Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 15, 2021

6,849 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 heifers $152.41/cwt -2.62 vs last sale · ≈ $870/hd at 571 lb · 474 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $161.39/cwt -1.15 vs last sale · ≈ $844/hd at 523 lb · 406 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $141.22/cwt +5.76 vs last sale · ≈ $941/hd at 666 lb · 315 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 6,849 7,815 3,787
Feeder cattle 3,517 4,586 1,124
Slaughter cattle 642 897 527
Replacement cattle 315 2,332 1,033

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steers weighing less than 600 lbs sold unevenly steady, 600 lbs steers and heavier sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifers under 500 lbs sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher, heifers over 500 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive. Overall demand was mostly moderate. Demand for heifers was stronger than steers again this week as many buyers continue to look for heifer to spay and turn out on grass. Several sets of replacement heifers sold on good demand . Replacement quality heifers were of very attractive quality. Demand for light weight cattle was slightly lower this week, the best demand for grass cattle was for 550-700 lbs. CME contract prices started the week with positive gains but sold off sharply to end the week. The March contract closed Friday at 134.675 while the April closed at 139.425 that's 1.675 and 3.80 lower on the March and April contracts respectfully. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand. Packer buyers were the driving force in the market as they showed good demand for slaughter cows. A Winter storm across much of the center of the country disrupted transportation and kept the volume of cattle both coming to sales and directly delivered to plants, light. This had packers searching for offerings and paying higher prices in order to secure supplies. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher on all classes. Feeding cows were too lightly tested this week to develop an accurate market trend. however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold unevenly steady. Early week sale bulls sold lower while late week sales bulls sold higher. Weigh up conditions were mostly average this week, and similar to last week. Two year old to young age cows sold on mostly moderate demand this week. This class sold steady to weak.

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
355–377 367 12 185.00–222.50 $199.51 $732 +4.77
412–435 425 32 189.00–212.50 $197.13 $838 +3.86
450–495 469 72 177.00–188.50 $184.47 $865 +0.23
501–537 524 64 170.00–177.00 $174.00 $912 -8.88
550–598 577 112 160.00–181.00 $168.11 $970 -3.06
601–645 607 54 157.00–164.50 $163.52 $993 +2.81
652 fancy 652 11 160.25 $160.25 $1,045 —
651–688 669 115 149.00–163.50 $157.89 $1,056 +9.16
700–744 731 31 140.00–150.50 $144.18 $1,054 -4.15
753–791 779 23 133.00–141.00 $134.79 $1,050 -5.23
913–945 921 4 125.00–128.00 $127.23 $1,172 +4.23
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
392 392 3 180.00 $180.00 $706 +2.21
467 467 11 169.50 $169.50 $792 -7.41
505–529 520 25 156.00–171.00 $161.63 $840 -7.32
555–580 562 12 148.00–165.00 $156.82 $881 +0.70
616 616 4 154.00 $154.00 $949 +8.11
720 720 2 136.00 $136.00 $979 -2.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520–547 537 8 165.00–173.00 $167.91 $902 +10.28
714 714 11 139.00 $139.00 $992 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475 475 5 145.00 $145.00 $689 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1023 1023 2 119.00 $119.00 $1,217 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
155 155 1 400.00 $400.00 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–329 325 5 185.00–194.00 $192.28 $625 +26.28
387–395 389 8 183.00–188.00 $184.27 $717 +15.86
400–445 428 43 164.50–185.00 $175.16 $750 +6.45
450–488 465 200 158.50–173.00 $166.04 $772 +2.96
492 thin fleshed 492 8 176.00 $176.00 $866 —
503–514 thin fleshed 513 80 169.00–172.00 $171.78 $881 -0.71
502–544 524 310 154.00–166.25 $159.24 $834 -1.15
546 546 16 151.00 $151.00 $824 -9.39
550–592 571 474 145.00–158.00 $152.41 $870 -2.42
600–649 623 242 136.00–149.75 $142.96 $891 +0.25
638 638 29 151.00 $151.00 $963 +8.29
656–667 657 110 145.00 $145.00 $953 +9.54
655–695 671 205 133.00–142.50 $139.19 $934 +3.73
703–704 704 126 138.50–142.50 $139.93 $985 +7.30
707–725 715 155 130.00–139.50 $137.15 $981 +4.52
758–791 768 53 129.00–134.00 $131.23 $1,008 +6.23
786 786 17 131.00–133.00 $131.82 $1,036 +6.82
820–830 829 43 118.00–124.50 $123.88 $1,027 -6.41
888 888 2 118.00 $118.00 $1,048 -11.00
912 912 6 116.00 $116.00 $1,058 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
403–448 426 71 152.50–167.00 $160.62 $684 +3.57
455–498 480 38 151.00–155.50 $154.24 $740 +2.90
510–536 524 21 141.00–153.00 $148.68 $779 -1.40
565–585 579 14 135.00–148.00 $144.03 $834 -0.58
677 677 3 129.00 $129.00 $873 +5.01
727–740 730 5 124.00–130.00 $126.42 $923 +4.93
798 798 3 123.00 $123.00 $982 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
367–383 378 11 140.00–142.50 $141.58 $535 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
748 748 8 125.00 $125.00 $935 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
441 441 5 130.00 $130.00 $573 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
482 482 5 167.00 $167.00 $805 -5.50
500 500 1 162.50 $162.50 $812 —
580 580 4 145.00 $145.00 $841 —
633 633 2 138.00 $138.00 $874 +3.00
670–698 686 10 129.00–134.50 $132.19 $907 —
720 720 2 120.00 $120.00 $864 -4.86
791 791 7 125.50 $125.50 $993 +4.99
902–923 905 13 101.00–123.00 $119.55 $1,082 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020 1020 3 101.00 $101.00 $1,030 -11.00
1095 1095 1 105.00 $105.00 $1,150 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
870–943 919 85-90% 3 42.00–44.50 $43.71 $402 -6.23
880–995 958 85-90% 12 51.00–59.50 $54.79 $525 —
945–980 963 85-90% 2 56.00–57.00 $56.51 $544 —
1103–1170 1116 85-90% 7 41.00–48.50 $45.49 $508 —
1120 1120 85-90% 1 65.00 $65.00 $728 —
1055–1381 1187 85-90% 89 49.00–59.50 $54.66 $649 +9.78
1095–1355 1204 85-90% 61 59.00–65.50 $62.09 $748 +2.36
1150–1293 1217 85-90% 6 48.00–62.00 $55.83 $679 -3.90
1030–1434 1226 85-90% 61 58.00–64.50 $60.63 $743 +0.37
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1292–1340 1304 80-85% 6 66.00–67.50 $66.91 $873 -1.09
1060–1508 1364 80-85% 21 55.00–60.75 $59.28 $809 -6.72
1279–1705 1385 80-85% 29 54.00–60.00 $57.34 $794 +0.56
1298–1598 1394 80-85% 47 58.50–66.25 $62.65 $873 +5.87
1320–1553 1405 80-85% 8 66.00–72.00 $68.27 $959 +12.01
1285–1680 1430 80-85% 54 58.00–65.50 $63.17 $903 +0.29
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1405–1705 1494 75-80% 28 60.50–65.50 $62.90 $940 +3.11
1515–1740 1628 75-80% 4 57.75–60.00 $58.80 $957 —
1530–1843 1632 75-80% 17 60.50–66.50 $64.01 $1,045 —
1560–1840 1658 75-80% 5 54.00–60.00 $57.37 $951 -5.95
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1535 1535 65-75% 4 64.25 $64.25 $986 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1178–1315 1220 4 86.50–88.00 $87.49 $1,067 —
1120–1304 1273 6 77.50–82.50 $78.23 $996 —
1425–1960 1703 49 73.00–83.00 $77.15 $1,314 +0.48
1305–2190 1866 33 80.50–89.00 $83.78 $1,563 -1.81
1865–2485 2087 16 87.00–97.00 $91.86 $1,917 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2185 2185 1 89.00 $89.00 $1,945 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
833–1010 thin fleshed 936 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 57.00–64.00 $59.47 $557
875–965 thin fleshed 938 (<2 yrs)Open 8 70.00–85.00 $81.16 $761
800–1335 1007 (<2 yrs)Open 97 80.00–106.50 $95.41 $961
839–1315 1080 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 100 58.00–89.00 $70.63 $763
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
883–1185 967 (<2 yrs)Open 4 71.00–87.00 $78.90 $763
995 995 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 60.00 $60.00 $597
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1010 1010 (<2 yrs)Open 1 87.00 $87.00 $879

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1063–1228 1129 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 900.00–1,000.00 $943.51
1291 thin fleshed 1291 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 725.00 $725.00
1355 1355 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 835.00 $835.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1245 thin fleshed 1245 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 660.00 $660.00

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
120–125 123 2 130.00 $130.00 $160 —
155–168 164 3 125.00–155.00 $145.53 $239 —
160–195 179 9 97.00–111.00 $100.17 $179 —
165–195 184 11 83.00–94.00 $90.07 $166 —
205–230 221 29 103.00–110.00 $104.77 $232 —
205–225 222 6 95.00–96.00 $95.15 $211 —
250–270 253 15 95.00–102.00 $100.68 $255 —
310 310 1 101.00 $101.00 $313 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
63 63 2 215.00 $215.00 $135 —
90 90 1 215.00 $215.00 $194 —
100–140 120 2 245.00 $245.00 $294 —
105–138 125 5 205.00–232.50 $212.99 $266 —
160–175 170 3 222.50–235.00 $231.08 $393 —
178 178 2 175.00 $175.00 $312 —
200 200 2 205.00 $205.00 $410 —

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
113–140 123 17 77.00–85.00 $79.03 $97 —
135–148 141 113 100.00–115.00 $111.13 $157 —
137–147 141 32 88.00–111.00 $101.26 $143 —
145 145 2 120.00 $120.00 $174 —
150–155 151 7 90.00–106.00 $103.65 $157 —
154–173 157 29 117.00–119.00 $118.62 $186 —
155–166 158 38 95.00–96.00 $95.25 $150 —
150–189 167 93 100.00–115.00 $108.43 $181 —
168–170 169 20 117.50–118.00 $117.80 $199 —
160–198 180 137 99.00–111.00 $103.00 $185 —
175–195 192 24 97.00–98.00 $97.66 $188 —
195 195 21 80.00 $80.00 $156 —
201–220 205 58 100.00–106.00 $101.90 $209 —
205 205 1 88.00 $88.00 $180 —
214–216 215 15 104.00–105.00 $104.67 $225 —
203–240 219 59 90.00–98.00 $93.76 $205 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
163–188 169 Aged (>6yrs)Exposed 31 98.00–104.00 $99.51 $168 —
177–185 183 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Exposed 64 105.00–122.00 $110.15 $202 —

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
48 48 11 272.50 $272.50 $131 —
67 67 33 285.00 $285.00 $191 —
93–98 96 28 227.50–245.00 $231.95 $223 —
105–128 125 9 180.00–225.00 $184.19 $230 —
151 151 8 177.00 $177.00 $267 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
128 128 3 105.00 $105.00 $134 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
28 28 2 400.00 $400.00 $112 —
28 28 2 190.00 $190.00 $53 —
33 33 3 340.00 $340.00 $112 —
35 35 10 380.00 $380.00 $133 —
35 35 1 297.50 $297.50 $104 —
40 40 7 240.00 $240.00 $96 —
42–45 42 12 405.00–410.00 $405.44 $170 —
40–48 45 3 300.00–330.00 $308.82 $139 —
47 47 6 325.00 $325.00 $153 —
48 48 2 365.00 $365.00 $175 —
49 49 5 300.00 $300.00 $147 —
50 50 1 270.00 $270.00 $135 —
50–58 53 15 295.00–345.00 $330.45 $175 —
55 55 1 210.00 $210.00 $116 —
55 55 3 290.00 $290.00 $160 —
55 55 1 375.00 $375.00 $206 —
62 62 3 320.00 $320.00 $198 —
60–65 63 15 325.00–350.00 $342.04 $215 —
67 67 3 285.00 $285.00 $191 —
68 68 2 220.00 $220.00 $150 —
70 70 5 235.00 $235.00 $164 —
74 74 7 295.00 $295.00 $218 —
70–78 77 22 300.00–345.00 $305.82 $235 —
75–78 77 6 260.00–295.00 $275.88 $212 —
80–87 84 5 240.00–282.50 $272.05 $229 —
90 90 1 282.50 $282.50 $254 —
90 90 3 315.00–335.00 $328.33 $295 —
90 90 3 285.00 $285.00 $256 —
93 93 2 325.00 $325.00 $302 —
105 105 1 265.00 $265.00 $278 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
85 85 —— 2 185.00 $185.00 $157 —
88 88 —— 3 215.00 $215.00 $189 —
95 95 —— 1 145.00 $145.00 $138 —
95 95 —— 1 225.00 $225.00 $214 —
98 98 —— 6 197.50 $197.50 $194 —
115 115 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Open 2 205.00 $205.00 $236 —
105–128 118 —— 5 150.00–165.00 $162.34 $192 —
100–134 119 —— 9 190.00–210.00 $196.82 $234 —
102–140 119 —— 21 170.00–190.00 $183.42 $218 —
120 120 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 200.00 $200.00 $240 —
155–168 164 —— 3 160.00–180.00 $166.31 $273 —
168 168 Aged (>6yrs)Open 2 170.00 $170.00 $286 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
63–69 66 8 235.00–275.00 $255.91 $169 —
100–130 116 13 240.00–290.00 $268.32 $311 —
118–120 119 3 200.00–227.00 $217.90 $259 —

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
59 59 25 252.50 $252.50 $149 —
64–69 65 22 210.00–255.00 $222.96 $145 —
64–68 67 35 269.00–281.00 $278.14 $186 —
71–79 75 214 266.00–280.00 $273.31 $205 —
81–87 86 213 242.50–267.00 $258.81 $223 —
84–87 86 13 282.50–295.00 $291.25 $250 —
89 89 48 230.00 $230.00 $205 —
90–98 95 123 220.00–242.50 $226.37 $215 —
94–99 96 16 192.50–215.00 $206.19 $198 —
107 107 8 250.00 $250.00 $268 —
101–136 110 140 190.00–222.00 $213.09 $234 —
120 120 2 220.00 $220.00 $264 —
132 132 22 145.00 $145.00 $191 —
165–173 171 5 170.00–175.00 $170.96 $292 —
164–190 173 14 160.00–192.50 $175.14 $303 —

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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.