Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, June 19, 2023

5,672 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $184.78/cwt ≈ $1,637/hd at 886 lb · 58 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $232.58/cwt +4.18 vs last sale · ≈ $1,205/hd at 518 lb · 53 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $206.59/cwt -12.14 vs last sale · ≈ $1,481/hd at 717 lb · 33 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,672 2,270 5,369
Feeder cattle 500 364 509
Slaughter cattle 1,105 1,359 2,154
Replacement cattle 992 547 623

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower 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. CME positions lost ground again early week with triple digit losses seen early in the week and triple digit gains seen late in the week. Corn was the mirror opposite to the cattle market as it was sharply higher early in the week and sharply lower late in the week. Market activity was mostly active this week. 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 breaking and lean cows, boning cows sold fully steady. High quality cows suitable to feed, sold generally steady to weak. Cow quality was mostly average to attractive this week, however cows were not as attractive as the last three weeks. Packers purchased a substantial number of cows to hold for the 4th of July holiday. These cows were mostly lean and light boning cows. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-3.00 lower, however some very attractive high dressing bulls did sell higher on very good demand. Bull quality was mixed. 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 10.00 lower. 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. Higher corn and lower fat cattle prices pressured this class lower.

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
608 608 3 285.00 $285.00 $1,733 +25.00
654–695 661 16 246.00–281.00 $268.68 $1,776 +1.47
700–740 727 6 240.00–250.00 $243.39 $1,769 -13.62
750–780 765 2 220.00–230.00 $224.90 $1,720 —
895 895 17 203.00 $203.00 $1,817 -15.00
905–920 913 2 194.00–195.00 $194.50 $1,776 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460–495 466 6 265.00–275.00 $273.23 $1,273 —
625–640 635 9 240.00–262.50 $254.56 $1,616 +12.56
653 653 2 247.50 $247.50 $1,616 -3.50
705 705 3 232.50 $232.50 $1,639 -7.50
765 765 1 217.50 $217.50 $1,664 +0.50
843 843 2 210.00 $210.00 $1,770 -2.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
360 360 1 255.00 $255.00 $918 —
560 560 2 232.50 $232.50 $1,302 —
616 616 4 230.00 $230.00 $1,417 —
655 655 1 209.00 $209.00 $1,369 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1025–1035 1028 4 184.00–186.00 $185.50 $1,907 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1012 1012 3 165.00 $165.00 $1,670 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 1 210.00 $210.00 $1,029 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,296 —
550 550 1 252.50 $252.50 $1,389 +6.50
700–747 717 33 202.00–212.00 $206.59 $1,481 -12.14
757–789 781 19 192.00–195.00 $194.23 $1,517 -21.43
820 820 1 194.00 $194.00 $1,591 ±0.00
850–896 886 58 181.00–190.00 $184.78 $1,637 —
937 937 3 182.00 $182.00 $1,705 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
427 427 8 230.00 $230.00 $982 —
477–495 486 6 222.50–240.00 $231.41 $1,125 -7.99
512–528 518 53 222.50–242.50 $232.58 $1,205 +4.18
560–580 567 3 220.00–237.50 $229.06 $1,299 +1.06
650–659 655 8 201.00–215.00 $204.23 $1,338 -10.77
748 748 3 190.00 $190.00 $1,421 —
884 884 8 179.00 $179.00 $1,582 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
457 457 9 200.00 $200.00 $914 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
384 384 4 205.00 $205.00 $787 —
403 403 3 205.00 $205.00 $826 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
438 438 2 265.00 $265.00 $1,161 —
469 unweaned 469 5 251.00 $251.00 $1,177 —
838 838 6 207.00 $207.00 $1,735 —
990 990 1 180.00 $180.00 $1,782 —
1004 1004 9 171.00 $171.00 $1,717 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
975 thin fleshed 975 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 1,800.00 $1,800.00 —
920–1223 1078 (<2 yrs)N/A 13 2,100.00–2,700.00 $2,311.53 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1030 1030 1 191.00 $191.00 $1,967 +28.34
1085 1085 3 151.00 $151.00 $1,638 -12.02
1200 1200 1 134.00 $134.00 $1,608 -21.00
1277 1277 6 129.00 $129.00 $1,647 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
686 686 5 203.50 $203.50 $1,396 —
810 810 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,519 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
523 523 2 221.00 $221.00 $1,156 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1285–1620 1383 80-85% 170 96.00–106.00 $99.80 $1,380 +9.15
1330–1600 1385 80-85% 20 89.00–94.50 $93.84 $1,300 +3.19
1240–1645 1394 80-85% 37 94.00–102.00 $97.15 $1,354 +4.57
1190–1630 1399 80-85% 163 104.00–113.50 $107.00 $1,497 +14.42
1200–1740 1416 80-85% 18 101.50–109.00 $104.23 $1,476 -2.32
1335–1850 1462 80-85% 19 86.00–94.00 $89.58 $1,310 -14.09
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
860–990 943 85-90% 9 76.00–89.00 $81.79 $771 —
1115–1400 1165 85-90% 11 100.00–107.00 $105.02 $1,223 +17.28
1035–1335 1183 85-90% 40 89.00–99.00 $94.16 $1,114 +6.42
1065–1315 1185 85-90% 5 85.00–90.00 $86.78 $1,028 -0.96
1005–1460 1190 85-90% 40 75.00–91.00 $83.47 $993 -21.32
1105–1310 1220 85-90% 21 100.00–111.00 $104.12 $1,270 +9.72
1035–1385 1222 85-90% 80 89.00–98.50 $93.35 $1,141 -1.05
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1445 1445 75-80% 1 113.00 $113.00 $1,633 +8.39
1300–1530 1468 75-80% 25 101.00–107.50 $105.46 $1,548 —
1463–1620 1496 75-80% 12 104.00–106.50 $104.67 $1,566 —
1509–1830 1555 75-80% 7 101.00–105.00 $101.67 $1,581 +1.29
1513–1750 1605 75-80% 18 98.00–103.50 $100.36 $1,611 —
1621–1695 1624 75-80% 24 105.50–107.50 $107.41 $1,744 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110–1360 1292 10 89.00–108.00 $100.82 $1,303 —
1195–1415 1319 6 112.50–125.00 $117.86 $1,555 +19.39
1130–1633 1424 21 100.00–112.50 $107.70 $1,534 —
1662 1662 3 105.00 $105.00 $1,745 —
1315–2285 1668 36 97.00–117.00 $107.70 $1,796 —
1415–2425 1818 85 111.50–127.00 $117.79 $2,141 -2.57
1590–2330 2020 38 121.00–140.00 $128.40 $2,594 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2415 2415 1 114.00 $114.00 $2,753 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
750–1280 968 (<2 yrs)Open 45 126.00–187.50 $151.92 $1,471
1095 1095 (<2 yrs)Open 4 145.00 $145.00 $1,588
870–1485 1105 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 109 100.00–149.00 $122.39 $1,352
1050–1205 1140 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 92.00–95.00 $93.33 $1,064
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
905–998 973 (<2 yrs)Open 4 141.00–155.00 $144.77 $1,409
820–1250 1048 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 98.50–112.50 $103.66 $1,086
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
645–705 687 (<2 yrs)Open 5 132.50–165.00 $154.10 $1,059
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1060–1075 1068 (<2 yrs)Open 2 113.00–135.00 $123.92 $1,323

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1225 1225 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 129.00 $129.00 $1,580
1365–1400 1383 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 101.00–106.00 $103.47 $1,431
1420 1420 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 116.00 $116.00 $1,647
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1423 1423 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,450.00 $1,450.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
793–920 892 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 251 1,700.00–2,000.00 $1,897.86

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
161–171 167 16 137.50–140.00 $138.40 $231 —
155–198 193 19 82.00–88.00 $84.30 $163 —
198 198 2 77.00 $77.00 $152 —
222–241 233 8 89.00–96.00 $91.63 $213 —
213–245 238 12 80.00–87.00 $81.52 $194 —
260 260 6 64.00 $64.00 $166 —
255–282 265 9 80.00–84.00 $82.26 $218 —
320 320 1 72.00 $72.00 $230 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
70 70 2 215.00 $215.00 $150 —
70–73 72 3 205.00–215.00 $211.76 $152 —
95 95 2 180.00 $180.00 $171 —
105–138 131 5 210.00–220.00 $211.60 $277 —
148 148 2 220.00 $220.00 $326 —
153 153 2 180.00 $180.00 $275 —
180–190 185 2 227.00–232.50 $229.68 $425 —
220 220 1 210.00 $210.00 $462 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1195 1195 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 7 2,400.00 $2,400.00 —
1341 1341 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 14 2,800.00 $2,800.00 —
1341 1341 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 2,275.00 $2,275.00 —
1150–1752 1359 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 61 2,200.00–2,450.00 $2,347.94 —
1097–1627 1369 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 30 2,750.00–3,150.00 $2,893.94 —
1406 1406 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 13 2,300.00 $2,300.00 —
1423 1423 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 9 2,085.00 $2,085.00 +285.00
1659 1659 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 11 2,575.00 $2,575.00 +125.00
1875 1875 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 2,700.00 $2,700.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1231–1345 1269 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 2,350.00–2,500.00 $2,402.99 +602.99
1340 1340 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 2,200.00 $2,200.00 +700.00
1350 1350 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00 —
1582 1582 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 3 1,950.00 $1,950.00 —

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
114–128 126 86 39.00–46.00 $40.42 $51 —
130–136 136 15 65.00–68.00 $65.19 $89 —
137–145 144 62 49.00–53.00 $50.04 $72 —
151–155 152 9 68.00–75.00 $72.63 $110 —
150–173 165 255 49.00–56.00 $53.98 $89 —
168–172 170 12 44.00 $44.00 $75 —
165–180 172 3 65.00–75.00 $68.50 $118 —
170–185 182 126 56.00–62.00 $59.43 $108 —
188 188 12 52.00 $52.00 $98 —
200–206 205 8 70.00–75.00 $74.39 $152 —
200–235 214 11 58.00–66.00 $61.87 $132 —
225 225 5 55.00 $55.00 $124 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
104–133 125 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 25 85.00–100.00 $87.29 $109 —
131 thin fleshed 131 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 45.00 $45.00 $59 —
138–145 139 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 75 95.00–126.00 $125.48 $174 —
198 198 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Open 22 48.00 $48.00 $95 —

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Families

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
185 185 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Open 46 205.00 $205.00 —

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
69 69 17 162.00 $162.00 $112 —

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Hair Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
95 95 1 130.00 $130.00 $124 —
138 138 2 103.00 $103.00 $142 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
91 91 18 50.00 $50.00 $46 —
161 161 19 50.00 $50.00 $80 —

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Hair Lambs

Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
51–57 55 39 155.00–160.00 $156.55 $86 —
65 65 40 156.00 $156.00 $101 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1056–1073 1071 (<2 yrs)Open 28 2,560.00–2,650.00 $2,572.68 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
20–28 25 8 195.00–215.00 $201.07 $50 —
25 25 1 155.00 $155.00 $39 —
33 33 3 155.00 $155.00 $51 —
33–38 36 8 205.00–235.00 $222.76 $80 —
38 38 5 225.00 $225.00 $86 —
40 40 7 265.00 $265.00 $106 —
42 42 3 170.00 $170.00 $71 —
43–45 45 31 215.00–227.50 $225.95 $102 —
45 45 1 135.00 $135.00 $61 —
40–47 46 12 155.00 $155.00 $71 —
50–55 50 31 140.00–165.00 $164.12 $82 —
51–53 52 10 215.00–220.00 $216.95 $113 —
51–58 53 28 215.00–260.00 $239.38 $127 —
55 55 1 175.00 $175.00 $96 —
55–59 59 15 265.00–285.00 $283.75 $167 —
60 60 6 200.00 $200.00 $120 —
60–69 61 27 300.00–305.00 $304.17 $186 —
66 66 11 260.00–270.00 $263.64 $174 —
73–78 75 14 330.00–335.00 $332.22 $249 —
75 75 4 310.00 $310.00 $232 —
75 75 1 200.00 $200.00 $150 —
84–88 85 13 285.00–310.00 $292.75 $249 —
85 85 2 290.00 $290.00 $246 —
92–95 93 12 215.00–295.00 $274.51 $255 —
108 108 2 255.00 $255.00 $275 —

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Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
41 41 29 160.00 $160.00 $66 —
55–57 56 13 190.00–195.00 $192.65 $108 —
60–69 64 253 180.00–197.00 $190.46 $122 —
72–77 75 330 192.50–210.00 $205.63 $154 —
80–87 85 140 204.00–208.00 $206.68 $176 —
93–99 98 9 201.00–203.00 $201.42 $197 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
54 54 9 175.00 $175.00 $94 —
84 84 21 177.50 $177.50 $149 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
65 65 —— 1 157.50 $157.50 $102 —
75–78 76 —— 14 90.00–115.00 $95.52 $73 —
80–85 81 —— 7 105.00–115.00 $109.21 $88 —
80–83 82 —— 5 118.00–120.00 $119.61 $98 —
85 85 —— 4 185.00–195.00 $192.50 $164 —
90 90 —— 2 142.50 $142.50 $128 —
92 92 —— 3 230.00 $230.00 $212 —
95 95 —— 12 110.00 $110.00 $104 —
105 105 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 1 185.00 $185.00 $194 —
115 115 —— 1 100.00 $100.00 $115 —
115 115 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Open 2 157.50 $157.50 $181 —
103–130 116 —— 43 150.00–215.00 $167.82 $195 —
115–118 117 —— 4 117.50–150.00 $133.54 $156 —
145 145 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Open 1 170.00 $170.00 $246 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
68 68 6 205.00 $205.00 $139 —
73 73 2 195.00 $195.00 $142 —
105 105 1 160.00 $160.00 $168 —
100–110 107 3 262.50–335.00 $285.16 $305 —
125 125 1 125.00 $125.00 $156 —
153 153 7 245.00 $245.00 $375 —

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
65 65 19 175.00–177.50 $175.13 $114 —
67 67 21 198.00 $198.00 $133 —
70–78 73 101 197.50–205.00 $202.03 $147 —
80–89 85 118 199.00–211.00 $205.22 $174 —
85 85 6 196.00 $196.00 $167 —
90–99 96 67 195.00–207.00 $202.99 $195 —
96 96 23 175.00 $175.00 $168 —
108–122 110 46 185.00–205.00 $200.43 $220 —
114 114 132 180.00 $180.00 $205 —

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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.