Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 2, 2022

3,530 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $152.58/cwt +11.58 vs last sale · ≈ $1,200/hd at 786 lb · 263 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $155.63/cwt -2.42 vs last sale · ≈ $1,058/hd at 680 lb · 103 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $210.33/cwt +13.47 vs last sale · ≈ $1,085/hd at 516 lb · 84 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,530 7,264 3,896
Feeder cattle 1,480 4,393 1,944
Slaughter cattle 992 1,408 1,214
Replacement cattle 1,058 1,463 738

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: All weights of steers and heifers were too lightly tested this week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly good. Despite light offerings, stronger demand was seen this week. Spring rains has greened grass across much of the southern portion of the state, which has helped revive some demand from ranchers willing to purchase cattle to turn out. Buyers purchased cattle up to 750 lbs to return to grass as long as flesh conditions were favorable. Several high quality sets of replacement heifers continue to be seen and demand for these offerings is very good. Heifer quality continues to outpace steer quality. Market activity this week was mostly active, a large crowd was on hand at all three sales this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter demand was mostly light this week. Packers continue to harvest unseasonably large numbers of cows as ranchers continue to sell off cows that lost calves in the last two snow storms. Hay prices remain at all time highs and ranchers are selling cows which are not generating income. This influx of cows in the North and some drought sell off in the south has packers with a larger supply of cows and bulls than is usually seen this time of year. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower on all classes. Feeding cow demand continues to be strong as packers and independent feeders both compete over high quality offerings these offerings sold steady to weak. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 1.00 higher a narrow comparison. Weigh conditions were mostly average this week. Green grass has started to help cows slick off winter hair and has many emptied out. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to 5.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive.

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
470 470 5 206.00 $206.00 $968 +21.00
476 unweaned 476 7 195.00 $195.00 $928 —
510–530 516 84 207.50–218.00 $210.33 $1,085 +23.71
552–584 565 27 193.00–207.00 $199.63 $1,128 +7.50
602–635 623 25 191.00–192.00 $191.48 $1,193 +18.36
659 thin fleshed 659 20 188.00 $188.00 $1,239 —
708–741 728 18 158.00–175.50 $164.27 $1,196 +15.26
753–770 759 3 159.00–163.00 $161.65 $1,227 -3.34
807–825 812 4 155.00–158.50 $157.61 $1,280 +3.74
860–887 872 6 146.00–157.00 $151.28 $1,319 +4.68
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405–433 428 18 195.00–200.00 $198.03 $848 —
518 518 2 185.00 $185.00 $958 +7.49
574–582 578 20 168.50–185.50 $181.87 $1,051 +3.13
610–649 631 12 169.50–172.00 $170.59 $1,076 +9.89
660–692 675 18 165.00–173.50 $168.65 $1,138 +4.68
718 718 3 150.00 $150.00 $1,077 -7.00
765 765 9 150.00 $150.00 $1,148 -7.39
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
389 389 20 210.00 $210.00 $817 —
426 426 6 200.00 $200.00 $852 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
356 356 4 192.50 $192.50 $685 —
403–431 409 34 187.00–189.00 $188.57 $771 +16.83
463–483 468 54 176.50–188.50 $181.24 $848 +5.54
474 unweaned 474 5 178.00 $178.00 $844 —
518–549 537 38 179.00–187.00 $183.63 $986 +7.94
580 580 35 175.50 $175.50 $1,018 +9.80
610–646 619 57 157.00–176.50 $169.51 $1,049 +5.35
662–687 679 48 151.00–163.00 $153.61 $1,043 -4.44
671–694 681 55 154.50–161.00 $157.39 $1,072 -0.66
717–735 722 4 153.00–156.00 $155.24 $1,121 +2.34
727 727 17 158.00 $158.00 $1,149 +5.10
785–786 785 221 150.75–158.00 $155.22 $1,218 +14.22
759–799 794 42 136.75–154.00 $138.71 $1,101 -2.29
810 810 18 144.00 $144.00 $1,166 +6.36
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
399 399 4 172.00 $172.00 $686 —
437 437 7 179.00 $179.00 $782 +2.88
470–482 479 35 173.50–180.00 $174.49 $836 +12.77
503–523 516 10 160.00–166.00 $162.77 $840 +0.18
550–588 570 8 161.00–165.00 $163.61 $933 +3.43
618 618 4 151.00 $151.00 $933 -4.10
604–633 625 28 149.00–164.00 $153.24 $958 -1.86
694 694 9 147.00 $147.00 $1,020 -4.45
708 708 2 147.00 $147.00 $1,041 -2.83
785 785 9 134.00 $134.00 $1,052 -3.50
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
342 342 17 187.50 $187.50 $641 —
442 442 8 173.00 $173.00 $765 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 3 157.00 $157.00 $581 —
546 546 4 133.00 $133.00 $726 —
580 580 3 141.00 $141.00 $818 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
65 65 1 125.00 $125.00 —
150–165 158 2 310.00–335.00 $323.10 —
225 225 1 375.00 $375.00 +25.00
295 295 1 360.00 $360.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
513 513 22 202.50 $202.50 $1,039 +21.50
599 599 28 184.50 $184.50 $1,105 —
672 672 6 157.00 $157.00 $1,055 —
714 714 10 161.00 $161.00 $1,150 +10.00
882–885 883 4 124.00–128.00 $125.00 $1,104 —
906–945 930 13 127.00–130.00 $128.12 $1,192 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1103 fancy 1103 15 115.50 $115.50 $1,274 —
1118–1132 1126 5 107.00–109.00 $107.79 $1,214 —
1180 1180 1 114.00 $114.00 $1,345 —
1200–1215 1209 4 105.00–107.00 $106.00 $1,282 —
1250 1250 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,325 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
454 454 13 192.50 $192.50 $874 +18.50
789 789 4 128.00 $128.00 $1,010 —
895 895 1 113.00 $113.00 $1,011 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
80 80 1 235.00 $235.00 —
120 120 1 300.00 $300.00 —
230 230 1 310.00 $310.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
84 84 3 125.00 $125.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1300–1555 1382 80-85% 9 83.00–87.50 $84.91 $1,173 —
1225–1630 1395 80-85% 146 73.00–83.50 $79.56 $1,110 —
1308–1795 1434 80-85% 72 60.00–74.00 $67.95 $974 —
1263–1685 1435 80-85% 66 71.00–81.00 $77.24 $1,108 —
1309–1730 1435 80-85% 30 67.00–76.00 $72.37 $1,039 —
1423–1490 1444 80-85% 4 81.00–85.50 $83.02 $1,199 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
921–985 944 85-90% 13 61.00–72.00 $64.59 $610 —
953–970 958 85-90% 4 54.00–56.00 $55.25 $529 —
985 985 85-90% 1 75.50 $75.50 $744 —
1015–1140 1068 85-90% 5 52.00–62.50 $58.17 $621 —
1095–1195 1145 85-90% 2 77.00–78.00 $77.48 $887 —
1155 1155 85-90% 1 78.00 $78.00 $901 +14.23
1025–1334 1201 85-90% 111 57.00–73.50 $66.13 $794 —
978–1331 1207 85-90% 44 64.00–73.50 $69.08 $834 —
1135–1303 1219 85-90% 28 72.00–78.50 $75.42 $919 —
1055–1345 1230 85-90% 44 69.50–77.50 $73.64 $906 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1413–1677 1558 75-80% 17 75.00–83.00 $80.34 $1,252 +5.36
1570–1630 1601 75-80% 5 77.00–82.00 $79.78 $1,277 —
1473–1828 1608 75-80% 8 76.00–81.00 $78.37 $1,260 —
1585–1625 1612 75-80% 3 85.00–86.50 $85.67 $1,381 —
1615–1930 1769 75-80% 9 65.00–73.00 $71.44 $1,264 —
2085 2085 75-80% 1 70.00 $70.00 $1,460 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1185–1390 1269 8 70.00–85.00 $77.16 $979 —
1255–1355 1308 7 95.00–101.00 $97.08 $1,270 —
1205–1585 1349 6 82.00–85.50 $84.17 $1,135 —
1435–2030 1609 19 80.00–90.50 $85.49 $1,376 —
1640–1860 1676 9 95.00–100.00 $95.67 $1,603 —
1405–2405 1824 48 91.00–104.00 $96.93 $1,768 —
1850 1850 3 104.00 $104.00 $1,924 —
1900–2430 2085 25 103.00–111.00 $107.09 $2,233 —
2915 2915 1 61.00 $61.00 $1,778 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1585 1585 1 88.00 $88.00 $1,395 —
2053–2325 2144 6 88.00–91.00 $89.08 $1,910 —
2165 2165 3 99.50 $99.50 $2,154 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
810 thin fleshed 810 (<2 yrs)Open 1 80.00 $80.00 $648
775–1360 989 (<2 yrs)Open 269 83.00–124.50 $108.56 $1,074
850–1405 1132 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 160 75.00–113.00 $89.83 $1,017
1115–1155 thin fleshed 1142 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 76.00 $76.00 $868
1035–1360 1249 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 10 74.00–82.00 $76.01 $949
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
930 thin fleshed 930 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 75.00 $75.00 $698
765–1193 1024 (<2 yrs)Open 13 75.00–110.50 $91.41 $936
1045–1135 1098 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 72.00–80.00 $75.77 $832
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
990 990 (<2 yrs)Open 2 113.00 $113.00 $1,119

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1216–1268 1244 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 26 1,300.00–1,385.00 $1,354.02
1293 1293 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 910.00 $910.00
1439 1439 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 910.00 $910.00
1445 1445 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,175.00 $1,175.00
1448 1448 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,050.00 $1,050.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1237–1275 1245 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 1,050.00–1,175.00 $1,117.47

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1173 thin fleshed 1173 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 13 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —
1198 thin fleshed 1198 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 19 1,050.00 $1,050.00 —
1289 thin fleshed 1289 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 8 1,150.00 $1,150.00 —
1327 1327 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 3 1,450.00 $1,450.00 —
1346 thin fleshed 1346 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —
1356 1356 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 6 1,700.00 $1,700.00 —
1389 1389 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 21 1,300.00 $1,300.00 —
1464 1464 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 7 1,260.00 $1,260.00 -382.21
1552 fancy 1552 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 16 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1083 1083 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 7 1,450.00 $1,450.00 —
1255 1255 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 5 1,185.00 $1,185.00 —
1299 thin fleshed 1299 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 9 925.00 $925.00 —
1378 1378 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 5 1,150.00 $1,150.00 -210.00

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1024–1100 1076 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 67 2,010.00–2,050.00 $2,034.58 —
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
965 965 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 15 1,750.00 $1,750.00 —

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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.