Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, July 12, 2021

9,072 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $145.79/cwt +19.79 vs last sale · ≈ $1,181/hd at 810 lb · 113 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $150.45/cwt +5.21 vs last sale · ≈ $1,183/hd at 786 lb · 96 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $161.10/cwt ≈ $1,276/hd at 792 lb · 86 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 9,072 2,880 0
Feeder cattle 1,011 678 0
Slaughter cattle 1,406 1,604 0
Replacement cattle 630 598 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder steers were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed on all yearlings on offer. Yearling Heifers sold mostly 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Another short week was seen this week as sales start their summer schedules. Only 2 sales occurred for the week. Feeder cattle continue to be pushed off pasture and range due to dry conditions. All offerings continue to sell in light flesh and are very attractive to buyers. Demand is good for all yearlings on offer. Several sets of calves were marketed this week. Most were offered as pairs but it was more advantageous to the seller to split them. Demand for calves was light to moderate. Quality this week was average to attractive. The August CME feeder cattle contract closed Friday at 155.625. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Cow quality this week was average to attractive. Demand for all cows was stronger this week as packers pushed to own as much market share as possible. The cutter cow cutout continues to hold its value despite post holiday demand and large slaughter volumes. Slaughter cows sold 1.00-2.00 higher on breaking cows while boning and lean cows sold steady to 2.00 higher. Feeding cows sold steady to firm with the best demand seen for boning and breaking fleshed cows. Packers continue to put large quantities of cows on feed as many seem concerned that supplies will slow in the fall of the year as many market cows early. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady in a narrow comparison. Demand for rebreed offerings is light and most of the young cows on offer sold as feeding cows this 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
258–273 unweaned 262 18 180.00–196.00 $191.37 $501 —
435 unweaned 435 1 165.00 $165.00 $718 -5.00
468–475 unweaned 469 7 162.50–170.00 $168.91 $792 —
569 unweaned 569 4 166.00 $166.00 $945 —
573 573 5 190.00 $190.00 $1,089 —
609–639 624 18 181.00 $181.00 $1,129 —
655–670 664 6 173.00–178.00 $176.49 $1,172 +7.49
707–745 723 76 161.00–166.50 $164.05 $1,186 +6.13
756–797 792 86 160.00–161.25 $161.10 $1,276 —
813–828 817 8 153.00–158.50 $154.39 $1,261 +0.89
878 878 9 150.00 $150.00 $1,317 +12.00
930 930 3 137.00 $137.00 $1,274 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423–439 unweaned 433 8 151.00–154.00 $152.10 $659 —
708 708 3 156.00 $156.00 $1,104 +9.66
966 966 4 132.50 $132.50 $1,280 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
245 245 1 450.00 $450.00 —
336 336 7 475.00 $475.00 —
361 361 6 525.00 $525.00 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040 1040 1 127.00 $127.00 $1,321 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
215–241 unweaned 236 11 172.50–180.00 $173.74 $410 —
264 unweaned 264 9 150.00 $150.00 $396 —
384 unweaned 384 4 141.00 $141.00 $541 —
505–508 unweaned 507 6 142.00–143.00 $142.33 $722 —
563 563 5 165.00 $165.00 $929 —
599 unweaned 599 6 135.00 $135.00 $809 —
600–644 613 24 154.50–165.00 $158.59 $972 +4.09
662 fancy 662 24 159.50 $159.50 $1,056 —
696 696 41 150.00 $150.00 $1,044 -2.95
705–739 716 56 147.00–152.50 $151.45 $1,084 +2.36
784–796 786 96 147.00–151.00 $150.45 $1,183 +20.70
805–835 810 113 131.00–147.50 $145.79 $1,181 +19.79
866–875 868 17 128.00–132.00 $131.05 $1,138 —
1006 1006 5 126.50 $126.50 $1,273 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
570–596 591 10 144.00–154.00 $145.93 $862 +0.93
600 600 16 142.00 $142.00 $852 —
697 697 3 145.00 $145.00 $1,011 +11.38
721 721 4 140.00 $140.00 $1,009 —
823 823 2 119.00 $119.00 $979 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
287 unweaned 287 7 165.00 $165.00 $474 —
300 unweaned 300 12 147.50 $147.50 $442 —
1114 fancy 1114 10 120.50 $120.50 $1,342 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
195 195 2 375.00 $375.00 —
305–329 314 13 435.00–450.00 $443.96 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
508 508 5 138.50 $138.50 $704 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
180 180 3 275.00 $275.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1043 1043 29 122.00 $122.00 $1,272 —
1060 1060 1 117.00 $117.00 $1,240 +16.70
1168–1170 1168 7 98.00–110.00 $99.72 $1,165 -2.28
1208–1213 1212 10 98.00–99.00 $98.70 $1,196 -5.51
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 unweaned 235 2 205.00 $205.00 $482 —
875 875 16 131.00 $131.00 $1,146 —
936 936 4 127.00 $127.00 $1,189 —
950–978 959 22 125.00–127.25 $126.52 $1,213 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
663 663 4 138.50 $138.50 $918 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1255–1440 1336 80-85% 35 54.50–62.50 $60.77 $812 —
1185–1540 1367 80-85% 220 62.00–70.50 $67.56 $924 +2.21
1295–1670 1396 80-85% 63 68.00–80.00 $70.85 $989 +0.21
1325–1493 1440 80-85% 11 68.00–72.50 $69.62 $1,003 +5.98
1350–1680 1447 80-85% 18 56.00–62.00 $58.78 $851 -4.86
1165–1605 1467 80-85% 89 62.00–67.00 $64.55 $947 -3.96
1720 1720 80-85% 1 56.00 $56.00 $963 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810–900 858 85-90% 8 50.00–55.00 $53.76 $461 +1.34
917–965 932 85-90% 6 57.00–60.00 $58.65 $547 —
1103 1103 85-90% 2 45.00 $45.00 $496 —
1055–1375 1122 85-90% 16 57.00–60.50 $58.51 $656 —
1100–1255 1159 85-90% 13 66.00–72.00 $68.25 $791 +10.86
1145–1395 1192 85-90% 31 66.00–69.00 $67.43 $804 +10.04
1000–1365 1220 85-90% 84 50.00–62.00 $58.55 $714 -4.07
1025–1338 1227 85-90% 93 61.00–66.00 $63.40 $778 +0.78
1010–1305 1236 85-90% 62 61.50–67.00 $64.21 $794 +1.59
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1344–1476 1427 75-80% 27 69.50–72.75 $70.63 $1,008 —
1499–1720 1525 75-80% 36 62.50–70.00 $68.85 $1,050 —
1625 1625 75-80% 17 74.00 $74.00 $1,202 +7.98
1410–1820 1632 75-80% 44 69.00–74.50 $71.86 $1,173 +5.84
1315–1870 1657 75-80% 27 73.50–84.50 $78.73 $1,305 -0.27

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145–1290 1205 5 71.00–78.00 $74.95 $903 +6.86
1560–1605 1580 4 83.00–88.50 $85.97 $1,358 —
1445–1788 1662 20 73.00–82.50 $78.15 $1,299 —
1400–2230 1796 85 83.00–92.50 $87.99 $1,580 +0.52
1658–2435 1998 67 93.00–103.00 $96.41 $1,926 —
1950–2195 2013 6 96.50–99.00 $98.55 $1,984 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2180–2338 2265 10 91.00–94.25 $93.45 $2,117 +26.45
2355 2355 1 85.00 $85.00 $2,002 —
2575 2575 2 89.00 $89.00 $2,292 —
2590 2590 4 86.50 $86.50 $2,240 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
860 thin fleshed 860 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 58.00 $58.00 $499
928–1235 1053 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 74 62.00–82.00 $73.54 $774
788–1520 1085 (<2 yrs)Open 41 69.00–104.00 $82.48 $895
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
877–935 892 (<2 yrs)Open 4 74.00 $74.00 $660
1029 1029 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 67.50 $67.50 $695
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
925–1040 983 (<2 yrs)Open 2 72.50–73.00 $72.76 $715

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
150 150 2 150.00 $150.00 $225 —
230 230 3 89.00 $89.00 $205 —
255–265 259 5 82.00–91.00 $84.80 $220 —
270 270 1 82.00 $82.00 $221 —
310 310 2 75.00 $75.00 $232 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
73 73 2 110.00 $110.00 $80 —
130 130 6 130.00 $130.00 $169 —
135 135 1 205.00 $205.00 $277 —
140–148 146 8 207.50–235.00 $216.73 $316 —
165 165 1 202.50 $202.50 $334 —
215 215 1 135.00 $135.00 $290 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1330–1673 1367 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 28 1,650.00–1,675.00 $1,653.28 —
1410 1410 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,550.00 $1,550.00 —
1414–1798 1584 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 80 1,160.00–1,385.00 $1,302.53 —
1596 1596 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —
1525–1714 1628 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 65 1,325.00–1,650.00 $1,511.68 +61.68

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
132 132 49 63.00 $63.00 $83 —
134 134 7 82.50 $82.50 $111 —
133–137 136 29 49.00–52.50 $49.47 $67 —
126–149 139 37 68.00–72.00 $70.14 $97 —
155–156 156 28 81.00–86.00 $82.78 $129 —
150–177 160 283 67.00–78.50 $71.22 $114 —
158–164 161 88 61.00–64.00 $62.83 $101 —
164–198 178 40 50.00–53.00 $51.28 $91 —
178–185 181 113 72.00–79.00 $76.69 $139 —
165–199 182 121 58.00–71.00 $63.69 $116 —
208–245 217 11 67.00–76.00 $69.84 $152 —
216–233 217 30 61.00–65.00 $62.08 $135 —
253–258 257 10 64.00–65.00 $64.80 $167 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
118–133 126 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 21 172.50–190.00 $182.44 $230 —
143–144 144 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 76 130.00–138.00 $136.85 $197 —
202 202 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Open 6 75.00 $75.00 $152 —

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
65–68 65 42 232.50–252.50 $234.98 $153 —
72–76 74 38 253.00–274.00 $264.89 $196 —
97 97 3 250.00 $250.00 $242 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
121 121 14 125.00 $125.00 $151 —
128 128 5 68.00 $68.00 $87 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
116 116 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 130.00 $130.00 $151 —

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Hair Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
67 67 50 273.00 $273.00 $183 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
32–38 36 148 287.50–290.00 $289.07 $104 —
40–48 42 29 240.00–270.00 $267.77 $112 —
46 46 8 185.00 $185.00 $85 —
49 49 15 292.50 $292.50 $143 —
50 50 23 295.00 $295.00 $148 —
50–53 51 16 237.50–255.00 $251.56 $128 —
55 55 2 200.00 $200.00 $110 —
53–57 56 23 255.00–270.00 $259.97 $146 —
55–59 58 19 200.00–270.00 $245.74 $143 —
58 58 2 215.00 $215.00 $125 —
58 58 12 110.00 $110.00 $64 —
61–68 62 11 200.00–220.00 $216.03 $134 —
70 70 2 285.00 $285.00 $200 —
75–78 78 12 232.50–240.00 $239.19 $187 —
80 80 7 325.00 $325.00 $260 —
87 87 3 225.00 $225.00 $196 —
95 95 14 265.00–282.50 $266.25 $253 —
98 98 2 320.00 $320.00 $314 —

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Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
49 49 15 280.00 $280.00 $137 —
50–59 54 144 275.00–280.00 $278.65 $150 —
61–69 66 269 270.00–284.00 $275.84 $182 —
66 66 27 242.50 $242.50 $160 —
69 fancy 69 114 292.00 $292.00 $201 —
74–78 76 543 274.00–289.00 $283.55 $215 —
79 79 9 225.00 $225.00 $178 —
82 82 31 250.00 $250.00 $205 —
80–87 84 379 261.00–287.00 $280.16 $235 —
84–89 fancy 85 162 289.00–291.00 $290.37 $247 —
92 92 21 237.50 $237.50 $218 —
90–99 94 406 261.00–289.00 $283.76 $267 —
94 fancy 94 14 291.00 $291.00 $274 —
102–107 103 160 261.00–283.00 $274.60 $283 —
103 fancy 103 72 286.50 $286.50 $295 —
108 108 21 260.00 $260.00 $281 —
110–115 113 64 252.50–286.00 $279.06 $315 —
113 113 31 245.00 $245.00 $277 —
122 122 31 246.00 $246.00 $300 —
123–128 125 54 267.00–269.00 $268.17 $335 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
46 46 25 246.50 $246.50 $113 —
56 56 16 254.00–260.00 $257.75 $144 —
66–68 66 100 262.50–269.00 $266.09 $176 —
71–75 73 65 265.00–273.00 $268.02 $196 —
83 83 31 267.00 $267.00 $222 —
91–96 95 66 227.50–258.50 $235.65 $224 —
105 105 38 237.50 $237.50 $249 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
75–79 77 64 192.50–202.50 $198.63 $153 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
53 53 —— 6 110.00 $110.00 $58 —
54 54 —— 4 145.00 $145.00 $78 —
60 60 Kids (<1 yr)Open 1 230.00 $230.00 $138 —
68 68 —— 8 158.00 $158.00 $107 —
80–87 85 —— 4 202.50–217.50 $213.98 $182 —
90 90 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 240.00 $240.00 $216 —
95 95 —— 3 135.00 $135.00 $128 —
95 95 —— 3 230.00 $230.00 $218 —
97 97 —— 3 145.00 $145.00 $141 —
100–105 101 —— 9 90.00–132.50 $127.57 $129 —
113–125 114 —— 41 145.00–180.00 $170.15 $194 —
100–146 119 —— 77 150.00–235.00 $196.20 $233 —
150 150 —— 2 167.50 $167.50 $251 —
205 205 —— 1 117.50 $117.50 $241 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
98 98 2 230.00 $230.00 $225 —
100 100 3 252.50 $252.50 $252 —
123 123 2 275.00 $275.00 $338 —
153–185 164 3 185.00–252.50 $227.07 $372 —

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
65 65 6 264.00 $264.00 $172 —
73 73 14 250.00 $250.00 $182 —
80 80 62 257.50 $257.50 $206 —

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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.