Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 9, 2023

10,893 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 $236.89/cwt +13.04 vs last sale · ≈ $1,227/hd at 518 lb · 535 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $207.66/cwt +5.68 vs last sale · ≈ $1,286/hd at 619 lb · 534 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $209.28/cwt +4.42 vs last sale · ≈ $982/hd at 469 lb · 483 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 10,893 5,523 14,168
Feeder cattle 7,302 4,163 9,942
Slaughter cattle 1,513 1,014 2,607
Replacement cattle 2,078 346 1,619

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 500 lbs sold mostly 5.00 to 10.00 higher, steers 500-699 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher, with instaces of 12.00-16.00 higher seen at times, steers over 700 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold mostly steady to 10.00 higher, heifers 500-599 lbs sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher, heifers over 750 lbs sold steady to firm. Quality this week was average to very attractive. Many sets of weaned calves were noted this week. Weaned offerings were mostly attractive to very attractive this week. Demand for grass cattle continues to be very good, especially for California buyers as rain and improved drought conditions have helped improve buyer intrest. A very large buyer pool was seen this week and market activity was mostly active as a result. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Eastern packers showed lighter demand for slaughter cows this week, however western buyers continue to show good demand for slaughter cows. Feeding cow demand was mostly moderate to good this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower on all classes. Feeding cows sold generally steady. Slaughter bulls sold steady to weak. Young age cows suiable to feed or rebreed sold steady. A large pool of bred cows was seen this week demand was mostly moderate.

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
329–341 337 20 260.00–282.50 $275.92 $930 —
380 unweaned 380 1 255.00 $255.00 $969 —
353–394 385 67 262.50–291.00 $281.74 $1,085 +20.12
405–447 435 176 245.00–278.50 $267.87 $1,165 +18.41
430–439 unweaned 439 24 250.00–253.00 $250.12 $1,098 —
450–494 471 195 231.00–277.00 $249.36 $1,174 +11.57
490 unweaned 490 2 225.00 $225.00 $1,102 —
501–518 fancy 508 151 252.00–253.00 $252.57 $1,283 —
509 unweaned 509 11 217.50 $217.50 $1,107 -14.50
500–549 522 373 214.00–249.00 $231.11 $1,206 +8.10
567 unweaned 567 21 205.00 $205.00 $1,162 -11.12
550–593 574 404 190.00–223.00 $214.12 $1,229 +2.47
586 fancy 586 4 229.00 $229.00 $1,342 —
604 604 5 188.00 $188.00 $1,136 -13.68
601–624 fancy 615 145 214.00–223.50 $216.23 $1,330 —
600–647 621 380 187.00–214.00 $204.79 $1,272 +3.11
635 unweaned 635 4 194.00 $194.00 $1,232 -15.50
653–697 675 243 179.00–200.50 $192.51 $1,299 +3.45
713 unweaned 713 6 181.00 $181.00 $1,291 —
701–749 734 164 180.00–193.00 $186.62 $1,370 -1.12
802–813 811 92 174.00–180.50 $178.99 $1,452 +1.95
850 850 3 172.00 $172.00 $1,462 —
965 965 4 159.00 $159.00 $1,534 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–313 310 20 262.50–271.00 $265.85 $824 +30.89
326–345 unweaned 332 6 242.50–255.00 $246.83 $819 —
370 unweaned 370 2 245.00 $245.00 $906 —
350–389 382 15 240.00–264.00 $254.19 $971 +16.99
415 unweaned 415 18 248.00 $248.00 $1,029 —
412–447 435 45 227.50–258.00 $249.99 $1,087 +21.07
460 unweaned 460 3 220.00 $220.00 $1,012 +9.00
458–493 483 36 213.00–245.00 $232.73 $1,124 +23.02
500–545 521 63 197.50–220.00 $208.78 $1,088 +10.00
555–583 566 46 189.00–194.00 $190.60 $1,079 -3.89
603–649 638 70 176.00–194.00 $183.52 $1,171 +2.95
656 unweaned 656 12 175.00–177.00 $175.83 $1,153 —
676–695 690 40 165.00–182.00 $168.73 $1,164 -13.52
700–744 736 14 170.00–178.00 $174.50 $1,284 +7.05
750 750 2 171.00 $171.00 $1,282 +1.25
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
493 493 4 200.00 $200.00 $986 —
496 unweaned 496 6 185.00 $185.00 $918 —
567 unweaned 567 21 185.00 $185.00 $1,049 —
581 581 4 175.00 $175.00 $1,017 ±0.00
646 646 7 170.00 $170.00 $1,098 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
449 449 4 225.00 $225.00 $1,010 —
535 535 3 181.00 $181.00 $968 —
629 629 8 178.00 $178.00 $1,120 +0.32
832 832 3 163.00 $163.00 $1,356 -3.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
329 329 8 265.00 $265.00 $872 —
738 738 10 176.00 $176.00 $1,299 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
426 426 13 170.00 $170.00 $724 —
517 517 3 175.00 $175.00 $905 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318–329 324 13 215.00–219.00 $216.81 $702 +3.79
357–395 372 136 207.50–225.00 $221.91 $826 +21.59
402–447 429 415 201.00–224.00 $215.00 $922 +4.18
405–445 unweaned 433 16 205.00–213.00 $212.06 $918 +6.06
450–499 469 454 193.00–219.00 $210.09 $985 +4.41
460–486 unweaned 470 29 192.00–198.50 $196.68 $924 -3.21
500–544 525 383 189.00–205.50 $198.07 $1,040 +0.89
515–540 unweaned 538 52 181.50–183.00 $181.61 $977 +6.61
559–576 fancy 570 83 195.50–199.50 $197.78 $1,127 —
550–597 575 361 166.00–193.00 $187.24 $1,077 -0.29
602–610 fancy 608 54 190.50–195.00 $192.31 $1,169 +5.31
608 unweaned 608 3 164.00 $164.00 $997 —
603–648 627 185 166.50–189.00 $181.51 $1,138 +6.31
660–698 686 52 162.50–175.00 $170.05 $1,167 +0.93
697 697 5 150.00 $150.00 $1,046 -19.12
700–748 719 64 160.00–170.50 $168.22 $1,210 +5.18
753–766 760 9 164.50–170.00 $166.92 $1,269 +5.69
806–844 824 21 152.00–165.00 $158.66 $1,307 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
305–340 321 20 195.00–212.50 $205.28 $659 —
341 unweaned 341 4 218.00 $218.00 $743 —
366–375 367 16 205.00–208.00 $207.62 $762 +2.57
395 unweaned 395 18 204.00 $204.00 $806 —
400–415 409 20 195.00–210.00 $199.67 $817 -0.88
468–499 484 43 176.00–194.00 $187.79 $909 -8.39
510 unweaned 510 2 202.00 $202.00 $1,030 —
504–544 516 52 174.00–190.00 $183.84 $949 +10.41
550–597 581 51 164.00–181.00 $172.37 $1,001 +1.56
613–641 635 48 161.00–176.50 $171.84 $1,091 +8.38
668 unweaned 668 8 148.00 $148.00 $989 —
660–683 672 8 154.00–165.00 $159.59 $1,072 +4.89
718–735 730 7 143.00–156.00 $146.65 $1,071 -4.22
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
357–359 358 14 195.00–210.00 $201.45 $721 -4.55
425 425 22 207.50 $207.50 $882 —
460–497 479 10 175.00–180.00 $176.56 $846 -14.21
606–644 617 28 168.50–170.00 $169.49 $1,046 +4.49
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 2 185.00 $185.00 $666 —
409 409 6 175.00 $175.00 $716 —
467 467 6 161.00 $161.00 $752 —
511 unweaned 511 28 149.00 $149.00 $761 —
540 540 2 167.00 $167.00 $902 —
596 596 9 158.00 $158.00 $942 -1.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 8 180.00 $180.00 $828 —
511 511 40 159.50 $159.50 $815 —
580 580 4 158.00 $158.00 $916 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
431 431 7 191.00 $191.00 $823 —
453–464 461 11 177.50–188.00 $185.19 $854 —
569 569 11 160.00 $160.00 $910 -1.95
633 633 2 167.00 $167.00 $1,057 +17.00
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
600 unweaned 600 5 102.00 $102.00 $612 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350 350 10 273.00 $273.00 $956 +23.00
482 482 5 207.50 $207.50 $1,000 —
508–537 unweaned 528 19 210.00–211.00 $210.30 $1,110 —
548 548 5 187.50 $187.50 $1,028 -6.14
587 587 14 185.00 $185.00 $1,086 +2.00
591 unweaned 591 34 198.00 $198.00 $1,170 +26.00
604–625 608 10 173.00–174.00 $173.21 $1,053 +9.77
643 unweaned 643 8 174.00 $174.00 $1,119 —
750 750 2 163.00 $163.00 $1,222 +14.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
548 548 6 175.00 $175.00 $959 —
583 583 2 173.00 $173.00 $1,009 —
675 675 2 152.00 $152.00 $1,026 —
746 746 7 149.00 $149.00 $1,112 —
1066 1066 10 110.00 $110.00 $1,173 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
284 284 7 280.00 $280.00 $795 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160–1182 1178 6 102.00–108.00 $102.98 $1,213 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
830–855 847 85-90% 7 42.00–43.00 $42.14 $357 —
767–995 932 85-90% 23 48.50–64.00 $54.26 $506 —
900–995 953 85-90% 4 59.00–64.00 $61.51 $586 +8.43
900–1320 1111 85-90% 37 55.00–63.50 $59.56 $662 -1.29
1043–1200 1139 85-90% 13 34.00–51.00 $41.92 $477 -18.93
1005–1350 1178 85-90% 225 50.00–64.00 $57.34 $675 +12.11
970–1280 1185 85-90% 41 69.00–74.00 $69.93 $829 +24.70
990–1335 1194 85-90% 96 60.50–69.00 $64.38 $769 -1.61
1018–1345 1236 85-90% 181 60.00–67.50 $62.79 $776 -9.24
1197–1295 1246 85-90% 6 67.50–73.00 $71.09 $886 -0.94
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1330 value added 1330 80-85% 3 67.50 $67.50 $898 —
1233–1675 1367 80-85% 214 66.00–77.00 $70.79 $968 —
1260–1495 1378 80-85% 2 77.00 $77.00 $1,061 —
1385 1385 80-85% 1 43.00 $43.00 $596 —
1293–1645 1394 80-85% 65 58.50–68.50 $65.05 $907 —
1285–1690 1424 80-85% 104 53.00–66.00 $60.91 $867 -4.43
1237–1650 1448 80-85% 28 65.00–75.00 $69.62 $1,008 -1.63
1535 1535 80-85% 1 77.50 $77.50 $1,190 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1460–1665 1569 75-80% 14 65.00–72.50 $69.66 $1,093 —
1420–1760 1575 75-80% 18 74.00–76.50 $75.29 $1,186 —
1360–1910 1613 75-80% 10 74.00–76.50 $75.56 $1,219 +1.81
1290–1945 1625 75-80% 30 64.00–72.50 $69.10 $1,123 -4.65
1695 1695 75-80% 1 84.00 $84.00 $1,424 —
1702 1702 75-80% 3 77.50 $77.50 $1,319 -0.95
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1330 1330 65-75% 1 86.50 $86.50 $1,150 —
1400–1552 1514 65-75% 4 92.00–93.00 $92.23 $1,396 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1265 1265 1 91.00 $91.00 $1,151 —
1220–1370 1269 4 60.00–88.00 $76.53 $971 —
1310–2070 1642 13 82.50–93.00 $88.36 $1,451 +2.43
1305–2220 1707 41 74.00–94.00 $85.30 $1,456 —
1525–2013 1738 16 92.50–102.00 $96.20 $1,672 —
1628–2410 1850 56 90.00–102.50 $97.57 $1,805 —
1835–2190 1974 8 101.00–105.00 $103.53 $2,044 -0.22
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1965–1975 1970 2 93.00–96.00 $94.50 $1,862 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
855 thin fleshed 855 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 16 82.00 $82.00 $701
835–1270 943 (<2 yrs)Open 101 112.00–154.00 $147.05 $1,387
760–1315 1009 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 218 60.00–113.00 $91.96 $928
862–1150 1057 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 43 71.00–95.00 $86.83 $918
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
875 thin fleshed 875 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 55.00 $55.00 $481
785–1093 896 (<2 yrs)Open 12 65.00–146.00 $119.35 $1,069
948–1020 972 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 56.00–75.00 $62.65 $609
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
935 935 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 82.00 $82.00 $767
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
680 680 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 102.50 $102.50 $697

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
995–1006 fancy 1001 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 83 2,050.00 $2,050.00
1046–1160 1096 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 29 1,175.00–1,400.00 $1,298.85
1030–1187 1134 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 20 1,000.00–1,085.00 $1,058.64
1097–1305 1139 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 15 1,475.00 $1,475.00
1130–1298 thin fleshed 1185 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 900.00–935.00 $921.76
1108–1383 1205 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 52 1,375.00–1,585.00 $1,506.12
1200–1233 fancy 1215 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 40 1,975.00–2,075.00 $2,012.66
1234 1234 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 785.00 $785.00
1253 1253 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,250.00 $1,250.00
1133–1403 1295 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 1,375.00–1,400.00 $1,383.75
1244–1479 1324 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 219 925.00–1,275.00 $1,092.11
1216–1508 1332 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 37 1,025.00–1,200.00 $1,088.85
1185–1364 1336 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 85 1,410.00–1,525.00 $1,447.37
1080–1559 1338 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 289 1,000.00–1,610.00 $1,339.98
1220–1505 1373 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 21 1,100.00–1,525.00 $1,428.60
1305–1442 1385 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 12 950.00–1,000.00 $970.05
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1165 1165 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,150.00 $1,150.00
1174 1174 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,100.00 $1,100.00
1102–1340 1209 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 41 825.00–910.00 $882.87
1253 1253 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 775.00 $775.00
1270 1270 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 910.00 $910.00
1283 thin fleshed 1283 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 800.00 $800.00
1290 1290 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 13 1,450.00 $1,450.00
1223–1363 1298 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 16 1,175.00–1,350.00 $1,253.47
1325 1325 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 850.00 $850.00
1326 1326 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 925.00 $925.00
1331 1331 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,250.00 $1,250.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
933–965 955 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 11 1,275.00–1,325.00 $1,306.93
1229 1229 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 1,185.00 $1,185.00
1240 1240 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 1,050.00 $1,050.00
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1503 1503 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,200.00 $1,200.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
952 952 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 1,200.00 $1,200.00
908–1082 971 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 157 1,575.00–1,725.00 $1,664.37
1021–1075 1057 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 12 1,200.00–1,310.00 $1,235.42
1005–1219 1065 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 73 1,500.00–1,850.00 $1,741.32
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
817–950 849 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 25 1,125.00–1,410.00 $1,201.54
913–925 923 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 17 1,285.00–1,450.00 $1,421.19
974 974 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,425.00 $1,425.00

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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.