Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, June 12, 2023

2,270 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 $239.69/cwt -4.39 vs last sale · ≈ $1,515/hd at 632 lb · 32 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $251.29/cwt -6.97 vs last sale · ≈ $1,474/hd at 587 lb · 15 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $239.40/cwt +7.72 vs last sale · ≈ $1,128/hd at 471 lb · 14 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,270 6,223 4,716
Feeder cattle 364 714 525
Slaughter cattle 1,359 1,649 1,984
Replacement cattle 547 858 2,207

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Demand was mostly good to very good on light offerings. Quality was mostly plain to average. Packages were small with many singles on offer. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to run on grass. Several ranchers were on hand at sales this week and many showed very good demand as they competed over limited offerings. Rain showers continue to fall and pasture and range conditions are in mostly good to very good condition across much of the state. CME positions saw a setback last week as several days saw sharply lower feeder cattle contract prices. Corn increased sharply in price over drought concerns in the corn-belt over the past week as well. Market activity for the week was active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for moderate offerings. Packers showed lighter demand than last week for cows for immediate harvest, however demand for cows suitable to feed remains good. Slaughter cows sold steady to weak on on all offerings. High quality cows suitable to feed, sold generally steady. Cow quality was average to attractive this week, however cows were not as attractive as the last two weeks. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 1.00 lower. Bull quality was not as attractive as last week. Weigh up conditions were mixed, but overall not as attractive to buyers as last week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to firm. More takers were seen for this class of cows this week. Several buyers purchased this class of cows to feed as many rebreed buyers have stepped out of the market. Quality was mostly average, and similar to last week.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
565–578 568 8 260.00–265.00 $263.73 $1,498 -14.83
619 619 5 242.00 $242.00 $1,498 -41.00
670 670 9 251.00 $251.00 $1,682
705 705 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,692 +16.00
792 792 8 217.00 $217.00 $1,719
840 840 4 212.50 $212.50 $1,785
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
643 643 2 260.00 $260.00 $1,672
650–675 661 4 264.00–275.00 $267.21 $1,766 -11.07
710–744 731 10 255.00–265.00 $257.01 $1,879 +27.01
890 890 1 218.00 $218.00 $1,940
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
785 785 1 227.00 $227.00 $1,782 +7.00

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
580 580 4 246.00 $246.00 $1,427 -12.26
580–592 589 11 250.00–262.00 $253.22 $1,491 -5.04
600–633 632 32 239.50–246.00 $239.69 $1,515 -4.39
652–671 663 10 229.00–230.00 $229.49 $1,522 +12.89
702–713 705 8 213.00–221.00 $218.73 $1,542 +7.44
753–755 754 3 211.00–218.00 $215.66 $1,626 +6.12
813 813 2 194.00 $194.00 $1,577 -5.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
467–498 471 14 236.00–240.00 $239.40 $1,128 +7.72
523–540 529 3 225.00–235.00 $228.40 $1,208 -23.60
580 580 1 228.00 $228.00 $1,322 -4.44
608 608 2 235.00 $235.00 $1,429
658 658 2 215.00 $215.00 $1,415
755 755 1 202.00 $202.00 $1,525
843 843 6 187.00 $187.00 $1,576
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
454–470 459 6 200.00–220.00 $206.82 $949 -27.18
503 503 3 217.50 $217.50 $1,094 +7.50
685 685 1 204.00 $204.00 $1,397
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
476 476 7 231.00 $231.00 $1,100

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Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
965 965 2 169.00 $169.00 $1,631
1033–1035 1034 6 158.00–165.00 $162.66 $1,682 -6.34
1060–1085 1073 2 161.00–165.00 $163.02 $1,749 +4.52
1126–1144 1135 8 161.00–165.00 $163.02 $1,850 +1.02
1160–1170 1165 2 151.00–162.50 $156.73 $1,826
1210 1210 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,876
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
702–715 705 4 202.00–215.00 $211.71 $1,493 +3.71
793–796 795 10 195.00–211.00 $198.19 $1,576
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1068–1095 1079 8 130.00–157.00 $149.72 $1,615 -5.28
1153 1153 2 144.00 $144.00 $1,660
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475 475 1 235.00 $235.00 $1,116 -10.00
508–528 518 4 240.00–245.00 $242.45 $1,256
570–585 579 5 220.00–232.50 $228.47 $1,323
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
403 403 3 220.00 $220.00 $887
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
750 750 2 172.50 $172.50 $1,294

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Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230–1650 1377 80-85% 179 94.00–105.00 $100.42 $1,383 -6.79
1193–1585 1385 80-85% 35 80.00–94.50 $90.65 $1,256 -16.56
1260–1540 1388 80-85% 56 94.00–102.50 $97.09 $1,348 -10.12
1300–1540 1389 80-85% 19 88.00–95.00 $92.58 $1,286 -14.63
1043–1695 1403 80-85% 237 104.00–115.00 $106.55 $1,495 +15.34
1443–1720 1470 80-85% 16 102.00–110.00 $103.67 $1,524 +9.60
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
800–985 872 85-90% 7 62.00–77.00 $73.41 $640
850–989 960 85-90% 10 78.00–84.00 $81.58 $783 -7.53
1000–1203 1112 85-90% 4 62.50–77.00 $71.03 $790 -18.23
840–1295 1132 85-90% 53 83.00–92.00 $89.40 $1,012 +0.14
985–1349 1179 85-90% 21 81.00–92.00 $87.74 $1,034 +0.27
1045–1283 1195 85-90% 85 100.00–116.50 $104.79 $1,252 +17.32
1170–1295 1204 85-90% 13 99.00–104.00 $102.37 $1,233 -5.36
995–1314 1212 85-90% 101 91.00–100.00 $96.50 $1,170 +1.73
1035–1340 1224 85-90% 96 89.00–99.00 $94.40 $1,155 -0.37
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1415–1515 1441 75-80% 8 103.50–105.00 $104.61 $1,507
1413–1555 1531 75-80% 22 109.00–110.00 $109.95 $1,683 +0.56
1422–1848 1567 75-80% 21 94.00–104.00 $100.38 $1,573
1460–1655 1577 75-80% 19 104.50–108.00 $106.52 $1,680
1505–1810 1656 75-80% 9 103.00–108.00 $105.59 $1,749
1685 1685 75-80% 4 108.50 $108.50 $1,828

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1275–1385 1328 8 92.00–105.00 $98.47 $1,308
1170–1810 1452 16 114.00–131.00 $120.49 $1,750
1290–1825 1452 12 103.00–115.00 $110.14 $1,599
1213–1925 1495 4 127.00–141.00 $133.00 $1,988
1343–2003 1637 46 97.00–115.00 $108.25 $1,772
1480–2160 1813 68 112.00–127.00 $120.36 $2,182 -0.07
1645–2265 1981 50 125.00–133.00 $127.88 $2,533 -0.28
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2235–2445 2340 2 124.00–125.00 $124.52 $2,914

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
695–1365 994 (<2 yrs)Open 188 124.00–200.00 $159.02 $1,581
887–1480 1094 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 133 97.00–160.00 $123.94 $1,356
1139–1303 1202 (<2 yrs)Open 26 129.00–137.50 $132.54 $1,593
1160–1490 1238 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 37 90.00–106.00 $99.60 $1,233
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
815–1175 939 (<2 yrs)Open 24 120.00–158.00 $138.85 $1,304
765–1205 980 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 92.00–127.00 $109.89 $1,077
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1095 1095 (<2 yrs)Open 1 131.00 $131.00 $1,434
1123 1123 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 109.00 $109.00 $1,224
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
860 860 (<2 yrs)Open 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,333

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1225–1410 1317 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,675.00–1,775.00 $1,733.96
1525 1525 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 1,450.00 $1,450.00
1555 1555 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,650.00 $1,650.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1375 1375 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 107.00 $107.00 $1,471
1422–1510 1444 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 100.00–105.00 $101.31 $1,463
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1155 1155 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,650.00 $1,650.00
1176 1176 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 1,425.00 $1,425.00

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1148–1285 1182 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,700.00 $1,700.00

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1445 1445 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 1,800.00 $1,800.00 -622.02
1609 1609 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 2,650.00 $2,650.00
1667 1667 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 5 2,450.00 $2,450.00
1520–1768 1685 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 6 2,000.00–2,325.00 $2,227.29
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1255 1255 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 1,800.00 $1,800.00
1315 1315 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,500.00 $1,500.00

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Large 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
849 849 28 169.00 $169.00 $1,435

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Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1079 1079 (<2 yrs)Open 5 2,100.00 $2,100.00

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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.