Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, June 7, 2021

9,940 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 $157.13/cwt -9.05 vs last sale · ≈ $1,056/hd at 672 lb · 244 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $171.12/cwt -7.04 vs last sale · ≈ $1,054/hd at 616 lb · 228 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $143.53/cwt -2.60 vs last sale · ≈ $899/hd at 627 lb · 211 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 9,940 5,135 4,383
Feeder cattle 2,670 2,034 1,593
Slaughter cattle 3,294 1,578 542
Replacement cattle 1,381 1,523 2,248

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to two weeks ago: Feeder steers sold generally steady, with firm undertones noticed at times. Feeder heifers sold unevenly steady. Demand was mostly moderate for moderate offerings. Quality was average to attractive. Mostly good demand was seen for high quality load lot offerings. The August CME feeder cattle contract closed 2.525 lower from two weeks ago at 151.175. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Breaking cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher. Boning and lean cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher. Packers showed good demand for slaughter cows for immediate harvest as cow meat prices have moved sharply higher. The weekly cutter cow cutout closed at 222.58, 11.05 higher than two weeks ago. Despite large cow harvest numbers packers continue to be aggressive as they buy cows both to feed and for immediate harvest. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher, with the best demand seen for boning and breaking flesh cows. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to 3.00 higher, with the best demand seen for replacement type offerings.

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
328 328 2 160.00 $160.00 $525 —
355–395 382 23 131.00–157.50 $140.53 $537 —
415–442 431 32 154.00–163.00 $160.21 $691 —
450–498 486 24 145.00–165.00 $153.25 $745 -30.75
472–499 fancy 486 29 162.00–176.00 $164.83 $801 —
504–546 fancy 521 54 177.00–181.00 $179.98 $938 —
515–549 538 13 142.50–169.00 $160.93 $866 -22.32
559–595 580 124 151.00–173.00 $163.80 $950 -8.39
604–639 616 228 154.00–175.00 $171.12 $1,054 -7.04
655–671 fancy 666 147 150.00–162.50 $161.51 $1,076 —
650–696 682 97 126.00–169.00 $150.48 $1,026 -15.70
701–743 723 72 111.00–161.00 $138.57 $1,002 -5.90
751–787 768 39 119.00–154.00 $141.24 $1,085 -0.15
825–842 830 89 125.00–140.00 $139.31 $1,156 +6.63
856 fancy 856 7 137.00 $137.00 $1,173 —
850–890 875 13 115.00–130.00 $119.49 $1,046 -11.23
915–945 929 15 116.00–125.00 $119.94 $1,114 -8.06
960–991 988 12 115.00–118.00 $116.92 $1,155 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–365 360 2 105.00–115.00 $110.07 $396 —
406–425 415 17 127.50–147.50 $139.21 $578 -20.79
450 450 1 122.50 $122.50 $551 -54.50
506–543 511 34 115.00–152.00 $142.45 $728 -29.82
566–570 568 9 122.50–155.00 $136.89 $778 -25.53
615 615 1 105.00 $105.00 $646 -54.31
600–640 629 19 117.50–135.00 $128.73 $810 -30.58
651–695 663 13 90.00–136.00 $123.26 $817 -18.10
700–746 733 17 75.00–145.00 $124.92 $916 -11.29
752–797 784 13 87.50–136.00 $122.26 $959 —
820–835 830 3 125.00–126.00 $125.33 $1,040 +5.26
890 890 2 106.00 $106.00 $943 —
905 905 1 101.00 $101.00 $914 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1011–1035 1013 11 93.00–114.50 $112.50 $1,140 —
1050–1080 1065 2 92.50–105.00 $98.66 $1,051 -8.84
1130 1130 1 107.00 $107.00 $1,209 —
1155–1180 1168 2 87.00–91.00 $89.02 $1,040 —
1590 1590 1 86.00 $86.00 $1,367 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320–341 332 7 132.50–145.00 $137.66 $457 —
350–379 368 19 125.00–142.00 $138.43 $509 —
400–442 426 20 130.00–146.00 $143.07 $609 —
450–495 479 54 130.00–146.00 $143.23 $686 -22.77
480–492 fancy 483 55 150.00–156.00 $152.82 $738 —
518–546 531 109 136.00–153.00 $149.05 $791 -16.70
548 fancy 548 41 158.00 $158.00 $866 —
560–588 fancy 567 122 150.00–163.50 $161.18 $914 —
550–595 570 71 128.00–149.00 $144.50 $824 -15.86
600–648 625 195 123.00–154.00 $144.23 $901 -3.22
646 646 16 135.00 $135.00 $872 +8.00
650–691 674 88 121.00–145.00 $139.20 $938 +2.06
701–735 715 98 123.00–137.00 $132.68 $949 +1.27
713–722 716 20 116.00–118.00 $117.39 $841 -14.02
755–795 775 65 116.00–128.00 $123.32 $956 +2.32
805–846 819 55 109.00–125.50 $121.17 $992 +6.39
850–899 885 33 107.00–122.00 $114.08 $1,010 -2.92
899 fancy 899 9 132.50 $132.50 $1,191 —
915–945 937 12 94.00–105.00 $97.98 $918 —
950–993 972 5 100.00–109.00 $103.80 $1,009 —
985 985 1 105.00 $105.00 $1,034 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350–390 370 2 125.00–130.00 $127.36 $471 —
420–425 423 2 122.50–127.50 $124.99 $529 -20.01
450–480 461 5 110.00–120.00 $115.56 $533 -25.01
500–545 530 28 117.50–135.00 $123.62 $655 -21.38
550–575 558 8 107.50–134.00 $118.34 $660 —
576 576 4 104.00 $104.00 $599 —
600–646 634 17 82.50–133.00 $126.82 $804 -1.76
690–695 693 6 112.00–129.00 $123.32 $855 +0.15
715–745 723 16 81.00–118.00 $93.97 $679 —
775–780 778 2 108.00–123.00 $115.52 $899 +7.52
780 780 1 87.50 $87.50 $682 -20.50
820–840 831 4 90.00–108.00 $99.43 $826 —
865 865 1 99.00 $99.00 $856 —
950–990 970 2 70.00–94.00 $82.25 $798 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100 1100 1 89.00 $89.00 $979 —
1150 1150 1 89.50 $89.50 $1,029 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375–378 377 3 150.00 $150.00 $566 —
435–445 440 5 130.00–150.00 $142.99 $629 —
487–498 493 7 143.00–146.00 $144.27 $711 —
498 fancy 498 9 161.00 $161.00 $802 —
515–542 532 10 130.00–145.00 $135.03 $718 -7.97
565–575 573 4 100.00–140.00 $109.87 $630 —
611–625 614 16 117.50–130.00 $127.82 $785 +1.82
651 fancy 651 27 150.00 $150.00 $976 —
654–685 661 17 120.00–132.50 $131.13 $867 —
745–748 747 5 111.00–120.00 $117.81 $880 —
764 fancy 764 19 154.00 $154.00 $1,177 —
753–795 772 18 117.00–134.50 $130.41 $1,007 +14.70
850–895 878 5 109.00–118.00 $112.55 $988 —
989–998 992 10 109.00–113.00 $111.79 $1,109 +7.80
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
495 495 1 127.50 $127.50 $631 —
535 535 1 115.00 $115.00 $615 —
695 695 1 111.00 $111.00 $771 —
790 790 1 110.00 $110.00 $869 —
865 865 1 97.00 $97.00 $839 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005 1005 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,065 +1.34
1135 1135 1 95.00 $95.00 $1,078 ±0.00

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1065–1523 1323 75-80% 105 72.00–76.50 $72.85 $964 —
1005–1785 1354 75-80% 302 66.00–73.50 $69.20 $937 —
1113–1625 1360 75-80% 139 63.00–68.50 $65.57 $892 —
1187–1630 1387 75-80% 36 74.00–76.00 $74.89 $1,039 —
1084–1800 1411 75-80% 273 68.00–74.50 $70.59 $996 —
1215–1725 1411 75-80% 31 63.00–67.50 $65.24 $921 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
960–2025 1249 80-85% 337 62.00–67.50 $64.49 $805 —
945–1480 1258 80-85% 35 57.00–63.50 $60.57 $762 —
955–1550 1264 80-85% 260 61.25–68.00 $63.52 $803 —
980–1420 1286 80-85% 17 67.00–74.00 $68.89 $886 —
1020–1430 1293 80-85% 60 67.50–74.00 $69.14 $894 —
930–1690 1318 80-85% 132 58.00–61.50 $60.38 $796 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1073–1150 1092 85-90% 4 51.00–55.00 $52.05 $568 —
840–1295 1100 85-90% 30 52.00–57.00 $54.88 $604 +6.40
845–1182 1110 85-90% 10 61.00–64.00 $62.88 $698 +14.40
1108–1178 1150 85-90% 6 46.00–47.00 $46.34 $533 -10.75
940–1485 1160 85-90% 132 56.00–63.00 $59.15 $686 +2.06
950–1445 1167 85-90% 13 62.00–64.00 $63.05 $736 +5.96
875–1497 1270 85-90% 57 55.00–62.50 $58.18 $739 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1075–1995 1530 15 72.00–84.00 $79.23 $1,212 -4.35
1060–2245 1694 105 82.00–96.00 $90.41 $1,532 —
945–2368 1701 82 95.00–108.00 $101.02 $1,718 +13.79

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
745–1343 988 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 312 80.00–101.00 $89.81 $887
945–1090 1017 (<2 yrs)Open 15 86.00–101.00 $94.98 $966
1360–1500 1380 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 10 65.50–68.00 $67.68 $934
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
815–1390 945 (<2 yrs)Open 10 70.50–85.00 $80.16 $758
690–1320 1101 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 186 64.00–80.00 $73.48 $809
1250 1250 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 58.50 $58.50 $731

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1090–1378 1305 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 8 850.00–950.00 $919.43

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
125 125 1 142.50 $142.50 $178 —
140 140 1 79.00 $79.00 $111 —
160 160 1 119.00 $119.00 $190 —
150–190 178 7 92.00–107.00 $99.47 $177 —
201–240 209 22 85.00–96.00 $90.70 $190 —
230 230 1 107.00 $107.00 $246 —
250–290 265 14 82.00–98.00 $92.96 $246 —
310 310 1 81.00 $81.00 $251 —
365 365 1 84.00 $84.00 $307 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
55 55 1 155.00 $155.00 $85 —
70 70 1 290.00 $290.00 $203 —
80 80 1 180.00 $180.00 $144 —
87 87 3 280.00 $280.00 $244 —
100 100 1 230.00 $230.00 $230 —
105–145 129 6 210.00–285.00 $235.67 $304 —
160–180 170 2 210.00–225.00 $217.06 $369 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
850–1645 1114 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 25 850.00–1,225.00 $1,070.04 -389.96
1050–1138 1123 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 6 850.00–975.00 $955.53 -504.47
1133–1150 1145 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 10 1,325.00–1,425.00 $1,354.69 -105.31
950–1307 1155 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 95 1,225.00–1,575.00 $1,416.25 —
1095–1625 1278 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 1,325.00–1,400.00 $1,356.00 -143.21
863–1377 1319 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 45 1,150.00–1,485.00 $1,449.78 —
1235–1544 1406 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 87 975.00–1,200.00 $1,026.11 -379.83
900–1642 1451 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 360 1,025.00–1,475.00 $1,276.55 —
1630 1630 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,325.00 $1,325.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1123–1170 1139 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 6 900.00–910.00 $903.43 —

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
78 78 3 87.00 $87.00 $68 —
80–85 83 2 82.50–90.00 $86.14 $71 —
95 95 2 96.00–100.00 $98.00 $93 —
100–147 123 7 15.00–45.00 $22.38 $28 —
105–143 127 19 65.00–77.00 $73.12 $93 —
118–142 129 66 105.00–110.00 $106.89 $138 —
105–148 136 327 70.00–93.00 $86.23 $117 —
150–168 154 10 101.00–112.50 $103.24 $159 —
150–199 171 386 74.00–93.00 $86.46 $148 —
175–185 180 2 10.00–25.00 $17.71 $32 —
195 195 1 72.00 $72.00 $140 —
200–228 211 56 84.00–93.00 $86.04 $182 —
250 250 1 82.00 $82.00 $205 —
260 260 1 25.00 $25.00 $65 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
90 90 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 1 135.00 $135.00 $122 —
118–127 121 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 38 136.00–157.00 $149.59 $181 —
117–140 122 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 117.50–130.00 $127.12 $155 —
113–144 137 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Open 27 100.00–104.00 $103.57 $142 —

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Families

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
120 120 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Open 3 140.00 $140.00 —

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
42 42 3 107.50 $107.50 $45 —
79 79 6 212.00 $212.00 $167 —
80–84 84 8 230.00–240.00 $238.80 $201 —

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Hair Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
135 135 1 137.00 $137.00 $185 —
198 198 3 113.00 $113.00 $224 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
105 105 1 120.00 $120.00 $126 —
112–142 126 13 89.00–98.00 $94.43 $119 —
156 156 7 120.00 $120.00 $187 —
155–167 164 15 85.00–87.00 $85.13 $140 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
30–35 33 21 180.00–225.00 $203.21 $67 —
35 35 16 300.00 $300.00 $105 —
38 38 16 120.00 $120.00 $46 —
43 43 2 115.00 $115.00 $49 —
43–48 44 10 200.00 $200.00 $88 —
45–49 47 53 267.50–320.00 $288.19 $135 —
50–59 53 98 290.00–326.00 $314.31 $167 —
54 54 4 215.00 $215.00 $116 —
62–66 64 9 275.00–325.00 $309.22 $198 —
85 85 2 160.00 $160.00 $136 —
88 88 2 215.00 $215.00 $189 —
90 90 1 295.00 $295.00 $266 —
N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
20 20 4 30.00 $30.00 —

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Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
38 38 2 220.00 $220.00 $84 —
54–58 56 31 255.00–265.00 $261.97 $147 —
61–69 64 68 267.00–292.50 $287.82 $184 —
70–79 75 130 267.50–295.00 $280.05 $210 —
81–89 83 166 263.00–288.00 $277.88 $231 —
90–99 93 215 254.00–289.00 $265.85 $247 —
100–105 101 33 250.00–280.00 $263.86 $266 —
103 103 3 207.00 $207.00 $213 —
110–117 116 31 214.00–250.00 $218.33 $253 —
126 126 6 215.00 $215.00 $271 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
35 35 7 175.00 $175.00 $61 —
45 45 3 225.00 $225.00 $101 —
50–56 54 18 225.00–235.00 $227.08 $123 —
63 63 15 257.00 $257.00 $162 —
75 75 3 200.00–235.00 $223.33 $167 —
82–85 82 20 200.00–249.00 $246.47 $202 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
45 45 2 130.00–160.00 $145.00 $65 —
60 60 1 185.00 $185.00 $111 —
65 65 4 105.00–160.00 $130.00 $84 —
71 71 5 200.00 $200.00 $142 —
78 78 2 155.00 $155.00 $121 —
81–87 85 14 190.00–232.50 $218.01 $185 —
93 93 2 250.00 $250.00 $232 —
100–125 112 15 215.00–270.00 $239.20 $268 —
108–140 124 23 130.00–195.00 $172.16 $213 —
150 150 1 145.00 $145.00 $218 —
208 208 3 245.00 $245.00 $510 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
60–63 62 4 155.00–185.00 $162.23 $101 —
80 80 4 290.00 $290.00 $232 —
80 80 1 205.00 $205.00 $164 —
97–98 97 5 250.00–290.00 $273.90 $266 —
100–135 116 12 220.00–280.00 $259.13 $301 —
170–190 183 3 230.00–240.00 $233.09 $427 —

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
55–58 56 5 240.00–245.00 $242.94 $136 —
68 68 6 290.00 $290.00 $197 —
72–79 77 50 255.00–289.00 $277.85 $214 —
81 81 13 281.00 $281.00 $228 —
84–85 84 12 215.00 $215.00 $181 —
91–94 92 30 278.00–290.00 $286.72 $264 —
92 92 5 185.00 $185.00 $170 —
100 100 3 200.00–208.00 $205.33 $205 —
103–133 105 37 225.00–271.00 $251.88 $264 —
120–138 136 14 142.50–172.50 $163.15 $222 —
140–145 143 2 150.00–165.00 $157.63 $225 —
150–152 152 15 130.00–160.00 $132.97 $202 —
160–180 165 4 92.00–105.00 $97.00 $160 —
200 200 2 97.00 $97.00 $194 —
208–218 213 4 90.00–91.00 $90.49 $193 —

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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.