light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers$239.11/cwt+0.87 vs last sale · ≈ $1,975/hd at 826 lb · 207 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers$348.00/cwt+47.00 vs last sale · ≈ $1,653/hd at 475 lb · 207 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers$246.48/cwt+6.70 vs last sale · ≈ $1,893/hd at 768 lb · 142 head
Receipts
Head
This sale
Last sale
Last year
Total receipts
1,713
827
896
Feeder cattle
1,437
625
712
Slaughter cattle
228
200
171
Replacement cattle
48
2
13
Market comments — USDA reporter
Compared to last reported sale (8/29/23): Feeder steers were all too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers under 900 lbs sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Heifers over 900 lbs were not well compared, however higher undertones were noticed. Only two consignments of spring calves sold today. This was the first test of the calf market for the fall so no comparisons can be made. Spring calves were met with very good demand as multiple buyers bid aggressively on todays very attractive offering. Quality this sale was mostly attractive to very attractive and overall more attractive than last sales offering. Cattle continue to offer buyers light flesh as pasture and range conditions are in mostly poor condition due to excess heat and grasshoppers. Market activity was mostly active this week with a large pool of buyers on hand rapidly bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Cow and bull body condition scores remain poor as pasture and range conditions are poor in many locations in Eastern Montana. Demand for all cows was good today as feeding buyers and packer buyers both were aggressive as they bid on limited offerings. Breaking cows were not well compared. Boning and lean cows sold mostly steady in a very narrow comparison. Feeding cows were very lightly tested last week thus comparisons are narrow, however most offerings sold steady to 3.00 higher with the largest advance seen on lean cow offerings. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Feeding bulls sold mostly 2.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Young age cows were too lightly tested to trend. Good demand was seen for limited offerings.
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.
Cattle Market
Compared to last reported sale (8/29/23): Feeder steers were all too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers under 900 lbs sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Heifers over 900 lbs were not well compared, however higher undertones were noticed. Only two consignments of spring calves sold today. This was the first test of the calf market for the fall so no comparisons can be made. Spring calves were met with very good demand as multiple buyers bid aggressively on todays very attractive offering. Quality this sale was mostly attractive to very attractive and overall more attractive than last sales offering. Cattle continue to offer buyers light flesh as pasture and range conditions are in mostly poor condition due to excess heat and grasshoppers. Market activity was mostly active this week with a large pool of buyers on hand rapidly bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Cow and bull body condition scores remain poor as pasture and range conditions are poor in many locations in Eastern Montana. Demand for all cows was good today as feeding buyers and packer buyers both were aggressive as they bid on limited offerings. Breaking cows were not well compared. Boning and lean cows sold mostly steady in a very narrow comparison. Feeding cows were very lightly tested last week thus comparisons are narrow, however most offerings sold steady to 3.00 higher with the largest advance seen on lean cow offerings. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Feeding bulls sold mostly 2.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Young age cows were too lightly tested to trend. Good demand was seen for limited offerings.