Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, June 27, 2022

2,252 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 $164.16/cwt -12.34 vs last sale · ≈ $1,116/hd at 680 lb · 48 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $155.52/cwt ≈ $1,151/hd at 740 lb · 32 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $157.86/cwt -7.31 vs last sale · ≈ $998/hd at 632 lb · 27 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,252 5,369 2,880
Feeder cattle 357 509 678
Slaughter cattle 1,348 2,154 1,604
Replacement cattle 547 623 598

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: All weights of steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend however. Limited offerings were met with moderate demand. Quality this week was mostly plan to average. Most feeders were sold as small lots of singles. CME positions continue to struggle this week. Pressure continues to be seen on the live cattle market despite higher cash prices. The basis as of Wednesdays settlement is around $9 cwt. This coupled with higher grain prices has put continued pressure on the feeder cattle market. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of the offering this week. Demand from western packers remains good and continues to drive the cow market. Slaughter cows sold generally steady on breaking and boning cows, lean cows sold mostly 3.00-4.00 higher. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this week and significantly lower than last week. Quality was mostly average this week and also lower than last weeks offering. Ranchers continue to market cows which lost calves or have yet to calve. However, the volume of cows seen this week was significantly lower than the last few weeks. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher, with the largest advancement seen for high dressing bulls. Bull quality this week was average to very attractive. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested this week to develop a full market trend. Slaughter cow prices have increased enough so many cows which are usually purchased for replacements are being sent to feed or slaughter. Quality this week was mostly average with a limited offering of attractive young cows seen. Demand for rebreed type cattle was mostly moderate this week and lighter than the last few weeks. A few offerings of cow calf pairs were seen this week and demand for these offerings remains good. Most cow calf offerings were from drought areas and many were very thin.

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
632 unweaned 632 5 173.00 $173.00 $1,093 —
657 657 3 182.00 $182.00 $1,196 —
717 717 12 170.00–172.00 $171.50 $1,230 +4.50
772 772 3 159.00 $159.00 $1,227 —
820–830 827 3 162.00–164.00 $162.66 $1,345 —
902–945 917 22 145.00–148.00 $147.49 $1,352 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
732 732 15 158.00 $158.00 $1,157 —
1165 1165 3 124.00 $124.00 $1,445 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
548 548 3 182.00 $182.00 $997 —
575–595 586 7 178.00–182.00 $179.98 $1,055 —
750–798 786 5 152.00–161.00 $157.37 $1,237 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
551 unweaned 551 9 171.00 $171.00 $942 —
580 580 3 168.00 $168.00 $974 —
608 608 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,034 -3.41
670–693 680 48 160.00–167.00 $164.16 $1,116 —
730–748 740 32 151.00–158.00 $155.52 $1,151 —
923 923 2 135.00 $135.00 $1,246 -2.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
520 520 14 160.00 $160.00 $832 —
543 unweaned 543 4 160.00 $160.00 $869 —
595 595 5 163.00 $163.00 $970 +0.24
623–639 632 27 156.00–162.00 $157.86 $998 -7.31
670–698 693 17 145.00–156.00 $154.12 $1,068 -11.00
710 710 3 147.00 $147.00 $1,044 +0.79
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
488 488 3 147.50 $147.50 $720 ±0.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
543 unweaned 543 —— 2 179.00 $179.00 $972 —
615 615 —— 2 157.00 $157.00 $966 —
785–790 790 —— 13 138.00–142.00 $138.31 $1,093 —
849 849 —— 4 137.00 $137.00 $1,163 —
998 998 —— 3 123.00 $123.00 $1,228 —
1278 1278 (<2 yrs)N/A 3 116.00 $116.00 $1,482 —
1525–1600 1563 Young (2-4 yrs)N/A 2 112.00–125.00 $118.66 $1,855 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1057 1057 6 121.00 $121.00 $1,279 —
1211–1213 1212 19 107.50–117.50 $111.71 $1,354 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080 1080 1 113.00 $113.00 $1,220 —
1125 1125 3 110.00 $110.00 $1,238 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
925 925 80-85% 1 75.00 $75.00 $694 —
1231–1420 1340 80-85% 60 88.00–91.50 $89.66 $1,201 +6.75
1256–1655 1383 80-85% 36 87.50–94.00 $89.80 $1,242 +2.63
1305–1459 1384 80-85% 184 83.50–87.00 $84.46 $1,169 -2.71
1348–1520 1391 80-85% 4 81.00–83.00 $82.45 $1,147 -4.72
1255–1575 1398 80-85% 222 81.00–88.50 $84.27 $1,178 -2.90
1305–1610 1420 80-85% 47 70.50–82.00 $80.02 $1,136 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895–975 939 85-90% 5 71.00–78.50 $74.95 $704 —
995 995 85-90% 2 78.50 $78.50 $781 —
1040–1140 1105 85-90% 5 77.50–79.50 $79.11 $874 +4.92
925–1248 1134 85-90% 40 88.25–92.00 $88.67 $1,006 +14.48
1025–1325 1202 85-90% 97 80.00–87.50 $84.23 $1,012 -3.65
1172–1275 1211 85-90% 30 87.00–92.00 $89.34 $1,082 +1.46
1040–1340 1230 85-90% 58 71.00–82.00 $78.54 $966 -9.34
1190–1300 1243 85-90% 3 61.00–65.00 $63.50 $789 -24.38
1125–1260 1251 85-90% 39 80.50–87.50 $86.36 $1,080 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1355 1355 75-80% 1 86.00 $86.00 $1,165 —
1430–1825 1618 75-80% 34 84.50–89.00 $87.32 $1,413 —
1640 1640 75-80% 2 80.00 $80.00 $1,312 —
1548–1750 1656 75-80% 16 78.50–83.50 $81.62 $1,352 —
1500–1830 1661 75-80% 10 89.50–92.00 $89.87 $1,493 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035–1310 1260 13 81.00–95.00 $91.21 $1,149 —
1110–1338 1269 8 102.50–107.00 $106.38 $1,350 —
1180–1560 1370 2 95.00 $95.00 $1,302 —
1370 1370 1 97.50 $97.50 $1,336 —
1350–2090 1604 28 85.00–107.00 $98.00 $1,572 —
1305–2360 1805 82 101.00–116.00 $109.08 $1,969 —
1645–2405 2040 64 112.50–134.00 $121.18 $2,472 —
1843–2185 2058 9 104.00–111.00 $109.40 $2,251 —
1565–2430 2143 6 115.00–124.50 $120.44 $2,581 —
2500 2500 1 119.50 $119.50 $2,988 —
2505 2505 1 99.00 $99.00 $2,480 —
2650 2650 1 100.00 $100.00 $2,650 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1654–2253 1854 6 112.00–119.50 $115.04 $2,133 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
923 thin fleshed 923 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 78.00 $78.00 $720
1063 1063 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 101.00 $101.00 $1,074
825–1490 1090 (<2 yrs)Open 53 91.00–118.00 $108.04 $1,178
990–1360 1154 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 51 80.00–118.00 $94.03 $1,085
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
885–1105 1030 (<2 yrs)Open 15 83.00–108.00 $95.00 $978
1070 1070 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 87.50 $87.50 $936
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1158 1158 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 92.50 $92.50 $1,071

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1014–1213 thin fleshed 1058 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 45 2,350.00–2,400.00 $2,387.26 —
1169 thin fleshed 1169 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 8 1,985.00 $1,985.00 —
1447 thin fleshed 1447 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 5 1,525.00 $1,525.00 —
1542 1542 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 8 1,450.00 $1,450.00 —
1728 1728 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 15 1,975.00 $1,975.00 —
1880–1910 1908 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 12 1,850.00–1,975.00 $1,964.73 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1203 1203 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 1,775.00 $1,775.00 —
1399 1399 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 5 1,600.00 $1,600.00 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
877 thin fleshed 877 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 46 2,075.00 $2,075.00 —

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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.