Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 25, 2022

7,264 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 $178.91/cwt -7.79 vs last sale · ≈ $940/hd at 525 lb · 255 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $158.05/cwt -0.55 vs last sale · ≈ $1,059/hd at 670 lb · 251 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $168.67/cwt -1.58 vs last sale · ≈ $1,060/hd at 628 lb · 248 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 7,264 5,139 6,881
Feeder cattle 4,393 1,894 4,246
Slaughter cattle 1,408 900 1,154
Replacement cattle 1,463 511 1,481

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week, feeder steer under 600 lbs sold on a light test with a weak undertone noted; over 600 lbs sold 9.00 to 11.00 lower. Feeder heifers under 550 lbs sold on a light test with a weak undertone; 550 to 800 lbs 1.00 to 5.00 lower; over 800 lbs 3.00 to 5.00 higher. Quality was plain to average. Buyer demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on a mostly moderate demand, for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 5.00 lower on breaking and boning cows, leans sold 7.00 to 8.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold 5.00 to 6.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mostly average. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly moderate to good demand. These offerings sold fully steady.

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
408–431 420 17 190.00–197.50 $193.43 $812 -25.88
462 462 3 185.00 $185.00 $855 -34.00
504–537 thin fleshed 530 94 201.00 $201.00 $1,065 —
510–547 531 38 175.00–194.00 $186.62 $991 -24.86
556–598 570 105 172.00–198.00 $192.13 $1,095 -0.35
600–643 626 68 161.00–178.00 $173.12 $1,084 -10.85
657–699 683 142 164.00–180.00 $171.56 $1,172 -10.90
701–735 715 34 144.00–158.00 $149.01 $1,065 -13.99
750–767 759 138 164.00–166.00 $164.99 $1,252 +0.49
817–832 829 102 153.00–155.00 $153.87 $1,276 +2.46
852–888 864 69 140.00–148.50 $146.60 $1,267 -0.40
909–940 922 16 132.00–137.50 $133.80 $1,234 -15.70
960–965 961 7 132.00–135.00 $134.14 $1,289 -9.10
1002–1045 1009 6 122.00–123.00 $122.17 $1,233 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
456–487 478 53 180.00–188.00 $182.29 $871 —
504–535 517 47 175.00–181.00 $177.51 $918 -12.28
550–578 569 24 177.00–183.00 $178.74 $1,017 -4.76
618–644 634 49 144.00–165.00 $160.70 $1,019 -15.30
650–698 672 24 159.00–167.00 $163.97 $1,102 +2.67
714–748 739 31 155.00–161.50 $157.00 $1,160 +12.50
752–761 759 92 154.00–157.50 $157.39 $1,195 +0.39
800–843 836 17 140.00–150.00 $144.46 $1,208 —
855–889 871 28 132.00–142.50 $136.32 $1,187 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
408–425 410 8 170.00–172.00 $171.74 $704 —
422 thin fleshed 422 29 195.50 $195.50 $825 —
454–487 467 66 170.00–178.00 $175.70 $821 -12.76
452–496 fancy 476 27 184.00–192.00 $189.08 $900 —
510 thin fleshed 510 76 186.50 $186.50 $951 —
500–547 532 179 159.50–182.00 $175.69 $935 -13.69
550–595 567 108 158.00–173.00 $165.70 $940 -14.89
560–582 thin fleshed 575 39 178.00–181.00 $178.97 $1,029 —
618 thin fleshed 618 78 178.50 $178.50 $1,103 —
605–644 633 170 154.00–170.00 $164.16 $1,039 -6.09
654–696 670 251 155.50–161.00 $158.05 $1,059 -0.55
702–749 722 120 148.50–155.00 $152.90 $1,104 -4.81
783 783 28 141.00 $141.00 $1,104 +17.50
802–831 814 48 135.00–141.00 $137.64 $1,120 +5.64
879 879 141 135.00 $135.00 $1,187 +2.97
900–915 909 25 126.00–130.50 $128.50 $1,168 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320–333 331 11 185.00–188.00 $186.04 $616 —
350 350 9 160.00 $160.00 $560 -10.95
441–445 442 8 170.00–177.00 $176.12 $778 +3.67
455–491 471 24 156.00–166.00 $161.72 $762 -12.80
500–546 532 50 158.00–167.50 $162.59 $865 -8.23
550–598 584 116 136.00–166.00 $160.18 $935 -6.82
605–648 631 55 144.00–160.50 $155.10 $979 -2.86
650–692 681 102 139.00–155.00 $151.45 $1,031 +12.67
708–742 724 26 147.50–152.00 $149.83 $1,085 +15.42
772 772 3 137.50 $137.50 $1,062 —
824–849 839 13 133.00–134.50 $133.93 $1,124 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
215 215 1 350.00 $350.00 —
786 786 15 1,250.00 $1,250.00 +3.70
890 890 62 1,325.00 $1,325.00 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
472–473 472 8 184.00–190.00 $185.50 $876 —
531 531 18 181.00 $181.00 $961 —
605–644 633 31 163.50–167.00 $164.45 $1,041 —
710 710 35 151.00 $151.00 $1,072 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
487 487 5 174.00 $174.00 $847 —
725 725 3 124.00 $124.00 $899 —
950–995 965 7 120.00–122.00 $121.42 $1,172 —
1005–1030 1015 11 116.00–118.00 $117.46 $1,192 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
119 119 7 210.00 $210.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
175 175 1 300.00 $300.00 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1002–1420 1120 80-85% 17 82.00–90.00 $83.86 $939 —
879–1723 1257 80-85% 63 65.00–79.50 $73.00 $918 —
945–1725 1312 80-85% 410 70.00–86.00 $77.69 $1,019 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
900–1473 1157 85-90% 69 58.00–73.00 $63.77 $738 -0.52
780–1490 1177 85-90% 178 67.00–79.00 $72.32 $851 -1.00
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085–1615 1342 75-80% 51 82.00–86.00 $84.11 $1,129 —
1004–1720 1439 75-80% 158 76.00–88.00 $80.17 $1,154 —
1280–1825 1561 75-80% 34 73.00–76.50 $74.98 $1,170 -10.60

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
955–2340 1567 66 100.00–110.00 $104.65 $1,640 +13.24
1060–2090 1593 44 85.00–98.00 $90.92 $1,448 -10.63
1113–2360 1722 75 92.00–100.00 $95.92 $1,652 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
830–1293 973 (<2 yrs)Open 96 99.50–120.00 $108.98 $1,060
780–1990 1052 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 249 89.00–106.00 $98.83 $1,040
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
775–970 909 (<2 yrs)Open 15 118.00–129.50 $122.31 $1,112
805–1070 1015 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 42 107.00–116.00 $111.52 $1,132
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
695 695 (<2 yrs)Open 1 90.00 $90.00 $626

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1045–1220 1106 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 12 1,225.00–1,425.00 $1,313.43
1034–1470 1137 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 14 700.00–1,175.00 $955.62
1180 1180 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1168–1214 1196 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 13 925.00–1,025.00 $962.55
1215–1315 1282 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,300.00–1,375.00 $1,340.80
1248–1304 1289 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,000.00–1,100.00 $1,074.79
1258–1475 1330 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,200.00–1,275.00 $1,227.72
1109–1497 1364 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 59 1,100.00–1,275.00 $1,222.47
1383 1383 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,000.00 $1,000.00
1563–1649 1624 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,100.00–1,150.00 $1,136.25
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1075 1075 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 92.00 $92.00 $989
1270 1270 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 74.00 $74.00 $940
1388 1388 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 76.50 $76.50 $1,062
1468 1468 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 79.50 $79.50 $1,167
1398–1548 1506 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 12 69.50–75.00 $73.47 $1,106
1385–1645 1541 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 39 77.00–85.00 $78.45 $1,209
1637 1637 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 75.00 $75.00 $1,228
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
918 918 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 900.00 $900.00
919 919 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 43 1,150.00 $1,150.00
1194 1194 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 950.00 $950.00
1458 1458 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,050.00 $1,050.00
1493 1493 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,050.00 $1,050.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1160 1160 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
1312–1354 1336 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 16 1,350.00–1,425.00 $1,382.23
1353 1353 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,000.00 $1,000.00
1485 1485 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00
1413–1601 1505 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 12 1,050.00–1,175.00 $1,117.16
1512–1536 1528 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 1,225.00 $1,225.00
Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1445 1445 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1135 1135 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 69.00 $69.00 $783

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
853–1005 929 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 925.00–950.00 $938.52
955 955 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 950.00 $950.00
1003–1103 1021 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 25 1,350.00–1,435.00 $1,425.30
1090 1090 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,125.00 $1,125.00
1130 1130 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,060.00 $1,060.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
815 815 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 31 1,100.00 $1,100.00
1060 1060 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
930 930 (<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 89.00 $89.00 $828

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1126–1263 1200 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 26 1,910.00–2,160.00 $2,018.29 —
720–1477 1272 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 240 1,860.00–2,210.00 $2,068.13 —
1294 1294 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 7 1,800.00 $1,800.00 —
1400 1400 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 24 1,425.00 $1,425.00 —
1410 1410 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 6 1,825.00 $1,825.00 —
1230–1667 1483 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 29 1,275.00–1,925.00 $1,642.21 —
1492 1492 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 7 1,575.00 $1,575.00 —
1530–1872 1684 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 20 1,750.00–1,800.00 $1,774.99 —
1793 1793 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 22 1,425.00 $1,425.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
938 938 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 1,750.00 $1,750.00 —
1045–1825 1337 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 1,000.00–1,800.00 $1,352.43 —
835–1435 1341 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 24 600.00–1,625.00 $1,247.87 —
1371 1371 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 8 1,360.00 $1,360.00 —
1000–1435 1398 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 27 1,375.00–1,600.00 $1,434.34 —
1399 1399 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 16 1,425.00 $1,425.00 —
1272–1431 1406 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 25 1,425.00–1,500.00 $1,447.24 +297.24
1488 1488 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 6 1,350.00 $1,350.00 +140.00
1528 1528 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 10 1,375.00 $1,375.00 —
1585 1585 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,300.00 $1,300.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1035–1057 1055 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 1,400.00–1,550.00 $1,536.62 —
1256 1256 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 1,150.00 $1,150.00 —
1379 1379 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 17 1,350.00 $1,350.00 —
1450 1450 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00 —
1465 1465 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 1,175.00 $1,175.00 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1453–1488 1472 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 11 1,350.00 $1,350.00 —
Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1403 1403 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 5 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —

↑ Back to top

Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
968 968 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —

↑ 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.