Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, June 20, 2022

5,369 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 $175.92/cwt +2.59 vs last sale · ≈ $918/hd at 522 lb · 48 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $173.41/cwt +12.94 vs last sale · ≈ $1,103/hd at 636 lb · 43 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $175.49/cwt +2.98 vs last sale · ≈ $851/hd at 485 lb · 42 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,369 4,716 7,725
Feeder cattle 509 525 1,188
Slaughter cattle 2,154 1,984 2,528
Replacement cattle 623 2,207 679

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: All weights of steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Quality this week was mostly plan to average. Most feeders were sold as small lots of singles. Demand for feeders was light to moderate this week for light offerings. CME positions traded sideways for the week although several triple digit movement days were seen this past week. On Friday the August contract closed at 172.50, while the September closed at 175.075. Market activity was slow to moderate this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 4.00-7.00 higher on breaking and boning cows, lean cows sold 1.00-3.00 higher. Feeding cows sold 4.00-8.00 higher as slaughter demand pushed all cows higher. Quality this week was average to attractive. Ranchers continue to market cows which lost calves or have yet to calve, but the volume of cows being sold is slowing and tightening supplies are increasing packer competition. Slaughter bulls sold 6.00-8.00 higher. Bull quality this week was average to attractive. Weigh conditions for cows and bulls were average to above average this week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to firm. Quality this week was average to attractive. Demand for rebreed type cattle continues to be strong. Pasture and range conditions are in good condition in many parts of the state which has spurred some ranchers to buy cattle to rebreed.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450–456 455 9 170.00–175.00 $174.45 $794 —
630–644 642 8 150.50–152.00 $150.68 $967 -29.32
813–843 827 11 148.50–152.00 $150.12 $1,241 —
860–894 887 5 149.00–152.00 $149.58 $1,327 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
522–540 524 19 175.00–177.00 $176.78 $926 —
703 703 4 167.00 $167.00 $1,174 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
419 419 4 176.00 $176.00 $737 -15.00
500–531 522 48 175.00–177.00 $175.92 $918 —
635–639 636 43 173.00–175.50 $173.41 $1,103 +12.94
680 thin fleshed 680 13 176.50 $176.50 $1,200 —
815–821 value added 817 19 142.00–146.50 $145.42 $1,188 —
872 value added 872 24 145.00 $145.00 $1,264 —
939 939 7 137.00 $137.00 $1,286 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455–494 485 42 170.00–177.00 $175.49 $851 +2.98
568–588 583 8 162.00–163.00 $162.76 $949 -0.29
625–630 629 6 165.00–166.00 $165.17 $1,039 +3.67
675–683 682 9 162.00–165.50 $165.12 $1,126 +16.12
719–743 733 19 146.00–146.50 $146.21 $1,072 —
786 786 4 148.00 $148.00 $1,163 +4.00
808–844 831 10 131.50–138.00 $133.72 $1,111 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 400 23 147.00 $147.00 $588 —
487 487 17 147.50 $147.50 $718 —
516 516 7 149.00 $149.00 $769 —
590–591 590 23 138.00–140.00 $139.04 $820 —
703 703 18 136.50 $136.50 $960 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1220–1378 1319 75-80% 85 90.00–93.50 $91.25 $1,204 —
1205–1585 1402 75-80% 110 90.00–94.00 $91.45 $1,282 —
1255–1600 1411 75-80% 150 85.00–89.50 $87.11 $1,229 —
1146–1690 1434 75-80% 99 84.00–85.75 $85.02 $1,219 —
1293–1738 1511 75-80% 216 84.00–89.50 $87.82 $1,327 +1.39
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1130–1535 1262 80-85% 29 90.00–93.25 $92.73 $1,170 —
1175–1375 1293 80-85% 23 88.00–92.00 $89.68 $1,160 —
1080–1645 1318 80-85% 209 80.00–87.50 $84.70 $1,116 —
1220–1396 1324 80-85% 26 81.00–83.50 $82.91 $1,098 —
1095–1570 1375 80-85% 217 81.00–90.50 $87.17 $1,199 +8.45
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895–1250 1109 85-90% 22 71.00–76.00 $74.19 $823 +2.69
953–1410 1161 85-90% 116 74.00–84.00 $79.62 $924 +25.10
1080–1281 1211 85-90% 39 85.00–91.50 $87.88 $1,064 +4.01
1238–1393 1359 85-90% 15 78.50–81.00 $78.79 $1,071 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
970–1195 1153 12 112.50–117.00 $114.02 $1,315 —
1050–1860 1465 33 97.00–106.00 $102.40 $1,500 +10.61
1078–2825 1572 97 104.00–114.00 $109.51 $1,721 —
1700–2560 1992 35 114.00–120.00 $116.82 $2,327 —
YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1940–2485 2136 13 122.00–128.00 $125.14 $2,673 —
2170–2390 2282 3 130.00–133.00 $131.36 $2,998 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
990–1435 1151 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 65 99.00–121.00 $105.05 $1,209
1015–1330 1208 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 27 90.00–96.00 $94.47 $1,141
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
885–1028 967 (<2 yrs)Open 25 118.50–135.00 $122.53 $1,185
870–1077 1042 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 21 116.00–126.50 $119.21 $1,242

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
133 133 2 99.00 $99.00 $132 —
185 185 4 125.00 $125.00 $231 —
200–245 219 17 91.00–98.00 $95.09 $208 —
215–223 221 4 103.00–105.00 $103.49 $229 —
360–380 370 2 68.00–70.00 $69.03 $255 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1110–1537 1176 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 108 1,825.00–2,400.00 $2,263.62 —
1255–1691 1458 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 41 1,450.00–1,600.00 $1,524.15 —
1255–1650 1462 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 33 1,725.00–2,000.00 $1,909.05 —
1075–1566 1521 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 11 1,300.00–1,350.00 $1,346.79 —
1200–1925 1721 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 11 1,635.00–1,900.00 $1,795.59 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1311 fancy 1311 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 20 3,450.00 $3,450.00 —
1503–1611 1580 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 35 1,700.00–1,850.00 $1,809.24 -467.39
1510–1685 1673 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 15 2,400.00–2,410.00 $2,409.40 -90.60
1616–1815 1690 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 53 2,125.00–2,475.00 $2,426.77 —

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
91 91 7 98.00 $98.00 $89 —
115–148 132 174 71.00–83.00 $75.85 $100 —
123–143 133 4 54.00–63.00 $58.16 $77 —
152–189 175 125 71.00–81.00 $74.10 $130 —
163–182 177 20 61.00–68.00 $64.23 $114 —
200–230 209 37 70.00–81.00 $75.25 $157 —
253–255 254 3 67.00–68.00 $67.34 $171 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
128–145 134 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 3 95.00–116.00 $108.41 $145 —
120–148 145 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 22 79.00–85.00 $81.48 $118 —
165 165 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 15 81.50 $81.50 $134 —

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
52 52 11 165.00 $165.00 $86 —
69 69 4 150.00 $150.00 $104 —
73 73 4 195.00 $195.00 $142 —
85 85 29 173.00 $173.00 $147 —
97 97 15 164.00 $164.00 $159 —
108 108 8 151.00 $151.00 $163 —

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Hair Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
86 86 4 112.00 $112.00 $96 —
223 223 2 75.00 $75.00 $167 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
151–158 155 12 79.00–81.00 $79.98 $124 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
66 66 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 10 125.00 $125.00 $82 —

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Hair Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
61 61 4 185.00 $185.00 $113 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
23–25 24 25 210.00–225.00 $216.30 $52 —
30 30 2 180.00 $180.00 $54 —
32–33 32 42 280.00 $280.00 $90 —
41–45 41 23 220.00–230.00 $229.52 $94 —
43 43 5 165.00 $165.00 $71 —
42–47 44 45 300.00–325.00 $310.98 $137 —
50–52 51 6 165.00–175.00 $169.90 $87 —
51–55 53 25 315.00–340.00 $319.95 $170 —
60–66 64 10 250.00–290.00 $266.52 $171 —
60–66 64 54 320.00–340.00 $332.07 $213 —
89 89 18 320.00 $320.00 $285 —
90 90 2 300.00 $300.00 $270 —

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Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
41–48 44 7 195.00 $195.00 $86 —
54–56 55 23 187.00–194.00 $188.78 $104 —
66–67 66 18 191.00–198.00 $194.86 $129 —
71–76 73 94 195.00–207.00 $198.41 $145 —
80 80 21 195.00 $195.00 $156 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
45 45 2 235.00 $235.00 $106 —
50–58 55 36 210.00–217.00 $211.96 $117 —
61–69 67 40 202.00–218.00 $213.60 $143 —
70–79 75 34 213.00–225.00 $218.70 $164 —
84 84 23 209.00 $209.00 $176 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
74 74 —— 4 162.50 $162.50 $120 —
80–83 80 —— 14 175.00 $175.00 $140 —
80–88 85 —— 10 190.00–200.00 $196.23 $167 —
90 90 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 1 225.00 $225.00 $202 —
92–95 93 —— 4 170.00–175.00 $171.28 $159 —
98 98 —— 3 145.00 $145.00 $142 —
103–110 105 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 3 212.50–215.00 $213.37 $224 —
105–130 118 —— 3 190.00–197.50 $193.57 $228 —
107–133 124 —— 9 162.50–170.00 $167.85 $208 —
152–160 154 —— 4 175.00 $175.00 $270 —
215 215 —— 1 195.00 $195.00 $419 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
45 45 2 210.00 $210.00 $94 —
92–95 93 4 210.00–235.00 $228.60 $213 —
115–145 130 2 230.00–232.50 $231.11 $300 —
165 165 1 240.00 $240.00 $396 —

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
60 60 20 191.00–200.00 $196.40 $118 —
71–75 74 37 188.00–192.00 $188.86 $140 —
71–79 76 76 175.00–184.00 $179.69 $137 —
80–85 83 48 175.00–187.00 $177.55 $147 —
83–89 87 36 163.00–165.00 $164.42 $143 —
90–98 95 144 162.00–175.00 $164.24 $156 —
97 97 11 151.00 $151.00 $146 —
106–128 115 189 130.00–150.00 $143.99 $166 —
100–138 116 159 156.00–177.50 $162.82 $189 —

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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.