Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 1, 2021

10,187 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $149.01/cwt -2.78 vs last sale · ≈ $1,002/hd at 673 lb · 477 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $180.72/cwt +0.69 vs last sale · ≈ $947/hd at 524 lb · 339 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $167.29/cwt +2.66 vs last sale · ≈ $973/hd at 582 lb · 324 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 10,187 5,522 7,749
Feeder cattle 4,961 4,002 2,910
Slaughter cattle 831 1,034 576
Replacement cattle 4,395 486 4,263

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steers under 500 lbs sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher; 500-599 lbs steers sold steady to 3.00 higher; steers over 600 lbs sold steady to 4.00 lower. Heifers under 450 lbs sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower, heifers 450-599 lbs sold unevenly steady, heifers over 600 lbs sold steady to 3.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Several long strings of backgrounded offerings sold this week. Most load lots sold on good demand and several were on offer this week. Demand for calves suitable to run on grass was mostly good. Heavy weight backgrounded offerings were in mostly moderate flesh with very few fleshy sets seen this week. Calves under 600 lbs continue to be in light flesh and mostly purchased as grass cattle. The March CME contract closed Friday at 138.275 and the April closed at 142.20 a gain of 0.55 and 1.45 respectfully for the week. Market activity this week was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for mostly light offerings. Packers were very active again this week as they pushed to obtain the majority of the cow offering. Packers purchased cows both for immediate harvest as well as to feed. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher as packers pushed feeding buyers all week as they showed good demand for all high quality cows suitable to feed. Bulls sold mostly steady to firm in a narrow comparison. 2 year old to young age cows sold on light to moderate demand for mostly light offerings. This class of cows sold steady to 5.00 higher on slightly better demand than was seen last week.

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
392 392 37 203.00 $203.00 $796 +11.15
403–445 423 91 180.00–206.00 $201.04 $850 +9.86
455–467 461 113 192.00–198.00 $194.56 $897 +7.86
477 477 6 174.00 $174.00 $830 -12.70
501–548 524 339 175.50–188.25 $180.72 $947 +0.69
556 thin fleshed 556 39 179.00 $179.00 $995 —
550–597 585 285 159.00–174.00 $165.69 $969 -0.45
620 620 14 142.00 $142.00 $880 -12.48
606–645 631 92 147.00–156.00 $150.73 $951 -3.75
657 657 11 142.50 $142.50 $936 -9.29
650–692 673 466 142.00–155.00 $149.16 $1,004 -2.63
700–748 719 133 138.50–144.50 $141.58 $1,018 -1.57
759 fancy 759 26 147.00 $147.00 $1,116 —
760–783 771 64 130.50–137.50 $136.04 $1,049 +1.45
804–848 826 154 128.50–136.00 $132.98 $1,098 +3.98
880–899 887 40 125.00–132.50 $127.33 $1,129 +1.33
943 943 3 130.00 $130.00 $1,226 —
955 fancy 955 61 133.00 $133.00 $1,270 —
970–986 984 19 122.00–125.50 $125.14 $1,231 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375–390 378 43 188.00–192.00 $191.19 $723 +5.70
420–433 431 38 179.50–188.00 $181.28 $781 +3.12
460–499 472 67 172.50–182.00 $179.19 $846 +4.51
508 unweaned 508 2 165.00 $165.00 $838 —
508–548 537 20 164.00–167.00 $165.81 $890 +4.52
565–599 582 70 154.00–158.00 $156.73 $912 +10.73
634 634 10 143.50 $143.50 $910 -0.79
714–726 719 20 132.00–137.00 $134.44 $967 +0.94
752–789 763 14 127.50–130.00 $129.26 $986 —
803–845 826 34 125.00–130.00 $127.86 $1,056 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
392 392 7 196.00 $196.00 $768 —
492 492 28 181.50 $181.50 $893 —
1028 1028 5 122.50 $122.50 $1,259 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
694 694 16 138.00 $138.00 $958 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
503 503 8 145.50 $145.50 $732 —
653 653 4 133.50 $133.50 $872 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–395 378 48 164.00–170.00 $167.01 $631 -3.32
400–448 424 178 162.00–178.00 $168.35 $714 -2.70
450–498 469 160 158.50–169.50 $164.25 $770 -0.22
504–532 513 123 151.00–160.50 $157.86 $810 +1.05
554 fancy 554 88 160.00 $160.00 $886 —
559 559 69 139.75 $139.75 $781 -9.18
551–595 573 109 137.00–153.50 $147.98 $848 -0.95
595 595 20 134.00 $134.00 $797 -14.93
618–626 620 19 128.00–134.00 $132.72 $823 -6.98
605–649 633 93 136.50–142.50 $139.58 $884 -0.12
668 668 57 133.00 $133.00 $888 -6.14
657–691 678 68 133.75–141.50 $136.09 $923 +10.09
679 679 11 127.00 $127.00 $862 +1.00
703–736 723 143 125.00–132.00 $130.68 $945 +1.35
755–776 768 39 123.75–129.50 $126.96 $975 —
805–838 816 9 120.50–122.00 $121.01 $987 -1.22
896 896 4 113.00 $113.00 $1,012 —
910–945 926 11 110.00–115.50 $112.54 $1,042 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323 323 9 164.00 $164.00 $530 —
383 383 6 164.00 $164.00 $628 +6.80
434–444 438 21 156.00–161.50 $159.38 $698 +3.38
458–490 472 29 141.00–156.00 $153.61 $725 -2.39
505–545 522 63 134.00–143.00 $140.62 $734 -4.77
552–598 574 37 133.00–140.00 $137.70 $790 +3.32
600–630 614 25 127.00–135.00 $131.08 $805 +2.64
707–727 715 20 120.50–124.00 $122.66 $877 —
826 826 5 109.00 $109.00 $900 -0.71
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
529 529 28 151.25 $151.25 $800 —
1012 1012 3 106.00 $106.00 $1,073 —
1115–1134 1128 11 98.00–99.00 $98.27 $1,108 +4.27
1245 1245 5 99.50 $99.50 $1,239 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
364 364 18 160.00 $160.00 $582 —
406 406 5 147.50 $147.50 $599 -6.50
476 476 6 138.00 $138.00 $657 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
444 444 7 144.00 $144.00 $639 —
642 642 12 120.50 $120.50 $774 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055 1055 8 93.00 $93.00 $981 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 400 2 188.00 $188.00 $752 +15.50
540 540 1 153.00 $153.00 $826 -6.00
570 570 1 148.00 $148.00 $844 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–995 964 85-90% 5 49.50–53.00 $51.50 $496 +1.75
960–1140 1016 85-90% 20 35.00–44.00 $39.71 $403 —
925–1165 1045 85-90% 2 38.00–41.00 $39.33 $411 —
865–1230 1134 85-90% 142 44.00–55.50 $52.37 $594 -2.81
950–1263 1140 85-90% 56 55.00–62.50 $58.59 $668 +3.41
1155–1160 1159 85-90% 4 62.00–65.00 $62.75 $727 +7.30
995–1448 1191 85-90% 156 43.00–55.50 $52.69 $628 +0.70
1089–1310 1207 85-90% 52 54.00–59.00 $56.18 $678 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1298–1635 1337 80-85% 61 63.00–67.00 $64.93 $868 +8.42
1308–1418 1363 80-85% 4 63.00–69.00 $66.12 $901 +13.30
1165–1577 1376 80-85% 33 50.00–56.00 $53.20 $732 -3.78
1272–1598 1399 80-85% 44 58.00–64.00 $60.56 $847 +3.58
1269–1653 1426 80-85% 26 55.00–59.00 $57.40 $819 -4.49
1338–1485 1436 80-85% 17 53.00–54.50 $53.95 $775 +1.26
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315 1315 75-80% 1 59.00 $59.00 $776 —
1468 1468 75-80% 3 56.75 $56.75 $833 -1.68
1269–1765 1513 75-80% 19 59.00–62.50 $60.68 $918 —
1555–1585 1561 75-80% 11 52.00–56.00 $52.78 $824 —
1700 1700 75-80% 1 62.75 $62.75 $1,067 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1295 1295 1 72.00 $72.00 $932 —
1215–1575 1435 3 83.00–85.00 $84.27 $1,209 +0.27
1640 1640 1 78.00 $78.00 $1,279 —
1535–1965 1686 25 70.00–81.00 $75.13 $1,267 —
1600–2350 1901 10 83.50–90.50 $86.33 $1,641 —
1905–2480 2081 6 92.50–94.00 $93.62 $1,948 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
895 895 (<2 yrs)Open 1 94.00 $94.00 $841
827–943 thin fleshed 904 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 54.00–73.00 $59.79 $541
735–1340 998 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 199 57.00–86.00 $73.86 $737

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1036 thin fleshed 1036 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 24 1,350.00 $1,350.00
1034–1212 1111 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 158 1,435.00–1,785.00 $1,611.81
1107–1202 1152 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 26 1,200.00–1,450.00 $1,321.12
1056–1385 1202 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 405 1,400.00–1,675.00 $1,585.33
1212–1293 thin fleshed 1246 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 108 730.00–785.00 $751.94
1215–1349 1253 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 63 1,535.00–1,675.00 $1,565.85
1123–1458 1277 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 66 725.00–885.00 $816.23
1100–1655 1304 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 219 1,300.00–1,560.00 $1,459.99
1325–1332 1328 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,160.00–1,225.00 $1,188.97
1152–1550 1353 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 368 810.00–1,035.00 $865.98
1350–1373 1363 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 26 925.00–1,085.00 $1,017.97
1211–1548 1373 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 84 1,150.00–1,375.00 $1,284.75
1201–1598 1382 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 246 1,050.00–1,250.00 $1,184.05
1423 1423 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 975.00 $975.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1058–1290 1237 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 35 1,235.00–1,275.00 $1,242.82
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1549 1549 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 56.00 $56.00 $867

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
979–1359 1059 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 940 1,300.00–1,675.00 $1,499.99
1088–1108 1107 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 166 1,400.00–1,500.00 $1,411.97
1027–1280 1232 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 21 1,235.00–1,275.00 $1,241.35
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
949 949 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,100.00 $1,100.00
886–1008 956 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 69 1,110.00–1,260.00 $1,208.14

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1288 1288 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 14 1,685.00 $1,685.00 —

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Dairy Heifers

Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
643 643 9 128.00 $128.00 $823 —
808 808 11 121.00 $121.00 $978 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
665 665 10 133.00 $133.00 $884 —
809 809 16 127.50 $127.50 $1,031 —

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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.