Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 5, 2022

2,526 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $161.21/cwt +3.13 vs last sale · ≈ $1,582/hd at 981 lb · 137 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $165.53/cwt -4.08 vs last sale · ≈ $1,443/hd at 872 lb · 91 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $232.89/cwt ≈ $957/hd at 411 lb · 88 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,526 5,627 5,675
Feeder cattle 1,978 944 3,347
Slaughter cattle 449 579 1,428
Replacement cattle 99 151 900

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: This will be the last week of summer sales schedules for the season. Yearling offerings were too lightly tested the previous week to develop an accurate market trend on steers, however steady undertones were noticed. Steer calves were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers sold unevenly steady on all weights. Heifer calves were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was average to attractive. Larger consignments were seen this week than last as most offerings were sold in moderate size packages, with a few load lots in the mix this week. Yearlings and calves both sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Higher corn and feed prices continue to weigh on the market, however demand was slightly stronger this week compared to last. Big temperature swings were seen this week as a cold front swept across the region. Temperatures were as high as 106 on Wednesday and in the low 70 and upper 60s for the rest of the week. These big swings had all offerings very full for the week. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Western packers continue to be the driving force in the cow market as they show good demand for all slaughter cows. Feeding cow buyers were back in the market this week and they competed with western packers over all offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00 higher on breaking and boning cows, lean cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady, however weigh up conditions were mostly in the sellers favor this week. Feeding cows were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on much stronger demand than was seen last week. 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
257–293 unweaned 277 18 260.00–267.50 $264.41 $732 —
323–346 unweaned 329 33 242.50–250.00 $247.18 $813 +2.99
370–398 unweaned 385 27 220.00–231.00 $223.88 $862 —
400–423 unweaned 411 88 229.50–236.50 $232.89 $957 —
455–488 unweaned 479 42 217.00–228.00 $221.93 $1,063 —
503–546 unweaned 506 86 192.00–224.50 $216.31 $1,095 —
553–599 unweaned 580 26 180.00–203.00 $185.46 $1,076 -2.33
623 unweaned 623 8 179.00 $179.00 $1,115 -21.00
636 636 26 207.50 $207.50 $1,320 -3.39
654–682 662 11 205.00–208.00 $207.16 $1,371 +1.52
704–726 719 50 196.50–208.50 $199.04 $1,431 —
800–832 816 65 178.50–185.75 $183.44 $1,497 -0.55
862–894 880 32 172.50–178.00 $174.67 $1,537 -6.33
900–928 912 28 169.00–174.50 $172.87 $1,577 +4.12
956–970 965 22 166.00–170.50 $168.73 $1,628 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
402–428 unweaned 412 5 210.00–215.00 $212.92 $877 —
455–473 unweaned 463 13 201.00–216.00 $208.90 $967 +23.67
525 unweaned 525 2 202.00 $202.00 $1,060 —
731 731 4 190.00 $190.00 $1,389 —
809 809 21 176.50 $176.50 $1,428 —
883–898 893 6 169.00–171.00 $169.66 $1,515 +2.66
908–948 941 71 163.00–168.75 $168.22 $1,583 +3.22
970–976 976 55 159.00–163.50 $163.42 $1,595 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005–1036 1029 22 163.00–167.00 $166.11 $1,709 —
1105–1123 1113 12 152.00–152.50 $152.29 $1,695 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
593 593 14 195.50 $195.50 $1,159 -5.50
612 612 3 190.00 $190.00 $1,163 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 unweaned 310 3 185.00 $185.00 $574 —
452 unweaned 452 13 152.50 $152.50 $689 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
713 713 8 173.50 $173.50 $1,237 —
851 851 5 159.00 $159.00 $1,353 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
286 unweaned 286 11 207.00 $207.00 $592 —
345 unweaned 345 22 204.00 $204.00 $704 —
395 unweaned 395 20 221.00 $221.00 $873 —
400–447 unweaned 439 72 205.00–214.00 $210.17 $923 —
459–475 unweaned 465 15 198.50–202.00 $199.75 $929 —
505–549 unweaned 520 30 167.00–192.00 $182.77 $950 —
550 unweaned 550 3 171.00 $171.00 $940 —
656–678 674 41 181.00–184.50 $183.71 $1,238 +6.71
760–781 773 21 172.00–175.00 $173.27 $1,339 -1.10
802–847 809 67 166.50–172.50 $171.38 $1,386 -2.97
858–859 859 31 159.50–162.00 $160.14 $1,376 -9.47
854–897 878 60 164.00–170.00 $168.32 $1,478 -1.29
902–943 929 84 161.50–168.00 $162.55 $1,510 -4.51
950–998 977 72 160.00–165.50 $163.76 $1,600 +5.68
972–988 977 29 145.00–148.00 $147.06 $1,437 -11.02
993 fancy 993 36 167.50 $167.50 $1,663 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1016–1048 1036 14 158.50–164.00 $161.93 $1,678 +10.85
1037 1037 3 164.00 $164.00 $1,701 +12.92
1068 1068 2 162.50 $162.50 $1,736 +9.50
1060–1082 1080 11 155.75–160.00 $156.13 $1,686 +3.13
1174 1174 5 147.50 $147.50 $1,732 +7.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–356 unweaned 356 11 200.00–205.00 $202.73 $722 —
422 unweaned 422 5 186.50 $186.50 $787 +19.00
903–910 905 7 157.00–160.50 $159.71 $1,445 —
963–985 974 4 149.00–151.50 $150.26 $1,464 -5.74
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305 unweaned 305 10 160.00 $160.00 $488 —
621 621 5 183.50 $183.50 $1,140 +12.17
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
469 unweaned 469 12 146.00 $146.00 $685 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040 1040 6 140.50 $140.50 $1,461 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
761 761 4 136.00 $136.00 $1,035 —
826 826 5 133.00 $133.00 $1,099 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423 unweaned 423 7 137.50 $137.50 $582 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000 1000 2 165.00 $165.00 $1,650 +24.98

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1293–1393 1309 80-85% 15 91.50–92.50 $91.64 $1,200 —
1075–1548 1344 80-85% 64 83.00–91.00 $87.82 $1,180 —
1197–1625 1378 80-85% 82 81.00–90.25 $86.86 $1,197 -6.82
1335–1575 1408 80-85% 6 75.00–83.00 $80.08 $1,128 +5.26
1305–1545 1412 80-85% 11 89.50–93.75 $91.28 $1,289 +16.46
1430 1430 80-85% 1 67.00 $67.00 $958 -10.32
1345–1700 1508 80-85% 10 73.00–82.00 $78.81 $1,188 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
860–875 868 85-90% 2 57.00–58.00 $57.50 $499 -4.27
800–990 937 85-90% 24 63.00–73.00 $68.16 $639 —
1090 1090 85-90% 2 67.00 $67.00 $730 +3.77
1055–1160 1126 85-90% 11 82.00–87.00 $85.58 $964 —
1023–1205 1134 85-90% 10 74.00–83.00 $78.79 $893 —
1140–1220 1180 85-90% 2 89.50–90.00 $89.74 $1,059 +15.17
1090–1230 1188 85-90% 14 79.00–85.00 $81.81 $972 +7.24
1060–1306 1235 85-90% 23 72.00–83.00 $77.23 $954 -4.13
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1541–1595 1550 75-80% 6 89.50–90.50 $89.67 $1,390 +1.03
1572 1572 75-80% 3 87.00 $87.00 $1,368 -1.64
1550–1774 1696 75-80% 7 82.50–87.50 $83.73 $1,420 —
1545–1820 1711 75-80% 5 90.25–93.00 $91.42 $1,564 —
1815 1815 75-80% 1 71.00 $71.00 $1,289 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210–1480 1339 8 100.00–107.00 $101.79 $1,363 +13.57
1355–2215 1750 32 85.00–97.00 $92.66 $1,622 —
1545–2315 1791 47 98.00–107.00 $102.39 $1,834 —
1910–2370 2084 16 107.00–114.00 $109.69 $2,286 —
2500 2500 1 100.00 $100.00 $2,500 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2145 2145 1 90.00 $90.00 $1,930 —
2385 2385 2 106.00 $106.00 $2,528 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1035–1253 1139 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 85.00–94.00 $91.76 $1,045
910–1505 1189 (<2 yrs)Open 39 90.00–109.50 $98.83 $1,175
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1085–1095 1090 (<2 yrs)Open 2 92.50–101.00 $96.73 $1,054

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1119–1171 1143 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 25 1,225.00 $1,225.00
1286 1286 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 1,125.00 $1,125.00

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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.