Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 1, 2023

2,721 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $248.32/cwt -10.60 vs last sale · ≈ $1,317/hd at 530 lb · 60 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $247.12/cwt +3.82 vs last sale · ≈ $1,666/hd at 674 lb · 55 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $237.12/cwt -17.86 vs last sale · ≈ $1,349/hd at 569 lb · 32 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,721 8,153 3,530
Feeder cattle 724 6,608 1,480
Slaughter cattle 1,205 712 992
Replacement cattle 792 833 1,058

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed on all cattle on offer. Demand was mostly good to very good this week for light offerings. Quality was mostly plain to average. Local ranchers and order buyers bid aggressively this week over limited offerings which helped keep prices similar to last weeks feeder special week. CME positions struggled this week as several days saw triple digit losses. However, many ranchers continue to push to fill summer pastures and prices remained generally steady for another week. The best demand continues to be seen for grass cattle. Recent timely rains have been great for pasture and range conditions as much of the countryside had greened. Market activity was mostly active this week with a large crowd on hand at all sales. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers opted to send much of the cow offering to feed this week. heavier supplies of cows are being seen as seasonal culling is taking place. Additionally pockets of drought around the country are starting to drive cows to market as well. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00 higher on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Feeding cows sold firm in a narrow comparison. Cow and bull quality was average this week. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on very good demand. These offerings sold steady.

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
450–478 474 7 280.00–282.50 $282.16 $1,337 -12.78
508–528 520 5 275.00–276.00 $275.39 $1,432 -0.59
543 543 7 251.00 $251.00 $1,363 -24.98
555–573 572 17 275.00–282.00 $275.40 $1,575 -4.59
583 583 9 246.00 $246.00 $1,434 -33.99
600–633 613 22 250.50–260.00 $256.37 $1,572 -6.81
665–696 674 55 235.00–254.00 $247.12 $1,666 +3.82
708–722 721 19 231.00–234.00 $233.69 $1,685 -1.93
753–759 758 11 211.00–213.00 $212.27 $1,609 +4.07
857–869 865 8 189.00–190.00 $189.37 $1,638 -8.01
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
411 411 7 265.00 $265.00 $1,089 +19.26
461–490 465 8 255.00–279.00 $271.11 $1,261 +41.22
543 543 3 249.00 $249.00 $1,352 +6.48
555–557 557 4 232.50–250.00 $236.86 $1,319 -15.66
648 648 2 242.00 $242.00 $1,568 +17.56
687 687 11 214.00 $214.00 $1,470 -7.47
710–730 719 8 207.00–210.00 $208.86 $1,502 -5.81
884 884 5 175.50 $175.50 $1,551 -8.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
742–745 743 14 168.00–198.00 $174.45 $1,296 -33.55
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 3 287.50 $287.50 $1,021 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
421–449 440 19 254.00–257.50 $255.75 $1,125 -1.87
456 unweaned 456 4 230.00 $230.00 $1,049 —
458–490 476 14 247.50–260.00 $250.63 $1,193 -13.11
505–547 530 58 237.00–258.50 $249.37 $1,322 -9.55
543 unweaned 543 2 218.00 $218.00 $1,184 —
555–592 569 32 224.00–244.00 $237.12 $1,349 -17.86
630–646 637 20 224.00–230.00 $227.97 $1,452 -21.76
663 663 2 218.00 $218.00 $1,445 -16.96
773 773 15 197.50 $197.50 $1,527 -9.27
800 800 6 188.00 $188.00 $1,504 -8.06
897 897 5 174.00 $174.00 $1,561 -6.68
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
382 382 5 240.00 $240.00 $917 -21.00
455–496 476 15 230.00–240.00 $238.68 $1,136 +3.40
505–543 530 5 215.00–226.00 $221.18 $1,172 -19.48
558–593 577 10 200.00–226.00 $219.64 $1,267 -14.36
653–658 656 6 200.00–208.00 $205.35 $1,347 +0.30
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
387 387 9 250.00 $250.00 $968 —
405 405 12 230.00–237.50 $233.75 $947 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
417 417 9 232.50 $232.50 $970 +102.50
483 483 2 212.50 $212.50 $1,026 +4.47
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
341 341 4 225.00 $225.00 $767 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
65–80 73 2 200.00 $200.00 —
85 85 1 200.00 $200.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
466 466 —— 5 250.00 $250.00 $1,165 +1.39
547 unweaned 547 —— 8 285.00 $285.00 $1,559 —
550–583 568 —— 17 237.50–255.00 $246.17 $1,398 +8.67
617 617 —— 3 246.50 $246.50 $1,521 +1.50
650–668 665 —— 25 219.00–228.00 $220.16 $1,464 —
710–740 725 —— 4 189.00–196.00 $192.43 $1,395 —
765 765 —— 3 185.00 $185.00 $1,415 -6.00
964–995 969 —— 6 175.00 $175.00 $1,696 -1.00
1070 1070 (<2 yrs)N/A 2 164.00 $164.00 $1,755 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500–547 528 6 240.00–252.50 $245.19 $1,295 —
603 603 2 230.00 $230.00 $1,387 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
354 354 7 275.00 $275.00 $974 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1060 1060 4 158.00 $158.00 $1,675 +20.01
1155 1155 2 144.00 $144.00 $1,663 +5.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
75 75 1 200.00 $200.00 —
100 100 1 350.00 $350.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
765 765 85-90% 1 60.00 $60.00 $459 —
785–965 920 85-90% 6 70.00–79.00 $73.04 $672 —
970–1145 1068 85-90% 9 83.00–85.00 $84.20 $899 +2.69
1055–1235 1115 85-90% 3 54.00–69.50 $63.78 $711 -15.69
950–1357 1159 85-90% 127 72.00–84.50 $81.48 $944 -9.12
910–1410 1197 85-90% 80 84.00–99.00 $89.88 $1,076 +1.69
1060–1313 1207 85-90% 74 84.00–93.00 $88.38 $1,067 —
1160–1290 1233 85-90% 5 93.50–97.00 $95.03 $1,172 —
1210–1295 1238 85-90% 3 95.00–97.50 $95.87 $1,187 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1310–1500 1378 80-85% 10 84.00–88.00 $86.23 $1,188 —
1293–1765 1398 80-85% 48 86.50–97.00 $91.54 $1,280 —
1255–1595 1421 80-85% 106 87.00–100.50 $95.93 $1,363 —
1290–1655 1439 80-85% 43 99.75–107.00 $102.70 $1,478 —
1230–1645 1440 80-85% 28 75.00–86.00 $83.98 $1,209 —
1445–1485 1476 80-85% 6 99.00–104.50 $102.86 $1,518 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1520–1575 1538 75-80% 3 88.00 $88.00 $1,353 -13.59
1413–1690 1550 75-80% 19 95.00–99.00 $97.40 $1,510 —
1595 1595 75-80% 1 101.00 $101.00 $1,611 —
1645 1645 75-80% 1 92.00 $92.00 $1,513 —
1500–1947 1695 75-80% 20 94.00–101.00 $98.02 $1,661 —
1715–1815 1801 75-80% 37 99.00–107.00 $102.11 $1,839 —
2017–2070 2030 75-80% 4 104.00–106.00 $105.49 $2,141 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–1265 1233 2 87.00–107.00 $97.26 $1,199 —
1155–1550 1372 19 102.00–109.00 $106.65 $1,463 —
1143–1760 1395 10 111.00–123.00 $117.38 $1,637 —
1225–1555 1445 3 130.00–141.00 $137.89 $1,993 —
1470–1825 1588 3 96.00–108.00 $100.60 $1,598 -2.66
1075–1890 1613 34 73.00–111.00 $101.56 $1,638 —
1618–1875 1667 11 112.00–118.00 $114.38 $1,907 —
1490–2260 1830 48 111.00–122.00 $115.95 $2,122 —
1630–2395 1897 51 121.00–133.00 $128.79 $2,443 —
1900–2295 2032 3 125.00 $125.00 $2,540 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1570 1570 1 102.00 $102.00 $1,601 —
2378 2378 2 123.50 $123.50 $2,937 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
780–1285 960 (<2 yrs)Open 214 130.00–188.00 $167.79 $1,611
853–1450 1070 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 158 91.00–161.00 $117.67 $1,259
995–1345 1187 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 14 85.00–103.00 $94.10 $1,117
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
753 thin fleshed 753 (<2 yrs)Open 8 142.00 $142.00 $1,069
720–880 800 (<2 yrs)Open 4 151.00–160.00 $155.05 $1,240
880–1130 915 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 15 100.00–111.00 $105.93 $969
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
915–967 962 (<2 yrs)Open 22 148.00–161.00 $151.65 $1,459
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
725 thin fleshed 725 (<2 yrs)Open 1 120.00 $120.00 $870
690–765 746 (<2 yrs)Open 8 150.00–165.00 $155.22 $1,158

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
983–1316 1198 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 36 1,925.00–2,250.00 $2,086.41
1274 1274 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 1,350.00 $1,350.00
1522 1522 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,835.00 $1,835.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
991 991 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 1,935.00 $1,935.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1100 1100 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 2,100.00 $2,100.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1173 1173 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 14 2,450.00 $2,450.00 —
1345 1345 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 6 2,050.00 $2,050.00 —
1387 1387 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 8 2,300.00 $2,300.00 —
1387 1387 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 2,400.00 $2,400.00 —
1482 1482 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 10 2,050.00 $2,050.00 -150.00
1540 1540 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 3 2,000.00 $2,000.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1503 1503 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 3 1,850.00 $1,850.00 -556.72
1596 1596 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 7 1,900.00 $1,900.00 +100.00

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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.