Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 12, 2022

7,150 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $182.55/cwt ≈ $1,310/hd at 718 lb · 169 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $167.63/cwt -3.75 vs last sale · ≈ $1,389/hd at 828 lb · 131 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $178.25/cwt +4.98 vs last sale · ≈ $1,381/hd at 775 lb · 128 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 7,150 2,526 5,675
Feeder cattle 1,841 1,978 3,347
Slaughter cattle 746 449 1,428
Replacement cattle 98 99 900

Compared to last week: All feeder steers were too lightly tested to develop a market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on the calves, and steady to weak on the yearlings. Heifer calves were too lightly tested to develop a market trend, lower undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers under 800 lbs. sold 3.00 to 4.00 higher. Yearling heifers over 800 lbs. were fully steady. Supply was mostly light to moderate with light to moderate demand. The quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Most calves and yearlings were offered in small packages. No load lots were seen this week. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold mostly on light to moderate demand and offerings. Breaking cows sold fully steady while boning cows sold steady to 3.00 lower. Lighter demand from western packers was seen this week allowing prices to slip. Feeding cows sold steady to 3.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold 5.00 to 7.00 lower. Cows returning to feed or rebreed sold steady to firm.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 unweaned 315 1 240.00 $240.00 $756 -7.18
375–396 unweaned 393 7 220.00–224.00 $223.45 $878 -0.43
409 unweaned 409 12 227.00 $227.00 $928 -5.89
477–479 unweaned 479 35 215.00–222.00 $216.59 $1,037 -5.34
501–549 unweaned 516 69 189.00–206.00 $201.64 $1,040 -14.67
566–575 unweaned 571 10 181.00–184.00 $182.49 $1,042 -2.97
603–627 unweaned 625 39 170.00–185.00 $183.60 $1,148 +4.60
700 unweaned 700 2 164.00 $164.00 $1,148
723–735 731 6 197.00–198.50 $198.01 $1,447 -1.03
790–799 798 13 180.00–183.50 $181.31 $1,447
821 821 11 183.50 $183.50 $1,507 +0.06
850–896 880 42 176.25–180.25 $177.63 $1,563 +2.96
916 916 6 172.00 $172.00 $1,576 -0.87
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 unweaned 345 3 215.00 $215.00 $742
445 unweaned 445 3 204.00 $204.00 $908 -8.92
530 unweaned 530 1 186.00 $186.00 $986 -16.00
600 600 1 209.00 $209.00 $1,254
659 659 32 208.00 $208.00 $1,371
740 740 2 192.00 $192.00 $1,421 +2.00
891 891 6 169.00 $169.00 $1,506 -0.66
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
469 unweaned 469 5 151.00 $151.00 $708
500 unweaned 500 4 145.00 $145.00 $725
998 998 6 142.00 $142.00 $1,417
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1033 1033 4 163.50 $163.50 $1,689 -2.61
1144 1144 4 147.00 $147.00 $1,682 -5.29
1158–1168 1164 5 146.50–147.50 $147.10 $1,712
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
763 763 10 175.00 $175.00 $1,335
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
563 563 5 197.00 $197.00 $1,109

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360–380 unweaned 370 17 180.00–210.00 $200.90 $743 -20.10
416–441 unweaned 427 31 176.00–197.00 $185.98 $794 -24.19
478–498 unweaned 492 17 173.00–185.00 $178.97 $881 -20.78
510–518 unweaned 517 25 160.00–166.00 $165.45 $855 -17.32
565 565 3 168.00 $168.00 $949
551–573 unweaned 567 24 145.00–161.00 $154.29 $875 -16.71
628 unweaned 628 3 153.00 $153.00 $961
680 unweaned 680 5 152.00 $152.00 $1,034
703 703 4 161.00 $161.00 $1,132
708–738 718 165 168.00–184.50 $183.07 $1,314
763–795 775 128 170.50–181.00 $178.25 $1,381 +4.98
817 817 6 164.00 $164.00 $1,340 -7.38
800–845 829 125 165.00–170.00 $167.80 $1,391 -3.58
851–898 869 100 164.00–170.00 $166.94 $1,451 -1.38
863–889 881 10 151.00–161.00 $155.76 $1,372 -12.56
913 913 2 169.00 $169.00 $1,543 +6.45
901–943 923 61 162.00–165.00 $164.53 $1,519 +1.98
944 944 21 155.75 $155.75 $1,470 -6.80
955–996 964 61 160.00–165.50 $163.11 $1,572 -0.65
985–988 986 14 149.00–152.50 $151.00 $1,489 -12.76
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
843–845 844 15 162.00–165.50 $164.57 $1,389
936 936 4 154.00 $154.00 $1,441
1006–1033 1012 20 157.50–160.50 $159.16 $1,611 -2.77
1001–1033 1014 15 147.00–155.50 $150.46 $1,526 -11.47
1035–1036 1036 7 144.00–146.00 $144.29 $1,495 -17.64
1056–1093 1084 36 151.25–156.00 $152.41 $1,652 -3.72
1097 1097 3 151.50 $151.50 $1,662 -4.63
1150–1155 1153 2 137.00–139.50 $138.25 $1,594 -9.25
1232 1232 5 130.00 $130.00 $1,602
1260 1260 3 131.00 $131.00 $1,651
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350 unweaned 350 5 180.00 $180.00 $630
463 unweaned 463 2 155.00 $155.00 $718
684–688 687 21 170.00–175.50 $171.73 $1,180
763 763 14 152.00 $152.00 $1,160
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
598 598 12 166.00 $166.00 $993
618–633 625 10 150.00–163.00 $155.44 $972
656 656 5 162.00 $162.00 $1,063
792 792 7 141.00 $141.00 $1,117
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
703–744 728 16 160.00–178.00 $171.50 $1,249
780–788 784 4 155.00–165.00 $159.97 $1,254
823 823 2 156.00 $156.00 $1,284
897 897 3 151.00 $151.00 $1,354
905 905 2 153.00 $153.00 $1,385 -6.71
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
518 518 4 141.00 $141.00 $730
614 614 7 144.00 $144.00 $884
686 686 12 131.00 $131.00 $899

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
298 unweaned 298 3 235.00 $235.00 $700
377 unweaned 377 5 211.00 $211.00 $795
440–446 unweaned 443 20 175.00–200.00 $186.33 $825
461 unweaned 461 4 170.00 $170.00 $784
507 507 3 162.00 $162.00 $821
535 unweaned 535 2 154.00 $154.00 $824
584 584 4 162.00 $162.00 $946
645–648 648 51 150.00–160.00 $158.63 $1,028
755 755 5 157.00 $157.00 $1,185
865–873 870 15 150.00–151.00 $150.40 $1,308
908–945 934 11 135.00–141.00 $138.86 $1,297
957–985 964 4 130.00–140.00 $132.55 $1,278
965 fancy 965 1 148.00 $148.00 $1,428
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000 1000 2 135.00 $135.00 $1,350 -30.00
1068 1068 2 117.00 $117.00 $1,250
1120–1130 1125 2 115.00–116.00 $115.50 $1,299
1160 1160 2 108.00 $108.00 $1,253
1200–1243 1231 7 108.50–113.00 $109.75 $1,351
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
771 771 6 134.00 $134.00 $1,033
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1079 1079 4 116.00 $116.00 $1,252

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Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1265–1623 1371 80-85% 42 74.00–81.50 $79.03 $1,084 -7.83
1115–1608 1440 80-85% 70 80.00–90.00 $84.55 $1,218 +17.55
1315–1645 1462 80-85% 15 91.00–94.50 $92.58 $1,354
1370–1760 1466 80-85% 29 72.00–81.00 $78.28 $1,148
1280–1703 1478 80-85% 50 80.00–86.50 $82.70 $1,222
1295–1623 1490 80-85% 8 87.00–90.00 $88.35 $1,316
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790–950 870 85-90% 2 75.00–75.50 $75.27 $655 +17.77
850–960 905 85-90% 2 56.00–60.00 $57.88 $524 -10.28
1000–1100 1050 85-90% 2 56.00–60.00 $58.10 $610
1015–1355 1171 85-90% 8 79.00–85.00 $81.94 $960 -7.80
455–1379 1184 85-90% 39 64.00–79.00 $72.21 $855 -9.60
908–1352 1211 85-90% 32 70.00–80.50 $77.26 $936 +0.03
1145–1275 1227 85-90% 5 77.50–81.00 $78.53 $964 +1.30
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1475 1475 75-80% 1 93.00 $93.00 $1,372
1515 1515 75-80% 1 85.00 $85.00 $1,288
1300–1698 1570 75-80% 11 88.00–90.50 $89.69 $1,408 +2.69
1585 1585 75-80% 1 89.00 $89.00 $1,411 +2.00
1585–1730 1658 75-80% 2 92.50 $92.50 $1,534
1365–1963 1781 75-80% 8 82.00–87.00 $84.43 $1,504

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1290 1290 1 84.00 $84.00 $1,084
1298 1298 9 104.50 $104.50 $1,356
1245–1428 1317 13 95.00–107.00 $100.18 $1,319 -1.61
1340–1382 1372 8 82.00–92.00 $83.35 $1,144
1510 1510 1 85.00 $85.00 $1,284
1245–2140 1599 47 71.00–92.00 $85.00 $1,359
1543–1723 1631 7 92.00–97.00 $95.49 $1,557
1375–2405 1760 111 91.00–104.00 $96.29 $1,695 +3.63
1675–1905 1790 2 102.50–103.00 $102.77 $1,840 +0.38
1645–2405 1958 37 97.00–114.00 $104.10 $2,038
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1730–2475 1986 4 95.00–106.00 $102.33 $2,032
2090–2475 2325 4 94.00–98.00 $96.45 $2,242
2600 2600 1 90.00 $90.00 $2,340
2710 2710 1 101.00 $101.00 $2,737

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
920–1455 1112 (<2 yrs)Open 43 94.00–113.50 $103.78 $1,154
860–1395 1128 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 19 85.00–100.00 $90.81 $1,024
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1218 1218 (<2 yrs)Open 2 95.50 $95.50 $1,163
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
870–1275 1073 (<2 yrs)Open 2 87.50–91.00 $88.92 $954

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1050–1298 1183 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 12 1,050.00–1,250.00 $1,175.07

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1018 1018 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,450.00 $1,450.00

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
130–145 142 13 86.00–96.00 $91.50 $130
155 155 1 96.00 $96.00 $149
160 160 1 62.00 $62.00 $99
165–195 179 8 89.00–93.00 $90.21 $161
160–195 182 7 82.00–85.00 $83.65 $152
200 200 1 87.50 $87.50 $175
205–245 225 2 73.00–76.00 $74.63 $168
215–233 226 15 75.00–84.00 $79.44 $180
255 255 4 68.00 $68.00 $173
270–275 273 2 75.00–78.00 $76.51 $209
310 310 1 65.00 $65.00 $202
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
165–198 186 Lambs (<1 yr)N/A 17 275.00–625.00 $463.28
200–245 212 Lambs (<1 yr)N/A 24 250.00–750.00 $484.08
275 275 Lambs (<1 yr)N/A 1 325.00 $325.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
157–195 182 Lambs (<1 yr)N/A 13 400.00–1,400.00 $885.25
211–231 223 Lambs (<1 yr)N/A 3 750.00–1,250.00 $1,075.04
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
170–185 178 Lambs (<1 yr)N/A 3 200.00–350.00 $285.05
205–215 210 Lambs (<1 yr)N/A 2 300.00 $300.00
280–290 285 Lambs (<1 yr)N/A 2 400.00–600.00 $498.25
305 305 Lambs (<1 yr)N/A 1 550.00 $550.00

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
85 85 Kids (<1 yr)N/A 2 252.50 $252.50 $215
125 125 1 200.00 $200.00 $250
160 160 2 190.00–192.50 $191.25 $306
160–185 173 2 200.00–225.00 $211.59 $366
200 200 1 177.50 $177.50 $355
205 205 1 210.00 $210.00 $430
N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
125 125 Kids (<1 yr)N/A 1 225.00 $225.00

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Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510 510 4 147.50 $147.50 $752
700–740 724 5 137.50 $137.50 $996

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
130–135 132 3 60.00–64.00 $62.63 $83
133–140 136 11 74.00–79.00 $75.56 $103
136 136 6 64.00 $64.00 $87
113–149 143 68 69.00–73.00 $70.82 $101
151 151 5 79.00 $79.00 $119
153–170 161 46 65.00–72.00 $67.94 $109
156–169 161 24 63.00–64.00 $63.61 $102
150–195 173 113 64.50–72.00 $68.50 $119
171–198 174 16 60.00–61.00 $60.86 $106
159–190 182 35 73.00–77.00 $74.66 $136
201–230 205 15 51.00–61.00 $59.50 $122
204–230 206 17 64.00–65.00 $64.93 $134
208 208 2 70.00 $70.00 $146
273–275 274 3 65.00–68.00 $67.00 $184
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
151 151 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 13 72.00 $72.00 $109
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
160 160 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 5 160.00 $160.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
121–139 128 Lambs (<1 yr)Open 3 150.00–175.00 $159.07
150–171 161 Lambs (<1 yr)Open 2 175.00–200.00 $188.32

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
37 37 9 202.50 $202.50 $75
72 72 72 145.00 $145.00 $104
83–88 88 26 121.00–127.00 $121.44 $107
92–95 94 25 106.00–106.50 $106.12 $100
111 111 16 98.00 $98.00 $109

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
90 90 1 82.00 $82.00 $74
160 160 1 101.00 $101.00 $162

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
113 113 21 84.00 $84.00 $95
121–125 121 10 65.00–67.00 $65.21 $79
188 188 2 79.00 $79.00 $149

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
25 25 1 300.00 $300.00 $75
29 29 21 280.00 $280.00 $81
33 33 5 267.50 $267.50 $88
38 38 2 195.00 $195.00 $74
38 38 5 167.50 $167.50 $64
40 40 40 302.50 $302.50 $121
41 41 15 145.00 $145.00 $59
43–45 44 5 167.50–182.50 $176.34 $78
43–45 44 3 250.00–280.00 $269.69 $119
46 46 8 297.50 $297.50 $137
49 49 10 290.00 $290.00 $142
50–51 51 6 292.50–295.00 $294.59 $150
51 51 5 145.00 $145.00 $74
50–55 54 41 280.00–290.00 $287.41 $155
55–57 57 13 235.00–267.50 $237.42 $135
60 60 2 130.00 $130.00 $78
60 60 4 190.00 $190.00 $114
63 63 2 175.00 $175.00 $110
60–69 64 104 265.00–287.50 $273.31 $175
60–67 65 9 242.50–257.50 $247.14 $161
70 70 1 195.00 $195.00 $136
75 75 27 267.50 $267.50 $201
75 75 2 201.00–207.50 $204.25 $153
80 80 1 175.00 $175.00 $140
80–85 81 8 247.50–262.50 $253.70 $205
93 93 3 175.00 $175.00 $163
95 95 38 247.50–259.00 $258.39 $245
103 103 3 207.50 $207.50 $214

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
52–56 53 19 173.00–188.00 $180.71 $96
61–66 62 59 155.00–173.00 $162.56 $101
70–79 75 375 119.00–153.00 $132.18 $99
82 82 15 107.00 $107.00 $88
80–89 85 1,067 107.00–122.00 $115.69 $98
91–99 95 432 100.00–113.00 $108.35 $103
100 100 12 96.00 $96.00 $96
100–109 105 462 98.00–111.50 $108.12 $114
110–113 112 97 105.00–109.00 $107.24 $120
121 121 12 94.50 $94.50 $114
122 122 9 99.00 $99.00 $121
130 fancy 130 30 109.00 $109.00 $142
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
48 48 12 150.00 $150.00 $72
67 67 50 138.00 $138.00 $92
73–78 76 21 114.00–122.50 $116.71 $89
86 86 23 102.00 $102.00 $88
113 113 6 95.00 $95.00 $107
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
105 105 11 97.00 $97.00 $102
112 112 5 97.00 $97.00 $109

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
60–63 62 4 132.50–160.00 $146.59 $91
65 65 Kids (<1 yr)Open 2 280.00 $280.00 $182
73 73 3 110.00 $110.00 $80
75 75 1 177.50 $177.50 $133
83 83 3 162.50 $162.50 $135
80–90 85 Kids (<1 yr)Open 4 220.00–260.00 $235.29 $200
99 99 16 132.50 $132.50 $131
100 100 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 125.00 $125.00 $125
110 110 1 90.00 $90.00 $99
125 125 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Open 1 130.00 $130.00 $162
120–148 126 9 125.00–130.00 $126.30 $159
120–140 128 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 160.00–172.50 $163.43 $209
131 131 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Open 6 170.00 $170.00 $223
135 135 3 170.00 $170.00 $230

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
69 69 4 200.00 $200.00 $138
79 79 16 187.50 $187.50 $148
95 95 2 185.00 $185.00 $176
105 105 1 130.00 $130.00 $136
135 135 3 237.50 $237.50 $321
175 175 1 265.00 $265.00 $464

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
55–56 56 5 168.00–175.00 $169.38 $95
60–67 62 149 156.00–195.00 $173.78 $108
71–79 73 25 126.00–150.00 $142.75 $104
82–84 83 35 112.00–122.00 $119.47 $99
95–98 97 8 103.00–107.00 $106.02 $103
107–145 113 6 100.50–104.00 $103.25 $117
130 130 1 123.00 $123.00 $160

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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.