Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 26, 2020

14,208 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 $155.96/cwt +5.38 vs last sale · ≈ $816/hd at 523 lb · 1,062 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $145.02/cwt +2.10 vs last sale · ≈ $683/hd at 471 lb · 919 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $144.34/cwt +1.46 vs last sale · ≈ $824/hd at 571 lb · 899 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 14,208 16,576 14,242
Feeder cattle 8,648 8,775 10,528
Slaughter cattle 2,148 2,303 674
Replacement cattle 3,412 941 3,040

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steer and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Unweaned steer calves under 400 lbs sold steady to firm; 400-499 lbs steers sold mostly 6.00-12.00 higher, 500 lbs and heavier sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher. Unweaned heifer calves sold 3.00-6.00 higher on all weights. Quality this week was average to attractive. The best demand continues to be for calves with two rounds of preconditioning shots as these calves sold with a 4.00-8.00 premium over non pre-vaccinated calves. CME positions as of yesterdays close showed the October and November at 136.45 and 135.725 respectfully. That's a gain of 2.625 on the October and 5.30 on the November. Higher CME positions coupled with warmer, dryer weather gave a good boost to the calf market this week. Demand was mostly moderate to good this week. Market activity was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on moderated demand for heavy offerings. Packers sent a larger portion of the cow offering to slaughter this week. Cows continue to be very thin as many are coming out of very dry country. Slaughter cows sold generally steady on boning and lean cows. A larger portion of breaking cows were sent to harvest this week however not enough cows sold last week to develop any market trend. Feeding cows sold generally steady. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to trend as many bulls sold to feeding buyers this week. Steady undertones were noticed. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week buyers were very cognizant of fill and purchased cows accordingly. Demand for rebreed type cattle was light to moderate this week. This class of cows sold steady to 5.00 lower.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 unweaned 275 1 225.00 $225.00 $619 +10.00
298 298 2 224.00 $224.00 $668 —
305–344 unweaned 327 74 202.50–215.00 $207.78 $679 +0.92
330 330 14 217.00 $217.00 $716 -8.26
353–397 unweaned 377 186 182.50–205.00 $193.43 $729 -0.12
401–449 unweaned 425 412 164.00–185.00 $175.71 $747 +7.58
450 thin fleshed 450 3 173.00 $173.00 $778 —
451 fancy 451 7 182.00 $182.00 $821 —
453 453 10 179.00 $179.00 $811 +18.06
459 459 15 179.00 $179.00 $822 +18.06
461–492 469 12 145.00–147.00 $146.48 $687 -14.46
450–499 unweaned 480 839 148.00–177.00 $162.92 $782 +13.21
500–548 unweaned 523 1,062 144.00–161.00 $155.96 $816 +8.44
551 551 18 138.00 $138.00 $760 -8.21
565 565 22 144.00 $144.00 $814 -2.21
551–598 unweaned 571 842 134.00–149.75 $144.71 $826 +5.20
569–585 580 17 133.00–133.50 $133.36 $773 -12.85
600–644 unweaned 618 444 131.50–148.75 $141.52 $875 +2.83
609–642 623 29 143.75–145.00 $144.28 $899 +1.99
650–697 unweaned 674 92 128.00–148.75 $137.16 $924 +1.10
701–737 unweaned 714 91 133.00–146.00 $140.68 $1,004 +5.30
716–739 725 13 127.00–139.50 $134.60 $976 -1.89
756–759 unweaned 758 19 137.00–139.00 $137.52 $1,042 +12.52
767–769 768 12 134.50–140.00 $137.71 $1,058 -1.03
854 unweaned 854 4 130.00 $130.00 $1,110 —
868 868 22 130.50 $130.50 $1,133 -0.54
907 907 6 125.00–127.50 $126.25 $1,145 -3.59
971 971 9 128.50 $128.50 $1,248 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
322–344 unweaned 332 38 155.00–201.00 $187.65 $623 +1.23
353–391 unweaned 379 82 172.00–190.00 $184.02 $697 +5.33
400–446 unweaned 419 36 157.00–170.00 $166.39 $697 +6.71
459–496 unweaned 474 62 140.00–158.50 $150.96 $716 +5.05
501–548 unweaned 521 69 136.00–151.00 $146.17 $762 +13.47
552–598 unweaned 580 58 121.00–140.50 $137.69 $799 +7.43
640–643 unweaned 641 17 134.50–137.00 $135.09 $866 +5.71
683–694 unweaned 691 12 128.00–134.00 $130.23 $900 —
720–729 unweaned 725 5 131.00–132.00 $131.60 $954 —
723–735 726 4 125.00–127.00 $126.49 $918 -4.77
762 762 3 129.00 $129.00 $983 -1.27
848 848 3 127.00 $127.00 $1,077 +0.24
890 890 4 120.00 $120.00 $1,068 -3.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545 unweaned 545 6 151.50 $151.50 $826 —
568–598 unweaned 590 15 134.00–137.00 $136.23 $804 —
1053–1096 1062 51 115.00–121.50 $120.04 $1,275 +8.54
1106 1106 4 114.50 $114.50 $1,266 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
548 unweaned 548 5 134.00 $134.00 $734 —
599 unweaned 599 8 135.00 $135.00 $809 —
619 unweaned 619 5 134.00 $134.00 $829 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
544 unweaned 544 12 123.00 $123.00 $669 -2.00
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
579 unweaned 579 7 119.00 $119.00 $689 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
631 unweaned 631 7 92.50 $92.50 $584 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
272 unweaned 272 5 172.50 $172.50 $469 +27.50
316 316 5 175.00 $175.00 $553 +11.58
313–344 unweaned 333 49 160.00–171.00 $164.74 $549 +4.16
351–399 unweaned 384 222 151.00–165.00 $155.49 $597 +2.02
385–390 thin fleshed 389 18 168.00 $168.00 $654 —
400–448 unweaned 419 259 142.50–158.00 $152.82 $640 +6.22
421 421 22 155.00 $155.00 $653 +6.79
454 454 8 135.50 $135.50 $615 +0.50
450–499 unweaned 471 911 130.00–152.00 $145.10 $683 +5.56
503 503 40 143.25 $143.25 $721 +6.25
512 512 46 141.50 $141.50 $724 +4.50
501–548 unweaned 522 495 126.00–145.25 $138.84 $725 +2.89
569 569 15 142.00 $142.00 $808 +6.51
552–598 unweaned 576 267 128.00–139.00 $134.71 $776 +3.41
587 587 9 138.00 $138.00 $810 +2.51
600–641 unweaned 621 86 128.00–133.50 $131.81 $819 +4.39
650–691 unweaned 657 57 123.00–134.00 $129.00 $848 +1.91
710–747 unweaned 729 6 116.00–130.50 $123.07 $897 +6.07
730 730 15 135.00 $135.00 $986 +1.08
793 793 18 132.50 $132.50 $1,051 +2.60
804–832 817 50 119.00–135.50 $128.06 $1,046 +1.31
858–895 891 48 114.00–127.25 $125.92 $1,122 -0.37
928 928 2 120.00 $120.00 $1,114 -3.60
957–983 968 18 119.00–120.25 $119.49 $1,157 +0.69
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
247 unweaned 247 8 155.00 $155.00 $383 —
287 unweaned 287 9 162.00 $162.00 $465 —
300–322 unweaned 315 33 144.00–155.00 $150.12 $473 -1.56
351–381 unweaned 367 53 122.50–150.00 $140.70 $516 -4.38
425–433 unweaned 426 11 139.00–141.00 $139.37 $594 +1.19
440 440 10 137.00 $137.00 $603 +2.06
453–493 unweaned 467 64 127.50–140.00 $136.70 $638 +8.65
510–548 unweaned 538 16 121.00–134.00 $126.22 $679 -0.08
580–595 unweaned 584 18 121.00–130.00 $124.97 $730 -0.69
685 unweaned 685 2 121.00 $121.00 $829 —
778–793 782 8 122.00–128.00 $123.52 $966 +0.74
848 848 4 115.00 $115.00 $975 -7.21
888–895 889 12 115.00–121.00 $115.50 $1,027 -5.00
915–945 919 14 117.50–118.00 $117.57 $1,080 +0.57
975–983 982 11 100.00–105.00 $104.10 $1,022 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
301 unweaned 301 5 141.00 $141.00 $424 —
436 unweaned 436 9 122.00 $122.00 $532 -9.55
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
271 unweaned 271 6 135.00 $135.00 $366 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
306 306 5 130.00 $130.00 $398 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845 845 3 113.00 $113.00 $955 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
468 unweaned 468 3 140.00 $140.00 $655 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045 1045 2 116.00 $116.00 $1,212 -0.92

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415–418 unweaned 418 7 172.00–175.00 $172.43 $721 +19.43
471–492 unweaned 482 35 131.00–145.00 $141.64 $683 —
560–563 unweaned 562 6 128.00–130.00 $129.00 $725 —
652 652 9 126.50 $126.50 $825 -3.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
459 unweaned 459 4 131.00 $131.00 $601 —
507 unweaned 507 8 128.00 $128.00 $649 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1800 1800 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 1 3,500.00 $3,500.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–988 936 85-90% 17 34.00–47.00 $40.64 $380 +2.47
800–980 937 85-90% 16 31.00–43.00 $39.44 $370 +1.27
1088–1300 1143 85-90% 11 63.00–64.50 $64.19 $734 +1.11
881–1398 1151 85-90% 230 44.00–52.50 $48.62 $560 +2.26
1005–1372 1165 85-90% 221 42.00–49.50 $46.53 $542 -1.11
970–1347 1189 85-90% 340 50.00–61.50 $54.26 $645 +0.48
1105–1368 1207 85-90% 7 39.00–43.50 $41.43 $500 -9.04
1055–1573 1219 85-90% 77 49.00–55.00 $51.35 $626 +0.88
1010–1411 1236 85-90% 137 32.00–44.50 $41.08 $508 -9.39
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1367–1378 1370 80-85% 13 61.50–64.50 $63.80 $874 +6.01
1233–1730 1387 80-85% 203 49.50–65.00 $56.88 $789 +8.33
1300–1529 1394 80-85% 68 44.00–50.00 $48.28 $673 -0.27
1160–1525 1414 80-85% 91 62.00–71.50 $63.88 $903 —
1415 1415 80-85% 1 42.00 $42.00 $594 —
1255–1618 1418 80-85% 69 47.50–53.00 $48.88 $693 —
1210–1805 1436 80-85% 38 49.50–57.50 $52.88 $759 —
1375–1650 1462 80-85% 7 42.00–44.00 $43.12 $630 -18.99
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1525 1525 75-80% 1 72.00 $72.00 $1,098 +9.02
1399–1765 1534 75-80% 16 64.00–69.00 $65.80 $1,009 +2.82
1462–1648 1552 75-80% 11 62.00–71.00 $66.72 $1,035 -3.89
1343–1825 1560 75-80% 10 52.00–63.50 $56.74 $885 -13.87
1515–1755 1580 75-80% 15 57.00–63.50 $60.91 $962 -9.70
1600 1600 75-80% 1 72.00 $72.00 $1,152 —
1620 1620 75-80% 1 48.00 $48.00 $778 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045 1045 1 55.00 $55.00 $575 —
1320–2125 1714 16 61.00–74.50 $69.97 $1,199 +1.09
1115–2152 1742 30 75.00–85.00 $79.16 $1,379 +10.28
1710–1995 1818 3 59.00–74.75 $69.46 $1,263 -8.22
1615–2115 1835 10 74.50–82.50 $78.46 $1,440 +0.78
1970 1970 1 86.50 $86.50 $1,704 +1.63

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
810–870 thin fleshed 830 (<2 yrs)Open 3 60.00–76.00 $65.59 $544
960–990 thin fleshed 980 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 51.00–59.00 $53.61 $525
840–1330 1002 (<2 yrs)Open 259 63.75–87.00 $77.36 $775
875–1406 1096 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 97 54.00–77.00 $63.90 $700

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1110–1216 1134 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 105 1,675.00–1,825.00 $1,709.24
973–1326 1156 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1,029 1,100.00–2,000.00 $1,807.86
1221 1221 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 650.00 $650.00
1302 1302 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 21 1,625.00 $1,625.00
1310 1310 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 17 1,675.00 $1,675.00
1249–1602 1320 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 15 1,685.00–1,950.00 $1,885.66
1322 thin fleshed 1322 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 1,275.00 $1,275.00
1235–1495 1355 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 1,775.00–2,000.00 $1,856.19
1388 1388 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,800.00 $1,800.00
1443–1513 1472 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 14 1,775.00–2,000.00 $1,834.64
1518–1574 1545 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 33 1,335.00–1,435.00 $1,380.90
1605 1605 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 1,200.00 $1,200.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
934 thin fleshed 934 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,075.00 $1,075.00
937–1133 1044 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1,638 1,335.00–1,925.00 $1,686.27

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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.