Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 28, 2022

8,452 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 $195.73/cwt +14.85 vs last sale · ≈ $1,231/hd at 629 lb · 417 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $168.33/cwt +0.09 vs last sale · ≈ $1,039/hd at 617 lb · 331 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $168.92/cwt +6.33 vs last sale · ≈ $1,126/hd at 667 lb · 259 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 8,452 2,393 9,751
Feeder cattle 5,750 1,128 8,740
Slaughter cattle 1,107 717 610
Replacement cattle 1,595 548 401

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves all sold 5.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Feeder heifers under 700 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher, while heifers over 700 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was average to very attractive. Numerous load lots and long strings of feeders were seen this week, many of which were home-raised. The best demand continues to be for grass cattle which are comprised mostly of cattle 500-725 lbs depending on flesh. Heifer demand was very good this week as many buyers were looking for high quality heifers to spay and run on grass. Buyers picked over many sets of heifers that ranchers had slated to keep as replacements but opted to sell due to the drought. Demand for very high end replacement heifers was very good as several sets were purchased to breed this week. Demand overall was good for all offerings as quality helped keep demand in check despite wavering CME positions the last few weeks. CME positions traded mostly lower this week. The August feeder cattle contract closed Friday at 176.35, 2.10 lower than last week. The March had a finial settlement on Thursday at 155.90, down 0.525 from last week; the April closed Friday at 161.40, 0.175 lower; the May contract closed Friday at 166.55. Market activity this week was mostly active with a good crowd on hand at ever sale this week actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers continue to show good demand for all cows on offer. Packers were very active in buying cows for slaughter midweek but showed slightly lighter demand to end the week. Slaughter cows sold generally steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold 2.00-3.00 higher. Feeding cows sold steady to firm, with the best increase in price coming from low dressing lean cows which order buyers were buying away from packers. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average for buyers this week with many cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold fully steady. These offerings were met with mostly 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
303 unweaned 303 6 226.50 $226.50 $686 —
369–382 unweaned 379 20 210.00–224.00 $212.72 $806 —
398 398 3 206.00 $206.00 $820 —
402 unweaned 402 10 208.50 $208.50 $838 —
408–441 434 30 224.00–226.00 $225.34 $978 +7.34
464–491 481 188 209.00–220.00 $217.74 $1,047 +10.47
470–499 unweaned 489 56 203.50–206.50 $205.35 $1,004 —
502–534 518 137 199.00–219.00 $213.58 $1,106 +10.72
558 thin fleshed 558 4 216.00 $216.00 $1,205 —
560–593 576 91 188.00–210.00 $197.96 $1,140 -0.54
588 unweaned 588 18 185.00 $185.00 $1,088 —
606–647 628 393 184.00–197.00 $195.50 $1,228 +14.62
640 640 24 199.50 $199.50 $1,277 +18.62
656–681 665 64 189.00–193.50 $191.62 $1,274 +31.62
694 694 54 190.00 $190.00 $1,319 +30.00
704–712 709 81 170.00–180.00 $177.86 $1,261 +21.64
762–773 769 51 158.00–164.50 $161.06 $1,239 +2.97
811–839 824 43 145.00–148.00 $147.38 $1,214 —
803–840 829 96 150.00–157.00 $151.14 $1,253 —
864–870 869 37 151.50–152.50 $151.74 $1,319 —
905–912 905 181 145.00–149.00 $146.57 $1,326 —
905–915 912 59 133.00–140.00 $138.69 $1,265 —
956–959 958 33 131.50–139.00 $133.77 $1,282 —
967–988 979 69 141.00–147.50 $142.51 $1,395 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
364 unweaned 364 6 205.00 $205.00 $746 —
376–384 378 20 200.00–216.00 $211.15 $798 —
412–442 436 65 205.00–216.00 $213.78 $932 +3.78
448 unweaned 448 9 192.00 $192.00 $860 —
457–483 473 35 195.00–211.00 $209.87 $993 —
504–538 515 28 181.00–198.00 $188.94 $973 -4.14
572–596 587 135 178.00–193.50 $187.62 $1,101 +6.62
600–639 634 15 166.00–187.00 $179.64 $1,139 —
660–696 681 93 151.00–178.50 $172.69 $1,176 +10.97
706–738 718 35 154.00–166.00 $158.14 $1,135 —
817 817 16 139.50 $139.50 $1,140 —
869 869 6 143.00 $143.00 $1,243 —
878 878 7 137.00 $137.00 $1,203 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
566 566 7 189.00 $189.00 $1,070 —
949 949 8 135.00 $135.00 $1,281 —
1028 1028 31 134.25 $134.25 $1,380 —
1058–1061 1060 15 131.00–133.50 $132.83 $1,408 —
1227 1227 12 123.00 $123.00 $1,509 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835 835 24 138.00 $138.00 $1,152 —
1042 1042 3 109.00 $109.00 $1,136 —
1099 1099 4 129.00 $129.00 $1,418 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
528 528 21 189.00 $189.00 $998 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
518 518 5 176.00 $176.00 $912 —
889 889 15 136.00 $136.00 $1,209 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
344 unweaned 344 6 191.00 $191.00 $657 —
397–398 397 17 191.00–193.00 $192.06 $762 —
416–445 437 45 184.00–191.00 $188.30 $823 +5.34
439 unweaned 439 31 176.50 $176.50 $775 —
461–496 486 234 180.00–194.00 $188.16 $914 +6.10
491 unweaned 491 21 175.50 $175.50 $862 —
517 fancy 517 7 197.00 $197.00 $1,018 —
500–548 527 169 176.00–193.00 $185.22 $976 +11.56
554–598 575 164 164.00–186.00 $176.46 $1,015 +4.90
602–645 617 331 153.50–172.50 $168.33 $1,039 -1.03
654–665 661 138 170.00–175.00 $173.76 $1,149 +11.17
659–686 673 121 149.00–169.00 $163.40 $1,100 +0.81
711 711 55 174.00 $174.00 $1,237 +27.06
700–746 717 204 144.00–163.00 $159.11 $1,141 +12.17
757 757 74 167.50 $167.50 $1,268 —
754–793 780 129 142.50–158.00 $150.85 $1,177 —
778–783 781 22 140.00–145.00 $142.74 $1,115 —
818 818 17 157.00 $157.00 $1,284 +13.50
800–838 827 94 144.50–148.50 $145.95 $1,207 +2.45
865 865 10 145.00 $145.00 $1,254 +14.50
885–898 890 32 134.00–140.50 $138.26 $1,231 +7.76
910 910 9 137.00 $137.00 $1,247 —
923 923 27 131.00 $131.00 $1,209 —
959–994 977 16 130.50–134.00 $132.22 $1,292 —
971–983 979 19 135.00–136.00 $135.69 $1,328 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
361–376 366 11 180.00–191.00 $186.90 $684 —
394 unweaned 394 19 176.50 $176.50 $695 —
410–449 422 13 184.00–190.00 $185.96 $785 —
455 unweaned 455 2 170.00 $170.00 $774 —
470–493 476 35 174.00–180.00 $177.06 $843 -1.94
503–519 515 19 166.00–181.00 $173.61 $894 —
560–592 589 32 158.00–167.00 $166.61 $981 +2.12
631–637 632 16 157.00–164.00 $162.68 $1,028 +2.68
665 665 5 154.00 $154.00 $1,024 +3.85
700–730 712 23 139.00–149.00 $146.05 $1,040 —
745 745 11 137.00 $137.00 $1,021 —
762–779 773 14 140.50–143.50 $141.56 $1,094 —
846 846 39 132.00 $132.00 $1,117 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
745 745 35 1,175.00 $1,175.00 —
759–773 760 47 1,235.00–1,250.00 $1,235.65 —
893 893 45 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
399 399 5 180.00 $180.00 $718 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383 383 5 215.00 $215.00 $823 —
458–467 461 9 202.50–210.00 $207.47 $956 +3.47
515 515 1 185.00 $185.00 $953 +1.00
662 thin fleshed 662 10 162.00 $162.00 $1,072 —
663 663 4 152.50 $152.50 $1,011 —
770 770 8 143.00 $143.00 $1,101 —
860–893 877 6 124.00–133.00 $129.28 $1,134 —
944 944 7 125.00 $125.00 $1,180 +4.38
1068 1068 6 111.00 $111.00 $1,185 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1087 1087 9 120.00 $120.00 $1,304 —
1110 1110 3 101.00 $101.00 $1,121 —
1160–1163 1162 5 112.00–113.00 $112.60 $1,308 +2.60
1203 1203 2 106.00 $106.00 $1,275 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
788 788 4 142.00 $142.00 $1,119 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145 1145 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,260 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
75 75 1 485.00 $485.00 +60.00

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
805–888 876 85-90% 9 53.00–63.50 $60.21 $527 —
820–995 933 85-90% 15 63.00–74.00 $69.21 $646 +11.51
985 985 85-90% 1 74.00 $74.00 $729 —
1033–1140 1055 85-90% 25 57.50–65.00 $63.61 $671 -3.65
935–1335 1122 85-90% 62 67.00–78.00 $73.26 $822 -14.74
1020–1290 1166 85-90% 47 78.00–83.50 $79.72 $930 +2.40
1050–1320 1190 85-90% 130 76.00–84.00 $79.57 $947 +2.25
1005–1355 1195 85-90% 115 66.00–78.00 $72.49 $866 -4.83
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1335–1395 1354 80-85% 7 75.00–79.00 $77.01 $1,043 +3.53
1226–1685 1391 80-85% 70 77.00–86.00 $82.46 $1,147 +4.65
1235–1698 1423 80-85% 48 70.00–78.50 $75.01 $1,067 -6.97
1305–1745 1438 80-85% 37 77.00–84.50 $81.16 $1,167 -0.82
1325–1585 1473 80-85% 12 85.25–89.00 $87.45 $1,288 +0.45
1360–1763 1502 80-85% 8 85.00–91.50 $87.51 $1,314 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1397–1840 1487 75-80% 32 74.00–81.50 $78.35 $1,165 —
1510–1740 1540 75-80% 18 87.00–89.00 $88.58 $1,364 +2.19
1498–1820 1541 75-80% 11 82.00–86.00 $83.38 $1,285 -3.01
1433–1695 1559 75-80% 90 78.00–81.50 $79.88 $1,245 +0.38
1433–1875 1568 75-80% 10 83.50–88.00 $85.06 $1,334 +5.56
2007 2007 75-80% 3 77.50 $77.50 $1,555 -7.50

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1370 1159 13 79.00–82.00 $79.90 $926 —
1230 1230 1 98.00 $98.00 $1,205 —
1095–1375 1297 8 81.00–96.50 $89.34 $1,159 —
1310–1905 1524 24 81.00–95.00 $90.66 $1,382 —
1358–1819 1647 9 82.00–92.00 $89.94 $1,481 -13.56
1587–2215 1824 32 102.00–107.50 $104.14 $1,900 —
1185–2455 1848 52 96.00–109.25 $103.58 $1,914 —
1750–2395 2083 17 109.00–114.50 $111.67 $2,326 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2373 2373 2 108.00 $108.00 $2,563 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
539–1505 939 (<2 yrs)Open 373 97.00–148.00 $119.33 $1,121
825–1505 1050 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 146 78.00–121.50 $95.52 $1,003
905–1355 1082 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 74.00–82.50 $78.66 $851
1110 thin fleshed 1110 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 76.50 $76.50 $849
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
675–1125 799 (<2 yrs)Open 16 81.00–125.00 $101.80 $813
875–1023 973 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 68.50–75.50 $71.69 $698
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
925–1117 1090 (<2 yrs)Open 7 95.00–100.00 $99.39 $1,083

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1020 thin fleshed 1020 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 31 1,075.00 $1,075.00
1029 1029 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 13 1,175.00 $1,175.00
1033–1053 1043 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 25 1,150.00–1,250.00 $1,197.52
1110 1110 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 20 910.00 $910.00
1006–1312 1130 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 90 1,350.00–1,550.00 $1,473.88
1240–1270 thin fleshed 1257 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 56 935.00–960.00 $946.01
1155–1510 1298 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 170 1,200.00–1,525.00 $1,435.43
1332 1332 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,350.00 $1,350.00
1281–1712 1379 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 143 1,175.00–1,400.00 $1,257.91
1420 1420 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
963–993 978 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 39 1,175.00–1,275.00 $1,227.05
1110 1110 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,125.00 $1,125.00
1193 1193 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 1,025.00 $1,025.00
1079–1388 1208 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 12 1,125.00–1,175.00 $1,151.06
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
903–945 931 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 77.00 $77.00 $717
1115 1115 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 15 80.00 $80.00 $892
1496 1496 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 79.50 $79.50 $1,189
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1114 thin fleshed 1114 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 14 910.00 $910.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1007–1141 1027 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 155 1,375.00–1,460.00 $1,400.91
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
913–938 922 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 53 1,210.00–1,335.00 $1,257.97
943 943 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,275.00 $1,275.00

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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.