Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 10, 2022

14,168 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 $198.33/cwt +8.85 vs last sale · ≈ $1,146/hd at 578 lb · 912 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $172.13/cwt +2.72 vs last sale · ≈ $913/hd at 531 lb · 868 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $168.49/cwt +7.74 vs last sale · ≈ $967/hd at 574 lb · 624 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 14,168 2,545 10,046
Feeder cattle 9,942 1,848 6,988
Slaughter cattle 2,607 474 1,699
Replacement cattle 1,619 223 1,359

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearlings were scarcely tested last week thus no full market trend is available. Demand for yearling offerings was good to very good. Lots of clean up cattle were seen this week and despite average quality yearlings sold with higher undertones. Steer calves under 500 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 higher, steers 500-699 lbs sold 4.00-8.00 higher, steers over 700 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 higher, heifers over 500 lbs sold steady to 10.00 higher. Quality this week was attractive to very attractive. Many long strings of one iron, home-raised calves were on offer. Several consigners offered multiple load lots all off one ranch. CME positions traded close to steady on nearby months. The January closed Friday at 162.70, 0.60 higher than last week. The March closed at 166.375, down 0.30 from last week. Market activity this week was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Packers showed good demand for cows for immediate harvest early in the week but backed off by mid week as heavy supplies were seen. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on breaking cows; boning and lean cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower. Heavy offerings of cows allowed for all both feeding and slaughter cows to sell at lower money. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Cow and bull quality was average to attractive this week. Young age cows were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was average to attractive. Demand for one iron home raised offerings was very good this week.

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
366–397 390 64 215.00–225.50 $221.48 $864 —
402–443 414 214 211.00–239.00 $230.86 $956 +15.68
468 unweaned 468 12 201.00 $201.00 $941 —
450–499 473 488 203.00–228.00 $216.82 $1,026 +3.90
500–547 522 556 193.00–215.50 $208.27 $1,087 +5.48
533 unweaned 533 3 156.00 $156.00 $831 —
550–597 578 899 180.00–206.75 $198.87 $1,149 +9.39
580 unweaned 580 13 161.00 $161.00 $934 —
600–643 620 432 173.00–192.50 $184.01 $1,141 +6.85
653–697 673 348 164.00–184.00 $171.73 $1,156 +7.56
700–743 728 172 155.25–169.50 $164.98 $1,201 —
750–793 768 83 152.00–163.00 $158.29 $1,216 -1.62
800–831 817 121 154.00–160.50 $158.97 $1,299 —
887 887 5 147.00 $147.00 $1,304 -6.24
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323 323 5 207.50 $207.50 $670 +11.03
356–384 366 11 210.00–211.00 $210.62 $771 +20.62
415–448 429 116 203.00–212.50 $210.06 $901 —
453–496 478 133 184.00–204.50 $195.27 $933 +5.00
504–538 524 88 179.00–197.50 $189.52 $993 +5.00
561–596 580 121 160.00–189.00 $178.81 $1,037 +2.81
609–647 633 27 157.00–173.00 $166.57 $1,054 +4.02
653–668 655 17 155.00–165.00 $159.57 $1,045 —
703 703 3 160.00 $160.00 $1,125 —
933 933 2 141.00 $141.00 $1,316 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555–599 572 42 168.00–184.00 $176.26 $1,008 —
1026 1026 8 136.00 $136.00 $1,395 —
1303 1303 3 115.00 $115.00 $1,498 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400–442 422 19 190.00–200.00 $194.49 $821 —
650 650 3 155.00 $155.00 $1,008 —
812–828 820 10 141.00–145.00 $142.98 $1,172 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
344 344 11 185.00 $185.00 $636 —
389 389 13 182.50 $182.50 $710 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
472 472 15 135.00 $135.00 $637 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
754 754 4 142.00 $142.00 $1,071 —
856 856 7 142.50 $142.50 $1,220 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
368–395 376 155 185.00–208.00 $196.30 $738 +15.80
403–448 434 420 179.00–195.00 $188.00 $816 +4.29
451–498 472 450 168.50–186.50 $182.00 $859 +10.54
506–544 unweaned 524 58 157.00–169.50 $161.17 $845 —
503–547 531 810 161.00–180.00 $172.92 $918 +5.57
560 fancy 560 75 180.00 $180.00 $1,008 —
551–598 576 549 160.00–172.50 $166.92 $961 +14.73
600–645 619 297 142.00–165.00 $159.67 $988 +9.67
656–697 677 150 143.00–153.00 $150.06 $1,016 -1.78
703–748 717 101 145.00–158.00 $151.86 $1,089 —
750–790 777 32 139.00–156.00 $150.69 $1,171 +0.99
810–823 814 55 148.00–153.00 $152.00 $1,237 —
859–885 876 65 148.00–149.50 $148.54 $1,301 +0.04
906–918 913 11 131.00–148.00 $141.59 $1,293 —
967 967 35 141.50–148.00 $142.80 $1,381 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
344–346 345 14 180.00–192.00 $184.27 $636 —
364–391 371 19 150.00–162.50 $153.47 $569 -20.53
404–448 437 73 164.00–186.50 $170.49 $745 +3.99
460–497 481 93 152.00–172.50 $165.62 $797 +9.68
515–547 526 56 146.00–166.50 $154.64 $813 -3.30
552–595 568 153 155.00–164.00 $161.05 $915 —
606–624 618 18 143.50–148.00 $146.53 $906 —
703–725 720 9 140.00–142.00 $140.43 $1,011 —
777 777 5 133.00 $133.00 $1,033 —
830 830 4 131.00 $131.00 $1,087 —
815–844 833 34 132.00–146.00 $137.18 $1,143 —
868–875 869 11 131.00–132.50 $132.36 $1,150 —
913 913 3 137.50 $137.50 $1,255 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
391 391 4 183.00 $183.00 $716 —
559–568 567 43 147.00–152.00 $151.20 $857 —
635 635 3 141.00 $141.00 $895 —
1014–1033 1025 16 130.00–134.00 $132.27 $1,356 —
1095 1095 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,424 —
1099 1099 19 94.00 $94.00 $1,033 —
1130 1130 11 110.00 $110.00 $1,243 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
434–444 439 17 150.00–181.00 $171.84 $754 -4.16
711 711 4 144.00 $144.00 $1,024 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
309 309 7 137.50 $137.50 $425 —
351 351 6 192.50 $192.50 $676 —
413 413 7 146.00 $146.00 $603 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
443 443 4 158.00 $158.00 $700 —
630 630 7 130.00 $130.00 $819 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410–448 444 14 186.00–202.00 $187.39 $832 —
461 461 6 200.00 $200.00 $922 —
518–525 520 9 175.00–184.00 $180.97 $941 —
557–580 565 9 150.00–169.00 $162.49 $918 —
658–697 673 30 122.50–148.00 $142.59 $960 +7.59
723 723 13 131.50 $131.50 $951 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1027–1029 1028 10 100.00–107.00 $102.10 $1,050 —
1185 1185 3 103.00 $103.00 $1,221 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
803 803 9 132.00 $132.00 $1,060 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
735–995 883 85-90% 15 41.00–50.00 $44.71 $395 —
725–957 894 85-90% 14 21.00–41.00 $30.64 $274 —
990–1335 1128 85-90% 191 46.00–58.00 $51.02 $576 +2.09
1016–1285 1155 85-90% 540 51.00–61.00 $54.23 $626 —
1000–1375 1158 85-90% 300 41.00–54.00 $47.25 $547 —
1015–1250 1162 85-90% 33 22.00–45.00 $39.10 $454 —
1033–1285 1197 85-90% 22 61.00–65.00 $63.35 $758 —
1040–1485 1204 85-90% 125 51.00–60.00 $54.18 $652 -1.66
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1265–1470 1342 80-85% 5 65.00–73.50 $68.37 $918 —
1220–1668 1379 80-85% 374 54.00–66.00 $59.71 $823 -6.33
1305–1596 1388 80-85% 71 46.00–62.50 $53.29 $740 +0.41
1235–1695 1390 80-85% 84 44.00–56.50 $49.77 $692 -3.11
1280–1585 1399 80-85% 50 53.00–61.00 $55.23 $773 +2.35
1405 1405 80-85% 1 42.00 $42.00 $590 -17.42
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1420–1685 1560 75-80% 7 64.00–68.00 $65.64 $1,024 +2.14
1543–1795 1627 75-80% 3 69.00–80.00 $75.95 $1,236 —
1420–1773 1643 75-80% 40 52.50–62.00 $59.49 $977 —
1425–1825 1653 75-80% 11 48.00–62.50 $58.41 $966 —
1710 1710 75-80% 2 71.50 $71.50 $1,223 —
1515–2050 1763 75-80% 17 63.00–66.00 $64.27 $1,133 +0.48
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 18 177.00 $177.00 $867 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1135 1135 1 82.00 $82.00 $931 —
1270 1270 1 72.00 $72.00 $914 —
1250–1345 1282 3 71.00–75.00 $73.60 $944 —
1355–1840 1580 3 81.50–83.00 $82.08 $1,297 —
1375–1995 1698 44 69.00–81.50 $76.88 $1,305 -7.10
1605–2430 1969 47 76.00–88.50 $83.75 $1,649 —
2280 2280 1 90.50 $90.50 $2,063 -1.77
2580 2580 1 70.00 $70.00 $1,806 —
YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1900 1900 1 85.00 $85.00 $1,615 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
715–1370 944 (<2 yrs)Open 503 69.00–137.00 $94.83 $895
769–1288 1023 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 204 54.00–105.00 $76.06 $778
1155 1155 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 57.00 $57.00 $658
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
735–853 805 (<2 yrs)Open 11 65.00–87.00 $78.32 $630
765–1065 890 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 52.00–63.00 $59.53 $530

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
977–1141 1004 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 27 1,110.00–1,150.00 $1,125.49
1099 1099 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 785.00 $785.00
981–1318 1136 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 16 800.00–950.00 $885.84
1138 thin fleshed 1138 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 635.00 $635.00
1057–1306 1205 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 68 1,100.00–1,650.00 $1,496.91
1234 1234 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 12 800.00 $800.00
1110–1335 1242 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 39 1,125.00–1,550.00 $1,445.74
1012–1356 1266 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 15 1,200.00–1,250.00 $1,232.56
1088–1416 1313 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 121 800.00–1,275.00 $1,066.73
1264–1433 1332 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 20 1,000.00–1,100.00 $1,056.95
1246–1443 1354 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 120 800.00–1,000.00 $898.50
1498 1498 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,175.00 $1,175.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
926 926 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 8 1,100.00 $1,100.00
1379 1379 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 850.00 $850.00
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1498 1498 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 875.00 $875.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1065–1246 1125 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 21 1,385.00–1,500.00 $1,457.56

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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.