Sale reports / Colorado / Winter - La Junta / 2025-01-14

Winter - La Junta

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · La Junta, Colorado · Tue, Jan 14
● Final103 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1901
Feeder Cattle receipts
5,940 head
2,877 vs last sale 3,063 1,865 vs year ago 4,075 · +45.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
297 head
7 vs last sale 304 128 vs year ago 169 · +75.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
95 head
90 vs last sale 185 4 vs year ago 99 · 4.0%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Trade activity and demand was good. Feeder steers sold 2.00 to 6.00 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 slaughter cows of average dressing sold 1.00 lower. Boner cows of average dressing sold 1.00 higher and lean cows sold 2.00 higher. Slaughter bulls of average dressing sold 4.00 higher. The next feeder calf and slaughter cow sale will be next Tuesday January 21, 2025.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $336.68/cwt on 946 head. That ranks 1 of 13 comparable sales and sits 126.70 against this barn's trailing median of $463.38.
Average price
$336.68
946 head · 555 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,868
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$223
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$38.52/cwt at this weight
vs the market
8.48
vs CO average
5.77 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1556337.971,878866
Large 1541328.091,77665
Medium and Large 1-2553299.451,65515thin
One grade step is worth $38.52/cwt here — about $223 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.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

13 sales
513486459433median 463.3812/1601/2002/1003/0303/24
Steers 500–600 lb: high $498.81, low $446.57, median $463.38 across 13 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 sale946 hd
336.68
CO average5 barns · 2,945 hd
345.16
−8.48
National average190 barns · 32,836 hd
342.45
−5.77
This barn, trailing median13 sales
463.38
−126.70
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
BullsLow1,685149.692,52342
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,371122.651,68141
CowsLean 85-90%High1,119120.211,345188
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,556119.241,85519
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,730119.002,0591thin

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)1,293$2,4992thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,459$2,2255
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,450$2,0501thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,415$2,0444thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,290$1,9252thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,065$1,9001thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,570$1,8501thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,390$1,8252thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,353$1,7756
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,120$1,7001thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,158$1,6912thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,248$1,6874thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,262$1,6503thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,195$1,6268
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,280$1,6252thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)940$1,2501thin

Every lot, as filed

103 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.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
HeifersLarge 1450–500480311.86/cwt310.00–320.001,49716
HeifersLarge 1500–550533308.69/cwt290.00–317.501,64536
SteersMedium and Large 1-2400–450427385.71/cwt360.00–392.501,64730
HeifersLarge 1600–650610255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,5563
HeifersMedium and Large 1300–350336411.89/cwt382.50–421.001,38412
HeifersMedium and Large 1500–550527319.86/cwt310.00–329.001,686217
HeifersMedium and Large 1600–650630277.17/cwt260.00–291.001,746273
HeifersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed650–700652280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,82628
SteersLarge 1450–500455357.29/cwt351.00–362.501,62624
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2550–600580276.86/cwt265.00–282.501,60647
HeifersLarge 1-2300–350334345.00/cwt345.00–345.001,1527
HeifersMedium and Large 1700–750716254.93/cwt230.00–260.001,825324
HeifersLarge 1-2550–600582271.00/cwt271.00–271.001,5773
SteersLarge 2350–400356377.50/cwt377.50–377.501,34410
SteersMedium and Large 1400–450418413.22/cwt400.00–445.001,72778
SteersMedium and Large 1-2450–500499317.50/cwt317.50–317.501,5845
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2600–650647236.00/cwt236.00–236.001,5279
HeifersMedium and Large 2550–600592255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,5102
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2800–850833224.00/cwt224.00–224.001,8665
SteersMedium and Large 1750–800768272.03/cwt258.00–279.002,089232
SteersMedium and Large 1950–1000985238.00/cwt238.00–238.002,3445
SteersMedium and Large 1650–700667293.97/cwt271.00–312.501,961277
SteersMedium and Large 1-2350–400393403.17/cwt397.50–406.001,5849
SteersLarge 1550–600586305.26/cwt302.50–313.001,78918
SteersLarge 1650–700663290.48/cwt286.00–293.001,92657
SteersMedium and Large 1850–900873257.37/cwt245.00–258.002,247176
SteersMedium and Large 1-2300–350316394.48/cwt392.00–397.501,2477
SteersMedium and Large 1600–650622311.97/cwt292.00–324.001,940590
SteersMedium and Large 1300–350335481.84/cwt475.00–490.001,61433
SteersMedium and Large 1550–600577321.05/cwt299.00–337.001,852512
SteersMedium and Large 1500–550525362.44/cwt320.00–381.001,903354
SteersMedium and Large 1800–850801255.93/cwt251.00–257.002,05031
SteersMedium and Large 1350–400364438.77/cwt422.50–460.001,59718
SteersMedium and Large 1700–750726276.45/cwt259.00–291.002,007399
SteersMedium and Large 1450–500480363.01/cwt345.00–390.001,742302
SteersLarge 1500–550524336.84/cwt334.00–341.001,76547
SteersLarge 1600–650615301.19/cwt285.00–316.001,85237
SteersLarge 1-2350–400385396.00/cwt396.00–396.001,52514
SteersLarge 1-2400–450441351.80/cwt347.50–354.001,5516
SteersMedium and Large 1-2500–550525312.00/cwt312.00–312.001,6386
SteersMedium and Large 1-2550–600571291.08/cwt290.00–292.501,6629
SteersMedium and Large 1900–950911242.52/cwt240.00–244.002,20940
SteersLarge 1700–750705275.00/cwt275.00–275.001,93918
SteersMedium and Large 2450–500497296.00/cwt296.00–296.001,47110
SteersMedium and Large 1-2700–750742244.00/cwt244.00–244.001,8109
BullsMedium and Large 1550–600589290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,70813
BullsMedium and Large 1700–750711272.50/cwt272.50–272.501,9377
BullsMedium and Large 1450–500465347.50/cwt347.50–347.501,6162
BullsLarge 1500–550511337.50/cwt337.50–337.501,7255
BullsLarge 1350–400367390.00/cwt390.00–390.001,43110
BullsMedium and Large 1-2700–750743245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,8202
CowsLean 85-90%1,150127.00/cwt120.00–136.001,461143
CowsLean 85-90%1,087115.56/cwt112.00–119.001,2569
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,550107.00/cwt107.00–107.001,6591
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,571125.01/cwt121.00–126.001,9645
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed996117.49/cwt112.00–119.001,1704
CowsLean 85-90%97581.26/cwt66.00–88.0079217
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,550117.96/cwt113.00–119.001,82813
CowsBoner 80-85%1,349115.69/cwt112.00–119.001,56113
CowsBoner 80-85%1,381125.88/cwt120.00–130.001,73828
CowsLean 85-90%1,010102.62/cwt92.00–109.001,03611
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,730119.00/cwt119.00–119.002,0591
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,129104.48/cwt101.00–109.001,1804
Bulls1,425115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,6391
Bulls1,732152.77/cwt141.00–179.002,64636
Bulls1,401134.47/cwt125.00–139.001,8845
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,0651,900.00/head1,900.00–1,900.001,9001
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1201,700.00/head1,700.00–1,700.001,7001
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1581,691.37/head1,615.00–1,775.001,6912
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,037147.08/cwt139.00–153.001,52517
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4152,044.12/head1,925.00–2,075.002,0444
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4592,225.00/head2,225.00–2,225.002,2255
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3901,825.00/head1,825.00–1,825.001,8252
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4502,050.00/head2,050.00–2,050.002,0501
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2531,740.43/head1,700.00–1,800.001,7403
HeifersMedium and Large 1750–800785244.44/cwt243.00–244.501,91969
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1958188.18/cwt179.00–207.501,80312
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2621,650.00/head1,650.00–1,650.001,6503
HeifersMedium and Large 1850–900863225.00/cwt225.00–225.001,9427
HeifersMedium and Large 1350–400366372.24/cwt352.00–402.501,36251
HeifersMedium and Large 1400–450428349.62/cwt327.00–375.001,496141
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2450–500482299.81/cwt278.00–307.501,44555
HeifersLarge 1650–700654265.00/cwt265.00–265.001,73313
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2500–550540292.42/cwt277.50–299.001,57948
HeifersMedium and Large 1800–850817238.28/cwt234.50–243.001,947172
HeifersMedium and Large 1450–500478336.29/cwt321.00–360.001,607192
HeifersLarge 1800–850834224.00/cwt224.00–224.001,8685
HeifersMedium and Large 1650–700686255.92/cwt252.00–268.001,756213
BullsMedium and Large 1600–650603290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,74913
BullsMedium and Large 1500–550507324.00/cwt324.00–324.001,64323
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fancy500–550500338.00/cwt338.00–338.001,69051
HeifersMedium and Large 1550–600569309.83/cwt293.00–321.001,763190
HeifersLarge 1350–400373366.80/cwt350.00–377.501,36810
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2250–300273347.50/cwt347.50–347.509496
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,5701,850.00/head1,850.00–1,850.001,8501
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-29401,250.00/head1,250.00–1,250.001,2501
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,2331,525.00/head1,525.00–1,525.001,5251
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3531,775.00/head1,775.00–1,775.001,7756
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2901,925.00/head1,925.00–1,925.001,9252
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2932,499.03/head2,400.00–2,600.002,4992
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,2801,625.00/head1,625.00–1,625.001,6252
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed927220.15/cwt210.00–227.502,04117
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1951,625.77/head1,550.00–1,750.001,6268

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.