Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 12, 2022

11,399 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 heifers $186.16/cwt -4.40 vs last sale · ≈ $994/hd at 534 lb · 336 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $188.70/cwt -2.95 vs last sale · ≈ $1,174/hd at 622 lb · 290 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $221.63/cwt -9.17 vs last sale · ≈ $1,045/hd at 472 lb · 273 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 11,399 17,136 13,342
Feeder cattle 4,907 8,009 6,964
Slaughter cattle 2,359 1,306 2,868
Replacement cattle 4,133 7,821 3,510

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves all sold unevenly steady. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold unevenly steady, heifers over 500 lbs sold 3.00-5.00 lower on a lower quality offering. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Quality varied greatly again this week as many sets of weaned calves were noted. High quality offerings continue to to sell on very good demand and have pushed higher in places again this week. Plain quality offerings continue to struggle to find buyers. Weather limited demand in places this week as a major winter storm caused transportation issues throughout the week. Overall demand for feeders was mixed. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for heavy offerings. Demand from packers was mostly light. Slaughter cows sold 1.00-4.00 lower on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Feeding cows sold steady to 1.00 lower on all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 lower. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 5.00-10.00 lower. Fewer buyers were seen for cows suitable to rebreed this week. With heavy snow seen in the cow belt from the last winter storm buyers out of state buyers showed light demand for these offerings.

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
277 277 3 289.00 $289.00 $801 —
325 unweaned 325 1 250.00 $250.00 $812 -15.15
320–332 329 30 262.50–290.00 $272.83 $898 —
358–373 369 23 260.00–274.00 $270.46 $998 +18.75
355–398 unweaned 387 17 235.00–255.00 $247.53 $958 -27.47
404–438 unweaned 424 26 235.00–250.00 $241.98 $1,026 -11.96
404–449 431 99 219.50–253.00 $232.31 $1,001 -6.99
450–488 462 110 220.00–235.00 $225.96 $1,044 -2.59
450–498 unweaned 478 163 196.00–227.00 $218.71 $1,045 -8.11
510–548 unweaned 530 77 184.00–209.00 $197.86 $1,049 -15.04
512–546 534 101 188.50–222.00 $202.62 $1,082 -11.70
552–593 unweaned 555 138 183.00–202.00 $198.94 $1,104 -1.98
554–596 575 104 184.00–207.00 $198.30 $1,140 +0.37
609 fancy 609 13 198.00 $198.00 $1,206 —
605–646 618 129 178.00–199.00 $191.14 $1,181 +10.14
600–648 unweaned 627 148 177.50–193.00 $185.75 $1,165 -3.59
651–681 664 79 177.50–186.50 $183.44 $1,218 -5.10
658–691 unweaned 669 70 165.00–178.50 $173.80 $1,163 -6.74
704 704 38 176.00 $176.00 $1,239 -1.90
702–729 unweaned 725 35 168.00–171.00 $170.23 $1,234 -11.22
781 781 4 168.00 $168.00 $1,312 -6.00
837 837 13 178.00 $178.00 $1,490 +6.92
951–964 953 69 169.50–174.50 $173.69 $1,655 —
999 999 7 160.00 $160.00 $1,598 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
328–343 unweaned 336 4 225.00–257.50 $240.89 $809 -16.61
370 unweaned 370 1 211.00 $211.00 $781 -22.27
392–394 392 25 217.50–229.00 $227.15 $890 -7.66
403–423 413 17 215.00–240.00 $221.03 $913 +0.07
408–435 unweaned 420 31 190.00–227.50 $209.21 $879 -17.05
464–486 477 20 192.50–210.00 $202.58 $966 -6.40
485–495 unweaned 493 15 195.00–199.00 $198.21 $977 -11.56
524–531 527 10 177.50–178.50 $178.10 $939 -17.31
523–547 unweaned 540 27 180.00–191.00 $183.32 $990 -6.64
563–568 unweaned 567 27 171.00–180.00 $178.01 $1,009 +1.58
577–578 577 9 177.50–180.00 $179.17 $1,034 -4.97
600–630 unweaned 621 7 170.00–173.00 $171.30 $1,064 -1.47
670 unweaned 670 1 162.00 $162.00 $1,085 -11.09
683–690 689 15 168.00–170.00 $169.74 $1,170 -9.26
827 827 6 163.00 $163.00 $1,348 -2.69
864–875 867 21 170.00–174.75 $173.38 $1,503 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
337–346 339 16 215.00–260.00 $248.53 $843 —
349 unweaned 349 4 207.50 $207.50 $724 —
357–395 389 37 210.00–256.50 $250.81 $976 +28.31
409–431 420 26 205.00–256.00 $232.55 $977 +8.89
519 519 41 205.00 $205.00 $1,064 —
661 661 7 167.50 $167.50 $1,107 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
634 634 32 162.00 $162.00 $1,027 —
871 871 8 169.00 $169.00 $1,472 —
990 990 11 155.00 $155.00 $1,534 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
391 391 7 202.00 $202.00 $790 —
455–457 unweaned 456 9 140.00–150.00 $143.32 $654 -46.68
642 642 6 152.00 $152.00 $976 —
693 693 6 155.00 $155.00 $1,074 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
374 374 13 199.00 $199.00 $744 -5.57
363–391 unweaned 388 33 210.00–215.50 $215.03 $834 +4.38
400–430 unweaned 426 42 180.00–215.00 $199.22 $849 -5.63
405–448 432 58 184.50–214.00 $193.06 $834 -10.76
452–466 458 78 181.00–210.00 $192.42 $881 -6.03
451–488 unweaned 464 160 175.00–208.00 $196.66 $913 -0.35
505–548 unweaned 533 240 169.00–196.50 $186.85 $996 -1.14
522–547 537 96 172.00–194.50 $184.42 $990 -5.85
550–585 561 87 167.50–185.00 $177.66 $997 -12.59
575 575 2 162.00 $162.00 $932 -4.91
555–598 unweaned 581 110 163.50–180.50 $169.21 $983 -9.10
600–637 unweaned 619 100 159.00–168.00 $164.74 $1,020 -2.50
605–648 621 87 162.50–170.00 $168.41 $1,046 -4.82
628 628 4 153.00 $153.00 $961 -20.23
654–673 unweaned 658 26 158.00–159.00 $158.88 $1,045 -3.85
679 679 5 160.00 $160.00 $1,086 +15.00
700–739 737 76 153.00–173.00 $172.25 $1,269 +15.25
744 unweaned 744 9 135.00 $135.00 $1,004 -19.00
868–895 885 27 154.50–166.50 $156.91 $1,389 -8.74
918 918 7 151.00 $151.00 $1,386 -10.83
961–996 973 53 151.50–152.50 $152.05 $1,479 -7.64
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325–338 330 12 195.00–197.50 $196.43 $648 -1.07
323–342 unweaned 331 18 170.00–195.00 $183.54 $608 -10.33
356–393 unweaned 373 35 160.00–190.00 $180.83 $674 -14.14
375–396 393 34 184.00–190.00 $185.46 $729 -2.80
404–409 unweaned 406 11 176.00–185.00 $179.30 $728 -8.48
404–431 416 23 165.00–182.50 $176.61 $735 -8.47
450–494 470 45 159.00–180.00 $169.27 $796 -12.61
451–493 unweaned 474 30 161.00–175.00 $170.15 $807 -0.08
502–543 524 35 154.00–165.00 $159.65 $837 -12.64
538–543 unweaned 540 12 150.00–162.00 $159.43 $861 -12.87
561–593 unweaned 582 28 137.50–166.00 $159.14 $926 -0.15
592 592 12 156.00 $156.00 $924 -10.76
617 617 5 150.00 $150.00 $926 -14.47
675 unweaned 675 2 149.00 $149.00 $1,006 —
803–835 823 22 150.00–155.00 $153.37 $1,262 +3.37
918 918 4 149.00 $149.00 $1,368 —
989 989 7 137.00 $137.00 $1,355 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
349 349 21 185.00–190.00 $187.38 $654 +2.38
358–373 361 24 187.50–188.50 $188.33 $680 +11.47
394 unweaned 394 11 172.00 $172.00 $678 —
400–432 unweaned 419 5 171.00 $171.00 $716 —
428 428 16 185.00 $185.00 $792 —
452–468 454 92 162.50–184.00 $165.39 $751 —
466 unweaned 466 4 175.00 $175.00 $816 —
697 697 5 148.00 $148.00 $1,032 —
828 828 9 146.00 $146.00 $1,209 —
916 916 4 132.00 $132.00 $1,209 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
351–352 351 46 142.50–167.50 $145.22 $510 —
496 unweaned 496 5 155.00 $155.00 $769 —
667 667 25 150.50 $150.50 $1,004 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
474 unweaned 474 13 174.00 $174.00 $825 -7.00
594 unweaned 594 5 146.00 $146.00 $867 —
1059–1076 1069 23 137.00–144.00 $141.29 $1,510 -9.92
1163–1198 1191 15 131.00–133.00 $131.39 $1,565 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
493 493 8 149.00 $149.00 $735 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1044 1044 5 142.00 $142.00 $1,482 -5.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
391 391 5 212.50 $212.50 $831 —
535 535 15 130.00 $130.00 $696 +20.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
382 unweaned 382 3 192.50 $192.50 $735 —
593 unweaned 593 4 171.00 $171.00 $1,014 —
684 unweaned 684 8 163.50 $163.50 $1,118 —
975 975 1 111.00 $111.00 $1,082 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415–449 unweaned 434 7 210.00–230.00 $218.19 $947 -16.81
458 458 4 192.00 $192.00 $879 +3.48
522 unweaned 522 3 166.00 $166.00 $867 -19.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1088 1088 6 107.50 $107.50 $1,170 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
514 514 6 147.50 $147.50 $758 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
681–975 739 85-90% 14 30.00–42.50 $33.58 $248 —
835–998 913 85-90% 27 39.00–54.00 $46.57 $425 +2.33
940–995 968 85-90% 7 51.00–57.00 $53.40 $517 +14.21
1015–1395 1162 85-90% 29 30.00–46.00 $39.50 $459 -12.73
1000–1380 1166 85-90% 210 45.00–59.00 $52.47 $612 +0.24
1105–1335 1187 85-90% 10 67.00–74.00 $70.24 $834 +16.93
835–1370 1194 85-90% 256 47.00–59.00 $53.85 $643 +0.54
132–1432 1231 85-90% 115 55.00–63.50 $58.94 $726 -0.54
855–1365 1236 85-90% 288 55.00–65.50 $58.87 $728 -0.61
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1078 1078 80-85% 10 44.00 $44.00 $474 —
1225–1600 1393 80-85% 177 50.50–63.00 $57.23 $797 -2.42
1255–1615 1393 80-85% 178 51.50–64.00 $59.47 $828 -0.18
1250–1668 1395 80-85% 254 63.50–75.00 $68.31 $953 +8.66
1335–1695 1480 80-85% 24 61.00–70.00 $65.28 $966 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1402 1402 75-80% 3 71.50 $71.50 $1,002 —
1515 1515 75-80% 1 79.25 $79.25 $1,201 —
1565 1565 75-80% 1 67.00 $67.00 $1,049 -3.08
1459–1795 1597 75-80% 48 57.50–68.50 $64.04 $1,023 —
1468–1705 1626 75-80% 28 68.50–78.25 $71.29 $1,159 +15.79

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105–1927 1683 37 85.00–93.50 $88.12 $1,483 +6.12
1380–2030 1696 84 69.00–89.00 $80.28 $1,362 -1.72
1400–2340 1832 31 63.00–86.50 $77.04 $1,411 —
1541–2440 1906 39 84.50–95.50 $88.62 $1,689 —
1850–1979 1941 26 90.00–94.00 $92.74 $1,800 —
2000 2000 1 82.00 $82.00 $1,640 —
1845–2395 2085 3 95.00–100.00 $98.01 $2,044 —
2435 2435 1 92.00 $92.00 $2,240 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
791–815 thin fleshed 796 (<2 yrs)Open 5 87.50–103.00 $90.67 $722
755–1223 978 (<2 yrs)Open 284 75.50–115.00 $96.95 $948
800–1400 1114 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 154 7.00–95.00 $72.74 $810
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
780–1095 938 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 60.00–72.50 $65.20 $612
855–1066 970 (<2 yrs)Open 13 72.00–81.00 $77.44 $751
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1041 1041 (<2 yrs)Open 11 78.00 $78.00

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1130 thin fleshed 1130 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,400.00 $1,400.00
1020–1214 1192 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 9 1,150.00–1,200.00 $1,154.75
1044–1488 1192 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 9 1,200.00–1,485.00 $1,366.41
1063–1374 1201 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 151 1,500.00–1,885.00 $1,767.42
1104–1351 1211 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 117 1,200.00–1,475.00 $1,353.74
1251 thin fleshed 1251 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 800.00 $800.00
1064–1664 1253 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 214 1,500.00–2,000.00 $1,834.52
1233–1318 thin fleshed 1286 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 32 825.00–910.00 $869.83
1199–1393 thin fleshed 1291 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 20 800.00–875.00 $847.57
12–1499 1292 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 47 850.00–1,210.00 $1,115.29
1235–1319 thin fleshed 1299 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 24 875.00–950.00 $923.69
1320–1355 1337 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 22 800.00–900.00 $866.37
1190–1577 1340 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 54 1,300.00–1,550.00 $1,460.26
1121–1622 1364 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 358 910.00–1,375.00 $1,034.73
1098–1502 1371 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 199 1,100.00–1,525.00 $1,261.60
1251–1645 1378 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 85 1,200.00–1,950.00 $1,610.76
1264–1609 1387 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 102 925.00–1,125.00 $986.62
1330–1625 1413 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 174 1,025.00–1,400.00 $1,285.96
1237–1514 1430 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 42 975.00–1,300.00 $1,196.85
1519 1519 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,325.00 $1,325.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1001–1343 1145 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 8 1,235.00–1,325.00 $1,300.76
1145 thin fleshed 1145 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 650.00 $650.00
1193 thin fleshed 1193 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 11 750.00 $750.00
1270 1270 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 17 835.00 $835.00
1265–1310 1272 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 31 1,050.00–1,460.00 $1,391.91
1373 1373 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 8 950.00 $950.00
1397–1561 1425 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 31 1,050.00–1,200.00 $1,082.03
1472 1472 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 13 1,360.00 $1,360.00
1487 1487 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 7 1,160.00 $1,160.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1067 1067 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 22 960.00 $960.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1282 1282 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 59.50 $59.50 $763

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
942–979 953 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 164 1,600.00–1,750.00 $1,631.33
947–968 953 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 110 1,435.00–1,635.00 $1,597.16
943–1041 967 (<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 23 1,250.00–1,400.00 $1,386.81
908–1120 982 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 491 1,550.00–1,835.00 $1,695.12
1013 1013 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,360.00 $1,360.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
839 839 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 65 1,400.00 $1,400.00
799–975 858 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 101 1,335.00–1,450.00 $1,413.68
874–929 895 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 38 1,400.00–1,475.00 $1,442.38

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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.