Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 23, 2022

4,615 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 $207.12/cwt +8.53 vs last sale · ≈ $1,306/hd at 631 lb · 366 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $169.71/cwt +10.37 vs last sale · ≈ $979/hd at 577 lb · 293 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $162.70/cwt +11.02 vs last sale · ≈ $1,097/hd at 674 lb · 218 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,615 8,838 5,135
Feeder cattle 2,386 2,214 2,034
Slaughter cattle 1,177 1,945 1,578
Replacement cattle 1,052 1,356 1,523

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steers 550-699 lbs offered the best test this week and these offerings sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher. All other calves were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Heifers 500-749 lbs offered the best test this week and these offerings sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher. All other heifer calves were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was average to very attractive. Several sets of cattle were developed specifically for grass and buyers showed mostly good to very good demand for these offerings. Recent rains have sparked interest in the grass cattle market as ranchers helped make a last minuet push to fill summer pastures despite lower CME positions. The August contract closed Friday at 166.325, while the September closed at 169.30. Feedlot ready cattle sold on moderate demand, but stronger demand than was seen last week. Market activity this week was mostly active with a large buyer pool on hand actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand this week. Packers showed lighter demand for slaughter cows this week as supplies continue to be seasonally high. Slaughter cows sold steady to 1.00 lower. Feeding cows continue to sell on good demand as packers show concern for cow supplies going forward into summer months. High quality cows sold fully steady while average quality cows sold 2.00-3.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to 2.00 lower. Demand for rebreed offerings was moderate to good 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
422–448 unweaned 435 6 201.00 $201.00 $874 —
453 unweaned 453 3 187.50 $187.50 $849 +2.50
510–541 532 31 202.00–206.50 $203.62 $1,083 +2.97
554–563 559 127 210.00–213.00 $211.24 $1,181 +7.35
597 unweaned 597 6 188.00 $188.00 $1,122 —
608 608 3 186.00 $186.00 $1,131 -12.59
615 thin fleshed 615 103 212.00 $212.00 $1,304 —
617–643 637 260 186.00–209.00 $205.43 $1,309 +6.84
660–670 663 19 178.00–209.00 $201.25 $1,334 +18.36
746 746 10 173.50 $173.50 $1,294 +12.29
746 746 4 160.00 $160.00 $1,194 -1.21
765–776 774 29 153.00–159.00 $154.23 $1,194 -2.06
852 852 11 143.50 $143.50 $1,223 -3.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
506 506 4 195.00 $195.00 $987 +6.55
610–628 619 6 180.00–185.00 $182.54 $1,130 +3.97
685 685 7 166.00–167.50 $166.64 $1,141 -0.14
870–897 886 11 138.50–140.00 $139.14 $1,233 —
924 924 4 133.00 $133.00 $1,229 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
587–595 591 24 150.00–158.00 $153.69 $908 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
575 575 1 157.50 $157.50 $906 -12.51

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 unweaned 385 4 167.50 $167.50 $645 —
445 unweaned 445 4 162.50 $162.50 $723 —
445 445 19 187.00 $187.00 $832 +3.00
460 unweaned 460 3 167.50 $167.50 $770 —
462 462 9 178.00 $178.00 $822 -4.00
505–523 516 59 174.00–180.00 $177.41 $915 -3.80
544–549 unweaned 546 18 170.50–171.00 $170.70 $932 —
554–595 577 293 160.50–175.50 $169.71 $979 +10.37
611–649 628 79 155.00–168.50 $161.94 $1,017 +5.74
651–693 674 218 152.00–167.00 $162.70 $1,097 +11.02
700–725 716 72 146.00–154.00 $151.46 $1,084 +10.83
717 717 15 163.00 $163.00 $1,169 +22.37
756–784 774 29 143.00–147.00 $144.08 $1,115 -0.92
797 797 3 148.00 $148.00 $1,180 +3.00
807 807 33 141.00 $141.00 $1,138 -4.00
808–845 816 24 141.75–144.00 $142.32 $1,161 +14.32
855–893 867 19 138.00–143.00 $140.48 $1,218 +13.57
968 968 13 121.00 $121.00 $1,171 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
439 439 7 162.00 $162.00 $711 —
524 524 18 154.00 $154.00 $807 -8.12
553–582 564 17 157.00–165.00 $160.21 $904 +7.38
635 635 13 156.00 $156.00 $991 +15.99
662–680 666 33 140.00–149.00 $144.55 $963 +7.55
705–728 711 16 143.00–143.50 $143.13 $1,018 +12.13
750–795 777 5 133.00–142.00 $136.47 $1,060 +0.43
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
760 760 69 1,250.00 $1,250.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
567 567 15 142.00 $142.00 $805 —
605 605 3 129.00 $129.00 $780 —
658 658 6 133.00 $133.00 $875 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
457 457 11 165.00 $165.00 $754 —
601 601 4 157.50 $157.50 $947 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
624 624 5 140.00 $140.00 $874 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
569 569 4 119.00 $119.00 $677 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
548 548 2 176.00 $176.00 $964 —
660–680 672 22 148.00–165.00 $155.78 $1,047 —
874 874 7 125.50 $125.50 $1,097 —
925–948 941 7 113.00–123.00 $115.81 $1,090 -14.06
965 965 5 117.00–124.00 $119.80 $1,156 +2.30
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000 1000 1 117.00 $117.00 $1,170 +1.69
1070 1070 3 114.00 $114.00 $1,220 +5.00
1130 1130 4 109.00 $109.00 $1,232 +4.50
1152–1165 1155 4 104.00–108.00 $105.01 $1,213 -1.74
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
910 910 1 117.00 $117.00 $1,065 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840–985 938 85-90% 8 54.00–73.00 $64.27 $603 -8.57
1015–1185 1108 85-90% 5 53.00–59.00 $57.00 $632 -14.63
920–1310 1187 85-90% 29 65.00–74.00 $71.85 $853 +1.83
1015–1515 1190 85-90% 124 59.00–75.00 $68.27 $812 -1.75
1065–1305 1195 85-90% 74 74.00–81.50 $77.84 $930 +7.82
1010–1355 1213 85-90% 165 72.50–78.50 $75.89 $921 -2.42
1065–1310 1224 85-90% 45 79.00–85.00 $81.01 $992 +2.70
1180–1300 1232 85-90% 3 81.00–85.00 $82.44 $1,016 +4.13
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1267–1660 1379 80-85% 120 74.00–81.50 $78.70 $1,085 +1.38
1260–1495 1400 80-85% 23 80.00–86.00 $81.77 $1,145 +2.40
1300–1705 1402 80-85% 82 72.00–80.50 $76.37 $1,071 -3.00
1343–1580 1411 80-85% 27 82.00–87.50 $83.72 $1,181 +4.35
1155–1575 1422 80-85% 56 63.00–76.00 $69.00 $981 -10.37
1305–1590 1428 80-85% 47 71.50–76.50 $73.32 $1,047 -6.05
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1372 1372 75-80% 3 88.00 $88.00 $1,207 —
1513–1780 1544 75-80% 22 81.00–84.50 $82.22 $1,269 —
1410–1880 1570 75-80% 35 71.50–80.50 $76.40 $1,199 -5.47
1490–1870 1631 75-80% 10 72.50–80.50 $75.69 $1,235 -1.26
1440–1898 1653 75-80% 13 79.50–83.50 $80.86 $1,337 +2.24
2000 2000 75-80% 1 84.50 $84.50 $1,690 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180 1180 1 72.00 $72.00 $850 —
1155–1720 1290 34 90.00–106.00 $102.11 $1,317 +1.10
1250–1520 1365 7 80.00–90.00 $84.69 $1,156 —
1490–2470 1711 14 75.00–95.00 $86.41 $1,478 -19.31
1485–2402 1878 47 91.00–105.00 $99.62 $1,871 —
1610–2475 2026 29 105.00–116.00 $109.21 $2,213 —
2520–2540 2530 2 91.00–102.00 $96.48 $2,441 -18.52
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2315–2390 2353 2 98.00–103.00 $100.54 $2,366 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
775–1385 1006 (<2 yrs)Open 166 80.00–127.00 $107.54 $1,082
933–1182 1110 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 18 79.00–96.00 $84.41 $937
860–1465 1135 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 197 71.00–116.00 $89.52 $1,016
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
745 745 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 82.50 $82.50 $615
860–863 861 (<2 yrs)Open 7 77.00–91.00 $86.99 $749
890–1260 1023 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 66.00–85.50 $74.23 $759

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1202–1250 1211 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11 1,150.00–1,250.00 $1,231.23
Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1173 1173 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 1,050.00 $1,050.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1146 1146 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,050.00 $1,050.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
963 963 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,075.00 $1,075.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1192 1192 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,625.00 $1,625.00 —
1206–1474 1307 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 16 1,600.00–1,850.00 $1,744.23 +769.23
1255–1465 thin fleshed 1325 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 6 1,060.00–1,200.00 $1,111.60 +55.65
1420 1420 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,525.00 $1,525.00 +49.56
1428 1428 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 1,575.00 $1,575.00 +99.56
1302–1643 1454 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 101 1,250.00–1,485.00 $1,400.90 +290.90
1365–1536 1517 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 9 1,300.00–1,375.00 $1,367.50 —
1480–1547 1530 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 12 1,510.00–1,825.00 $1,748.84 —
1565 1565 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 10 1,425.00 $1,425.00 -1.52
1449–1688 1580 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 25 1,360.00–1,700.00 $1,481.06 +54.54
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1350 1350 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,350.00 $1,350.00 —
1381–1433 1400 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 25 1,250.00 $1,250.00 —
1485 1485 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 6 1,350.00 $1,350.00 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1225–1302 1253 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 14 1,610.00–1,850.00 $1,760.90 —
1253 1253 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 1,675.00 $1,675.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1121 1121 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —

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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.