147
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 19102,575.00/head2,575.00–2,575.002,5751
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,4142,825.00/head2,825.00–2,825.002,8254
Stock CowsMedium and Large 21,195157.05/cwt151.00–161.001,8773
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed925229.78/cwt222.50–231.002,12517
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2102,625.00/head2,625.00–2,625.002,6251
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,2282,704.63/head2,525.00–2,825.002,7052
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fancy350–400367430.00/cwt430.00–430.001,57826
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fancy550–600555335.00/cwt335.00–335.001,8593
HeifersLarge 1-2650–700653270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,76310
HeifersLarge 1350–400368415.00/cwt415.00–415.001,52714
HeifersLarge 1500–550542323.57/cwt320.00–325.001,75451
HeifersLarge 1550–600581297.50/cwt297.50–297.501,7285
HeifersLarge 1400–450435376.19/cwt365.00–377.001,63628
HeifersMedium and Large 1700–750722269.20/cwt262.50–272.501,9449
HeifersMedium and Large 1400–450441377.48/cwt375.00–380.001,66510
HeifersMedium and Large 1650–700671298.00/cwt298.00–298.002,00016
HeifersMedium and Large 1850–900870241.00/cwt241.00–241.002,0972
HeifersMedium and Large 1250–300252445.00/cwt445.00–445.001,1213
HeifersLarge 1600–650637291.00/cwt291.00–291.001,85413
HeifersMedium and Large 1350–400383403.42/cwt400.00–415.001,54532
HeifersMedium and Large 1300–350332435.77/cwt430.00–440.001,44712
HeifersMedium and Large 1750–800782258.66/cwt252.50–267.002,02312
HeifersMedium and Large 1600–650616306.74/cwt302.00–307.501,89022
HeifersMedium and Large 1450–500488356.56/cwt355.00–365.001,74024
HeifersLarge 1450–500475346.85/cwt345.00–362.501,64818
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2600–650643272.50/cwt272.50–272.501,7523
HeifersMedium and Large 1550–600583325.54/cwt317.50–327.501,89825
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2800–850837236.00/cwt236.00–236.001,97515
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2500–550528307.37/cwt292.50–317.501,62333
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2550–600595304.36/cwt297.50–307.501,81137
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2450–500486336.47/cwt330.00–345.001,63549
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2650–700655277.50/cwt277.50–277.501,8184
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2350–400384389.88/cwt382.50–395.001,4975
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2700–750715252.50/cwt252.50–252.501,8053
HeifersLarge 1-2350–400388390.00/cwt390.00–390.001,5132
HeifersMedium and Large 2450–500488315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,5374
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2400–450416363.09/cwt355.00–367.501,51011
HeifersLarge 1-2550–600593290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,7202

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.