Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 10, 2023

5,445 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 heifers $229.90/cwt +16.60 vs last sale · ≈ $1,428/hd at 621 lb · 289 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $203.59/cwt +15.32 vs last sale · ≈ $1,483/hd at 729 lb · 272 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $229.03/cwt +16.37 vs last sale · ≈ $1,541/hd at 673 lb · 246 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,445 2,280 4,522
Feeder cattle 3,953 929 3,859
Slaughter cattle 898 725 248
Replacement cattle 594 626 415

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steers 550-750 lbs sold mostly 12.00-15.00 higher, with instances of 20.00 higher seen at times. Heifers 500-749 lbs sold 15.00-20.00 higher with instances of 30.00 higher seen at times. All other weights of steers and heifers were too lightly tested last week to develop a full market trend, higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive, and much more attractive than last week. Cattle were offered in all package sizes from singles to load lots and in-between. Demand was very good for all offerings as CME positions continue to push higher and record high fat cattle prices are being seen. The best demand continues to be seen for grass cattle as both order-buyers and ranchers compete over offerings. Market activity was mostly active this week with a large crowd on hand at every sell. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packer buyers showed good demand for both slaughter and feeding cows this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00 higher on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold fully steady. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00-3.00 higher. Feeding cows sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Cow and bull quality was average to attractive this week. Weigh up conditions were mixed from below average to above average. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on very good demand. These offerings sold mostly 10.00 higher with instances of 20.00 higher seen at times.

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
365 unweaned 365 14 287.50 $287.50 $1,049 —
368–397 384 21 296.00–325.00 $313.36 $1,203 —
410–443 430 33 292.50–315.00 $299.68 $1,289 —
455 unweaned 455 5 268.00 $268.00 $1,219 —
450–493 466 37 273.00–295.00 $289.72 $1,350 —
500–549 523 125 266.00–289.00 $277.89 $1,453 —
553 thin fleshed 553 2 280.00 $280.00 $1,548 —
552–598 573 105 254.00–274.00 $261.93 $1,501 +9.74
581 581 5 252.50 $252.50 $1,467 +0.31
604–646 628 214 242.00–259.00 $250.37 $1,572 +19.67
656 thin fleshed 656 4 250.00 $250.00 $1,640 —
654–697 673 242 220.00–238.00 $228.68 $1,539 +11.19
701–745 722 158 211.00–224.00 $215.95 $1,559 +16.05
766 thin fleshed 766 80 224.00 $224.00 $1,716 —
755–775 773 28 196.00–208.00 $196.94 $1,522 +2.64
800–826 818 24 187.00–195.00 $190.74 $1,560 —
822 822 5 183.00 $183.00 $1,504 —
872 872 16 176.00 $176.00 $1,535 -11.22
902 902 21 178.50–179.00 $178.76 $1,612 +6.52
933 933 3 173.00 $173.00 $1,614 +0.76
975 975 5 178.00 $178.00 $1,736 +3.00
1040 1040 2 175.50 $175.50 $1,825 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 1 295.00 $295.00 $1,106 —
415–437 429 23 270.00–280.00 $274.58 $1,178 —
454–490 472 21 259.00–285.00 $268.57 $1,268 +12.27
519–538 525 35 257.50–272.50 $265.84 $1,396 +20.58
553–593 581 25 227.00–252.50 $239.15 $1,389 +4.15
627–640 631 21 232.00–245.00 $238.03 $1,502 —
650–695 684 35 200.00–220.00 $212.18 $1,451 +4.57
700–748 731 10 191.00–201.00 $196.00 $1,433 —
785 785 1 193.00 $193.00 $1,515 —
870 870 4 170.00–177.00 $171.75 $1,494 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
542 542 3 262.50 $262.50 $1,423 —
575 575 11 226.00 $226.00 $1,300 —
948 948 9 177.00 $177.00 $1,678 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
501 501 4 212.50 $212.50 $1,065 —
688 688 6 185.00 $185.00 $1,273 —
721 721 9 186.00 $186.00 $1,341 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
352 352 6 265.00 $265.00 $933 -0.05

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365–393 381 12 270.00–275.00 $271.09 $1,033 +18.59
386 fancy 386 10 287.00 $287.00 $1,108 —
400 fancy 400 13 280.00 $280.00 $1,120 —
405–448 438 54 261.00–277.50 $270.88 $1,186 +32.38
455–481 478 50 245.00–268.00 $263.99 $1,262 —
501–544 516 103 235.00–267.00 $254.76 $1,315 +23.99
517 fancy 517 10 257.00 $257.00 $1,329 —
529 unweaned 529 7 220.00 $220.00 $1,164 —
551–592 578 116 225.00–256.00 $246.08 $1,422 +19.09
600–645 621 289 218.50–239.00 $229.90 $1,428 +16.60
650–695 663 80 204.00–222.00 $215.29 $1,427 +5.29
700–749 728 258 184.00–208.50 $203.62 $1,482 +15.35
737 737 11 206.00 $206.00 $1,518 +17.73
748 748 3 192.00 $192.00 $1,436 +3.73
750–775 763 25 182.50–198.00 $188.79 $1,440 +19.60
759–775 769 74 199.00–205.50 $201.06 $1,546 +31.87
800–804 802 39 191.00–193.00 $191.87 $1,539 +17.87
806 806 40 186.50 $186.50 $1,503 +12.50
851–880 860 70 185.50–187.00 $185.96 $1,599 —
857–878 869 7 180.00–186.00 $182.54 $1,586 —
921 921 18 180.00 $180.00 $1,658 —
958 958 3 164.00 $164.00 $1,571 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
762–786 775 88 1,560.00–1,575.00 $1,566.70 —
818 818 126 1,625.00 $1,625.00 —
862 862 52 1,725.00 $1,725.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380–399 394 7 232.50–259.00 $239.81 $945 +9.81
420–444 429 37 241.00–255.00 $248.44 $1,066 —
470–483 478 29 240.00–242.50 $240.17 $1,148 —
500–548 522 43 214.00–245.00 $232.11 $1,212 +7.11
558–599 581 85 205.00–238.00 $231.40 $1,344 +13.90
600–623 615 5 202.00–212.00 $210.05 $1,292 -3.95
653–678 668 46 180.00–206.50 $196.57 $1,313 —
735 735 6 195.00 $195.00 $1,433 —
805–814 812 8 175.00–176.00 $175.75 $1,427 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
327–348 337 16 260.00–272.50 $265.54 $895 +30.54
379 379 7 260.00 $260.00 $985 +24.20
499 499 4 227.00 $227.00 $1,133 —
534 534 9 248.00 $248.00 $1,324 —
560 560 3 210.00 $210.00 $1,176 —
643 643 6 204.00 $204.00 $1,312 —
694 694 4 200.00 $200.00 $1,388 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
581–590 583 12 219.00–230.00 $227.22 $1,325 —
638 638 2 209.00 $209.00 $1,333 —
818 818 4 173.00 $173.00 $1,415 -2.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
528–545 535 5 197.00–215.00 $207.66 $1,111 —
572 572 3 186.00 $186.00 $1,064 —
693 693 8 169.50 $169.50 $1,175 —
Medium 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510 510 6 160.00 $160.00 $816 —
621 621 4 140.00 $140.00 $869 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
600 600 6 171.00 $171.00 $1,026 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
543 543 6 257.50 $257.50 $1,398 +18.04
553–561 558 7 227.00–235.00 $231.60 $1,292 -4.73
612–643 624 5 219.00–236.00 $229.00 $1,429 +15.41
683–693 688 4 194.00–195.00 $194.50 $1,338 +7.50
726 726 4 193.00 $193.00 $1,401 —
783 783 2 188.00 $188.00 $1,472 +19.35
910–925 919 9 150.00–171.00 $160.12 $1,472 +0.12
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
795 795 1 172.00 $172.00 $1,367 —
1000–1028 1025 9 155.00–167.00 $165.70 $1,698 —
1095 1095 1 148.00 $148.00 $1,621 —
1140–1149 1146 6 143.00–150.00 $147.68 $1,692 —
1220–1230 1225 2 139.00–140.00 $139.50 $1,709 —
1263 1263 2 129.00 $129.00 $1,629 —
1315 1315 4 133.00 $133.00 $1,749 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455–490 481 14 245.00–255.00 $251.62 $1,210 —
500–505 501 5 230.00–235.00 $231.01 $1,157 —
645 645 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,387 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
770–995 900 85-90% 11 74.00–87.00 $80.52 $725 —
925 925 85-90% 1 86.00 $86.00 $796 +8.56
930–1285 1113 85-90% 14 81.00–87.50 $84.30 $938 +1.76
1140 1140 85-90% 1 61.00 $61.00 $695 -21.54
1015–1380 1144 85-90% 79 74.00–88.00 $82.06 $939 -0.48
1005–1336 1191 85-90% 80 85.00–97.00 $90.97 $1,083 —
1005–1390 1220 85-90% 73 86.00–95.50 $92.07 $1,123 +3.56
1100–1301 1243 85-90% 26 97.00–106.50 $102.22 $1,271 +12.11
1211–1443 1349 85-90% 18 96.00–108.00 $104.13 $1,405 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1275–1720 1393 80-85% 26 84.50–91.00 $87.24 $1,215 -16.82
1290–1600 1394 80-85% 16 100.00–107.00 $102.61 $1,430 -1.45
1210–1495 1398 80-85% 9 100.00–105.00 $102.79 $1,437 +7.19
1225–1659 1399 80-85% 110 90.00–100.75 $95.52 $1,336 -0.08
1245–1620 1405 80-85% 113 88.00–99.25 $94.66 $1,330 +0.04
1369–1580 1431 80-85% 17 87.00–92.00 $89.05 $1,274 -2.34
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1488 1488 75-80% 2 102.00 $102.00 $1,518 —
1510–1535 1526 75-80% 6 92.00–95.00 $93.49 $1,427 —
1448–1700 1543 75-80% 4 99.50–100.25 $99.98 $1,543 —
1495–1803 1622 75-80% 44 95.50–101.00 $98.33 $1,595 +1.34
1515–1860 1638 75-80% 17 88.00–94.50 $92.07 $1,508 -0.59
1570–1710 1640 75-80% 6 101.50–107.00 $103.57 $1,699 +10.91
2037 2037 75-80% 3 98.50 $98.50 $2,006 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1180 1180 1 124.00 $124.00 $1,463 +16.00
1305 1305 1 124.00 $124.00 $1,618 +6.32
1125–1495 1344 12 94.00–111.00 $104.54 $1,405 -13.14
1085–1600 1372 10 109.00–122.00 $117.52 $1,612 —
1552 1552 3 111.00 $111.00 $1,723 —
1430–2130 1734 20 93.00–112.50 $103.44 $1,794 -15.28
1500–2300 1801 21 109.00–122.00 $116.08 $2,091 —
1680–2130 1916 15 123.50–144.00 $136.41 $2,614 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2090–2350 2178 3 123.00–131.00 $125.88 $2,742 +9.88

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
814–964 fancy 893 (<2 yrs)Open 42 190.00–205.00 $195.62 $1,747
790–1385 989 (<2 yrs)Open 281 120.00–187.00 $162.37 $1,606
855–1390 1125 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 153 93.50–160.00 $116.45 $1,310
1165 1165 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 95.00 $95.00 $1,107
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
721–1080 904 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 15 87.00–116.00 $96.83 $875
705–1140 945 (<2 yrs)Open 9 119.00–156.00 $136.89 $1,294
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
685 685 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 125.00 $125.00 $856
720–880 800 (<2 yrs)Open 4 150.00–167.00 $155.83 $1,247
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
865–1330 1098 (<2 yrs)Open 2 121.00–156.00 $134.79 $1,480
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
795 795 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 84.00 $84.00 $668

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1208 1208 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,785.00 $1,785.00
1285–1323 1310 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,975.00 $1,975.00

↑ Back to top

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.