Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, August 29, 2022

5,627 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $174.37/cwt -1.98 vs last sale · ≈ $1,350/hd at 774 lb · 109 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $167.06/cwt -0.16 vs last sale · ≈ $1,545/hd at 925 lb · 83 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $169.61/cwt -1.26 vs last sale · ≈ $1,494/hd at 881 lb · 74 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,627 1,314 15,516
Feeder cattle 944 951 5,863
Slaughter cattle 579 312 1,945
Replacement cattle 151 51 1,315

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Two sales were held this past week due to summer schedules. Feeder steers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. 750-799 lbs heifers offered the best comparisons this week as these offerings sold mostly 5.00 lower. All other weights of heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Most cattle were coming right off grass and were in light flesh. Tested open heifer quality was very attractive as most heifers were the opens off their replacements. Higher corn and feed prices were mainly to blame for lower prices as feeders back up prices due to higher expected feeding costs. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Western packers remain active as they buy cows for immediate harvest, however eastern packers this week took a step back and showed light demand for cows, which allowed prices to slide lower. Boning and lean cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower, breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-4.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average as many cows were carrying lots of water fill due to warm summer days. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good demand. offerings were very light this week, but steady undertones were noticed.

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
248 unweaned 248 2 257.50 $257.50 $639 —
305–330 unweaned 318 2 232.50–255.00 $244.19 $777 —
550–568 unweaned 561 8 186.50–190.00 $187.79 $1,054 —
603–605 604 9 210.00–211.00 $210.89 $1,274 —
645 unweaned 645 4 200.00 $200.00 $1,290 +7.06
650 unweaned 650 2 179.00 $179.00 $1,164 -18.50
655–693 680 3 205.00–207.00 $205.64 $1,398 —
758 758 2 194.00 $194.00 $1,471 +13.00
813–830 821 6 182.00–185.00 $183.99 $1,511 -1.98
875 875 3 181.00 $181.00 $1,584 -0.90
905–908 907 6 168.00–169.50 $168.75 $1,531 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
449 unweaned 449 4 195.00 $195.00 $876 —
475–483 unweaned 480 5 181.00–188.00 $185.23 $889 -24.77
761 761 7 184.00 $184.00 $1,400 —
899 899 6 167.00 $167.00 $1,501 —
930 930 3 165.00 $165.00 $1,534 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 4 192.00 $192.00 $1,037 —
808 808 7 140.00 $140.00 $1,131 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1003 1003 4 157.50 $157.50 $1,580 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
568 568 4 201.00 $201.00 $1,142 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 unweaned 385 2 165.00 $165.00 $635 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
582 582 9 182.00 $182.00 $1,059 —
619 619 9 179.50 $179.50 $1,111 -0.75
658 658 17 177.00 $177.00 $1,165 —
702–733 708 42 177.50–178.75 $178.54 $1,264 —
750–790 774 109 168.50–177.50 $174.37 $1,350 -1.98
820–845 829 51 170.00–178.50 $174.35 $1,445 -1.94
851–896 881 74 166.00–174.00 $169.61 $1,494 -1.26
900–948 925 83 159.50–170.00 $167.06 $1,545 -1.76
957–994 975 23 152.00–163.50 $158.08 $1,541 +0.67
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
999 999 12 147.00 $147.00 $1,469 —
1001–1048 1035 42 148.00–159.50 $151.08 $1,564 -10.09
1055 1055 7 153.00 $153.00 $1,614 -14.50
1133 1133 6 142.00 $142.00 $1,609 -11.86
1156 1156 4 145.50 $145.50 $1,682 -5.00
1183 1183 11 140.50 $140.50 $1,662 -10.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 unweaned 435 3 167.50 $167.50 $729 —
476 unweaned 476 7 166.00 $166.00 $790 —
588 unweaned 588 3 157.50 $157.50 $926 —
680 680 9 168.50 $168.50 $1,146 —
763–785 768 9 160.00–175.50 $163.52 $1,256 —
800–838 822 14 148.50–168.00 $161.70 $1,329 -4.30
872 872 8 157.00 $157.00 $1,369 —
955 955 3 156.00 $156.00 $1,490 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
603 603 6 171.00–172.00 $171.33 $1,033 -2.03
675 675 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,181 ±0.00
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
782 782 5 139.00 $139.00 $1,087 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1227 1227 3 130.50 $130.50 $1,601 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
715 715 2 145.00 $145.00 $1,037 —

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Feeder Bulls

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1001–1005 1002 5 135.00–160.00 $140.02 $1,403 —
1055–1080 1061 5 126.00–135.00 $128.09 $1,359 +5.09
1075 1075 2 115.00 $115.00 $1,236 -8.00
1130–1140 1135 2 121.00–126.00 $123.49 $1,402 —
1155–1185 1170 4 123.00–129.00 $125.96 $1,474 —
1209–1233 1215 14 116.00–119.00 $118.42 $1,439 —
1280 1280 1 111.00 $111.00 $1,421 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840 840 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,260 —
858 858 3 158.00 $158.00 $1,356 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115–1145 1130 2 116.00–123.00 $119.55 $1,351 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1130 1130 2 120.00 $120.00 $1,356 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1293–1535 1365 80-85% 15 89.50–96.00 $93.68 $1,279 +7.48
1230–1560 1407 80-85% 36 67.00–81.50 $74.82 $1,053 —
1283–1660 1421 80-85% 11 87.00–90.00 $89.28 $1,269 —
1305–1487 1431 80-85% 11 75.00–78.00 $77.32 $1,106 —
1273–1715 1468 80-85% 37 78.50–89.00 $83.13 $1,220 +1.74
1299–1610 1477 80-85% 71 79.00–87.50 $84.50 $1,248 +3.11
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–905 850 85-90% 3 59.00–65.00 $61.77 $525 —
975 975 85-90% 1 86.00 $86.00 $838 —
1040–1125 1088 85-90% 4 61.00–65.00 $63.23 $688 —
1035–1293 1196 85-90% 36 69.00–78.00 $74.57 $892 —
1060–1288 1215 85-90% 21 78.00–87.00 $80.30 $976 -5.45
1195–1242 1236 85-90% 8 81.00–84.00 $81.36 $1,006 -4.99
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1445–1760 1584 75-80% 8 87.00–93.00 $88.64 $1,404 —
1443–1825 1600 75-80% 23 81.00–86.00 $82.10 $1,314 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–1395 1313 4 83.00–95.00 $88.22 $1,158 —
1395 1395 2 100.00 $100.00 $1,395 +7.50
1270–1683 1522 15 88.00–95.00 $92.91 $1,414 —
1290–1898 1531 37 97.00–106.00 $101.61 $1,556 —
1355–1865 1569 30 81.00–97.00 $90.87 $1,426 -7.13
1605 1605 2 107.00 $107.00 $1,717 -7.00
1610 1610 1 109.00 $109.00 $1,755 -5.00
1420–2295 1805 83 96.00–108.00 $103.07 $1,860 +5.51
1805 1805 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,986 +12.44
1850–2245 2035 14 108.00–114.00 $109.84 $2,235 -2.30
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2420 2420 1 96.00 $96.00 $2,323 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
985 thin fleshed 985 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 82.00 $82.00 $808
1032 1032 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 76.00 $76.00 $784
929–1410 1104 (<2 yrs)Open 68 89.00–114.50 $108.85 $1,202
900–1600 1130 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 30 78.00–104.00 $90.96 $1,028
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
840–1025 958 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 81.00–84.00 $82.25 $788
820–1160 1028 (<2 yrs)Open 5 80.00–113.00 $88.17 $906

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1059–1315 1165 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 10 1,200.00–1,300.00 $1,261.46

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
140 140 1 62.00 $62.00 $87 —
160–180 169 7 59.00–71.50 $66.88 $113 —
160–189 180 10 83.00–86.50 $83.93 $151 —
208–235 224 16 73.00–80.00 $77.15 $173 —
235 235 1 71.00 $71.00 $167 —
255–280 271 4 77.00 $77.00 $209 —
275 275 1 78.00 $78.00 $214 —
308 308 2 69.00 $69.00 $213 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
60 60 2 155.00–165.00 $160.00 $96 —
95 95 1 137.50 $137.50 $131 —
130 130 1 172.50 $172.50 $224 —
120–139 133 6 170.00–185.00 $173.77 $231 —
145 145 1 197.50 $197.50 $286 —
150 150 1 185.00 $185.00 $278 —

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Dairy Steers

Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
363 363 6 67.50 $67.50 $245 —
459 459 9 65.00 $65.00 $298 —

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
118–129 127 22 51.00–52.00 $51.09 $65 —
123–147 140 55 60.00–65.00 $63.25 $89 —
140 140 3 68.00 $68.00 $95 —
148 148 6 52.00 $52.00 $77 —
150–160 156 16 68.00–69.50 $68.35 $107 —
150–174 157 146 60.00–65.50 $63.06 $99 —
173–193 181 8 52.00–60.00 $55.21 $100 —
170–198 183 95 59.50–66.00 $63.33 $116 —
170–199 191 22 66.50–71.00 $67.84 $130 —
203–208 206 14 63.00–65.00 $64.29 $132 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
138 138 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 67.00 $67.00 $92 —

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
49 49 9 115.00 $115.00 $56 —
63 63 2 210.00 $210.00 $132 —
73 73 10 130.00 $130.00 $95 —
92–97 93 49 93.00–95.50 $93.48 $87 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
110–120 112 51 71.00–76.00 $71.84 $80 —

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Hair Lambs

Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
49 49 10 177.00 $177.00 $87 —
78 78 20 127.00 $127.00 $99 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
29 29 5 212.50 $212.50 $62 —
30–38 32 11 250.00–262.50 $257.94 $83 —
37 37 11 170.00 $170.00 $63 —
38 38 2 170.00 $170.00 $65 —
40 40 1 220.00 $220.00 $88 —
42 42 34 170.00–185.00 $177.50 $75 —
40–45 45 19 267.50–270.00 $267.62 $120 —
43–48 45 10 150.00 $150.00 $68 —
45 45 6 140.00 $140.00 $63 —
48 48 2 247.50 $247.50 $119 —
50 50 1 180.00 $180.00 $90 —
51–57 55 22 175.00–185.00 $177.95 $98 —
55 55 1 170.00 $170.00 $94 —
50–57 56 104 210.00–237.50 $233.39 $131 —
51–59 56 60 240.00–262.50 $249.26 $140 —
60–69 65 59 227.50–245.00 $238.93 $155 —
63–66 65 9 222.50–237.50 $228.99 $149 —
65 65 8 185.00 $185.00 $120 —
65 65 3 185.00 $185.00 $120 —
71 71 9 145.00 $145.00 $103 —
71 71 4 182.50 $182.50 $130 —
72 72 6 162.50 $162.50 $117 —
75 75 7 200.00–216.00 $208.71 $157 —
75–77 77 15 230.00–242.50 $232.99 $179 —
80–86 85 15 210.00–253.00 $240.90 $205 —
90–95 93 2 207.50–220.00 $213.58 $199 —
90–98 94 7 232.50–255.00 $240.53 $226 —
115 115 1 220.00 $220.00 $253 —

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Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
43 43 2 185.00 $185.00 $80 —
50–55 53 71 183.00–197.50 $189.25 $100 —
60–69 63 189 160.00–187.00 $176.45 $111 —
70–79 75 477 123.00–160.00 $139.38 $105 —
80–89 84 336 116.00–128.00 $122.79 $103 —
90–99 95 296 102.00–118.00 $109.05 $104 —
101–109 105 183 94.00–107.00 $100.56 $106 —
113 113 101 106.00 $106.00 $120 —
120 120 26 79.00 $79.00 $95 —
122–129 124 91 83.00–98.50 $93.10 $115 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
69 69 8 149.00 $149.00 $103 —
78 78 16 122.00 $122.00 $95 —
92 92 10 101.00 $101.00 $93 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
132 132 11 83.00 $83.00 $110 —
139 139 6 84.50 $84.50 $117 —
145 145 2 78.00 $78.00 $113 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
55 55 2 115.00 $115.00 $63 —
65 65 1 167.50 $167.50 $109 —
65 65 1 110.00 $110.00 $72 —
74 74 4 140.00 $140.00 $104 —
85–89 87 8 115.00–127.50 $121.11 $105 —
88 88 19 87.50–100.00 $91.45 $80 —
90–98 95 5 90.00–107.50 $101.08 $96 —
92–99 95 10 120.00–142.50 $122.25 $116 —
95 95 1 160.00 $160.00 $152 —
95 95 1 115.00 $115.00 $109 —
108–120 112 3 80.00–85.00 $81.79 $92 —
100–135 121 13 115.00–127.50 $124.61 $151 —
105–143 130 3 130.00–142.50 $133.36 $173 —
175 175 1 125.00 $125.00 $219 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
48 48 12 135.00 $135.00 $65 —
63 63 4 105.00 $105.00 $66 —
63 63 6 160.00 $160.00 $101 —
75 75 1 170.00 $170.00 $128 —
85 85 1 225.00 $225.00 $191 —
92–95 93 7 162.50–187.50 $169.81 $158 —
108 108 6 182.50 $182.50 $197 —
123–140 134 3 192.50–195.00 $194.24 $260 —
135 135 1 182.50 $182.50 $246 —
156–185 162 5 167.50–187.50 $182.93 $296 —

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
52 52 13 162.50 $162.50 $84 —
58 58 5 178.00 $178.00 $103 —
60–68 64 71 161.00–189.00 $177.43 $114 —
64 64 48 160.00 $160.00 $102 —
71–79 75 120 126.00–161.00 $136.62 $102 —
80–87 83 173 113.00–129.50 $120.04 $100 —
92–94 93 18 91.00–102.00 $95.95 $89 —
103 103 9 88.00 $88.00 $91 —
103–104 104 19 97.00–105.00 $102.49 $107 —

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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.