Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 9, 2022

4,298 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $157.53/cwt +1.90 vs last sale · ≈ $1,087/hd at 690 lb · 128 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $153.96/cwt -3.65 vs last sale · ≈ $1,293/hd at 840 lb · 90 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $167.67/cwt -7.83 vs last sale · ≈ $949/hd at 566 lb · 86 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,298 3,530 6,325
Feeder cattle 1,571 1,480 3,576
Slaughter cattle 1,368 992 1,507
Replacement cattle 1,359 1,058 1,242

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: All weights of steers and heifers were too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Many sets of cutback cattle off video sales were seen this week and quality was the biggest factor that limited demand. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly light. A few sets of replacement quality heifers were seen this week. These offerings continue to be met with good demand as spring rains have helped green range and pasture conditions. Market activity this week was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mixed demand this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 lower on breaking cows, while boning and lean cows sold steady to 2.00 higher. Boning and lean cows saw increased demand from feeding buyers this week which helped push these offerings higher. Feeing cows sold on mixed demand this week as fleshy breaking cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 lower, and boning and lean fleshed cows sold fully steady. Slaughter bulls sold steady to weak. Weigh conditions were mixed this week. Green grass has started to help cows slick off winter hair and has many emptied out, however, with rain seen on Thursday, late week cows were pushing more fill. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to firm. Quality this week was average to attractive. Demand for rebreed type cattle remains good as ranchers and order buyers both competed over offerings.

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
478–489 486 46 207.00–211.00 $210.70 $1,024 +4.70
525 525 4 201.00 $201.00 $1,055 -9.33
555–579 562 40 187.00–195.00 $192.79 $1,083 -6.84
600–613 604 7 180.00 $180.00 $1,087 -11.48
660–690 675 2 175.00–178.00 $176.47 $1,191 —
703 703 5 158.00 $158.00 $1,111 -6.27
708–748 728 4 167.50–169.00 $168.27 $1,225 +4.00
765 765 3 155.00 $155.00 $1,186 -6.65
803–843 840 90 146.00–154.75 $153.96 $1,293 -3.65
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
341 341 10 175.00 $175.00 $597 —
435–437 436 13 175.00–185.00 $178.07 $776 —
453–472 470 32 170.00–176.00 $175.28 $824 —
550–589 574 18 160.00–170.00 $166.27 $954 —
707–735 722 13 138.00–141.00 $139.64 $1,008 —
775–790 786 10 128.00–134.00 $129.78 $1,020 —
889 889 10 124.00 $124.00 $1,102 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 unweaned 375 7 186.00 $186.00 $698 —
411 411 4 185.00 $185.00 $760 -13.03
454–460 455 22 185.00–194.50 $193.63 $881 —
459 unweaned 459 6 180.00 $180.00 $826 —
562 thin fleshed 562 16 183.50 $183.50 $1,031 —
582–585 583 6 175.00–181.00 $180.00 $1,049 -1.87
615 615 6 177.50 $177.50 $1,092 +6.91
687–690 688 6 168.00–170.00 $168.33 $1,158 -0.32
712–747 733 8 155.00–162.00 $158.69 $1,163 +8.69
771 771 4 150.00 $150.00 $1,156 ±0.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
436 436 8 189.00 $189.00 $824 -11.00
503 503 23 180.00 $180.00 $905 —
569 569 12 173.00 $173.00 $984 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470–473 471 11 134.00–141.00 $138.44 $652 —
593 593 2 136.00 $136.00 $806 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
421 421 7 150.00 $150.00 $632 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
386 386 7 189.00 $189.00 $730 -3.50
503–515 512 19 171.00–176.00 $172.73 $884 -10.90
551–592 566 86 163.50–172.00 $167.67 $949 -7.83
612–624 621 61 153.00–163.50 $160.96 $1,000 -8.55
651–698 676 51 150.00–163.00 $154.93 $1,047 +1.32
699 699 77 159.25 $159.25 $1,113 +1.86
711–735 726 33 153.00–154.50 $153.94 $1,118 -4.06
742 742 21 156.00 $156.00 $1,158 -2.00
771–785 780 83 143.00–157.00 $146.29 $1,141 -8.93
810 fancy 810 4 152.00 $152.00 $1,231 —
808–840 817 8 141.00–145.50 $142.52 $1,164 -1.48
853–877 867 5 132.00–140.00 $136.85 $1,186 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
459–482 470 37 159.00–173.00 $168.01 $790 -6.48
510–545 524 28 161.00–167.00 $165.09 $865 +2.32
560–598 592 7 150.00–155.00 $153.43 $908 -10.18
610–641 620 15 154.00–160.00 $155.95 $967 +4.95
717–718 717 9 140.00 $140.00 $1,004 -7.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
840 840 72 1,250.00 $1,250.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 19 172.50 $172.50 $673 +15.50
415 415 4 155.00 $155.00 $643 —
488 488 3 155.00 $155.00 $756 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
381 381 7 174.50 $174.50 $665 —
471 471 17 152.50 $152.50 $718 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
494 494 7 125.00 $125.00 $618 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
397 397 5 190.00 $190.00 $754 —
538 538 2 175.00 $175.00 $942 -27.50
562 562 22 176.00 $176.00 $989 —
646 646 8 149.00 $149.00 $963 —
668 668 14 167.00 $167.00 $1,116 +10.00
824–840 832 8 131.00–141.00 $135.95 $1,131 —
863–865 864 3 122.00–133.00 $125.67 $1,086 +0.67
915 915 1 115.00 $115.00 $1,052 -13.12
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1019–1041 1030 10 116.00–118.00 $117.01 $1,205 —
1065–1085 1075 2 113.00–114.00 $113.50 $1,220 —
1113–1133 1126 15 109.50–110.00 $109.80 $1,236 +2.01
1150–1175 1170 6 103.00–116.00 $112.69 $1,318 -1.31
1205–1225 1215 4 102.00–105.00 $103.49 $1,257 -2.51
1255–1280 1272 3 105.00–107.50 $106.68 $1,357 +0.68
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
553–573 558 12 169.00–173.00 $170.49 $951 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
422 422 3 171.50 $171.50 $724 —
580 580 2 155.00 $155.00 $899 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085 1085 1 105.00 $105.00 $1,139 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895–975 935 85-90% 2 71.00–72.00 $71.48 $668 +6.89
938 938 85-90% 2 45.00 $45.00 $422 -19.59
945–948 946 85-90% 5 64.00–69.00 $66.40 $628 +1.81
1020–1065 1050 85-90% 7 51.00–55.00 $52.15 $548 -6.02
1010–1350 1170 85-90% 84 62.00–73.50 $67.36 $788 -10.64
900–1349 1181 85-90% 77 64.00–76.50 $70.34 $831 -7.66
855–1355 1187 85-90% 179 72.00–79.50 $75.62 $898 -2.38
1025–1336 1212 85-90% 115 70.00–79.25 $76.11 $922 +7.03
1120–1370 1230 85-90% 37 79.50–86.00 $81.76 $1,006 +8.12
1130–1331 1266 85-90% 23 79.00–86.00 $80.04 $1,013 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1254–1653 1388 80-85% 166 74.00–83.00 $78.19 $1,085 -6.72
1339–1675 1413 80-85% 38 72.00–81.00 $77.04 $1,089 +9.09
1300–1508 1414 80-85% 31 82.00–86.50 $84.09 $1,189 +16.14
1330–1475 1422 80-85% 9 80.00–83.50 $82.12 $1,168 +14.17
1335–1730 1426 80-85% 33 62.00–76.50 $71.00 $1,012 +3.05
1230–1640 1439 80-85% 40 68.00–77.00 $72.15 $1,038 -5.09
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1378–1705 1583 75-80% 6 72.50–77.00 $74.26 $1,176 -6.08
1478–1708 1586 75-80% 37 75.00–85.00 $79.93 $1,268 -0.41
1500–1745 1597 75-80% 3 84.00–86.50 $84.81 $1,354 —
1496–1843 1606 75-80% 13 75.00–84.50 $79.42 $1,275 +1.05
1430–1743 1611 75-80% 5 84.50–86.00 $85.42 $1,376 -0.25
1598–1918 1694 75-80% 42 68.50–76.75 $75.25 $1,275 —
2300 2300 75-80% 1 67.00 $67.00 $1,541 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1195–1300 1278 5 72.00–81.00 $74.29 $949 -2.87
1224–1515 1304 30 89.50–101.00 $97.55 $1,272 +0.47
1285–1417 1362 12 75.00–91.00 $80.86 $1,101 —
1395 1395 1 93.00 $93.00 $1,297 —
1590 1590 1 104.00 $104.00 $1,654 —
1335–1925 1628 16 79.00–93.00 $86.95 $1,416 +1.46
1500–2100 1781 51 92.00–103.00 $98.10 $1,747 —
1900 1900 3 102.50 $102.50 $1,948 —
1665–2365 1902 17 103.00–110.50 $105.98 $2,016 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
720–1345 963 (<2 yrs)Open 409 87.00–132.50 $111.33 $1,072
980 fancy 980 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 116.00 $116.00 $1,137
775–1416 1096 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 163 75.00–112.00 $88.75 $973
1035–1440 1168 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 23 69.00–80.00 $76.68 $896
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
884–985 922 (<2 yrs)Open 9 82.50–101.00 $91.68 $845
970–1170 1010 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 71.00–79.50 $75.85 $766
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1174 1174 (<2 yrs)Open 5 92.00 $92.00 $1,080
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
685 thin fleshed 685 (<2 yrs)Open 1 90.00 $90.00 $616

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1107–1280 1204 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 41 1,200.00–1,375.00 $1,297.95
1082–1362 1290 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 19 1,125.00–1,200.00 $1,159.49
1319–1353 1326 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 1,050.00–1,060.00 $1,057.96
1390 1390 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,100.00 $1,100.00
Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1109 1109 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 1,025.00 $1,025.00
1349 1349 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,050.00 $1,050.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1221 thin fleshed 1221 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 9 1,235.00 $1,235.00 —
1249–1260 1257 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 24 1,950.00–2,035.00 $2,013.89 —
1341 thin fleshed 1341 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 31 1,825.00 $1,825.00 +225.00
1229–1458 1346 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 53 1,460.00–1,775.00 $1,619.95 +169.95
1308–1458 1356 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 19 1,210.00–1,325.00 $1,242.54 -457.46
1376–1410 1387 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 12 1,435.00–1,775.00 $1,659.81 +359.81
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1387 1387 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,625.00 $1,625.00 +475.00

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1030–1039 thin fleshed 1033 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 36 1,660.00–1,825.00 $1,778.88 —
1105 1105 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 55 2,000.00 $2,000.00 —
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
895 thin fleshed 895 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,150.00 $1,150.00 —

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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.