Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 17, 2022

11,288 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $181.42/cwt -2.59 vs last sale · ≈ $1,128/hd at 622 lb · 463 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $192.71/cwt -5.62 vs last sale · ≈ $1,092/hd at 567 lb · 409 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $170.69/cwt -1.45 vs last sale · ≈ $893/hd at 523 lb · 344 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 11,288 14,168 7,294
Feeder cattle 5,104 9,942 4,947
Slaughter cattle 940 2,607 1,153
Replacement cattle 1,232 1,619 1,194

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearlings were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Demand for yearling was moderate to good. Steer calves all sold steady to 5.00 lower. Heifer calves under 550 lbs sold 3.00-6.00 lower, heifers over 550 lbs sold generally steady. Quality this week was average to very attractive. Overall quality was not as attractive as last week. Demand was mixed for the week with mostly moderate demand seen early week and moderate to good demand seen for late week sales. Many long strings of one iron, home-raised calves were on offer. Several consigners offered multiple load lots all off one ranch again this week. CME positions traded lower. The January closed Friday at 160.275, 2.425 lower than last week. The March closed at 163.30, down 3.075 from last week. Market activity this week was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Packers showed good demand for cows for immediate harvest throughout the week. Packers opted to send most cows to harvest with a very light portion of the offering returning to feed. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on breaking cows; boning and lean cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Feeding cows sold fully steady. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Cow and bull quality was average to attractive this week. Young age cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 lower. Quality this week was mostly average and lower compared to last 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
313–347 336 23 220.00–230.00 $227.03 $763 —
363–383 379 10 213.00–220.00 $214.34 $812 -7.14
411 unweaned 411 10 221.00 $221.00 $908 —
413–448 434 163 206.00–235.00 $214.80 $932 -16.06
451–484 465 175 203.50–216.00 $211.00 $981 -5.82
475 unweaned 475 5 206.00 $206.00 $978 +5.00
500–543 530 306 191.00–210.00 $198.52 $1,052 -9.75
543 543 34 188.00 $188.00 $1,021 -20.27
557 fancy 557 36 207.50 $207.50 $1,156 —
550–591 567 350 180.00–200.00 $193.02 $1,094 -5.85
574 574 23 164.00–165.50 $164.91 $947 -33.96
600–639 620 416 172.00–189.00 $182.49 $1,131 -1.52
632 unweaned 632 31 175.00 $175.00 $1,106 —
645 645 16 166.00 $166.00 $1,071 -18.01
654–699 674 234 157.00–176.50 $169.29 $1,141 -2.44
704–733 723 202 154.00–167.00 $162.82 $1,177 -2.16
751–777 766 93 156.00–166.00 $163.11 $1,249 +4.82
811 811 18 160.00 $160.00 $1,298 +1.03
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
359–395 363 9 195.00–205.00 $196.21 $712 -14.41
406–448 440 39 200.00–207.00 $202.64 $892 -7.42
455–490 473 33 191.00–202.00 $195.02 $922 -0.25
501–543 531 50 169.00–185.00 $177.47 $942 -12.05
563–598 588 47 168.00–185.00 $173.74 $1,022 -5.07
624 624 10 165.00 $165.00 $1,030 -1.57
655–688 684 22 152.50–162.00 $160.76 $1,100 +1.19
703–743 734 16 146.00–153.00 $148.34 $1,089 -11.66
757 757 5 146.00 $146.00 $1,105 —
806 806 6 143.50 $143.50 $1,157 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
391 391 24 185.00 $185.00 $723 +2.50
431 431 6 183.00 $183.00 $789 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
509 509 11 192.00 $192.00 $977 —
585 585 9 179.00 $179.00 $1,047 +2.74
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
693 693 3 132.50 $132.50 $918 —
748 748 3 137.00 $137.00 $1,025 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 5 203.00 $203.00 $934 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
363–381 371 40 182.00–185.00 $183.61 $681 -12.69
395 unweaned 395 7 165.00 $165.00 $652 —
423 unweaned 423 27 153.00 $153.00 $647 —
420–432 426 43 175.00–190.50 $187.95 $801 -0.05
463 463 8 154.00 $154.00 $713 -28.00
466 unweaned 466 18 171.00 $171.00 $797 —
450–498 479 308 162.00–185.50 $176.25 $844 -5.75
508 fancy 508 105 184.00 $184.00 $935 —
521 unweaned 521 29 141.00 $141.00 $735 -20.17
502–545 531 205 155.00–174.00 $168.28 $894 -4.64
532 532 5 162.00 $162.00 $862 -10.92
550–594 574 165 150.00–176.00 $166.13 $954 -0.79
594 594 18 154.00 $154.00 $915 -12.92
606 606 18 153.50 $153.50 $930 -6.17
621–646 632 112 151.00–162.00 $158.58 $1,002 -1.09
651–693 670 83 140.00–158.00 $151.68 $1,016 +1.62
708–730 716 66 144.50–153.00 $150.86 $1,080 -1.00
741 741 11 140.00 $140.00 $1,037 -11.86
805 805 5 138.50 $138.50 $1,115 -13.50
858 858 3 135.00 $135.00 $1,158 -13.54
850–892 885 24 139.00–139.50 $139.42 $1,234 -9.12
925 925 4 130.00 $130.00 $1,202 -11.59
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
319 319 7 177.50 $177.50 $566 -6.77
351–399 376 32 160.00–173.00 $169.87 $639 +16.40
405–445 432 42 157.50–179.00 $170.03 $735 -0.46
451–491 471 56 159.00–170.00 $163.21 $769 -2.41
523 523 4 154.00 $154.00 $805 -0.64
553–592 569 18 152.00–162.00 $156.67 $891 -4.38
613–635 626 19 137.00–149.50 $142.16 $890 -4.37
692 692 5 137.50 $137.50 $952 —
749 749 5 135.50 $135.50 $1,015 -4.93
778–781 781 12 127.00–135.00 $133.67 $1,044 +0.67
847 847 3 130.00 $130.00 $1,101 -7.18
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
372 372 17 172.00 $172.00 $640 —
426 426 11 173.00 $173.00 $737 +1.16
608 608 6 155.00 $155.00 $942 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
372–382 378 32 150.00–155.00 $150.93 $571 -41.57
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
429 429 5 168.00 $168.00 $721 —
488 488 8 168.00 $168.00 $820 —
598 598 8 155.00 $155.00 $927 +3.80
875 875 4 140.00 $140.00 $1,225 —
1145 1145 4 122.50 $122.50 $1,403 +12.50
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 455 16 125.00 $125.00 $569 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
514 514 9 154.00 $154.00 $792 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
462 462 3 145.00 $145.00 $670 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
378–387 unweaned 385 26 174.00–207.00 $192.48 $741 —
424 424 4 195.00 $195.00 $827 +7.61
455–493 unweaned 459 26 191.00–200.00 $198.89 $913 —
493 493 4 175.00 $175.00 $863 -25.00
503–548 539 13 160.00–177.00 $167.19 $901 -13.78
538–543 unweaned 543 35 162.00–171.00 $162.76 $884 —
565–592 580 9 164.00–166.00 $165.13 $958 +2.64
618 unweaned 618 2 164.00 $164.00 $1,014 —
603–633 623 9 154.00–159.00 $155.61 $969 —
680–685 684 15 144.00–150.00 $148.81 $1,018 +6.22
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
551–597 565 20 136.00–152.00 $142.29 $804 —
608 608 6 131.00 $131.00 $796 —
739 739 8 143.00 $143.00 $1,057 —
922 922 3 115.00 $115.00 $1,060 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1003 1003 4 131.00 $131.00 $1,314 +28.90
1101 1101 4 106.00 $106.00 $1,167 —
1175–1182 1179 5 94.00–106.00 $101.22 $1,193 -1.78

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915 915 85-90% 1 32.00 $32.00 $293 —
815–975 940 85-90% 15 37.00–47.50 $43.67 $410 —
955 955 85-90% 4 50.00 $50.00 $478 —
925–1223 1120 85-90% 5 51.00–52.00 $51.83 $580 +0.81
1135–1155 1145 85-90% 2 62.00–66.50 $64.27 $736 +13.25
1030–1338 1156 85-90% 74 43.50–53.00 $48.49 $561 -5.74
1020–1323 1185 85-90% 9 40.00–43.00 $41.61 $493 -21.74
1105–1285 1203 85-90% 59 52.75–58.00 $54.38 $654 +0.20
1010–1345 1230 85-90% 64 52.00–59.50 $55.42 $682 +1.24
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–1470 1339 80-85% 79 55.75–67.50 $59.75 $800 -8.62
1315–1385 1339 80-85% 4 51.50–54.00 $53.12 $711 -15.25
1340 1340 80-85% 1 40.50 $40.50 $543 -27.87
1260–1555 1381 80-85% 40 54.00–63.50 $57.85 $799 -1.86
1300–1540 1414 80-85% 28 46.50–54.50 $52.45 $742 +10.45
1275–1591 1522 80-85% 9 61.00–62.00 $61.14 $931 —
1465–1670 1549 80-85% 5 65.00–67.50 $65.92 $1,021 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1389–1593 1426 75-80% 78 63.50–67.25 $66.47 $948 —
1500–1518 1509 75-80% 4 57.00–61.00 $59.01 $890 —
1440–1548 1512 75-80% 3 67.50 $67.50 $1,021 —
1470–1788 1591 75-80% 27 54.00–64.00 $60.76 $967 -4.88
1665 1665 75-80% 1 70.50 $70.50 $1,174 +12.09
Lean ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1268 1268 85-90% 28 725.00 $725.00 —
1285 1285 85-90% 1 625.00 $625.00 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1238–1695 1363 26 80.50–89.00 $82.20 $1,120 —
1390 1390 1 62.50 $62.50 $869 —
1317–1908 1450 9 78.50–81.00 $80.44 $1,166 —
1415–2080 1720 17 66.00–82.00 $75.27 $1,295 —
169–2405 1797 38 81.00–88.50 $84.27 $1,514 —
1835–1990 1913 2 91.00–93.00 $92.04 $1,761 —
2525 2525 1 85.00 $85.00 $2,146 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2365 2365 1 78.00 $78.00 $1,845 —
2680 2680 1 62.00 $62.00 $1,662 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
926 thin fleshed 926 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 57.00 $57.00 $528
760–1345 1007 (<2 yrs)Open 90 71.00–116.00 $86.20 $868
840–1500 1019 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 115 51.00–84.50 $72.36 $737
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
863–963 919 (<2 yrs)Open 17 61.00–79.00 $67.92 $624
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
795–968 937 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 45.00–62.50 $57.81 $542
1063 1063 (<2 yrs)Open 3 65.00 $65.00 $691

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1174 1174 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 850.00 $850.00
1180–1257 thin fleshed 1201 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 126 610.00–710.00 $650.03
1094–1312 1210 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 41 1,150.00–1,275.00 $1,236.31
1215–1265 thin fleshed 1233 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 17 725.00 $725.00
1144–1318 1242 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 25 1,050.00–1,100.00 $1,090.79
1304–1418 1361 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 19 800.00 $800.00
1326–1489 1364 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 17 750.00–885.00 $784.67
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1174–1179 1176 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 83 53.50–58.75 $56.73 $667
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1355 1355 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 12 1,125.00 $1,125.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
912–1054 969 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 235 1,350.00–1,575.00 $1,479.47
995 995 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 26 1,350.00 $1,350.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
799–801 800 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 46 1,050.00–1,110.00 $1,072.14
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
881–948 903 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 25 1,025.00–1,050.00 $1,034.92
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1062 1062 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 9 1,075.00 $1,075.00

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
150–182 174 18 170.00–195.00 $186.80 $325 —
208 208 4 215.00 $215.00 $447 —
210–233 222 14 155.00–175.00 $163.10 $362 —
205–245 227 16 185.00–205.00 $195.82 $445 —
255–295 273 4 175.00–197.50 $184.32 $503 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
59 59 —— 5 265.00 $265.00 $156 —
90 90 —— 1 335.00 $335.00 $302 —
108–110 109 —— 4 265.00–272.50 $270.60 $295 —
130 130 —— 1 195.00 $195.00 $254 —
138 138 —— 2 177.50 $177.50 $245 —
155–185 173 —— 3 185.00–200.00 $190.36 $329 —
158–195 176 —— 6 200.00–217.50 $208.42 $367 —
205 205 Kids (<1 yr)N/A 1 235.00 $235.00 $482 —
205–207 206 —— 5 200.00–227.50 $219.02 $451 —

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
110–125 119 5 142.50–160.00 $153.53 $183 —
133 133 3 130.00 $130.00 $173 —
118–147 134 46 187.50–202.00 $197.17 $264 —
120–135 134 12 165.00–177.50 $176.57 $237 —
152–175 163 67 180.00–197.50 $189.84 $309 —
167–198 173 17 125.00–150.00 $144.87 $251 —
165–193 175 67 155.00–189.00 $170.37 $298 —
203 203 18 161.00 $161.00 $327 —
200–249 233 12 137.50–138.00 $137.64 $321 —

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
48 48 42 345.00 $345.00 $166 —
50–57 54 97 345.00–375.00 $364.03 $197 —
62–69 63 73 330.00–365.00 $359.47 $226 —
72–77 76 44 345.00–360.00 $356.76 $271 —
85 85 2 290.00 $290.00 $246 —

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Hair Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
105–115 110 2 197.50–210.00 $204.03 $224 —
150–170 160 2 195.00–240.00 $218.91 $350 —
210 210 1 225.00 $225.00 $472 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
95 95 3 220.00 $220.00 $209 —
173 173 2 170.00 $170.00 $294 —
175 175 1 135.00 $135.00 $236 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
33 33 6 220.00 $220.00 $73 —
35 35 5 255.00 $255.00 $89 —
35–39 39 11 390.00–395.00 $392.71 $153 —
40–49 41 138 300.00–385.00 $339.59 $139 —
40–47 46 11 325.00–345.00 $328.18 $151 —
43–49 46 56 395.00–425.00 $401.55 $185 —
50–59 55 14 360.00–395.00 $376.66 $207 —
50–58 55 283 400.00–440.00 $424.16 $233 —
55 55 2 340.00 $340.00 $187 —
55 55 1 230.00 $230.00 $126 —
58 58 9 300.00 $300.00 $174 —
61 61 18 375.00 $375.00 $229 —
60–64 64 10 235.00–265.00 $262.17 $168 —
60–69 66 167 380.00–422.50 $418.10 $276 —
66 66 5 200.00 $200.00 $132 —
69 69 7 270.00 $270.00 $186 —
70–73 72 9 380.00–415.00 $404.30 $291 —
73 73 2 280.00 $280.00 $204 —
79 79 29 352.50 $352.50 $278 —
80–83 81 12 345.00–390.00 $368.53 $299 —
85 85 1 275.00 $275.00 $234 —
92 92 11 325.00 $325.00 $299 —
91–98 93 7 240.00–250.00 $246.99 $230 —
95 fancy 95 1 375.00 $375.00 $356 —
105 fancy 105 2 390.00 $390.00 $410 —
106 106 8 272.50 $272.50 $289 —

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Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
48 48 3 362.50 $362.50 $174 —
50–59 56 42 325.00–362.50 $341.16 $191 —
60–67 65 58 307.50–337.50 $324.61 $211 —
79 79 80 284.00 $284.00 $224 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
43 43 6 335.00 $335.00 $144 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
57 57 —— 3 210.00 $210.00 $120 —
60 60 Kids (<1 yr)Open 2 430.00 $430.00 $258 —
63 63 —— 2 180.00 $180.00 $113 —
70 70 —— 5 205.00 $205.00 $144 —
76 76 —— 12 225.00 $225.00 $171 —
82 82 —— 3 230.00 $230.00 $189 —
84 84 —— 10 195.00 $195.00 $164 —
91 91 —— 14 230.00 $230.00 $209 —
90–98 97 —— 7 220.00–225.00 $220.66 $214 —
105–125 113 —— 6 172.50–225.00 $205.86 $233 —
135 135 —— 1 130.00 $130.00 $176 —
118–147 142 —— 16 190.00–222.50 $207.06 $294 —
155–178 170 —— 7 180.00–215.00 $198.73 $338 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
90 90 4 235.00 $235.00 $212 —
110 110 2 225.00 $225.00 $248 —
115 115 2 285.00 $285.00 $328 —
200 200 1 250.00 $250.00 $500 —

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
62–69 65 219 327.50–370.00 $358.60 $233 —
72 72 21 375.00 $375.00 $270 —
70–79 75 136 287.50–335.00 $315.50 $237 —
83 fancy 83 57 312.00 $312.00 $259 —
80–88 85 409 267.50–297.50 $281.00 $239 —
91–99 96 534 247.50–281.00 $265.38 $255 —
100–140 108 266 215.00–262.50 $242.80 $262 —
109 109 26 270.00 $270.00 $294 —
124 124 117 200.00 $200.00 $248 —

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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.