Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 25, 2021

22,814 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $159.00/cwt -0.60 vs last sale · ≈ $912/hd at 574 lb · 1,033 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $145.22/cwt -4.25 vs last sale · ≈ $761/hd at 524 lb · 911 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $165.95/cwt -0.32 vs last sale · ≈ $866/hd at 522 lb · 673 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 22,814 28,401 14,208
Feeder cattle 10,690 17,243 8,648
Slaughter cattle 5,546 5,414 2,148
Replacement cattle 6,578 1,972 3,412

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were all too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Steer calves sold uneven from 6.00 lower to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold steady to 10.00 lower, heifer calves over 500 sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher Quality this week was average to very attractive. Transportation continues to be the biggest factor limiting demand. Many buyers refuse to buy un-weaned calves without trucks to get them out of the yards or if they buy them they are buying them way back from the front end calves. 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 often around 25.00 cwt per 50 lbs weigh break. Local yard space remains tight as many remain full of cows. Heavy rains fell in California last week and these buyers were mostly out of the market due to poor weather conditions. CME positions traded mostly lower this week. The October contract closed Thursday at 156.675, 1.25 higher; the November contract closed 157.65, 0.75 higher. Market activity was moderate. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for heavy offerings. The additional packer buyer that was on hand last week was not at the sale this week. Packer buyers were not as aggressive this week and prices slide lower on very heavy supplies. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower on all offerings. Feeding cows sold 3.00-6.00 lower on boning flesh cows suitable to feed to premium white. Thin fleshed cow buyers have been buying cows to hold for the holidays. These offerings sold mostly steady to 1.00 higher. A large buyer pool was seen for thin cows this week as several feeding buyers were specify looking for these type offerings. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Many long strings of cows continue to be seen. Poor nutrition and water due to the drought led to poor breeding conditions and many open cows. Young age cows sold unevenly steady. Most of these offerings are destined for the southern plains and the corn belt. Quality was average to attractive but quality varied more than last week and prices reflect the differences in quality.

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
250–294 unweaned 259 39 202.50–205.00 $204.49 $530 -4.68
301–346 unweaned 320 169 187.50–220.00 $208.58 $667 +5.49
335–340 337 10 197.50 $197.50 $666 —
350–399 unweaned 372 132 184.00–212.00 $196.04 $729 -6.40
403–432 409 73 176.00–215.00 $210.68 $862 +26.68
400–444 unweaned 425 324 176.00–201.00 $190.96 $812 -3.17
450–459 fancy 454 17 196.00–197.00 $196.42 $892 —
453–499 unweaned 472 353 166.00–196.00 $177.57 $838 +1.74
469–487 484 45 179.00–193.00 $183.67 $889 +4.57
507–520 511 21 163.00–165.00 $163.68 $836 -1.86
500–549 unweaned 522 652 155.00–188.50 $166.02 $867 -0.17
569–574 fancy 569 65 166.50–167.00 $166.97 $950 —
550–595 unweaned 574 968 148.50–172.50 $158.47 $910 -0.86
602 602 3 152.00 $152.00 $915 +2.00
601–647 unweaned 621 308 144.00–164.00 $155.29 $964 -1.81
664 664 12 146.50 $146.50 $973 -11.50
657–690 unweaned 668 158 144.00–163.50 $157.31 $1,051 +2.82
693 693 8 147.00 $147.00 $1,019 —
708–730 unweaned 721 19 153.50–159.00 $156.58 $1,129 +1.47
730 730 3 143.00 $143.00 $1,044 +9.00
743–746 745 26 144.00–150.50 $149.25 $1,112 +15.25
753 unweaned 753 14 144.00 $144.00 $1,084 —
755 755 3 148.00 $148.00 $1,117 -1.50
804 unweaned 804 6 141.50 $141.50 $1,138 -3.00
840 840 20 159.50 $159.50 $1,340 +5.92
864 864 30 156.50 $156.50 $1,352 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–259 unweaned 257 11 190.00 $190.00 $488 -3.19
311–343 unweaned 321 30 167.50–180.00 $172.80 $555 -8.20
355–388 unweaned 374 43 167.50–182.50 $176.65 $661 +2.50
400–442 unweaned 430 84 149.00–180.00 $168.35 $724 -0.11
442 442 19 161.00 $161.00 $712 —
470–491 483 11 164.00–165.00 $164.35 $794 +2.35
457–498 unweaned 485 72 140.00–165.00 $159.17 $772 -0.58
517 517 3 140.00 $140.00 $724 -0.01
513–547 unweaned 535 48 140.00–155.00 $149.10 $798 -0.66
550–588 unweaned 571 41 135.00–150.00 $140.32 $801 -5.08
594 594 11 144.00 $144.00 $855 —
660 unweaned 660 5 145.00 $145.00 $957 +2.24
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
373 unweaned 373 3 162.00 $162.00 $604 -20.00
398 398 14 170.00 $170.00 $677 —
423 423 6 152.50 $152.50 $645 —
504–528 unweaned 519 31 154.00–158.00 $156.50 $812 —
540 540 18 156.00 $156.00 $842 —
604 unweaned 604 4 126.00 $126.00 $761 —
687 687 33 152.50 $152.50 $1,048 +6.50
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
267 unweaned 267 15 178.00 $178.00 $475 —
373 373 21 167.50 $167.50 $625 —
403 unweaned 403 25 158.00 $158.00 $637 +5.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
293 unweaned 293 6 172.50 $172.50 $505 +17.50
365 unweaned 365 22 166.50 $166.50 $608 +19.66
430 430 20 153.00 $153.00 $658 —
515–523 unweaned 520 5 125.00–130.00 $126.98 $660 +6.98
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
662 unweaned 662 5 143.00 $143.00 $947 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
257 unweaned 257 34 194.00 $194.00 $499 +13.54
314 fancy 314 31 201.00 $201.00 $631 +4.00
308–343 unweaned 328 115 160.00–190.00 $169.76 $557 -7.84
343 343 12 186.00 $186.00 $638 -2.00
350–399 unweaned 373 224 158.00–183.00 $166.43 $621 -10.35
390–396 392 29 170.50–174.00 $172.78 $677 —
416–436 430 99 162.00–170.50 $167.47 $720 +16.35
400–446 unweaned 431 339 150.00–170.00 $158.87 $685 -7.59
454 fancy 454 4 174.00 $174.00 $790 +11.26
450–491 462 49 141.00–160.50 $152.41 $704 -21.59
450–499 unweaned 480 588 142.00–164.50 $152.93 $734 -1.23
516 516 90 154.50 $154.50 $797 -17.93
500–548 unweaned 524 765 135.50–156.00 $144.15 $755 -2.85
536 536 56 145.00 $145.00 $777 -2.34
550–598 unweaned 572 518 129.50–145.00 $140.07 $801 +1.02
600–630 unweaned 615 123 131.00–141.75 $137.93 $848 -0.66
620–641 637 5 131.00–137.00 $135.83 $865 -6.55
650 650 10 139.00 $139.00 $904 —
653–690 unweaned 660 73 127.00–142.00 $138.73 $916 +2.60
716–739 722 32 128.50–146.00 $141.52 $1,022 -7.21
761–786 773 103 143.00–153.50 $148.92 $1,151 —
820–822 821 5 138.00–139.00 $138.40 $1,136 -1.04
850–891 882 35 131.00–149.00 $140.11 $1,236 +2.61
900–940 922 9 135.00–137.00 $135.87 $1,253 +3.85
955–997 961 27 128.25–137.00 $131.43 $1,263 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
289–293 unweaned 292 48 153.00–170.00 $156.95 $458 -24.48
308–347 unweaned 336 45 149.00–174.00 $154.88 $520 -14.80
374 374 9 147.50 $147.50 $552 -7.50
363–395 unweaned 381 37 150.00–165.00 $157.09 $599 -1.77
436–438 unweaned 437 12 147.00–154.00 $149.34 $653 +1.76
438 438 11 139.75 $139.75 $612 -9.25
445 445 26 141.00 $141.00 $627 -8.00
465–499 unweaned 479 11 136.00–144.00 $138.50 $663 -0.71
483 483 4 137.00 $137.00 $662 —
505–541 unweaned 533 17 128.00–141.00 $138.52 $738 +5.47
575–595 unweaned 588 13 126.50–130.00 $128.66 $757 +0.70
828 828 4 127.50 $127.50 $1,056 -5.50
940 940 2 130.00 $130.00 $1,222 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
309–326 unweaned 322 23 151.00–160.00 $157.74 $508 —
385 unweaned 385 11 145.00 $145.00 $558 —
455 unweaned 455 9 143.00 $143.00 $651 +4.00
640–644 642 22 145.00–148.00 $146.63 $941 —
788 788 5 140.00 $140.00 $1,103 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
303 unweaned 303 13 141.00 $141.00 $427 -9.00
338 338 8 140.00 $140.00 $473 —
393 unweaned 393 44 144.00 $144.00 $566 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318 unweaned 318 8 161.00 $161.00 $512 —
633–636 unweaned 635 6 125.00–131.00 $128.01 $813 —
862 862 12 135.00 $135.00 $1,164 —
1004 1004 4 136.75 $136.75 $1,373 +8.83
1058 1058 23 134.00 $134.00 $1,418 +9.00
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
361–384 367 16 130.00–141.00 $138.12 $507 —
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
496 unweaned 496 12 121.00 $121.00 $600 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
347 unweaned 347 5 185.00 $185.00 $642 —
353–385 unweaned 366 10 175.00–180.00 $177.90 $651 +2.57
407 unweaned 407 5 168.00 $168.00 $684 -6.71
490–496 unweaned 491 22 147.00–158.00 $149.52 $734 -3.39
500–540 unweaned 526 14 132.50–148.00 $141.34 $743 —
552–598 unweaned 576 7 130.00–147.00 $141.44 $815 +10.65
625 unweaned 625 6 145.00 $145.00 $906 +11.26
725 unweaned 725 3 120.00–130.00 $123.33 $894 +1.33
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
386–390 unweaned 389 23 142.50–152.50 $150.34 $585 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
592 592 10 130.00 $130.00 $770 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 400 7 129.00 $129.00 $516 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
865 865 85-90% 1 46.00 $46.00 $398 —
923 923 85-90% 2 47.00 $47.00 $434 +6.38
805–991 943 85-90% 25 22.00–37.50 $31.97 $301 -0.85
765–1310 1075 85-90% 152 32.00–42.00 $39.01 $419 +4.32
988–1400 1136 85-90% 70 31.00–39.50 $34.12 $388 —
1007–1500 1167 85-90% 207 38.00–46.00 $42.62 $497 +9.12
1013–1375 1171 85-90% 674 38.00–48.50 $45.22 $530 +11.72
945–1540 1203 85-90% 854 46.00–58.00 $49.97 $601 +0.36
1050–1475 1256 85-90% 93 46.00–53.00 $48.72 $612 —
1179–1339 1258 85-90% 25 56.50–66.00 $60.33 $759 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1290–1650 1387 80-85% 29 52.00–62.00 $55.64 $772 +6.12
1075–1685 1393 80-85% 295 42.50–55.50 $49.40 $688 -0.12
1293–1620 1396 80-85% 107 64.00–68.50 $65.49 $914 +15.97
1245–1685 1425 80-85% 228 52.00–64.00 $59.48 $848 -8.76
1308–1655 1425 80-85% 114 42.00–53.00 $46.30 $660 -21.94
1435 1435 80-85% 1 39.50 $39.50 $567 -7.51
1475 1475 80-85% 1 40.50 $40.50 $597 +5.50
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1407–1720 1518 75-80% 8 53.00–57.50 $54.74 $831 -9.51
1386–1685 1546 75-80% 19 63.00–68.00 $65.83 $1,018 +1.58
1525–1693 1582 75-80% 10 64.00–67.50 $65.98 $1,044 -3.67
1320–1728 1622 75-80% 20 52.00–64.50 $60.09 $975 +2.32
1495–1667 1624 75-80% 4 71.00–72.00 $71.23 $1,157 +13.46
2030 2030 75-80% 1 62.50 $62.50 $1,269 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1185–1873 1558 13 63.00–75.00 $71.78 $1,118 —
1245–1860 1597 28 75.00–83.00 $79.16 $1,264 —
1380–2115 1798 39 61.00–78.00 $72.05 $1,295 —
1445–2320 1798 30 75.00–85.00 $80.33 $1,444 —
1920–2225 2085 5 89.00–94.00 $91.29 $1,903 —
2570 2570 1 85.00 $85.00 $2,184 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
750 thin fleshed 750 (<2 yrs)Open 1 85.00 $85.00 $638
781–1255 931 (<2 yrs)Open 494 63.00–119.00 $96.41 $898
880–1195 thin fleshed 960 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 17 41.00–58.00 $48.59 $466
983 thin fleshed 983 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 44.00 $44.00 $433
795–1315 1015 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 465 48.00–95.50 $75.23 $764
895–1140 thin fleshed 1023 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 39 38.00–45.00 $43.66 $447
885–1143 thin fleshed 1084 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 28 36.00–47.00 $44.59 $483
891–1369 1249 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 44 45.00–78.00 $52.75 $659
1391 1391 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 46.00 $46.00 $640
1360–1470 1429 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 40 48.00–49.00 $48.02 $686
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
845–1055 934 (<2 yrs)Open 9 60.00–75.00 $67.79 $633
990 thin fleshed 990 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 47.00 $47.00 $465

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
897–1109 thin fleshed 997 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 32 950.00–1,125.00 $1,012.52
956–1188 thin fleshed 1056 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 19 1,185.00–1,310.00 $1,224.36
924–1400 1064 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 167 1,000.00–1,725.00 $1,402.33
1078 1078 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,275.00 $1,275.00
903–1435 1108 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1,257 1,150.00–2,575.00 $1,983.99
1143 1143 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 1,150.00 $1,150.00
1145 thin fleshed 1145 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 600.00 $600.00
1177 1177 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 12 1,425.00 $1,425.00
1059–1383 1200 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 130 1,025.00–2,350.00 $1,733.76
1202 1202 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,125.00 $1,125.00
1130–1392 1231 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 82 1,010.00–1,300.00 $1,124.33
1018–1415 1251 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 37 875.00–1,100.00 $982.56
1198–1507 1291 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 126 700.00–875.00 $810.51
1290–1313 1303 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 65 925.00–1,125.00 $980.80
1286–1339 1308 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 43 725.00–750.00 $739.29
1208–1493 1357 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 157 850.00–1,075.00 $972.39
1375 1375 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 950.00 $950.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1141 thin fleshed 1141 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 52.50 $52.50 $599
1196 1196 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 8 71.00 $71.00 $849
1253 thin fleshed 1253 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 11 47.50 $47.50 $595
1330–1340 1334 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 24 57.50–62.00 $60.30 $804
1375 thin fleshed 1375 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 54.50 $54.50 $749
1248–1581 1411 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 21 56.50–73.00 $59.09 $834
1440–1499 1457 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 35 54.50 $54.50 $794
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1187 1187 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 825.00 $825.00
1242–1302 1262 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 39 975.00–1,075.00 $1,009.39

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
936 936 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 19 1,110.00 $1,110.00
950 thin fleshed 950 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 1,135.00 $1,135.00
875–1077 1027 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2,052 1,325.00–2,050.00 $1,760.52
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
784–906 814 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 27 900.00–1,025.00 $1,004.39
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
906 906 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 10 129.00 $129.00 $1,169

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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.