Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 15, 2023

5,266 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $262.06/cwt +31.17 vs last sale · ≈ $1,533/hd at 585 lb · 303 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $239.91/cwt +13.78 vs last sale · ≈ $1,487/hd at 620 lb · 282 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $239.50/cwt ≈ $1,839/hd at 768 lb · 185 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,266 4,294 8,838
Feeder cattle 2,547 763 2,214
Slaughter cattle 140 1,363 1,945
Replacement cattle 199 2,168 1,356

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all cattle on offer. Demand was mostly good to very good this week. Quality was average to very attractive. Several load lots were seen this week, but demand was good to very good for both packages as well as load lots. Demand for cattle suitable to run on grass continues to be very good as local ranchers and order-buyers were both active in purchasing cattle this week. Spring rains have been very beneficial to pasture and range lands which has further spurred demand for grass cattle. CME feeder cattle positions pushed higher this week as new crop Dec corn fell below 5.00 which helped push feeders higher. 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 on all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Feeding cows sold steady. Cow and bull quality was plain to average this week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady on good to very good demand.

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
319 319 4 270.00 $270.00 $861 —
381–394 385 12 288.00–290.00 $288.68 $1,111 —
417–448 435 34 290.00–297.50 $294.84 $1,283 —
451 thin fleshed 451 6 302.50 $302.50 $1,364 —
461–498 475 64 287.50–292.50 $290.65 $1,381 —
460–485 value added 478 14 299.00–300.00 $299.28 $1,431 —
501 value added 501 22 290.00 $290.00 $1,453 —
503–542 515 92 282.00–289.00 $285.40 $1,470 -0.55
563–597 587 46 273.00–280.00 $278.14 $1,633 +17.88
603–615 605 23 261.00–268.00 $261.93 $1,585 +1.93
608 value added 608 21 273.00 $273.00 $1,660 —
626 thin fleshed 626 8 274.00 $274.00 $1,715 —
650–668 665 65 250.00–265.00 $263.06 $1,749 +8.06
714 thin fleshed 714 6 264.00 $264.00 $1,885 —
729–735 732 18 230.00–242.00 $235.98 $1,727 +11.08
768 768 185 239.50 $239.50 $1,839 —
805–814 807 30 205.00–216.00 $207.59 $1,675 —
851–883 859 29 190.00–203.00 $201.19 $1,728 +11.19
883 value added 883 60 207.00 $207.00 $1,828 —
922–927 926 40 197.00–200.50 $199.54 $1,848 —
1075 1075 2 154.00 $154.00 $1,656 —
1105 1105 2 150.00 $150.00 $1,658 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 4 280.00 $280.00 $1,190 —
585 585 4 259.00 $259.00 $1,515 +16.37
643–646 645 10 240.50–249.00 $243.04 $1,568 —
673 673 11 245.00 $245.00 $1,649 +41.00
725–737 732 12 211.00–225.00 $214.32 $1,569 -3.27
798 798 2 203.00 $203.00 $1,620 +1.00
828 828 2 197.00 $197.00 $1,631 —
915–922 919 5 168.00–182.00 $176.43 $1,621 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
303 303 2 235.00 $235.00 $712 —
389–398 391 10 240.00–250.00 $247.96 $970 —
510 510 2 215.00 $215.00 $1,096 —
579 579 5 230.00 $230.00 $1,332 —
813 813 3 165.00 $165.00 $1,341 —
923 923 2 160.00 $160.00 $1,477 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380 380 11 257.00 $257.00 $977 —
406–445 434 43 255.00–265.00 $259.23 $1,125 —
480–493 488 52 253.00–266.00 $259.88 $1,268 +11.73
521 fancy 521 7 264.00 $264.00 $1,375 —
507–541 522 131 248.00–261.00 $255.35 $1,333 +14.62
550–590 567 95 245.00–260.00 $253.98 $1,440 +21.98
593 value added 593 208 265.75 $265.75 $1,576 —
604–637 620 282 230.00–252.00 $239.91 $1,487 +16.57
654–691 671 31 231.50–243.50 $237.92 $1,596 +17.13
654–682 678 69 239.00–240.50 $239.93 $1,627 +19.14
701–730 723 134 225.00–239.00 $237.33 $1,716 +41.60
750 value added 750 4 226.00 $226.00 $1,695 —
753–794 775 72 196.00–210.00 $205.01 $1,589 —
812–829 813 156 196.00–210.00 $209.35 $1,702 —
853–869 861 8 166.00–178.00 $172.06 $1,481 -9.99
888 888 10 183.00 $183.00 $1,625 +0.95
954 954 7 171.00 $171.00 $1,631 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
412 412 3 247.50 $247.50 $1,020 +16.37
472–483 476 15 241.00–244.00 $242.22 $1,153 +32.22
541 541 13 244.00 $244.00 $1,320 +15.45
553–595 576 23 224.00–239.00 $228.81 $1,318 +7.48
621 621 6 230.00 $230.00 $1,428 +11.24
655–686 672 25 207.00–225.00 $215.10 $1,445 +24.10
709–730 722 10 217.00–222.50 $220.34 $1,591 +38.34
778–791 783 10 177.00–184.00 $181.17 $1,419 +3.00
816–843 829 16 168.00–185.00 $180.46 $1,496 +2.46
888 888 2 166.00 $166.00 $1,474 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
288 288 2 223.00 $223.00 $642 —
373–392 385 8 200.00–207.50 $202.73 $781 —
405–418 412 6 200.00–210.00 $205.08 $845 —
577 577 3 202.50 $202.50 $1,168 —
612 612 3 205.00 $205.00 $1,255 —
655 655 2 197.50 $197.50 $1,294 —
737 737 3 160.00 $160.00 $1,179 —
845 845 3 153.00 $153.00 $1,293 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
473 473 2 282.00 $282.00 $1,334 —
561 561 3 277.50 $277.50 $1,557 —
603 603 2 254.00 $254.00 $1,532 —
725–748 735 9 215.00–225.00 $220.48 $1,621 +23.42
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
514 514 4 252.00 $252.00 $1,295 +27.00
592 592 5 248.00 $248.00 $1,468 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1090–1293 1188 80-85% 30 90.00–99.50 $95.79 $1,138 —
1292 1292 80-85% 3 78.00 $78.00 $1,008 —
1332 1332 80-85% 3 87.50 $87.50 $1,166 —
1120–1393 1337 80-85% 21 92.00–96.00 $93.90 $1,255 —
1365–1755 1560 80-85% 2 101.50–103.00 $102.34 $1,597 +0.46
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1425–1593 1466 75-80% 14 97.00–101.00 $98.25 $1,440 —
1140–1630 1469 75-80% 11 102.50–109.00 $104.42 $1,534 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1070 1037 85-90% 4 68.00–75.00 $71.96 $746 —
1010–1265 1133 85-90% 9 89.00–95.00 $94.16 $1,067 +30.33
1050–1350 1171 85-90% 6 83.00–87.00 $84.20 $986 -5.42

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1510–1530 1520 2 92.00–109.00 $100.56 $1,529 —
1875–2185 2014 4 116.00–123.00 $120.83 $2,434 —
2058 2058 2 131.00 $131.00 $2,696 +5.07

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
862–1081 970 (<2 yrs)Open 39 132.50–180.00 $160.22 $1,554
815–1500 1107 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 25 100.00–175.00 $119.39 $1,322

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1325 1325 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
703–717 708 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 142 1,725.00 $1,725.00

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
140 140 1 90.00 $90.00 $126 —
163–193 185 15 55.00–71.00 $62.54 $116 —
191 191 4 95.00 $95.00 $181 —
195 195 1 80.00 $80.00 $156 —
210–245 224 11 78.00–84.00 $80.77 $181 —
225–245 235 5 73.00–74.00 $73.79 $173 —
260 260 2 74.00–81.00 $77.50 $202 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250 250 Lambs (<1 yr)N/A 1 80.00 $80.00 $200 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
45 45 1 160.00 $160.00 $72 —
100–125 117 6 180.00–205.00 $188.38 $220 —
170 170 1 180.00 $180.00 $306 —
205–225 215 2 187.50–192.50 $189.88 $408 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1400 1400 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 2,250.00 $2,250.00 +67.00

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
101–130 125 44 21.00–30.00 $25.92 $32 —
100–140 131 100 38.00–44.00 $41.02 $54 —
109–149 136 323 50.00–61.00 $56.05 $76 —
125–140 136 34 45.00–48.00 $46.39 $63 —
140–148 147 17 63.00–74.00 $64.35 $95 —
150–152 151 34 64.00–65.50 $64.61 $98 —
150–188 156 71 50.00–62.00 $53.64 $84 —
153–167 157 28 46.00–49.00 $47.11 $74 —
164–180 171 38 49.00–51.00 $50.07 $86 —
158–193 177 41 67.00–72.00 $69.40 $123 —
163–199 181 171 53.00–66.00 $58.21 $105 —
201–238 214 62 61.00–71.00 $68.01 $146 —
215 215 1 66.00 $66.00 $142 —
205–222 218 4 45.00–57.50 $54.56 $119 —
228 228 2 78.00 $78.00 $178 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
103–145 121 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 7 92.50–105.00 $100.14 $121 —
122 122 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Open 5 54.00 $54.00 $66 —
168 168 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Exposed 4 71.00 $71.00 $119 —
180 180 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 68.00 $68.00 $122 —

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Families

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
166 166 Aged (>6yrs)Open 9 125.00 $125.00 —

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
56 56 8 175.00 $175.00 $98 —
63 63 11 205.00 $205.00 $129 —
77 77 10 182.50 $182.50 $141 —
78 78 12 228.00 $228.00 $178 —
83 83 12 190.00 $190.00 $158 —

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Hair Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
135 135 2 140.00 $140.00 $189 —
170 170 1 94.00 $94.00 $160 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
117 117 5 80.00 $80.00 $94 —
125 125 1 89.00 $89.00 $111 —
141 141 6 100.00 $100.00 $141 —

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Hair Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
51 51 12 167.50 $167.50 $85 —
60 60 16 171.00 $171.00 $103 —
108 108 6 161.00 $161.00 $174 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
20 20 4 60.00 $60.00 $12 —
27 27 6 100.00 $100.00 $27 —
30 30 1 130.00 $130.00 $39 —
35 35 1 285.00 $285.00 $100 —
35–38 36 9 265.00–275.00 $269.82 $97 —
38 38 2 180.00 $180.00 $68 —
40 40 1 225.00 $225.00 $90 —
43–45 44 7 215.00–270.00 $242.67 $107 —
44 44 15 125.00 $125.00 $55 —
40–46 45 18 297.50–310.00 $301.89 $136 —
48 48 14 292.50 $292.50 $140 —
50–53 51 5 275.00–285.00 $279.14 $142 —
52–59 54 34 295.00–297.50 $296.33 $160 —
63–68 64 24 265.00–282.50 $277.19 $177 —
75–77 76 8 180.00–185.00 $183.16 $139 —
80 80 2 215.00 $215.00 $172 —
N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
15 15 11 5.00 $5.00 —

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Lambs

Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
40–43 41 15 155.00–157.50 $156.29 $64 —
55 55 7 157.50 $157.50 $87 —
58 58 10 150.00 $150.00 $87 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
67 67 6 150.00 $150.00 $100 —
80 80 22 152.50 $152.50 $122 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
48 48 4 195.00 $195.00 $94 —
71 71 9 197.00 $197.00 $140 —
94 94 4 167.50 $167.50 $157 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
40 40 —— 1 150.00 $150.00 $60 —
60–65 62 —— 7 100.00–130.00 $113.45 $70 —
74–75 74 —— 5 112.50–119.00 $113.81 $84 —
75 75 —— 2 170.00 $170.00 $128 —
80 80 —— 1 60.00 $60.00 $48 —
80 80 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Exposed 4 200.00 $200.00 $160 —
81 81 —— 6 120.00 $120.00 $97 —
85 85 —— 1 152.50 $152.50 $130 —
90–95 92 —— 10 110.00–132.50 $122.87 $113 —
103–135 112 —— 8 115.00–140.00 $128.37 $144 —
115 115 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 130.00 $130.00 $150 —
120–136 129 —— 7 115.00–127.50 $119.98 $155 —
178 178 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 140.00 $140.00 $249 —
182 182 —— 3 112.50 $112.50 $205 —

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Sheep

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
118 thin fleshed 118 15 48.00 $48.00 $57 —
124 thin fleshed 124 31 42.00 $42.00 $52 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
75 75 1 200.00 $200.00 $150 —
113–125 115 5 145.00–192.50 $182.21 $210 —
155 155 1 181.00 $181.00 $281 —

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
50–58 52 27 187.50–205.00 $194.63 $101 —
56–58 56 19 195.00–215.00 $212.83 $119 —
61–67 64 15 181.00–190.00 $185.11 $118 —
66–69 68 70 206.00–211.00 $209.48 $142 —
70–78 73 65 195.00–203.00 $198.62 $145 —
73 73 6 130.00 $130.00 $95 —
74 74 12 160.00 $160.00 $118 —
79 79 5 217.00 $217.00 $171 —
82 82 5 194.00 $194.00 $159 —
84–85 85 117 198.00–212.50 $200.52 $170 —
86 86 7 147.50 $147.50 $127 —
84–89 87 97 220.00–237.00 $225.51 $196 —
90 90 2 155.00 $155.00 $140 —
92–99 95 36 130.00–135.00 $132.97 $126 —
96 96 28 175.00–192.50 $186.25 $179 —
96 96 11 127.50 $127.50 $122 —
104 104 5 181.00 $181.00 $188 —
105–130 123 22 130.00–157.50 $152.14 $187 —

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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.