Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, November 9, 2020

16,004 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $152.71/cwt +5.57 vs last sale · ≈ $870/hd at 570 lb · 1,260 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $159.83/cwt +3.31 vs last sale · ≈ $836/hd at 523 lb · 1,032 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $149.99/cwt +4.00 vs last sale · ≈ $714/hd at 476 lb · 784 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 16,004 25,344 19,092
Feeder cattle 11,736 12,934 14,002
Slaughter cattle 3,283 4,397 1,164
Replacement cattle 985 2,009 3,926

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 5.00-15.00 higher; 400-599 lbs steers sold mostly 4.00-6.00 higher, 600 lbs and heavier sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Unweaned heifer calves all sold steady to 5.00 higher, except 500-549 lbs heifers which sold mostly 4.00-6.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Demand was mostly moderate to good for heavy offerings. The best demand was seen for light weight calves suitable to run as yearlings. Transportation was tight last Friday leading to lower prices, however trucks were more readily available this week. Many sets of short weaned calves were seen this week, buyers discounted most of these offerings as many were full, dirty and not eye appealing. Calves weaned longer than 45 days sold with little to no premium to unweaned calves. CME positions as of yesterday's close showed the November at 140.075, a gain of 2.50 for the week. Many buyers were in the market this week, both ringside as well as over the internet bidding on offerings. Market activity was mostly active with offerings quickly being absorbed. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for heavy offerings. Packers were slightly more aggressive this week as they purchased cows to both feed and to slaughter. Demand for slaughter cows was stronger this week and packers opted to send a larger portion of the offering to slaughter this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher. Cow quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Packer buyers continue to buy cows to feed for the upcoming holiday season. Short term holiday cows sold at similar prices to slaughter cows. Slaughter bulls and feeding bulls sold steady. Weigh up conditions for both cows and bulls was mostly average to below average this week. Demand for rebreed type cattle was light to moderate this week. This class of cows sold fully steady.

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
274–299 unweaned 290 64 185.00–219.00 $206.84 $600 +16.84
300–340 unweaned 319 51 179.00–212.50 $190.65 $608 -4.72
352–394 unweaned 379 357 175.00–208.00 $195.40 $741 +11.98
384 384 4 207.50 $207.50 $797 —
403–446 unweaned 426 486 166.00–199.00 $180.87 $771 +2.03
443 443 6 194.00 $194.00 $859 —
460–469 fancy 462 59 186.00–188.00 $187.69 $867 +1.36
451–498 unweaned 471 464 155.00–185.50 $173.61 $818 +6.30
481–484 483 28 169.00–169.50 $169.30 $818 —
500–548 unweaned 523 992 146.00–169.50 $160.00 $837 +3.52
508–534 525 40 152.50–160.50 $155.63 $817 -2.37
550–596 unweaned 569 1,166 144.00–160.25 $152.79 $869 +5.44
558–590 581 94 150.50–157.00 $151.78 $882 +20.78
600 fancy 600 23 160.00 $160.00 $960 —
602–647 unweaned 619 405 133.00–149.50 $144.68 $896 +2.21
610–640 624 47 145.50–147.50 $147.05 $918 —
646 646 8 137.00 $137.00 $885 —
655–663 659 13 137.00–141.00 $138.68 $914 +8.18
650–698 unweaned 674 265 132.00–145.00 $139.74 $942 +1.31
707–723 unweaned 714 40 131.50–140.00 $136.64 $976 +0.93
719 719 20 144.00 $144.00 $1,035 —
750–795 unweaned 768 56 131.00–142.00 $135.83 $1,043 +2.38
756–780 770 24 133.00–138.00 $135.05 $1,040 -10.91
802–844 818 20 134.50–139.00 $136.37 $1,116 -9.49
851–899 874 26 137.00–140.50 $138.05 $1,207 -4.96
950 950 3 126.00 $126.00 $1,197 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
257 unweaned 257 5 187.50 $187.50 $482 —
315–343 unweaned 330 67 165.00–192.50 $185.59 $612 +10.99
352–378 unweaned 362 53 161.00–190.00 $180.39 $653 +3.35
404–448 unweaned 426 90 154.00–179.00 $167.87 $715 +1.06
469 469 4 164.00 $164.00 $769 —
463–499 unweaned 475 96 149.50–166.50 $158.64 $754 +3.08
520 520 4 149.00 $149.00 $775 —
502–545 unweaned 522 77 141.50–156.00 $146.56 $765 -1.52
555–592 unweaned 580 50 132.00–147.00 $143.35 $831 +3.83
623–646 unweaned 640 11 124.00–143.50 $133.83 $857 +2.48
695 unweaned 695 3 134.00 $134.00 $931 +1.52
723 723 2 141.00 $141.00 $1,019 +15.00
765 765 2 137.00 $137.00 $1,048 +9.00
821 821 6 136.50 $136.50 $1,121 +1.55
905–924 921 6 131.00–132.00 $131.84 $1,214 +12.34
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 unweaned 480 17 159.00 $159.00 $763 —
548 unweaned 548 19 147.50 $147.50 $808 —
637–647 unweaned 646 55 138.50–140.00 $138.58 $895 —
646 646 4 133.00 $133.00 $859 —
650 unweaned 650 4 134.00 $134.00 $871 —
814 unweaned 814 4 128.50 $128.50 $1,046 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
451 unweaned 451 50 144.00 $144.00 $649 -11.73
544 544 20 146.50 $146.50 $797 —
550 unweaned 550 4 146.00 $146.00 $803 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505 unweaned 505 30 135.50 $135.50 $684 —
1028 1028 4 118.00 $118.00 $1,213 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
414 414 11 163.00 $163.00 $675 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
264–290 unweaned 280 17 155.00–170.00 $162.56 $455 -1.67
302–344 unweaned 321 154 153.00–167.50 $160.71 $516 +1.60
350–399 unweaned 374 217 150.00–167.00 $157.78 $590 +3.76
383 383 4 167.50 $167.50 $642 —
400–445 unweaned 416 402 143.50–159.00 $152.63 $635 +3.73
446 446 10 158.50 $158.50 $707 —
462 462 28 150.00 $150.00 $693 —
474 fancy 474 44 157.50 $157.50 $747 —
450–497 unweaned 475 614 139.00–154.50 $147.84 $702 +1.85
480–495 486 98 159.00–160.75 $160.06 $778 —
503 fancy 503 19 152.00 $152.00 $765 +2.75
509–546 517 112 136.75–148.00 $145.07 $750 -4.43
501–549 unweaned 521 482 134.00–152.50 $144.34 $752 +4.18
550–599 unweaned 569 375 126.00–144.50 $135.99 $774 +1.54
584 584 8 126.00 $126.00 $736 —
585–596 590 69 135.00–136.00 $135.60 $800 —
611 611 7 117.50 $117.50 $718 —
600–648 unweaned 618 55 119.00–138.00 $132.03 $816 +1.16
615–648 632 53 130.00–139.00 $136.02 $860 —
650–687 unweaned 668 47 126.50–131.00 $129.04 $862 +4.67
700 700 53 134.75 $134.75 $943 +0.25
726 unweaned 726 9 114.00 $114.00 $828 -14.54
764–787 774 26 123.50–136.00 $130.62 $1,011 -1.06
812–823 813 52 124.00–143.50 $134.74 $1,095 +2.24
856–885 869 32 128.25–133.00 $129.85 $1,128 +2.96
902–933 914 13 122.00–131.00 $127.39 $1,164 +3.73
950–997 976 35 116.00–123.00 $120.34 $1,175 +1.15
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 unweaned 295 10 156.00 $156.00 $460 —
300–347 unweaned 322 50 142.50–155.00 $151.76 $489 +6.02
364–399 unweaned 392 100 140.00–151.00 $145.80 $572 +4.98
402–447 unweaned 428 96 134.00–148.00 $142.71 $611 +3.85
462 462 6 142.00 $142.00 $656 —
450–495 unweaned 483 91 130.00–145.00 $137.97 $666 +0.39
511–534 521 9 139.00–141.00 $140.09 $730 —
501–548 unweaned 531 98 130.00–138.50 $134.84 $716 +1.28
590 590 2 111.00 $111.00 $655 —
636–643 unweaned 638 6 127.00 $127.00 $810 +0.50
750 750 3 125.00 $125.00 $938 —
843–849 847 17 119.00–129.50 $122.69 $1,039 +1.71
872 872 3 122.00 $122.00 $1,064 +5.77
902 902 10 122.50 $122.50 $1,105 +8.00
983–990 987 9 112.00 $112.00 $1,105 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
476 unweaned 476 18 142.00 $142.00 $676 —
509–545 unweaned 525 28 135.00–137.00 $135.79 $713 —
576–584 unweaned 583 58 132.50–133.25 $133.12 $776 —
1000–1008 1006 14 115.50–118.50 $117.86 $1,186 -0.64
1045 1045 4 113.00 $113.00 $1,181 -5.50
1073–1075 1074 3 110.50–114.50 $111.83 $1,201 +6.83
1120 1120 1 108.00 $108.00 $1,210 -6.00
1168–1195 1184 5 107.50–109.00 $108.41 $1,284 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430 unweaned 430 21 129.00 $129.00 $555 -4.37
496 496 21 140.50 $140.50 $697 —
524 unweaned 524 8 120.00 $120.00 $629 -14.00
700 700 6 127.00 $127.00 $889 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 unweaned 345 18 135.00 $135.00 $466 —
348 348 10 142.00 $142.00 $494 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
362–392 unweaned 372 9 157.50–173.00 $167.56 $623 —
411–449 unweaned 428 89 152.00–179.00 $156.15 $668 -0.16
451 unweaned 451 9 148.00 $148.00 $667 -5.00
510–547 unweaned 522 24 137.50–158.00 $145.10 $757 —
568–586 unweaned 579 42 132.00–143.00 $134.82 $781 -7.93
602–631 unweaned 617 14 127.00–134.00 $130.12 $803 +4.80
650–673 unweaned 666 13 122.00–134.00 $129.83 $865 —
684 684 7 131.00 $131.00 $896 —
766 766 5 123.00 $123.00 $942 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
349 unweaned 349 21 150.00 $150.00 $524 —
479–489 unweaned 482 22 121.00–140.00 $126.26 $609 -19.74
523 unweaned 523 2 128.00 $128.00 $669 -2.89
697 697 5 114.00 $114.00 $795 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1074–1078 1076 14 88.00–91.50 $89.75 $966 —
1121 1121 8 91.00 $91.00 $1,020 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–965 890 85-90% 2 43.00–48.00 $45.71 $407 +12.07
880–990 942 85-90% 5 31.00–37.00 $33.51 $316 —
870–993 966 85-90% 16 34.50–46.00 $40.97 $396 -3.04
840–1315 1101 85-90% 128 28.50–42.00 $36.54 $402 +0.72
1005–1183 1119 85-90% 21 36.00–42.50 $38.13 $427 +2.31
860–1390 1157 85-90% 491 40.50–51.00 $45.41 $525 -0.02
1000–1345 1176 85-90% 248 39.00–47.50 $43.79 $515 -1.64
1100–1310 1214 85-90% 24 57.00–64.50 $60.51 $735 +9.57
970–1385 1230 85-90% 424 46.00–60.50 $51.53 $634 +0.59
1090–1370 1253 85-90% 36 47.00–54.00 $49.14 $616 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1088–1779 1328 80-85% 77 41.00–50.50 $47.36 $629 —
1235–1605 1368 80-85% 102 47.00–56.50 $51.88 $710 +5.49
1145–1765 1400 80-85% 368 48.00–61.50 $55.53 $777 +11.73
1220–1530 1405 80-85% 203 59.00–67.00 $63.05 $886 +19.25
1255–1660 1407 80-85% 59 41.00–48.00 $45.32 $638 +1.52
1505 1505 80-85% 1 39.00 $39.00 $587 —
1525 1525 80-85% 1 41.50 $41.50 $633 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1522 1522 75-80% 3 51.00 $51.00 $776 —
1465–1988 1567 75-80% 47 58.00–67.50 $61.96 $971 -3.61
1475–1780 1609 75-80% 24 53.00–63.00 $59.02 $950 -0.14
1500–1760 1626 75-80% 9 62.00–67.00 $65.44 $1,064 +6.28

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1215–1940 1587 14 63.00–73.50 $70.55 $1,120 —
1330–1980 1742 26 75.00–82.50 $78.05 $1,360 —
1390–2410 1779 18 52.00–75.00 $70.22 $1,249 —
1430–2130 1849 14 75.00–81.00 $77.69 $1,436 +8.43
1950–2245 2099 4 82.75–85.00 $83.83 $1,760 —
2700 2700 1 70.00 $70.00 $1,890 —
YG3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2290 2290 1 48.50 $48.50 $1,111 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
715–1385 970 (<2 yrs)Open 282 64.00–90.00 $77.95 $756
765–1145 thin fleshed 1055 (<2 yrs)Open 10 55.00–66.00 $57.39 $605
815–1450 1081 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 197 52.00–78.00 $64.62 $699
995–1184 thin fleshed 1138 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 51.00–55.00 $53.00 $603
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1180 1180 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 57.00 $57.00 $673

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
993 993 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 800.00 $800.00
992–1455 1087 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 40 1,000.00–1,110.00 $1,052.91
1118 thin fleshed 1118 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 600.00 $600.00
1206 1206 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 900.00 $900.00
1138–1321 1210 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 40 650.00–685.00 $656.69
1150–1365 1210 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 12 800.00–1,010.00 $861.98
1233 1233 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 800.00 $800.00
1335 1335 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 885.00 $885.00
1367–1393 1380 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 735.00–750.00 $742.43
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
918 918 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 750.00 $750.00
1003 1003 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 835.00 $835.00
1040 1040 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 17 650.00 $650.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1022–1205 thin fleshed 1068 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 48.00 $48.00 $513
1090 1090 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 53.00 $53.00 $578

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Dairy Steers

Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
645 645 8 42.00 $42.00 $271 —

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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.