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Montana cattle prices Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary
Nov 2, 2020
Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary
Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock
Sale of Monday, November 2, 2020
25,344 head sold ·Official USDA report
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers
$147.14/cwt
+2.80 vs last sale · ≈ $844/hd at 573 lb · 1,101 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers
$156.52/cwt
+0.56 vs last sale · ≈ $822/hd at 525 lb · 999 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers
$170.23/cwt
+6.90 vs last sale · ≈ $810/hd at 476 lb · 942 head
Receipts
Head This sale Last sale Last year
Total receipts
25,344
14,208
22,311
Feeder cattle
12,934
8,648
13,605
Slaughter cattle
4,397
2,148
706
Replacement cattle
2,009
3,412
4,015
New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓
Feeder Steers
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
299 unweaned
299
13
190.00
$190.00
$568
-35.00
318–342 unweaned
327
71
185.00–200.00
$195.37
$639
-12.41
355–392 unweaned
378
315
170.00–205.00
$183.42
$693
-10.01
400 fancy
400
21
189.00
$189.00
$756
—
400–448 unweaned
423
539
162.00–184.00
$178.84
$756
+3.13
454 thin fleshed
454
47
181.00
$181.00
$822
+8.00
456–469 fancy
465
111
186.00–187.00
$186.33
$866
+4.33
454–499 unweaned
479
784
147.00–184.00
$167.31
$801
+4.39
501–549 unweaned
525
974
139.00–165.00
$156.48
$822
+0.52
530
530
25
158.00
$158.00
$837
—
550–597 unweaned
573
1,087
137.00–156.00
$147.35
$844
+2.64
594
594
14
131.00
$131.00
$778
-2.36
600–647 unweaned
621
403
128.00–148.00
$142.47
$885
+0.95
652 fancy
652
31
145.50
$145.50
$949
—
665
665
7
130.50
$130.50
$868
—
650–698 unweaned
671
224
126.50–144.75
$138.43
$929
+1.27
689
689
4
136.25
$136.25
$939
—
700–735 unweaned
712
80
130.00–140.50
$135.71
$966
-4.97
763–782 unweaned
768
21
127.00–136.50
$133.45
$1,025
-4.07
774–778
775
26
143.00–146.50
$145.96
$1,131
+8.25
803–828
809
69
142.00–147.00
$145.86
$1,180
—
840 unweaned
840
3
128.00
$128.00
$1,075
—
853–856
856
71
135.00–143.25
$143.01
$1,224
+12.51
915–930
921
64
124.00–134.00
$132.79
$1,223
+6.54
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
298 unweaned
298
6
192.50
$192.50
$574
—
304–349 unweaned
330
90
170.00–185.00
$174.60
$576
-13.05
355–398 unweaned
379
87
172.00–180.00
$177.04
$671
-6.98
400–445 unweaned
428
97
150.00–177.00
$166.81
$714
+0.42
467–497 unweaned
486
74
142.50–164.00
$155.56
$756
+4.60
507–548 unweaned
533
122
136.00–154.00
$148.08
$789
+1.91
550–593 unweaned
571
52
129.00–142.00
$139.52
$797
+1.83
613–638 unweaned
620
20
124.00–134.00
$131.35
$814
-3.74
665
665
11
145.00
$145.00
$964
—
674–694 unweaned
683
23
131.00–134.00
$132.48
$905
+2.25
710 unweaned
710
3
121.00
$121.00
$859
-10.60
741
741
19
126.00
$126.00
$934
-0.49
763
763
8
128.00
$128.00
$977
-1.00
832–844
837
37
130.00–140.00
$134.95
$1,130
+7.95
910
910
2
119.50
$119.50
$1,087
—
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
1005–1033
1018
229
124.00–127.25
$126.93
$1,292
—
1051
1051
75
123.25
$123.25
$1,295
+3.21
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
314–316 unweaned
315
12
160.00–175.00
$165.02
$520
—
399 unweaned
399
9
173.00
$173.00
$690
—
402 unweaned
402
11
145.00
$145.00
$583
—
830–838
837
38
123.00–127.00
$123.31
$1,032
—
872
872
3
124.00
$124.00
$1,081
—
960
960
11
110.00
$110.00
$1,056
—
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
417–422 unweaned
420
21
168.00
$168.00
$706
—
475–492 unweaned
486
42
142.00–164.00
$155.73
$757
—
548 unweaned
548
4
150.00
$150.00
$822
+16.00
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
312 unweaned
312
12
152.00
$152.00
$474
—
406 unweaned
406
34
126.00
$126.00
$512
—
513
513
6
100.00
$100.00
$513
—
759
759
6
120.00
$120.00
$911
—
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
1065
1065
37
116.00
$116.00
$1,235
—
↑ Back to top
Feeder Heifers
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
289–296 unweaned
291
12
160.00–172.50
$164.23
$478
-8.27
301–347 unweaned
335
207
150.00–162.50
$159.11
$533
-5.63
350–399 unweaned
386
381
145.00–163.50
$154.02
$595
-1.47
400–449 unweaned
434
600
138.00–156.50
$148.90
$646
-3.92
450–499 unweaned
476
816
135.00–151.00
$145.99
$695
+0.89
500 fancy
500
54
149.25
$149.25
$746
—
505
505
23
149.50
$149.50
$755
+6.25
500–548 unweaned
521
677
127.00–147.00
$140.16
$730
+1.32
550–595 unweaned
572
471
125.00–139.50
$134.45
$769
-0.26
600–648 unweaned
617
176
123.00–135.00
$130.87
$807
-0.94
666
666
9
129.00
$129.00
$859
—
661–681 unweaned
670
17
118.00–129.50
$124.37
$833
-4.63
717
717
7
134.50
$134.50
$964
-0.50
700–740 unweaned
720
15
124.00–131.75
$128.54
$925
+5.47
786–796
789
68
125.50–135.50
$131.68
$1,039
-0.82
824
824
12
132.50
$132.50
$1,092
+4.44
889–898
892
10
122.00–129.00
$126.89
$1,132
+0.97
915–938
935
16
122.00–124.25
$123.66
$1,156
+3.66
960–990
980
45
117.00–121.50
$119.19
$1,168
-0.30
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
307–341 unweaned
329
45
130.00–155.00
$145.74
$479
-4.38
352–396 unweaned
372
138
131.00–150.00
$140.82
$524
+0.12
400–448 unweaned
431
74
133.00–145.00
$138.86
$598
-0.51
452–497 unweaned
475
165
126.00–144.00
$137.58
$654
+0.88
511–546 unweaned
531
29
127.00–134.50
$133.56
$709
+7.34
563–572 unweaned
568
15
120.00–132.00
$125.09
$711
+0.12
614 unweaned
614
4
126.50
$126.50
$777
—
709
709
4
127.00
$127.00
$900
—
830–843
837
16
116.00–124.50
$120.98
$1,013
+5.98
859–890
877
35
109.00–122.00
$116.23
$1,019
+0.73
903
903
3
114.50
$114.50
$1,034
-3.07
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
294 unweaned
294
14
130.00
$130.00
$382
-5.00
358–399 unweaned
364
47
105.00–122.00
$119.23
$434
—
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
400–431 unweaned
418
24
125.00–146.00
$133.37
$557
—
434
434
8
143.00
$143.00
$621
—
530 unweaned
530
11
134.00
$134.00
$710
—
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
1012
1012
8
118.50
$118.50
$1,199
+2.50
1050–1085
1058
8
114.50–116.00
$115.43
$1,221
—
1062
1062
13
105.00
$105.00
$1,115
—
1105
1105
2
114.00
$114.00
$1,260
—
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
396 unweaned
396
7
135.00
$135.00
$535
—
494 unweaned
494
6
115.00
$115.00
$568
—
510 unweaned
510
6
138.00
$138.00
$704
—
↑ Back to top
Feeder Bulls
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
408–434 unweaned
423
14
142.50–171.00
$156.31
$661
-16.12
464 unweaned
464
20
153.00
$153.00
$710
+11.36
553–556 unweaned
555
8
137.00–145.00
$142.75
$792
+13.75
601–648 unweaned
616
21
123.00–131.50
$125.32
$772
—
705 unweaned
705
2
127.50
$127.50
$899
—
758 unweaned
758
2
120.00
$120.00
$910
—
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
308 unweaned
308
2
145.00
$145.00
$447
—
478 unweaned
478
4
146.00
$146.00
$698
—
503–529 unweaned
514
28
125.00–137.00
$130.89
$673
—
563–566 unweaned
564
27
122.00–129.00
$123.30
$695
—
918
918
5
98.00
$98.00
$900
—
↑ Back to top
Slaughter Cows
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Dressing Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
845–980
881
85-90% 12
30.00–38.00
$33.64
$296
—
965–995
980
85-90% 3
40.00–50.00
$44.01
$431
—
990
990
85-90% 1
38.00
$38.00
$376
—
890–1260
1091
85-90% 43
34.00–42.00
$40.04
$437
—
998–1428
1132
85-90% 148
29.00–43.00
$35.82
$405
-28.37
1130–1280
1141
85-90% 25
58.00–63.00
$62.42
$712
-1.77
850–1435
1187
85-90% 487
40.00–49.00
$45.43
$539
-8.83
1045–1310
1192
85-90% 70
45.00–54.50
$50.03
$596
-4.23
1000–1378
1198
85-90% 162
37.50–47.00
$42.52
$509
-11.74
915–1400
1213
85-90% 373
45.00–58.00
$50.94
$618
-0.41
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Dressing Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
1225–1610
1365
80-85% 110
42.00–50.00
$46.39
$633
-17.41
1180–1785
1388
80-85% 421
47.00–60.00
$53.20
$738
-3.68
1142–1650
1395
80-85% 227
60.00–67.50
$62.38
$870
+14.10
1226–1605
1424
80-85% 85
41.00–48.00
$43.80
$624
-5.08
1405–1510
1439
80-85% 7
38.00–42.50
$40.86
$588
-12.02
1375–1535
1455
80-85% 2
40.00–42.00
$40.95
$596
-2.17
1368–1885
1489
80-85% 27
45.00–58.50
$49.49
$737
+6.37
1435–1625
1551
80-85% 4
58.00–63.00
$60.02
$931
—
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Dressing Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
1333–1730
1550
75-80% 17
46.00–60.00
$52.84
$819
-13.88
1525–1773
1566
75-80% 31
64.00–68.00
$65.57
$1,027
+8.83
1578–1870
1632
75-80% 6
58.00–61.50
$59.16
$965
+11.16
1450–1845
1633
75-80% 41
58.00–66.00
$63.00
$1,029
+15.00
1616–1760
1643
75-80% 16
48.00–53.75
$52.60
$864
+4.60
↑ Back to top
Slaughter Bulls
YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
1385–1950
1675
30
62.50–78.50
$72.41
$1,213
—
1305–1995
1694
62
74.50–81.50
$78.32
$1,327
—
1450–2180
1833
18
62.50–74.00
$69.26
$1,270
-9.20
1465–2285
1926
16
76.00–81.50
$78.47
$1,511
—
2075–2255
2138
3
82.00–85.00
$83.32
$1,781
—
↑ Back to top
Stock Cows
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd
911
911
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs) Open 9
49.00
$49.00
$446
930–960 thin fleshed
953
Young (2-4 yrs) Open 4
51.00–55.00
$51.98
$495
810–1375
970
(<2 yrs) Open 401
61.00–89.50
$78.42
$761
792–1124 thin fleshed
979
(<2 yrs) Open 10
52.00–71.00
$59.15
$579
810–1597
1061
Young (2-4 yrs) Open 266
48.00–80.00
$63.46
$673
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd
842
842
(<2 yrs) Open 2
80.00
$80.00
$674
↑ Back to top
Bred Cows
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
1039–1178
1093
Young (2-4 yrs) 1st Stage (1-3 mo) 36
825.00–1,000.00
$931.08
1087–1227 thin fleshed
1152
Aged (>8 yrs) 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 28
585.00–625.00
$604.78
1022–1340
1190
Young (2-4 yrs) 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 117
1,000.00–1,275.00
$1,147.38
1058–1413
1190
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs) 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 68
850.00–1,050.00
$974.14
1258
1258
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs) 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 11
885.00
$885.00
1265
1265
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs) 1st Stage (1-3 mo) 15
800.00
$800.00
1010–1435
1284
Aged (>8 yrs) 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 44
725.00–810.00
$778.40
1214–1375
1301
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs) 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 33
785.00–975.00
$914.40
1174–1404
1306
Aged (>8 yrs) 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 203
650.00–785.00
$744.77
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd
1178 thin fleshed
1178
Aged (>8 yrs) 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3
46.00
$46.00
$542
1216 thin fleshed
1216
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs) 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4
45.00
$45.00
$547
1231–1389
1277
Aged (>8 yrs) 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 22
44.50–49.00
$46.34
$592
1515
1515
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs) 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3
53.50
$53.50
$811
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
983 thin fleshed
983
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs) 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8
925.00
$925.00
1022–1042
1032
Young (2-4 yrs) 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6
800.00–950.00
$875.73
↑ Back to top
Bred Heifers
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
803
803
(<2 yrs) 1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6
810.00
$810.00
837–929
886
(<2 yrs) 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 117
1,075.00–1,225.00
$1,177.89
1015
1015
(<2 yrs) 3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11
1,275.00
$1,275.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
759
759
(<2 yrs) 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 12
700.00
$700.00
↑ Back to top
Bucks
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
172–175
172
23
80.00–92.00
$80.53
$139
—
200
200
1
83.00
$83.00
$166
—
209–247
227
22
66.00–75.00
$69.62
$158
—
275–285
280
3
69.00–74.00
$71.97
$202
—
320
320
1
69.00
$69.00
$221
—
↑ Back to top
Bucks Billies
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
76
76
15
197.50
$197.50
$150
—
95
95
1
202.50
$202.50
$192
—
110
110
1
177.50
$177.50
$195
—
130–143
140
8
157.50–175.00
$170.93
$239
—
150–170
160
2
162.50–179.00
$171.27
$274
—
↑ Back to top
Ewes
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
85
85
3
50.00
$50.00
$42
—
123
123
3
73.00
$73.00
$90
—
127
127
3
51.00
$51.00
$65
—
123–146
134
134
55.00–70.50
$63.48
$85
—
108–147
140
286
68.00–79.00
$74.60
$104
—
100–148
143
145
80.00–84.00
$82.99
$119
—
148
148
6
65.00
$65.00
$96
—
152
152
3
68.00
$68.00
$103
—
150–176
165
322
65.00–79.00
$71.40
$118
—
150–177
169
58
81.00–86.50
$83.45
$141
—
165–189
179
19
70.00–77.00
$73.34
$131
—
155–199
181
227
59.00–74.00
$63.37
$115
—
195
195
1
52.00
$52.00
$101
—
205–208
207
3
63.00–65.00
$63.66
$132
—
225–242
237
9
55.00–56.00
$55.67
$132
—
215–248
243
6
64.00–66.00
$64.30
$156
—
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
106–138
107
Yearlings (1-2 yrs) Open 46
100.00–110.00
$109.44
$117
—
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
88
88
Yearlings (1-2 yrs) Open 2
120.00
$120.00
$106
—
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Hair Breeds
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
59
59
53
249.00
$249.00
$147
—
64
64
88
237.00
$237.00
$152
—
99
99
4
173.00
$173.00
$171
—
105–108
108
23
165.00–168.00
$167.62
$181
—
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Hair Ewes
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
131
131
4
80.00
$80.00
$105
—
175
175
1
75.00
$75.00
$131
—
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Kids
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
28
28
6
130.00
$130.00
$36
—
30
30
14
205.00
$205.00
$62
—
30–37
35
5
287.50–302.50
$298.37
$104
—
30–37
36
6
270.00
$270.00
$97
—
42–46
43
16
272.50–277.50
$275.84
$119
—
43–45
43
5
272.50–275.00
$274.48
$118
—
42–48
45
31
280.00–307.50
$290.55
$131
—
45
45
1
195.00
$195.00
$88
—
47
47
8
225.00–230.00
$228.13
$107
—
47
47
17
205.00
$205.00
$96
—
50
50
13
297.50
$297.50
$149
—
51–58
53
71
222.50–277.50
$261.36
$139
—
55
55
13
267.50
$267.50
$147
—
53–59
56
265
272.50–293.00
$290.80
$163
—
58
58
2
215.00
$215.00
$125
—
60–68
62
48
225.00–250.00
$240.58
$149
—
65
65
17
260.00
$260.00
$169
—
66
66
107
242.50–245.00
$242.71
$160
—
70
70
1
212.50
$212.50
$149
—
70–77
76
18
250.00–261.00
$259.31
$197
—
74–77
76
17
232.50–245.00
$237.53
$181
—
79
79
23
237.50
$237.50
$188
—
80
80
1
195.00
$195.00
$156
—
80
80
6
232.50
$232.50
$186
—
80–85
84
20
250.00–275.00
$268.75
$226
—
85
85
1
242.50
$242.50
$206
—
85–88
86
9
220.00–235.00
$229.48
$197
—
100
100
1
240.00
$240.00
$240
—
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Lambs
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
70–75
74
50
189.00–203.00
$192.04
$142
—
80–89
85
508
170.00–186.00
$178.65
$152
—
90–98
92
408
168.50–174.50
$171.43
$158
—
100–108
104
455
162.00–172.50
$167.46
$174
—
131
131
11
158.00
$158.00
$207
—
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Nannies Does
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
55
55
1
115.00
$115.00
$63
—
67
67
5
127.50
$127.50
$85
—
83
83
3
132.50
$132.50
$110
—
103
103
2
137.50
$137.50
$142
—
101–130
113
7
135.00–175.00
$155.35
$176
—
102–143
116
24
122.50–142.50
$134.26
$156
—
130–132
131
6
127.50–142.50
$135.06
$177
—
170
170
1
135.00
$135.00
$230
—
210
210
2
110.00
$110.00
$231
—
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Wethers
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
89
89
4
177.50
$177.50
$158
—
95
95
1
232.50
$232.50
$221
—
110
110
1
187.50
$187.50
$206
—
123
123
2
217.50
$217.50
$268
—
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Wooled & Shorn
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
43–46
44
26
230.00–272.50
$258.57
$114
—
50–59
54
211
225.00–277.50
$259.90
$140
—
60–69
64
480
210.00–251.00
$228.18
$146
—
70–79
74
587
185.00–223.00
$201.56
$149
—
79
79
18
147.50
$147.50
$117
—
80–89
82
313
170.00–197.00
$185.88
$152
—
86
86
26
163.00
$163.00
$140
—
90–99
96
174
162.00–175.00
$169.79
$163
—
103–131
113
20
159.00–169.00
$163.09
$184
—
136
136
41
121.00
$121.00
$165
—
151
151
5
146.00
$146.00
$220
—
171
171
13
62.00
$62.00
$106
—
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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.
← Oct 26, 2020 · All 282 past reports ·
Nov 9, 2020 →
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 10.00-15.00 lower; 400-599 lbs steers sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher, 600-699 lbs steers sold mostly steady to 5.00 lower. Unweaned heifer calves under 400 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower; 400-649 lbs sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher; heavier weight heifer calves not well compared. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Demand was mostly moderate for heavy offerings. Demand for lightweight calves suitable to run on grass in the south or California was significantly lighter this week as dry conditions caused these buyers to be more reserved this week. Calves with two rounds of preconditioning shots continue to sell with strong 4.00-8.00 premiums. Several sets of short weaned calves were seen this week. These calves sold with large discounts as many were very dirty and showed signs of stress. CME positions as of yesterdays close showed the November at 137.575, a gain of 1.85 for the week. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderated demand for heavy offerings. Packers sent a large portion of the cow offering to feed this week. Packer buyers started to buy cows to feed for the upcoming holiday season. As a result, the quality of cows sent to feed was significantly lower this week compared to last. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-4.00 lower. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower on boning and lean cows, breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to trend as many bulls sold to feeding buyers this week, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week as seasonally warm weather was seen. Demand for rebreed type cattle was light to moderate this week. This class of cows sold steady to firm.