Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 27, 2023

6,951 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $195.24/cwt -2.26 vs last sale · ≈ $1,435/hd at 735 lb · 369 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $181.84/cwt -2.75 vs last sale · ≈ $1,322/hd at 727 lb · 303 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $267.21/cwt +26.46 vs last sale · ≈ $1,406/hd at 526 lb · 272 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 6,951 3,100 6,734
Feeder cattle 4,489 1,879 2,386
Slaughter cattle 1,215 396 1,831
Replacement cattle 1,247 825 2,517

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 600 lbs sold 10.00-20.00 higher, steers 600 lbs and heavier sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifers under 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher, heifers 600-699 lbs sold 8.00-12.00 higher, heifers over 700 lbs sold steady to firm. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Demand for grass cattle remains very good as buyers purchased steers up to 700 lbs and heifer up to 660 lbs for that purpose. Demand for heavy weight offerings was moderate to good. Several order buyers, buying for packers, reported that local feedlots backgrounding cattle are starting to fill and demand has lightened slightly. Several consignments of backgrounded offerings were seen this week. Many were in moderate flesh, with a few fleshy offerings seen as well. Tag was also somewhat concerning to buyers as many sets of backgrounded cattle were carrying moderate amounts of tag. Market activity was active again this week as large crowds were on hand for all sales. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for moderate offerings. This weeks sales offered packers the largest volume of cows seen in weeks. Packers continue to show good demand for cows and bulls for immediate harvest, but also purchased cows to put away on feed. Breaking cows sold steady to weak, boning and lean cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. A higher volume of cows allowed packers to be more selective as they purchased cows this week. This was also the first sale in weeks feeding buyers stepped in to buy cows to feed. Feeding cows were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 lower. Bull quality this week was mostly below average as many younger, light weight bulls, with not much yield were seen. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to 5.00 higher. Packer buyers continue to buy some young cow offerings for slaughter as cow prices have increased enough packers are competitive with feeding and rebreed buyers on 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
420–445 431 36 270.00–281.00 $276.02 $1,190 —
475–498 489 68 261.00–274.00 $272.41 $1,332 +6.50
521–526 thin fleshed 523 147 261.00–278.50 $271.56 $1,420 —
504–544 530 125 235.00–272.00 $262.09 $1,389 +21.34
559–562 thin fleshed 561 63 248.00–259.00 $253.05 $1,420 —
584 584 4 218.00 $218.00 $1,273 -13.60
552–599 585 172 230.50–255.00 $239.28 $1,400 +7.68
603 thin fleshed 603 20 240.50 $240.50 $1,450 —
600–646 626 150 214.00–232.00 $219.96 $1,377 +0.26
658–661 thin fleshed 658 47 224.00–228.50 $228.02 $1,500 —
654–679 669 134 199.50–219.00 $206.56 $1,382 -2.07
693 693 10 187.00 $187.00 $1,296 -21.63
731 731 10 189.00 $189.00 $1,382 -8.50
700–746 735 359 193.50–204.00 $195.41 $1,436 -2.09
756–799 766 244 184.00–195.00 $191.65 $1,468 +5.09
800–836 809 193 180.00–186.50 $185.53 $1,501 +3.64
811 fancy 811 37 187.00 $187.00 $1,517 —
853–876 854 163 181.50–183.00 $182.89 $1,562 +2.89
901–914 905 53 177.00–179.75 $178.62 $1,617 +9.87
984 984 15 156.00 $156.00 $1,535 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450–496 466 41 237.50–265.00 $256.82 $1,197 +9.82
471 unweaned 471 17 229.00 $229.00 $1,079 —
522–548 540 17 233.00–252.50 $243.90 $1,317 +6.90
560 unweaned 560 5 219.00 $219.00 $1,226 —
578–589 584 7 227.00–229.00 $227.85 $1,331 +17.85
603–639 627 12 202.00–214.00 $210.69 $1,321 —
653–699 681 47 188.00–204.00 $197.95 $1,348 +7.75
715–723 720 3 185.00–186.00 $185.67 $1,337 —
804–825 809 12 174.50–179.50 $178.24 $1,442 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
408 408 3 250.00 $250.00 $1,020 -8.00
781 781 15 180.00 $180.00 $1,406 —
832–839 836 25 169.00–174.50 $171.87 $1,437 —
867–884 876 12 166.00–172.50 $169.28 $1,483 —
1005–1037 1034 20 159.50–165.00 $160.03 $1,655 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 435 6 230.00 $230.00 $1,000 —
459 459 6 222.50 $222.50 $1,021 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
466 466 7 250.00 $250.00 $1,165 —
528 528 3 215.00 $215.00 $1,135 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
374 unweaned 374 7 225.00 $225.00 $842 —
383–385 384 21 227.00–229.00 $227.86 $875 -1.14
423 unweaned 423 33 230.00 $230.00 $973 —
450–496 472 68 223.00–234.00 $228.99 $1,081 +0.58
483–494 unweaned 486 20 213.00–214.50 $213.46 $1,037 —
503–545 518 48 217.50–228.50 $226.83 $1,175 +9.43
555–580 thin fleshed 568 47 224.00–228.00 $225.83 $1,283 —
558–595 575 101 208.00–224.50 $215.48 $1,239 +16.98
603–613 thin fleshed 611 12 214.00–217.50 $216.64 $1,324 —
607–643 619 173 190.00–212.00 $199.39 $1,234 -10.77
638 638 38 193.25 $193.25 $1,233 -0.19
655 thin fleshed 655 61 209.00 $209.00 $1,369 —
676 676 4 179.00 $179.00 $1,210 -16.69
667–696 686 53 185.50–189.50 $188.11 $1,290 -7.58
711 711 4 172.50 $172.50 $1,226 -7.66
705–731 fancy 717 21 188.50 $188.50 $1,352 -1.50
700–745 728 278 175.00–186.50 $181.47 $1,321 +1.31
775 775 11 147.00 $147.00 $1,139 -37.80
760–798 786 77 169.50–177.50 $171.88 $1,351 -12.92
844 844 8 144.00 $144.00 $1,215 —
867 867 13 143.00 $143.00 $1,240 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
376 unweaned 376 11 190.00 $190.00 $714 —
391 391 8 215.00 $215.00 $841 -3.00
455–488 474 77 209.00–221.00 $214.76 $1,018 +7.31
508–546 524 58 199.00–215.50 $205.07 $1,075 +11.58
558–581 573 20 190.00–206.00 $200.34 $1,148 —
623 623 4 188.00 $188.00 $1,171 +0.11
655–699 680 32 172.00–183.00 $177.03 $1,204 +0.03
795 795 1 168.00 $168.00 $1,336 —
800 800 3 153.00 $153.00 $1,224 —
889 889 4 141.00 $141.00 $1,253 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 5 222.50 $222.50 $868 —
454–483 476 20 214.00–216.00 $214.59 $1,021 —
651 651 7 174.00 $174.00 $1,133 —
778 778 17 170.50 $170.50 $1,326 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410–423 417 23 212.00–220.00 $215.76 $900 —
451 451 10 211.00 $211.00 $952 —
539 539 4 208.00 $208.00 $1,121 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
426 426 4 192.50 $192.50 $820 +2.50

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
382–393 388 7 230.00–232.00 $230.84 $896 —
488 488 2 217.50 $217.50 $1,061 —
523–544 534 25 205.00–221.00 $215.19 $1,149 +5.19
554–575 562 16 191.00–208.00 $202.34 $1,137 —
633 633 4 191.00 $191.00 $1,209 -11.00
720 720 3 175.00 $175.00 $1,260 -23.00
878 878 2 143.00 $143.00 $1,256 —
980 980 1 154.00 $154.00 $1,509 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
645 645 5 162.00 $162.00 $1,045 —
852 852 5 131.00 $131.00 $1,116 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1063 1063 2 126.00 $126.00 $1,339 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040 1040 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,352 -4.00

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
770–980 875 85-90% 2 57.50–62.50 $60.30 $528 -1.70
855–950 903 85-90% 2 84.00–85.00 $84.53 $763 -0.25
960–965 963 85-90% 2 74.00–79.00 $76.51 $737 —
1049–1255 1112 85-90% 24 61.00–69.50 $67.91 $755 —
1014–1315 1210 85-90% 46 74.00–86.00 $81.25 $983 -16.97
1025–1467 1210 85-90% 217 70.00–86.00 $79.25 $959 -18.97
1035–1318 1238 85-90% 60 84.00–93.00 $87.46 $1,083 -3.96
1055–1282 1241 85-90% 15 86.50–88.50 $87.91 $1,091 -3.51
1260 1260 85-90% 1 91.00 $91.00 $1,147 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315–1330 1323 80-85% 2 82.00–87.00 $84.51 $1,118 —
1030–1568 1399 80-85% 194 86.00–95.00 $89.88 $1,257 -2.26
1313–1445 1407 80-85% 37 92.00–93.00 $92.71 $1,304 +9.22
1200–1780 1414 80-85% 55 78.00–88.50 $83.12 $1,175 -15.97
1456 1456 80-85% 8 96.75 $96.75 $1,409 —
1290–1655 1470 80-85% 40 94.50–100.00 $96.14 $1,413 +5.64
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1394–1664 1470 75-80% 156 92.00–94.50 $93.22 $1,370 —
1278–1754 1479 75-80% 43 90.50–95.50 $92.45 $1,367 —
1425–1810 1556 75-80% 12 95.00–100.00 $98.16 $1,527 +0.56
1548–1860 1646 75-80% 24 83.00–92.00 $89.20 $1,468 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1885 1885 65-75% 1 85.50 $85.50 $1,612 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1085–1172 1129 6 121.00–129.00 $124.85 $1,410 +6.85
1190–1390 1268 4 77.00–91.00 $82.28 $1,043 —
1158–1370 1271 13 84.00–100.00 $93.03 $1,182 —
1337–2425 1634 55 87.00–109.00 $96.58 $1,578 —
1515–2140 1826 15 105.00–115.00 $109.82 $2,005 —
1720–2255 1955 7 119.00–123.50 $121.36 $2,373 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
760–1310 1027 (<2 yrs)Open 91 113.00–159.00 $123.14 $1,265
800–1525 1065 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 161 79.00–124.00 $101.63 $1,082
1168 fancy 1168 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 116.00 $116.00 $1,355
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
735–1298 927 (<2 yrs)Open 14 107.50–128.00 $116.76 $1,082
860–1230 980 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 19 82.00–99.00 $89.94 $881
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
660–760 717 (<2 yrs)Open 3 122.50–151.00 $136.51 $979

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
945–1011 thin fleshed 984 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 50 1,700.00–1,985.00 $1,846.70
998–1196 1130 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 1,000.00–1,100.00 $1,029.44
1136 thin fleshed 1136 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,100.00 $1,100.00
1032–1471 1152 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 198 2,000.00–2,275.00 $2,119.12
1048–1325 1153 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 32 1,150.00–1,575.00 $1,428.32
1200–1254 thin fleshed 1237 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 13 1,100.00 $1,100.00
1202–1266 1245 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 78 1,875.00–2,000.00 $1,959.76
1274 1274 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,450.00 $1,450.00
1233–1500 1318 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 78 1,900.00–2,225.00 $2,078.83
1213–1343 1319 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 24 1,475.00–1,875.00 $1,700.68
1320 1320 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,225.00 $1,225.00
1188–1548 1322 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 129 1,310.00–1,850.00 $1,625.42
1330 1330 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 17 1,350.00 $1,350.00
1330–1388 thin fleshed 1339 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 40 1,750.00–1,850.00 $1,765.55
1349 1349 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 16 1,850.00 $1,850.00
1295–1630 1352 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 77 1,285.00–1,450.00 $1,397.47
1308–1490 1354 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 35 1,375.00–1,450.00 $1,421.53
1427 1427 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,425.00 $1,425.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1168 1168 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,500.00 $1,500.00
1213 1213 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,210.00 $1,210.00
1351 1351 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1351 1351 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 1,425.00 $1,425.00
1443 1443 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,775.00 $1,775.00
1479 1479 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,750.00 $1,750.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1304–1366 1339 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 29 80.00–87.50 $84.45 $1,131
1388 1388 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 90.50 $90.50 $1,256
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
924 thin fleshed 924 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 1,400.00 $1,400.00
984 thin fleshed 984 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,100.00 $1,100.00
1178 1178 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,300.00 $1,300.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
879 879 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,800.00 $1,800.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1105–1140 1131 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 1,825.00 $1,825.00
1158 1158 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,725.00 $1,725.00

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Dairy Steers

Large 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
738 738 3 50.00 $50.00 $369 —

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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.