Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, July 31, 2023

3,383 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 $267.00/cwt -0.50 vs last sale · ≈ $1,703/hd at 638 lb · 16 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1-2 bulls $206.14/cwt +4.14 vs last sale · ≈ $1,775/hd at 861 lb · 11 head
heavy 5-weight M 1 heifers $250.00/cwt ≈ $1,425/hd at 570 lb · 10 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,383 629 928
Feeder cattle 169 334 299
Slaughter cattle 277 229 567
Replacement cattle 48 66 62

Compared to last week: Only one sale was held this week as auctions continue with summer sale schedules. This weeks only sale was held at Public auction Yards, please check that sale report for current market commentary.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
591 591 4 271.00 $271.00 $1,602 -8.00
638 638 16 267.00 $267.00 $1,703 —
745 745 1 242.50 $242.50 $1,807 -0.50
895 895 7 225.00 $225.00 $2,014 —
931 931 4 213.00 $213.00 $1,983 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
332 unweaned 332 3 280.00 $280.00 $930 —
353 unweaned 353 3 275.00 $275.00 $971 —
468 468 2 295.00 $295.00 $1,381 —
955 955 4 212.00 $212.00 $2,025 +9.00
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
495 495 4 205.00 $205.00 $1,015 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
538 538 3 250.00 $250.00 $1,345 —

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Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1000–1022 1017 4 192.00–194.00 $192.49 $1,958 -1.51
1050 fancy 1050 10 196.00 $196.00 $2,058 —
1170 1170 1 178.00 $178.00 $2,083 +8.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
570 570 10 250.00 $250.00 $1,425 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 unweaned 400 4 290.00 $290.00 $1,160 —
895 895 1 209.00 $209.00 $1,871 +1.33
976 976 4 200.00 $200.00 $1,952 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
348 unweaned 348 2 275.00 $275.00 $957 —
450 450 3 277.50–282.00 $280.50 $1,262 —
690 690 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,587 —
725 725 2 223.00 $223.00 $1,617 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
630 630 2 235.00 $235.00 $1,480 —

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
809 809 9 214.00 $214.00 $1,731 -1.73
860–861 861 11 197.50–207.00 $206.14 $1,775 +4.14
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1065 1060 2 169.00–179.00 $174.02 $1,845 +14.02
1135 1135 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,873 +7.50
1170 1170 1 159.00 $159.00 $1,860 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005 1005 1 174.00 $174.00 $1,749 +19.00

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Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–1565 1304 80-85% 38 114.00–121.00 $117.88 $1,537 —
1168–1508 1365 80-85% 13 109.00–113.00 $110.49 $1,508 -3.58
1310–1558 1429 80-85% 19 103.50–113.50 $106.74 $1,525 —
1365–1580 1473 80-85% 2 115.00–118.00 $116.61 $1,718 —
1395–1775 1583 80-85% 5 88.00–102.50 $97.02 $1,536 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845 845 85-90% 1 99.00 $99.00 $837 —
775–925 852 85-90% 3 85.00–96.00 $89.04 $759 —
1080 1080 85-90% 1 83.00 $83.00 $896 —
935–1295 1165 85-90% 11 88.00–101.00 $95.67 $1,115 —
1060–1360 1199 85-90% 30 103.00–109.00 $106.32 $1,275 —
1190–1212 1203 85-90% 5 110.00–115.00 $113.52 $1,366 +9.29
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1478–1648 1561 75-80% 16 116.50–117.50 $117.16 $1,829 —
1575 1575 75-80% 1 114.50 $114.50 $1,803 —
1577–1600 1583 75-80% 4 117.00–118.00 $117.25 $1,856 —
1675 1675 75-80% 2 112.00 $112.00 $1,876 -0.54
1705 1705 75-80% 1 107.00 $107.00 $1,824 —
1760–1960 1880 75-80% 3 99.00–106.50 $102.94 $1,935 —
2065 2065 75-80% 1 110.00 $110.00 $2,272 —

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
950 950 1 80.00 $80.00 $760 —
1195–1285 1214 8 117.00–121.00 $119.48 $1,450 +15.05
1265–1280 1273 2 108.00–118.00 $113.03 $1,439 —
1385–2415 1715 18 105.00–114.00 $110.62 $1,897 —
1415–2305 1773 53 114.00–125.00 $119.82 $2,124 —
1890–2240 2052 13 123.00–130.00 $125.88 $2,583 —

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
995–1215 1067 (<2 yrs)Open 10 140.00–156.00 $149.42 $1,594
1040–1240 1190 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 16 117.00–128.00 $125.81 $1,497
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
920 920 (<2 yrs)Open 2 155.00 $155.00 $1,426

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
145 145 1 71.00 $71.00 $103 —
190 190 1 65.00 $65.00 $124 —
198 198 2 72.00 $72.00 $143 —
205 205 1 66.00 $66.00 $135 —
208–245 214 17 71.00–79.00 $72.21 $155 —
215–235 228 3 80.00–84.00 $82.74 $189 —
250 250 2 79.00 $79.00 $198 —
260 260 1 68.00 $68.00 $177 —
300 300 1 62.00 $62.00 $186 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
48 48 2 135.00 $135.00 $65 —
78 78 6 182.50 $182.50 $142 —
85 85 2 195.00–200.00 $197.50 $168 —
90 90 4 160.00 $160.00 $144 —
95 95 3 185.00–207.50 $195.83 $186 —
100–130 116 9 190.00–210.00 $198.15 $230 —
100–145 123 2 202.50–222.00 $210.46 $259 —
150–155 153 2 197.50–203.00 $200.20 $306 —
155 155 1 180.00 $180.00 $279 —
205–230 218 2 200.00–207.50 $203.53 $444 —

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Large 3 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1605 1605 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 2,300.00 $2,300.00 —

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Large 3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
933 933 2 108.50 $108.50 $1,012 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
105–123 116 5 32.00–41.00 $37.74 $44 —
131 131 11 6.00 $6.00 $8 —
119–143 134 21 49.00–59.00 $53.76 $72 —
142 142 54 44.00 $44.00 $62 —
147 147 6 63.00 $63.00 $93 —
152–165 155 4 41.00–42.50 $41.40 $64 —
153–172 165 26 53.00–60.00 $57.87 $95 —
155–196 173 19 66.00–68.00 $67.49 $117 —
155–175 173 13 60.50–61.00 $60.53 $105 —
160–185 180 17 56.00–61.00 $58.67 $106 —
183–199 197 14 47.00–54.00 $52.21 $103 —
205–219 209 16 52.00–60.00 $54.10 $113 —
217–230 222 5 66.00–72.00 $68.48 $152 —
250 250 1 58.00 $58.00 $145 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
118 118 Lambs (<1 yr)Open 2 165.00 $165.00 $195 —
135 135 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 78.00 $78.00 $105 —
153 153 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 71.00 $71.00 $109 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
72 72 5 171.00 $171.00 $123 —
88 88 8 170.00 $170.00 $150 —
95 95 13 177.50 $177.50 $169 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
120 120 1 60.00 $60.00 $72 —
145 145 2 85.00 $85.00 $123 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
101 101 8 75.00 $75.00 $76 —
120 120 24 81.00 $81.00 $97 —
124–135 132 26 53.00–56.00 $55.13 $73 —
120–146 134 9 51.00–63.00 $58.24 $78 —
163 163 3 54.00 $54.00 $88 —

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Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
54 54 5 175.00 $175.00 $94 —
64 64 29 156.00 $156.00 $100 —
72 72 10 166.00 $166.00 $120 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
56 56 5 80.00 $80.00 $45 —
74 74 9 90.00 $90.00 $67 —

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1233 1233 (<2 yrs)Open 2 2,150.00 $2,150.00 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
23–27 25 20 40.00–45.00 $42.45 $11 —
30 30 1 80.00 $80.00 $24 —
30 30 13 117.50 $117.50 $35 —
30–36 34 9 182.50–195.00 $189.07 $64 —
38 38 2 80.00 $80.00 $30 —
42–43 42 15 180.00–212.50 $184.42 $77 —
43 43 6 115.00–130.00 $125.00 $54 —
45 45 2 80.00 $80.00 $36 —
43–48 46 16 230.00–237.50 $235.16 $108 —
48 48 2 225.00 $225.00 $108 —
50 50 3 235.00–237.50 $236.67 $118 —
50 50 1 223.00 $223.00 $112 —
52 52 20 155.00 $155.00 $81 —
50–56 53 92 200.00–232.00 $228.78 $121 —
53 53 3 155.00 $155.00 $82 —
55 55 1 210.00 $210.00 $116 —
56–59 58 16 150.00–175.00 $164.38 $95 —
58 58 2 175.00 $175.00 $102 —
61 61 5 130.00 $130.00 $79 —
64–69 65 23 200.00–232.50 $225.01 $146 —
60–68 66 27 224.00–237.50 $227.43 $150 —
65–67 66 10 130.00–155.00 $147.66 $97 —
70–75 71 25 220.00–235.00 $229.33 $163 —
73–75 73 7 205.00 $205.00 $150 —
75 75 1 235.00 $235.00 $176 —
75 75 1 210.00 $210.00 $158 —
83 83 5 232.00 $232.00 $193 —
90–98 95 3 200.00 $200.00 $190 —

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
56 56 21 202.00 $202.00 $113 —
60–69 64 136 200.00–216.00 $207.66 $133 —
69 69 15 198.00 $198.00 $137 —
70–79 76 399 200.00–215.00 $209.76 $159 —
81 81 5 177.50 $177.50 $144 —
80–87 86 234 205.00–217.00 $212.87 $183 —
90–99 95 356 204.00–218.50 $211.73 $201 —
101–109 104 83 195.00–218.00 $213.96 $223 —
110 110 45 190.00–207.00 $206.62 $227 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
40–49 47 24 160.00–183.00 $171.57 $81 —
53–58 56 25 155.00–176.00 $169.78 $95 —
60–65 63 22 160.00–175.00 $167.70 $106 —
70–73 72 4 165.00–177.50 $168.03 $121 —
76 76 5 165.00 $165.00 $125 —
85 85 4 165.00 $165.00 $140 —
93 93 59 100.00 $100.00 $93 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
75 75 5 175.00 $175.00 $131 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
48 48 8 110.00 $110.00 $53 —
55 55 2 132.50 $132.50 $73 —
60 60 1 127.50 $127.50 $76 —
62 62 7 60.00 $60.00 $37 —
70–72 72 14 135.00–145.00 $144.30 $104 —
75 75 1 82.50 $82.50 $62 —
75–77 77 6 95.00–105.00 $103.37 $80 —
80–85 83 9 127.50–132.50 $128.85 $107 —
90–91 91 6 122.50 $122.50 $111 —
92 92 3 100.00 $100.00 $92 —
100–142 107 34 104.00–142.50 $119.54 $128 —
125–148 139 9 112.50–130.00 $122.15 $170 —
160 160 2 130.00 $130.00 $208 —

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
108 108 2 59.00 $59.00 $64 —
132 thin fleshed 132 25 35.00 $35.00 $46 —
131–139 135 8 56.00–57.00 $56.49 $76 —
146–148 147 12 55.00–59.00 $57.99 $85 —
150–157 154 95 53.00–59.00 $53.74 $83 —
160–163 160 21 52.00–62.00 $59.10 $95 —
172–177 176 18 53.00–58.00 $53.81 $95 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
79 79 10 218.00 $218.00 $172 —
80–85 83 2 195.00–212.50 $203.48 $169 —
103 103 2 167.50 $167.50 $173 —
100–135 126 10 192.50–200.00 $197.47 $249 —
193 193 2 190.00 $190.00 $367 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
79 79 11 215.00 $215.00 $170 —
88 88 11 215.50 $215.50 $190 —
94–98 96 28 205.00–216.00 $213.32 $205 —
103–110 106 22 210.00–215.00 $212.25 $225 —
103–134 124 36 146.00–189.00 $163.31 $203 —
150 150 1 170.00 $170.00 $255 —

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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.