Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 27, 2023

5,846 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $245.97/cwt +18.41 vs last sale · ≈ $1,514/hd at 615 lb · 293 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $218.29/cwt +6.18 vs last sale · ≈ $1,386/hd at 635 lb · 291 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $213.22/cwt +4.68 vs last sale · ≈ $1,441/hd at 676 lb · 286 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,846 2,904 8,452
Feeder cattle 4,619 1,964 5,750
Slaughter cattle 693 546 1,107
Replacement cattle 534 394 1,595

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steers 550-749 lbs sold steady to 10.00 higher. Steers over 750 sold steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Heifers sold under 550 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady to higher undertones were noticed. Heifers 550-749 lbs sold mostly 10.00-15.00 higher, heifers over 750 lbs were too lightly tested last week to trend, steady to firm undertones noted. Quality this week was mixed from average to very attractive. Several load lots were seen this week as Billings livestock held their spring N.I.L.E. feeder special. All size packages sold on good demand as buyers were able to piece together loads of like quality. Demand for grass cattle was good to very good. This sale had some of the strongest demand seen for heifers all year as both grass buyers and replacement buyers bid aggressively over attractive offerings between 600 and 750 lbs. Many sets of heifers were purchased for replacements this sale. Market activity was mostly active this week with a large pool of buyers bidding aggressively and rapidly throughout the week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Cow prices improved as the week progressed, pushed mostly by western packers searching for offerings for immediate harvest. Eastern packers showed mostly good demand for feeding cows but picked around as they purchased slaughter cows. Slaughter cows sold steady to firm on breaking and lean cows, boning cows sold mostly 2.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 higher. Feeding cows sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Cow and bull quality was average to attractive this week. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average throughout the week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed continue to sell on good to very good demand. Steady to firm undertones were noticed.

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
396 396 5 271.00 $271.00 $1,073 —
438–448 442 19 270.00–275.00 $270.53 $1,196 —
457–489 476 114 261.00–272.00 $265.94 $1,266 —
500–547 531 120 249.00–268.00 $257.61 $1,368 -7.39
564–597 value added 581 31 260.00 $260.00 $1,511 —
551–596 583 98 247.00–256.00 $252.69 $1,473 +5.93
602 value added 602 96 260.00 $260.00 $1,565 —
601–638 622 197 227.00–248.00 $239.13 $1,487 +11.57
656–697 674 118 211.00–232.00 $222.52 $1,500 +5.71
712–742 721 206 201.00–214.00 $209.41 $1,510 +8.31
755–799 781 121 185.00–200.50 $193.75 $1,513 +1.60
810 810 74 197.25 $197.25 $1,598 +14.47
865 865 2 174.00 $174.00 $1,505 +0.30
905–916 912 30 169.00–182.00 $172.50 $1,573 +1.00
973 973 3 168.00 $168.00 $1,635 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
376–385 379 12 252.00–270.00 $258.09 $978 —
411 unweaned 411 4 255.00 $255.00 $1,048 —
421–432 427 17 264.00–270.00 $267.21 $1,141 +13.45
451–498 485 65 240.00–272.00 $249.68 $1,211 -10.63
510–548 530 57 231.50–251.00 $244.57 $1,296 -6.37
552–597 586 165 220.00–239.00 $232.55 $1,363 +10.12
602–648 628 113 210.00–230.00 $219.87 $1,381 —
663–680 672 14 202.00–208.00 $203.50 $1,368 +3.74
716–738 727 33 194.00–199.00 $197.85 $1,438 +2.85
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
443 443 6 263.00 $263.00 $1,165 —
522–549 532 16 217.00–246.00 $229.37 $1,220 —
631–648 636 41 200.00–211.00 $208.61 $1,327 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
512–547 528 15 223.00–225.00 $223.97 $1,183 —
558–593 576 13 212.00–215.00 $212.68 $1,225 —
646 646 16 203.00 $203.00 $1,311 —
Small 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
378 378 3 155.00 $155.00 $586 —
459 459 4 120.00 $120.00 $551 —
603 603 3 100.00 $100.00 $603 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
645 645 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,419 —
811 811 4 170.00 $170.00 $1,379 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
381 381 3 230.00 $230.00 $876 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400–430 411 32 234.00–252.50 $237.94 $978 +2.94
482–497 491 89 230.00–238.00 $230.89 $1,134 -4.11
506–524 520 61 221.00–235.00 $229.55 $1,194 +3.05
557–588 579 167 217.00–234.00 $230.04 $1,332 +11.46
614 fancy 614 28 229.00 $229.00 $1,406 —
602–649 637 263 209.00–225.00 $217.15 $1,383 +3.44
650–660 fancy 652 24 217.00–224.00 $218.48 $1,424 —
651–698 678 262 184.00–219.00 $212.74 $1,442 +16.53
700–746 727 70 186.00–199.00 $193.13 $1,404 +9.83
725–739 735 93 200.50–218.00 $201.55 $1,481 +2.94
760–796 777 127 186.00–197.50 $194.20 $1,509 +15.20
777–798 788 75 172.00–185.00 $176.85 $1,394 +13.85
815–827 825 6 169.00–169.50 $169.42 $1,398 +0.80
846–848 847 34 161.50–162.00 $161.79 $1,370 -6.83
853–865 858 46 181.00–198.50 $189.43 $1,625 +23.19
863–896 894 49 166.00–171.00 $168.04 $1,502 +1.80
958 958 2 160.00 $160.00 $1,533 —
967 967 55 157.75 $157.75 $1,525 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
376–380 378 9 228.00–235.00 $231.87 $876 —
406 unweaned 406 7 200.00 $200.00 $812 —
418–445 424 39 230.00–231.00 $230.87 $979 +8.76
460–498 482 56 212.50–229.50 $225.16 $1,085 +5.44
515–548 530 49 211.00–225.00 $221.93 $1,176 +10.07
562–599 589 155 203.00–215.00 $209.96 $1,237 +13.40
607–643 626 44 194.00–207.00 $201.03 $1,258 +13.78
655–693 678 5 170.00–194.00 $179.28 $1,216 -5.53
713–743 730 22 167.00–171.00 $168.67 $1,231 -0.57
809 809 8 161.50 $161.50 $1,307 +12.50
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–393 384 12 232.00–244.00 $234.78 $902 —
423–428 428 57 228.00–239.00 $229.29 $981 —
530–547 542 38 206.00–215.00 $210.31 $1,140 —
550–585 571 10 205.00–211.00 $208.69 $1,192 —
743 743 4 167.00 $167.00 $1,241 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
467 467 3 229.00 $229.00 $1,069 —
591 591 14 215.00 $215.00 $1,271 —
600 600 2 208.50 $208.50 $1,251 —
680–690 684 8 189.00–196.00 $191.65 $1,311 —
737 737 14 177.50 $177.50 $1,308 —
1060 1060 2 141.00 $141.00 $1,495 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
515 515 3 185.00 $185.00 $953 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
392 392 3 210.00 $210.00 $823 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
478 478 7 232.50 $232.50 $1,111 —
500 500 4 230.00–252.50 $241.25 $1,206 —
580 580 3 225.00 $225.00 $1,305 —
610–648 638 11 209.00–210.00 $209.26 $1,335 -11.74
715–733 731 8 191.00–196.00 $195.39 $1,428 -3.61
885 885 1 151.00 $151.00 $1,336 —
940 940 4 156.00 $156.00 $1,466 -4.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010 1010 4 157.00 $157.00 $1,586 —
1061–1090 1074 8 145.00–155.00 $146.76 $1,576 —
1105–1130 1124 8 121.00–124.00 $121.49 $1,366 —
1160 fancy 1160 3 140.00 $140.00 $1,624 —
1160–1185 1173 2 120.00–122.00 $121.01 $1,419 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
485 485 4 220.00 $220.00 $1,067 ±0.00
527–535 528 6 227.00–230.00 $227.51 $1,201 +17.51
561 561 5 213.00 $213.00 $1,195 —
627–640 630 4 157.50–192.50 $183.61 $1,157 —
830 830 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,349 —
928 928 2 147.00 $147.00 $1,364 —
985 985 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,379 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
473 473 2 205.00 $205.00 $970 —
583 583 3 197.00 $197.00 $1,149 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1265–1765 1402 80-85% 83 87.00–98.00 $92.73 $1,300 -0.79
1320–1525 1418 80-85% 54 86.50–96.00 $91.94 $1,304 +7.36
1315–1665 1431 80-85% 31 80.00–93.00 $86.88 $1,243 -4.00
1350–1770 1472 80-85% 15 96.75–104.50 $98.97 $1,457 —
1500–1535 1518 80-85% 2 86.00–93.00 $89.46 $1,358 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
890 890 85-90% 1 92.50 $92.50 $823 —
940–985 962 85-90% 9 75.00–82.00 $80.32 $773 +4.33
1090–1240 1145 85-90% 3 85.00–87.00 $85.63 $980 —
1085–1240 1166 85-90% 4 66.00–76.00 $69.90 $815 -1.78
1000–1395 1169 85-90% 65 72.00–85.00 $80.09 $936 +8.41
1020–1390 1228 85-90% 94 84.50–95.00 $88.92 $1,092 +0.56
1145–1315 1240 85-90% 3 95.00–97.00 $95.68 $1,186 +7.32
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1421–1620 1466 75-80% 27 93.50–100.00 $95.00 $1,393 —
1538 1538 75-80% 2 89.00 $89.00 $1,369 —
1328–1951 1565 75-80% 77 93.00–97.50 $94.74 $1,483 -3.50
1335–1935 1626 75-80% 20 86.00–92.50 $89.70 $1,459 —
1625–1775 1700 75-80% 2 98.00–98.50 $98.26 $1,670 —
2000 2000 75-80% 1 81.00 $81.00 $1,620 —
2010 2010 75-80% 2 92.00 $92.00 $1,849 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1175–1295 1235 2 85.00–93.00 $88.81 $1,097 —
1183–1506 1375 14 110.00–121.00 $116.34 $1,600 —
1425–2105 1642 15 85.00–108.00 $99.16 $1,628 —
1550–1905 1715 3 114.00–118.00 $116.08 $1,991 —
1430–2165 1776 32 107.00–120.00 $115.94 $2,059 —
1840 1840 1 123.00 $123.00 $2,263 —
1821–2380 1896 19 121.00–139.00 $125.70 $2,383 +14.76

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
795 thin fleshed 795 (<2 yrs)Open 1 121.00 $121.00 $962
753–1550 970 (<2 yrs)Open 138 117.00–163.00 $142.33 $1,381
850–1605 1153 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 97 85.00–132.00 $104.66 $1,207
1435 fancy 1435 (<2 yrs)Open 1 140.00 $140.00 $2,009
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
843–990 875 (<2 yrs)Open 10 108.00–142.00 $128.19 $1,122
865–995 939 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 84.00–106.00 $93.72 $880
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
738–930 853 (<2 yrs)Open 5 139.00–145.00 $141.08 $1,203

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1256–1283 thin fleshed 1264 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,150.00–1,350.00 $1,291.99
1090–1591 1318 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 20 1,650.00–2,050.00 $1,933.35
1141–1735 1373 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 67 1,700.00–2,050.00 $2,005.85
1295–1565 1378 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 43 1,325.00–1,650.00 $1,467.61
1405–1466 1450 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 26 1,450.00–2,025.00 $1,905.73
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1090–1167 1155 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 15 1,400.00–1,675.00 $1,627.19

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Bred Heifers

Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
966 966 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 1,450.00 $1,450.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1005 1005 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,375.00 $1,375.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1052 1052 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 2,000.00 $2,000.00 —

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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.