Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 3, 2022

10,326 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $205.74/cwt +14.38 vs last sale · ≈ $1,066/hd at 518 lb · 553 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $199.09/cwt +9.85 vs last sale · ≈ $848/hd at 426 lb · 336 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $197.20/cwt +5.45 vs last sale · ≈ $1,134/hd at 575 lb · 271 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 10,326 8,679 24,095
Feeder cattle 5,530 4,221 12,115
Slaughter cattle 1,416 291 5,380
Replacement cattle 449 327 2,057

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Heifer calves all sold steady to 10.00 higher. Yearling heifers under 800 lbs sold steady to 3.00 higher, heifers over 800 lbs sold unevenly steady. A higher quality offering of all calves was noticed this week. Larger consignments of calves continue to be seen this week as more ranchers are starting to market spring born calves. Package sizes were larger this week which helped improved demand. Demand was mostly moderate for moderate to heavy offerings. Order buyers buying for packers showed good demand for very attractive packages of calves that could be fed hard to be marketed against the April contract. Market activity was moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold generally steady on breaking cows, boning cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 lower, lean cows sold steady to firm. Feeding cow demand was mostly moderate as packers remain aggressive as they buy cows to put away on feed for the fall. Feeding offerings sold weak as lighter slaughter demand and heavier supplies softened this class. Slaughter bulls sold steady to firm. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, 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
300–345 unweaned 307 13 212.00–240.00 $216.89 $666 +24.39
350–397 unweaned 381 88 207.00–238.00 $230.08 $877 +37.08
411–448 unweaned 427 177 205.00–227.00 $220.94 $943 —
450–499 unweaned 474 167 197.00–218.50 $207.16 $982 —
500–549 unweaned 518 553 189.00–216.50 $205.74 $1,066 —
553–599 unweaned 575 271 179.00–202.00 $197.20 $1,134 —
600–643 unweaned 619 215 179.50–203.00 $195.67 $1,211 —
650–675 unweaned 664 79 175.00–196.50 $186.59 $1,239 —
680 680 66 192.00 $192.00 $1,306 +5.36
707 fancy 707 28 195.50 $195.50 $1,382 —
703–745 unweaned 731 58 171.00–181.00 $175.60 $1,284 —
746 746 7 180.00 $180.00 $1,343 —
763 unweaned 763 6 164.00 $164.00 $1,251 —
770–773 770 83 175.00–183.00 $182.71 $1,407 +2.17
810–841 826 40 174.00–178.00 $176.63 $1,459 +1.56
854–885 856 34 170.00–176.50 $175.38 $1,501 -0.77
954–991 962 40 164.00–166.50 $166.03 $1,597 +0.17
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
358–385 unweaned 373 25 200.00–217.00 $212.05 $791 —
410–435 unweaned 427 3 192.00–192.50 $192.16 $821 —
455–499 unweaned 485 74 182.00–205.00 $193.05 $936 —
500–542 unweaned 521 28 179.00–193.00 $190.30 $991 —
558–593 unweaned 567 49 171.00–189.00 $182.43 $1,034 —
601–640 unweaned 609 42 163.00–184.00 $177.35 $1,080 —
655 unweaned 655 7 175.00 $175.00 $1,146 —
718 718 8 172.50 $172.50 $1,239 +8.05
843 843 4 165.00 $165.00 $1,391 +2.17
855–890 869 7 163.00–172.50 $166.55 $1,447 +3.61
924–930 926 15 160.50–164.50 $161.84 $1,499 +1.40
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 unweaned 425 4 187.00 $187.00 $795 —
484 unweaned 484 16 186.00 $186.00 $900 —
503–534 unweaned 525 7 186.00–187.50 $187.09 $982 —
525 525 3 178.00 $178.00 $934 —
550–570 unweaned 567 7 180.00–182.00 $180.28 $1,022 —
633 unweaned 633 8 157.00 $157.00 $994 —
671 unweaned 671 10 169.50 $169.50 $1,137 —
738 unweaned 738 4 145.00 $145.00 $1,070 —
1000 1000 13 165.50 $165.50 $1,655 -5.83
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
202 unweaned 202 21 137.50 $137.50 $278 —
408 unweaned 408 7 195.00 $195.00 $796 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
468 unweaned 468 8 170.00 $170.00 $796 —
521 unweaned 521 4 162.50 $162.50 $847 —
551 unweaned 551 14 161.00 $161.00 $887 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
248 unweaned 248 14 185.00 $185.00 $459 —
415–439 unweaned 429 7 157.50–182.00 $171.84 $737 —
488 unweaned 488 4 173.00 $173.00 $844 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 unweaned 435 3 188.00 $188.00 $818 —
488 unweaned 488 3 185.00 $185.00 $903 —
642 642 6 179.00 $179.00 $1,149 —
704 704 10 173.00 $173.00 $1,218 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323–345 unweaned 332 12 205.00–215.00 $209.75 $696 +39.75
354–384 unweaned 362 72 192.00–213.00 $207.51 $751 —
400–445 unweaned 426 336 186.00–214.00 $199.09 $848 —
450–499 unweaned 473 202 177.50–191.00 $183.58 $868 —
512 512 112 198.50 $198.50 $1,016 +28.64
504–547 unweaned 517 118 175.00–184.50 $180.25 $932 —
557–598 unweaned 580 229 169.00–184.00 $178.40 $1,035 —
608–647 unweaned 623 65 167.00–181.00 $176.57 $1,100 —
670–683 675 5 174.00–182.00 $178.76 $1,207 +7.71
675 unweaned 675 24 155.00 $155.00 $1,046 —
705–733 unweaned 717 9 150.00–164.00 $156.36 $1,121 —
705–748 727 98 170.00–181.50 $176.65 $1,284 +3.88
750–785 770 134 166.50–178.00 $171.57 $1,321 -3.80
824–845 827 68 164.00–170.00 $167.87 $1,388 -5.01
853–898 870 86 159.00–170.00 $165.92 $1,444 +1.67
906–943 929 58 157.00–165.00 $162.60 $1,511 +0.60
957–994 978 121 155.00–165.00 $163.15 $1,596 +4.42
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
240 unweaned 240 35 185.00 $185.00 $444 —
278 unweaned 278 6 196.00 $196.00 $545 —
320–343 unweaned 332 6 175.00–190.00 $182.76 $607 —
367–384 unweaned 381 17 194.50–207.50 $196.71 $749 —
420–446 unweaned 436 30 175.00–188.00 $181.04 $789 —
461–498 unweaned 485 76 167.00–176.00 $173.67 $842 —
513 513 6 204.00 $204.00 $1,047 +44.33
526–548 unweaned 539 14 166.00–178.00 $171.02 $922 —
564–577 unweaned 567 41 167.00 $167.00 $947 —
703–748 735 16 161.00–164.00 $163.03 $1,198 +6.03
753–793 782 11 161.00–164.50 $161.92 $1,266 +2.08
810 810 2 152.00 $152.00 $1,231 +0.82
880 880 3 155.00 $155.00 $1,364 -2.66
925 925 3 155.00 $155.00 $1,434 —
972 972 3 152.00 $152.00 $1,477 -1.70
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
433 unweaned 433 4 165.00 $165.00 $714 —
500–545 unweaned 534 8 155.00–175.00 $170.32 $910 —
640 unweaned 640 3 165.00 $165.00 $1,056 —
1005–1049 1016 60 154.00–162.50 $158.77 $1,613 —
1052–1099 1083 34 150.25–155.00 $152.33 $1,650 —
1100–1134 1122 21 149.00–150.00 $149.67 $1,679 +4.17
1146 1146 9 142.00 $142.00 $1,627 -3.50
1150 1150 1 149.00 $149.00 $1,714 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
444 unweaned 444 8 178.50 $178.50 $793 —
561 561 5 158.00 $158.00 $886 —
612–638 618 41 158.00–176.50 $169.56 $1,048 —
671–698 682 23 153.00–174.50 $166.34 $1,134 —
722 722 31 173.75 $173.75 $1,254 —
835 835 5 152.00 $152.00 $1,269 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
436 unweaned 436 16 167.00 $167.00 $728 —
505 unweaned 505 13 140.00 $140.00 $707 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
508 508 5 155.00 $155.00 $787 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 unweaned 330 3 209.00 $209.00 $690 —
335 335 2 205.00 $205.00 $687 —
357 unweaned 357 3 207.50 $207.50 $741 —
495 unweaned 495 2 180.00 $180.00 $891 —
518 unweaned 518 10 158.00 $158.00 $818 —
605–633 unweaned 626 4 154.00–180.00 $160.28 $1,003 —
660 unweaned 660 4 174.00 $174.00 $1,148 —
790 790 2 147.00 $147.00 $1,161 —
911 911 4 140.00 $140.00 $1,275 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
397 unweaned 397 3 187.50 $187.50 $744 —
410 unweaned 410 4 185.00 $185.00 $758 —
479 unweaned 479 4 173.00 $173.00 $829 —
852–855 853 4 128.00–134.00 $132.50 $1,130 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050 1050 1 118.00 $118.00 $1,239 —
1128–1130 1129 5 113.00–114.00 $113.60 $1,283 —
1150 1150 3 104.00 $104.00 $1,196 —
1255 1255 1 110.00 $110.00 $1,380 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1098 1098 6 110.50 $110.50 $1,213 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1171–1540 1342 80-85% 56 81.50–89.50 $85.46 $1,147 +22.46
1162–1513 1360 80-85% 43 65.00–77.75 $71.22 $969 —
1263–1745 1396 80-85% 98 63.00–73.50 $68.80 $960 —
1225–1660 1403 80-85% 128 70.50–84.00 $74.27 $1,042 —
1215–1645 1424 80-85% 315 73.00–83.00 $78.15 $1,113 —
1380–1705 1541 80-85% 9 79.00–85.50 $81.87 $1,262 +8.73
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
850–962 927 85-90% 6 58.00–71.00 $64.14 $595 —
940 940 85-90% 1 52.50 $52.50 $494 —
1015–1298 1143 85-90% 7 52.50–58.50 $55.74 $637 —
1150 1150 85-90% 1 85.00 $85.00 $978 —
1155 1155 85-90% 1 80.50 $80.50 $930 —
1060–1310 1195 85-90% 40 62.00–71.00 $67.02 $801 —
1057–1368 1222 85-90% 66 69.00–78.50 $72.64 $888 —
1040–1370 1223 85-90% 141 57.00–74.50 $65.30 $799 —
1217–1312 1254 85-90% 33 67.00–78.00 $74.12 $929 +10.41
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1507 1507 75-80% 9 85.50 $85.50 $1,288 —
1380–1715 1538 75-80% 23 78.50–82.50 $80.39 $1,236 —
1430–1710 1548 75-80% 30 83.00–85.50 $84.14 $1,302 —
1488–1898 1653 75-80% 7 85.50–88.50 $87.17 $1,441 +2.57
1660 1660 75-80% 1 67.00 $67.00 $1,112 -17.60
1450–1870 1698 75-80% 18 71.00–82.50 $78.50 $1,333 ±0.00

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1220–1540 1335 5 91.50–102.00 $95.89 $1,280 —
1275–1810 1428 12 76.00–95.00 $82.92 $1,184 +9.29
1323–2235 1686 40 72.00–90.50 $80.58 $1,359 —
1415–2395 1788 65 85.50–98.50 $91.54 $1,637 —
1415–2255 1929 19 97.00–103.50 $100.46 $1,938 —
YG1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
963 963 2 134.00 $134.00 $1,290 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
743–1050 thin fleshed 925 (<2 yrs)Open 7 85.00–99.00 $93.30 $863
730–1390 978 (<2 yrs)Open 194 84.00–120.00 $105.89 $1,036
1025 1025 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 75.00 $75.00 $769
853–1240 thin fleshed 1050 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 72.00–79.00 $75.90 $797
1057–1177 1097 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 15 77.00–82.00 $80.21 $880
950–1424 1134 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 117 78.00–99.00 $87.96 $997
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
980–1163 1117 (<2 yrs)Open 8 90.00–91.00 $90.22 $1,008
1140 1140 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 77.00 $77.00 $878
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
745–980 899 (<2 yrs)Open 7 80.00–99.00 $89.28 $803

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1047 thin fleshed 1047 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1100–1265 1131 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,260.00–1,310.00 $1,291.23
1130–1385 1259 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 10 975.00–1,050.00 $1,024.27
1271 1271 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,325.00 $1,325.00
1396 1396 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,200.00 $1,200.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
854 854 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 850.00 $850.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1040 1040 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 900.00 $900.00

↑ Back to top

Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
110–143 132 3 93.00–94.00 $93.28 $123 —
180 180 1 71.00 $71.00 $128 -10.13
183–195 183 52 84.00–85.00 $84.02 $154 +2.89
215–235 225 2 79.00–84.00 $81.61 $184 +0.02
225–240 235 3 74.00–75.00 $74.32 $175 -7.27
265–283 279 4 74.00–75.00 $74.24 $207 -2.76
350 350 1 69.00 $69.00 $242 —

↑ Back to top

Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
75 75 2 190.00 $190.00 $142 -38.21
140 140 2 207.50 $207.50 $290 -12.50
170 170 1 195.00 $195.00 $332 -23.77

↑ Back to top

Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
129 129 47 60.00 $60.00 $77 -5.23
141 141 14 63.00 $63.00 $89 -5.13
133–148 143 109 59.00–68.00 $65.99 $94 -2.14
150–168 156 6 71.00–74.00 $72.08 $112 -12.92
151–167 161 110 58.00–67.00 $63.94 $103 -1.83
160–177 169 114 59.00–66.00 $62.03 $105 -1.13
198 198 3 54.00 $54.00 $107 -9.16
208–229 225 21 53.00–57.00 $56.10 $126 -2.90
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
170 170 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 2 70.00 $70.00 —

↑ Back to top

Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
56–58 57 18 171.00–174.00 $172.36 $98 —
70 70 31 138.00 $138.00 $97 —
85–88 88 16 110.00 $110.00 $97 —
99 99 10 112.00 $112.00 $111 —

↑ Back to top

Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
109 109 14 65.00 $65.00 $71 —
138–145 144 23 73.00–77.00 $73.33 $106 —
164 164 8 68.00 $68.00 $112 —

↑ Back to top

Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
24 24 8 230.00 $230.00 $55 -15.00
25 25 2 100.00 $100.00 $25 -145.00
30 30 1 255.00 $255.00 $76 +10.00
33 33 4 110.00 $110.00 $36 -174.10
37 37 7 155.00 $155.00 $57 -129.10
37 37 5 317.50 $317.50 $117 +33.40
42 42 24 115.00 $115.00 $48 -60.96
43 43 2 265.00 $265.00 $114 +89.04
40–49 45 44 290.00–330.00 $305.65 $138 +44.64
45 45 2 255.00 $255.00 $115 -6.01
46–47 47 14 145.00–165.00 $154.89 $73 -165.39
52 52 6 145.00 $145.00 $75 -80.00
55 55 1 185.00 $185.00 $102 -40.00
56 56 5 235.00 $235.00 $132 -27.77
56–58 58 58 247.50–267.50 $250.18 $145 +22.68
60–68 61 12 225.00–235.00 $233.15 $142 +5.65
68–69 69 22 235.00–242.50 $241.83 $167 +27.49
75 75 15 225.00 $225.00 $169 +36.01
83 83 2 170.00 $170.00 $141 -58.13
80–88 84 13 215.00–235.00 $225.30 $189 -2.83
93 93 4 175.00 $175.00 $163 +15.00
93 93 2 215.00 $215.00 $200 +55.00
100 100 1 177.50 $177.50 $178 +27.50

↑ Back to top

Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
46–48 46 9 177.50–178.00 $177.61 $82 +19.72
52–57 54 61 174.00–181.50 $179.94 $97 +26.41
64–67 65 20 151.00–162.00 $159.68 $104 +12.58
71–79 74 462 127.00–146.00 $136.80 $101 +7.79
83–89 86 285 114.00–125.00 $122.18 $105 +1.37
91 fancy 91 227 128.50 $128.50 $117 —
90–99 93 284 104.00–118.50 $113.59 $106 +2.02
104 104 5 107.00 $107.00 $111 -8.62
101–108 105 190 113.50–116.00 $115.10 $121 -0.52
110–119 111 145 98.00–110.00 $105.16 $117 -9.74
126 126 4 99.00 $99.00 $125 -5.35
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
78–79 78 23 121.00–122.00 $121.74 $95 +13.74
89 89 6 108.00 $108.00 $96 ±0.00

↑ Back to top

Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
68 68 —— 2 160.00 $160.00 $109 -7.50
70 70 —— 1 150.00 $150.00 $105 -17.50
90 90 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 172.50 $172.50 $155 +20.00
90–94 93 —— 8 155.00–172.50 $161.39 $150 +8.89
110–128 112 —— 33 142.50–145.00 $144.74 $162 -5.87
100–127 119 —— 15 130.00–165.00 $136.92 $163 -13.69
150 150 —— 1 130.00 $130.00 $195 —

↑ Back to top

Sheep

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
115 115 42 59.50 $59.50 $68 —
124 124 17 57.00 $57.00 $71 —
135 135 3 62.00 $62.00 $84 —

↑ Back to top

Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
105 105 2 160.00 $160.00 $168 —
105–143 129 6 205.00–235.00 $216.87 $280 —
160 160 1 205.00 $205.00 $328 -28.81

↑ Back to top

Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
47 47 13 170.00 $170.00 $80 —
53 53 4 178.00 $178.00 $94 +3.00
60–65 64 17 160.00–171.00 $162.34 $104 +9.27
68 68 6 141.00 $141.00 $96 -29.00
71–74 71 54 127.00–145.00 $142.93 $101 -27.07
80 80 3 120.00 $120.00 $96 +0.91

↑ Back to top

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.