Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 12, 2021

8,747 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $140.16/cwt +8.22 vs last sale · ≈ $1,017/hd at 726 lb · 664 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $173.43/cwt +9.94 vs last sale · ≈ $1,098/hd at 633 lb · 593 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $158.72/cwt +2.58 vs last sale · ≈ $908/hd at 572 lb · 533 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 8,747 2,878 2,435
Feeder cattle 7,305 1,064 2,214
Slaughter cattle 659 1,234 130
Replacement cattle 783 580 91

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Receipts were too light last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on steers under 500 lbs. Steers over 500 lbs. sold with steady to frim undertones. Steady to higher undertones were noticed on all weights of heifers. Quality was average to very attractive this week and significantly higher than last week. Several load lots were seen this week, many out of backgrounding lots. Offerings were mixed for flesh from thin to moderate. Very few fleshy offerings were seen this week. Despite lower CME feeder contract prices, demand was moderate to good for all offerings as quality was better this week. CME contract prices lost money almost daily last week as grain prices continue to push higher. The April feeder contract settled Friday at 139.625 while the May contract settled at 143.725 that's 5.125 and 5.90 lower on the April and May contracts respectfully. Market activity this week was moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand and offerings. Packers showed mostly good demand for high quality feeding cows and mostly moderate demand for slaughter cows. Feeding cows sold steady to firm, slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Feeding buyers were less aggressive on thin fleshed or lower quality cows this past week. This allowed packers to buy slaughter cows lower. Weigh up conditions were average to below average this week. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Bull quality was not as attractive this week as they were last week. Two year old to young age cows sold on mostly good to very good demand this week. Buyers continue to show similar demand for both cows the feed or rebreed. This class sold fully 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
336–345 338 21 208.00–220.00 $210.92 $713 —
383–395 392 13 200.00–202.00 $201.55 $790 -8.45
400–418 413 33 198.00–205.00 $201.58 $833 —
438 unweaned 438 3 181.00 $181.00 $793 -5.00
450–493 475 55 191.00–199.00 $194.06 $922 -2.58
507–545 525 76 185.00–195.00 $190.46 $1,000 +9.47
550 unweaned 550 10 175.00 $175.00 $962 —
557–593 572 164 175.00–184.00 $181.17 $1,036 +7.69
586 586 23 174.50 $174.50 $1,023 +1.02
607–645 632 560 169.25–181.50 $174.01 $1,100 +10.52
649 649 33 163.50 $163.50 $1,061 +0.01
651–699 674 321 157.00–171.00 $162.59 $1,096 +1.60
700–746 721 193 148.00–158.00 $153.14 $1,104 +13.14
722–746 736 35 146.50–147.00 $146.70 $1,080 +6.70
751–782 760 33 141.00–150.00 $146.60 $1,114 —
788 788 11 136.50 $136.50 $1,076 —
805–841 814 129 135.50–139.00 $136.41 $1,110 —
867–880 875 176 133.00–138.25 $136.20 $1,192 +3.70
903–944 928 19 127.00–130.00 $128.99 $1,197 —
966 966 29 120.00 $120.00 $1,159 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383–397 395 15 194.00–202.00 $200.97 $794 +8.04
400–449 440 57 182.50–193.00 $190.45 $838 -0.12
463–499 482 49 180.00–189.00 $184.74 $890 -3.96
500–538 534 41 176.00–182.00 $180.81 $966 +14.60
555–598 576 57 154.00–175.00 $167.21 $963 -4.65
606–646 625 37 149.00–168.00 $156.33 $977 +4.15
707–740 733 37 140.00–147.50 $144.75 $1,061 —
755–785 762 5 136.50–142.00 $138.23 $1,053 —
840 840 5 127.00–127.50 $127.30 $1,069 —
858 thin fleshed 858 6 135.00 $135.00 $1,158 —
904–920 909 6 120.00–121.00 $120.34 $1,094 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
741 741 26 140.00 $140.00 $1,037 —
992 992 7 125.00 $125.00 $1,240 —
1183 1183 6 113.00 $113.00 $1,337 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 4 161.00 $161.00 $789 —
500–501 501 16 162.00–169.00 $165.50 $829 —
693 693 11 133.00 $133.00 $922 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 435 3 179.00 $179.00 $779 —
572 572 14 176.50 $176.50 $1,010 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1068 1068 2 113.00 $113.00 $1,207 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
337 337 9 178.00 $178.00 $600 —
369 369 9 176.00 $176.00 $649 —
415–448 427 105 165.50–182.50 $172.01 $734 +0.12
454–495 481 130 167.00–171.00 $168.90 $812 +3.37
504–545 524 297 159.00–169.00 $163.96 $859 -2.72
552–598 572 512 149.00–164.50 $158.46 $906 +2.32
581 fancy 581 21 165.00 $165.00 $959 —
600–645 620 424 143.50–155.50 $151.38 $939 +4.83
652–698 679 311 137.00–149.50 $145.95 $991 +5.02
698 698 6 134.00 $134.00 $935 -6.93
701–741 725 629 134.50–144.00 $139.86 $1,014 +7.92
739 739 35 145.50 $145.50 $1,075 +13.56
755–769 766 125 132.00–136.00 $134.05 $1,027 +5.89
751–799 771 224 130.00–134.50 $132.39 $1,021 +4.23
802–845 829 132 125.00–131.00 $128.92 $1,069 —
836 836 7 133.00 $133.00 $1,112 —
852–854 852 75 127.75–130.00 $128.14 $1,092 —
962 962 16 120.00 $120.00 $1,154 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
369–392 385 46 165.00–173.00 $169.15 $651 +5.42
406–449 436 89 157.00–162.00 $160.28 $699 -7.94
463–490 474 49 151.00–165.00 $155.87 $739 -4.98
500–547 524 97 150.00–158.00 $154.17 $808 -7.22
555–598 582 116 139.00–152.00 $146.71 $854 -1.24
603–648 634 155 131.00–139.50 $138.60 $879 —
653–693 681 73 128.00–139.00 $135.12 $920 +6.68
702–747 730 19 129.00–133.50 $131.28 $958 —
754–799 768 47 121.00–129.75 $127.45 $979 —
838 838 5 117.00 $117.00 $980 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
493 493 2 153.00 $153.00 $754 —
660–692 662 41 134.00–139.50 $139.08 $921 +15.08
712–733 729 14 128.50–131.00 $129.02 $941 —
791 791 8 129.50 $129.50 $1,024 —
1028 1028 29 114.00 $114.00 $1,172 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
309 309 4 145.00 $145.00 $448 -18.00
366 366 13 155.00 $155.00 $567 -0.50
432 432 29 149.00 $149.00 $644 -5.00
529–545 542 37 137.50–145.00 $143.76 $779 -0.24
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
342 342 16 154.00 $154.00 $527 —
354 354 18 159.00 $159.00 $563 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 20 170.00 $170.00 $672 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
482–495 490 8 175.00–177.50 $176.58 $865 +11.58
500–530 515 2 160.00–168.00 $164.12 $845 —
603 603 14 136.00 $136.00 $820 —
667–695 678 10 133.00–142.00 $138.31 $938 —
788–798 792 10 125.00–128.00 $126.79 $1,004 —
848 848 2 127.00 $127.00 $1,077 +6.00
908–910 909 4 113.50–114.00 $113.87 $1,035 -13.13
950 950 1 114.00 $114.00 $1,083 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810 810 2 127.00 $127.00 $1,029 +7.00
1015–1043 1026 14 111.00–116.00 $114.06 $1,170 —
1055 1055 3 110.00–116.00 $114.00 $1,203 +6.00
1145 1145 1 107.00 $107.00 $1,225 -7.00
1155–1175 1164 6 106.00–109.00 $108.34 $1,261 +0.34
1222–1245 1228 4 100.00–103.00 $100.76 $1,237 —
1263–1275 1267 3 90.50–91.00 $90.67 $1,149 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
85 85 2 175.00 $175.00 —
140 140 2 410.00 $410.00 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1130 1130 3 90.00 $90.00 $1,017 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840–970 921 85-90% 6 51.00–54.00 $52.57 $484 -6.76
850–995 923 85-90% 6 55.00–62.50 $60.14 $555 +0.81
1040–1135 1094 85-90% 4 50.00–51.00 $50.76 $555 —
925–1275 1141 85-90% 44 62.00–66.25 $64.55 $737 -4.92
1060–1320 1198 85-90% 37 66.00–71.50 $67.29 $806 -6.23
1013–1380 1203 85-90% 61 57.00–66.00 $62.93 $757 -5.52
1010–1315 1212 85-90% 37 55.00–69.50 $66.59 $807 +10.97
1173–1360 1221 85-90% 10 70.00–72.50 $70.47 $860 -1.86
1260–1285 1273 85-90% 2 71.00–72.50 $71.74 $913 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1340 1340 80-85% 1 54.00 $54.00 $724 —
1220–1505 1379 80-85% 20 65.50–69.00 $67.37 $929 -3.97
1220–1563 1400 80-85% 94 67.00–72.00 $69.12 $968 +3.57
1327–1585 1412 80-85% 32 71.00–74.50 $72.68 $1,026 +7.13
1290–1610 1435 80-85% 34 60.00–66.00 $63.77 $915 -2.00
1345–1590 1452 80-85% 9 58.00–65.50 $63.63 $924 -5.38
1348–1715 1489 80-85% 7 71.00–74.00 $71.91 $1,071 +2.90
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1473 1473 75-80% 2 74.50 $74.50 $1,097 +8.50
1545–1718 1622 75-80% 9 72.00–74.50 $73.04 $1,185 +0.54
1400–1945 1652 75-80% 10 69.50–73.00 $70.60 $1,166 —
1570–1725 1678 75-80% 4 70.00–72.00 $71.26 $1,196 —
1580–2015 1718 75-80% 9 64.50–69.00 $65.85 $1,131 —
1690–1760 1725 75-80% 2 68.00–68.50 $68.24 $1,177 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1565 1565 65-75% 4 71.25 $71.25 $1,115 -1.26
1785 1785 65-75% 1 67.00 $67.00 $1,196 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1163–1470 1262 6 77.50–83.00 $81.10 $1,023 -5.40
1161–1565 1276 13 85.00–91.00 $86.15 $1,099 -0.35
1305 1305 1 93.00 $93.00 $1,214 +11.94
1300–1315 1308 2 71.00–73.00 $72.01 $942 -9.05
1365–1920 1672 16 74.00–85.00 $82.30 $1,376 —
1510–2335 1812 44 85.00–93.50 $90.19 $1,634 —
1760–2240 1970 20 93.50–101.00 $96.16 $1,894 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
755–1400 1015 (<2 yrs)Open 249 79.50–117.00 $98.35 $998
845–1390 1068 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 143 66.00–99.50 $81.65 $872
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
855–1100 929 (<2 yrs)Open 11 70.00–93.00 $86.89 $807
1215 1215 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 67.50 $67.50 $820
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1015 1015 (<2 yrs)Open 1 85.00 $85.00 $863

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1288 1288 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 14 1,035.00 $1,035.00
1333 1333 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11 935.00 $935.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1325–1480 1387 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 20 1,150.00–1,225.00 $1,182.01 —
1409 1409 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 7 1,250.00 $1,250.00 —
1555 1555 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 1,675.00 $1,675.00 —
1460–1605 1569 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 16 1,350.00–1,550.00 $1,503.47 —
1613 1613 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 32 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —
1530–1648 1629 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 19 1,350.00–1,375.00 $1,371.29 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1141 1141 (<2 yrs)Open 10 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —

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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.