Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, July 10, 2023

3,892 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $265.65/cwt +10.65 vs last sale · ≈ $1,660/hd at 625 lb · 22 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1-2 steers $235.75/cwt -1.01 vs last sale · ≈ $1,841/hd at 781 lb · 15 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $250.58/cwt ≈ $1,719/hd at 686 lb · 12 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,892 741 4,655
Feeder cattle 220 165 256
Slaughter cattle 925 140 1,033
Replacement cattle 186 436 441

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 offerings. Demand was mostly good to very good for light offerings. Quality was mostly plain to average. Packages were small with many singles on offer. CME positions traded mostly sideways this week. Corn traded with some volatility as both sharply higher and sharply lower days were seen before ending the week higher than it started. Market activity was mostly active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers pushed to own as much of the cow offering as possible this past week as they pushed all offerings higher trying to secure offerings for immediate harvest. Packers purchased very few cows to feed this week and no cows were purchased to feed by packers late in the week. Slaughter cows sold steady to 3.00 higher on breaking and boning cows, lean cows sold 1.00-3.00 higher. High quality cows suitable to feed, sold steady to 3.00 higher. Cow quality was mostly average to very attractive this week, and overall much more attractive than last week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop a full market trend, however unevenly steady undertones were noticed. Bull quality was mostly average to attractive. Weigh up conditions were mostly attractive to buyers early in the sale, however hot days have most weigh ups packing on fill as the sale progresses. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Buyers were looking for rebreed or recip type cows this sale helped keep this class of cows near steady as they bid against feeding buyers looking for cows that are young enough to still grade choice.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
544 544 5 260.00 $260.00 $1,414 —
550–560 559 7 277.50–278.00 $277.57 $1,552 -1.43
600–635 625 22 259.00–268.00 $265.65 $1,660 +10.65
696 696 3 232.50 $232.50 $1,618 -17.07
750–799 781 15 231.00–239.00 $235.75 $1,841 -1.01
893 893 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,965 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
570 570 4 286.00 $286.00 $1,630 —
668–698 686 12 247.00–257.00 $250.58 $1,719 —
709–747 723 8 244.00–248.00 $246.45 $1,782 —
753–790 759 8 235.00–241.00 $239.48 $1,818 -7.52

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
645 645 1 264.00 $264.00 $1,703 —
705 705 1 231.00 $231.00 $1,629 —
753–785 766 6 219.00–227.00 $224.47 $1,719 —
818–844 836 11 208.00–217.00 $215.03 $1,798 +7.03
911 911 8 210.00 $210.00 $1,913 +12.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
546 546 4 239.00 $239.00 $1,305 —
617 617 5 240.00 $240.00 $1,481 —
690 690 3 232.50 $232.50 $1,604 +17.50
718 718 5 215.00–217.00 $216.20 $1,552 +8.20
780 780 2 204.00 $204.00 $1,591 —
900 900 5 186.00 $186.00 $1,674 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010–1043 1032 3 187.00–190.00 $187.98 $1,940 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
565 565 2 232.00 $232.00 $1,311 —

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Feeder Bulls

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1111 1111 5 156.00 $156.00 $1,733 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080 1080 5 159.00 $159.00 $1,717 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
853 853 5 192.00 $192.00 $1,638 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
783 783 2 219.00 $219.00 $1,715 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
960–1545 1253 80-85% 2 93.00–94.00 $93.62 $1,173 —
1162–1650 1332 80-85% 93 103.00–112.50 $108.23 $1,442 +2.59
1220–1538 1370 80-85% 74 110.00–120.50 $113.42 $1,554 —
1238–1675 1385 80-85% 89 100.00–112.50 $107.04 $1,483 —
1255–1680 1395 80-85% 113 108.00–118.50 $112.71 $1,572 —
1270–1579 1415 80-85% 20 92.00–101.00 $97.88 $1,385 -10.81
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1397–1562 1472 75-80% 36 110.00–113.00 $112.53 $1,656 +3.73
1318–1750 1524 75-80% 34 108.00–113.00 $110.19 $1,679 -1.39
1395–1600 1532 75-80% 49 114.00–117.00 $115.96 $1,777 +4.38
1553–1665 1593 75-80% 6 115.75–118.25 $117.10 $1,865 —
1615–1780 1698 75-80% 2 102.00–106.00 $103.90 $1,764 -2.92
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
910 910 85-90% 1 108.00 $108.00 $983 —
895–985 943 85-90% 3 87.50–97.50 $91.48 $863 —
960 960 85-90% 1 99.00 $99.00 $950 +11.50
1010–1180 1095 85-90% 2 76.00–86.00 $80.61 $883 -21.08
1045–1215 1152 85-90% 19 100.00–108.00 $105.30 $1,213 -2.62
1040–1316 1204 85-90% 43 96.00–106.00 $101.82 $1,226 —
1035–1295 1208 85-90% 22 107.00–115.50 $109.26 $1,320 —
1035–1340 1227 85-90% 22 80.00–95.50 $92.59 $1,136 —
1050–1500 1249 85-90% 13 107.00–112.50 $108.66 $1,357 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
745–1343 1173 13 81.00–112.00 $101.58 $1,192 —
1185 1185 2 113.00–116.00 $114.50 $1,357 —
1257 1257 3 107.00 $107.00 $1,345 -5.68
1235–1276 1271 9 121.00–125.00 $121.43 $1,543 +8.75
1260–2070 1588 39 103.50–116.00 $109.20 $1,734 —
1360–2185 1740 77 113.00–140.00 $122.71 $2,135 -10.52
1265–2410 1921 48 122.00–164.00 $142.13 $2,730 —
1800–2070 1931 4 125.00–130.00 $127.97 $2,471 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2095 2095 1 113.00 $113.00 $2,367 —
2510 2510 1 119.00 $119.00 $2,987 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
909–1300 1025 (<2 yrs)Open 56 129.00–180.00 $160.21 $1,642
880–1310 1147 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 63 108.00–162.50 $126.67 $1,453
1270–1338 1321 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 110.50–112.50 $110.98 $1,466
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
800–1055 946 (<2 yrs)Open 10 131.00–165.00 $148.50 $1,405
880–1055 968 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 107.00–110.00 $108.36 $1,049

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1249 1249 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,350.00 $1,350.00

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
138 138 19 84.00 $84.00 $116 —
190 190 1 71.00 $71.00 $135 —
215–220 218 2 55.00–56.00 $55.51 $121 —
230 230 4 71.00 $71.00 $163 —
255–275 265 4 66.00–70.00 $68.26 $181 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
55 55 1 177.50 $177.50 $98 —
73–78 74 14 207.50–225.00 $210.15 $156 —
95 95 1 200.00 $200.00 $190 —
113 113 2 195.00 $195.00 $220 —
115 115 1 205.00 $205.00 $236 —
150–185 170 3 205.00–220.00 $212.35 $361 —

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
110–136 127 75 35.00–43.00 $40.73 $52 —
140 140 1 67.00 $67.00 $94 —
140 140 6 47.00 $47.00 $66 —
115–149 141 75 52.00–57.00 $55.68 $79 —
140–145 143 4 60.00–64.00 $61.49 $88 —
143 143 12 31.00 $31.00 $44 —
150–160 154 4 60.00–66.00 $62.05 $96 —
150–173 157 94 49.00–56.50 $53.88 $85 —
152–163 159 28 45.00–48.00 $47.14 $75 —
165–175 168 47 53.00–54.00 $53.27 $89 —
165–185 171 11 66.00–68.00 $67.62 $116 —
163–195 180 84 57.50–65.00 $61.28 $110 —
200 200 9 60.00–61.00 $60.56 $121 —
205–220 213 16 55.00–63.00 $56.36 $120 —
213–220 215 3 52.00 $52.00 $112 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
188 188 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 85.00 $85.00 $160 —

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
73 73 19 189.00 $189.00 $138 —
80 80 1 187.50 $187.50 $150 —

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Hair Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
190 190 1 71.00 $71.00 $135 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
131 131 10 62.00 $62.00 $81 —

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Hair Lambs

Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
60–64 62 41 180.00–191.00 $185.81 $115 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
66 66 5 130.00 $130.00 $86 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
18 18 5 35.00 $35.00 $6 —
20–24 22 9 220.00–235.00 $227.28 $50 —
25 25 1 155.00 $155.00 $39 —
30–33 31 9 200.00–225.00 $208.51 $65 —
31 31 7 55.00 $55.00 $17 —
34 34 6 175.00 $175.00 $60 —
35–38 38 42 230.00 $230.00 $87 —
41 41 7 145.00 $145.00 $59 —
40–45 43 3 60.00–62.50 $60.77 $26 —
40–46 44 7 155.00–185.00 $177.42 $78 —
44 44 4 40.00 $40.00 $18 —
43–45 45 17 200.00–230.00 $205.91 $93 —
46 46 22 280.00 $280.00 $129 —
50 50 2 100.00 $100.00 $50 —
50–55 51 29 200.00–230.00 $227.80 $116 —
50–59 53 42 240.00–247.50 $244.03 $129 —
55 55 1 245.00 $245.00 $135 —
55 55 4 230.00 $230.00 $126 —
64 64 17 265.00 $265.00 $170 —
70 70 2 200.00 $200.00 $140 —
73 73 28 275.00 $275.00 $201 —
83 83 2 265.00 $265.00 $220 —
90 90 1 260.00 $260.00 $234 —
98 98 6 205.00 $205.00 $201 —

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Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
47 47 3 195.00 $195.00 $92 —
53–56 54 45 192.50–205.00 $195.59 $106 —
61–69 66 148 184.00–199.00 $189.89 $125 —
67 67 10 160.00 $160.00 $107 —
72–79 75 291 181.00–191.00 $186.91 $140 —
80–89 86 312 175.00–189.00 $187.02 $161 —
83–86 fancy 86 36 199.00 $199.00 $171 —
91 fancy 91 34 190.00 $190.00 $173 —
90–96 92 172 173.00–185.00 $180.27 $166 —
100–102 102 108 175.50–179.00 $175.91 $179 —
104 fancy 104 1 191.00 $191.00 $199 —
110 110 12 122.50 $122.50 $135 —
112 fancy 112 12 185.00 $185.00 $207 —
113 113 44 164.00 $164.00 $185 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
63–69 66 22 170.00–178.00 $173.82 $115 —
73–78 74 14 176.00–183.00 $181.94 $135 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
67 67 5 165.00 $165.00 $111 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
45 45 —— 1 105.00 $105.00 $47 —
50 50 —— 2 120.00–137.50 $128.75 $64 —
58 58 Kids (<1 yr)Open 3 235.00 $235.00 $136 —
65 65 —— 2 130.00 $130.00 $84 —
75 75 —— 2 130.00 $130.00 $98 —
78 78 —— 2 127.50 $127.50 $99 —
92–94 92 —— 47 112.50–147.50 $140.24 $129 —
100–128 104 —— 46 120.00–152.50 $145.72 $152 —
125 125 —— 3 80.00 $80.00 $100 —
110–145 138 —— 9 116.00–139.00 $125.20 $173 —
152–178 160 —— 9 119.00–124.00 $123.02 $197 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
70 70 1 152.50 $152.50 $107 —
73–75 73 10 250.00–265.00 $251.54 $184 —
100–115 110 4 200.00–245.00 $228.28 $251 —
185 185 1 190.00 $190.00 $352 —

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
70 70 3 165.00 $165.00 $116 —
73–77 77 33 184.00–196.00 $194.61 $150 —
89 89 4 198.00 $198.00 $176 —
90 90 1 165.00 $165.00 $148 —
93 93 2 175.00 $175.00 $163 —
98 98 13 199.00 $199.00 $195 —

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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.