Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, November 23, 2020

10,512 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $144.99/cwt -5.62 vs last sale · ≈ $687/hd at 474 lb · 396 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $157.13/cwt -4.66 vs last sale · ≈ $831/hd at 529 lb · 372 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $139.47/cwt -7.18 vs last sale · ≈ $740/hd at 531 lb · 294 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 10,512 28,680 0
Feeder cattle 4,966 16,944 0
Slaughter cattle 3,122 5,284 0
Replacement cattle 2,424 1,314 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steer were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. This was a short week due to the holiday. Only Miles City had a feeder special this week. Unweaned steer and heifer calves sold unevenly, however most calves sold with lower undertones. Demand was mostly light this week. A very limited selection of buyers wanted to start loads this week. Pre-consigned offerings were limited this week and many buyers didn't want to start loads without knowing if they could finish them. Quality was mostly plain to average this week. Market activity was slow. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and heavy offerings. Cow quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Many long strings of cows were seen this week, with multiple load lots being sold at the time. Feeding buyers were more competitive than packer buyers this week. The best demand was seen for short term feeding cows to feed for the up coming holiday weeks. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold on mostly light demand this week. Packers attempted to buy cattle lower however demand from feeding buyers helped support average dressing and some low dressing cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady to firm. Feeding bull buyers continue to but bulls away on feed. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average again this week. Demand for rebreed type cattle was mixed this week. Good demand was seen early in the week and lighter demand was seen later in the week. This class of cows sold unevenly 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
347 unweaned 347 3 182.00 $182.00 $632 -23.36
368–385 unweaned 373 42 178.00–191.00 $184.42 $688 -9.08
418 418 7 181.00 $181.00 $757 -1.16
400–449 unweaned 433 131 172.00–183.00 $177.19 $767 -6.33
453 453 40 189.00 $189.00 $856 +35.00
451–493 unweaned 470 118 162.00–179.00 $171.96 $808 -2.47
500–535 528 33 152.50–167.00 $159.82 $844 -3.00
502–546 unweaned 529 339 148.75–166.50 $156.87 $830 -4.85
550–587 unweaned 567 254 144.00–151.00 $147.97 $839 -3.18
553–594 582 32 145.50–158.00 $149.15 $868 -4.45
603–641 614 101 135.50–150.00 $144.85 $889 -4.66
602–643 unweaned 618 177 133.50–145.25 $141.59 $875 -2.18
652–671 658 20 132.00–143.50 $137.40 $904 +7.40
664–691 unweaned 678 39 133.00–139.00 $134.78 $914 -5.74
717–722 unweaned 719 8 128.00–132.00 $129.51 $931 -6.65
712–745 733 14 132.50–133.50 $133.15 $976 -4.85
819 819 5 135.50 $135.50 $1,110 —
915–936 934 25 126.00–129.50 $129.23 $1,207 -9.20
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
348 unweaned 348 4 177.50 $177.50 $618 -6.04
351–376 unweaned 360 19 160.00 $160.00 $576 -17.01
409–449 unweaned 424 83 155.00–172.00 $165.10 $700 -6.11
454–473 unweaned 462 10 154.00–160.00 $157.05 $726 -1.53
502–541 unweaned 516 113 136.00–155.00 $150.42 $776 -0.95
549 549 8 144.00 $144.00 $791 -7.50
555 unweaned 555 1 142.00 $142.00 $788 -0.85
635 unweaned 635 2 134.00 $134.00 $851 -0.94
685 unweaned 685 2 127.00 $127.00 $870 -5.71
850 850 5 128.00 $128.00 $1,088 -7.56
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
444 unweaned 444 19 183.50 $183.50 $815 —
533 unweaned 533 31 165.75 $165.75 $883 —
618 unweaned 618 2 132.00 $132.00 $816 —
1019 fancy 1019 31 122.50 $122.50 $1,248 —
1052 1052 3 114.00 $114.00 $1,199 —
1127 1127 17 108.50 $108.50 $1,223 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
324 unweaned 324 7 160.00 $160.00 $518 -0.08
448 448 16 159.00 $159.00 $712 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
313 313 3 160.00 $160.00 $501 +5.00
318 unweaned 318 2 165.00 $165.00 $525 -3.37
351–398 unweaned 368 104 150.25–159.00 $152.86 $563 -15.94
401–448 unweaned 421 285 147.00–154.50 $149.77 $631 -8.24
443 443 2 151.00 $151.00 $669 -8.00
470–484 472 37 142.00–143.00 $142.89 $674 -9.61
450–499 unweaned 474 348 134.00–151.50 $145.48 $690 -3.62
486 486 11 136.50 $136.50 $663 -16.00
500–549 unweaned 530 267 131.00–144.00 $139.66 $740 -5.97
531–543 539 27 136.50–138.00 $137.56 $741 +2.56
552–589 563 21 128.00–137.00 $134.31 $756 -2.12
558–599 unweaned 570 96 128.00–135.50 $131.99 $752 -4.32
590 590 4 117.50 $117.50 $693 -11.47
600–638 unweaned 617 73 118.00–132.50 $125.81 $776 -8.15
634–646 641 9 123.00–130.00 $126.08 $808 -8.46
656–668 unweaned 661 14 122.00–127.00 $124.17 $821 -6.59
728–731 729 21 128.00–130.00 $128.86 $939 -6.57
756–763 759 21 126.00–127.50 $126.93 $963 -5.57
804–830 817 58 125.00–130.00 $127.18 $1,039 -4.44
850–897 874 39 123.00–128.75 $126.87 $1,109 -1.40
904–947 924 65 119.50–122.00 $121.71 $1,125 -2.93
953–955 954 5 118.00–121.50 $120.10 $1,146 -4.23
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307–344 unweaned 330 31 142.50–148.00 $144.48 $477 -10.34
364 unweaned 364 22 147.50 $147.50 $537 -0.91
416 416 7 147.00 $147.00 $612 —
410–436 unweaned 426 14 140.00–145.00 $143.62 $612 -2.82
469–496 unweaned 488 51 128.00–140.00 $137.45 $671 -1.76
497 497 9 134.00 $134.00 $666 -9.59
510–547 unweaned 515 54 128.00–146.00 $135.16 $696 +1.82
529–532 531 20 127.00–131.00 $129.41 $687 —
560–569 unweaned 566 11 115.00–129.00 $123.96 $702 -2.50
573–592 589 17 129.00 $129.00 $760 —
750–795 785 15 122.50–128.00 $125.07 $982 -1.76
807 807 3 126.00 $126.00 $1,017 —
899 899 6 121.00 $121.00 $1,088 +1.00
985 985 3 114.00 $114.00 $1,123 -3.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
401–439 unweaned 423 30 137.00–148.00 $140.89 $596 —
462–483 unweaned 474 46 134.50–138.00 $136.52 $647 —
548 unweaned 548 29 132.00 $132.00 $723 +5.00
1011–1039 1025 40 115.00–120.75 $118.54 $1,215 —
1053 1053 3 115.00 $115.00 $1,211 +0.50
1105 1105 7 105.00 $105.00 $1,160 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
582 582 24 130.00 $130.00 $757 —
643 643 35 128.00 $128.00 $823 —
693 693 9 125.00 $125.00 $866 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
321 unweaned 321 5 147.00 $147.00 $472 —
371 371 11 145.00 $145.00 $538 —
432 unweaned 432 15 145.00 $145.00 $626 —
452–479 unweaned 463 18 131.00–132.00 $131.60 $609 -8.54
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
374 unweaned 374 7 137.50 $137.50 $514 -7.04
404–438 unweaned 413 31 130.00–137.00 $131.92 $545 —
497 unweaned 497 8 125.00 $125.00 $621 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
563 563 31 81.00 $81.00 $456 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 unweaned 295 3 205.00 $205.00 $605 —
300 unweaned 300 1 160.00 $160.00 $480 —
368 unweaned 368 2 182.50 $182.50 $672 -2.50
459–480 unweaned 471 17 144.00–156.00 $150.47 $709 +1.39
556 556 11 138.00 $138.00 $767 —
568 unweaned 568 3 149.00 $149.00 $846 +6.65
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
424–446 unweaned 435 10 146.00–149.00 $147.46 $641 -6.34
518 518 3 132.00 $132.00 $684 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
537 unweaned 537 3 125.00 $125.00 $671 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790–975 895 85-90% 11 31.00–42.00 $35.21 $315 —
800–995 945 85-90% 7 39.00–43.00 $41.75 $395 +2.55
1010–1188 1082 85-90% 10 37.00–39.50 $38.16 $413 -21.99
915–1419 1122 85-90% 122 30.00–41.50 $36.85 $413 +0.69
910–1345 1127 85-90% 307 38.00–48.50 $41.87 $472 +5.71
848–1375 1163 85-90% 339 39.00–51.50 $45.33 $527 +1.23
920–1365 1183 85-90% 634 47.50–56.00 $51.07 $604 +5.34
1120–1338 1222 85-90% 27 57.00–65.00 $62.32 $762 +10.12
1090–1315 1241 85-90% 35 47.00–54.50 $49.97 $620 +1.60
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945 945 80-85% 1 45.00 $45.00 $425 —
1100–1790 1362 80-85% 294 49.00–61.00 $54.46 $742 +5.88
1200–1705 1366 80-85% 77 42.00–50.00 $46.36 $633 -8.31
1215–1635 1377 80-85% 135 60.00–68.00 $64.56 $889 +9.89
1285–1577 1387 80-85% 41 40.00–50.00 $45.97 $638 -8.70
1250–1670 1393 80-85% 33 48.00–53.00 $49.35 $687 -5.32
1455 1455 80-85% 1 36.00 $36.00 $524 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1370–1755 1510 75-80% 10 69.00–72.00 $69.53 $1,050 —
1430–1650 1522 75-80% 39 62.00–68.50 $66.19 $1,007 —
1550–1840 1592 75-80% 11 56.00–62.00 $59.02 $940 -4.31

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1255–2040 1641 12 57.00–75.00 $71.86 $1,179 —
1375–2270 1683 22 61.00–78.50 $69.58 $1,171 -2.91
1184–2035 1694 43 75.50–83.50 $79.41 $1,345 —
1475–2200 1884 17 76.00–82.00 $78.76 $1,484 -1.80
1775–2018 1944 4 81.50–86.00 $84.63 $1,645 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
900 900 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 55.00 $55.00 $495
741–1370 913 (<2 yrs)Open 468 60.00–102.50 $84.91 $775
768–1450 1031 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 369 54.00–89.00 $65.18 $672
865–1228 thin fleshed 1082 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 18 50.00–57.00 $52.12 $564

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
140–1225 407 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 40 925.00–975.00 $937.04
1157 1157 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 30 700.00 $700.00
1064–1392 1158 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 26 985.00–1,075.00 $1,043.61
984–1530 1184 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 93 1,025.00–1,325.00 $1,215.35
1165–1214 thin fleshed 1191 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 23 600.00–610.00 $605.32
1225 1225 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 910.00 $910.00
1228–1320 1230 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 101 650.00–710.00 $708.72
1235 1235 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 10 650.00 $650.00
1149–1445 1279 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 308 650.00–835.00 $736.82
1270–1285 1280 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 9 700.00–975.00 $790.95
1118–1428 1282 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 44 950.00–1,110.00 $1,017.62
1044–1500 1304 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 151 750.00–950.00 $839.83
1375 1375 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 8 800.00 $800.00
1394 1394 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 910.00 $910.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1235 1235 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 50.00 $50.00 $618
1336 1336 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 52.00 $52.00 $695
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1123 1123 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 610.00 $610.00
1063–1373 1218 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,000.00–1,035.00 $1,019.73
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
921 921 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 7 935.00 $935.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
909 909 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 49 1,385.00 $1,385.00
965–995 971 (<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 1,000.00–1,050.00 $1,010.25
943–1178 1017 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 85 1,200.00–1,350.00 $1,264.59
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
856 856 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 985.00 $985.00

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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.