Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 19, 2021

5,424 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $154.39/cwt +3.01 vs last sale · ≈ $959/hd at 621 lb · 298 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $182.56/cwt +2.48 vs last sale · ≈ $1,030/hd at 564 lb · 166 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $165.51/cwt +1.55 vs last sale · ≈ $877/hd at 530 lb · 112 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,424 8,747 3,474
Feeder cattle 2,428 7,305 2,677
Slaughter cattle 618 659 355
Replacement cattle 505 783 442

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: The best test for steer calves was 550-599 lbs which sold fully steady, all other weights were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. The best test for heifers was for 500-749 lbs which sold steady to 3.00 higher. All other heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend however steady undertones were noticed. Quality was mixed from plain to attractive this week and lower than last weeks heavy offering. Demand was mostly moderate for light offerings. Most calves were offered in small packages with only a single load lot on offer. The best demand continues to be for cattle 500-750 lbs as local ranchers continue to buy green cattle suitable to run on grass this summer. CME feeder contract prices continue to feel the weight of sharply higher grain prices. Feeder cattle settled Friday at 133.85, while the May contract settled at 137.675, which is 5.775 and 6.05 lower respectfully. The August contract settled at 149.90 on Friday. Market activity was slow to moderate this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding buyers showed lighter demand for thin fleshed older cows this week which allowed packers to purchase more of these cows to go to slaughter. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 1.00 lower on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows sold fully steady. Feeding cows sold steady to 1.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were average to below average this week. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 lower. Bull quality was average to attractive this week. High dressing bulls sold fully steady while average to low dressing bulls saw the largest decline in price. 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
342 unweaned 342 10 190.00 $190.00 $650 —
400 unweaned 400 8 185.00 $185.00 $740 —
487 487 17 186.00 $186.00 $906 -8.06
553–589 564 166 175.00–186.25 $182.56 $1,030 +1.39
603–646 620 71 162.00–172.00 $169.73 $1,052 -4.28
651–688 670 23 156.00–161.00 $158.48 $1,062 -4.11
718–733 729 19 144.00–160.00 $152.35 $1,111 +5.65
750–769 759 30 139.00–145.50 $143.32 $1,088 -3.28
825 825 26 134.00 $134.00 $1,106 -2.41
913–946 941 24 121.00–125.50 $121.73 $1,145 -7.26
953–975 960 13 125.00–127.00 $125.63 $1,206 +5.63
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
332 332 5 180.00 $180.00 $598 —
350–365 363 12 182.50–187.00 $186.28 $676 -14.69
408–435 415 25 180.00–187.50 $183.10 $760 -7.35
458–496 489 17 176.00–184.00 $182.42 $892 -2.32
507–529 510 49 171.00–177.00 $173.87 $887 -6.94
554–587 579 19 170.00–173.00 $171.35 $992 +4.14
625–646 642 19 156.00–160.00 $156.83 $1,007 +0.50
650–690 658 23 145.00–155.00 $151.67 $998 —
720 720 4 146.00–147.00 $146.50 $1,055 +1.75
970 970 1 119.00 $119.00 $1,154 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
674 674 24 139.50 $139.50 $940 +6.50
775 775 1 124.00 $124.00 $961 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405 405 4 183.00 $183.00 $741 —
490 490 10 175.00 $175.00 $858 —
508 508 2 142.50 $142.50 $724 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
428 428 4 185.00 $185.00 $792 +6.00
554 554 10 171.00 $171.00 $947 -5.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
765 765 3 136.00 $136.00 $1,040 —
1035–1045 1042 3 122.00–122.50 $122.33 $1,275 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323 unweaned 323 4 165.00 $165.00 $533 —
390 unweaned 390 22 166.00 $166.00 $647 —
421–433 424 11 171.00–179.50 $177.13 $751 +5.12
452–473 460 5 167.00–172.00 $169.95 $782 +1.05
509–549 530 112 160.50–170.50 $165.51 $877 +1.55
550–589 571 89 155.00–163.50 $160.67 $917 +2.21
602–649 621 298 145.00–159.00 $154.39 $959 +3.01
669 669 11 141.50 $141.50 $947 -4.45
650–698 686 63 138.00–143.00 $141.68 $972 -4.27
700–710 705 78 134.00–143.50 $139.61 $984 -0.25
760 760 14 135.50 $135.50 $1,030 +1.45
759–770 765 15 133.00 $133.00 $1,017 -1.05
810–841 831 6 118.50–122.00 $119.64 $994 -9.28
870 870 2 122.00 $122.00 $1,061 -6.14
960 960 4 106.00 $106.00 $1,018 -14.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
332–341 338 8 165.00–170.00 $166.84 $564 —
367–371 368 26 153.00–162.50 $154.47 $568 -14.68
433–445 441 9 155.00–165.00 $159.48 $703 -0.80
450–488 474 69 155.00–161.50 $157.92 $749 +2.05
515–543 535 48 142.00–158.00 $150.36 $804 -3.81
555–584 580 36 140.50–155.50 $144.66 $839 -2.05
614 614 4 136.00 $136.00 $835 -2.60
650–678 666 13 133.00–135.00 $134.54 $896 -0.58
677 677 19 127.00 $127.00 $860 -8.12
723 723 2 131.00 $131.00 $947 -0.28
753–786 781 21 122.00–126.00 $124.67 $974 -2.78
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
298 298 23 160.00 $160.00 $477 —
357–388 376 17 155.00–159.00 $156.32 $588 +1.32
450 450 26 150.00 $150.00 $675 —
533 533 15 137.00 $137.00 $730 -6.76
720 720 5 116.00 $116.00 $835 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
448 448 6 162.00 $162.00 $726 —
529 529 5 158.50 $158.50 $838 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
402 402 6 138.00 $138.00 $555 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1277 1277 3 102.00 $102.00 $1,303 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
593 593 —— 3 145.00 $145.00 $860 —
669 669 —— 5 140.00 $140.00 $937 +1.69
735 735 —— 10 133.00 $133.00 $978 —
784 784 —— 86 132.00 $132.00 $1,035 +5.21
825 825 —— 1 126.00 $126.00 $1,040 -1.00
862–871 867 —— 105 129.75–131.50 $130.60 $1,132 —
980 980 —— 1 123.00 $123.00 $1,205 +9.00
1209 1209 (<2 yrs)N/A 5 127.00 $127.00 $1,535 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
725 725 13 129.00 $129.00 $935 —
839 839 7 126.50 $126.50 $1,061 -0.50
1092 1092 3 116.00 $116.00 $1,267 —
1140 1140 2 110.00 $110.00 $1,254 +3.00
1172–1190 1177 4 91.00–110.00 $95.80 $1,128 -12.54
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
522 522 3 156.00 $156.00 $814 —
725–728 726 10 122.00–128.00 $126.80 $921 —
821 821 10 126.00 $126.00 $1,034 —
905 905 1 117.00 $117.00 $1,059 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
65–93 79 6 250.00–275.00 $264.72 +89.72
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
75 75 1 150.00 $150.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835–990 928 85-90% 3 54.00–61.00 $58.29 $541 -1.85
1100–1125 1113 85-90% 2 70.00–73.00 $71.52 $796 +6.97
945–1288 1160 85-90% 80 58.00–66.50 $63.59 $738 —
1065–1365 1195 85-90% 8 47.50–54.00 $51.95 $621 -15.34
925–1335 1196 85-90% 69 65.00–69.50 $67.10 $803 -0.19
995–1350 1200 85-90% 72 52.00–65.00 $60.48 $726 -2.45
1075–1335 1227 85-90% 17 65.00–68.00 $66.39 $815 -4.08
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1253–1570 1408 80-85% 55 64.00–70.50 $67.55 $951 -5.13
1375–1585 1428 80-85% 21 70.00–75.00 $71.27 $1,018 +7.50
1305–1553 1449 80-85% 35 59.00–66.50 $64.36 $933 +0.59
1423–1505 1450 80-85% 3 70.00–73.00 $71.04 $1,030 +7.41
1290–1550 1458 80-85% 27 65.00–68.50 $66.98 $977 +3.35
1310–1623 1476 80-85% 26 58.00–65.00 $62.58 $924 -9.33
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1425–1540 1507 75-80% 9 68.00–74.00 $71.90 $1,084 —
1425–1903 1634 75-80% 14 69.00–72.50 $70.65 $1,154 -2.39
1650–1655 1652 75-80% 3 64.00 $64.00 $1,057 -6.60
1488–1866 1654 75-80% 14 61.00–68.00 $65.19 $1,078 -5.41

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1208–1275 1230 3 83.00–91.00 $88.24 $1,085 —
1230–1565 1398 4 75.00–82.00 $78.92 $1,103 —
1340–1765 1543 11 67.50–82.00 $77.27 $1,192 —
1335–2190 1795 22 83.00–92.50 $86.59 $1,554 —
1890–2470 2142 14 93.00–100.50 $96.00 $2,056 —
2505 2505 1 94.50 $94.50 $2,367 —
2780 2780 1 82.00 $82.00 $2,280 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2290 2290 1 81.50 $81.50 $1,866 —
2440 2440 1 81.50 $81.50 $1,989 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
718 thin fleshed 718 (<2 yrs)Open 4 105.00 $105.00 $754
742–1509 952 (<2 yrs)Open 240 81.00–121.00 $100.20 $954
870–1575 1085 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 96 62.00–102.50 $79.25 $860
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
765–1135 955 (<2 yrs)Open 4 72.00–86.00 $81.14 $775
1130 1130 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 69.00 $69.00 $780

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1223–1423 1315 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 1,100.00–1,200.00 $1,153.48
1434 1434 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 900.00 $900.00

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
165 165 2 171.00 $171.00 $282 —
175–180 178 3 111.00–112.50 $111.49 $198 —
180–188 186 5 91.00–101.00 $94.14 $175 —
200 200 3 117.00 $117.00 $234 —
205–216 215 8 93.00 $93.00 $200 —
220–237 231 11 96.00–99.00 $97.92 $226 —
250 250 1 91.00 $91.00 $228 —
265–275 271 5 95.00–102.50 $96.47 $261 —
315 315 1 93.00 $93.00 $293 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
60 60 —— 1 210.00 $210.00 $126 —
85 85 —— 3 250.00 $250.00 $212 —
90 90 —— 1 280.00 $280.00 $252 —
90 90 —— 1 245.00 $245.00 $220 —
100–133 120 —— 5 242.50–280.00 $252.52 $303 —
135 135 Kids (<1 yr)N/A 1 280.00 $280.00 $378 —
145 145 —— 2 230.00 $230.00 $334 —
150–165 158 —— 2 220.00–230.00 $224.76 $355 —
150–180 165 —— 2 245.00 $245.00 $404 —
220–230 225 —— 2 220.00–225.00 $222.56 $501 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1345 1345 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 4 1,100.00 $1,100.00 —
1464 1464 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 1,575.00 $1,575.00 —

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
110–126 123 5 75.00–78.00 $77.46 $95 —
133–145 134 20 79.00–80.00 $79.31 $106 —
125–148 139 68 85.00–89.00 $86.56 $120 —
110–147 140 59 90.00–98.00 $95.26 $133 —
145–149 148 18 102.00–102.50 $102.36 $151 —
150 150 124 82.00 $82.00 $123 —
150–171 161 52 84.00–89.00 $87.97 $142 —
162 162 5 89.00 $89.00 $144 —
150–173 166 104 90.00–101.00 $94.29 $157 —
165–183 172 39 105.00–110.00 $108.70 $187 —
176 176 15 70.00 $70.00 $123 —
158–199 178 267 90.00–104.00 $94.37 $168 —
159–185 178 19 103.00 $103.00 $183 —
201–208 205 15 92.00–99.00 $94.67 $194 —
205 205 1 106.00 $106.00 $217 —
201–235 211 80 88.00–94.00 $91.62 $193 —
205–218 213 8 98.00–99.00 $98.36 $210 —
250–263 254 9 83.50–89.00 $85.36 $217 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
106 106 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 67 172.50 $172.50 $183 —

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
43 43 11 210.00 $210.00 $90 —
51–55 53 17 227.50–235.00 $230.45 $122 —
73 73 14 240.00 $240.00 $175 —
78 78 9 230.00 $230.00 $179 —

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Hair Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
125 125 1 210.00 $210.00 $262 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
106–124 112 25 114.00–115.00 $114.40 $128 —
123 123 4 93.00 $93.00 $114 —
157–195 165 21 91.00–104.00 $99.12 $164 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
23 23 6 160.00 $160.00 $37 —
30 30 1 310.00 $310.00 $93 —
30 30 2 190.00 $190.00 $57 —
33 33 3 280.00 $280.00 $92 —
35 35 1 300.00 $300.00 $105 —
35 35 9 290.00 $290.00 $102 —
38 38 2 385.00 $385.00 $146 —
40 40 5 315.00 $315.00 $126 —
45 45 12 325.00 $325.00 $146 —
47 47 9 315.00 $315.00 $148 —
50 50 12 342.50 $342.50 $171 —
54–58 55 9 340.00–357.50 $349.27 $192 —
55 55 1 265.00 $265.00 $146 —
55–58 58 9 367.50–385.00 $369.35 $214 —
63 63 2 285.00 $285.00 $180 —
65 65 2 312.50 $312.50 $203 —
60–69 68 11 350.00–375.00 $356.84 $243 —
65–69 68 11 317.50–332.50 $322.86 $220 —
70–73 72 4 307.00–315.00 $313.06 $225 —
74 74 7 295.00 $295.00 $218 —
70–79 78 22 330.00–365.00 $332.08 $259 —
85 85 3 340.00 $340.00 $289 —
90–98 95 3 305.00–327.50 $320.42 $304 —
90–98 95 25 300.00–350.00 $324.26 $308 —

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Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
51 51 22 295.00 $295.00 $150 —
61 fancy 61 6 297.50 $297.50 $181 —
60–68 63 32 265.00–292.50 $274.16 $173 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
31 31 6 282.50 $282.50 $88 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
60 60 —— 6 227.50–236.00 $228.92 $137 —
70 70 —— 1 235.00 $235.00 $164 —
75 75 —— 1 215.00 $215.00 $161 —
83 83 —— 2 235.00 $235.00 $195 —
100 100 —— 1 212.00 $212.00 $212 —
100–145 131 —— 47 195.00–250.00 $208.73 $273 —
128–138 133 —— 10 177.50–190.00 $185.59 $247 —
150 150 —— 1 180.00 $180.00 $270 —
160 160 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Open 3 190.00 $190.00 $304 —
163–178 171 —— 4 187.50–190.00 $188.80 $323 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
68 68 2 292.50 $292.50 $199 —
70–78 74 4 260.00–322.00 $292.68 $217 —
80 80 1 295.00 $295.00 $236 —
103–135 114 7 290.00–345.00 $319.19 $364 —
115 115 1 280.00 $280.00 $322 —
142 142 5 182.50 $182.50 $259 —
150 150 1 240.00 $240.00 $360 —
170 170 1 292.00 $292.00 $496 —
160–180 173 3 261.00–300.00 $273.00 $472 —

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
43 43 2 275.00 $275.00 $118 —
55–57 56 8 265.00–270.00 $266.92 $149 —
63–69 67 13 275.00–280.00 $278.56 $187 —
71 71 10 260.00 $260.00 $185 —
72–75 72 16 265.00–282.00 $280.90 $202 —
81 81 9 279.00 $279.00 $226 —
80–89 82 83 245.00–279.00 $270.48 $222 —
93–98 94 8 233.00–252.50 $244.35 $230 —
109 109 4 217.50 $217.50 $237 —
102–143 110 39 175.00–243.00 $214.63 $236 —

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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.