Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 20, 2023

3,100 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 $217.40/cwt +13.40 vs last sale · ≈ $1,130/hd at 520 lb · 140 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $219.70/cwt +8.23 vs last sale · ≈ $1,380/hd at 628 lb · 136 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $208.63/cwt +14.03 vs last sale · ≈ $1,385/hd at 664 lb · 124 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,100 6,252 2,469
Feeder cattle 1,879 912 1,974
Slaughter cattle 396 302 330
Replacement cattle 825 462 165

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 550 lbs too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. 550-699 lbs steers sold mostly 10.00 higher. Steers over 700 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. All heifers were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Demand for feeder cattle under 700 lbs for steers and 675 lbs for heifers was very good as these weights were mostly purchased to run on grass. Demand for heavy weight offerings was moderate to good. Several offerings were out of grow lots this week. Many of these were carrying light to moderate amounts of tag and mostly moderate to moderate plus flesh. Ranchers, looking for replacement heifers and order buyers looking for high quality heifers to spay competed over heifer offerings this week. This helped push heifer offerings sharply higher in places. Market activity was active again this week as a large crowd was on hand for all sales this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly very good demand for light offerings. Packers continue to show good demand for cows and bulls for immediate harvest. Cold and snowy weather has kept cow offerings light as many ranchers are not bringing cattle to town in these conditions. Light offerings continue to drive cow prices higher as this weather pattern has been seen across the upper plains. Packers showed the best demand for lean grinding materials this week as lean cows and bulls sold with the best demand. Several offerings of fed cows were seen again this week. Fed cow offerings sold generally steady. Fed cows were noticeably fuller this week and offered buyers a lower yield than last. Demand for fed offerings was good. Breaking cows sold 2.00-3.00 higher, boning cows sold 4.00-6.00 higher, lean cows sold 6.00-10.00 higher. Feeding cow buyers were mostly pushed out of the market this week as packers pushed prices higher in order to secure offerings. Prices climbed as the week went on. Feeding cows were not well tested, no comparison is available. Slaughter bulls sold 3.00 to 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Cow and bull quality was mostly average. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold with higher undertones in a narrow comparison. Slaughter cow buyers picked up some of these heavier weight offerings as prices for slaughter cows have increased enough for packer buyers to become competitive for young 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
482 thin fleshed 482 25 273.00 $273.00 $1,316 —
466–487 483 51 252.50–269.50 $265.91 $1,284 +22.20
515–535 528 23 233.50–255.00 $240.75 $1,271 +4.80
552–595 565 83 219.00–237.00 $231.60 $1,309 +8.99
604–639 628 136 218.00–226.00 $219.70 $1,380 +8.23
653–674 664 124 199.00–213.00 $208.63 $1,385 +10.54
718–743 725 102 193.00–198.00 $197.50 $1,432 +1.97
766–787 773 44 182.50–188.50 $186.56 $1,442 —
816–821 820 35 181.00–182.00 $181.89 $1,491 +0.28
877 877 97 180.00 $180.00 $1,579 —
892 892 5 172.00 $172.00 $1,534 —
938 938 9 168.75 $168.75 $1,583 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
372 372 7 273.00 $273.00 $1,016 —
413–436 430 21 222.50–255.00 $250.52 $1,077 —
482 482 10 247.00 $247.00 $1,191 +13.00
513 513 4 237.00 $237.00 $1,216 —
588 588 2 210.00 $210.00 $1,235 +17.86
687–693 689 5 189.00–191.00 $190.20 $1,310 +3.10
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
706 706 7 166.00 $166.00 $1,172 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
433 433 6 258.00 $258.00 $1,117 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
382 382 6 229.00 $229.00 $875 —
400–440 435 33 223.00–235.00 $230.07 $1,001 —
453–499 483 64 223.00–230.00 $228.41 $1,103 +17.16
505–525 520 140 214.50–220.50 $217.40 $1,130 +13.40
550–594 568 72 203.00–221.00 $216.54 $1,230 +23.08
571 571 40 198.50 $198.50 $1,133 +5.04
621–648 622 78 202.00–210.50 $210.16 $1,307 +16.51
613–644 633 33 183.00–201.00 $193.44 $1,224 -0.21
653–691 666 45 195.00–197.00 $195.69 $1,303 +11.80
708–718 717 61 179.50–184.00 $180.16 $1,292 +10.16
734 fancy 734 50 190.00 $190.00 $1,395 —
754–768 760 21 173.00–182.50 $181.59 $1,380 —
768–791 780 19 182.00–188.00 $184.80 $1,441 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
340 340 3 212.50 $212.50 $722 —
373 373 6 218.00 $218.00 $813 —
414–438 424 28 212.00–217.50 $213.54 $905 +5.54
478–499 491 11 197.50–219.00 $207.45 $1,019 +8.27
501–538 512 7 176.00–201.00 $193.49 $991 -7.01
543 543 86 204.00 $204.00 $1,108 +3.50
601–633 610 7 187.00–190.00 $187.89 $1,146 +18.89
685 685 12 177.00 $177.00 $1,212 +5.00
724–747 740 14 168.00–175.00 $169.96 $1,258 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
313–318 315 8 197.50–205.00 $200.34 $631 —
394 394 7 185.00 $185.00 $729 —
420 420 1 190.00 $190.00 $798 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
667–677 670 10 158.00 $158.00 $1,059 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
599 599 7 191.00 $191.00 $1,144 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505 505 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,060 —
610 610 5 202.00 $202.00 $1,232 +16.86
702 702 3 198.00 $198.00 $1,390 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
523 523 3 202.50 $202.50 $1,059 +27.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015 1015 1 134.00 $134.00 $1,360 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
880 880 85-90% 1 62.00 $62.00 $546 -10.78
773–958 905 85-90% 13 73.00–90.00 $84.78 $767 +0.75
895–945 920 85-90% 2 79.50–85.50 $82.42 $758 -1.61
1005–1198 1088 85-90% 5 62.00–65.00 $63.12 $687 —
1010–1273 1163 85-90% 25 77.25–89.00 $83.52 $971 -3.52
1110–1280 1220 85-90% 10 93.00–100.00 $98.22 $1,198 +13.28
1040–1326 1231 85-90% 57 85.00–99.00 $91.42 $1,125 +6.48
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1442–1604 1565 75-80% 32 97.50–98.00 $97.60 $1,527 —
1225–1797 1663 75-80% 43 87.50–96.50 $93.80 $1,560 +10.30
1598–1775 1664 75-80% 6 80.25–89.00 $83.57 $1,391 +0.07
1692 1692 75-80% 7 98.50 $98.50 $1,667 +15.00
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1283–1480 1387 80-85% 35 86.00–98.00 $92.14 $1,278 +3.94
1335–1625 1403 80-85% 8 80.00–86.50 $83.49 $1,171 -9.42
1305–1535 1415 80-85% 15 95.00–100.50 $99.09 $1,402 +6.18
1492 1492 80-85% 5 90.50 $90.50 $1,350 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1381 1381 65-75% 5 107.50 $107.50 $1,485 —
1666–1690 1670 65-75% 44 88.00–93.00 $88.46 $1,477 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1095 1095 1 95.50 $95.50 $1,046 —
1134 1134 6 118.00 $118.00 $1,338 —
1080–1285 1207 3 87.50–111.00 $98.50 $1,189 —
1330–2000 1711 13 89.50–111.00 $100.64 $1,722 —
1350–2490 1749 9 108.00–116.00 $113.80 $1,990 +4.73
1840–2260 2019 5 117.00–124.00 $120.62 $2,435 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
802–1405 982 (<2 yrs)Open 44 119.50–146.00 $139.06 $1,366
835–1240 989 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 51 80.50–132.00 $103.00 $1,019
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
900–940 920 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 97.50–109.00 $103.13 $949
755–1145 950 (<2 yrs)Open 2 119.00–122.50 $120.39 $1,144

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
968–1180 1139 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 71 2,025.00–2,100.00 $2,052.36
1100–1215 thin fleshed 1177 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,100.00–1,260.00 $1,210.14
1060–1473 1195 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 153 1,650.00–1,850.00 $1,734.18
1205–1452 1302 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 57 1,375.00–1,660.00 $1,566.05
1236–1457 1316 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 86 1,300.00–1,660.00 $1,440.57
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
929 929 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,200.00 $1,200.00
885–967 955 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 110 1,550.00–1,875.00 $1,817.94
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1570 1570 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 16 1,550.00 $1,550.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1045–1167 1067 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 106 1,935.00–2,125.00 $1,984.91
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
933–941 937 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 41 1,860.00 $1,860.00

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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.