Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 14, 2020

15,051 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 $170.89/cwt +1.75 vs last sale · ≈ $906/hd at 530 lb · 673 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $156.64/cwt -1.56 vs last sale · ≈ $910/hd at 581 lb · 587 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $156.98/cwt -2.04 vs last sale · ≈ $738/hd at 470 lb · 581 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 15,051 23,442 14,379
Feeder cattle 7,439 12,429 8,015
Slaughter cattle 3,184 2,903 814
Replacement cattle 4,428 8,110 5,550

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steer were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Unweaned steer calves under 600 lbs sold steady to 6.00 higher. Steers 600 lbs and heavier sold unevenly, most sales were 3.00-4.00 lower, however instances of higher sale were seen on high quality offerings. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; heifers 450 lbs and heavier sold steady to 3.00 lower. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and overall lower than last week. Lots of odd and end cattle sold this week as ranchers cleaned out pastures and lots. Demand was mostly moderate. The best demand this week was seen for light weight heifers suitable to spay and run on grass. The January feeder cattle contract closed at 140.975 and the March closed at 142.60. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Packers were more aggressive as they purchased most cows for slaughter instead of short term feed this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00 higher on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows sold steady to weak. Feeding and packer buyers both competed over high quality offerings suitable to feed to premium white. Feeding cows sold firm as a result. Slaughter bulls sold on mostly good demand this week. Bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher as feeding and slaughter buyers competed over limited offerings. 2 year old to young age cows sold on light to moderate demand for mostly moderate to heavy offerings. The best demand was seen for one iron home-raised offerings. These cows sold steady to firm. Quality was not as attractive this week as last.

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
300–347 332 36 190.00–214.00 $211.21 $701 +8.74
308–349 unweaned 335 20 187.50–211.00 $202.72 $679 +6.36
360–398 unweaned 374 60 182.00–195.00 $187.73 $702 -1.77
351–396 378 99 188.00–210.75 $194.52 $735 +3.14
404–438 424 273 179.00–209.50 $193.16 $819 +13.53
405–445 unweaned 425 76 177.50–190.00 $185.61 $789 -0.40
450–491 467 246 169.00–191.00 $181.94 $850 +5.46
452–497 unweaned 475 217 171.00–188.50 $177.00 $841 -1.48
500–546 526 351 165.00–180.00 $173.41 $912 +4.12
507–546 unweaned 535 322 159.00–182.00 $168.15 $900 -0.90
552–593 578 472 148.00–168.00 $158.26 $915 -0.20
571–598 unweaned 593 115 146.00–152.50 $149.99 $889 -7.90
600–647 unweaned 616 132 142.00–153.50 $146.81 $904 -3.62
609–640 623 178 144.00–160.00 $150.57 $938 -2.88
653–686 671 89 140.00–156.00 $147.81 $992 +11.81
685 unweaned 685 2 143.00 $143.00 $980 -2.50
718 unweaned 718 3 131.00 $131.00 $941 -6.55
703–747 725 59 131.00–138.50 $135.15 $980 -1.25
795 795 2 133.00 $133.00 $1,057 -0.50
829 829 87 136.50 $136.50 $1,132 +0.50
930 930 2 125.00 $125.00 $1,162 -8.50
953 953 11 123.00 $123.00 $1,172 -3.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
326 unweaned 326 5 187.50 $187.50 $611 +2.50
335–338 336 24 167.50–190.00 $184.33 $619 +2.33
362–375 unweaned 364 7 180.00–181.00 $180.85 $658 +9.25
372–390 385 26 165.00–180.00 $172.57 $664 -8.90
410–440 429 4 162.50–182.00 $176.09 $755 +6.41
400–448 unweaned 440 20 170.00–178.00 $171.16 $753 +5.82
475–490 unweaned 488 43 159.00–170.50 $160.95 $785 +3.99
484–496 493 26 165.00–173.00 $170.88 $842 +5.45
500–545 518 10 145.00–163.00 $152.39 $789 +2.16
537 unweaned 537 3 162.00 $162.00 $870 +8.50
561–589 unweaned 572 18 138.00–149.00 $145.62 $833 +9.06
559–599 585 22 141.00–148.00 $144.90 $848 -2.85
607–623 614 12 139.00–142.00 $140.92 $865 +3.20
658–693 668 16 135.00–138.00 $136.24 $910 -2.26
846 846 9 131.00 $131.00 $1,108 —
929 929 7 121.00 $121.00 $1,124 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
436 unweaned 436 7 160.00 $160.00 $698 —
510 510 2 152.00 $152.00 $775 —
528 unweaned 528 61 161.00 $161.00 $850 —
622 unweaned 622 19 146.00 $146.00 $908 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
342 342 6 187.00 $187.00 $640 +3.96
388 388 10 164.50 $164.50 $638 -11.37
428 428 18 178.00 $178.00 $762 -3.00
457 457 3 137.50 $137.50 $628 -26.50
762 762 12 127.00 $127.00 $968 -5.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
341 341 6 167.00 $167.00 $569 —
388 unweaned 388 13 140.00 $140.00 $543 —
522 522 5 132.00 $132.00 $689 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 9 100.00 $100.00 $490 —
551 551 5 110.00 $110.00 $606 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
308–342 328 38 165.00–183.00 $173.22 $568 +3.01
342–346 unweaned 343 20 167.00–167.50 $167.18 $573 -14.92
350–391 unweaned 379 57 163.00–169.50 $168.45 $638 +6.73
363–393 380 129 163.00–187.50 $170.86 $649 -3.77
404–437 unweaned 419 114 158.00–170.00 $163.68 $686 +7.92
411–449 433 125 158.00–175.00 $161.38 $699 -0.91
460–478 463 110 161.00–169.50 $162.59 $753 +3.28
451–493 468 317 145.00–165.00 $156.60 $733 -2.71
462–496 unweaned 480 154 149.50–158.00 $153.75 $738 -4.10
503–532 unweaned 515 63 142.00–149.00 $144.75 $745 -3.06
500–547 524 337 140.00–158.50 $149.57 $784 -1.28
555 555 16 145.00 $145.00 $805 +5.41
553–580 564 66 132.00–141.00 $138.50 $781 -1.09
552–596 unweaned 571 148 134.00–144.50 $140.39 $802 +2.70
600–645 634 73 127.00–135.50 $133.59 $847 ±0.00
600–638 unweaned 634 13 131.00–135.50 $134.78 $855 +2.47
667–671 unweaned 669 9 123.00–124.00 $123.55 $827 -1.71
666–691 680 83 128.25–134.00 $130.83 $890 +2.71
707–711 unweaned 709 14 124.00–125.50 $124.86 $885 —
704–743 732 38 126.00–132.25 $131.58 $963 +1.87
750–792 782 22 129.00–133.00 $131.39 $1,027 +0.75
806–843 812 128 127.00–134.25 $133.76 $1,086 +2.03
851–894 874 63 127.00–133.50 $130.74 $1,143 +2.95
913 913 5 123.00 $123.00 $1,123 -4.46
980 980 24 121.75 $121.75 $1,193 +0.26
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 unweaned 343 3 157.50 $157.50 $540 —
359–388 unweaned 371 30 150.00–155.00 $153.96 $571 -0.34
358–398 389 72 146.00–168.00 $159.42 $620 +7.42
424–448 433 15 132.00–158.00 $152.71 $661 -1.09
415–442 unweaned 436 28 146.00–153.50 $150.80 $657 +3.51
453–478 472 14 136.00–144.00 $138.97 $656 -6.72
492 unweaned 492 8 142.00 $142.00 $699 +12.00
501–529 514 24 137.00–144.00 $139.04 $715 -3.94
501–523 unweaned 515 24 131.00–139.50 $136.06 $701 +0.68
553–592 unweaned 575 14 124.00–132.00 $127.30 $732 —
593–595 594 7 128.00–129.50 $128.64 $764 —
674 674 17 120.50 $120.50 $812 —
708 708 3 126.00 $126.00 $892 —
797 797 15 125.00 $125.00 $996 +4.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
322 322 13 172.50 $172.50 $555 —
405–425 416 21 139.00–158.50 $145.14 $604 —
417–424 unweaned 421 8 147.00–150.00 $148.11 $624 —
467 467 7 133.00 $133.00 $621 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
426–436 431 19 151.50–153.00 $152.30 $656 —
549 unweaned 549 14 146.00 $146.00 $802 —
565 unweaned 565 4 130.00 $130.00 $734 —
585 585 7 131.50 $131.50 $769 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365–394 391 22 147.00–180.00 $177.20 $693 -4.80
406 406 5 178.00 $178.00 $723 +8.00
454 unweaned 454 4 154.00 $154.00 $699 +1.50
460–478 477 41 159.00–164.00 $163.65 $781 —
529 529 5 158.00 $158.00 $836 +16.00
560 560 7 151.00 $151.00 $846 +6.00
579 unweaned 579 11 137.50 $137.50 $796 +1.02
631 631 5 140.00 $140.00 $883 —
680 680 2 124.00 $124.00 $843 -1.00
723 723 2 127.00 $127.00 $918 —
751 751 5 126.00 $126.00 $946 —
801 801 7 121.00 $121.00 $969 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
478 unweaned 478 2 135.00 $135.00 $645 —
490–496 494 14 130.00–144.00 $134.96 $667 -9.04
532 532 6 134.00 $134.00 $713 -5.00
593 593 10 130.50 $130.50 $774 —
632 632 5 126.00 $126.00 $796 —
720 unweaned 720 1 126.00 $126.00 $907 —
978 978 5 97.00 $97.00 $949 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1065–1087 1080 33 94.00–104.00 $100.36 $1,084 —
1194 1194 4 89.00 $89.00 $1,063 —
1210 1210 2 87.00 $87.00 $1,053 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–993 960 85-90% 17 35.00–48.00 $40.91 $393 -7.59
845–995 966 85-90% 48 34.00–39.00 $35.38 $342 -13.12
1005–1373 1096 85-90% 96 30.00–41.00 $36.84 $404 -0.56
1146–1205 1153 85-90% 8 58.00–59.50 $59.30 $684 +13.84
850–1380 1167 85-90% 284 39.00–50.00 $46.06 $538 -0.29
905–1449 1175 85-90% 348 38.00–50.00 $45.04 $529 -1.31
1005–1298 1210 85-90% 200 48.50–56.50 $52.14 $631 +1.11
1250 1250 85-90% 1 59.00 $59.00 $738 —
1005–1343 1262 85-90% 42 49.50–54.00 $51.33 $648 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100–1485 1324 80-85% 49 43.00–51.00 $47.91 $634 -7.06
1181–1680 1351 80-85% 333 50.50–61.00 $55.83 $754 -0.38
1340–1468 1398 80-85% 21 61.50–66.00 $62.37 $872 +15.85
1231–1775 1414 80-85% 102 42.00–51.00 $47.63 $673 —
1283–1670 1446 80-85% 81 49.50–59.00 $52.95 $766 —
1300–1505 1483 80-85% 14 60.00–62.00 $60.78 $901 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1506–1955 1572 75-80% 27 57.00–67.00 $62.06 $976 +7.25
1430–1840 1597 75-80% 28 48.00–60.00 $56.79 $907 +1.98
1375–1880 1617 75-80% 5 61.00–68.00 $63.95 $1,034 +2.92
1500–1845 1668 75-80% 12 52.00–59.00 $56.77 $947 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1317 1317 3 84.50 $84.50 $1,113 —
1310–1550 1457 14 65.00–77.00 $71.54 $1,042 —
1152–2105 1596 23 79.00–82.50 $81.61 $1,302 —
1599–1810 1693 16 84.00–88.00 $84.96 $1,438 —
1440–2415 1770 35 61.00–77.50 $71.59 $1,267 -6.80
1810 1810 1 81.00 $81.00 $1,466 +1.74
1743–1850 1839 19 90.00–91.50 $91.35 $1,680 —
1565–2160 1928 17 79.00–83.00 $81.47 $1,571 —
1815–2400 2112 8 82.00–88.00 $85.62 $1,808 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1958–2240 2018 9 76.00–83.00 $78.46 $1,583 —
2135 2135 1 75.50 $75.50 $1,612 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
740–965 thin fleshed 824 (<2 yrs)Open 10 42.50–77.50 $70.11 $578
787–1445 917 (<2 yrs)Open 472 60.50–94.25 $82.15 $753
940–1085 thin fleshed 988 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 48.00–51.00 $49.90 $493
839–1290 1029 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 118 48.50–80.00 $67.63 $696
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
754–1200 977 (<2 yrs)Open 10 52.00–74.00 $68.18 $666

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
904–1200 thin fleshed 966 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 29 950.00–1,200.00 $1,104.22
1121 thin fleshed 1121 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 11 835.00 $835.00
1076–1339 1174 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 110 1,200.00–1,350.00 $1,296.27
1055–1267 thin fleshed 1197 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 54 550.00–725.00 $639.42
1007–1559 1203 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 469 1,300.00–1,550.00 $1,425.18
1063–1263 1225 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 40 1,075.00–1,200.00 $1,143.63
1230 1230 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
1245 1245 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 760.00 $760.00
1056–1544 1262 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 507 725.00–985.00 $851.23
1147–1715 1275 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 230 850.00–1,250.00 $1,003.08
1221–1314 1278 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 28 1,000.00–1,075.00 $1,029.47
1271–1306 1284 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 25 760.00–800.00 $774.65
1207–1348 1290 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 22 810.00–1,085.00 $979.76
1293 1293 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 12 1,300.00 $1,300.00
1253–1408 1294 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 33 800.00–925.00 $880.67
1266–1333 1296 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 11 910.00 $910.00
1166–1376 1303 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 33 775.00–925.00 $888.64
1308 1308 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 900.00 $900.00
1160–1531 1310 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 182 900.00–1,450.00 $1,224.32
1338 1338 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 12 775.00 $775.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1293 1293 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 22 1,250.00 $1,250.00
1230–1485 1341 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 19 710.00–775.00 $748.59
1430–1457 1444 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 30 810.00–1,110.00 $961.40
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1421 1421 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 885.00 $885.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
913–1186 1013 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 376 1,285.00–1,625.00 $1,413.78
1025 1025 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,585.00 $1,585.00
1178 1178 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 1,300.00 $1,300.00
1204 1204 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 16 1,300.00 $1,300.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
769–846 817 (<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 16 925.00–1,000.00 $973.53
793–883 837 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 185 1,025.00–1,250.00 $1,183.43

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Dairy Heifers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835 835 13 60.50 $60.50 $505 —
930 930 16 59.00 $59.00 $549 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
516 516 9 66.00 $66.00 $341 —
707 707 9 68.50 $68.50 $484 —
Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
419 419 4 60.00 $60.00 $251 —

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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.