Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 20, 2021

11,861 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $186.42/cwt +1.91 vs last sale · ≈ $874/hd at 469 lb · 805 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $170.80/cwt -6.33 vs last sale · ≈ $722/hd at 423 lb · 648 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $198.30/cwt +2.26 vs last sale · ≈ $833/hd at 420 lb · 539 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 11,861 16,816 4,470
Feeder cattle 7,598 6,060 3,129
Slaughter cattle 3,078 2,364 1,184
Replacement cattle 1,185 1,270 157

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers under 850 lbs sold 1.00-3.00 higher, heifers over 850 lbs sold unevenly steady. Quality was mostly average to attractive for yearlings. Demand was good for all yearlings on offer. Steer calves sold steady to 5.00 higher, with the exception of 350-399 lbs steers which sold steady to 5.00 lower. Heifer calves sold mostly steady to 5.00 lower. Demand for calves was moderate to good. Calf quality this week was average to very attractive. Several load lots of calves continue to be seen. Demand for load lots was mostly good. Calf marketing's continue to be way ahead of year ago levels as drought conditions are pushing cattle to market early. Many farmers in the Midwest are still not ready for calves as most are just starting harvest. This has hampered demand. Demand for lightweight calves to send south to wheat remains good and most calves under 400 lbs are being sold for that purpose. CME positions continue to trade sideways. The September feeder contract closed at 154.625 0.25 lower, while the October closed at 157.35, 0.975 higher. Market activity this week was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for heavy offerings. Packers showed slightly more demand for slaughter cows this week as harvest has slowed the volume of cows being delivered directly to the plant. Slaughter cows sold fully steady for the week on boning and lean cows, breaking cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower. Feeding cow demand remains mostly good. Feeding cows sold steady to firm. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Many long strings of cows were sold as exposed again this week. 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 mostly good demand again this week. Quality was mostly attractive this week with many long strings of one iron home raised open cows. Offerings sold fully steady.

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
264–296 unweaned 275 64 236.00–246.00 $242.20 $666 +6.79
304–348 unweaned 330 253 219.00–247.50 $230.30 $760 +1.98
362–367 fancy 365 14 225.00–229.00 $227.57 $831 —
358–389 unweaned 375 180 201.00–240.00 $215.07 $807 -6.67
400–434 unweaned 420 539 189.00–215.00 $198.30 $833 +2.26
450–499 unweaned 469 805 176.50–195.50 $186.42 $874 +1.91
501–545 unweaned 519 357 164.00–184.50 $177.85 $923 +9.11
531 531 14 164.00 $164.00 $871 —
559 fancy 559 21 185.50 $185.50 $1,037 —
550–595 unweaned 575 179 160.00–170.00 $164.45 $946 -0.29
605–607 fancy 606 67 170.00–171.50 $170.83 $1,035 —
602–643 unweaned 609 32 159.00–168.50 $164.95 $1,005 +5.17
655–689 unweaned 662 39 155.50–164.00 $162.03 $1,073 +11.52
673 673 24 170.50 $170.50 $1,147 —
700 unweaned 700 4 152.50 $152.50 $1,068 —
709–715 713 38 170.00–174.00 $171.69 $1,224 +5.94
750–795 754 51 155.00–166.00 $163.22 $1,231 —
813–829 828 37 157.00–160.00 $159.76 $1,323 +12.81
852–899 872 53 148.50–158.75 $152.19 $1,327 +11.19
938 938 2 144.00 $144.00 $1,351 —
952 952 11 144.50 $144.50 $1,376 —
968 968 5 136.00 $136.00 $1,316 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
273–291 unweaned 286 10 212.50–220.00 $214.65 $614 +16.07
313–346 unweaned 334 68 190.00–225.00 $213.34 $713 —
383–398 unweaned 392 26 182.50–210.00 $198.42 $778 +6.67
403–445 unweaned 431 154 175.00–187.00 $183.14 $789 +12.59
461–496 unweaned 475 60 165.00–179.00 $173.70 $825 +4.43
549 unweaned 549 17 164.00–167.50 $166.26 $913 +2.23
558–591 unweaned 577 17 153.00–161.00 $155.59 $898 +0.17
605–645 unweaned 636 17 152.00–157.75 $156.72 $997 —
678 unweaned 678 3 150.00 $150.00 $1,017 —
723–728 724 12 159.00–160.00 $159.25 $1,153 +0.85
774–788 781 8 151.00–156.00 $153.52 $1,199 —
806 806 8 148.00 $148.00 $1,193 —
860 860 3 148.00 $148.00 $1,273 -5.00
900–905 904 7 132.00–139.50 $137.36 $1,242 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 unweaned 400 6 175.00 $175.00 $700 -1.38
465 465 21 181.00 $181.00 $842 —
482–493 unweaned 484 71 167.00–174.00 $172.99 $837 —
557–593 569 9 160.00–164.00 $162.61 $925 —
670–681 679 6 163.00–166.50 $165.92 $1,127 +0.42
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 unweaned 375 29 196.00 $196.00 $735 -8.00
473 unweaned 473 51 169.75 $169.75 $803 +5.75
1009 1009 14 133.50 $133.50 $1,347 —
1037 1037 5 137.00 $137.00 $1,421 —
1086 1086 4 132.50 $132.50 $1,439 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
628 628 3 156.00 $156.00 $980 -8.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
278–298 unweaned 294 38 188.00–191.00 $188.86 $555 -24.80
301–349 unweaned 336 231 177.00–190.00 $184.63 $620 -4.75
353–395 unweaned 383 153 173.00–182.00 $178.60 $684 -5.04
401–445 unweaned 423 648 162.00–176.50 $170.80 $722 -6.33
454–475 unweaned 466 330 158.00–170.00 $164.25 $765 -0.64
501–548 unweaned 521 251 150.00–161.50 $155.45 $810 +0.23
542 542 13 143.00 $143.00 $775 —
551–599 unweaned 571 131 147.00–157.50 $153.54 $877 +2.15
600–635 unweaned 615 64 144.00–153.00 $149.41 $919 +3.79
660–696 669 32 154.00–155.25 $154.92 $1,036 —
708–735 728 51 150.00–154.75 $153.33 $1,116 +4.99
751–780 761 106 147.00–151.75 $150.21 $1,143 -0.07
816 816 9 143.00 $143.00 $1,167 -2.81
803–838 825 51 146.50–149.00 $148.28 $1,223 +2.47
853–896 883 158 140.00–148.00 $144.08 $1,272 -1.50
905–943 915 128 136.00–143.50 $141.08 $1,291 -0.68
963 fancy 963 5 145.25 $145.25 $1,399 —
970 970 6 118.50 $118.50 $1,149 -14.03
951–993 974 57 130.50–140.00 $133.94 $1,305 +1.41
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
237–241 unweaned 240 27 175.00–177.50 $176.86 $424 —
257–289 unweaned 275 9 167.50–175.00 $173.34 $477 -0.77
303–349 unweaned 311 38 166.50–180.00 $168.45 $524 -2.99
370–390 unweaned 379 29 155.00–178.00 $170.42 $646 -12.22
407–443 unweaned 432 60 157.00–166.00 $161.89 $699 +1.75
455–495 unweaned 479 49 143.00–158.00 $150.88 $723 +5.88
523–544 unweaned 534 32 144.00–146.00 $144.78 $773 +2.78
553 unweaned 553 3 148.00 $148.00 $818 +14.00
730 730 7 149.00 $149.00 $1,088 +4.25
768–795 786 30 145.50–148.00 $146.32 $1,150 +1.61
863–865 864 6 136.00–140.00 $137.33 $1,187 -3.67
930–938 936 5 133.00–136.00 $135.40 $1,267 +3.27
973 973 2 120.00 $120.00 $1,168 -8.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318 unweaned 318 49 182.50 $182.50 $580 +10.50
432 unweaned 432 31 164.00 $164.00 $708 +8.00
600–633 621 17 158.00–164.50 $162.28 $1,008 +8.18
699 699 12 148.00 $148.00 $1,035 —
842 842 12 140.50 $140.50 $1,183 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
798 798 2 145.50 $145.50 $1,161 —
1012–1027 1019 45 130.75–136.00 $132.01 $1,345 -1.09
1025 1025 2 127.50 $127.50 $1,307 -5.60
1060–1093 1087 14 128.00–133.50 $130.98 $1,424 +3.72
1100–1141 1129 13 125.00–126.50 $125.85 $1,421 —
1152 1152 3 121.00 $121.00 $1,394 —
1163 1163 2 115.00 $115.00 $1,337 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
561 561 8 151.50 $151.50 $850 +5.33
638 638 6 149.50 $149.50 $954 —
677–682 679 8 144.00–145.00 $144.62 $982 —
713 713 8 139.00 $139.00 $991 —
765 765 18 142.00 $142.00 $1,086 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
324 unweaned 324 6 200.00 $200.00 $648 —
365 unweaned 365 1 175.00 $175.00 $639 +13.00
440 unweaned 440 14 161.00 $161.00 $708 —
475 unweaned 475 10 161.00 $161.00 $765 —
627–630 unweaned 628 5 138.00–141.00 $139.80 $878 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 unweaned 395 3 206.00 $206.00 $814 +33.00
475–497 unweaned 491 7 154.00–163.00 $156.49 $768 —
505–547 unweaned 526 6 147.00–154.00 $150.36 $791 +0.87
553 unweaned 553 3 145.00 $145.00 $802 —
611 unweaned 611 7 140.00 $140.00 $855 —
943 943 7 125.00 $125.00 $1,179 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1030 1030 1 119.00 $119.00 $1,226 +4.00

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
801–995 914 85-90% 14 42.00–44.00 $43.33 $396 -5.03
855–1130 963 85-90% 27 46.00–54.50 $49.87 $480 -5.89
1000–1250 1106 85-90% 27 37.50–47.50 $44.43 $491 -1.17
1000–1585 1186 85-90% 511 47.00–56.00 $51.54 $611 -2.06
1121–1353 1205 85-90% 117 51.00–55.50 $52.68 $635 -19.32
1065–1318 1206 85-90% 163 54.00–62.00 $56.48 $681 +4.59
1005–1345 1224 85-90% 124 55.00–67.00 $57.67 $706 +5.78
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235–1620 1402 80-85% 144 50.50–59.00 $54.28 $761 -19.47
1260–1610 1405 80-85% 424 60.00–70.00 $65.80 $924 -7.95
1255–1694 1409 80-85% 68 54.00–74.00 $59.15 $833 -14.60
1243–1650 1435 80-85% 113 70.00–79.00 $72.47 $1,040 +3.51
1275–1635 1450 80-85% 32 59.00–65.50 $61.75 $895 —
1484 1484 80-85% 5 49.50 $49.50 $735 —
1522–1700 1557 80-85% 14 69.00–76.50 $71.09 $1,107 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1430–1695 1532 75-80% 28 65.00–74.00 $67.37 $1,032 —
1455–1655 1575 75-80% 9 80.00–83.00 $81.30 $1,280 +6.33
1523–1608 1580 75-80% 6 65.50–70.00 $66.95 $1,058 -8.02
1475–1850 1639 75-80% 27 73.50–78.50 $75.93 $1,244 -7.63
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1685 1685 65-75% 1 87.00 $87.00 $1,466 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1319–1680 1368 12 78.00–90.50 $87.21 $1,193 —
1233–1980 1426 15 72.00–78.00 $74.63 $1,064 —
1280–1715 1460 22 79.00–88.50 $83.25 $1,215 +11.31
1335–2240 1652 16 68.00–77.50 $72.64 $1,200 —
1409–2215 1780 59 79.00–88.00 $84.17 $1,498 —
1693–2018 1856 4 86.50–87.00 $86.77 $1,610 —
1880–2145 1984 12 88.00–95.50 $90.64 $1,798 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1900 1900 1 86.00 $86.00 $1,634 —
2605 2605 1 72.00 $72.00 $1,876 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
818–995 thin fleshed 878 (<2 yrs)Open 4 67.50–86.00 $77.11 $677
950–1085 thin fleshed 981 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 53.00–55.00 $53.53 $525
798–1340 983 (<2 yrs)Open 449 65.00–110.00 $92.45 $909
830–1305 1040 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 193 61.50–93.00 $74.67 $777
1023–1227 1115 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 26 63.00–70.00 $65.81 $734
1150–1231 1215 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 5 64.00–76.00 $66.27 $805
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
845–1085 937 (<2 yrs)Open 8 62.00–80.00 $72.45 $679
1410 1410 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 66.00 $66.00 $931
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
815 815 (<2 yrs)Open 1 85.00 $85.00 $693

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1231–1253 1241 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 19 53.00–56.00 $54.43 $675
1260 1260 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 24 58.00 $58.00 $731
1262 thin fleshed 1262 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 27 52.00 $52.00 $656
1317 thin fleshed 1317 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 8 53.50 $53.50 $705
1416 1416 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 57.00 $57.00 $807
1514 1514 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 8 61.00 $61.00 $924
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1039–1258 1149 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 45 1,100.00–1,485.00 $1,292.82
1208 1208 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 1,050.00 $1,050.00
1066–1360 1217 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 12 1,025.00–1,110.00 $1,081.57
1168–1369 1342 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 22 1,150.00–1,335.00 $1,313.04
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1236 1236 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 7 54.50 $54.50 $674
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1261 1261 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 925.00 $925.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
909 thin fleshed 909 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 7 1,110.00 $1,110.00

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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.