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Montana cattle prices Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary
Aug 16, 2021
Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary
Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock
Sale of Monday, August 16, 2021
13,205 head sold ·Official USDA report
light 4-weight M&L 1 steers
$197.48/cwt
+17.34 vs last sale · ≈ $834/hd at 423 lb · 237 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers
$155.80/cwt
-0.20 vs last sale · ≈ $1,369/hd at 879 lb · 184 head
heavy 3-weight M&L 1 heifers
$180.31/cwt
+8.12 vs last sale · ≈ $687/hd at 381 lb · 159 head
Receipts
Head This sale Last sale Last year
Total receipts
13,205
3,373
0
Feeder cattle
2,858
1,687
0
Slaughter cattle
1,052
1,247
0
Replacement cattle
526
439
0
New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓
Feeder Steers
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
272–276 unweaned
274
18
213.00–228.50
$219.08
$600
+11.89
313
313
6
210.00
$210.00
$657
—
327 unweaned
327
3
213.00
$213.00
$697
+5.89
355–389 unweaned
363
68
190.00–219.00
$214.05
$777
+24.52
360–399
393
52
194.00–198.00
$197.44
$776
—
405–444 unweaned
418
200
185.00–209.75
$199.79
$835
+19.65
447
447
37
185.00
$185.00
$827
—
462–499 unweaned
474
70
171.00–181.50
$177.92
$843
+8.41
515–541 unweaned
532
20
164.50–176.00
$168.40
$896
-6.77
550–597 unweaned
586
24
165.00–169.00
$166.39
$975
—
623–638 unweaned
628
6
145.00–160.00
$154.92
$973
-1.08
664–687
677
11
166.00–177.00
$170.91
$1,157
—
701–740
715
27
160.50–170.00
$164.94
$1,179
—
752–780
761
16
162.00–165.00
$164.04
$1,248
+4.55
801–821
814
78
157.75–162.50
$159.87
$1,301
+2.14
850–899
879
184
152.00–157.50
$155.80
$1,369
-0.20
906–920
908
109
150.00–157.00
$155.43
$1,411
+7.46
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
224 unweaned
224
5
200.00
$200.00
$448
—
371 unweaned
371
4
196.00
$196.00
$727
—
411–414
413
8
173.00–174.00
$173.50
$717
—
415–420 unweaned
417
9
172.50–179.00
$176.09
$734
+17.26
467
467
24
171.00
$171.00
$799
—
506 unweaned
506
8
171.00
$171.00
$865
—
576
576
6
167.00
$167.00
$962
—
615–631
627
21
160.00–163.00
$160.99
$1,009
—
705–727
713
17
157.00–162.00
$158.80
$1,132
-2.39
777
777
3
157.00
$157.00
$1,220
+7.00
811
811
9
154.50
$154.50
$1,253
—
895
895
8
142.00
$142.00
$1,271
—
909–913
911
11
143.50–146.00
$144.63
$1,318
—
950
950
7
135.50
$135.50
$1,287
—
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
550–596
583
7
155.00–159.50
$158.29
$923
—
779
779
4
135.00
$135.00
$1,052
—
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
911
911
7
134.00
$134.00
$1,221
—
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
568
568
4
142.50
$142.50
$809
—
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
370
370
3
192.50
$192.50
$712
—
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
627
627
3
167.00
$167.00
$1,047
—
↑ Back to top
Feeder Heifers
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
274 unweaned
274
9
185.00
$185.00
$507
+9.00
303
303
12
180.00
$180.00
$545
—
322–349 unweaned
330
34
173.00–190.00
$184.19
$608
-2.83
361–393 unweaned
379
117
173.50–185.00
$182.12
$690
+9.93
387
387
42
175.25
$175.25
$678
—
405–443 unweaned
423
80
164.00–176.50
$169.74
$718
+7.45
450–475 unweaned
457
35
161.00–170.00
$165.69
$757
+5.68
518–522 unweaned
521
9
154.00–156.00
$154.44
$805
—
563–576 unweaned
567
12
148.10–152.50
$151.01
$856
-7.99
619 unweaned
619
4
136.00
$136.00
$842
-10.00
683
683
8
157.00
$157.00
$1,072
+2.19
718–747
736
50
150.00–157.00
$154.31
$1,136
+3.68
753–772
764
49
146.25–155.00
$150.82
$1,152
+2.55
769 fancy
769
7
159.50
$159.50
$1,227
—
806–842
831
90
145.00–150.00
$147.60
$1,227
-1.85
852–895
877
119
143.00–148.25
$145.95
$1,280
+1.68
866–894
878
13
138.00–140.50
$139.23
$1,222
-5.04
900–944
930
50
135.00–143.00
$139.91
$1,301
+0.67
950–998
974
123
133.00–142.00
$138.98
$1,354
+4.21
1065
1065
4
132.00
$132.00
$1,406
—
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
250
250
7
177.50
$177.50
$444
—
382 unweaned
382
3
169.00
$169.00
$646
+5.00
434 unweaned
434
3
161.00
$161.00
$699
—
453 unweaned
453
2
153.00
$153.00
$693
—
677–688
686
35
150.00–150.75
$150.11
$1,030
—
706
706
7
147.00
$147.00
$1,038
—
775–793
782
8
145.50–148.00
$147.05
$1,150
—
895
895
11
139.50
$139.50
$1,249
+9.50
908
908
2
130.00
$130.00
$1,180
—
993
993
2
130.50
$130.50
$1,296
—
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
427
427
5
145.00
$145.00
$619
—
468
468
13
145.00
$145.00
$679
—
594
594
14
149.00
$149.00
$885
—
623
623
11
145.00
$145.00
$903
—
683
683
5
140.00
$140.00
$956
—
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
389 unweaned
389
8
167.00
$167.00
$650
—
1004–1016
1011
21
135.50
$135.50
$1,370
+9.98
1069–1093
1080
11
125.50
$125.50
$1,355
-2.53
1115
1115
2
124.50
$124.50
$1,388
—
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
468
468
6
152.50
$152.50
$714
—
511–528
519
11
131.00–144.50
$137.25
$712
—
581
581
11
146.50
$146.50
$851
—
646
646
4
135.00
$135.00
$872
—
703
703
3
134.00
$134.00
$942
—
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
563
563
13
135.00
$135.00
$760
—
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
696
696
4
150.00
$150.00
$1,044
—
↑ Back to top
Feeder Bulls
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
234 unweaned
234
4
212.50
$212.50
$497
—
312 unweaned
312
3
212.00
$212.00
$661
—
463 unweaned
463
13
163.00
$163.00
$755
—
635 unweaned
635
4
142.50
$142.50
$905
—
693
693
6
146.00
$146.00
$1,012
—
950
950
3
133.00
$133.00
$1,264
+8.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
1056
1056
4
128.00
$128.00
$1,352
—
1113
1113
2
110.00
$110.00
$1,224
+2.00
1151–1199
1172
9
108.00–113.00
$110.73
$1,298
—
1248
1248
2
96.00
$96.00
$1,198
—
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
1139
1139
8
91.00
$91.00
$1,036
—
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
991
991
7
120.50
$120.50
$1,194
—
↑ Back to top
Slaughter Cows
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Dressing Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
1143
1143
80-85% 2
81.00
$81.00
$926
—
1195–1725
1345
80-85% 94
60.50–69.00
$65.52
$881
-6.48
1368–1420
1375
80-85% 8
59.00–60.00
$59.87
$823
+1.81
1240–1635
1414
80-85% 80
52.00–62.00
$58.85
$832
-3.39
1253–1540
1425
80-85% 8
69.00–75.00
$70.82
$1,009
+5.93
1365–1645
1476
80-85% 58
61.00–69.00
$65.17
$962
—
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Dressing Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
943–963
955
85-90% 5
53.00–56.00
$54.18
$517
—
830–1150
979
85-90% 13
40.00–51.00
$46.95
$460
—
1055
1055
85-90% 1
69.50
$69.50
$733
—
1058–1288
1173
85-90% 4
66.00–73.50
$69.38
$814
+11.03
975–1355
1178
85-90% 79
49.00–60.50
$56.87
$670
-0.14
1131–1285
1209
85-90% 29
52.00–59.50
$56.87
$688
-12.13
1020–1305
1210
85-90% 80
57.00–65.00
$59.29
$717
-9.71
1070–1392
1290
85-90% 27
59.00–66.00
$61.66
$795
—
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Dressing Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
1420–1470
1458
75-80% 4
75.00–75.50
$75.12
$1,095
—
1465–1520
1493
75-80% 2
80.00–82.00
$81.02
$1,210
—
1628–1665
1646
75-80% 11
72.50–76.00
$73.69
$1,213
-4.34
1550–1955
1743
75-80% 9
62.00–70.50
$66.10
$1,152
—
1855–2100
1937
75-80% 3
78.50–80.00
$79.46
$1,539
—
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Slaughter Bulls
YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
1095
1095
1
108.00
$108.00
$1,183
—
1335–1505
1431
5
68.00–80.00
$74.79
$1,070
—
1025–1855
1491
30
81.00–94.00
$85.15
$1,270
-0.38
1160–2085
1589
54
67.00–82.50
$78.47
$1,247
-0.11
1395–2265
1837
74
81.00–91.50
$85.45
$1,570
—
1860–2260
2034
26
90.00–96.50
$92.44
$1,880
—
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Stock Cows
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd
804–1295
968
(<2 yrs) Open 77
65.00–106.00
$90.05
$872
895–1460
1090
Young (2-4 yrs) Open 90
58.00–110.00
$86.74
$945
1320 thin fleshed
1320
Young (2-4 yrs) Open 1
59.00
$59.00
$779
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd
1041–1240
1113
Young (2-4 yrs) Open 31
87.50–92.50
$91.06
$1,013
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Bred Cows
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd
1230–1491
1283
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs) 1st Stage (1-3 mo) 51
59.00–65.50
$61.47
$789
1264–1488
1314
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs) 1st Stage (1-3 mo) 9
62.00–64.00
$63.50
$834
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
1034–1120
1053
Young (2-4 yrs) 1st Stage (1-3 mo) 9
950.00–1,000.00
$988.18
1619
1619
Young (2-4 yrs) 3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4
1,250.00
$1,250.00
↑ Back to top
Bred Heifers
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
861
861
(<2 yrs) 1st Stage (1-3 mo) 50
1,410.00
$1,410.00
↑ Back to top
Bucks
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
160–180
170
4
116.00–182.50
$147.29
$250
—
183
183
4
119.00
$119.00
$218
—
193–195
194
4
92.00–94.00
$92.50
$179
—
210
210
2
96.00–106.00
$101.00
$212
—
203–240
224
11
86.00–94.00
$90.17
$202
—
225
225
2
70.00
$70.00
$158
—
265–295
279
10
84.00–93.00
$90.53
$253
—
285
285
1
75.00
$75.00
$214
—
307
307
3
73.00
$73.00
$224
—
315–322
320
4
85.00–87.00
$85.49
$274
—
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Bucks Billies
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
35
35
2
100.00
$100.00
$35
—
60
60
1
227.50
$227.50
$136
—
70
70
1
150.00
$150.00
$105
—
85
85
1
235.00
$235.00
$200
—
90
90
2
250.00
$250.00
$225
—
90–94
93
6
145.00–187.50
$151.83
$141
—
100
100
1
162.50
$162.50
$162
—
110
110
1
205.00
$205.00
$226
—
113–125
114
18
195.00–210.00
$202.54
$231
—
100–145
120
11
210.00–230.00
$226.23
$271
—
110–145
128
2
177.50–187.50
$181.81
$233
—
170
170
1
180.00
$180.00
$306
—
200
200
2
155.00–167.50
$161.25
$322
—
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Cow-Calf Pairs
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
Δ last sale
1382–1535
1411
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs) 1st Stage (1-3 mo) 21
1,400.00–1,450.00
$1,439.64
-288.44
1448–1475
1452
Young (2-4 yrs) 1st Stage (1-3 mo) 7
1,500.00–1,650.00
$1,628.23
—
1475–1515
1491
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs) Open 10
1,410.00–1,450.00
$1,429.50
—
1419–1710
1524
Young (2-4 yrs) 1st Stage (1-3 mo) 13
1,485.00–1,700.00
$1,620.54
+27.79
1567–1670
1616
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs) 1st Stage (1-3 mo) 21
1,500.00–1,710.00
$1,603.34
—
1593–1750
1641
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs) 1st Stage (1-3 mo) 13
1,400.00–1,450.00
$1,433.60
—
1668–1758
1685
Aged (>8 yrs) 1st Stage (1-3 mo) 16
1,410.00–1,450.00
$1,417.83
—
1551–1735
1687
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs) 1st Stage (1-3 mo) 27
1,475.00–1,600.00
$1,570.21
—
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Ewes
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
120
120
3
87.00
$87.00
$104
—
121–140
123
12
61.00–73.00
$71.86
$88
—
131–147
141
37
70.00–72.00
$71.12
$100
—
120–149
142
154
74.00–84.50
$79.30
$113
—
151–176
154
112
87.00–93.00
$89.70
$138
—
150–178
161
413
77.00–84.00
$80.68
$130
—
155–166
162
17
67.50–72.00
$71.01
$115
—
179
179
41
79.00
$79.00
$141
—
160–197
182
230
72.00–80.50
$77.04
$140
—
180–187
186
35
66.00–69.00
$66.62
$124
—
168–199
187
82
81.00–86.00
$82.78
$155
—
200–231
211
28
70.00–76.00
$72.36
$153
—
210–213
212
4
79.00
$79.00
$167
—
201–217
213
17
80.00–82.00
$81.56
$174
—
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
130–133
132
Young (2-4 yrs) Open 4
80.00–82.00
$81.01
$107
—
120–136
133
Yearlings (1-2 yrs) Open 6
135.00–155.00
$138.00
$184
—
158
158
Yearlings (1-2 yrs) Open 34
174.00
$174.00
$275
—
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Hair Breeds
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
38
38
12
215.00
$215.00
$82
—
51
51
50
210.00
$210.00
$107
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Hair Ewes
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
78
78
16
135.00
$135.00
$105
—
94
94
4
95.00
$95.00
$89
—
159
159
5
76.00
$76.00
$121
—
172–182
177
14
85.00–88.00
$86.54
$153
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Hair Lambs
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
61–69
65
16
220.00–222.50
$221.17
$144
—
81–88
84
138
222.50–229.00
$227.67
$191
—
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
61
61
37
170.00
$170.00
$104
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Heifer Pairs
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
Δ last sale
1360
1360
Young (2-4 yrs) Open 2
1,535.00
$1,535.00
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Kids
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
28
28
2
235.00
$235.00
$66
—
29
29
43
135.00–165.00
$159.42
$46
—
30–38
33
22
200.00–255.00
$225.50
$74
—
30–35
34
7
270.00–275.00
$270.64
$92
—
33–34
34
50
160.00–190.00
$178.21
$61
—
40–49
43
19
135.00–185.00
$159.33
$69
—
42–48
45
125
257.50–290.00
$277.39
$125
—
45
45
1
275.00
$275.00
$124
—
45
45
2
285.00
$285.00
$128
—
41–48
46
92
210.00–245.00
$220.91
$102
—
50–55
51
24
265.00–292.50
$286.76
$146
—
53
53
14
165.00
$165.00
$87
—
53–59
56
54
285.00–290.00
$288.40
$162
—
51–59
57
33
175.00–225.00
$198.32
$113
—
53–58
57
18
220.00–262.50
$224.36
$128
—
60–65
62
82
270.00–287.50
$285.44
$177
—
60–69
62
76
255.00–265.00
$262.87
$163
—
61–69
65
14
200.00–205.00
$203.19
$132
—
66
66
5
105.00
$105.00
$69
—
70
70
1
207.50
$207.50
$145
—
70–71
71
8
230.00–250.00
$246.59
$175
—
71
71
9
202.50
$202.50
$144
—
72
72
3
212.50
$212.50
$153
—
72
72
18
275.00
$275.00
$198
—
82–89
85
65
250.00–262.50
$256.50
$218
—
95
95
1
250.00
$250.00
$238
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Lambs
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
43–49
46
190
300.00–304.00
$301.94
$139
—
51–59
55
372
294.00–305.00
$300.45
$165
—
60
60
17
242.50
$242.50
$146
—
60–69
65
800
285.00–292.00
$286.61
$186
—
70–79
75
1,216
280.00–288.00
$283.73
$213
—
80–89
84
1,290
269.00–283.00
$277.32
$233
—
87
87
9
267.00
$267.00
$232
—
90–99
95
349
264.00–274.00
$268.42
$255
—
100 fancy
100
30
264.00–266.00
$265.33
$265
—
100–109
107
132
252.50–259.00
$254.62
$272
—
110–118
114
46
235.00–255.00
$244.65
$279
—
121–126
124
47
235.00–241.00
$238.36
$296
—
135
135
8
235.00
$235.00
$317
—
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
49
49
15
298.00
$298.00
$146
—
50–59
54
79
288.00–290.00
$289.07
$156
—
66–68
67
166
275.00–283.00
$275.88
$185
—
70–75
72
90
255.00–273.00
$269.09
$194
—
85–87
86
24
262.00–264.00
$263.01
$226
—
91–97
94
139
232.00–253.00
$246.44
$232
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Nannies Does
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Age Stage Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
45
45
— — 2
95.00
$95.00
$43
—
65
65
— — 2
187.50
$187.50
$122
—
65
65
— — 3
152.50
$152.50
$99
—
73–78
74
— — 9
117.50–160.00
$127.44
$94
—
76–78
77
— — 6
185.00
$185.00
$142
—
80–85
83
— — 4
152.50–182.50
$167.31
$139
—
84
84
— — 18
160.00
$160.00
$134
—
90
90
Young (2-4 yrs) Exposed 2
197.50
$197.50
$178
—
90
90
— — 2
190.00–230.00
$210.00
$189
—
90–99
98
— — 9
162.50–177.50
$175.97
$172
—
101–117
103
— — 28
130.00–155.00
$134.68
$139
—
104–135
114
— — 19
150.00–177.50
$168.49
$192
—
104–148
125
— — 71
165.00–187.50
$178.08
$223
—
150–170
155
— — 15
157.50–175.00
$166.06
$257
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Wethers
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb)
Avg wt
Head
Price range
Avg $
≈ $/hd Δ last sale
70
70
1
210.00
$210.00
$147
—
72
72
3
175.00
$175.00
$126
—
70–74
73
9
195.00–245.00
$234.36
$171
—
100–108
104
6
225.00–232.50
$229.70
$239
—
105
105
1
175.00
$175.00
$184
—
125–134
131
6
219.00–230.00
$222.50
$291
—
150–185
158
34
200.00–227.50
$206.32
$326
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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.
← Aug 9, 2021 · All 282 past reports ·
Aug 23, 2021 →
Compared to last week: Steers calves under 450 lbs sold mostly 15.00-20.00 higher. All other calves were too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Yearling steers sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly 10.00 higher, while calves over 450 lbs sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher. Yearling heifers sold 2.00-4.00 higher under 800 lbs; over 800 lbs sold steady to 2.00 higher. Quality this week was average to very attractive. Several sets of very attractive calves were seen. The best demand for calves was for fully preconditioned calves, which buyers offered mostly a $10.00 premium. Several sets of replacement heifers were on offer again this week and buyers continue to offer to abort these heifers at their expense if they buyer wishes to feed them. Most heifers were purchased for feed again this week. The August feeder contract closed Friday at 159.025, 0.975 higher than last Friday. Traders are trying not to stray too far from the daily index price as the contract expires soon. The September contract closed at 165.50, 2.425 higher, while the October closed at 167.625, 1.85 higher. Market activity this week was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for heavy offerings. Heavy cow supplies allowed packers to let prices slide in places. Cow quality this week was lower yet again as thin and older cows are being culled. Lots of cows were seen coming out of dry country and had freshly weaned calves. Cows with big bags continue to be seen. Packers were not as aggressive on cows this week as yields continue to inch lower compared to previous weeks. Slaughter cows sold fully steady on breaking and boning cows, while lean cows sold mostly 2.00 lower. Only a small portion of cows were purchased for feed this week as quality was not as attractive as in weeks prior. Demand for fleshy breaking cows was very good as both packer and feeding buyers were looking for fat cows to put on feed. Several sets of cows were purchased to return to the country to preg test. This took some of the cow offering off the market. Feeding cows sold mostly steady. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week on cows and bulls. Demand for replacement stock was stronger this week. Cow-calf pairs and bred cows both were purchased to ship south and east as demand for these offerings remains good to very good. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 5.00 to 8.00 higher. Demand for rebreed offerings was moderate to good this week.