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

Receipts

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

Market comments — USDA reporter

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 ↓

Feeder Steers

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 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

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 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

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 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

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 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

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 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

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

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

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

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

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

↑ Back to top

Bucks

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 —

↑ Back to top

Bucks Billies

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 —

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

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 —

↑ Back to top

Ewes

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 —

↑ Back to top

Hair Breeds

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 —

↑ Back to top

Hair Ewes

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 —

↑ Back to top

Hair Lambs

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 —

↑ Back to top

Heifer Pairs

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 —

↑ Back to top

Kids

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 2 285.00 $285.00 $128 —
45 45 1 275.00 $275.00 $124 —
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 —

↑ Back to top

Lambs

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 —

↑ Back to top

Nannies Does

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 —

↑ Back to top

Wethers

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 —

↑ Back to top

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.