Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, July 26, 2021

2,747 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 $144.01/cwt -2.21 vs last sale · ≈ $1,198/hd at 832 lb · 152 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $139.04/cwt +6.35 vs last sale · ≈ $1,292/hd at 929 lb · 131 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $151.74/cwt +0.24 vs last sale · ≈ $1,123/hd at 740 lb · 82 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,747 4,355 0
Feeder cattle 1,243 2,454 0
Slaughter cattle 972 992 0
Replacement cattle 532 909 0

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steers calves were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Yearling steers were too lightly tested this week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on steers under 800 lbs and lower undertones were noticed on steers over 800 lbs. Heifer calves were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers under 700 lbs sold fully steady, heifers over 800 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Demand was mostly good for yearlings and light to moderate for calves. Not enough calves were seen this week to put together loads so demand suffered as a result. Many cattle continue to be driven to market due to the drought. Most of the calves on offer this week were split off cows which would not bring enough to sell as pairs. CME positions started last week with a bang closing Monday 2.125 higher than last Friday, however much of Mondays gains were given up throughout the week. The August feeder cattle contract closed last Friday at 158.175. Market activity was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Packers were forced to be more competitive this week as feeding cow buyers and buyers looking for cows that might be bred showed stronger demand for cows. Packers were forced to be more aggressive as they searched for cows for immediate harvest. Packers were not as active in purchasing feeding cows this week as they have been in weeks past. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 1.00 higher. Feeding cows and cows returning to the country sold steady to 1.00 higher with the best demand coming from buyers looking for untested bred cows which were sold as weigh ups. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower, however quality this week was not as attractive as last week as most bulls on offer have been out breeding cows. Body condition scores and yields were lower this week compared to last. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady in a narrow comparison. Demand for rebreed offerings is light to moderate.

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
293 unweaned 293 2 190.00 $190.00 $557 —
353–396 unweaned 379 10 164.00–187.50 $172.76 $655 —
423–448 unweaned 433 5 160.00–167.00 $164.10 $711 —
485–497 unweaned 496 32 152.50–157.00 $156.59 $777 -3.41
588–595 unweaned 591 15 151.00–169.00 $158.25 $935 —
619 619 4 170.00 $170.00 $1,052 -10.56
665–670 666 34 167.00 $167.00 $1,112 -4.63
703 703 38 167.50–168.00 $167.75 $1,179 +4.50
802 802 3 140.00 $140.00 $1,123 -17.49
802–832 817 13 144.00–147.50 $146.26 $1,195 -11.23
954–979 962 12 134.00–140.00 $137.97 $1,327 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
511–547 535 25 156.00–172.00 $167.11 $894 —
551–572 564 10 140.00–169.50 $157.96 $891 —
627–632 628 28 140.00–170.00 $161.38 $1,013 —
650–685 671 8 146.00–161.00 $150.01 $1,007 —
711–733 717 21 160.00–162.00 $161.32 $1,157 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
603–645 625 22 160.00–176.00 $165.24 $1,033 —
653 653 2 164.00 $164.00 $1,071 —
710–736 732 6 160.50–161.50 $160.66 $1,176 -1.61
750–793 787 7 145.50–148.00 $145.84 $1,148 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
818 818 5 139.00 $139.00 $1,137 —
1020–1035 1024 4 118.00–126.00 $122.01 $1,249 -2.49
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
106 unweaned 106 9 125.00 $125.00 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
549 549 7 170.00 $170.00 $933 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 unweaned 225 4 160.00 $160.00 $360 —
325 unweaned 325 8 157.50 $157.50 $512 —
360 unweaned 360 16 155.00 $155.00 $558 —
402–448 unweaned 430 8 147.50–150.00 $148.38 $638 +8.38
450–495 unweaned 480 43 137.50–141.00 $140.78 $676 —
650–682 665 36 155.00–158.00 $157.23 $1,046 —
720–745 740 82 148.00–152.00 $151.74 $1,123 +6.52
754 754 23 155.00 $155.00 $1,169 +4.64
805–848 832 152 142.00–145.75 $144.01 $1,198 +1.01
857–888 873 31 139.00–142.50 $142.03 $1,240 +7.40
900–949 924 63 131.00–140.00 $136.65 $1,263 +0.65
934 934 68 141.25 $141.25 $1,319 +5.25
993–997 996 18 131.00–133.00 $131.33 $1,308 +11.06
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1001–1039 1015 41 130.50–131.50 $131.21 $1,332 +4.29
1040 1040 7 123.50 $123.50 $1,284 -3.42
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
643 643 8 144.00 $144.00 $926 ±0.00
696 696 7 147.00 $147.00 $1,023 +1.43
721–728 725 10 133.00–142.00 $138.42 $1,004 -0.58
751–785 758 14 137.00–143.50 $141.90 $1,076 +5.52
848 848 2 131.00 $131.00 $1,111 -2.68
855 855 1 122.00 $122.00 $1,043 —
935 935 1 117.50 $117.50 $1,099 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
530 530 7 150.50 $150.50 $798 —
567–570 568 10 146.00–150.00 $149.20 $847 -14.80
608 608 8 147.00 $147.00 $894 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
531 531 7 145.00 $145.00 $770 —
555 555 3 142.00 $142.00 $788 —

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Feeder Bulls

Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040 1040 2 88.50 $88.50 $920 —
1246 1246 4 95.00 $95.00 $1,184 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015 1015 2 99.00 $99.00 $1,005 -19.00
1145 1145 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,214 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835 835 1 126.00 $126.00 $1,052 —
1020 1020 1 103.00 $103.00 $1,051 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
985 985 1 99.00 $99.00 $975 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1245–1500 1342 80-85% 7 56.00–62.50 $59.38 $797 —
1273–1675 1400 80-85% 133 63.00–70.50 $67.43 $944 —
1398–1415 1402 80-85% 4 69.00–70.00 $69.75 $978 —
1300–1660 1430 80-85% 54 62.00–68.50 $65.91 $943 +2.98
1200–1610 1437 80-85% 124 69.00–79.00 $72.59 $1,043 +9.66
1380–1630 1509 80-85% 4 60.50–62.50 $61.50 $928 -13.03
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
715–810 747 85-90% 3 42.00–45.00 $43.08 $322 —
788–995 844 85-90% 34 50.00–60.00 $54.48 $460 —
965–990 980 85-90% 3 60.00–63.00 $61.49 $603 —
1018–1155 1074 85-90% 5 69.00–69.50 $69.20 $743 —
1028–1340 1163 85-90% 59 50.50–61.75 $58.71 $683 —
1120–1495 1234 85-90% 68 61.50–67.50 $65.25 $805 +1.12
1075–1307 1246 85-90% 47 62.50–68.00 $62.91 $784 -1.22
1145–1329 1314 85-90% 40 70.00–73.00 $72.75 $956 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1519 1519 75-80% 13 70.50 $70.50 $1,071 —
1545–1645 1594 75-80% 8 69.00–74.00 $71.91 $1,146 -2.13
1538–1678 1608 75-80% 4 75.50–78.00 $76.80 $1,235 -4.82
1510–1885 1698 75-80% 2 64.00–68.00 $66.22 $1,124 —
1525–1930 1711 75-80% 5 75.50–82.00 $78.45 $1,342 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230 1230 1 92.00 $92.00 $1,132 —
1100–1393 1269 8 64.00–79.00 $72.72 $923 —
1335–1560 1428 12 80.50–90.00 $85.78 $1,225 +3.82
1387–1660 1433 6 76.00–79.00 $76.58 $1,097 -5.38
1230–2100 1596 28 68.00–83.50 $78.50 $1,253 —
1380–2245 1789 97 81.00–90.50 $86.28 $1,544 —
1828–2285 1969 23 90.50–96.00 $92.88 $1,829 -2.67
2500 2500 1 78.00 $78.00 $1,950 —
2595 2595 1 89.00 $89.00 $2,310 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
795–880 thin fleshed 838 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 60.00–66.00 $63.15 $529
860 thin fleshed 860 (<2 yrs)Open 1 74.00 $74.00 $636
880–1345 1039 (<2 yrs)Open 24 71.00–93.00 $80.58 $837
840–1325 1107 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 28 66.00–78.50 $70.99 $786

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1225 1225 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 63.50 $63.50 $778
1225–1434 1335 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 74 61.50–69.00 $65.54 $875

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1268–1318 1289 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 1,450.00–1,525.00 $1,493.04 —
1321 1321 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 18 1,685.00 $1,685.00 —
1450 1450 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 21 1,310.00 $1,310.00 -85.85
1462 1462 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 18 1,335.00 $1,335.00 -60.85
1343–1522 1486 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 14 1,175.00–1,275.00 $1,251.82 +151.82
1506 1506 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 13 1,735.00 $1,735.00 +35.57
1540 1540 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 13 1,650.00 $1,650.00 —
1578 1578 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,300.00 $1,300.00 +48.28
1570–1748 1603 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 16 1,385.00–1,550.00 $1,418.73 -6.27
1645 1645 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 15 1,410.00 $1,410.00 -15.00

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1100–1148 1129 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 22 1,475.00–1,610.00 $1,573.46 —
1502 1502 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 14 1,775.00 $1,775.00 —

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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.