Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 12, 2020

15,036 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary report →

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $157.12/cwt ≈ $823/hd at 524 lb · 1,018 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $148.22/cwt ≈ $845/hd at 570 lb · 867 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $144.24/cwt ≈ $686/hd at 475 lb · 703 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 15,036 9,809 17,595
Feeder cattle 10,144 — 10,302
Slaughter cattle 1,715 — 1,189
Replacement cattle 814 — 1,867

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Unweaned steer calves were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Yearling steers were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, but firm undertones were noticed. Unweaned heifer calves were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers under 800 lbs sold mostly steady to 4.00 higher, heifers over 800 lbs sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. CME positions as of yesterdays close showed the October and November at 138.92 and 136.47 respectfully. Market activity this week was moderate. Weigh up cows sold mostly steady with a weak undertone. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower. Cow quality was mostly plain to average.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
320 thin fleshed 320 13 218.00 $218.00 $698
310–343 328 22 185.00–212.50 $205.85 $675
300–348 unweaned 335 48 192.50–216.00 $208.82 $700
353 thin fleshed 353 3 202.00 $202.00 $713
353–392 unweaned 372 91 174.00–205.00 $184.36 $686
350–399 385 60 174.00–197.00 $190.88 $735
400–401 thin fleshed 401 21 185.50–190.50 $187.64 $752
402–448 427 147 165.00–184.00 $177.60 $758
405–447 unweaned 431 206 168.00–187.50 $176.59 $761
437 437 19 165.00 $165.00 $721
455 thin fleshed 455 93 180.00 $180.00 $819
452–483 472 146 157.00–169.00 $161.88 $764
450–497 unweaned 473 460 154.00–178.50 $168.11 $795
513 513 7 138.00 $138.00 $708
500–547 523 696 148.00–165.00 $156.96 $821
500–547 unweaned 526 315 146.50–168.00 $157.91 $831
551–595 570 519 142.50–155.00 $147.06 $838
550–599 unweaned 571 348 138.00–155.00 $149.94 $856
601–641 unweaned 611 153 137.00–148.75 $143.61 $877
600–646 621 254 136.00–147.00 $142.16 $883
650–690 672 92 134.50–155.75 $146.52 $985
674 674 4 144.50 $144.50 $974
653–684 unweaned 678 43 143.00–145.50 $143.59 $974
714–747 724 51 131.00–152.00 $143.70 $1,040
705–745 unweaned 725 4 128.00–137.00 $132.62 $961
742 742 10 142.00 $142.00 $1,054
751–786 771 107 130.00–146.00 $142.35 $1,098
784 unweaned 784 4 127.00 $127.00 $996
822–840 826 72 132.00–142.50 $139.85 $1,155
856–887 880 24 131.00–140.75 $135.35 $1,191
901–948 911 56 131.00–140.00 $139.42 $1,270
965 965 2 125.00 $125.00 $1,206
981 981 4 129.50 $129.50 $1,270
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
301–313 unweaned 310 14 165.00–187.50 $181.25 $562
309–349 332 18 165.00–177.50 $173.27 $575
365–393 391 54 162.50–179.00 $178.11 $696
397–398 397 9 153.00–156.00 $153.67 $610
398 unweaned 398 9 168.00 $168.00 $669
403–435 unweaned 422 21 161.00–173.00 $166.69 $703
413–446 432 87 156.00–174.00 $169.90 $734
452–481 474 80 144.00–162.00 $157.31 $746
470–485 474 23 145.00–149.00 $147.46 $699
450–486 unweaned 476 45 146.00–164.50 $158.14 $753
501–548 534 157 141.00–149.50 $146.60 $783
516–544 unweaned 537 48 148.00–153.50 $150.40 $808
558–599 584 47 135.00–145.00 $140.00 $818
566–596 unweaned 584 21 129.00–140.00 $136.55 $797
601 unweaned 601 4 138.00 $138.00 $829
602–645 613 23 132.00–138.00 $135.24 $829
651–693 680 29 134.00–149.00 $139.53 $949
728 unweaned 728 2 124.00 $124.00 $903
710–745 733 7 134.00–144.00 $140.33 $1,029
750–798 782 30 123.00–138.50 $132.33 $1,035
800–849 820 26 123.00–138.50 $135.03 $1,107
857 857 5 127.00 $127.00 $1,088
915–946 941 16 122.00–133.75 $132.94 $1,251
953–958 956 4 129.00–133.00 $130.99 $1,252
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
396 unweaned 396 6 165.00 $165.00 $653
443 unweaned 443 23 157.00 $157.00 $696
501 unweaned 501 33 144.00 $144.00 $721
662–668 665 7 140.00–147.50 $143.20 $952
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
497 unweaned 497 10 155.00 $155.00 $770
560 unweaned 560 17 148.00 $148.00 $829
788 788 3 133.50 $133.50 $1,052
1002–1022 1015 20 119.50–126.00 $124.31 $1,262
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
381 unweaned 381 6 170.50 $170.50 $650
398 398 3 132.50 $132.50 $527
420 unweaned 420 7 145.00 $145.00 $609
458–490 469 3 130.00–151.50 $137.49 $645

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
315–348 325 27 156.00–177.00 $170.75 $555
308–332 unweaned 326 24 156.50–180.00 $162.24 $529
357–397 unweaned 380 120 153.00–160.00 $154.96 $589
356–394 381 125 142.00–163.00 $155.47 $592
400–446 423 275 137.00–157.50 $153.01 $647
400–446 unweaned 430 226 140.00–156.00 $150.52 $647
474 474 7 129.50 $129.50 $614
451–492 475 446 135.00–150.00 $145.54 $691
450–499 unweaned 476 250 132.00–152.00 $142.34 $678
500–547 unweaned 522 202 130.00–140.50 $138.84 $725
503–548 523 412 130.00–144.00 $139.23 $728
553 thin fleshed 553 9 147.00 $147.00 $813
560 560 6 125.00 $125.00 $700
559–587 unweaned 569 44 124.00–137.50 $132.49 $754
552–598 571 252 130.00–141.00 $136.30 $778
600–635 unweaned 609 17 127.00–130.00 $128.67 $784
602–645 625 111 129.50–142.00 $136.96 $856
644 644 4 122.00 $122.00 $786
660 unweaned 660 3 122.00 $122.00 $805
663–699 688 29 140.00–142.00 $140.60 $967
705–747 741 68 123.50–140.50 $139.40 $1,033
759 759 20 122.00–126.00 $124.00 $941
765–790 769 116 128.00–140.25 $138.17 $1,063
767–793 779 9 130.00–131.00 $130.45 $1,016
805–820 819 13 123.00–133.50 $132.71 $1,087
818–849 840 14 123.00–130.00 $128.05 $1,076
835–843 842 7 128.00–133.50 $132.72 $1,118
855 855 29 133.50 $133.50 $1,141
850–898 880 96 125.00–133.50 $128.51 $1,131
908 908 3 115.00 $115.00 $1,044
900–934 926 130 123.50–133.50 $129.01 $1,195
955–985 958 71 120.00–127.00 $125.95 $1,207
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
318–332 330 12 155.00–161.00 $160.04 $528
300–346 unweaned 334 13 150.00–155.00 $152.97 $511
366 unweaned 366 5 140.00 $140.00 $512
355–395 372 22 135.00–152.00 $145.32 $541
421–443 unweaned 427 18 132.00–146.00 $136.94 $585
422–448 434 61 120.00–143.50 $140.11 $608
463–487 475 12 125.00–135.00 $131.12 $623
471–499 unweaned 487 30 127.00–138.75 $132.09 $643
503–514 unweaned 508 13 130.00–131.00 $130.30 $662
500–546 526 17 121.00–129.50 $127.27 $669
557–593 582 19 125.00–131.00 $129.62 $754
612–640 623 11 119.00–130.00 $124.12 $773
665–698 670 26 124.00–139.00 $136.60 $915
758–783 765 26 110.00–135.00 $127.63 $976
800 800 1 115.00 $115.00 $920
853 853 7 106.00 $106.00 $904
927 927 3 124.50 $124.50 $1,154
952 952 3 124.00 $124.00 $1,180
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
363 unweaned 363 7 149.00 $149.00 $541
450–491 unweaned 481 20 124.00–136.00 $126.81 $610
1000–1034 1009 49 94.00–124.00 $118.35 $1,194
1024 1024 28 119.00 $119.00 $1,219
1060–1076 1066 36 106.00–119.25 $117.58 $1,253
1080 1080 3 119.50 $119.50 $1,291
1100–1143 1126 12 110.50–115.25 $114.55 $1,290
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
420 unweaned 420 12 145.50 $145.50 $611
642–646 644 10 131.50–132.00 $131.75 $848
694 694 7 131.00 $131.00 $909
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
656 656 11 127.00 $127.00 $833
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
267 unweaned 267 7 145.00 $145.00 $387
461 unweaned 461 4 112.50 $112.50 $519
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1180 1180 2 100.00 $100.00 $1,180

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
339 unweaned 339 8 187.50 $187.50 $636
363–375 367 3 169.00–185.00 $179.55 $659
407–447 424 26 161.00–172.00 $168.91 $716
483–490 484 8 144.00–151.00 $144.89 $701
511–538 unweaned 518 11 142.50–150.00 $147.88 $766
513–540 520 12 132.00–143.00 $139.61 $726
554–585 564 14 135.00–142.00 $139.87 $789
590 unweaned 590 2 126.00 $126.00 $743
610 unweaned 610 4 130.50 $130.50 $796
700 700 1 118.00 $118.00 $826
750–768 766 9 119.00–121.00 $120.78 $925
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
370 370 1 120.00 $120.00 $444
425 unweaned 425 3 145.00 $145.00 $616
485 485 1 134.00 $134.00 $650
575 575 1 102.50 $102.50 $589
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1130 1130 1 82.00 $82.00 $927
1183 1183 2 80.00 $80.00 $946

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
935–990 963 85-90% 2 41.00–44.50 $42.70 $411
953–995 963 85-90% 5 35.00–42.00 $37.19 $358
838–1165 1063 85-90% 27 39.00–44.50 $42.25 $449
1045–1260 1099 85-90% 4 48.00–49.00 $48.29 $531
860–1333 1137 85-90% 133 40.00–52.00 $48.25 $549
1007–1270 1151 85-90% 45 41.00–51.00 $46.24 $532
1005–1340 1171 85-90% 41 32.00–44.50 $40.85 $478
995–1345 1196 85-90% 105 41.00–63.00 $54.51 $652
840–1370 1204 85-90% 86 43.00–53.50 $47.65 $574
1165–1298 1205 85-90% 7 51.00–67.50 $57.00 $687
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1305–1350 1317 80-85% 9 51.00–53.50 $52.55 $692
1050–1505 1334 80-85% 34 45.50–53.50 $48.20 $643
1000–1473 1344 80-85% 53 56.00–68.50 $62.56 $841
1048–1580 1356 80-85% 91 49.00–58.00 $52.07 $706
880–1545 1361 80-85% 124 51.00–63.50 $57.82 $787
1220–1528 1370 80-85% 32 55.00–58.50 $56.55 $775
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
893–1800 1295 75-80% 48 61.00–71.50 $64.11 $830
1247–1585 1386 75-80% 23 51.50–59.50 $57.84 $802
1040–1795 1397 75-80% 42 51.00–58.00 $53.44 $747
1110–1795 1422 75-80% 69 60.00–70.00 $64.41 $916
1093–2110 1438 75-80% 69 67.50–73.00 $70.42 $1,013
1133–2010 1603 75-80% 19 67.00–73.00 $69.77 $1,118

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1195–1878 1501 13 62.00–73.00 $68.92 $1,034
1520 1520 1 78.00 $78.00 $1,186
1700 1700 1 82.00 $82.00 $1,394
1350–2100 1722 19 58.00–74.00 $67.85 $1,168
1215–1958 1739 20 71.50–81.50 $78.71 $1,369
1220–2165 1791 37 74.00–85.00 $77.83 $1,394
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1915 1915 1 75.00 $75.00 $1,436

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
915–1015 thin fleshed 949 (<2 yrs)Open 15 59.00–74.00 $68.06 $646
798–1280 951 (<2 yrs)Open 123 64.00–102.00 $85.66 $815
710–1200 1013 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 119 56.00–85.00 $72.98 $739
1039 1039 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 55.00 $55.00 $571
920–1338 thin fleshed 1224 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 21 46.00–58.00 $51.87 $635
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
773–1000 830 (<2 yrs)Open 4 64.00–77.00 $73.08 $607
730–1265 1080 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 34 71.00–79.00 $75.73 $818

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1167 1167 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 12 677.00 $677.00
1170 1170 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 725.00 $725.00
1160–1380 1228 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,000.00–1,085.00 $1,056.35
1241 1241 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 860.00 $860.00
1050–1277 1259 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 15 600.00–725.00 $696.09
1295 1295 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 860.00 $860.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1200 1200 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,060.00 $1,060.00
1325–1425 1334 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 11 760.00 $760.00
1357 1357 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 860.00 $860.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1463–1495 1479 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 60.00–65.00 $62.53 $925

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
957 957 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 11 1,225.00 $1,225.00
1129 1129 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,175.00 $1,175.00

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
110 110 1 153.00 $153.00 $168
110 110 1 100.00 $100.00 $110
163 163 2 57.00 $57.00 $93
180–188 185 3 69.00–70.00 $69.68 $129
200–240 221 14 60.00–79.00 $68.41 $151
300 300 1 62.00 $62.00 $186

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
75 75 1 255.00 $255.00 $191
98 98 2 215.00 $215.00 $211
100 100 1 185.00 $185.00 $185
135–138 137 3 125.00–190.00 $146.35 $200
170 170 1 207.50 $207.50 $353

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
124 124 7 115.00 $115.00 $143
132 132 16 51.00 $51.00 $67
133 133 2 58.00 $58.00 $77
130–143 136 63 54.00–59.00 $56.98 $77
136 136 6 70.00 $70.00 $95
124–149 137 85 60.00–69.50 $65.41 $90
155 155 1 70.00 $70.00 $108
151–175 159 50 62.00–63.50 $62.43 $99
151–194 170 161 57.00–64.00 $61.22 $104
207–213 210 23 59.00–60.50 $60.04 $126
215 215 1 58.00 $58.00 $125
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
89 89 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 13 100.00 $100.00

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
51 51 45 255.00 $255.00 $130
71–75 72 203 180.00–200.00 $194.87 $140
85–88 85 50 165.00–171.00 $166.22 $141
90 90 22 167.00 $167.00 $150

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
74 74 9 110.00 $110.00 $81
114 114 20 71.00 $71.00 $81

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
16 16 4 227.50 $227.50 $36
26 26 11 282.50 $282.50 $73
30 30 1 215.00 $215.00 $64
30 30 1 280.00 $280.00 $84
45 45 1 292.50 $292.50 $132
50 50 3 240.00 $240.00 $120
51 51 7 300.00 $300.00 $153
52 52 3 220.00 $220.00 $114
55 55 7 215.00 $215.00 $118
55 55 5 255.00–265.00 $261.00 $144
62–66 65 36 262.50–270.00 $269.15 $175
63–69 68 11 242.50–255.00 $249.15 $169
70–75 72 9 255.00–260.00 $257.31 $185
75 75 2 197.50 $197.50 $148
75 75 1 245.00 $245.00 $184
85 85 2 290.00 $290.00 $246

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Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
61–69 67 64 193.00–220.00 $203.61 $136
71–77 73 152 188.00–195.00 $191.67 $140
80–89 83 148 183.00–193.00 $187.92 $156
92 fancy 92 19 195.00 $195.00 $179
90–98 94 185 174.50–182.00 $176.82 $166
100–109 105 161 178.00–180.00 $178.87 $188
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
82 82 22 172.00 $172.00 $141

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
100 100 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 21 160.00 $160.00 $160
124 124 —— 5 137.50 $137.50 $170
125 125 —— 2 147.50 $147.50 $184

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Sheep

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
120 120 1 63.00 $63.00 $76
132–135 133 24 59.50–69.50 $64.12 $85
141 141 19 67.00 $67.00 $94
151–153 152 26 64.00–67.00 $65.62 $100
172 172 5 62.50 $62.50 $108

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Wether Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
68 68 11 275.00 $275.00 $187
90 90 1 295.00 $295.00 $266

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
58 58 2 185.00 $185.00 $107
70 70 2 195.00 $195.00 $136
93 93 2 295.00 $295.00 $274
115–130 119 4 265.00–295.00 $286.79 $341
265 265 1 175.00 $175.00 $464

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
30 30 1 260.00 $260.00 $78
45–47 47 16 251.00–262.00 $252.20 $119
50–58 54 47 229.00–258.00 $244.11 $132
61–68 65 91 198.00–234.00 $215.19 $140
69 69 10 187.00 $187.00 $129
70 70 18 198.00 $198.00 $139
80–89 87 64 172.00–190.00 $181.66 $158
90–99 95 73 163.00–181.00 $178.00 $169
100 100 7 171.00 $171.00 $171
108 108 9 160.00 $160.00 $173

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

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.