Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 16, 2023

10,759 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $215.82/cwt +2.01 vs last sale · ≈ $1,257/hd at 583 lb · 449 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $196.56/cwt +0.46 vs last sale · ≈ $1,040/hd at 529 lb · 361 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $181.57/cwt -2.13 vs last sale · ≈ $1,128/hd at 621 lb · 319 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 10,759 10,893 11,288
Feeder cattle 4,061 7,302 5,104
Slaughter cattle 862 1,513 940
Replacement cattle 1,002 2,078 1,232

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 600 lbs sold generally steady, steers 600 lbs and heavier sold steady to 5.00 lower. Heifers under 500 lbs sold generally steady to weak, however quality this week on light heifers was not as attractive as last week. Heifers over 500 lbs sold fully steady. Quality overall this week was average to very attractive, with many comperable sets of calves on offer. Many sets of weaned calves were noted again this week. Buyers showed lighter demand for cows off the cow. Cattle too heavy to go to grass or wheat were met with slighly lighter demand this week as a winter storm had most buyers from the corn belt and feeding area of the plains out of the market. Buyer pools were slightly smaller this week compared to last week, but market activity was mostly active again this week nonetheless. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light offerings. A large winter storm that impacted the upper plains also helped improve cow demand this week as easten packers were more agressive as they pushed to buy cows for immidiate havest. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold 2.00 higher. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00 higher as increased competition from slaughter buyers helped push all cow prices higher. Slaughter bulls sold 1.00-3.00 higher in a narrow compairson. Young age cows suiable to feed or rebreed sold steady to 3.00 higher. A very attractive offering of bred cows sold this week and demand was very good with a very large crowd of ranchers present.

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
345 345 11 300.00 $300.00 $1,035 +24.08
350–398 386 28 272.50–299.00 $282.74 $1,091 +1.00
420–443 430 46 248.00–273.50 $262.53 $1,129 -5.34
470 unweaned 470 2 256.00 $256.00 $1,203 +31.00
451–493 472 119 233.00–262.00 $247.58 $1,169 -1.78
505 unweaned 505 7 236.00 $236.00 $1,192 +18.50
500–548 524 167 214.00–236.50 $230.05 $1,205 -1.06
564 unweaned 564 10 218.00 $218.00 $1,230 +13.00
550–598 583 439 197.00–228.00 $215.77 $1,258 +1.65
605–643 624 128 190.00–210.75 $199.01 $1,242 -5.78
650 unweaned 650 12 187.50 $187.50 $1,219 —
652–673 657 174 183.00–200.00 $195.64 $1,285 +3.13
705–742 716 57 168.00–180.75 $179.59 $1,286 -7.03
719–739 unweaned 734 24 168.00–172.00 $171.02 $1,255 -9.98
763–768 766 14 164.50–171.50 $169.00 $1,295 —
790 790 3 162.00 $162.00 $1,280 —
824–847 840 29 169.00–171.00 $170.39 $1,431 -8.60
858 858 9 168.50 $168.50 $1,446 -3.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383 383 2 252.50 $252.50 $967 -1.69
405–440 419 14 225.00–252.50 $234.48 $982 -15.51
450–489 472 25 220.00–237.00 $230.38 $1,087 -2.35
505–541 524 44 200.00–219.00 $215.14 $1,127 +6.36
594 594 6 196.00 $196.00 $1,164 +5.40
613–638 626 16 168.00–189.00 $177.24 $1,110 -6.28
658–687 668 10 169.00–179.50 $172.47 $1,152 +3.74
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
542 542 7 219.00 $219.00 $1,187 +38.00
596 596 60 188.00 $188.00 $1,120 —
623 623 7 177.00 $177.00 $1,103 -1.00
664 664 14 181.00 $181.00 $1,202 —
756 unweaned 756 8 162.50 $162.50 $1,228 —
766 766 7 168.50 $168.50 $1,291 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
424 424 8 240.00 $240.00 $1,018 —
453 453 3 223.00 $223.00 $1,010 —
598 598 3 169.00 $169.00 $1,011 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
363 363 10 208.50 $208.50 $757 -13.41
438 unweaned 438 2 194.00 $194.00 $850 -18.06
443–444 444 24 196.00–219.00 $202.12 $897 -12.88
456–496 480 194 193.00–218.00 $204.50 $982 -5.59
484 unweaned 484 4 201.00 $201.00 $973 +4.32
503–549 528 334 187.00–212.00 $197.41 $1,042 -0.66
542–549 unweaned 544 27 179.00–191.50 $186.10 $1,012 +4.49
552 fancy 552 8 196.00 $196.00 $1,082 -1.78
550–580 565 233 181.50–195.00 $187.25 $1,058 +0.01
603–635 613 185 177.00–188.50 $184.09 $1,128 +2.58
626 626 47 185.50 $185.50 $1,161 +3.99
621–637 unweaned 636 87 170.00–174.50 $174.10 $1,107 +10.10
650–697 675 67 165.50–178.00 $170.65 $1,152 +0.60
713–735 728 53 161.00–167.00 $165.45 $1,204 -2.77
760–781 766 19 155.00–161.00 $159.43 $1,221 -7.49
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307 307 7 180.00 $180.00 $553 —
366–397 387 49 188.50–200.00 $192.05 $743 -9.40
406–448 427 51 175.00–194.00 $183.99 $786 -23.51
451–482 470 94 171.00–195.50 $179.39 $843 +2.83
598 598 4 165.00 $165.00 $987 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353–388 374 16 190.00–195.00 $192.50 $720 -15.12
402–449 432 34 185.00–201.00 $192.91 $833 -6.76
450–490 464 55 180.00–197.00 $188.70 $876 +0.91
520–549 541 20 175.00–187.00 $178.49 $966 -5.35
552–595 575 15 160.00–177.00 $172.23 $990 -0.14
601 601 6 169.00 $169.00 $1,016 -2.84
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510 510 7 188.50 $188.50 $961 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 3 177.00–179.00 $178.33 $963 —
583 unweaned 583 2 173.00 $173.00 $1,009 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
698 698 2 153.00 $153.00 $1,068 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
472 unweaned 472 5 212.50 $212.50 $1,003 —
463–482 474 5 192.50–234.00 $208.70 $989 +1.20
502–525 505 18 203.00–207.00 $203.46 $1,027 —
570–584 581 19 177.00–199.00 $194.46 $1,130 +9.46
591 unweaned 591 5 182.00 $182.00 $1,076 -16.00
620 620 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,060 -2.21
659–691 688 46 148.00–177.50 $175.04 $1,204 —
700 unweaned 700 34 165.50 $165.50 $1,158 —
769 unweaned 769 5 150.00 $150.00 $1,154 —
1105 1105 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,171 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525–536 532 8 160.00–185.00 $175.75 $935 +0.75
572–587 577 14 150.00–171.00 $155.65 $898 -17.35
660 660 1 147.00 $147.00 $970 -5.00
960 960 2 115.00 $115.00 $1,104 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
487 487 9 150.00 $150.00 $730 —
510 510 3 152.50 $152.50 $778 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
85 unweaned 85 1 550.00 $550.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
750–980 897 85-90% 9 45.50–59.00 $53.72 $482 —
965 965 85-90% 1 43.00 $43.00 $415 -18.51
960–990 978 85-90% 3 60.00–68.00 $63.99 $626 +2.48
860–1213 1026 85-90% 6 54.50–59.00 $56.39 $579 —
1005–1130 1068 85-90% 2 37.00–48.00 $42.82 $457 —
900–1248 1129 85-90% 15 70.50–77.00 $74.15 $837 +32.23
1107–1202 1155 85-90% 6 70.00–71.50 $70.72 $817 +13.38
1010–1344 1161 85-90% 111 50.00–62.50 $58.76 $682 +1.42
1040–1325 1174 85-90% 79 62.00–68.50 $64.09 $752 +6.75
900–1275 1175 85-90% 50 62.50–69.50 $67.16 $789 +9.82
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1247–1577 1367 80-85% 118 67.50–76.50 $72.04 $985 +1.25
1265–1715 1400 80-85% 41 55.00–67.50 $61.87 $866 +0.96
1278–1655 1415 80-85% 30 59.50–70.50 $65.13 $922 +4.22
1260–1640 1417 80-85% 35 67.50–75.00 $71.43 $1,012 +10.52
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1395–1520 1449 75-80% 7 74.00–78.00 $75.86 $1,099 —
1555 1555 75-80% 1 83.00 $83.00 $1,291 +13.34
1405–1915 1578 75-80% 12 73.00–76.50 $75.35 $1,189 +0.06
1608 1608 75-80% 2 72.00 $72.00 $1,158 -3.56
1550–1860 1662 75-80% 7 66.50–73.50 $69.55 $1,156 -14.45
1570–1805 1739 75-80% 5 84.00–93.50 $91.09 $1,584 —
2010 2010 75-80% 1 70.50 $70.50 $1,417 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1245 1245 1 65.00 $65.00 $809 —
1300–1740 1449 7 92.00–99.50 $97.22 $1,409 —
1235–1980 1542 9 78.00–92.50 $85.70 $1,321 —
1410–2280 1843 10 63.00–93.00 $84.74 $1,562 —
1515–2300 1915 15 95.00–98.50 $97.10 $1,859 —
1770–2240 2073 3 104.00–106.00 $105.00 $2,177 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1830 1830 1 81.00 $81.00 $1,482 —
2095–2345 2227 5 98.00–101.00 $99.17 $2,209 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
844–1249 973 (<2 yrs)Open 56 81.00–153.00 $140.98 $1,372
748–1360 1061 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 163 62.00–123.00 $83.96 $891
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
740–805 773 (<2 yrs)Open 4 127.00–145.00 $133.39 $1,031
853–1276 1054 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 73.00–92.00 $87.55 $923

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1135 thin fleshed 1135 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 1,085.00 $1,085.00
1158 1158 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1147–1218 1175 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 15 885.00–950.00 $923.06
1119–1282 1227 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 75 1,700.00–2,250.00 $2,148.82
1224–1276 1238 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 106 1,400.00–2,050.00 $1,910.81
1152–1483 1264 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 153 975.00–1,350.00 $1,106.29
1308 1308 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 31 1,600.00 $1,600.00
1181–1515 1323 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 30 1,135.00–1,550.00 $1,345.68
1124–1505 1328 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 67 1,550.00–2,275.00 $1,949.17
1345 1345 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 975.00 $975.00
1378 1378 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 32 1,300.00 $1,300.00
1515 1515 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,135.00 $1,135.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1024–1107 1085 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 37 1,250.00–1,625.00 $1,545.85
1113–1267 1190 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 810.00–850.00 $828.71
1235 1235 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 800.00 $800.00
1253 thin fleshed 1253 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 700.00 $700.00
1342 1342 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 960.00 $960.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1007 1007 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 9 1,600.00 $1,600.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1132–1147 1137 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 29 2,200.00–2,235.00 $2,224.04

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
150–195 188 7 79.00–84.00 $80.20 $151 —
198 198 2 53.00 $53.00 $105 —
219–245 224 13 70.00–86.00 $73.46 $165 —
220–245 238 5 65.00–69.00 $67.45 $161 —
254–258 256 13 71.00–79.00 $74.82 $192 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
80 80 —— 2 180.00 $180.00 $144 —
90 90 —— 1 160.00 $160.00 $144 —
90–95 91 —— 4 180.00–200.00 $185.21 $169 —
100 100 —— 1 124.00 $124.00 $124 —
105–110 108 —— 2 110.00–217.50 $162.50 $176 —
120 120 —— 1 207.50 $207.50 $249 —
150–180 163 —— 3 197.50–202.50 $200.81 $327 —
180 180 —— 1 175.00 $175.00 $315 —
205 205 —— 1 205.00 $205.00 $420 —
200–240 220 Kids (<1 yr)N/A 2 210.00 $210.00 $462 —

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
124 124 28 32.00 $32.00 $40 —
123–139 136 15 44.00–46.00 $45.64 $62 —
138 138 6 46.00 $46.00 $63 —
130–149 143 98 51.00–59.00 $55.85 $80 —
150–186 164 77 49.00–58.00 $54.91 $90 —
175 175 1 52.00 $52.00 $91 —
172–198 184 44 57.00–64.00 $60.43 $111 —
192 192 10 79.00 $79.00 $152 —
210 210 1 79.00 $79.00 $166 —
224 224 5 63.00 $63.00 $141 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
168 168 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 6 55.00 $55.00 —

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
48 48 19 167.50 $167.50 $80 —
59 59 7 165.00 $165.00 $97 —
66 66 19 180.00 $180.00 $119 —
68 68 52 136.00 $136.00 $92 —
73–77 75 29 146.00–172.50 $157.53 $118 —
72–79 78 188 132.00–138.00 $134.34 $105 —
81–88 84 70 117.00–123.00 $118.91 $100 —

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Hair Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
148 148 2 92.00 $92.00 $136 —
168 168 2 89.00 $89.00 $150 —
190 190 2 75.00 $75.00 $142 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
133 133 28 71.00 $71.00 $94 —
153–162 159 9 76.00–78.00 $76.64 $122 —
166 166 8 45.00 $45.00 $75 —
172 172 3 61.00 $61.00 $105 —

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Hair Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
51 51 66 170.00 $170.00 $87 —
67 67 137 127.50 $127.50 $85 —
68 thin fleshed 68 15 135.00 $135.00 $92 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
35 35 11 190.00 $190.00 $66 —
35 35 2 295.00 $295.00 $103 —
31–39 36 37 250.00–285.00 $275.57 $99 —
38 38 2 155.00 $155.00 $59 —
45 45 2 160.00 $160.00 $72 —
45 45 40 300.00 $300.00 $135 —
40–49 48 49 290.00–310.00 $294.86 $142 —
45–49 49 71 257.50–282.50 $270.72 $133 —
50 50 1 180.00 $180.00 $90 —
50 50 2 295.00 $295.00 $148 —
53 53 3 165.00 $165.00 $87 —
53–55 53 18 245.00–275.00 $251.94 $134 —
54 54 4 245.00 $245.00 $132 —
53–58 57 51 282.50–292.50 $289.63 $165 —
60–67 63 8 177.50–180.00 $179.00 $113 —
60–66 63 206 267.50–295.00 $279.09 $176 —
65 65 1 235.00 $235.00 $153 —
65–68 67 14 230.00–250.00 $239.31 $160 —
70 70 1 227.50 $227.50 $159 —
70–77 73 112 227.50–245.00 $238.35 $174 —
73 73 2 202.50 $202.50 $148 —
70–76 75 12 180.00–200.00 $192.72 $145 —
80 80 8 205.00 $205.00 $164 —
82–87 84 8 187.50 $187.50 $158 —
130 130 2 185.00 $185.00 $240 —

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Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
60–67 62 63 153.00–189.00 $178.64 $111 —
74 74 16 144.00 $144.00 $107 —
75–79 78 195 145.00–154.00 $151.33 $118 —
83 83 25 150.00 $150.00 $124 —
80–88 84 389 130.00–148.00 $141.15 $119 —
92–94 93 23 115.00–118.00 $116.71 $109 —
90–96 94 332 124.00–140.50 $137.85 $130 —
101–107 105 305 117.00–135.00 $126.78 $133 —
110–118 113 230 117.00–132.00 $128.38 $145 —
122 122 8 96.00 $96.00 $117 —
124–126 125 225 118.00–122.00 $119.47 $149 —
131 131 16 119.00 $119.00 $156 —
134–139 137 28 95.00–106.00 $98.84 $135 —
141 141 32 114.00–115.00 $114.84 $162 —
145 145 11 103.00 $103.00 $149 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
69 69 6 140.00 $140.00 $97 —
71 71 10 142.00 $142.00 $101 —
80–89 85 40 126.00–129.00 $127.81 $109 —
92–99 98 75 105.00–124.00 $116.84 $115 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
70 70 20 130.00 $130.00 $91 —
90 90 11 111.00 $111.00 $100 —
116 116 12 103.00 $103.00 $119 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
155 155 21 82.00 $82.00 $127 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
87 87 15 124.00 $124.00 $108 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
60 60 —— 1 110.00 $110.00 $66 —
75 75 —— 1 110.00 $110.00 $82 —
85 85 —— 1 90.00 $90.00 $76 —
95 95 —— 1 100.00 $100.00 $95 —
95–97 96 —— 6 97.00–110.00 $103.43 $99 —
115 115 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 120.00 $120.00 $138 —
120–125 121 —— 4 98.00–102.50 $99.16 $120 —
110–148 123 —— 24 100.00–117.50 $104.96 $129 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
70 70 2 155.00 $155.00 $108 —
95 95 3 180.00 $180.00 $171 —
103–110 105 8 180.00–190.00 $181.92 $191 —
110 110 1 85.00 $85.00 $94 —
120 120 1 160.00 $160.00 $192 —
120–135 128 4 172.50–190.00 $183.38 $235 —
163 163 3 172.50 $172.50 $281 —

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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.