Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 6, 2021

15,450 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $157.60/cwt -0.58 vs last sale · ≈ $830/hd at 527 lb · 461 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $162.94/cwt +2.28 vs last sale · ≈ $784/hd at 481 lb · 428 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $176.12/cwt +3.34 vs last sale · ≈ $1,022/hd at 580 lb · 420 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 15,450 18,507 23,442
Feeder cattle 6,289 9,641 12,429
Slaughter cattle 1,894 3,212 2,903
Replacement cattle 7,267 1,652 8,110

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: All yearlings were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Steer calves sold mostly steady to firm with the exception of 500-599 lbs steers which sold mostly 5.00 higher. Heifer calves all sold steady to 5.00 higher. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Many calves were offered in moderate size packages with a few load lots seen as well. Many calves continue to be offered as weaned and buyers showed mostly good demand for calves that were weaned over 45 days. Some sets this week were weaned as long as 90 days. Demand for young age calves suitable to develop into yearlings was mostly very good. The August CME feeder cattle contract continues to hovered in the upper 170's for the past few weeks which continues to give buyers support to buy light weight calves at higher prices. CME positions traded mostly steady this past week. The January contract closed at 164.875 on Friday, 0.75 higher. The March contract closed at 167.10, down 1.80 for the week. Market activity this week was mostly active with a large buyer pool actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Aggressive bidding from feeder buyers continued this week as private buyers are looking for thin cows to turn out on corn stalks or feed for quick compensatory gain. Packer buyers were less active in purchasing slaughter cows this week opting mostly to feed cows. Lean cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower. Boning and breaking cows sold steady to weak. Feeding cows sold generally steady. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Young age cows sold mostly 5.00 lower. Quality this week was plain to average. 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
308–340 311 10 207.50–235.00 $232.00 $722 +6.10
323 unweaned 323 4 220.00 $220.00 $711 +7.00
368–398 unweaned 377 57 220.00–229.50 $226.76 $855 +3.85
365–394 378 33 195.00–224.00 $217.46 $822 -12.91
407–443 420 86 190.00–225.50 $217.41 $913 -1.08
400–446 unweaned 421 103 202.00–225.00 $218.55 $920 +7.27
451–497 unweaned 476 121 198.00–213.00 $202.97 $966 +2.35
451–499 480 199 182.50–220.00 $209.57 $1,006 -1.94
500–547 unweaned 512 317 184.00–204.00 $198.70 $1,017 +8.72
500–548 521 89 170.00–198.50 $188.50 $982 +1.09
550–597 571 96 163.00–185.50 $172.20 $983 -0.96
557–595 unweaned 583 324 164.00–193.50 $177.28 $1,034 +4.87
603–635 unweaned 612 119 159.00–176.00 $172.53 $1,056 +6.13
609–640 630 137 160.00–170.00 $163.78 $1,032 -0.74
651–688 unweaned 663 68 153.00–166.50 $160.51 $1,064 +0.76
653–683 669 84 158.00–165.50 $162.12 $1,085 +18.60
715–743 726 51 149.00–161.00 $157.70 $1,145 -3.87
753–769 759 10 149.50–164.50 $155.58 $1,181 —
825–837 836 53 162.00–170.00 $162.45 $1,358 —
850–883 855 18 150.00–168.00 $161.69 $1,382 -2.98
1048 1048 2 128.00 $128.00 $1,341 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
257 257 3 215.00 $215.00 $553 —
303–317 unweaned 308 56 200.00–225.00 $216.72 $667 -0.78
349 349 18 212.00 $212.00 $740 +7.00
373 unweaned 373 5 202.00 $202.00 $753 +9.58
402–446 unweaned 426 39 190.00–208.50 $202.05 $861 +7.19
408–440 433 14 203.00 $203.00 $879 +3.10
464–488 468 38 184.00–197.00 $185.83 $870 +10.60
489–493 unweaned 491 16 187.00–196.00 $190.39 $935 +3.06
511 fancy 511 29 200.25 $200.25 $1,023 —
525–530 unweaned 528 2 170.00–176.00 $172.99 $913 +4.22
502–549 536 36 160.00–179.00 $171.15 $917 -3.09
565–583 569 17 142.50–160.50 $157.00 $893 +0.31
582–593 unweaned 587 19 148.00–171.00 $161.82 $950 —
620–634 631 5 150.00–160.00 $158.04 $997 +5.28
653–670 659 8 148.00–151.00 $149.14 $983 +0.89
764–770 767 9 140.00–154.50 $148.08 $1,136 —
835 835 1 131.00 $131.00 $1,094 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
317–326 unweaned 321 21 216.00–217.50 $216.72 $696 —
451 451 10 174.00 $174.00 $785 +12.80
508 508 23 178.00–183.00 $179.74 $913 —
552–570 562 55 159.00–170.50 $165.23 $929 +0.65
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
443 443 2 190.00 $190.00 $842 —
487 487 3 180.00 $180.00 $877 —
665 665 4 155.00 $155.00 $1,031 +4.00
1042 1042 3 139.50 $139.50 $1,454 —
1144 1144 5 132.00 $132.00 $1,510 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
313 313 4 147.50 $147.50 $462 —
489 unweaned 489 10 149.00 $149.00 $729 —
635 635 1 137.50 $137.50 $873 -3.50
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 5 155.00 $155.00 $581 —
462 462 9 155.00 $155.00 $716 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
419 419 8 85.00 $85.00 $356 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330–349 333 45 177.00–197.50 $194.63 $648 +5.59
355–388 unweaned 375 52 176.00–189.00 $183.85 $689 +1.04
366–399 392 220 172.00–194.00 $189.08 $741 +5.49
417 fancy 417 37 190.00 $190.00 $792 —
403–445 429 123 165.00–193.00 $175.70 $754 +1.66
436 unweaned 436 52 179.00 $179.00 $780 +7.80
452–495 480 232 152.00–169.00 $162.19 $779 +30.19
450–499 unweaned 483 196 153.00–170.00 $163.82 $791 +3.19
503–544 unweaned 526 152 153.00–162.00 $157.32 $828 +3.44
526 fancy 526 4 170.00 $170.00 $894 +3.75
500–549 527 305 150.00–166.00 $157.57 $830 +3.92
551–598 unweaned 563 238 146.00–158.25 $155.20 $874 +6.67
554–592 566 92 146.00–164.50 $156.49 $886 +5.81
601 fancy 601 17 156.50 $156.50 $941 —
602–640 unweaned 610 81 144.00–151.50 $148.92 $908 +3.37
615–649 635 85 143.00–154.00 $147.22 $935 +3.98
659–684 675 15 139.00–153.00 $148.27 $1,001 +17.27
718–737 726 7 145.00–145.50 $145.22 $1,054 -1.65
762 762 6 158.00 $158.00 $1,204 +7.26
805–845 813 25 124.00–147.00 $140.36 $1,141 -11.20
851–882 861 29 137.00–155.50 $151.21 $1,302 +6.05
887 887 27 102.00 $102.00 $905 -43.16
915–948 930 36 140.50–145.50 $144.63 $1,345 -5.34
978–997 992 16 136.50–147.50 $145.31 $1,441 +5.16
1055 1055 1 122.00 $122.00 $1,287 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
311 unweaned 311 10 160.00 $160.00 $498 -15.00
321 321 12 140.00 $140.00 $449 -25.00
366–398 unweaned 382 33 162.00–172.50 $166.62 $636 —
386 386 18 167.00 $167.00 $645 -2.99
404–428 unweaned 418 37 152.00–172.00 $154.98 $648 -1.83
401–444 435 26 159.00–162.00 $161.61 $703 +6.34
465–466 unweaned 466 10 148.00–151.00 $148.90 $694 +3.39
485 485 3 149.50 $149.50 $725 +5.19
506–525 517 17 130.00–139.00 $135.46 $700 -10.62
508–544 unweaned 533 10 147.50–150.00 $149.29 $796 +4.46
581 unweaned 581 9 139.00 $139.00 $808 +2.50
584 584 13 140.00 $140.00 $818 +5.21
601–634 620 75 135.00–145.00 $143.23 $888 +10.92
659 659 7 140.00 $140.00 $923 —
668 unweaned 668 2 134.00 $134.00 $895 —
702–724 716 13 130.00–145.00 $141.79 $1,015 -0.21
760–763 762 3 134.00–146.00 $142.01 $1,082 +5.56
806 806 6 144.00 $144.00 $1,161 —
989 989 8 134.00 $134.00 $1,325 +6.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
273 273 31 157.50 $157.50 $430 —
308–347 333 14 152.50–155.00 $153.33 $511 -1.67
352 352 6 163.00 $163.00 $574 —
395 unweaned 395 3 152.50 $152.50 $602 -22.50
421 421 19 152.00 $152.00 $640 -4.43
494 494 35 151.00 $151.00 $746 +9.00
507–517 unweaned 512 17 130.00–132.00 $130.93 $670 -11.58
624 624 14 127.00 $127.00 $792 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
304 unweaned 304 14 130.00 $130.00 $395 —
398 398 10 151.00 $151.00 $601 -1.50
467 unweaned 467 7 120.00 $120.00 $560 +7.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
523 unweaned 523 26 135.00 $135.00 $706 +6.00
529 529 4 121.00 $121.00 $640 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353 353 2 141.00 $141.00 $498 —
423–443 432 7 135.00–137.50 $136.40 $589 —
483 483 3 154.00 $154.00 $744 —
591 591 4 139.00 $139.00 $821 —
1033 1033 8 125.00 $125.00 $1,291 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1030 1030 4 137.50 $137.50 $1,416 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 unweaned 345 1 228.00 $228.00 $787 +38.00
435–441 436 90 177.50–201.00 $198.42 $865 —
469–470 469 58 170.00–190.00 $189.65 $889 —
555 555 2 151.00 $151.00 $838 —
598 unweaned 598 13 151.00 $151.00 $903 +6.49
616 616 5 139.00 $139.00 $856 —
654 654 7 137.00 $137.00 $896 —
708 unweaned 708 2 134.00 $134.00 $949 —
715–728 721 13 130.00–136.00 $133.63 $963 —
750–759 756 7 127.50–130.00 $129.29 $977 —
805 unweaned 805 3 133.00 $133.00 $1,071 —
900 900 1 101.00 $101.00 $909 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 11 180.00 $180.00 $617 —
480–490 483 7 150.00–175.00 $167.75 $810 —
515 515 1 150.00 $150.00 $772 —
564 unweaned 564 4 147.00 $147.00 $829 +17.00
570 570 1 137.50 $137.50 $784 —
693 693 4 141.00 $141.00 $977 +8.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1132 1132 10 100.00 $100.00 $1,132 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
682–955 779 85-90% 6 27.00–36.00 $32.26 $251 —
860–995 955 85-90% 31 31.00–44.50 $39.04 $373 +0.61
1025–1160 1075 85-90% 25 39.00–40.00 $39.38 $423 —
1023–1330 1117 85-90% 13 30.00–40.00 $37.12 $415 +0.35
975–1395 1145 85-90% 277 34.00–48.00 $41.93 $480 -3.31
920–1365 1156 85-90% 183 41.00–47.50 $44.44 $514 +1.75
990–1530 1201 85-90% 122 38.00–49.00 $44.49 $534 -4.61
1190–1280 1215 85-90% 13 58.00–64.00 $59.79 $726 +10.69
1055–1311 1220 85-90% 283 47.00–56.00 $51.14 $624 +2.04
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
905–1411 1240 80-85% 35 56.00–64.00 $59.35 $736 —
851–1650 1285 80-85% 235 53.00–98.00 $59.33 $762 —
1290–1690 1387 80-85% 27 51.00–55.00 $53.49 $742 +3.02
1308–1680 1391 80-85% 43 45.00–53.50 $49.89 $694 -0.58
1200–1553 1404 80-85% 32 63.00–70.00 $67.04 $941 +11.16
1320–1770 1446 80-85% 17 40.50–52.50 $46.69 $675 -6.28
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
144–1590 1333 75-80% 52 64.00–70.00 $64.93 $866 —
1565 1565 75-80% 1 46.00 $46.00 $720 —
1603 1603 75-80% 3 58.00 $58.00 $930 +1.82
1545–1695 1614 75-80% 5 54.00–60.00 $56.04 $904 -0.14
1627 1627 75-80% 3 73.50 $73.50 $1,196 +17.32
1400–1947 1691 75-80% 18 61.00–77.50 $66.02 $1,116 +1.88
1555–2010 1783 75-80% 2 71.00–71.50 $71.28 $1,271 +13.07

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–1795 1539 19 81.00–88.00 $84.64 $1,303 +6.64
1285–2245 1605 14 63.00–81.00 $74.25 $1,192 —
1382–1898 1692 16 72.00–87.00 $77.84 $1,317 —
1590–1808 1730 4 79.00–80.50 $80.16 $1,387 -5.30
2090–2325 2173 4 84.00–94.00 $88.72 $1,928 —
2500 2500 1 80.00 $80.00 $2,000 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1577 1577 8 81.50 $81.50 $1,285 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
728 thin fleshed 728 (<2 yrs)Open 2 80.00 $80.00 $582
810 thin fleshed 810 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 45.00 $45.00 $364
739–1545 939 (<2 yrs)Open 270 61.00–108.00 $89.37 $839
750–1315 1040 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 205 51.00–84.00 $69.25 $720
965–1198 thin fleshed 1075 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 7 41.00–43.00 $41.78 $449
1039–1460 1176 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 54 44.00–52.00 $46.34 $545
1158–1322 1232 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 20 43.00–46.00 $45.32 $558
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
614–786 713 (<2 yrs)Open 38 75.00–94.00 $82.19 $586
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
887 887 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 51.00 $51.00 $452
750–993 919 (<2 yrs)Open 6 64.00–84.00 $73.41 $675
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1014 1014 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 61.00 $61.00 $619

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
965–1255 1115 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 23 800.00–850.00 $812.17
952–1298 1123 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 176 1,000.00–1,500.00 $1,390.74
887–1316 1166 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1,384 1,100.00–1,800.00 $1,575.49
1139–1285 thin fleshed 1204 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 41 675.00–750.00 $714.13
1165–1397 1236 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 43 800.00–1,275.00 $1,108.47
1033–1338 1259 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 18 710.00–825.00 $773.91
1259–1353 1294 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 8 810.00–850.00 $825.68
1163–1528 1320 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 676 775.00–1,060.00 $865.07
1071–1556 1324 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 736 1,200.00–1,650.00 $1,445.59
1158–1519 1345 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 752 1,010.00–1,425.00 $1,215.23
1346 1346 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 15 1,425.00 $1,425.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1015 1015 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1170–1385 1218 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 59 1,210.00–1,435.00 $1,376.25
1266 1266 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 1,000.00 $1,000.00
1190–1427 1271 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 37 825.00–1,000.00 $854.35
1279 1279 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 9 875.00 $875.00
1135–1469 1297 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 64 1,110.00–1,210.00 $1,145.38
1384 fancy 1384 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 18 1,575.00 $1,575.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1301 1301 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 9 51.00 $51.00 $664
1302 thin fleshed 1302 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 12 49.00 $49.00 $638
1343 1343 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 51.00 $51.00 $685
1451 1451 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 59.00 $59.00 $856

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
835 thin fleshed 835 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 62 1,400.00 $1,400.00
854 854 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 27 1,400.00 $1,400.00
925–1176 1016 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 988 1,410.00–1,875.00 $1,617.49
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
867–881 877 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 89 1,235.00 $1,235.00

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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.