Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 28, 2022

6,734 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 $189.74/cwt -2.33 vs last sale · ≈ $1,190/hd at 627 lb · 257 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $167.87/cwt -4.87 vs last sale · ≈ $1,029/hd at 613 lb · 250 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $186.28/cwt -2.05 vs last sale · ≈ $967/hd at 519 lb · 143 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 6,734 2,469 6,874
Feeder cattle 2,386 1,974 3,216
Slaughter cattle 1,831 330 1,512
Replacement cattle 2,517 165 2,146

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves were lightly tested the previous week making comparisons difficult. Steers all sold mostly steady to 10.00 lower, with the exception of 600-650 lbs steers which sold unevenly steady in a narrow comparison. Heifer calves under 700 lbs sold unevenly steady, while heifers over 700 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 lower. All comparisons are narrow. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. A few load lots were seen again this week and these offerings were met with mostly good demand. Cattle suitable to develop into yearlings sold on mostly moderate to good demand this week as buyers hope time will help ease market uncertainty. Cattle destined for the feedlot sold on light to moderate demand this week which was significantly lighter than last weeks good to very good demand. The current situation in Europe continues to have large impacts on our markets domestically. Both feed and fuel costs have risen sharply over the last 2 weeks. Corn is over 1.00 a bushel higher than it was just two weeks ago. WTI crude oil April contract closed at 115.68, up 24.09 since Friday Feb 25th. This week the August feeder cattle contract settled at 176.10, 9.975 lower than last week. CME feeder cattle positions traded sharply lower this week as gain prices continue to march higher. The March closed at 153.125, down 6.90 from last week, the April closed at 157.25, 7.50 lower. Market activity this week was mostly moderate to active with a good crowd on hand at ever sale this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for heavy offerings. Ranchers continue to offer heavy offerings of bred cows for sale. Packers picked off many of the poorer end of these offerings to send to slaughter this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher on boning and lean cows. Breaking and premium white cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Packers opted to send a portion of high quality cows to feed this week. Feeding buyers were active this week as well and pushed packer buyers on most all offerings this week, especially ones that have been on a feedlot. Cow quality this week was average to very attractive. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week. Cattle that were preg checked offered buyers better weigh conditions as the stress and chute work had them emptier than most. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last week to trend. Most of the <2 year olds are now comprised of heifers or heifers which lost calves. These offerings continue to be met with very good demand to both feed and rebreed. Several large consignments of open 2-6 year olds were purchased as replacements this week. These offerings were one iron, home-raised, and met with very good demand.

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
297 unweaned 297 5 222.50 $222.50 $661 —
403–424 416 14 215.00–223.00 $217.77 $906 -10.45
454–493 484 63 212.00–233.00 $223.11 $1,080 -9.84
514–543 519 119 204.00–215.00 $212.07 $1,101 +1.35
552–595 562 91 189.50–221.00 $204.09 $1,147 -5.60
601–648 627 257 179.00–204.50 $189.74 $1,190 -2.33
653–685 667 22 170.50–178.00 $173.49 $1,157 -5.12
703–738 720 78 161.00–170.50 $167.74 $1,208 -4.62
761–789 777 14 154.00–158.00 $155.68 $1,210 -10.76
828 828 7 152.00 $152.00 $1,259 -9.00
960 960 25 145.50 $145.50 $1,397 +0.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
401–442 409 17 207.50–215.00 $210.67 $862 —
455–495 467 9 199.00–209.00 $205.34 $959 -7.26
504–545 517 7 185.00–200.00 $196.74 $1,017 —
570 570 5 171.00 $171.00 $975 -31.00
553–581 577 23 178.00–196.00 $180.52 $1,042 -21.48
647 647 28 169.50 $169.50 $1,097 —
684 684 6 166.00 $166.00 $1,135 -3.39
719–730 722 7 154.00–159.00 $155.44 $1,122 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
585 585 29 166.00 $166.00 $971 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
359 359 13 172.50 $172.50 $619 —
403 403 5 160.00 $160.00 $645 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
613–630 617 8 180.00–186.50 $181.66 $1,121 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 305 3 187.50 $187.50 $572 —
354–385 359 23 190.00–191.00 $190.19 $683 —
403–447 435 21 185.00–206.00 $196.68 $856 +1.28
461–493 479 109 188.00–203.00 $193.82 $928 -0.18
504–538 519 143 180.00–193.00 $186.28 $967 -2.05
552–593 580 75 167.00–188.00 $181.01 $1,050 +2.14
601–648 613 250 159.50–184.00 $167.87 $1,029 -2.87
653–698 670 87 157.00–175.00 $166.40 $1,115 +0.66
670 fancy 670 18 167.00 $167.00 $1,119 —
724–733 727 25 147.50–156.00 $150.12 $1,091 -11.48
734 734 29 140.00 $140.00 $1,028 -21.60
755 755 6 131.00 $131.00 $989 -26.51
765–772 768 11 145.50–151.00 $148.49 $1,140 -9.02
837 837 69 145.25 $145.25 $1,216 -5.90
850 850 2 145.25 $145.25 $1,235 +0.25
898 898 5 134.00 $134.00 $1,203 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375–382 380 4 183.00–185.00 $184.51 $701 —
438 438 2 197.00 $197.00 $863 +8.00
467–483 475 7 179.00–197.00 $185.96 $883 —
512–548 530 28 155.00–182.50 $170.27 $902 -3.34
564–598 591 35 146.00–170.00 $153.22 $906 —
641 641 4 156.00 $156.00 $1,000 -5.00
684 684 4 138.00 $138.00 $944 -17.00
721 721 11 137.00 $137.00 $988 -7.19
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
328–330 328 25 177.50–178.00 $177.88 $583 —
354–384 363 13 172.00–177.50 $175.71 $638 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540–544 542 28 143.00–152.00 $146.42 $794 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
294 294 12 180.00 $180.00 $529 —
457 457 3 189.00 $189.00 $864 +6.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480–487 484 5 171.00 $171.00 $828 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
473 473 3 167.00 $167.00 $790 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520 520 2 187.50 $187.50 $975 —
655 655 3 160.00 $160.00 $1,048 —
823 823 23 130.00 $130.00 $1,070 —
873 873 5 131.00 $131.00 $1,144 —
923 923 2 129.00 $129.00 $1,191 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1017 1014 9 117.00–118.00 $117.78 $1,194 +5.78
1058 fancy 1058 14 121.00 $121.00 $1,280 —
1125–1128 1127 9 108.00–112.00 $110.00 $1,240 +5.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 unweaned 345 21 195.00 $195.00 $673 —
675 675 3 147.00 $147.00 $992 —
928–945 938 5 116.00–121.00 $117.98 $1,107 +11.98
983 983 2 97.00 $97.00 $954 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945 945 85-90% 1 71.00 $71.00 $671 +10.25
855–995 956 85-90% 15 61.00–68.00 $63.16 $604 -8.87
940–973 965 85-90% 4 47.00–52.00 $48.22 $465 -23.81
1062 1062 85-90% 6 69.00 $69.00 $733 +13.00
875–1275 1145 85-90% 31 53.00–62.00 $57.27 $656 —
870–1319 1150 85-90% 236 61.00–73.50 $68.70 $790 -7.82
1150–1215 1194 85-90% 5 79.00–80.50 $79.49 $949 +9.36
1140–1265 1205 85-90% 10 79.00–83.00 $81.53 $982 +5.54
1015–1420 1209 85-90% 210 72.00–78.25 $75.25 $910 -0.74
1234–1305 1260 85-90% 67 72.50–78.50 $74.20 $935 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1316–1650 1363 80-85% 39 81.00–86.50 $82.38 $1,123 +10.48
1135–1505 1369 80-85% 9 68.50–74.50 $72.71 $995 +0.81
1338–1485 1382 80-85% 8 81.00–82.00 $81.38 $1,125 +9.48
1304–1686 1418 80-85% 98 61.50–74.00 $69.99 $992 —
1315–1660 1427 80-85% 161 73.00–83.00 $79.88 $1,140 —
1220–1675 1430 80-85% 122 73.00–80.00 $77.21 $1,104 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1440–1480 1479 75-80% 55 85.00–85.50 $85.49 $1,264 —
1303–1748 1513 75-80% 100 79.00–84.00 $80.42 $1,217 —
1545 1545 75-80% 1 84.00 $84.00 $1,298 —
1388–1858 1551 75-80% 94 80.00–84.50 $81.90 $1,270 +0.64
1435–1925 1573 75-80% 38 71.00–78.00 $74.70 $1,175 -6.56
1573–1760 1664 75-80% 25 74.25–77.00 $75.55 $1,257 —
1825 1825 75-80% 1 70.50 $70.50 $1,287 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1855 1855 65-75% 1 85.00 $85.00 $1,577 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1290–1530 1410 2 93.00–95.00 $93.91 $1,324 —
1357–1987 1613 26 71.00–93.00 $86.51 $1,395 —
1500–2488 1902 41 90.50–103.00 $97.32 $1,851 —
2005–2395 2169 8 101.00–106.50 $103.37 $2,242 —
2190 2190 3 104.00 $104.00 $2,278 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
820–1238 1023 (<2 yrs)Open 118 103.00–133.50 $124.92 $1,278
800–1480 1114 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 404 67.00–110.00 $93.12 $1,037
1266 1266 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 61 75.00 $75.00 $950
1153–1312 1270 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 15 82.00–89.00 $87.30 $1,109
1309 1309 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 79 85.25 $85.25 $1,116
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
803–1280 1001 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 65.00–80.00 $71.87 $719
885–1088 1020 (<2 yrs)Open 3 81.00–82.00 $81.29 $829
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
828 828 (<2 yrs)Open 11 100.00 $100.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1058 thin fleshed 1058 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 13 1,425.00 $1,425.00
1169 1169 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 18 1,400.00 $1,400.00
1206 1206 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 1,400.00 $1,400.00
1023–1472 1219 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 171 1,475.00–1,710.00 $1,635.22
1049–1412 1221 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 9 1,375.00 $1,375.00
1150–1321 thin fleshed 1255 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 85 850.00–1,060.00 $1,005.55
1322–1326 1323 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 24 1,335.00–1,375.00 $1,361.64
1135–1545 1340 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 171 1,375.00–1,675.00 $1,569.65
1346 1346 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,325.00 $1,325.00
1294–1500 1349 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 295 1,050.00–1,250.00 $1,125.25
1283–1510 1370 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 61 1,060.00–1,275.00 $1,194.42
1328–1445 fancy 1375 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 30 1,700.00–1,750.00 $1,721.02
1353–1470 1402 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 135 1,075.00–1,200.00 $1,147.11
1242–1649 1406 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 217 1,150.00–1,450.00 $1,358.25
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
971–1116 1016 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 86.00–91.50 $89.64 $911
1393 1393 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 82.00 $82.00 $1,142
1409 1409 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 16 78.00 $78.00 $1,099
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1276 1276 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11 1,375.00 $1,375.00
1304–1333 1310 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 1,250.00–1,300.00 $1,261.30
1322 1322 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,350.00 $1,350.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
976 thin fleshed 976 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 1,300.00 $1,300.00
949–1193 1034 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 229 1,275.00–1,700.00 $1,526.31
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
890 thin fleshed 890 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 13 1,000.00 $1,000.00

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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.