Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 10, 2022

11,536 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 $199.02/cwt -6.72 vs last sale · ≈ $1,047/hd at 526 lb · 969 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $189.27/cwt -7.93 vs last sale · ≈ $1,086/hd at 574 lb · 527 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $187.14/cwt +3.56 vs last sale · ≈ $898/hd at 480 lb · 525 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 11,536 10,326 18,874
Feeder cattle 8,085 5,530 11,405
Slaughter cattle 2,292 1,416 4,859
Replacement cattle 1,159 449 2,610

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 500 lbs sold mostly steady to 10.00 higher, steer calves over 500 lbs sold 3.00-9.00 lower. Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed on a higher quality offering. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold steady to 2.00 higher, heifer calves over 500 lbs sold mostly 5.00-9.00 lower. Yearling heifers sold steady to 2.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was average to attractive. More market participants were seen this week as farmer feeders were active in buying light calves. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand and offerings. Packers showed light demand for slaughter cows this week and opted to feed most of the high quality cows in the offering. Many wet bagged cows were seen and demand for these offerings was mostly light. Slaughter cows sold 1.00-3.00 lower on all offerings. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower as lighter slaughter demand allowed feeding cow prices to fall as well. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00-3.00 higher. Packers purchased a portion of the bull offering to feed, and with a limited offering seen the remaining bulls sold higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher. Good demand was seen for rebreed offerings as several order buyers were active throughout the week buying loads.

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
300–346 unweaned 331 57 225.00–248.00 $235.54 $780 +18.65
341 fancy 341 4 271.00 $271.00 $924 —
350–398 unweaned 381 138 215.00–250.00 $228.21 $869 -1.87
402–449 unweaned 425 320 203.00–234.00 $222.20 $944 +1.26
450–493 unweaned 466 237 190.50–229.00 $213.10 $993 +5.94
516 516 18 197.00 $197.00 $1,017 —
500–549 unweaned 526 943 184.50–213.50 $199.19 $1,048 -6.55
534 534 8 183.00 $183.00 $977 —
550–595 unweaned 573 507 181.00–199.50 $189.54 $1,086 -7.66
589 589 8 180.00 $180.00 $1,060 —
598 598 12 184.00 $184.00 $1,100 —
608 608 28 182.00 $182.00 $1,107 —
605–647 unweaned 626 372 177.00–190.50 $186.37 $1,167 -9.30
656–698 unweaned 673 244 175.00–187.50 $182.39 $1,227 -4.20
684 684 20 186.00 $186.00 $1,272 -6.00
700–709 706 7 162.50–169.00 $164.34 $1,160 —
703–745 unweaned 722 19 162.00–179.50 $171.63 $1,239 -3.97
727 727 20 186.00 $186.00 $1,352 +6.00
756 unweaned 756 7 163.00 $163.00 $1,232 -1.00
784–791 787 19 177.00–180.50 $178.83 $1,407 -3.88
798 798 2 167.00 $167.00 $1,333 -15.71
803–837 834 56 174.00–181.00 $180.40 $1,505 +3.77
848 848 8 171.00 $171.00 $1,450 -5.63
875–892 881 24 170.50–175.50 $172.10 $1,516 -3.28
916–937 933 34 166.00–174.50 $172.72 $1,611 —
959–982 976 35 162.00–168.00 $165.40 $1,614 -0.63
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
297 unweaned 297 5 225.00 $225.00 $668 —
300–327 unweaned 321 11 214.00–225.00 $215.21 $691 —
355–396 unweaned 372 40 202.50–215.00 $212.87 $792 +0.82
400–449 unweaned 430 58 195.00–217.00 $204.08 $878 +11.92
452–498 unweaned 479 68 178.00–204.00 $194.03 $929 +0.98
509–548 unweaned 534 52 180.00–195.00 $187.51 $1,001 -2.79
552–598 unweaned 575 49 165.00–189.50 $177.03 $1,018 -5.40
605–648 unweaned 636 38 157.00–174.00 $165.58 $1,053 -11.77
668 668 7 176.00 $176.00 $1,176 —
668–685 unweaned 676 19 167.00–174.00 $170.62 $1,153 -4.38
725–740 736 12 174.00–179.50 $178.15 $1,311 +5.65
755–778 774 13 162.50–174.50 $164.30 $1,272 —
910 910 5 169.00 $169.00 $1,538 +7.16
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
553–578 unweaned 568 9 162.50–180.00 $171.35 $973 -8.93
616–623 unweaned 619 21 170.00 $170.00 $1,052 +13.00
668 668 2 158.00 $158.00 $1,055 —
698 unweaned 698 8 172.00 $172.00 $1,201 +2.50
725–746 unweaned 742 14 156.00–166.00 $163.90 $1,216 +18.90
773–794 unweaned 789 11 148.00–162.00 $150.94 $1,191 —
1047 1047 41 145.00 $145.00 $1,518 —
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
438 438 15 151.50 $151.50 $664 —
498 498 17 148.00 $148.00 $737 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
531 531 9 185.00 $185.00 $982 —
650–665 659 14 161.00–172.00 $165.65 $1,092 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383 unweaned 383 7 182.50 $182.50 $699 —
845 845 2 152.00 $152.00 $1,284 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
393 unweaned 393 8 175.00 $175.00 $688 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1023 1023 6 158.00 $158.00 $1,616 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
316–348 unweaned 326 45 201.00–230.00 $209.50 $683 -0.25
353–392 unweaned 377 126 194.00–219.00 $205.21 $774 -2.30
395 395 9 205.50 $205.50 $812 —
400–449 unweaned 427 268 180.00–217.00 $199.15 $850 +0.06
464–469 fancy 469 60 197.50–198.00 $197.97 $928 —
452–499 unweaned 481 465 178.50–195.00 $185.74 $893 +2.16
500–546 unweaned 526 480 159.00–186.00 $175.01 $921 -5.24
551–599 unweaned 573 269 162.00–179.00 $171.04 $980 -7.36
591 591 13 170.50 $170.50 $1,008 —
600–648 unweaned 619 137 157.00–173.50 $167.16 $1,035 -9.41
650 fancy 650 17 170.00 $170.00 $1,105 —
650–675 unweaned 667 11 155.00–160.00 $157.61 $1,051 +2.61
723 unweaned 723 3 164.00 $164.00 $1,186 +7.64
703–735 730 40 169.00–173.50 $172.49 $1,259 -4.16
750 750 14 155.00 $155.00 $1,162 -16.57
750–770 758 33 166.00–173.50 $170.47 $1,292 -1.10
821 821 8 160.00 $160.00 $1,314 -7.87
805–846 837 42 166.50–169.00 $167.12 $1,399 -0.75
862–896 884 33 160.00–165.00 $162.48 $1,436 -3.44
910–933 921 79 162.50–163.50 $162.84 $1,500 +0.24
955–995 971 49 156.00–164.50 $161.47 $1,568 -1.68
980 980 30 143.00 $143.00 $1,401 -20.15
1075 1075 2 144.00 $144.00 $1,548 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
316–345 unweaned 335 49 201.00–211.00 $206.95 $693 +24.19
350–390 unweaned 367 35 180.00–200.00 $193.13 $709 -3.58
403–449 unweaned 439 76 165.00–184.00 $180.49 $792 -0.55
462 462 3 166.00 $166.00 $767 —
458–499 unweaned 474 29 150.00–181.00 $171.56 $813 -2.11
508 508 4 158.00 $158.00 $803 -46.00
500–540 unweaned 526 27 155.00–167.00 $161.59 $850 -9.43
553–599 unweaned 591 59 152.00–166.50 $161.80 $956 -5.20
611 unweaned 611 4 153.00 $153.00 $935 —
685 unweaned 685 2 154.00 $154.00 $1,055 —
778 778 3 164.50 $164.50 $1,280 +2.58
849 849 4 159.00 $159.00 $1,350 —
875 875 3 147.00 $147.00 $1,286 -8.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510–535 unweaned 531 19 173.00–175.00 $173.30 $920 +2.98
571–577 unweaned 573 12 150.00–162.00 $158.98 $911 —
628 unweaned 628 3 142.00 $142.00 $892 -23.00
681–693 unweaned 684 8 156.00 $156.00 $1,067 —
1018–1035 1025 29 152.00–158.00 $156.82 $1,607 -1.95
1059–1068 1062 9 145.00–146.00 $145.66 $1,547 -6.67
1100 1100 1 153.50 $153.50 $1,688 +3.83
1124 1124 5 144.50 $144.50 $1,624 -5.17
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
605 605 61 176.00 $176.00 $1,065 +6.44
668–680 677 14 162.00–167.00 $163.06 $1,104 -3.28
Small 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
388 388 14 138.00 $138.00 $535 —
427 427 10 143.50 $143.50 $613 —
477 477 20 140.00 $140.00 $668 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
512 512 15 152.50 $152.50 $781 -2.50
579 579 8 157.00 $157.00 $909 —
659 659 17 155.00 $155.00 $1,021 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
306 unweaned 306 5 180.00 $180.00 $551 —
453–468 unweaned 461 8 155.00–159.00 $157.03 $724 —
513 unweaned 513 5 149.00 $149.00 $764 —
805 805 6 157.00 $157.00 $1,264 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
921 921 16 145.00 $145.00 $1,335 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
321 unweaned 321 9 100.00 $100.00 $321 —
399 399 7 100.00 $100.00 $399 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
313 unweaned 313 2 232.50 $232.50 $728 +23.50
357 unweaned 357 10 221.00 $221.00 $789 +13.50
402–448 unweaned 425 9 190.00–220.00 $207.14 $880 —
508–521 unweaned 520 41 185.00–189.00 $185.57 $965 +27.57
569–598 unweaned 573 34 169.00–181.00 $179.16 $1,027 —
620–628 unweaned 622 7 156.00–164.00 $161.69 $1,006 +1.41
660–678 unweaned 676 14 146.00–150.00 $148.21 $1,002 -25.79
818 818 3 137.00 $137.00 $1,121 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1060 1060 3 111.00 $111.00 $1,177 -7.00
1107–1109 1108 11 107.00–126.25 $119.24 $1,321 +5.64
1180 1180 1 101.50 $101.50 $1,198 -2.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
398 unweaned 398 2 202.00 $202.00 $804 +14.50
525–538 unweaned 536 8 173.00–175.00 $173.24 $929 —
925 925 1 111.00 $111.00 $1,027 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100 1100 1 102.00 $102.00 $1,122 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
904–930 909 85-90% 5 68.00–73.00 $69.02 $627 +4.88
720–993 921 85-90% 30 52.00–64.00 $58.46 $538 -5.68
1038–1225 1091 85-90% 16 42.50–53.50 $50.11 $547 —
975–1301 1194 85-90% 142 65.00–77.50 $70.63 $843 +3.61
1000–1445 1197 85-90% 317 51.00–68.50 $60.12 $720 -6.90
885–1355 1199 85-90% 170 51.00–68.50 $60.18 $722 -6.84
1040–1425 1209 85-90% 306 65.00–76.50 $69.54 $841 -3.10
1180–1255 1220 85-90% 5 79.50–84.00 $81.19 $991 +8.55
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1220–1810 1387 80-85% 153 67.00–77.50 $71.08 $986 +2.28
1242–1570 1390 80-85% 87 56.00–72.00 $66.45 $924 -2.35
1196–1611 1395 80-85% 336 67.00–81.00 $74.26 $1,036 +5.46
1276–1695 1404 80-85% 174 56.00–70.50 $63.40 $890 -10.87
1250–1558 1419 80-85% 43 78.00–84.00 $81.05 $1,150 +2.90
1400–1605 1476 80-85% 23 77.00–86.50 $80.95 $1,195 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1455–1545 1526 75-80% 18 79.50–82.00 $81.28 $1,240 +0.89
1530 1530 75-80% 3 85.50 $85.50 $1,308 +5.11
1455–1955 1563 75-80% 41 78.00–84.00 $81.88 $1,280 —
1560–1599 1593 75-80% 6 73.00–77.00 $73.65 $1,173 —
1471–1995 1612 75-80% 74 71.00–78.00 $75.08 $1,210 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1768 1768 65-75% 2 84.00 $84.00 $1,485 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
857 857 3 71.00 $71.00 $608 —
1085–1650 1405 8 77.00–88.50 $83.84 $1,178 +0.92
1120–2095 1574 32 86.00–102.00 $93.85 $1,477 —
1420–2215 1683 22 73.00–87.00 $81.57 $1,373 +0.99
1588–2065 1777 19 99.50–103.50 $102.30 $1,818 +10.76
1400–2095 1804 45 87.00–98.00 $94.62 $1,707 —
1880 1880 1 96.00 $96.00 $1,805 —
1730–2200 2015 14 98.00–108.00 $102.24 $2,060 —
2560 2560 1 81.00 $81.00 $2,074 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
690 thin fleshed 690 (<2 yrs)Open 1 104.00 $104.00 $718
705–1285 965 (<2 yrs)Open 379 90.00–122.00 $108.93 $1,051
790–1475 1066 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 229 70.00–100.00 $87.34 $931
1048–1236 1133 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 22 66.00–70.00 $68.16 $772
1090–1245 thin fleshed 1160 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 65.00–76.00 $70.50 $818
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
845–895 870 (<2 yrs)Open 2 80.00–100.00 $90.29 $786
975–1210 1070 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 14 57.00–73.00 $66.37 $710
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1265–1330 1298 (<2 yrs)Open 2 74.50–87.00 $80.91 $1,050
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1110 1110 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 58.00 $58.00 $644

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1101–1113 1106 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 7 1,200.00–1,350.00 $1,264.68
1055–1330 1215 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 17 1,200.00–1,350.00 $1,306.30
1179–1487 1299 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 29 1,175.00–1,675.00 $1,455.76
1249–1397 1309 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 35 1,025.00–1,200.00 $1,066.12
1680 1680 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,250.00 $1,250.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1280 1280 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,250.00 $1,250.00 $16,000
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1063 1063 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,075.00 $1,075.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1033 1033 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,325.00 $1,325.00
1034 1034 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,410.00 $1,410.00

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Dairy Steers

Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
889 889 6 47.00 $47.00 $418 —
Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
970 970 1 60.00 $60.00 $582 —
1047 1047 3 60.00 $60.00 $628 —

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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.