Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, November 8, 2021

20,011 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 $186.81/cwt +3.73 vs last sale · ≈ $876/hd at 469 lb · 972 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $154.37/cwt +1.00 vs last sale · ≈ $735/hd at 476 lb · 790 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $170.35/cwt +1.33 vs last sale · ≈ $894/hd at 525 lb · 736 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 20,011 22,219 16,004
Feeder cattle 12,235 9,486 11,736
Slaughter cattle 4,316 6,371 3,283
Replacement cattle 3,460 2,643 985

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were all too lightly tested this week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Steer calves under 350 lbs sold mostly 5.00-7.00 higher in a narrow comparison. 350-599 lbs steers sold mostly steady to 4.00 higher, steers over 600 lbs sold steady to 4.00 higher. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold 5.00-8.00 higher, heifer calves over 500 lbs sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher. Quality this week was average to very attractive. Transportation continues to be the biggest factor limiting demand, however by late week trucks started to loosen up and demand was more consistent. Buyers continue to focus on buying front end cattle and passed or discounted calves with only one round of vaccinations or average quality calves. Calves with fall preconditioning shots sold at a premium this week. Very wide price spreads continue to be seen however prices did narrow slightly this week. Local yard space remains tight. CME positions traded mostly higher this week as packers paid 130.00 in the cash market this week. The November contract closed 157.325, 1.55 lower, the January contract closed at 159.1, 0.500 lower. Market activity was moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for heavy offerings. The majority of cows sold to return to the country to feed. Packer buyers only purchased very poor quality, lame, or severely blemished cows harvest this week. Lean slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower, boning cows sold steady to 2.00 lower on a light test, and breaking cows sold 4.00 lower on a light test this and last week. Feeding cows sold steady to 4.00 lower. Thin fleshed cows continue to be purchased to hold for the holidays. A large buyer pool continues to be seen for thin cows. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 1.50 lower in a narrow comparison. Bull quality was average to attractive this week. Young age cows sold unevenly from steady to 3.00 lower. Most of these offerings are destined for the southern plains and the corn belt. Quality was average to attractive but quality continues to vary 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
235 unweaned 235 13 180.00 $180.00 $423 —
258–280 unweaned 264 8 167.50–200.00 $189.85 $501 -19.51
302–346 unweaned 318 79 175.00–227.00 $208.62 $663 +3.81
333–349 343 56 180.00–201.00 $190.04 $652 -17.68
370 370 16 191.00 $191.00 $707 -9.00
354–398 unweaned 376 340 172.50–223.00 $208.18 $783 +11.83
408–448 419 85 181.00–203.00 $198.26 $831 +14.50
403–449 unweaned 429 280 154.00–210.50 $191.26 $821 +0.09
440 440 4 151.00 $151.00 $664 -32.76
452–496 unweaned 467 859 157.00–203.00 $187.87 $877 +4.98
460–494 485 113 173.00–194.00 $178.78 $867 -8.47
508–529 519 13 145.00 $145.00 $753 -2.00
509–537 524 180 163.50–191.50 $180.97 $948 +33.97
500–547 unweaned 525 543 147.00–186.00 $167.44 $879 -2.23
561–566 564 20 140.50–141.00 $140.83 $794 -24.09
550–595 unweaned 569 590 150.00–172.00 $161.76 $920 +0.39
557–595 578 55 156.00–165.50 $160.74 $929 -4.18
602–646 616 196 151.00–167.00 $161.18 $993 +12.18
600–647 unweaned 621 392 140.00–182.50 $157.11 $976 +4.12
620–633 629 12 151.00–153.00 $151.66 $954 +2.66
654–684 unweaned 663 130 137.50–159.50 $150.38 $997 ±0.00
658–698 678 91 150.00–160.00 $155.31 $1,053 +4.65
713–733 715 33 142.00–154.00 $152.77 $1,092 +8.77
707–747 unweaned 724 40 135.00–159.50 $150.67 $1,091 +1.77
759–778 unweaned 764 33 146.00–163.00 $154.42 $1,180 +2.52
785 785 4 154.50 $154.50 $1,213 —
806 806 10 150.50 $150.50 $1,213 -5.00
858 858 12 139.00 $139.00 $1,193 —
902 902 14 150.50 $150.50 $1,358 +3.57
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
213 unweaned 213 3 130.00 $130.00 $277 —
287 unweaned 287 6 155.00 $155.00 $445 —
305–349 unweaned 337 34 170.00–195.00 $183.69 $619 +2.03
363–374 372 9 167.50–191.00 $172.60 $642 -12.40
359–398 unweaned 385 67 161.00–196.00 $177.01 $681 -3.74
403–448 unweaned 428 66 147.00–177.50 $164.88 $706 -4.58
426–448 448 268 157.00–167.50 $157.19 $704 —
471–480 472 7 145.00–151.00 $145.87 $689 -10.13
475–478 476 6 166.00–171.00 $169.33 $806 +13.33
452–499 unweaned 478 198 148.00–175.00 $162.09 $775 -0.59
513 513 6 153.00 $153.00 $785 +3.72
500–548 unweaned 523 142 141.00–165.00 $154.18 $806 +5.95
568 568 5 138.00 $138.00 $784 +3.25
553–596 unweaned 574 83 134.00–155.00 $146.03 $838 +4.13
571–596 587 19 148.00–157.50 $153.80 $903 +19.05
601–649 unweaned 618 137 128.00–163.50 $145.96 $902 +7.55
668–673 668 45 139.00–154.00 $152.30 $1,017 +18.30
663–690 unweaned 679 31 137.00–153.50 $149.03 $1,012 +8.69
723 unweaned 723 3 130.00 $130.00 $940 —
995 unweaned 995 2 175.00 $175.00 $1,741 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330–346 unweaned 343 10 135.00–155.00 $151.15 $518 —
394 unweaned 394 14 164.00 $164.00 $646 -25.00
405 405 3 152.00 $152.00 $616 -0.50
413 unweaned 413 30 178.50 $178.50 $737 +33.50
469–494 unweaned 478 18 145.00–164.00 $158.00 $755 —
511 unweaned 511 6 151.00 $151.00 $772 +2.10
563–598 unweaned 586 6 132.00–147.00 $142.20 $833 —
607–624 unweaned 616 24 133.00–148.00 $137.20 $845 —
635 635 3 137.00 $137.00 $870 —
686 unweaned 686 9 131.00 $131.00 $899 —
700 700 7 136.00 $136.00 $952 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410 unweaned 410 6 130.00 $130.00 $533 —
522 unweaned 522 5 121.00 $121.00 $632 —
541 541 5 154.00 $154.00 $833 —
558–598 unweaned 591 23 144.00–150.00 $149.01 $881 -0.99
657–678 unweaned 665 8 140.00–149.00 $144.89 $964 +6.89
709–723 unweaned 712 10 141.00–153.00 $150.56 $1,072 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
334–338 336 15 140.00–145.00 $142.68 $479 —
423 423 19 141.00 $141.00 $596 —
512 unweaned 512 13 133.00 $133.00 $681 +3.46

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 unweaned 240 2 165.00 $165.00 $396 —
255–279 unweaned 263 24 160.00–180.00 $172.02 $452 -20.70
301 301 28 176.00 $176.00 $530 +1.00
307–347 unweaned 333 164 155.00–184.50 $175.48 $584 +4.34
350–398 unweaned 370 256 150.00–190.00 $177.39 $656 +11.00
369–399 385 126 160.00–175.00 $170.48 $656 +7.35
400–448 unweaned 417 456 150.00–178.75 $169.23 $706 +9.77
413–449 434 100 131.00–164.50 $153.46 $666 -11.54
465 465 65 167.00 $167.00 $777 +8.00
456–497 unweaned 477 673 132.00–165.00 $153.74 $733 +1.53
457–493 483 47 143.00–151.50 $147.09 $710 -11.91
485 485 5 143.00 $143.00 $694 -16.00
509 509 7 137.00 $137.00 $697 -22.00
501–548 unweaned 521 617 132.00–156.50 $148.77 $775 -0.12
509–548 531 83 139.00–148.00 $142.77 $758 -0.72
552–599 unweaned 575 360 131.00–161.00 $147.69 $849 +4.91
589–592 591 85 141.00–145.00 $142.64 $843 +0.16
602–633 unweaned 620 90 135.00–140.25 $138.78 $860 +0.41
628 628 59 135.50–152.00 $137.18 $861 +1.68
656–683 663 61 133.00–143.50 $142.46 $945 +11.46
660–696 unweaned 678 62 134.50–142.50 $139.36 $945 +8.37
700–742 unweaned 726 70 131.00–150.00 $147.61 $1,072 +7.61
730 730 4 148.00 $148.00 $1,080 +2.13
759–778 760 155 130.00–155.00 $154.08 $1,171 +12.08
817 817 13 144.00 $144.00 $1,176 -0.46
800–848 819 54 134.00–144.00 $141.31 $1,157 -3.15
851–875 858 7 131.00–141.00 $139.11 $1,194 -1.20
900–936 934 75 130.00–141.00 $137.56 $1,285 +1.23
955–995 972 19 126.00–138.50 $134.81 $1,310 +0.31
1023 1023 18 122.00 $122.00 $1,248 —
1011–1042 1024 7 111.00–114.00 $112.31 $1,150 —
1085 1085 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,356 —
1108 1108 9 119.00 $119.00 $1,319 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
268–291 unweaned 288 20 146.00–155.00 $150.01 $432 —
300–349 unweaned 332 52 140.00–155.00 $149.56 $497 -6.61
372–378 375 7 140.00–145.00 $142.12 $533 —
390–395 unweaned 393 8 150.00–160.00 $156.28 $614 -0.87
400–440 unweaned 417 95 137.00–160.00 $144.49 $603 -2.53
414–443 424 103 135.00–152.00 $147.99 $627 —
459–493 476 12 138.00–139.00 $138.48 $659 —
450–495 unweaned 480 118 132.50–145.00 $138.22 $663 -2.37
503 503 5 139.00 $139.00 $699 —
521 521 27 131.00 $131.00 $683 —
505–546 unweaned 528 77 125.00–140.50 $135.93 $718 +3.04
556–559 557 9 131.00–132.00 $131.45 $732 —
550–595 unweaned 568 154 129.00–140.75 $136.75 $777 +5.93
618–636 unweaned 625 20 134.00–135.00 $134.41 $840 —
770 770 1 137.00 $137.00 $1,055 -4.64
830–848 844 4 131.00–135.00 $134.02 $1,131 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
387–388 unweaned 387 10 141.00–150.00 $144.61 $560 -15.39
470–488 unweaned 477 12 131.50–148.00 $139.65 $666 -2.91
502–526 unweaned 517 37 133.00–139.50 $137.90 $713 —
555–581 unweaned 567 9 133.00–136.00 $134.37 $762 —
613–634 unweaned 627 12 132.00–135.50 $134.36 $842 —
700 unweaned 700 8 130.00–136.00 $135.25 $947 —
768 unweaned 768 3 122.00 $122.00 $937 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
396 unweaned 396 4 152.00 $152.00 $602 —
440 unweaned 440 3 150.00 $150.00 $660 —
455–497 unweaned 472 19 122.50–135.00 $128.15 $605 —
530 530 8 134.50 $134.50 $713 —
545 unweaned 545 3 130.00 $130.00 $708 —
561–570 unweaned 562 9 139.00–144.00 $143.44 $806 —
584 584 28 140.00 $140.00 $818 —
605–615 unweaned 606 12 123.00–133.00 $123.85 $751 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
461 unweaned 461 11 115.00 $115.00 $530 -9.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
437–447 unweaned 442 11 152.50–166.00 $158.56 $701 —
459–490 unweaned 468 34 137.50–169.00 $158.48 $742 +13.48
533 unweaned 533 5 136.00 $136.00 $725 —
567–570 unweaned 568 13 133.00–137.00 $135.46 $769 —
575 575 5 125.00 $125.00 $719 —
615 unweaned 615 16 135.00 $135.00 $830 —
662–698 unweaned 681 14 130.50–135.00 $132.28 $901 —
709 unweaned 709 5 129.00 $129.00 $915 —
878 878 2 137.00 $137.00 $1,203 —
905 unweaned 905 4 112.00 $112.00 $1,014 —
935 935 2 110.00 $110.00 $1,028 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
583 unweaned 583 4 120.00 $120.00 $700 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
563 unweaned 563 3 125.00 $125.00 $704 +6.50

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
805–965 898 85-90% 4 44.00–48.00 $46.25 $415 —
808–975 909 85-90% 12 33.00–42.00 $37.21 $338 -2.14
825–985 918 85-90% 14 25.00–34.50 $32.09 $295 -7.26
725–1380 997 85-90% 54 25.50–40.50 $32.47 $324 -12.98
925–1140 1022 85-90% 4 56.00–60.50 $58.16 $594 —
945–1405 1125 85-90% 148 25.00–37.50 $32.50 $366 -11.94
715–1433 1159 85-90% 681 34.00–47.25 $42.05 $487 -6.55
1010–1580 1172 85-90% 159 34.00–45.00 $39.84 $467 -8.76
1077–1555 1189 85-90% 108 41.00–51.50 $46.40 $552 -3.49
840–1478 1198 85-90% 762 45.00–61.00 $48.77 $584 -1.12
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
935–1410 1205 80-85% 14 36.00–42.00 $39.90 $481 —
1109–1532 1309 80-85% 24 63.50–67.50 $64.91 $850 —
860–1593 1335 80-85% 225 40.50–55.00 $48.26 $644 —
1020–1525 1351 80-85% 322 50.00–65.50 $56.81 $768 +7.14
1215–1530 1392 80-85% 59 50.00–58.50 $54.28 $756 -4.63
1050–1740 1415 80-85% 81 37.00–54.00 $45.90 $649 +0.69
1420–1520 1426 80-85% 16 39.00–40.00 $39.07 $557 -6.14
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1400–1555 1459 75-80% 9 43.00–49.00 $45.66 $666 —
1336–1715 1509 75-80% 33 50.00–59.50 $54.55 $823 —
1518 1518 75-80% 2 65.00 $65.00 $987 —
1410–1740 1544 75-80% 33 58.00–66.00 $60.65 $936 —
1435–1890 1595 75-80% 33 45.00–59.00 $52.78 $842 -13.55
1500–1925 1654 75-80% 22 55.00–65.00 $60.67 $1,003 +3.82

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1117–2030 1590 57 76.50–90.00 $80.92 $1,287 —
1663 1663 5 75.00 $75.00 $1,247 —
1200–1945 1706 61 63.00–78.00 $72.31 $1,234 —
1305–2205 1708 33 60.50–78.00 $73.47 $1,255 —
1680–2010 1794 29 85.50–87.50 $85.89 $1,541 +14.71
1828–1900 1852 3 88.00–90.00 $89.32 $1,654 —
1690–2115 1936 34 76.50–89.00 $83.16 $1,610 —
1950–2340 2145 2 90.00–92.00 $91.09 $1,954 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
729–1205 889 (<2 yrs)Open 740 70.00–126.00 $98.91 $879
903 thin fleshed 903 (<2 yrs)Open 10 65.00 $65.00 $587
815–1419 1013 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 389 42.00–98.00 $73.51 $745
1064–1493 1119 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 33 45.00–80.00 $65.16 $729
1102–1158 thin fleshed 1122 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 54.00–57.00 $55.87 $627
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
765 thin fleshed 765 (<2 yrs)Open 1 57.50 $57.50 $440
690–1180 853 (<2 yrs)Open 37 55.00–84.50 $74.25 $633
898–1640 1217 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 54.00–90.00 $68.77 $837

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
900–1125 1112 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 20 700.00–1,075.00 $832.55
1143–1200 thin fleshed 1149 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 20 600.00–650.00 $605.22
1003–1400 1156 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 11 475.00–960.00 $833.07
1146–1350 1177 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 560.00–760.00 $595.28
924–1514 1212 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 402 760.00–1,475.00 $1,154.87
1188–1330 1226 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 26 585.00–950.00 $694.15
874–1456 1235 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 254 700.00–1,225.00 $861.30
1060–1376 thin fleshed 1341 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 9 660.00–725.00 $665.71
1217–1459 1343 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 121 750.00–1,300.00 $1,067.88
1200–1479 1388 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 38 650.00–1,050.00 $815.73
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1000–1352 1247 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 34 525.00–675.00 $642.82
1120–1359 1268 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 124 650.00–775.00 $708.44
1322 1322 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 18 710.00 $710.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
838–1155 974 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 7 61.00–100.00 $80.18 $781
874–1388 1045 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 12 43.00–77.00 $61.95 $647
1158–1203 1165 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 19 52.00–54.00 $53.67 $625
1313 1313 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 45.00 $45.00 $591
1334–1430 1349 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 46.00–53.00 $47.14 $636
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
900–1115 1030 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 500.00–900.00 $734.18
1120 1120 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 550.00 $550.00
865–1240 1165 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 625.00–700.00 $636.14
1185 1185 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 625.00 $625.00
1178–1202 1192 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 775.00–800.00 $784.88
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1253 1253 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 45.00 $45.00 $564
1245–1395 1320 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 45.00–50.00 $47.36 $625
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1120 1120 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 700.00 $700.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
760–1055 887 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 58 1,025.00–1,360.00 $1,304.08
843–1038 959 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 101 950.00–1,350.00 $1,267.57
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
956–1075 1007 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 7 1,000.00–1,075.00 $1,040.69
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
975 975 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 975.00 $975.00 $9,506

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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.