Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, August 16, 2021

13,205 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

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.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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 $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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 $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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 $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
911 911 7 134.00 $134.00 $1,221
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
568 568 4 142.50 $142.50 $809
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 3 192.50 $192.50 $712
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
627 627 3 167.00 $167.00 $1,047

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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 $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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 $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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 $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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 $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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 $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
563 563 13 135.00 $135.00 $760
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
696 696 4 150.00 $150.00 $1,044

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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 $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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 $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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 $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
991 991 7 120.50 $120.50 $1,194

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Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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 $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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 $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage 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 AgeStage 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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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage 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 AgeStage 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

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
861 861 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 50 1,410.00 $1,410.00

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage 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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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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 AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
38 38 12 215.00 $215.00 $82
51 51 50 210.00 $210.00 $107

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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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Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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 $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
61 61 37 170.00 $170.00 $104

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage 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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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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 $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ 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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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.