Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 13, 2023

4,724 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $243.75/cwt +22.57 vs last sale · ≈ $1,616/hd at 663 lb · 252 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $260.62/cwt +15.87 vs last sale · ≈ $1,492/hd at 572 lb · 145 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $212.90/cwt -5.25 vs last sale · ≈ $1,229/hd at 577 lb · 127 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,724 3,703 4,260
Feeder cattle 1,763 1,662 1,537
Slaughter cattle 844 950 569
Replacement cattle 648 1,091 537

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertone were noticed on steers under 750 lbs and steady undertones were noticed on steers over 750 lbs. Heifers were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however all offerings sold with generally steady undertones. Quality this week was mixed, from plain to very attractive. Several of the largest consignments this week were one iron home-raised calves, and these were met with very good demand. Demand for grass cattle remains very good as buyers purchased steers up to 760 lbs and heifer up to 660 lbs for that purpose. Demand for heavy weight offerings was moderate. Backgrounded cattle were met with moderate demand as most offerings sold steady. Most backgrounded offerings were carrying moderate amounts of flesh and tag this week. Plain to average quality cattle saw the biggest jump in price this week as buyers focused more on buying offerings and having cattle in their possession rather than quality. Market activity was active again this week as large crowds were on hand for all sales. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Western packer buyers continue to show good demand for cows for immediate harvest, while eastern packers showed mostly moderate demand. Packers also continued to put cows away on feed. Slaughter cows sold 1.00 to 4.00 higher on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison, however attractive high dressing bulls saw sharply higher prices as two packer buyers competed over limited offerings. Bull quality this week was mostly below average as many younger, light weight bulls, continue to be seen. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to firm. One consignment of 170 head, tested open 2 coming 3 year olds which were tested safe to breed sold with very good demand this week. These offerings averaged over 1,720.00 per head!

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
419–445 430 7 270.00–280.00 $275.57 $1,185 —
457 unweaned 457 5 267.50 $267.50 $1,222 —
462–482 480 114 268.50–279.00 $269.41 $1,293 -15.59
500–548 521 68 256.50–270.00 $265.28 $1,382 -2.60
552–598 561 40 240.00–253.00 $250.95 $1,408 +6.20
566–575 fancy 574 74 273.00–277.00 $273.27 $1,569 —
553–598 unweaned 583 31 242.00–245.00 $242.92 $1,416 —
603–626 614 32 229.00–237.00 $234.71 $1,441 +0.30
658–669 fancy 663 247 244.50 $244.50 $1,621 —
667 667 5 206.50 $206.50 $1,377 -14.68
734–745 741 43 202.50–208.50 $206.15 $1,528 +5.15
805–816 815 22 180.00–185.00 $180.49 $1,471 -3.94
851 851 4 175.00 $175.00 $1,489 —
996 996 17 162.00 $162.00 $1,614 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 2 280.00 $280.00 $960 +10.00
370–389 384 18 258.00–280.00 $267.34 $1,027 —
407–440 421 7 252.50–275.00 $266.21 $1,121 -7.10
455–488 470 12 252.00–270.00 $259.41 $1,219 +19.38
510–540 528 9 236.00–253.00 $242.09 $1,278 +7.09
588 588 2 233.00 $233.00 $1,370 +4.78
622–635 623 28 220.00–229.00 $224.62 $1,399 +7.63
693 693 6 199.00 $199.00 $1,379 -14.35
735 735 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,396 -7.09
817 817 3 165.00 $165.00 $1,348 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
359 359 7 252.50 $252.50 $906 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
766 766 4 175.00 $175.00 $1,340 -10.00
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
492 492 3 185.00 $185.00 $910 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
452 452 3 262.50 $262.50 $1,186 +17.50
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505 505 2 155.00 $155.00 $783 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,058 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
342 342 7 257.50 $257.50 $881 —
350–398 386 4 230.00–237.00 $235.41 $909 —
400 unweaned 400 3 217.50 $217.50 $870 —
411 411 12 237.00 $237.00 $974 +1.04
468–476 472 8 227.50–234.00 $230.72 $1,089 -7.39
500 unweaned 500 20 218.00 $218.00 $1,090 —
500–532 515 50 217.00–223.00 $219.88 $1,132 -16.12
550 unweaned 550 33 209.00 $209.00 $1,150 —
550–594 587 94 213.00–227.00 $214.27 $1,258 -3.88
609–642 625 56 200.00–217.50 $207.15 $1,295 -8.18
667–698 675 80 183.00–202.00 $193.23 $1,304 -10.00
701 701 17 198.00 $198.00 $1,388 —
720–739 733 14 177.00–183.00 $181.30 $1,329 +0.37
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318–343 328 5 217.50–235.00 $224.82 $737 —
385–389 388 14 220.00–245.00 $225.31 $874 -3.69
408–431 423 11 212.00–222.00 $219.14 $927 +9.14
451–498 467 20 215.00–218.00 $216.80 $1,012 +7.12
500–545 520 45 200.00–217.00 $210.41 $1,094 +2.00
555–563 558 8 207.00–211.00 $209.01 $1,166 +8.97
582 582 5 185.00 $185.00 $1,077 -15.04
740 740 3 150.00 $150.00 $1,110 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 unweaned 400 3 170.00 $170.00 $680 —
467 467 5 205.00 $205.00 $957 —
549 549 14 182.00 $182.00 $999 —
607 607 3 178.00 $178.00 $1,080 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
548 548 4 211.00 $211.00 $1,156 +10.00
598 598 2 192.00 $192.00 $1,148 —
897 897 3 136.00 $136.00 $1,220 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
422 422 3 185.00 $185.00 $781 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383 unweaned 383 2 275.00 $275.00 $1,053 —
430 430 14 262.00 $262.00 $1,127 —
465 unweaned 465 2 235.00 $235.00 $1,093 —
485 485 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,164 —
515 unweaned 515 2 242.50 $242.50 $1,249 —
567 567 3 215.00 $215.00 $1,219 -22.00
700–731 721 6 185.00–192.50 $187.43 $1,351 —
802 802 3 148.00 $148.00 $1,187 —
876 876 11 168.50 $168.50 $1,476 +18.50
920 920 2 152.00 $152.00 $1,398 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
336 336 4 247.50 $247.50 $832 —
438 438 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,073 —
539 539 7 239.00 $239.00 $1,288 +8.50
578 578 2 210.00 $210.00 $1,214 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
775 775 2 165.00 $165.00 $1,279 —
1003 1003 5 148.00 $148.00 $1,484 —
1195 1195 2 111.00 $111.00 $1,326 —
1203 1203 2 109.00 $109.00 $1,311 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
372 372 3 207.50 $207.50 $772 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1280–1665 1367 80-85% 84 76.00–87.50 $83.95 $1,148 +1.41
1264–1550 1399 80-85% 41 96.00–104.00 $97.98 $1,371 +15.44
1230–1595 1411 80-85% 129 86.50–96.50 $91.66 $1,293 +6.10
1300–1475 1413 80-85% 10 74.00–88.00 $83.99 $1,187 -11.54
1335–1540 1413 80-85% 31 87.50–96.00 $93.02 $1,314 -2.51
1363–1473 1421 80-85% 8 96.50–99.00 $97.35 $1,383 +1.82
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
860 860 85-90% 1 65.00 $65.00 $559 —
880–995 946 85-90% 5 79.00–86.00 $81.67 $773 +2.22
960–1280 1155 85-90% 64 71.00–86.00 $81.49 $941 +1.80
1085–1320 1174 85-90% 6 70.00–73.00 $71.17 $836 -8.52
1083–1273 1204 85-90% 11 85.00–88.00 $86.68 $1,044 +6.05
1020–1335 1211 85-90% 54 74.00–85.50 $80.85 $979 +0.22
1120–1305 1225 85-90% 13 93.00–98.00 $95.76 $1,173 +3.08
1065–1373 1244 85-90% 74 84.00–94.50 $88.29 $1,098 -4.39
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1430–1725 1486 75-80% 60 97.00–100.50 $98.76 $1,468 +11.01
1529–1601 1559 75-80% 12 91.00–96.00 $93.86 $1,463 +4.90
1502–1875 1574 75-80% 80 92.00–97.25 $95.96 $1,510 +7.00
1525–1699 1579 75-80% 27 85.00–92.50 $91.11 $1,439 +2.15
1580 1580 75-80% 1 87.00 $87.00 $1,375 -1.96

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1265 1219 5 105.00–114.00 $110.12 $1,342 —
1135–1380 1262 3 83.00–85.00 $83.60 $1,055 -27.71
1380–2100 1715 57 85.00–107.50 $97.44 $1,671 -3.28
1430–2105 1753 15 106.00–121.00 $114.96 $2,015 —
1505–2165 1945 18 124.50–139.00 $131.36 $2,555 +20.26

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
760–1375 1065 (<2 yrs)Open 89 109.50–142.00 $129.65 $1,381
809–1405 1088 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 177 86.00–123.00 $103.61 $1,127
1032–1168 fancy 1119 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 170 149.00–167.00 $154.59 $1,730
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
823–892 875 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 29 110.00–116.00 $111.36 $974
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
860–865 863 (<2 yrs)Open 2 130.00–131.00 $130.50 $1,126
948–1016 1006 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 82.00–87.00 $86.43 $869
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
640–695 677 (<2 yrs)Open 3 150.00–155.00 $151.58 $1,026
683 683 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 149.00 $149.00 $1,018
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1240–1403 1349 (<2 yrs)Open 3 95.00–105.00 $101.94 $1,375

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1088 1088 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,700.00 $1,700.00
1155–1247 1224 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 8 1,500.00 $1,500.00
1279 1279 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,600.00 $1,600.00
1313 1313 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,350.00 $1,350.00
1316 thin fleshed 1316 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,150.00 $1,150.00
1355 1355 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,175.00 $1,175.00
1408 1408 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,675.00 $1,675.00
1446–1493 1473 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 19 1,350.00–1,710.00 $1,635.61
1509–1543 1522 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 68 1,525.00–1,675.00 $1,650.17
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
977 977 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,325.00 $1,325.00
961–1065 978 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 1,325.00–1,410.00 $1,394.58
1245 1245 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,325.00 $1,325.00
1302–1368 1328 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,075.00–1,125.00 $1,104.40

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
100 100 3 130.00 $130.00 $130 —
107 107 7 150.00 $150.00 $160 —
147 147 3 75.00 $75.00 $110 —
160–193 182 3 95.00–103.00 $97.34 $177 —
193 193 3 75.00 $75.00 $145 —
200 200 1 93.00 $93.00 $186 —
215 215 1 76.00 $76.00 $163 —
240 240 1 69.00 $69.00 $166 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
60 60 1 230.00 $230.00 $138 —
70 70 1 200.00 $200.00 $140 —
70 70 2 235.00 $235.00 $164 —
85 85 1 210.00 $210.00 $178 —
100–110 105 6 175.00–220.00 $207.20 $218 —
115–130 121 11 215.00–225.00 $221.65 $268 —
165 165 3 215.00–227.50 $223.33 $368 —
200–215 208 2 177.50–212.50 $194.37 $404 —

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
114 114 5 21.00 $21.00 $24 —
129 129 12 90.00 $90.00 $116 —
130 130 2 72.00 $72.00 $94 —
117–149 133 76 78.00–88.00 $81.36 $108 —
125–143 137 3 72.00–75.00 $72.91 $100 —
150–179 166 121 79.00–86.50 $82.48 $137 —
170 170 17 70.00 $70.00 $119 —
167–183 173 5 72.00–74.00 $73.16 $127 —
160–195 178 135 75.00–83.00 $78.81 $140 —
195–198 198 25 88.00–90.00 $88.16 $175 —
201–205 203 54 75.00–79.00 $76.73 $156 —
203 203 6 93.00 $93.00 $189 —
210–234 228 8 74.00–80.00 $75.38 $172 —
230 230 2 84.00 $84.00 $193 —
233 233 3 63.00 $63.00 $147 —
265 265 1 62.00 $62.00 $164 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
103–132 115 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 7 97.50–98.00 $97.75 —
175 175 Young (2-4 yrs)Exposed 11 80.00 $80.00 —

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
63 63 2 232.00 $232.00 $146 —
73–79 78 12 180.00–207.00 $184.21 $144 —
85–87 87 9 167.50–186.00 $183.99 $160 —
113 113 2 139.00 $139.00 $157 —

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Hair Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
75 75 1 130.00 $130.00 $98 —
95 95 1 130.00 $130.00 $124 —
100–135 118 2 125.00–132.50 $128.19 $151 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
104 104 4 100.00 $100.00 $104 —
138 138 12 83.00 $83.00 $115 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
26–27 26 10 240.00–245.00 $241.54 $63 —
25–28 27 8 215.00–230.00 $225.35 $61 —
30 30 1 190.00 $190.00 $57 —
30–33 31 5 317.50–325.00 $321.83 $100 —
33–35 34 6 210.00–245.00 $228.69 $78 —
35–38 38 6 260.00–270.00 $268.44 $102 —
40–48 44 9 280.00–310.00 $294.87 $130 —
44 44 8 225.00 $225.00 $99 —
45 45 4 230.00–240.00 $235.00 $106 —
43–48 47 10 317.50–332.50 $329.76 $155 —
50 50 2 237.50 $237.50 $119 —
51 51 7 325.00 $325.00 $166 —
53–55 53 12 285.00–307.50 $303.48 $161 —
50–59 56 12 317.50–330.00 $321.96 $180 —
63–65 64 8 235.00–245.00 $239.92 $154 —
62–69 65 95 292.50–320.00 $309.03 $201 —
70 70 1 217.50 $217.50 $152 —
73 73 3 190.00 $190.00 $139 —
73–75 73 9 225.00–240.00 $238.29 $174 —
78 78 3 232.50 $232.50 $181 —
83 83 2 200.00 $200.00 $166 —
85 85 2 180.00 $180.00 $153 —
85 85 2 242.50 $242.50 $206 —
90 90 1 242.50 $242.50 $218 —
90–95 94 10 210.00–212.50 $210.48 $198 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
40 40 —— 1 170.00 $170.00 $68 —
55 55 —— 1 165.00 $165.00 $91 —
70–78 76 —— 5 115.00–175.00 $133.80 $102 —
80 80 —— 1 147.50 $147.50 $118 —
80 80 —— 2 202.50 $202.50 $162 —
85 85 —— 3 165.00 $165.00 $140 —
90 90 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 172.50 $172.50 $155 —
90 90 —— 1 165.00 $165.00 $148 —
95 95 —— 1 150.00 $150.00 $142 —
110 110 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 175.00 $175.00 $192 —
105–118 112 —— 21 137.50–155.00 $147.17 $165 —
105–141 124 —— 24 142.50–175.00 $154.76 $192 —
150–175 165 —— 3 112.50–150.00 $134.17 $221 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
65 65 2 225.00 $225.00 $146 —
80 80 2 232.50 $232.50 $186 —
95 95 1 215.00 $215.00 $204 —
125 125 1 207.50 $207.50 $259 —
140 140 2 205.00 $205.00 $287 —
163 163 2 202.50 $202.50 $330 —
195 195 1 210.00 $210.00 $410 —

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
46 46 8 205.00 $205.00 $94 —
55 55 2 219.00 $219.00 $120 —
65 65 44 195.00 $195.00 $127 —
71–75 71 19 225.00–231.00 $225.33 $160 —
72–76 74 34 171.00–184.00 $177.32 $131 —
78 78 5 162.00 $162.00 $126 —
83 83 12 225.00 $225.00 $187 —
83–88 87 43 179.00–188.00 $184.78 $161 —
87 87 5 158.00 $158.00 $137 —
94–95 94 27 153.00–167.50 $155.89 $147 —
95 95 79 195.00 $195.00 $185 —
100–116 114 39 170.00–183.00 $178.86 $204 —
103–140 126 111 120.00–154.00 $127.90 $161 —

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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.