Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 8, 2023

4,294 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 $226.13/cwt -1.84 vs last sale · ≈ $1,398/hd at 618 lb · 59 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $240.73/cwt -7.59 vs last sale · ≈ $1,242/hd at 516 lb · 48 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $221.33/cwt +1.69 vs last sale · ≈ $1,275/hd at 576 lb · 34 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,294 2,721 4,298
Feeder cattle 763 724 1,571
Slaughter cattle 1,363 1,205 1,368
Replacement cattle 2,168 792 1,359

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 plain to average. With limited offerings seen local ranchers and order buyers bid aggressively as they tried to fill loads for the week. CME positions struggled early in the week, but saw stronger prices to end the week. Rain fell off and on from Wednesday through Saturday evening and provided from half an inch up to 2.5 inches in some locations. Grass cattle continue to sell with the best demand. Market activity was mostly active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Packers opted to send much of the cow offering to feed this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to firm on all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Feeding cows sold steady to weak on a lower quality offering this week. Cow and bull quality was plain to average this week. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average with lots of full cows on offer. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to firm on good to very good demand. A large buyer pool was seen this week and demand was good as buyers competed over attractive offerings. Cow calf pairs sold on moderate to good demand for moderate offerings this week. Quality was average to attractive. Fewer takers were seen for cow calf and heifer pairs this week and prices were not as robust the last special two weeks ago.

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
501–522 513 9 279.00–295.00 $285.95 $1,467 +10.56
560–565 563 2 257.50–263.00 $260.26 $1,465 -15.14
579 unweaned 579 5 271.00 $271.00 $1,569 —
633–640 635 3 260.00 $260.00 $1,651 +3.63
650 650 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,658 +7.88
710–730 717 12 220.00–239.00 $224.90 $1,613 -8.79
845 845 2 196.00 $196.00 $1,656 —
870 870 2 190.00 $190.00 $1,653 +0.63
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
458–487 479 7 267.50–290.00 $273.65 $1,311 +2.54
546 546 4 267.50 $267.50 $1,461 +18.50
550–585 567 3 237.50–250.00 $242.63 $1,376 +5.77
690 690 1 204.00 $204.00 $1,408 -10.00
725–743 734 4 210.00–225.00 $217.59 $1,597 +8.73
771–780 773 6 202.00 $202.00 $1,561 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
515 515 5 215.00 $215.00 $1,107 —
585 585 5 195.00 $195.00 $1,141 —
785 785 7 180.00 $180.00 $1,413 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
671 671 7 198.00 $198.00 $1,329 —
742 742 3 190.00 $190.00 $1,410 +15.55
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
830 830 4 193.00 $193.00 $1,602 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
424 unweaned 424 4 280.00 $280.00 $1,187 —
475–482 480 4 242.50–250.00 $248.15 $1,191 -2.48
506–529 516 48 237.50–243.00 $240.73 $1,242 -8.64
583 unweaned 583 2 227.00 $227.00 $1,323 —
584 584 7 232.00 $232.00 $1,355 -5.12
606–641 617 46 218.00–243.00 $223.34 $1,378 -4.63
622 unweaned 622 13 236.00 $236.00 $1,468 —
655–688 677 31 211.00–230.00 $220.79 $1,495 +2.79
712 fancy 712 6 209.00 $209.00 $1,488 —
708–738 721 14 192.00–207.00 $195.73 $1,411 —
797 fancy 797 9 192.00 $192.00 $1,530 —
857–860 857 29 176.00–182.50 $182.05 $1,560 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430–448 437 16 227.50–237.50 $231.13 $1,010 —
470 470 4 210.00 $210.00 $987 -28.68
493 493 16 237.00 $237.00 $1,168 -1.68
523–547 536 13 222.50–235.00 $228.55 $1,225 +7.37
541 unweaned 541 8 219.00 $219.00 $1,185 —
550–590 576 34 195.00–227.50 $221.33 $1,275 +1.69
602–625 608 10 210.00–225.00 $218.76 $1,330 —
652 652 3 191.00 $191.00 $1,245 -14.35
713–725 717 4 179.00–183.00 $182.00 $1,305 —
753–788 772 9 173.00–183.00 $178.17 $1,375 —
810 810 2 178.00 $178.00 $1,442 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
530–533 532 13 210.00–230.00 $223.87 $1,191 —
708 708 4 177.00 $177.00 $1,253 —
800 800 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,360 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
566 566 7 150.00 $150.00 $849 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
75 75 4 125.00 $125.00 -75.00
167 167 3 350.00 $350.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380 unweaned 380 3 200.00 $200.00 $760 —
439 439 14 220.00 $220.00 $966 —
571 571 9 197.50 $197.50 $1,128 —
727 727 3 173.00 $173.00 $1,258 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
725–733 730 3 181.00–205.00 $197.06 $1,439 +4.63
808 808 3 185.00 $185.00 $1,495 —
870 870 1 178.00 $178.00 $1,549 —
979 979 5 174.00 $174.00 $1,703 -1.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
443 443 4 272.50 $272.50 $1,207 —
1093 1093 3 167.00 $167.00 $1,825 +9.00
1125 1125 1 133.00 $133.00 $1,496 —
1218 1218 2 144.00 $144.00 $1,754 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
85 85 —— 2 220.00 $220.00 +20.00
222 222 —— 3 525.00 $525.00 —
1300 1300 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 2,500.00 $2,500.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,215 -20.19
930 930 2 152.50 $152.50 $1,418 —
1105 1105 1 138.50 $138.50 $1,530 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
815–995 954 85-90% 16 72.00–83.00 $80.14 $765 —
955 955 85-90% 1 64.00 $64.00 $611 —
968–990 981 85-90% 5 85.00–91.00 $87.37 $857 —
1060–1210 1135 85-90% 2 62.50–65.00 $63.83 $724 +0.05
1003–1420 1150 85-90% 119 71.00–86.00 $81.36 $936 -0.12
960–1330 1176 85-90% 144 85.00–96.50 $89.62 $1,054 +8.14
910–1320 1180 85-90% 31 78.00–86.00 $82.16 $969 -7.72
1003–1340 1188 85-90% 116 84.50–92.50 $87.49 $1,039 -2.39
1140–1305 1232 85-90% 24 97.00–105.00 $98.75 $1,217 +3.72
1235–1275 1256 85-90% 6 93.00–98.25 $97.01 $1,218 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895 895 80-85% 1 88.00 $88.00 $788 —
1205–1650 1391 80-85% 185 88.00–99.00 $93.87 $1,306 +2.33
1263–1775 1397 80-85% 70 87.00–97.50 $92.06 $1,286 +0.52
1290–1535 1402 80-85% 64 82.00–89.00 $86.21 $1,209 -9.72
1300–1563 1439 80-85% 10 83.00–88.00 $85.92 $1,236 -16.78
1280–1499 1446 80-85% 39 99.00–103.50 $101.97 $1,474 +17.99
1450–1690 1570 80-85% 2 100.00–103.50 $101.88 $1,600 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1305–1448 1428 75-80% 7 106.50–107.50 $106.63 $1,523 —
1505–1770 1552 75-80% 6 87.00–93.00 $89.76 $1,393 -7.64
1448–1700 1572 75-80% 6 97.00–101.00 $98.58 $1,550 +1.18
1460–1935 1620 75-80% 13 101.50–108.50 $104.73 $1,697 +12.73
1503–1985 1677 75-80% 27 95.00–100.50 $97.48 $1,635 -0.54
1560–1840 1690 75-80% 18 85.00–94.00 $91.05 $1,539 -6.97

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1195 1195 1 84.00 $84.00 $1,004 —
1170–1325 1256 4 102.00–110.00 $106.03 $1,332 —
1313–1575 1411 15 112.00–119.00 $116.08 $1,638 -21.81
1340–1810 1575 30 91.00–111.00 $102.89 $1,621 +2.29
1370–2160 1833 60 111.00–124.00 $118.49 $2,172 +2.54
1688–2495 2076 24 121.50–130.00 $125.93 $2,614 —
2500 2500 6 127.00 $127.00 $3,175 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
827 thin fleshed 827 (<2 yrs)Open 3 150.00 $150.00 $1,240
745–1280 947 (<2 yrs)Open 237 130.00–197.00 $167.44 $1,586
728–1455 1044 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 254 92.00–175.00 $127.76 $1,334
1033–1298 1141 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 20 89.00–116.00 $96.31 $1,099
1385 1385 (<2 yrs)Open 2 122.00 $122.00 $1,690
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
744 thin fleshed 744 (<2 yrs)Open 4 122.50 $122.50 $911
730–1270 1030 (<2 yrs)Open 33 102.00–158.00 $129.58 $1,335
890–1195 1048 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 91.00–110.00 $98.95 $1,037
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
958–960 959 (<2 yrs)Open 9 139.00–141.00 $139.89 $1,342
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
695–710 703 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 105.00–145.00 $124.79 $877
783–795 785 (<2 yrs)Open 6 131.00–140.00 $138.48 $1,087

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1083–1515 1202 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 12 1,700.00–2,100.00 $1,961.03
1265–1365 1317 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 1,575.00–1,900.00 $1,796.05
1340 fancy 1340 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00
1258–1635 1370 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 25 1,350.00–1,850.00 $1,534.20
1460–1465 fancy 1463 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,175.00–2,200.00 $2,187.52
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1120 1120 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1243 1243 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,700.00 $1,700.00
1528 1528 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,650.00 $1,650.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1041 1041 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 2,000.00 $2,000.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
983–1275 1140 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 37 2,225.00–2,675.00 $2,501.67 —
1170 1170 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,500.00 $2,500.00 +50.00
1225 thin fleshed 1225 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 21 2,000.00 $2,000.00 —
1336 thin fleshed 1336 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 9 1,760.00 $1,760.00 —
1269–1550 1347 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 98 1,600.00–1,975.00 $1,720.27 -329.73
1355 1355 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 10 2,585.00 $2,585.00 +285.00
1137–1535 1389 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 42 2,500.00–2,825.00 $2,742.76 +442.76
1325–1563 1429 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 27 1,800.00–2,550.00 $2,183.00 —
1376–1529 1437 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 25 2,000.00–2,100.00 $2,057.45 —
1492 1492 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 5 2,525.00 $2,525.00 +475.00
1542 1542 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 3 1,710.00 $1,710.00 -290.00
1489–1865 1576 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 50 2,350.00–2,775.00 $2,610.36 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1051–1088 1063 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 2,200.00–2,350.00 $2,251.16 —
1104 1104 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 2,200.00 $2,200.00 —
1308 1308 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 8 2,075.00 $2,075.00 —
1232–1378 1326 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 17 1,500.00 $1,500.00 —
1340–1399 1374 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 12 1,500.00–1,575.00 $1,544.53 —
1252–1598 1375 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 27 1,675.00–1,750.00 $1,699.16 —
1412 1412 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 18 1,650.00 $1,650.00 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1035 1035 (<2 yrs)Open 27 2,925.00 $2,925.00 —
1158–1303 1191 (<2 yrs)Open 244 2,700.00–3,025.00 $2,911.66 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
977–1044 1032 (<2 yrs)Open 33 2,350.00–2,375.00 $2,353.07 —

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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.