Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 11, 2021

18,874 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 heifers $158.24/cwt +2.09 vs last sale · ≈ $753/hd at 476 lb · 1,131 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $182.12/cwt +1.32 vs last sale · ≈ $873/hd at 479 lb · 761 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $163.76/cwt +1.23 vs last sale · ≈ $932/hd at 569 lb · 712 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 18,874 24,095 12,673
Feeder cattle 11,405 12,115 10,144
Slaughter cattle 4,859 5,380 1,715
Replacement cattle 2,610 2,057 814

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were all too lightly tested either this week or last to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher, over 450 lbs sold unevenly steady from 2.00 lower to 4.00 higher. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold steady to 3.00 higher, heifers over 500 lbs sold steady to 3.00 lower. Quality this week was average to very attractive. Transportation continues to be the biggest factor limiting demand. Buyers focused on buying front end cattle and passed or discounted calves with only one round of vaccinations or average quality calves. This led to very wide price spreads at times. Local feeders have opted to sell their feed and yard space instead of feeding calves this year. The best demand this week was for lightweight calves suitable to develop into yearlings. The August 2022 feeder contract push higher over the last couple weeks giving buyers confidence to buy little calves. CME positions traded sideways after big gains the previous week. The October contract closed at 157.575, 1.90 lower, while the November contract closed 161.425, 0.275 higher. Market activity was moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for heavy offerings. The cow market broke sharply over the last couple weeks as heavy cow supplies continue to be seen out of droughted out country. Slaughter cows sold mostly 6.00-7.00 lower on boning and breaking cows, lean cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower. Feeding cows sold 4.00-7.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Many long strings of cows were sold as exposed again this week. These cows sold on moderate demand and many buyers from the southern plains and the corn belt purchased these cows to turn out on corn stalks or wheat. Young replacement cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Quality was mostly attractive with many long strings and load lot offerings of one iron home-raised open cows. Offerings sold steady to weak.

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
238 unweaned 238 8 252.50 $252.50 $601 —
254 thin fleshed 254 4 260.00 $260.00 $660 —
271–299 unweaned 277 63 217.00–245.00 $234.33 $649 +12.70
310–334 unweaned 323 139 210.00–234.00 $222.18 $718 +5.09
352–353 value added 353 166 230.00 $230.00 $812 —
350–397 unweaned 382 381 198.00–237.50 $213.90 $817 +9.24
417 thin fleshed 417 124 210.00 $210.00 $876 —
400–446 unweaned 422 424 185.00–211.00 $197.24 $832 +2.39
453–498 unweaned 479 733 170.00–192.00 $182.69 $875 +1.89
470–497 484 28 165.00–170.00 $167.25 $809 —
500–546 unweaned 523 694 161.00–184.00 $169.56 $887 -0.83
568 568 11 164.00 $164.00 $932 -3.00
550–599 unweaned 569 701 153.50–170.00 $163.76 $932 +1.02
601–648 unweaned 619 231 151.00–164.50 $159.84 $989 -0.92
650–695 unweaned 669 97 150.00–164.50 $157.41 $1,053 -2.01
695 695 5 144.00 $144.00 $1,001 —
728 728 28 141.50 $141.50 $1,030 —
728–744 unweaned 739 39 154.50–158.50 $156.09 $1,154 +1.09
822 822 9 146.75 $146.75 $1,206 -1.84
851 851 14 147.00 $147.00 $1,251 —
909 909 4 136.00 $136.00 $1,236 —
920–938 936 51 145.50–147.25 $147.05 $1,376 +4.55
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
258–293 unweaned 280 13 185.00–207.50 $199.51 $559 -1.90
319–340 unweaned 325 14 186.00–211.00 $197.61 $642 +2.91
352–396 unweaned 369 39 180.00–211.00 $192.93 $712 +3.87
410–435 unweaned 429 97 170.00–186.00 $179.86 $772 +5.18
460–487 unweaned 474 144 156.00–175.00 $168.40 $798 -1.56
497 497 17 167.00 $167.00 $830 -6.55
519 519 8 161.00 $161.00 $836 —
500–545 unweaned 520 71 150.00–169.00 $163.58 $851 +9.31
567–583 unweaned 573 48 144.00–156.00 $150.05 $860 -5.35
605 unweaned 605 2 147.50 $147.50 $892 —
662 unweaned 662 5 141.00 $141.00 $933 +4.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
298 unweaned 298 5 215.00 $215.00 $641 —
402–434 unweaned 422 13 170.00–187.00 $176.23 $744 +0.04
449 449 9 181.00 $181.00 $813 —
505–549 unweaned 540 121 151.00–159.50 $157.57 $851 —
687 687 20 133.50 $133.50 $917 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
277 unweaned 277 11 180.00 $180.00 $499 —
377 unweaned 377 17 165.00 $165.00 $622 +5.00
416–427 unweaned 420 61 107.50–112.50 $110.58 $464 -50.62
480–491 unweaned 489 11 158.00–161.00 $158.54 $775 —
600–635 unweaned 626 4 125.00–131.00 $129.56 $811 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 unweaned 395 2 200.00 $200.00 $790 —
529–535 unweaned 532 13 159.00–159.50 $159.27 $847 -4.08
555–593 unweaned 574 18 147.00–157.00 $152.17 $873 -4.45
616 unweaned 616 4 149.00 $149.00 $918 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
421 unweaned 421 14 120.00 $120.00 $505 —
532 unweaned 532 6 152.00 $152.00 $809 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 unweaned 320 9 105.00 $105.00 $336 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1017 1017 3 129.00 $129.00 $1,312 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
274–296 unweaned 288 18 185.00–200.00 $188.70 $543 -0.11
302–349 unweaned 332 226 170.00–200.00 $179.29 $595 -7.46
378 378 6 177.00 $177.00 $669 -1.00
352–398 unweaned 380 607 166.50–189.00 $173.89 $661 +1.20
402–445 unweaned 423 437 155.00–182.00 $166.74 $705 -0.03
454–486 468 96 149.00–157.50 $153.84 $720 +9.84
450–496 unweaned 475 944 147.50–168.00 $157.94 $750 +3.16
473–497 495 81 164.00–169.00 $168.53 $834 +24.53
499 499 10 145.00 $145.00 $724 +1.00
500–545 unweaned 521 688 144.00–160.00 $151.84 $791 -1.02
528 fancy 528 9 163.00 $163.00 $861 —
542 542 5 149.00 $149.00 $808 —
561 fancy 561 28 151.00 $151.00 $847 —
569 569 48 163.00 $163.00 $927 +15.00
553–597 unweaned 571 297 138.00–150.25 $144.18 $823 -0.67
611–648 unweaned 627 39 130.00–145.00 $138.27 $867 -6.45
650–699 unweaned 674 54 129.00–146.00 $139.33 $939 -2.81
707 707 44 158.00 $158.00 $1,117 +9.29
787 787 25 130.50 $130.50 $1,027 -22.00
788 788 14 148.00 $148.00 $1,166 -4.50
808–844 820 59 138.50–146.00 $140.64 $1,153 -1.36
878 878 87 135.50 $135.50 $1,190 -0.50
865–894 885 21 136.00–139.50 $138.66 $1,227 +2.66
910–948 920 28 133.00–144.00 $136.38 $1,255 -1.26
957 957 14 132.50 $132.50 $1,268 -1.50
1032 1032 25 124.75 $124.75 $1,287 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
264–297 unweaned 277 48 170.00–180.00 $173.14 $480 -5.86
303–347 unweaned 331 65 151.00–180.00 $165.35 $547 -7.24
363–387 unweaned 379 56 154.00–167.00 $158.78 $602 -4.69
408–448 unweaned 430 121 145.00–158.00 $153.15 $659 +0.62
455–498 unweaned 477 74 138.00–148.00 $144.15 $688 -0.56
516–548 unweaned 535 109 135.00–142.00 $138.19 $739 +3.61
557–596 unweaned 575 26 124.00–137.00 $132.46 $762 -2.18
618–640 unweaned 636 12 122.00–131.00 $129.54 $824 -4.96
799 799 9 121.00 $121.00 $967 -20.93
863 863 3 139.00 $139.00 $1,200 +5.20
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
311 unweaned 311 9 165.00 $165.00 $513 -5.00
397–398 unweaned 397 19 159.00–166.00 $163.05 $647 —
433 unweaned 433 16 159.00 $159.00 $688 +5.64
485 unweaned 485 12 147.50 $147.50 $715 +2.61
512 unweaned 512 26 140.00 $140.00 $717 +5.45
655 655 16 127.00 $127.00 $832 —
733 733 24 135.50 $135.50 $993 -8.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
311–325 unweaned 322 20 131.00–155.00 $136.80 $440 —
381–388 unweaned 383 67 130.00–149.00 $137.33 $526 —
419–444 unweaned 430 9 145.00–149.00 $146.84 $631 -1.16
535–539 unweaned 537 13 127.50–131.00 $129.11 $693 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 unweaned 485 9 138.00 $138.00 $669 -7.00
535 unweaned 535 10 139.00 $139.00 $744 +3.00
567–597 unweaned 583 11 122.00–134.00 $128.70 $750 -8.30
1003–1020 1006 13 128.50–132.00 $128.85 $1,296 -1.15
1056 1056 9 125.50 $125.50 $1,325 -0.22
1100 1100 1 126.00 $126.00 $1,386 —
1160–1183 1178 5 120.00–122.00 $121.61 $1,433 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
236 unweaned 236 24 130.00 $130.00 $307 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
811 811 14 121.00 $121.00 $981 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1044 1044 7 126.50 $126.50 $1,321 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
433 unweaned 433 27 155.00 $155.00 $671 -6.18
450–461 unweaned 454 21 144.00–146.00 $145.32 $660 —
768 unweaned 768 2 114.00 $114.00 $876 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
396 unweaned 396 26 132.50 $132.50 $525 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360–369 unweaned 367 5 181.00–210.00 $186.69 $685 —
498 unweaned 498 2 155.00 $155.00 $772 -12.41
505 unweaned 505 2 149.00 $149.00 $752 -4.24
576 unweaned 576 8 144.00 $144.00 $829 -0.68
700 unweaned 700 2 131.00 $131.00 $917 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1098 1098 2 100.00 $100.00 $1,098 —
1108 1108 2 98.00 $98.00 $1,086 —
1188 1188 11 95.00 $95.00 $1,129 —
Medium and Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
366 unweaned 366 7 110.00 $110.00 $403 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
775–1050 935 85-90% 36 20.00–33.00 $29.20 $273 -17.80
910–976 955 85-90% 15 32.50–36.00 $34.09 $326 -13.07
1006–1220 1040 85-90% 59 32.00–37.50 $34.55 $359 —
1000–1319 1124 85-90% 178 25.00–36.50 $33.87 $381 -4.63
990–1355 1177 85-90% 491 34.00–48.00 $42.76 $503 -6.43
1066–1284 1182 85-90% 35 55.50–58.00 $57.93 $685 +8.74
1002–1550 1191 85-90% 283 45.00–56.00 $49.50 $590 +0.31
1000–1395 1229 85-90% 319 36.00–45.00 $40.40 $497 -12.16
1110–1395 1326 85-90% 39 44.00–47.00 $45.98 $610 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1380–1405 1389 80-85% 5 32.00–39.00 $34.63 $481 -14.65
1240–1635 1396 80-85% 318 49.00–63.00 $57.20 $799 +7.92
1300–1650 1409 80-85% 85 38.00–48.00 $43.70 $616 -20.54
1310–1655 1412 80-85% 136 40.50–55.25 $46.45 $656 -17.79
1261–1586 1436 80-85% 132 62.00–69.50 $64.70 $929 +13.39
1305–1745 1518 80-85% 11 47.00–55.00 $50.03 $759 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1445–1632 1576 75-80% 5 63.00–73.00 $70.78 $1,115 —
1594–1623 1602 75-80% 7 60.00–65.00 $63.55 $1,018 -12.10
1670 1670 75-80% 17 76.00 $76.00 $1,269 -5.28
1645–1860 1722 75-80% 3 54.50–66.00 $61.22 $1,054 —
1735–1763 1754 75-80% 3 64.00–71.00 $68.69 $1,205 —
1445–1899 1804 75-80% 6 74.00–76.00 $75.54 $1,363 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1233–1905 1536 21 56.00–78.00 $69.66 $1,070 -12.71
1140–1800 1632 17 77.00–83.00 $79.94 $1,305 —
1385–1855 1687 31 64.00–77.00 $72.16 $1,217 —
1575–2190 1838 49 75.00–87.00 $81.15 $1,492 —
2215 2215 1 90.00 $90.00 $1,994 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
694–1355 927 (<2 yrs)Open 698 62.00–118.50 $99.75 $925
835–1093 thin fleshed 1021 (<2 yrs)Open 5 71.00–89.00 $75.88 $775
1023 thin fleshed 1023 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 44.00 $44.00 $450
710–1133 thin fleshed 1048 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 18 52.00–80.00 $55.85 $585
720–1390 1049 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 335 54.00–98.00 $71.91 $754
896–1265 1076 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 109 47.00–64.25 $57.82 $622
1242 1242 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 10 52.00 $52.00 $646
1287 1287 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 19 48.00 $48.00 $618
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
765–1099 991 (<2 yrs)Open 42 64.00–84.00 $72.95 $723
1180 1180 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 45.00 $45.00 $531

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1041 1041 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,035.00 $1,035.00
1100 1100 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,025.00 $1,025.00
943–1356 1152 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 145 1,100.00–1,360.00 $1,297.97
1174 1174 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 27 850.00 $850.00
1168–1203 thin fleshed 1178 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 22 560.00–575.00 $570.82
1103–1368 1188 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 150 1,075.00–1,275.00 $1,184.37
1203–1360 1282 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 82 725.00–835.00 $780.45
1149–2348 1311 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 212 635.00–760.00 $700.32
1646 1646 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 1,250.00 $1,250.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1002–1113 1071 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 8 1,025.00–1,100.00 $1,073.70
1140 1140 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 10 585.00 $585.00
1132–1167 1144 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 9 1,000.00–1,075.00 $1,025.51
1109–1250 1175 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 27 800.00–860.00 $833.75
1178 thin fleshed 1178 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 525.00 $525.00
1183–1376 1241 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 30 635.00–735.00 $668.27
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1214 thin fleshed 1214 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 44.00 $44.00 $534
1164–1290 1218 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 13 45.00–55.00 $49.44 $602
1374–1428 1391 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 38 60.00–60.50 $60.16 $837
1441 1441 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 16 66.50 $66.50 $958

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
855 855 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 11 985.00 $985.00
890–1042 934 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 100 1,275.00–1,360.00 $1,315.33
1034 1034 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 20 1,400.00 $1,400.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
782–834 793 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 65 1,060.00–1,300.00 $1,114.35

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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.