Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 22, 2021

9,154 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 heifers $162.96/cwt +5.17 vs last sale · ≈ $866/hd at 532 lb · 786 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $165.58/cwt +5.62 vs last sale · ≈ $1,051/hd at 634 lb · 608 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $179.32/cwt -1.99 vs last sale · ≈ $1,013/hd at 565 lb · 515 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 9,154 3,254 9,946
Feeder cattle 7,442 2,028 7,257
Slaughter cattle 913 821 412
Replacement cattle 799 405 2,277

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steers weighing less than 550 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Steers over 550 lbs sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher. Heifers under 450 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, steady to higher undertones were noticed. Heifers over 500 lbs sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly attractive to very attractive. Several feeder special sales were held this week. These sales offered buyers several load lots of home raised feeders as well as many large packages of uniform feeders. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly good to very good this week. Cattle this week were green. Many offerings were seen this week out of Northern Montana. Most of these offerings were thin fleshed and buyers offered these cattle strong premiums at times. Despite lower CME positions to end the week buyers were aggressive as seasonally, sales have started to lighten. The last Friday feeder special of the marketing season was held this past Friday. Market activity this week was mostly active to very active with many order buyers and farmer feeders ringside actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for mostly moderate to heavy offerings. Packer buyers backed up cows this week as they showed significantly lighter demand for slaughter cows. Warmer weather allowed for cow availability both in sale barns and delivered directly to the plant to increase. This allowed for packers to bid lower money of heavier supplies. Packers opted to send most high quality cows to feed this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-4.00 lower. Feeding cows sold steady to 3.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Many of these offerings lost calves in the cold and snow 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
370–387 384 12 212.00–215.00 $212.48 $816 —
412 unweaned 412 12 189.00 $189.00 $779 —
425–441 434 60 184.00–218.00 $212.01 $920 +26.01
455–499 479 179 181.50–207.50 $195.77 $938 +3.92
479 unweaned 479 23 181.00 $181.00 $867 —
500–548 519 317 180.00–195.00 $185.19 $961 +4.34
560 thin fleshed 560 226 187.50 $187.50 $1,050 —
552–595 569 248 164.75–181.00 $173.91 $990 -7.40
570 unweaned 570 41 167.00 $167.00 $952 —
602–639 628 361 155.25–166.00 $162.87 $1,023 +2.91
608–647 thin fleshed 644 247 169.50–170.00 $169.53 $1,092 —
655–693 678 156 147.50–156.00 $151.57 $1,028 +4.20
700–745 719 242 142.00–155.00 $150.51 $1,082 +3.80
712–744 733 14 132.00 $132.00 $968 -14.71
755–784 773 32 127.00–132.00 $130.15 $1,006 —
773–795 783 276 141.00–142.00 $141.31 $1,106 —
810–826 825 14 137.00–142.00 $141.65 $1,169 +7.86
857–888 882 136 126.50–135.00 $133.27 $1,175 +1.64
930 930 17 120.00 $120.00 $1,116 —
903–945 937 69 123.00–125.00 $124.64 $1,168 —
950 950 6 124.00 $124.00 $1,178 —
996 996 9 121.00 $121.00 $1,205 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400–443 417 32 185.00–200.00 $191.07 $797 +8.90
463–496 484 65 158.00–189.00 $180.38 $873 +1.38
509–548 526 20 162.00–178.00 $172.36 $907 —
555–596 588 51 142.50–165.00 $153.58 $903 —
611–645 631 21 146.00–155.00 $149.62 $944 —
661–689 672 21 141.00–148.00 $144.71 $972 —
703 703 3 138.00 $138.00 $970 —
746 746 6 128.00 $128.00 $955 —
815 815 3 127.00 $127.00 $1,035 —
940 940 6 116.00 $116.00 $1,090 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
586 586 45 158.00 $158.00 $926 +5.00
647 647 28 152.00 $152.00 $983 —
684 684 77 153.50 $153.50 $1,050 +6.50
1016–1028 1020 11 116.00–118.00 $117.27 $1,196 —
1085 1085 1 118.00 $118.00 $1,280 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505–520 510 13 171.00–175.00 $173.74 $886 —
615 615 11 154.00 $154.00 $947 —
691 691 10 121.00 $121.00 $836 —
707 707 13 133.00 $133.00 $940 —
825 825 22 117.00 $117.00 $965 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
462 462 10 160.00 $160.00 $739 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
337 unweaned 337 11 172.50 $172.50 $581 —
364–395 375 45 164.00–178.00 $172.54 $647 +2.54
401–446 439 93 169.00–181.00 $172.32 $756 +6.01
457–484 unweaned 466 39 155.50–164.50 $161.38 $752 —
455–495 483 415 157.00–173.00 $165.66 $800 +2.33
512–513 thin fleshed 512 116 169.50–170.00 $169.81 $869 —
503–548 534 622 150.00–166.00 $162.18 $866 +4.39
548 unweaned 548 48 156.50 $156.50 $858 —
550–592 570 466 143.00–159.00 $154.98 $883 +8.88
574 unweaned 574 8 153.00 $153.00 $878 —
592 592 11 148.00 $148.00 $876 +1.90
602–627 thin fleshed 615 72 153.00–156.00 $154.40 $950 —
600–648 625 275 136.00–149.50 $143.93 $900 +3.65
656 656 27 136.25 $136.25 $894 -6.75
655–697 680 242 133.00–143.50 $140.58 $956 +5.06
700–743 714 269 125.50–143.50 $139.47 $996 +12.11
767–798 783 76 115.00–133.50 $126.47 $990 +3.47
808–843 818 69 122.50–130.50 $129.22 $1,057 —
867–877 871 20 119.00–122.50 $121.27 $1,056 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323 323 5 157.50 $157.50 $509 —
361–399 376 18 150.00–158.00 $156.32 $588 —
401–440 424 43 154.00–165.00 $157.40 $667 -2.60
450–484 474 42 149.25–164.00 $158.52 $751 +7.67
509–547 531 84 141.50–155.50 $149.33 $793 —
570–596 589 28 147.00–148.00 $147.35 $868 +15.85
615–649 624 26 131.00–137.00 $135.43 $845 —
655–687 682 12 124.50–136.50 $132.89 $906 —
730 730 2 117.00 $117.00 $854 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307 307 13 157.50 $157.50 $484 —
363 363 6 167.00 $167.00 $606 —
411 411 9 157.50 $157.50 $647 —
480–497 491 29 148.00–161.00 $156.18 $767 —
619 619 7 138.50 $138.50 $857 —
623 623 6 122.00 $122.00 $760 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
399 399 8 150.00 $150.00 $598 —
477 477 23 140.00 $140.00 $668 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
402 402 10 132.50 $132.50 $533 —
592 592 12 129.50 $129.50 $767 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
513 unweaned 513 5 144.00 $144.00 $739 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
462–463 462 7 181.00–197.50 $192.78 $891 —
502–544 534 42 166.00–173.00 $167.57 $895 —
930 930 2 121.00 $121.00 $1,125 —
963 963 4 116.00 $116.00 $1,117 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1063–1073 1066 8 115.00–119.00 $117.99 $1,258 —
1111 1111 4 112.00 $112.00 $1,244 —
1216 1216 4 103.00 $103.00 $1,252 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
482 482 6 157.50 $157.50 $759 —
549 549 5 139.00 $139.00 $763 —
577 577 2 148.00 $148.00 $854 —
675 675 2 127.00 $127.00 $857 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1276–1668 1363 80-85% 118 51.50–60.00 $56.41 $769 -3.28
1275–1630 1369 80-85% 89 58.00–65.50 $61.05 $836 +1.36
1154–1577 1373 80-85% 87 57.50–64.00 $60.36 $829 +0.67
1313–1505 1404 80-85% 6 66.00–68.00 $66.59 $935 —
1320–1635 1419 80-85% 13 54.50–57.00 $56.51 $802 —
1360–1705 1491 80-85% 5 64.50–66.50 $65.35 $974 —
1510 1510 80-85% 1 50.00 $50.00 $755 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
880–960 920 85-90% 2 38.00–43.00 $40.61 $374 -18.39
910–975 943 85-90% 2 57.00–59.00 $57.97 $547 —
870–995 947 85-90% 17 45.00–55.00 $50.07 $474 —
1095–1180 1144 85-90% 9 35.00–48.00 $38.64 $442 —
1148–1325 1198 85-90% 15 57.50–62.50 $59.53 $713 +2.20
1005–1395 1205 85-90% 125 46.50–60.00 $54.57 $658 -7.88
1035–1300 1232 85-90% 19 57.00–64.00 $60.13 $741 -2.32
1005–1343 1245 85-90% 29 47.00–57.00 $54.67 $681 -7.78
1328 1328 85-90% 2 65.00 $65.00 $863 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1394–1845 1485 75-80% 62 60.50–65.75 $63.55 $944 —
1403–2045 1550 75-80% 59 61.50–66.00 $62.99 $976 +2.61
1454–1865 1553 75-80% 32 57.00–61.00 $59.09 $918 -1.29
1522–1883 1626 75-80% 20 55.00–60.00 $57.52 $935 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1592–1816 1716 65-75% 36 59.00–63.75 $62.88 $1,079 —
2450 2450 65-75% 1 51.00 $51.00 $1,250 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1107–1290 1138 6 85.00–85.50 $85.41 $972 +11.41
1108–1255 1157 6 76.00–79.00 $77.92 $902 —
1290 1290 1 83.50 $83.50 $1,077 —
1620–2335 1856 24 85.00–90.50 $87.77 $1,629 —
1360–2190 1868 15 66.00–84.00 $76.85 $1,436 —
1710–1993 1899 4 91.00–91.50 $91.11 $1,730 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2455 2455 1 82.00 $82.00 $2,013 -3.00

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
822–862 thin fleshed 852 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 73.00–76.00 $75.28 $641
725–1156 963 (<2 yrs)Open 114 87.00–114.00 $100.48 $968
788–1485 1056 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 208 56.00–89.00 $70.49 $744
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1410 1410 (<2 yrs)Open 3 73.50 $73.50 $1,036

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1168–1181 thin fleshed 1178 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 42 735.00–760.00 $754.69
1213 1213 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 775.00 $775.00
1223–1427 1328 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 73 835.00–925.00 $884.09
1502 1502 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 15 1,250.00 $1,250.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1283 1283 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 9 53.50 $53.50 $686

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
942–1175 1063 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 248 1,300.00–1,510.00 $1,447.35
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
921 921 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,225.00 $1,225.00

↑ Back to top

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.