Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 14, 2022

4,300 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 $183.62/cwt +0.02 vs last sale · ≈ $958/hd at 522 lb · 142 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $167.31/cwt +5.75 vs last sale · ≈ $1,053/hd at 629 lb · 126 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $226.03/cwt +13.68 vs last sale · ≈ $1,119/hd at 495 lb · 119 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,300 2,409 6,849
Feeder cattle 1,537 1,179 3,517
Slaughter cattle 569 619 642
Replacement cattle 537 611 315

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves were all too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. The best test for heifer calves was for 450-699 lbs which sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Cattle suitable to develop into yearlings sold on mostly moderate to good demand this week. Demand for replacement cattle was good this week as several consignments of high quality heifers were seen. CME positions pushed higher all week as contracts improved from over sold positions. The August feeder cattle contract settled at 180.70, 3.625 higher than last week. The March closed at 157.00, up 3.725 from last week, the April closed at 162.325, 4.355 higher. 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 to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers showed a desire to own the majority of the cows in the offering this week, buying both slaughter cows and feeding cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher on all classes. A large portions of the cow offering was comprised of fed cows again this week. These offerings continue to be met with good to very good demand. Feeding buyers were active this week as well. Stronger demand from packer buyers pushed feeding cow offerings higher as well. Feeding cows sold 1.00-4.00 higher. Cow quality this week was average to very attractive. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week. Slaughter bulls sold 5.00-6.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 5.00 lower. These offerings were met with moderate to good demand to both feed and rebreed.

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
487–496 495 119 226.00–226.25 $226.03 $1,119 +13.68
543 543 5 205.00 $205.00 $1,113 -1.81
559–584 567 31 188.50–205.00 $197.50 $1,120 +4.50
618–634 625 47 182.00–188.50 $186.30 $1,164 +6.43
672 672 3 171.00 $171.00 $1,149 +4.40
683 683 18 159.50 $159.50 $1,089 -7.10
711–739 733 55 154.00–167.75 $162.38 $1,190 +2.65
750–770 760 4 155.00 $155.00 $1,178 +3.47
818 818 4 146.00–148.00 $147.00 $1,202 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505–534 523 57 172.00–179.50 $175.49 $918 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
458–493 472 10 208.00–214.00 $210.51 $994 —
510–524 523 10 204.00–205.00 $204.90 $1,072 +18.22
580 580 10 169.00–178.00 $173.50 $1,006 —
692 692 5 162.50 $162.50 $1,124 +2.50
703 703 5 163.00 $163.00 $1,146 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365–395 368 11 189.50–194.00 $189.94 $699 +4.94
423–448 432 71 187.50–190.50 $188.98 $816 -8.05
453–478 473 38 180.00–185.00 $181.41 $858 -13.13
518 thin fleshed 518 87 189.00 $189.00 $979 —
507–532 524 45 175.00–181.00 $176.81 $926 -6.79
547 547 10 167.50 $167.50 $916 -16.10
550–578 564 57 165.00–169.00 $167.82 $947 -2.52
569 569 6 170.00 $170.00 $967 -0.34
595 595 10 160.00 $160.00 $952 -10.34
600 600 34 172.00 $172.00 $1,032 +10.44
601–648 640 92 157.00–166.75 $165.58 $1,060 +4.02
650–699 672 41 147.50–162.00 $154.09 $1,035 -5.00
686 686 75 161.00 $161.00 $1,104 +1.91
704–727 718 14 140.00–146.00 $142.18 $1,021 -11.55
708–727 725 69 154.50–156.50 $156.25 $1,133 +2.52
751 751 10 141.00 $141.00 $1,059 —
780 780 11 138.00 $138.00 $1,076 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
367 367 11 181.00 $181.00 $664 -1.00
426–448 444 47 175.00–181.00 $176.50 $784 -1.52
483–499 494 113 171.00–179.00 $177.38 $876 +4.61
501 thin fleshed 501 25 186.00 $186.00 $932 —
520–542 524 23 165.00–173.00 $170.97 $896 —
557–593 574 33 155.00–165.50 $161.71 $928 +0.71
628 628 2 149.00 $149.00 $936 -5.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
454–498 478 27 171.00 $171.00 $817 -9.50

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
891 891 5 128.00 $128.00 $1,140 —
917 917 3 119.00 $119.00 $1,091 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1143 1143 5 102.00 $102.00 $1,166 -2.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
738 738 2 141.00 $141.00 $1,041 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
900–955 928 85-90% 2 50.00–55.00 $52.57 $488 -22.36
920–985 953 85-90% 4 67.50–72.50 $69.76 $665 —
1033–1210 1074 85-90% 7 56.00–64.00 $60.48 $650 —
1001–1340 1183 85-90% 54 66.00–76.50 $71.38 $844 +11.97
1055–1305 1208 85-90% 61 75.00–83.00 $78.29 $946 +1.74
1200–1277 1247 85-90% 13 69.00 $69.00 $860 -12.00
1270–1337 1321 85-90% 12 78.00–81.00 $80.60 $1,065 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1395 1395 80-85% 1 75.00 $75.00 $1,046 -4.58
1300–1590 1396 80-85% 25 80.00–84.00 $82.03 $1,145 +2.45
1090–1650 1424 80-85% 8 64.00–76.00 $74.23 $1,057 -10.39
1322–1680 1425 80-85% 18 85.00–89.50 $87.11 $1,241 +2.49
1310–1725 1449 80-85% 54 76.00–84.00 $80.27 $1,163 -4.35
1500–1520 1512 80-85% 3 84.00–87.00 $85.17 $1,288 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1503 1503 65-75% 24 82.00 $82.00 $1,232 —
1382–1765 1623 65-75% 40 85.50–87.00 $85.59 $1,389 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315–1855 1520 75-80% 14 82.00–86.50 $83.43 $1,268 —
1523 1523 75-80% 3 77.50 $77.50 $1,180 —
1433–1960 1662 75-80% 9 76.00–81.00 $79.83 $1,327 -1.68
1685 1685 75-80% 1 89.00 $89.00 $1,500 +7.49
1786 1786 75-80% 4 72.00 $72.00 $1,286 —
2025 2025 75-80% 1 77.00 $77.00 $1,559 —
Boner ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1468 1468 80-85% 3 1,100.00 $1,100.00 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1255 1255 2 95.00 $95.00 $1,192 —
1270–1285 1278 2 85.00–91.00 $87.98 $1,124 —
1495 1495 1 86.00 $86.00 $1,286 —
1268–1865 1507 13 89.50–99.00 $95.12 $1,433 —
1185–1605 1575 28 97.50–101.50 $101.27 $1,595 —
1375–1880 1655 14 79.00–95.00 $87.89 $1,455 -0.79
1700–1925 1811 8 101.00–104.50 $103.79 $1,880 —
1545–2200 1892 20 97.00–109.00 $102.52 $1,940 —
1895–2128 2070 4 113.50–119.00 $114.76 $2,376 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1715 1715 1 95.00 $95.00 $1,629 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
685–1340 986 (<2 yrs)Open 258 101.00–134.00 $119.99 $1,183
740–1390 1156 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 73 79.00–110.50 $89.65 $1,036
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
875–1002 975 (<2 yrs)Open 10 94.00–112.00 $108.31 $1,056
760–1217 1093 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 70.00–77.50 $72.01 $787

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1095 1095 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 12 1,375.00 $1,375.00
1084–1150 1127 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 13 1,400.00–1,485.00 $1,447.24
1211 thin fleshed 1211 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 37 900.00 $900.00
1193–1268 1260 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 37 1,200.00–1,250.00 $1,244.88
1201–1389 1285 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 44 960.00–1,135.00 $1,056.64

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1021 1021 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,385.00 $1,385.00

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
122–127 125 21 152.00–153.00 $152.58 $191 —
163 163 2 140.00 $140.00 $228 —
182 182 3 109.00 $109.00 $198 —
200–245 222 22 101.00–116.00 $105.35 $234 —
200–245 230 10 126.00–127.00 $126.53 $291 —
265–275 268 5 100.00–105.00 $103.38 $277 —
305–325 318 3 92.00–105.00 $100.85 $321 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
47 47 35 162.50 $162.50 $76 —
65 65 1 85.00 $85.00 $55 —
80 80 1 150.00 $150.00 $120 —
85 85 1 155.00 $155.00 $132 —
90 90 1 185.00 $185.00 $166 —
108–125 117 4 150.00–180.00 $169.27 $198 —
118 118 2 260.00 $260.00 $307 —
150–190 166 7 153.00–195.00 $163.28 $271 —
200–245 221 4 145.00–177.50 $157.44 $348 —

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
119–138 126 20 144.00 $144.00 $181 —
133–140 133 17 136.00–140.00 $136.25 $181 —
127–148 138 224 148.00–159.00 $153.78 $212 —
157–165 161 50 131.50–138.00 $132.84 $214 —
155–179 162 99 144.00–156.00 $148.68 $241 —
166–190 171 5 130.00–144.00 $133.11 $228 —
168–183 175 11 107.00–111.00 $109.10 $191 —
177 177 5 151.00 $151.00 $267 —
173–190 183 115 122.00–140.00 $127.60 $234 —
193–199 196 63 102.00–106.00 $102.35 $201 —
210 210 3 119.00 $119.00 $250 —
200–246 214 71 95.00–106.00 $98.22 $210 —
255–283 273 18 87.00–98.00 $91.03 $249 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
134 134 Aged (>6yrs)Exposed 77 134.00 $134.00 $180 —
155 155 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Exposed 32 155.00 $155.00 $240 —
178 178 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Open 2 122.00 $122.00 $217 —
216 216 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Exposed 5 145.00 $145.00 $313 —

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Families

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
231 231 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 400.00 $400.00 $924 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
110 110 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 400.00 $400.00 $440 —
120 120 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 325.00 $325.00 $390 —

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
79 79 15 260.00 $260.00 $205 —
83 83 16 150.00 $150.00 $124 —
104 104 5 215.00 $215.00 $224 —

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Hair Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 275 1 107.00 $107.00 $294 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
125–145 132 16 150.00–152.50 $151.08 $199 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
24 24 4 285.00 $285.00 $68 —
30–32 31 6 265.00–290.00 $277.90 $86 —
30–35 33 2 250.00–275.00 $263.46 $87 —
38 38 5 315.00–332.50 $325.50 $124 —
42–47 44 29 305.00–322.50 $308.50 $136 —
45 45 5 330.00 $330.00 $148 —
42–47 46 52 275.00–302.50 $299.23 $138 —
50–59 51 36 250.00–285.00 $280.23 $143 —
53 53 4 225.00 $225.00 $119 —
57 57 13 305.00 $305.00 $174 —
58 58 2 245.00 $245.00 $142 —
60 60 3 175.00 $175.00 $105 —
60–61 60 11 290.00–300.00 $295.41 $177 —
62–63 63 23 250.00–272.50 $263.71 $166 —
65 fancy 65 1 350.00 $350.00 $228 —
65–68 67 4 225.00 $225.00 $151 —
70 70 1 195.00 $195.00 $136 —
73–78 75 5 240.00–265.00 $257.96 $193 —
75 75 1 265.00 $265.00 $199 —
78 78 6 295.00 $295.00 $230 —
90 90 2 262.50 $262.50 $236 —
110 110 1 260.00 $260.00 $286 —

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Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
62 62 18 262.50 $262.50 $163 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
51 51 —— 8 120.00 $120.00 $61 —
62–67 63 —— 13 110.00–155.00 $146.57 $92 —
70 70 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 1 205.00 $205.00 $144 —
75 75 Kids (<1 yr)Open 1 220.00 $220.00 $165 —
80 80 —— 1 175.00 $175.00 $140 —
93 93 —— 3 105.00 $105.00 $98 —
95 95 —— 1 177.50 $177.50 $169 —
90–96 96 —— 29 110.00–120.00 $119.35 $115 —
104 104 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 182.50 $182.50 $190 —
108–145 119 —— 12 120.00–150.00 $137.91 $164 —
120 120 —— 1 90.00 $90.00 $108 —
123 123 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Exposed 8 165.00 $165.00 $203 —
105–145 134 —— 8 133.00–180.00 $147.85 $198 —
135 135 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 170.00 $170.00 $230 —
135 135 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 147.50 $147.50 $199 —
165 165 —— 2 125.00 $125.00 $206 —
165–190 173 —— 7 130.00–138.00 $132.25 $229 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
93 93 2 200.00 $200.00 $186 —
100–125 110 3 222.50–240.00 $229.02 $252 —
113 113 4 117.50 $117.50 $133 —
165–180 173 2 145.00–175.00 $159.35 $276 —

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
53 53 2 225.00 $225.00 $119 —
76 76 9 230.00 $230.00 $175 —
79 79 9 215.00 $215.00 $170 —
93–99 94 18 185.00–216.00 $206.80 $194 —
95 95 13 165.00 $165.00 $157 —
119–141 130 13 161.00–183.00 $169.14 $220 —

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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.