Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 6, 2021

5,675 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $153.96/cwt -1.32 vs last sale · ≈ $1,190/hd at 773 lb · 225 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $158.56/cwt +4.28 vs last sale · ≈ $1,086/hd at 685 lb · 200 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $169.53/cwt -10.46 vs last sale · ≈ $724/hd at 427 lb · 170 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,675 15,524 2,414
Feeder cattle 3,347 5,863 1,986
Slaughter cattle 1,428 1,945 199
Replacement cattle 900 1,315 229

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: The best test for yearling steers was 750-799 lbs which sold steady to firm, All other yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady to weak undertones were noticed. Steer calves under 400 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 higher, 400-499 lbs steers sold 10.00-15.00 lower, steer calves over 500 lbs sold steady to weak. Yearling heifers under 800 lbs sold steady to 4.00 higher, Heifers over 800 lbs sold 1.00-3.00 lower. Heifer calves under 400 lbs sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher, 400-499 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 lower, heifer calves over 500 lbs sold steady to weak. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. CME positions were lower everyday again this week. The September feeder contract closed at 154.25, 4.225 lower, while the October closed at 157.725, 4.75 lower. Market activity this week was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Packers continue to show light demand for cows, however demand from feeding and replacement buyers was mostly good and forced packers to pay up in order to secure offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher on all classes. Feeding cow demand this week was good to very good with many buyers purchasing this class of cow. Feeding cows sold steady to 3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Feeding bull buyers helped hold prices near steady. Demand from replacement cow buyers continues to be good as well. Many long strings of cows were sold as exposed this week as it is still too close to tell if they are bred or not. Also most older cows sold as exposed as consigners were not willing to pay to have them preg tested as they are not bringing any premium to the open cows. Young replacement cows sold on moderate to good demand again this week. Quality was not as attractive this week as last week. These offerings sold mostly 5.00 lower.

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
270–278 unweaned 275 5 230.00–232.50 $231.52 $637 +0.44
305–333 unweaned 316 31 210.00–235.00 $227.70 $720 +9.98
351–394 unweaned 368 61 203.00–232.00 $214.21 $788 -2.80
403–439 unweaned 421 94 181.00–212.50 $190.37 $801 -20.20
454–495 unweaned 470 119 173.00–187.50 $180.35 $848 -13.35
500–537 unweaned 520 83 168.50–177.00 $173.30 $901 -0.55
556–598 unweaned 569 84 160.00–169.00 $166.62 $948 -2.21
608 unweaned 608 6 162.00 $162.00 $985 -0.67
660–687 unweaned 676 5 156.00–159.50 $158.13 $1,069 —
686 686 21 170.50 $170.50 $1,170 —
749 749 4 168.00 $168.00 $1,258 -2.31
764–770 765 69 163.00–170.50 $169.73 $1,298 +5.02
818 818 5 163.50 $163.50 $1,337 +1.82
905 905 3 147.00 $147.00 $1,330 -5.59
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
241 unweaned 241 12 205.00 $205.00 $494 —
320 unweaned 320 22 212.00 $212.00 $678 +3.38
369–393 unweaned 385 19 181.00–182.50 $181.45 $699 -4.92
447–449 unweaned 448 28 173.00–176.50 $174.87 $783 -15.75
465–486 unweaned 476 12 168.00–174.00 $171.28 $815 —
543 unweaned 543 12 160.00 $160.00 $869 -7.04
568 unweaned 568 5 155.00 $155.00 $880 —
675 675 16 164.50 $164.50 $1,110 —
728 728 3 157.00 $157.00 $1,143 -5.33
921 921 4 145.00 $145.00 $1,335 +5.09
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
242 unweaned 242 8 204.00 $204.00 $494 —
274 unweaned 274 12 202.50 $202.50 $555 —
302 unweaned 302 38 182.50 $182.50 $551 —
570 570 6 160.00 $160.00 $912 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
569 569 6 165.00 $165.00 $939 —
608 608 2 163.00 $163.00 $991 +0.29
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1063 1063 3 128.00 $128.00 $1,361 -5.50
1064 1064 4 134.00 $134.00 $1,426 +0.50

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
276–296 unweaned 283 11 191.00–211.00 $203.40 $576 +6.26
300–345 unweaned 312 78 186.00–211.00 $193.72 $604 +6.17
350–393 unweaned 374 72 177.00–200.00 $186.59 $698 +2.38
404–448 unweaned 427 170 162.50–180.00 $169.53 $724 -10.46
458–493 unweaned 482 106 162.00–175.00 $164.88 $795 -4.60
500–537 unweaned 519 107 152.00–162.00 $157.03 $815 -3.56
551–582 unweaned 560 14 148.50–154.00 $150.57 $843 —
644–649 646 39 158.50–162.00 $160.03 $1,034 +0.03
651–698 685 200 155.00–163.00 $158.56 $1,086 +4.28
739–740 740 90 155.50–157.00 $156.67 $1,159 +5.67
770 thin fleshed 770 17 159.00 $159.00 $1,224 —
751–797 773 208 149.00–157.00 $153.55 $1,187 -1.73
806–846 816 68 145.00–148.50 $146.25 $1,193 -2.70
850–899 869 156 140.50–146.50 $143.33 $1,246 -2.70
889 889 8 135.50 $135.50 $1,205 -10.53
905–943 926 47 136.75–143.00 $139.49 $1,292 -1.55
939 939 23 136.00 $136.00 $1,277 -5.04
970–988 982 38 134.00–139.00 $135.44 $1,330 -2.27
981–990 983 14 126.00–130.50 $129.53 $1,273 -8.18
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
254–258 unweaned 257 28 180.00–182.50 $180.89 $465 —
301–327 unweaned 315 30 180.00–186.00 $183.22 $577 +3.54
368–375 unweaned 372 5 150.00–175.50 $165.42 $615 -7.29
402–446 unweaned 431 9 160.00 $160.00 $690 -8.48
480 unweaned 480 4 155.00 $155.00 $744 -14.00
674 674 6 154.00 $154.00 $1,038 —
703–735 723 57 145.00–153.50 $149.78 $1,083 +4.78
755–781 774 14 148.00 $148.00 $1,146 -2.00
803–837 820 39 138.00–144.00 $142.77 $1,171 +0.74
858–883 871 4 138.00–139.00 $138.51 $1,206 -0.88
925 925 2 127.00 $127.00 $1,175 -3.00
998 998 3 127.00 $127.00 $1,267 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
488 unweaned 488 6 160.00 $160.00 $781 —
863 863 2 139.00 $139.00 $1,200 —
991 991 5 127.50 $127.50 $1,264 —
1002–1033 1029 23 132.50–133.25 $133.15 $1,370 -1.28
1038 1038 2 130.50 $130.50 $1,355 -0.50
1050–1093 1072 30 125.50–131.50 $129.94 $1,393 —
1106–1120 1114 9 126.50–127.00 $126.72 $1,412 +5.72
1133 1133 11 126.00 $126.00 $1,428 +5.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
612–643 625 53 148.00–156.00 $153.26 $958 +1.60
669 669 13 154.00 $154.00 $1,030 +3.24
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
252 unweaned 252 19 188.00 $188.00 $474 —
632 632 3 147.50 $147.50 $932 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
806 806 4 132.50 $132.50 $1,068 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085 1085 3 114.50 $114.50 $1,242 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
264 unweaned 264 7 212.50 $212.50 $561 —
313–318 unweaned 317 15 201.00–205.00 $204.47 $648 —
394 unweaned 394 7 175.00 $175.00 $690 -22.50
424 unweaned 424 5 170.00 $170.00 $721 -3.00
478–485 unweaned 479 11 163.00–168.00 $167.08 $800 —
520–541 unweaned 532 9 151.00–154.00 $152.70 $812 —
903 903 2 124.00 $124.00 $1,120 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080–1090 1087 3 106.00–111.00 $107.66 $1,170 —
1188 1188 3 103.00 $103.00 $1,224 —
1202 1202 3 104.00 $104.00 $1,250 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
930 930 6 113.00 $113.00 $1,051 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
755–920 823 85-90% 3 39.00–42.00 $40.34 $332 —
950 950 85-90% 1 62.00 $62.00 $589 +10.31
790–993 952 85-90% 8 44.50–55.00 $48.95 $466 -2.74
855–1245 1092 85-90% 52 41.00–48.00 $44.45 $485 -8.62
1140 1140 85-90% 1 63.00 $63.00 $718 —
880–1345 1182 85-90% 194 49.00–57.00 $53.57 $633 ±0.00
1020–1374 1201 85-90% 83 50.00–56.00 $53.46 $642 —
1206 1206 85-90% 46 49.50 $49.50 $597 —
1025–1345 1221 85-90% 55 55.50–61.50 $56.55 $690 -0.07
1133–1307 1239 85-90% 103 55.50–63.00 $57.14 $708 +0.52
1240 1240 85-90% 1 77.50 $77.50 $961 +20.88
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1132–1537 1320 80-85% 220 61.00–69.50 $64.75 $855 —
1319–1535 1364 80-85% 92 50.00–61.00 $57.03 $778 +2.50
1310–1495 1377 80-85% 27 52.00–57.50 $55.89 $770 -8.46
1303–1535 1392 80-85% 17 58.00–65.00 $61.38 $854 -2.97
1285–1688 1403 80-85% 39 71.00–79.00 $74.47 $1,045 +18.76
1495–1585 1540 80-85% 4 68.50–73.00 $70.68 $1,088 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1527 1527 75-80% 21 73.50 $73.50 $1,122 -2.18
1385–1655 1565 75-80% 10 61.00–72.50 $68.36 $1,070 —
1325–1665 1570 75-80% 14 75.00–78.00 $75.97 $1,193 —
1435–1990 1635 75-80% 16 70.00–78.00 $76.27 $1,247 -2.86
1435–1770 1653 75-80% 6 79.00–84.50 $81.65 $1,350 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100–1290 1195 2 75.00–76.00 $75.46 $902 —
1215–1298 1270 3 77.00–80.00 $79.04 $1,004 —
1250–1855 1594 31 79.50–88.50 $83.95 $1,338 —
1310–1980 1615 34 71.00–80.50 $77.23 $1,247 -6.76
1310–1840 1625 21 72.00–80.00 $76.71 $1,247 -7.28
1065–2470 1789 78 81.00–89.50 $84.57 $1,513 —
1750–2360 1897 25 87.00–94.50 $91.45 $1,735 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1880 1880 1 76.00 $76.00 $1,429 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
855 thin fleshed 855 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 53.00 $53.00 $453
835–1350 1017 (<2 yrs)Open 144 72.00–98.00 $84.32 $858
830–1420 1085 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 70 58.50–86.00 $73.17 $794
1055–1485 1246 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 42 53.00–58.50 $57.17 $712
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1040–1080 1048 (<2 yrs)Open 5 60.00–72.00 $69.53 $729
1148–1318 1194 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 61.00–67.00 $65.28 $779
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
860–1205 1028 (<2 yrs)Open 13 57.00–74.00 $67.17 $691

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1206 thin fleshed 1206 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 33 50.50 $50.50 $609
1060–1499 1278 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 301 53.00–63.50 $57.37 $733
1348–1443 1410 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 22 56.50–61.00 $59.63 $841
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1018 1018 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 19 950.00 $950.00
1080 1080 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,135.00 $1,135.00
1121 1121 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 8 810.00 $810.00
1209–1271 1236 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 68 835.00–860.00 $848.66
1262–1288 1280 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 47 1,075.00–1,225.00 $1,200.45
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1257 1257 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 925.00 $925.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1052 fancy 1052 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 9 1,585.00 $1,585.00

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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.