Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, July 25, 2022

2,688 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $163.00/cwt -4.00 vs last sale · ≈ $1,446/hd at 887 lb · 31 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 steers $183.50/cwt ≈ $1,774/hd at 967 lb · 20 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $183.40/cwt ≈ $888/hd at 484 lb · 19 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,688 994 2,747
Feeder cattle 248 590 1,243
Slaughter cattle 506 359 972
Replacement cattle 137 45 532

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Only two sales were held this past week due to summer schedules. Offerings were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly average this week. Demand for feeders was mostly good to very good, despite limited offerings. CME positions continue to support higher prices as contracts have inched higher in recent weeks and deferred contracts continue to flirt with new contract highs this week. The August contract closed Friday at 178.575, the September closed at 181.55 and the October closed at 183.725. Market activity was mostly active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mixed demand. Demand from western packers was moderate to good this week while Eastern packers showed light to moderate demand, due to heavier supplies seen from drought areas. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold 8.00-10.00 lower. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week. Cow and bull quality continues to be mostly average to attractive. Very few lean cows were seen this week as grazing conditions remain in good condition. The cutter cow cutout was a mixed bag this week as heavy supplies are being seen by southern packers and tighter supplies are being seen by western packers which has caused some volatility in the cutter cow cutout price. The National weekly cutter cow cutout price was 213.57 down 3.39 from last week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady to weak. Quality was mostly average.

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
396 unweaned 396 8 194.50 $194.50 $770 —
467–492 unweaned 484 19 177.00–198.00 $183.40 $888 —
816 816 7 185.50 $185.50 $1,514 +0.84
856 856 4 171.00 $171.00 $1,464 -12.20
967 967 20 183.50 $183.50 $1,774 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
804 804 5 168.00 $168.00 $1,351 -6.63
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
634 634 4 185.50 $185.50 $1,176 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015 1015 1 158.50 $158.50 $1,609 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
399 unweaned 399 11 164.00 $164.00 $654 -16.00
403 unweaned 403 2 166.00 $166.00 $669 —
455 unweaned 455 3 159.00 $159.00 $723 —
533 unweaned 533 3 170.00 $170.00 $906 —
771–777 773 15 167.00–170.00 $168.99 $1,306 +3.74
887 887 31 163.00 $163.00 $1,446 —
955–975 965 7 151.00–155.00 $152.35 $1,470 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
589 589 12 180.50 $180.50 $1,063 +27.07
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
726 726 4 159.50 $159.50 $1,158 —
813 813 6 155.50 $155.50 $1,264 +1.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1025–1033 1030 3 140.50–145.00 $143.51 $1,478 —

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Feeder Bulls

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1016 1016 4 112.00 $112.00 $1,138 -36.45
1115 1115 1 131.00 $131.00 $1,461 +11.00
1158 1158 3 125.00 $125.00 $1,448 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050–1075 1058 3 131.00–132.00 $131.34 $1,390 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920 920 2 145.00 $145.00 $1,334 ±0.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
850 850 1 153.00 $153.00 $1,300 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085 1085 80-85% 1 68.00 $68.00 $738 —
1333 1333 80-85% 5 88.00 $88.00 $1,173 —
1260–1483 1350 80-85% 44 79.50–83.50 $82.16 $1,109 +6.69
1290–1550 1402 80-85% 8 86.50–88.00 $87.35 $1,225 +5.24
1180–1630 1412 80-85% 172 78.00–86.50 $82.80 $1,169 +0.69
1425 1425 80-85% 1 76.00 $76.00 $1,083 -6.11
1155–1698 1444 80-85% 20 73.00–79.00 $76.52 $1,105 -9.23
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840 840 85-90% 1 60.00 $60.00 $504 —
865–985 925 85-90% 2 71.00–75.00 $72.87 $674 +7.87
995 995 85-90% 1 77.50 $77.50 $771 —
1130 1130 85-90% 1 75.00 $75.00 $848 +6.22
1105–1200 1153 85-90% 2 85.00–86.00 $85.52 $986 —
1100–1265 1181 85-90% 24 77.00–85.00 $80.89 $955 —
1010–1308 1198 85-90% 15 69.00–79.00 $76.26 $914 —
1510 1510 85-90% 1 63.00 $63.00 $951 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1545–1739 1592 75-80% 34 82.00–86.50 $84.46 $1,345 —
1545–1858 1721 75-80% 7 72.00–81.00 $79.23 $1,364 -7.73
1743 1743 75-80% 2 87.00 $87.00 $1,516 +0.04
2035 2035 75-80% 1 88.50 $88.50 $1,801 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210 1210 1 96.00 $96.00 $1,162 —
1160–1320 1233 3 79.00–94.50 $85.19 $1,050 —
1285 1285 1 86.50 $86.50 $1,112 —
1245–1365 1318 12 95.00–106.50 $102.37 $1,349 -5.68
1350 1350 1 84.00 $84.00 $1,134 —
1380–2040 1652 29 82.00–91.50 $87.60 $1,447 —
1720–2000 1842 6 92.00–102.50 $99.75 $1,837 —
1825–1900 1863 2 105.00–106.00 $105.51 $1,966 —
1565–2415 1897 40 89.00–101.50 $94.95 $1,801 —
1680–2195 1942 31 96.00–107.00 $100.89 $1,959 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
868–1460 1051 (<2 yrs)Open 36 88.00–108.00 $101.60 $1,068
986–1500 1237 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 74 81.00–101.00 $86.38 $1,069

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
175 175 1 81.00 $81.00 $142 —
180 180 2 75.00 $75.00 $135 —
200–215 208 6 60.00–61.00 $60.48 $126 —
210–240 220 4 76.00–84.00 $81.10 $178 —
261–280 265 5 70.00–74.00 $73.15 $194 —
300 300 1 71.00 $71.00 $213 —
320 320 1 65.00 $65.00 $208 —
370 370 1 61.00 $61.00 $226 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
60 60 1 142.00 $142.00 $85 —
85 85 2 135.00 $135.00 $115 —
95 95 1 185.00 $185.00 $176 —
115–135 122 6 190.00–195.00 $193.15 $236 —
105–148 133 4 160.00–182.50 $177.93 $237 —
150–190 169 4 175.00–182.50 $178.80 $302 —

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
106–108 106 9 50.00–54.00 $50.90 $54 —
125–134 131 16 57.00–59.00 $57.91 $76 —
125–142 139 8 63.00–66.00 $63.59 $88 —
157–173 166 48 61.00–65.00 $63.38 $105 —
175–195 184 8 65.00–66.00 $65.48 $120 —
200 200 3 63.00 $63.00 $126 —
230 230 2 69.00 $69.00 $159 —
233 233 4 52.00 $52.00 $121 —
215–248 237 3 56.00–65.00 $58.72 $139 —
275 275 1 56.00 $56.00 $154 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
158–175 164 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 74.00–81.00 $78.51 $129 —

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
61 61 8 133.00 $133.00 $81 —
76 76 10 145.00 $145.00 $110 —

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Hair Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
118 118 2 110.00 $110.00 $130 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
122 122 6 65.00 $65.00 $79 —
184 184 5 70.00 $70.00 $129 —

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Hair Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
84 84 35 126.00 $126.00 $106 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
25–27 27 4 195.00–230.00 $221.75 $60 —
28 28 2 240.00 $240.00 $67 —
30–39 34 16 120.00–165.00 $140.61 $48 —
37–38 38 9 190.00–224.00 $212.87 $81 —
39 39 22 240.00 $240.00 $94 —
40 40 8 205.00 $205.00 $82 —
43 43 6 215.00–225.00 $218.33 $94 —
44–46 45 8 151.00–170.00 $160.29 $72 —
45 45 3 135.00 $135.00 $61 —
46 46 4 246.00 $246.00 $113 —
47 47 21 65.00 $65.00 $31 —
48 48 11 135.00 $135.00 $65 —
48 48 2 200.00 $200.00 $96 —
50 50 4 137.50 $137.50 $69 —
50–53 52 12 230.00–234.00 $232.06 $121 —
50–55 53 14 220.00–232.50 $226.65 $120 —
58–59 59 10 182.50–207.50 $195.11 $115 —
60 60 84 216.00 $216.00 $130 —
60–61 61 6 185.00–206.00 $188.45 $115 —
61–65 62 17 212.50–230.00 $220.93 $137 —
63 63 3 145.00 $145.00 $91 —
70–79 72 50 208.00–220.00 $212.62 $153 —
80 80 2 225.00 $225.00 $180 —
93 93 3 195.00 $195.00 $181 —
100 100 3 182.50 $182.50 $182 —
N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
20 20 3 10.00 $10.00 —
27 27 3 7.50 $7.50 —

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Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
46–49 48 18 170.00–172.50 $170.93 $82 —
50–58 56 18 180.00–188.00 $182.09 $102 —
60–63 62 23 185.00–192.00 $187.80 $116 —
71–76 75 69 163.00–167.00 $164.73 $124 —
80–88 86 166 135.00–153.50 $140.67 $121 —
90–96 93 219 133.00–148.00 $137.17 $128 —
100–107 104 35 115.00–131.00 $124.11 $129 —
110–116 112 122 112.00–126.50 $114.25 $128 —
125 125 1 105.00 $105.00 $131 —
134 134 13 104.00 $104.00 $139 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
35 35 7 140.00 $140.00 $49 —
47 47 20 142.50 $142.50 $67 —
65–66 66 6 152.50–162.00 $158.87 $105 —
95–99 97 11 110.00–127.00 $117.06 $114 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
98 98 40 124.00 $124.00 $122 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
54 54 7 120.00 $120.00 $65 —
82 82 6 114.00 $114.00 $93 —
93 93 19 102.00 $102.00 $95 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
62 62 9 100.00 $100.00 $62 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
45 45 —— 2 50.00 $50.00 $22 —
55 55 —— 1 105.00 $105.00 $58 —
60–65 63 —— 3 55.00–90.00 $66.05 $42 —
63 63 —— 3 45.00 $45.00 $28 —
68 68 —— 2 140.00 $140.00 $95 —
73 73 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 151.00 $151.00 $110 —
75 75 —— 1 78.00 $78.00 $58 —
80 80 —— 1 130.00 $130.00 $104 —
83 83 —— 2 100.00 $100.00 $83 —
83 83 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 160.00 $160.00 $133 —
90 90 —— 2 122.50–128.00 $125.25 $113 —
90–95 93 —— 2 130.00–131.00 $130.49 $121 —
94 94 —— 17 147.50 $147.50 $139 —
100–140 110 —— 14 102.50–129.00 $115.57 $127 —
116–129 122 —— 17 124.00–126.00 $124.99 $152 —
100–140 134 —— 7 117.50–127.50 $124.94 $167 —
158 158 —— 2 110.00 $110.00 $174 —
165–168 167 —— 12 124.00–127.50 $126.64 $211 —

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Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
143 143 8 90.00 $90.00 $129 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
73 73 2 206.00 $206.00 $150 —
85 85 2 98.00 $98.00 $83 —
180 180 2 175.00–185.00 $180.00 $324 —
215 215 1 165.00 $165.00 $355 —

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
60–62 62 25 178.00–186.50 $182.85 $113 —
72–79 77 113 155.00–171.00 $161.40 $124 —
82 82 23 148.00 $148.00 $121 —
129–135 130 48 104.50–105.00 $104.54 $136 —

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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.