Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 24, 2023

8,153 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 $249.73/cwt +15.54 vs last sale · ≈ $1,561/hd at 625 lb · 703 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $234.96/cwt +19.00 vs last sale · ≈ $1,570/hd at 668 lb · 413 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $254.98/cwt +16.33 vs last sale · ≈ $1,469/hd at 576 lb · 361 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 8,153 4,248 7,264
Feeder cattle 6,608 572 4,393
Slaughter cattle 712 682 1,408
Replacement cattle 833 452 1,463

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed on steers under 550 lbs and higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed on steers over 550 lbs; Heifers under 500 lbs sold with generally steady undertones, heifers over 500 lbs sold with higher to sharply higher undertones. Demand was mostly good to very good this week for moderate offerings. Quality was average to very attractive, and much higher than last weeks sales. CME positions continue to push higher giving additional support for feeder cattle. The best demand continues to be seen for grass cattle as both order-buyers and local ranchers compete over cattle. Market activity was mostly active this week as with a large crowd on hand at all sales. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers continue to put high quality cows away on feed and these offerings sold on very good demand. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold generally steady. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Feeding cows sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Cow and bull quality was average this week. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on very good demand. These offerings sold steady to firm.

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
374 374 5 275.00 $275.00 $1,028 —
420–445 434 28 250.00–295.00 $281.74 $1,223 -13.26
457–496 491 197 265.00–299.00 $294.94 $1,448 +7.91
501–545 530 113 250.00–290.00 $275.98 $1,463 +3.48
550–590 563 290 266.00–295.00 $279.99 $1,576 +19.87
600–649 631 199 235.50–297.50 $263.18 $1,661 +13.84
650–697 675 233 227.00–265.00 $243.30 $1,642 +12.83
704–745 729 244 210.00–248.00 $235.62 $1,718 +17.52
754–798 776 246 198.00–221.00 $208.20 $1,616 +7.49
805–820 814 113 187.00–204.00 $201.20 $1,638 —
855–875 869 89 178.00–201.00 $197.38 $1,715 +6.38
916–931 920 38 174.00–196.00 $186.65 $1,717 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–390 375 11 215.00–235.00 $226.76 $850 -68.24
426–445 435 13 242.50–247.50 $245.74 $1,069 -27.52
465–485 475 2 225.00–235.00 $229.89 $1,092 -32.61
510–520 513 3 220.00–254.00 $242.52 $1,244 -22.48
581–583 582 8 245.00–265.00 $252.52 $1,470 +1.52
605–638 629 31 200.00–245.00 $224.44 $1,412 -8.06
672–696 684 34 210.00–228.00 $221.47 $1,515 —
700–748 716 51 199.00–225.00 $214.67 $1,537 +6.67
763–778 774 65 205.00–219.50 $213.76 $1,655 —
815 815 1 186.00 $186.00 $1,516 —
860 860 1 184.00 $184.00 $1,582 —
915–920 918 6 182.00–186.00 $183.99 $1,689 —
950–988 972 7 178.00–182.00 $180.32 $1,753 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
568 568 2 274.00 $274.00 $1,556 —
621–646 638 42 224.00–241.00 $235.88 $1,505 —
710–738 718 33 219.00–221.00 $220.44 $1,583 —
758 758 11 199.00 $199.00 $1,508 —
825 825 4 191.00 $191.00 $1,576 —
896 896 5 189.00 $189.00 $1,693 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470 470 2 215.00 $215.00 $1,010 —
672–684 676 12 197.50–226.00 $216.55 $1,464 —
743 743 22 230.00 $230.00 $1,709 —
770 770 1 181.00 $181.00 $1,394 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
600 600 2 175.00 $175.00 $1,050 —
750 750 4 174.00 $174.00 $1,305 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410–435 423 2 190.00 $190.00 $804 —
660 660 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,221 —
725 725 1 208.00 $208.00 $1,508 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
374–398 387 118 220.00–251.00 $234.82 $909 -22.34
413–433 422 36 247.50–269.00 $257.62 $1,087 -11.48
470–495 484 92 212.50–281.00 $263.74 $1,277 -2.72
500–545 523 152 223.00–274.00 $258.92 $1,354 +2.58
550–599 576 361 223.00–271.00 $254.98 $1,469 +16.33
600–643 625 703 213.00–260.50 $249.73 $1,561 +15.54
651–694 668 413 194.00–246.00 $234.96 $1,570 +17.18
701–739 722 287 190.00–234.00 $220.59 $1,593 +11.65
751–769 765 42 199.00–208.00 $206.77 $1,582 +37.77
805–836 817 79 181.00–203.00 $196.06 $1,602 —
858–878 866 10 175.00–189.00 $180.68 $1,565 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
362 362 3 261.00 $261.00 $945 +16.00
408–440 420 22 202.50–247.50 $219.54 $922 -30.40
479–490 484 13 195.00–247.00 $235.28 $1,139 +5.41
500–540 519 61 220.00–250.50 $240.66 $1,249 +17.66
550–590 564 37 207.50–242.00 $234.00 $1,320 +19.20
600–643 628 25 191.00–219.00 $199.75 $1,254 -20.14
654–694 672 17 192.50–213.00 $205.05 $1,378 +1.02
705–744 736 9 185.00–200.00 $186.82 $1,375 —
755–790 781 10 181.00–193.00 $190.61 $1,489 +28.87
825 825 1 177.00 $177.00 $1,460 —
895 895 1 179.00 $179.00 $1,602 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
369 369 4 230.00 $230.00 $849 —
403–430 407 31 221.50–238.00 $224.31 $913 —
470 470 1 155.00 $155.00 $728 —
515–533 529 5 211.00–217.50 $212.26 $1,123 —
561 561 13 241.00 $241.00 $1,352 —
698 698 14 215.00 $215.00 $1,501 —
908 908 29 175.50 $175.50 $1,594 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
683 683 6 173.00 $173.00 $1,182 —
794 794 31 174.50 $174.50 $1,386 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
548 548 2 228.00 $228.00 $1,249 —
616 616 5 229.00 $229.00 $1,411 —
730–738 732 26 192.00–214.00 $208.88 $1,529 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 2 195.00 $195.00 $673 —
542 542 3 200.00 $200.00 $1,084 —
655–673 664 4 221.00–232.50 $226.67 $1,505 —
837 837 13 180.50 $180.50 $1,511 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 1 205.00 $205.00 $615 —
365 365 1 140.00 $140.00 $511 —
415 415 1 130.00 $130.00 $540 -92.50
460–482 471 6 185.00–230.00 $208.03 $980 +4.34
510–543 530 4 170.00–190.00 $181.44 $962 —
565 565 1 217.50 $217.50 $1,229 —
635 635 1 207.00 $207.00 $1,314 —
660 660 2 196.00 $196.00 $1,294 —
785 785 3 185.00 $185.00 $1,452 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423 423 2 255.00 $255.00 $1,079 —
495–499 498 14 225.00–255.00 $248.61 $1,238 —
507–508 507 14 245.00–267.00 $262.28 $1,330 —
569 569 29 237.50 $237.50 $1,351 —
608 608 14 245.00 $245.00 $1,490 —
753 753 4 191.00 $191.00 $1,438 -5.00
955 955 1 176.00 $176.00 $1,681 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1070 1065 3 137.00–140.00 $137.99 $1,470 —
1168 1168 10 139.00 $139.00 $1,624 ±0.00
1300 1300 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,690 —
1350 1350 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,688 -10.00
1400 1400 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,750 —
1558 1558 2 120.00 $120.00 $1,870 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 2 170.00 $170.00 $612 —
860 860 3 172.00 $172.00 $1,479 —
919–930 920 10 167.00–170.00 $169.70 $1,561 —
1065 1065 1 147.00 $147.00 $1,566 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1011–1015 1012 5 157.00–166.50 $158.91 $1,608 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
483 483 2 262.50 $262.50 $1,268 +17.47

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1060–1325 1213 80-85% 29 81.00–89.00 $85.53 $1,037 —
955–1375 1230 80-85% 35 89.00–98.00 $92.55 $1,138 —
1045–1383 1255 80-85% 18 83.00–88.50 $86.70 $1,088 —
1120–1460 1264 80-85% 20 97.00–105.50 $101.92 $1,288 —
953–1567 1287 80-85% 92 88.00–97.50 $93.49 $1,203 —
1130–1810 1343 80-85% 10 99.50–105.00 $101.30 $1,360 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235–1435 1335 75-80% 4 81.00–92.00 $87.55 $1,169 —
1265–1825 1476 75-80% 17 79.00–92.00 $88.43 $1,305 —
1305–1635 1493 75-80% 22 92.50–98.50 $96.05 $1,434 —
1308–2023 1513 75-80% 50 92.00–98.00 $94.83 $1,435 —
1260–1791 1523 75-80% 49 99.00–107.00 $101.93 $1,552 —
1250–1789 1533 75-80% 32 99.00–105.50 $101.59 $1,557 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
800–845 815 85-90% 3 100.00–101.00 $100.65 $820 —
850 850 85-90% 1 88.00 $88.00 $748 —
820–945 877 85-90% 3 78.00–81.00 $79.29 $695 —
885 885 85-90% 1 72.00 $72.00 $637 —
868–1080 953 85-90% 5 71.00–73.00 $71.91 $685 -15.09
930–1140 1000 85-90% 3 95.00–102.00 $99.34 $993 —
1053–1075 1064 85-90% 4 81.00–82.00 $81.51 $867 —
870–1420 1130 85-90% 43 75.00–82.50 $79.47 $898 -8.53
1040–1245 1143 85-90% 2 103.00–109.00 $106.27 $1,215 +18.27
950–1298 1157 85-90% 13 85.50–94.00 $90.60 $1,048 +7.26
995–1430 1187 85-90% 40 83.00–93.00 $88.19 $1,047 -12.53

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1188–1195 1191 13 139.00–146.00 $142.24 $1,694 —
1338 1338 2 116.00 $116.00 $1,552 —
1480 1480 1 107.00 $107.00 $1,584 —
1310–2365 1583 12 89.00–110.00 $103.26 $1,635 —
1200–2255 1756 45 107.00–124.50 $115.76 $2,033 -0.95
1080–2295 1781 19 124.00–143.00 $129.08 $2,299 +12.37

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
690–1170 908 (<2 yrs)Open 138 146.50–192.00 $173.53 $1,576
715–1215 1062 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 5 119.50–150.00 $128.15 $1,361
910–1304 1132 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 28 99.00–140.50 $124.75 $1,412
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
920–1250 1031 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 99.00–154.00 $117.93 $1,216
825–1208 1089 (<2 yrs)Open 26 119.00–154.50 $138.02 $1,503
1320–1395 1347 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 91.00–95.00 $93.34 $1,257

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1095 1095 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,400.00 $1,400.00
1185 1185 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,550.00 $1,550.00
900–1705 1224 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 23 1,650.00–2,375.00 $2,168.62
1348–1670 1472 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 12 1,700.00–2,000.00 $1,905.02
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
875 875 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,450.00 $1,450.00
1113 1113 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,300.00 $1,300.00
1185–1385 1314 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,250.00–1,900.00 $1,443.83
1250–1493 1371 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,525.00–2,000.00 $1,749.79
1368–1560 1480 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,300.00–1,600.00 $1,461.90
1343–1647 1487 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 1,750.00–2,125.00 $1,918.74

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
908–1098 952 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 24 1,200.00–1,925.00 $1,787.04
981–1130 1028 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 1,325.00–1,350.00 $1,329.52
1175 1175 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,700.00 $1,700.00

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1103 1103 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,400.00 $2,400.00 —
872–1552 1207 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 171 1,600.00–3,200.00 $2,842.73 —
1240–1360 1300 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,200.00–2,400.00 $2,304.62 —
1426 1426 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 6 2,375.00 $2,375.00 —
943–1630 1455 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 51 1,250.00–3,050.00 $2,874.72 —
1482 1482 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 5 2,200.00 $2,200.00 —
1674–1850 1691 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 2,300.00–3,350.00 $2,579.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1153 1153 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,150.00 $2,150.00 —
1265 1265 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 1,375.00 $1,375.00 —
1030–1469 1333 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 19 1,450.00–1,800.00 $1,767.58 —
1000–1500 1392 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 25 2,250.00–2,600.00 $2,564.08 —
1435–1542 1502 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 17 2,100.00–2,500.00 $2,406.72 —
1580 1580 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1137 1137 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 2,050.00 $2,050.00 —
1425 1425 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —
1270–1518 1467 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 5 1,600.00–2,050.00 $1,889.33 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1465–1580 1542 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 2,000.00–2,250.00 $2,170.81 —

↑ 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.