Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, November 22, 2021

5,883 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 $158.35/cwt +3.21 vs last sale · ≈ $768/hd at 485 lb · 160 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $178.30/cwt +5.10 vs last sale · ≈ $923/hd at 518 lb · 142 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $174.15/cwt +6.77 vs last sale · ≈ $996/hd at 572 lb · 122 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,883 18,509 10,512
Feeder cattle 1,362 9,335 4,966
Slaughter cattle 2,444 3,791 3,122
Replacement cattle 2,077 1,815 2,424

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: A short marketing week was seen last week due to the holiday. Too few calves were marketed to get an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Quality this week was average to attractive. Package sizes were mostly small to medium with no full load lots seen. Trucks were tight last week due to the holiday, however trucks have started to loosen up as lighter marketing's are being seen, both in the country and at the stockyards. Demand was mostly moderate to good. CME positions traded mostly higher this past week. The January contract closed at 167.15 on Friday, 6.225 higher. The March contract closed at 167.975 Friday. Market activity was moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for heavy offerings. Packer buyers were more active in purchasing slaughter cows this week as they pushed to secure offerings before the holiday break. Fewer cows were purchased to return to feed this week as many private feeders didn't want to take cows over the holiday. Slaughter cows sold steady to 1.00 higher on all classes in a narrow comparison. Feeding cows sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold steady to firm. Young age cows sold mostly steady to weak. Quality this week was not as attractive as last week with fewer one iron home-raised young cows seen this week. Most of these offerings continue to sell to Southern fall breeding programs.

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
325–338 unweaned 332 7 225.00–236.00 $232.23 $771 +20.45
415–422 421 32 201.00–203.00 $202.82 $854 +7.98
404–449 unweaned 428 57 187.50–210.00 $197.54 $845 -0.41
453–481 unweaned 470 31 190.00–205.00 $195.59 $919 +4.71
503–544 514 78 175.00–184.00 $181.49 $933 +8.69
506–543 unweaned 522 64 167.00–193.00 $174.42 $910 +1.15
551–593 unweaned 568 85 161.00–180.25 $174.41 $991 +6.38
553–590 581 37 165.00–178.00 $173.55 $1,008 +15.01
606–623 unweaned 617 33 163.00–166.00 $163.81 $1,011 +10.01
646 646 6 155.00 $155.00 $1,001 +4.24
655–698 unweaned 674 5 148.00–158.00 $150.73 $1,016 -5.47
710–716 unweaned 713 20 147.50–149.50 $148.40 $1,058 +2.16
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
249 unweaned 249 5 190.00 $190.00 $473 —
338 338 3 205.00 $205.00 $693 —
403–445 427 7 170.00 $170.00 $726 +37.50
533–540 unweaned 536 5 149.00–166.00 $159.15 $853 +8.86
588 588 3 153.00 $153.00 $900 +7.86
604–640 unweaned 616 9 139.00–147.00 $141.77 $873 +2.16
714 unweaned 714 9 136.00 $136.00 $971 ±0.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
384 384 5 187.50 $187.50 $720 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 6 170.00 $170.00 $544 —
375–395 unweaned 383 8 167.50–170.00 $168.47 $645 +4.80
429–446 unweaned 438 23 161.00–162.00 $161.26 $706 -5.57
429–447 439 45 160.00–173.00 $166.63 $732 +2.54
456–499 unweaned 478 56 152.50–164.50 $157.00 $750 +2.54
471–493 489 104 154.00–161.50 $159.08 $778 +0.64
506–547 unweaned 530 62 149.00–157.00 $152.61 $809 +4.78
525–533 530 23 154.00–156.00 $155.14 $822 +9.54
552 552 3 148.00 $148.00 $817 -6.00
563–578 unweaned 573 26 141.00–144.00 $142.33 $816 -4.30
601–638 unweaned 620 26 136.00–142.00 $138.35 $858 -1.57
634–644 642 28 135.00–138.00 $135.74 $871 -3.03
878 878 3 139.00 $139.00 $1,220 -12.57
926–940 934 14 135.00–137.75 $136.17 $1,272 -2.45
985 985 2 131.00 $131.00 $1,290 -4.10
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
478 478 11 155.00 $155.00 $741 +14.99
523 523 3 146.00 $146.00 $764 +8.10
525 unweaned 525 3 139.00 $139.00 $730 +2.90
749 749 9 138.00 $138.00 $1,034 +7.68
897 897 3 130.00 $130.00 $1,166 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–388 361 12 157.50–162.50 $158.40 $572 —
399 unweaned 399 8 155.00 $155.00 $618 +21.36
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045 1045 2 117.00 $117.00 $1,223 —
1059 1059 4 121.00 $121.00 $1,281 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1018 1018 2 136.00 $136.00 $1,384 +20.00
1100 1100 1 129.00 $129.00 $1,419 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
568 unweaned 568 6 137.50 $137.50 $781 +2.71
711 unweaned 711 4 129.50 $129.50 $921 -9.31
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180 1180 3 101.50 $101.50 $1,198 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
558 unweaned 558 2 128.00 $128.00 $714 +0.50

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
740–1013 872 85-90% 10 21.00–33.00 $26.10 $228 —
850–995 946 85-90% 20 29.50–38.00 $34.26 $324 —
1015–1335 1152 85-90% 89 25.00–35.50 $33.54 $386 —
1053–1268 1158 85-90% 11 32.00–36.00 $34.62 $401 —
1140–1236 1180 85-90% 12 56.00–59.00 $57.13 $674 +16.39
1010–1385 1183 85-90% 235 34.00–45.00 $38.72 $458 -2.02
903–1311 1187 85-90% 222 45.00–56.00 $49.92 $593 +9.18
963–1337 1215 85-90% 349 35.00–44.50 $41.66 $506 -21.34
1060–1378 1264 85-90% 39 45.00–55.00 $46.30 $585 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1350 1350 80-85% 1 37.00 $37.00 $500 -24.82
1230–1468 1376 80-85% 5 60.00–64.00 $62.02 $853 +0.20
1269–1625 1382 80-85% 238 50.00–60.00 $53.65 $741 +5.25
1260–1725 1384 80-85% 150 42.00–52.00 $46.84 $648 -1.56
1275–1625 1394 80-85% 70 40.00–46.00 $42.83 $597 -5.57
1340–1545 1435 80-85% 7 36.00–39.00 $37.30 $535 -21.72
1330–1630 1540 80-85% 4 50.00–56.00 $53.78 $828 +18.78
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1220–1830 1423 75-80% 3 68.00–69.50 $68.64 $977 —
1275–1575 1510 75-80% 20 60.00–67.50 $63.19 $954 +3.35
1555–1575 1565 75-80% 2 55.00–60.00 $57.48 $900 -8.01
1561–1810 1597 75-80% 7 56.00–58.50 $58.10 $928 -7.39
1678 1678 75-80% 2 63.00 $63.00 $1,057 +2.63
1895 1895 75-80% 1 67.00 $67.00 $1,270 —
Breaker ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1385–1603 1489 75-80% 24 850.00 $850.00 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080–1873 1583 13 62.00–80.50 $74.10 $1,173 +2.14
1105–2133 1590 22 77.50–86.50 $82.44 $1,311 +10.48
1410–2175 1687 21 61.00–79.00 $72.08 $1,216 -15.56
1515–2055 1794 19 78.00–87.50 $82.05 $1,472 +10.39
1900–2075 1993 5 89.00–92.00 $90.62 $1,806 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
743–940 thin fleshed 856 (<2 yrs)Open 13 80.00–85.00 $81.79 $700
755–1345 936 (<2 yrs)Open 306 62.00–111.00 $91.01 $852
815–1330 1043 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 174 50.50–80.50 $71.45 $745
805–1180 thin fleshed 1105 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 49.00–60.00 $50.60 $559
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
715–1200 902 (<2 yrs)Open 10 54.00–80.00 $69.41 $626
885–1225 1126 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 45.00–59.00 $48.67 $548

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1085 1085 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 15 1,150.00 $1,150.00
960–1342 1123 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 164 1,200.00–1,560.00 $1,461.87
1007–1425 1133 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 43 800.00–1,250.00 $1,142.55
1035–1306 thin fleshed 1154 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 48 535.00–660.00 $620.26
1171 1171 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 11 650.00 $650.00
1250 1250 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,085.00 $1,085.00
1088–1505 1282 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 82 975.00–1,275.00 $1,211.64
1135–1497 1311 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 221 700.00–800.00 $754.13
1243–1396 1316 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 23 675.00–885.00 $781.53
1065–1577 1330 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 168 810.00–1,125.00 $1,015.82
1405 1405 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 11 1,285.00 $1,285.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1061–1210 1089 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 49 1,200.00–1,300.00 $1,252.19
1238–1508 1339 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 46 850.00–875.00 $865.85
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
961–1024 988 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 17 1,125.00–1,375.00 $1,185.99
999 999 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 11 800.00 $800.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1256 1256 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 7 43.00 $43.00 $540
1280 1280 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 50.00 $50.00 $640
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
969 969 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 695.00 $695.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
974 974 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 10 1,085.00–1,100.00 $1,092.50
924–1081 1027 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 84 1,335.00–1,550.00 $1,435.73
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
869 869 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,200.00 $1,200.00

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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.