Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 18, 2022

5,139 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers $143.24/cwt ≈ $1,372/hd at 958 lb · 171 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $170.25/cwt -5.49 vs last sale · ≈ $1,052/hd at 618 lb · 121 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $151.41/cwt -0.20 vs last sale · ≈ $1,257/hd at 830 lb · 109 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,139 4,522 5,424
Feeder cattle 1,894 3,859 2,428
Slaughter cattle 900 248 618
Replacement cattle 511 415 505

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: All weights of steers sold fully steady. Heifers under 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; 600-700 lbs heifers sold steady to 3.00 lower; heifers over 700 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Quality this week was mixed from plain to very attractive. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate to very good. The best demand continues to be for grass cattle as buyers purchased cattle up to 725 lbs to return to grass. Demand for grass cattle was mostly very good as recent snow fall and forecasted rain for the weekend continue to keep grass interest in buying cattle. Heifer quality continues to outpace steer quality as ranchers continue to sell off high quality replacement heifers. Market activity this week was mostly moderate to active, a large crowd was on hand for both sales this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter demand was moderate to good this week. Packers were aggressive in buying slaughter cows early in the week but demand decreased as the week progressed. Many sets of cows that lost calves were seen this week following last week's winter storm. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to weak. Feeding cow demand was mostly good all week. Feeding cows sold unevenly steady this week, with late week sales lower due to lighter slaughter cow demand. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Weigh conditions were mostly average to below average for buyers this week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold fully steady. Quality this week was average to attractive. These offerings were met with moderate demand 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
420–449 432 19 212.00–225.00 $219.31 $947 -2.44
464 464 11 219.00 $219.00 $1,016 +13.00
473 thin fleshed 473 15 231.00 $231.00 $1,093 +0.50
523–547 537 63 209.50–213.00 $211.48 $1,136 +3.37
555–596 588 31 189.00–209.00 $192.48 $1,132 -3.72
612–648 645 41 183.50–184.00 $183.97 $1,187 +7.97
659–697 682 38 182.00–184.00 $182.46 $1,244 +4.75
748 748 6 163.00 $163.00 $1,219 —
759 759 22 164.50 $164.50 $1,249 —
817–832 830 109 147.00–153.00 $151.41 $1,257 -0.20
856 856 4 147.00 $147.00 $1,258 —
856 fancy 856 10 155.00 $155.00 $1,327 —
918 918 4 149.50 $149.50 $1,372 +6.00
951–958 958 171 143.00–143.25 $143.24 $1,372 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
508–528 518 14 184.00–195.00 $189.79 $983 +7.05
573 573 5 183.50 $183.50 $1,051 +5.34
615 615 3 176.00 $176.00 $1,082 +1.00
655–695 677 19 156.00–168.00 $161.30 $1,092 -9.70
740 740 4 144.50 $144.50 $1,069 -12.50
779 779 15 157.00 $157.00 $1,223 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 4 192.50 $192.50 $751 +6.00
473 unweaned 473 3 181.00 $181.00 $856 —
470–489 476 30 182.00–191.50 $188.46 $897 -2.08
503 unweaned 503 12 174.00 $174.00 $875 —
505–525 524 57 184.00–189.50 $189.38 $992 +4.53
558–581 565 56 179.00–184.00 $180.59 $1,020 +18.59
607–625 618 121 156.00–174.00 $170.25 $1,052 -1.70
661–696 680 64 144.00–163.00 $158.60 $1,078 -8.30
704–738 710 68 139.00–162.00 $157.71 $1,120 +3.61
751–786 757 86 143.00–154.00 $151.77 $1,149 +4.37
790 790 3 123.50 $123.50 $976 -26.00
835 835 8 132.00 $132.00 $1,102 -4.09
862–880 863 17 137.00–141.00 $140.76 $1,215 +3.76
884–898 888 13 129.00–133.50 $132.03 $1,172 -6.97
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
80 80 1 100.00 $100.00 —
773–785 778 163 1,185.00–1,260.00 $1,246.30 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
368–370 369 8 165.00–174.50 $170.95 $631 -8.05
413–445 429 9 170.00–177.00 $172.45 $740 —
456–486 471 39 158.00–180.00 $174.52 $822 +0.67
523–549 540 11 168.00–176.00 $170.82 $922 -0.19
596 596 8 167.00 $167.00 $995 +3.72
607–638 625 26 148.00–160.00 $157.96 $987 -1.26
650–664 661 9 138.00–139.00 $138.78 $917 -13.35
705–747 736 11 133.50–137.00 $134.41 $989 -7.31
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505 505 4 136.00 $136.00 $687 —
597 597 3 131.00 $131.00 $782 -13.34
657 657 7 133.00 $133.00 $874 -2.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
327 327 5 167.50 $167.50 $548 —
443 443 5 155.00 $155.00 $687 -6.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
753 753 6 138.00 $138.00 $1,039 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
554 554 11 185.00 $185.00 $1,025 —
658–698 689 18 153.00–165.00 $155.55 $1,072 —
827 827 15 132.00 $132.00 $1,092 —
873 873 3 125.00 $125.00 $1,091 —
923 923 2 118.00 $118.00 $1,089 -4.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1035 1008 11 112.00–118.00 $117.44 $1,184 -4.56
1058–1090 1066 4 109.00–113.00 $111.98 $1,194 —
1166 1166 4 106.00 $106.00 $1,236 -1.01
1234 fancy 1234 5 111.00 $111.00 $1,370 —
1233–1245 1236 4 102.00–104.00 $102.50 $1,267 —
1280 1280 1 104.00 $104.00 $1,331 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
75–90 81 6 175.00–275.00 $223.97 -26.03

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1308–1670 1426 80-85% 35 70.50–81.50 $76.46 $1,090 -2.33
1235–1710 1430 80-85% 103 77.50–86.00 $82.43 $1,179 +3.64
1305–1645 1431 80-85% 53 77.50–86.50 $80.90 $1,158 +2.11
1330–1650 1446 80-85% 38 73.00–77.00 $75.81 $1,096 -2.98
1510–1515 1512 80-85% 3 87.50 $87.50 $1,323 —
1565 1565 80-85% 1 85.00 $85.00 $1,330 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
910–940 923 85-90% 3 58.00–64.00 $61.02 $563 -9.08
985 985 85-90% 2 75.00 $75.00 $739 —
1030–1265 1166 85-90% 17 59.00–66.00 $64.29 $750 -17.71
965–1283 1180 85-90% 38 67.00–78.00 $73.32 $865 -2.22
980–1290 1195 85-90% 35 66.50–79.50 $73.58 $879 -1.96
1045–1355 1229 85-90% 33 77.00–84.00 $79.98 $983 -0.30
1110–1285 1239 85-90% 24 77.00–84.00 $79.29 $982 -0.99
1290 1290 85-90% 1 84.00 $84.00 $1,084 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1513–1640 1554 75-80% 5 84.50–87.00 $85.58 $1,330 —
1500–1760 1626 75-80% 9 84.50–86.00 $85.10 $1,384 —
1520–1985 1729 75-80% 16 71.00–84.00 $77.18 $1,334 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055 1055 1 81.00 $81.00 $855 —
1240–1340 1294 7 78.00–97.00 $84.95 $1,099 —
1270–1410 1340 2 100.00–101.00 $100.47 $1,346 +15.47
1400–1615 1477 3 96.00–100.50 $97.80 $1,445 —
1390–2150 1581 15 80.00–96.00 $91.41 $1,445 —
1435–1760 1598 2 101.00–102.00 $101.55 $1,623 —
1535–2320 1850 38 97.00–107.00 $101.86 $1,884 —
1735–2365 2082 13 107.00–116.00 $109.90 $2,288 —
2555 2555 1 105.25 $105.25 $2,689 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
753–1310 992 (<2 yrs)Open 228 90.00–121.00 $107.79 $1,069
865–1515 1119 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 132 75.00–114.00 $91.71 $1,026
840–1215 thin fleshed 1159 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 75.50–80.00 $75.97 $880
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1205 1205 (<2 yrs)Open 1 77.00 $77.00 $928

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1360–1482 1465 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 73.00–76.00 $73.40 $1,075
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1300 1300 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,300.00 $1,300.00

↑ Back to top

Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
120 120 7 135.00 $135.00 $162 —
155 155 1 132.50 $132.50 $205 —
160–185 175 3 93.00–95.00 $93.99 $164 —
175–185 182 3 100.00–104.00 $101.28 $184 —
205–223 216 8 95.00–101.00 $98.61 $213 —
215–220 218 3 92.00–94.00 $93.34 $203 —
250 250 1 107.00 $107.00 $268 —
250–270 257 3 92.00–98.00 $95.90 $246 —

↑ Back to top

Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
85 85 1 225.00 $225.00 $191 —
90 90 1 205.00 $205.00 $184 —
90–95 93 2 140.00–180.00 $159.46 $148 —
105 105 1 140.00 $140.00 $147 —
125 125 2 165.00 $165.00 $206 —
130–135 133 2 175.00–200.00 $187.26 $249 —
185–195 190 2 200.00–210.00 $204.87 $389 —
205 205 1 235.00 $235.00 $482 —

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1417 1417 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,150.00 $1,150.00 —
1495 1495 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 3 1,210.00 $1,210.00 —
1738 1738 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 1,375.00 $1,375.00 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Heifers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
666 666 4 129.00 $129.00 $859 —
810 810 17 123.00 $123.00 $996 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
721 721 9 138.00 $138.00 $995 —
858 858 20 137.00 $137.00 $1,175 —

↑ Back to top

Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
125 125 6 70.00 $70.00 $88 —
113–136 127 70 97.50–106.00 $105.78 $134 —
140–141 140 11 97.00–105.00 $99.92 $140 —
125–149 143 147 114.00–126.00 $120.24 $172 —
145–149 148 11 105.00–109.00 $107.57 $159 —
150–165 158 2 98.00–109.00 $103.76 $164 —
150–169 163 205 110.00–122.00 $117.07 $191 —
175 175 1 90.00 $90.00 $158 —
169–198 184 169 92.00–108.00 $97.69 $180 —
200–230 207 90 85.00–98.00 $92.79 $192 —
205–218 214 3 98.00–102.00 $99.28 $212 —
267 267 5 81.00 $81.00 $216 —
305 305 4 70.00 $70.00 $214 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
182–185 184 Young (2-4 yrs)Spring 72 380.00–390.00 $387.94 —
215 215 Young (2-4 yrs)Spring 95 380.00 $380.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
128 128 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 25 131.00 $131.00 $168 —
162 162 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 113.00 $113.00 $183 —

↑ Back to top

Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
56 56 7 160.00 $160.00 $90 —
110–130 123 46 156.00–200.00 $169.68 $209 —

↑ Back to top

Hair Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
125 125 5 100.00 $100.00 $125 —
155–180 163 8 104.00–132.50 $109.26 $178 —
205 205 1 95.00 $95.00 $195 —

↑ Back to top

Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
98 98 2 130.00 $130.00 $127 —
100–142 131 12 117.50–125.00 $122.24 $160 —
149 149 4 122.50 $122.50 $183 —
150 150 2 119.00 $119.00 $178 —
187 187 20 97.00 $97.00 $181 —
200 200 1 93.00 $93.00 $186 —

↑ Back to top

Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
29 29 4 250.00 $250.00 $72 —
30 30 2 205.00 $205.00 $62 —
30 fancy 30 1 420.00 $420.00 $126 —
34 34 10 280.00 $280.00 $95 —
36 36 4 205.00 $205.00 $74 —
36–38 37 10 315.00 $315.00 $117 —
37–39 37 37 350.00–360.00 $351.13 $130 —
38 38 2 320.00 $320.00 $122 —
40 40 10 185.00 $185.00 $74 —
40–43 42 5 345.00–357.50 $349.78 $147 —
43 43 9 430.00 $430.00 $185 —
46–48 47 12 225.00–320.00 $292.43 $137 —
50 50 2 250.00 $250.00 $125 —
51 51 4 355.00 $355.00 $181 —
50–55 53 4 175.00–200.00 $186.90 $99 —
50–55 54 5 275.00–300.00 $292.31 $158 —
50–55 55 37 327.50–335.00 $334.82 $184 —
55 55 6 225.00–240.00 $235.00 $129 —
64 64 14 265.00 $265.00 $170 —
60–69 65 25 300.00–345.00 $310.90 $202 —
65 65 2 195.00 $195.00 $127 —
73 73 3 295.00 $295.00 $215 —
82 82 3 200.00 $200.00 $164 —
83–88 86 4 232.52–240.00 $236.15 $203 —
95 95 2 255.00 $255.00 $242 —
96 96 9 237.50 $237.50 $228 —

↑ Back to top

Lambs

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
36 36 7 282.50 $282.50 $102 —
45 45 1 302.50 $302.50 $136 —
58 58 4 255.00 $255.00 $148 —
63–65 64 6 285.00–289.00 $287.69 $184 —
70 70 1 252.50 $252.50 $177 —
83 83 5 233.00 $233.00 $193 —

↑ Back to top

Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
65 65 —— 1 132.50 $132.50 $86 —
74 74 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 275.00 $275.00 $204 —
75 75 —— 4 110.00 $110.00 $82 —
78 78 —— 2 135.00 $135.00 $105 —
80–85 83 —— 2 165.00–170.00 $167.42 $139 —
85 85 —— 1 125.00 $125.00 $106 —
88 88 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 170.00 $170.00 $150 —
88 88 —— 2 125.00 $125.00 $110 —
90 90 —— 2 110.00 $110.00 $99 —
92 92 —— 3 125.00 $125.00 $115 —
95–98 96 —— 5 125.00–130.00 $127.96 $123 —
110 110 —— 3 115.00–120.00 $116.67 $128 —
114–140 117 —— 13 127.50–140.00 $128.84 $151 —
120 120 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 200.00 $200.00 $240 —
125 125 —— 1 82.50 $82.50 $103 —
110–148 141 —— 32 140.00–172.50 $144.34 $204 —
160 160 —— 3 140.00–157.50 $145.83 $233 —

↑ Back to top

Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
53 53 5 140.00 $140.00 $74 —
85 85 1 230.00 $230.00 $196 —
90–96 94 6 137.50–175.00 $149.47 $141 —
115 115 1 135.00 $135.00 $155 —
105–128 120 3 177.50–200.00 $184.04 $221 —
130 130 2 187.50 $187.50 $244 —
155 155 2 185.00 $185.00 $287 —
200 200 2 180.00 $180.00 $360 —

↑ Back to top

Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
74 74 6 279.00 $279.00 $206 —
75 75 11 165.00 $165.00 $124 —
79 79 21 230.00 $230.00 $182 —
80 80 2 180.00 $180.00 $144 —
90–99 97 20 180.00–192.50 $183.23 $178 —
112 112 12 224.00 $224.00 $251 —
120–122 121 17 150.00–175.00 $160.98 $195 —
150–159 156 20 135.00–150.00 $140.05 $218 —

↑ Back to top

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.