Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 18, 2023

3,527 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $258.80/cwt +9.49 vs last sale · ≈ $1,884/hd at 728 lb · 127 head
heavy 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $221.31/cwt +2.42 vs last sale · ≈ $2,156/hd at 974 lb · 90 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $264.34/cwt ≈ $1,816/hd at 687 lb · 82 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,527 9,669 3,153
Feeder cattle 2,646 2,593 2,051
Slaughter cattle 776 616 921
Replacement cattle 105 256 181

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Steer calves were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers under 800 lbs sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher, heifers 800-849 lbs sold 3.00-4.00 higher, yearling heifers over 850 lbs sold generally steady. Heifer calves were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand remains good to very good. Most cattle were offered in small to moderate size packages this week. All package sizes sold on good demand as buyers pieced together loads. Quality this week was average to very attractive. Early consignments of spring born calves continue to sell on moderate to good demand. Most of these offerings were in small packages and buyers purchased these offerings on lighter demand as not enough of these offerings were seen to put together multiple loads. Market activity this week was active. Weight up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Quality this week was average to attractive. Packers continue to focus on buying feeding cows again this week. Only poorer quality cows were purchased for immediate slaughter this week. Slaughter cows sold generally steady on boning and breaking cows, lean cows sold mostly 5.00-10.00 lower. Feeding cows sold steady to weak. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00 lower. Feeding bulls sold 2.00 lower. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on very good demand this week; steady undertones were noticed.

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
303–331 317 12 359.00–397.50 $377.40 $1,196 —
353–398 392 16 344.00–352.50 $351.54 $1,378 —
410–431 420 52 332.50–352.50 $343.75 $1,444 —
455–483 470 30 315.00–330.00 $322.16 $1,514 —
530 530 79 300.00 $300.00 $1,590 —
587 587 3 291.00 $291.00 $1,708 —
643–648 644 19 278.00–285.50 $284.31 $1,831 -2.19
668–690 678 10 271.00–282.50 $276.22 $1,873 —
701–731 721 26 271.00–280.00 $272.54 $1,965 +5.65
731 value added 731 23 283.00 $283.00 $2,069 —
770–781 774 76 260.00–268.00 $264.67 $2,049 +6.78
800–848 817 78 250.00–258.00 $255.02 $2,084 +5.73
850–888 872 22 245.00–257.00 $249.19 $2,173 +2.19
900–938 924 60 234.00–245.00 $242.51 $2,241 -1.17
954–975 964 12 227.50–242.00 $237.47 $2,289 —
1010 1010 1 229.00 $229.00 $2,313 +2.36
1059 1059 8 220.00 $220.00 $2,330 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325–348 340 12 347.50–357.50 $350.68 $1,192 —
355–390 372 20 320.00–344.00 $334.29 $1,244 —
410–434 433 36 310.00–325.00 $323.58 $1,401 —
458–480 478 71 295.00–318.00 $314.95 $1,505 —
501–523 515 48 287.50–301.00 $293.68 $1,512 —
554–555 554 8 276.00–284.00 $278.00 $1,540 —
605–641 635 25 260.00–278.00 $274.21 $1,741 —
660–679 676 11 261.00–270.00 $262.60 $1,775 -10.40
715 715 5 258.00 $258.00 $1,845 ±0.00
754–785 760 12 245.00–252.50 $250.74 $1,906 +0.15
815–840 834 36 238.00–249.50 $248.13 $2,069 —
853–890 869 28 227.00–239.00 $235.18 $2,044 -4.32
905–935 919 31 223.00–233.00 $228.54 $2,100 -6.46
970–990 976 4 220.00–234.00 $226.97 $2,215 —
1040 1040 1 220.00 $220.00 $2,288 —
1058–1059 1059 9 217.00–220.00 $219.67 $2,326 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320–340 326 8 332.50–340.00 $335.01 $1,092 —
360–365 362 9 320.00–330.00 $325.26 $1,177 —
400–410 402 5 295.00–307.50 $304.95 $1,226 —
525 525 3 260.00 $260.00 $1,365 —
570–590 583 3 260.00–264.00 $262.70 $1,532 —
603–613 610 18 258.00–262.50 $259.48 $1,583 —
660–695 674 13 242.50–260.00 $254.06 $1,712 —
710–712 712 4 235.00–240.00 $236.25 $1,682 —
760–790 771 16 235.00–253.00 $238.56 $1,839 —
840 840 1 244.00 $244.00 $2,050 —
855–890 873 2 218.00–225.00 $221.43 $1,933 —
900–925 913 2 203.00–207.00 $204.97 $1,871 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
312–330 327 16 337.50–350.00 $339.74 $1,111 —
350–357 352 17 312.50–332.50 $327.66 $1,153 —
401 value added 401 15 322.50 $322.50 $1,293 —
412–433 419 14 297.50–310.00 $304.25 $1,275 —
451 451 19 285.00 $285.00 $1,285 —
525 525 1 282.50 $282.50 $1,483 —
597 597 3 268.00 $268.00 $1,600 —
608 608 2 265.00 $265.00 $1,611 —
650–697 687 82 255.00–266.50 $264.34 $1,816 —
702–748 728 127 247.50–261.50 $258.80 $1,884 +9.49
750–788 766 57 240.00–259.50 $253.02 $1,938 +6.97
801–821 812 36 236.50–245.50 $240.43 $1,952 +1.74
855–895 877 79 225.00–239.00 $232.80 $2,042 -1.92
915–947 937 55 219.50–224.00 $220.84 $2,069 -1.16
950–993 974 90 215.00–230.00 $221.31 $2,156 +0.45
1000–1048 1036 10 209.50–221.00 $215.61 $2,234 -0.53
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425–444 433 38 280.00–288.00 $284.55 $1,232 —
451–496 464 29 257.00–281.00 $274.76 $1,275 —
513–543 530 21 265.00–266.00 $265.41 $1,407 —
600–646 629 8 245.00–253.00 $250.13 $1,573 —
653–695 671 31 241.00–260.00 $252.36 $1,693 —
710–746 723 40 230.00–256.00 $245.33 $1,774 +2.56
753–798 780 80 227.50–250.00 $244.77 $1,909 +6.80
805–835 819 53 225.00–241.50 $237.07 $1,942 +9.37
850–895 881 36 215.00–224.00 $221.25 $1,949 +3.75
900–941 930 29 212.00–217.00 $216.05 $2,009 —
952–999 986 74 205.00–226.00 $216.26 $2,132 +10.25
1025 1025 1 194.00 $194.00 $1,988 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 1 265.00 $265.00 $1,431 —
565–580 571 5 236.00–244.00 $239.23 $1,366 —
618–635 620 16 235.00–253.00 $236.28 $1,465 —
655–695 681 8 227.50–251.00 $240.24 $1,636 —
707–730 714 7 212.50–221.00 $214.98 $1,535 -10.02
755–778 768 9 210.00–243.00 $234.56 $1,801 —
800–845 823 10 200.00–236.00 $215.96 $1,777 —
885–898 894 4 202.00–217.50 $212.29 $1,898 —
925–949 948 29 200.00–205.00 $201.10 $1,906 —
990 990 2 201.00 $201.00 $1,990 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
586 586 6 255.00 $255.00 $1,494 —
645 645 1 243.00 $243.00 $1,567 —
694 694 8 235.00 $235.00 $1,631 —
762–765 763 9 237.50–242.50 $238.61 $1,821 —
811 811 11 237.50 $237.50 $1,926 —
982 982 3 210.00 $210.00 $2,062 —
1000 1000 1 197.00 $197.00 $1,970 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 385 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,232 —
538 538 2 265.00 $265.00 $1,426 —
570 570 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,368 —
619 619 4 235.00 $235.00 $1,455 —
745 745 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,676 —
758 758 2 220.00 $220.00 $1,668 —
800 800 1 217.00 $217.00 $1,736 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915–1555 1270 80-85% 51 86.00–101.00 $95.00 $1,206 —
1125–1304 1276 80-85% 30 96.50–107.00 $98.45 $1,256 —
1010–1535 1308 80-85% 60 96.00–110.00 $103.95 $1,360 —
1020–1570 1322 80-85% 162 98.00–118.00 $107.76 $1,425 —
1301–1530 1416 80-85% 25 112.00–115.00 $113.36 $1,605 +8.08
1420–1475 1451 80-85% 4 106.00–112.50 $110.24 $1,600 -5.56
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1063 1063 85-90% 2 69.00 $69.00 $733 —
845–1790 1151 85-90% 52 84.00–113.00 $90.54 $1,042 +13.96
1105–1200 1153 85-90% 2 96.00–97.00 $96.52 $1,113 +19.94
1020–1193 1168 85-90% 7 81.00–88.00 $81.87 $956 -13.69
960–1355 1188 85-90% 20 74.00–103.00 $82.02 $974 -8.92
1015–1855 1200 85-90% 69 91.50–108.50 $98.58 $1,183 -5.57
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1540 1540 75-80% 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,848 —
1585 1585 75-80% 2 105.00 $105.00 $1,664 -11.12
1330–2000 1601 75-80% 31 100.00–117.00 $111.08 $1,778 —
1525–1795 1656 75-80% 5 111.00–117.50 $112.96 $1,871 +0.06

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–1430 1314 4 101.00–110.00 $104.08 $1,368 —
1360–1995 1601 10 95.00–106.00 $102.60 $1,643 -13.74
1230–1930 1701 53 103.00–120.00 $112.00 $1,905 —
1160–2268 1773 66 107.00–122.00 $113.76 $2,017 —
1770–2190 1980 19 119.00–127.00 $122.83 $2,432 -3.01

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
928–1180 1038 (<2 yrs)Open 8 132.50–191.00 $162.19 $1,684
985–1485 1123 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 79 102.00–157.00 $124.22 $1,395

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1123–1288 1187 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 9 1,375.00–1,500.00 $1,442.69
1105–1290 1198 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 1,125.00–1,475.00 $1,313.52
1210 fancy 1210 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 1,600.00 $1,600.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
856–905 864 (<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 1,700.00–1,725.00 $1,704.36
— — (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,700.00 $1,700.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1273 1273 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 1,850.00 $1,850.00 —

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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.