Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 9, 2023

7,670 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $288.72/cwt -3.59 vs last sale · ≈ $1,522/hd at 527 lb · 347 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $268.46/cwt -0.89 vs last sale · ≈ $1,674/hd at 624 lb · 229 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $363.15/cwt +36.90 vs last sale · ≈ $1,514/hd at 417 lb · 202 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 7,670 8,197 11,536
Feeder cattle 5,300 4,303 8,085
Slaughter cattle 1,642 963 2,292
Replacement cattle 728 375 1,159

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested this week to develop an accurate market trend however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold sharlply higher, with most sales 20.00-30.00 higher than last week. 450-499 lbs steers sold steady to 15.00 higher; steer calves over 500 lbs sold generally steady. Yearling heifers under 850 lbs sold steady to 3.00 lower, heifers over 850 lbs sold unevenly steady. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold sharply higher with most sales 20.00-35.00 higher. CME positions rebounded slightly this past week. For the week the nearby October contract settled at 249.87 and the November 251.57. Demand was mostly good to very good this week for light weight calves suitable to develop into yearlings, calves heavier than 500 lbs and yearlings sold with light to moderate demand. Heavy rains fell across the region to end the week, which kept receipts unseasonably light. Quality was mixed this week from plain to attractive on both calves and yearlings. Market activity this week was moderate to active. Weight up cows sold on light to moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average. Breaking cows sold steady to weak, boning and lean cows sold 1.00-2.00 lower. Packers continue to focus on buying feeding cows again this week. Only poorer quality cows were purchased for immediate slaughter this week. A large portion of the thin cow offering sold to private feeders as they buy cows to turn out on corn stalks or feed. Most of these offerings sold as slaughter cows last week thus no comparison is available. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white, sold steady to 2.00 lower. Slaughter and feeding bulls sold mostly steady to 1.00 lower. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on very good demand again this week. Young age cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher, with instances of sharply higher prices seen for very high quality offerings.

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
288 unweaned 288 5 395.00 $395.00 $1,138 —
325–349 unweaned 335 43 355.00–402.50 $384.05 $1,287 +41.56
363–390 unweaned 376 128 372.50–405.00 $388.13 $1,459 +44.32
402–440 unweaned 417 202 266.00–384.00 $363.15 $1,514 +36.90
450–495 unweaned 469 121 291.00–362.00 $315.73 $1,481 +11.78
502–548 unweaned 527 347 276.50–305.00 $288.72 $1,522 -3.59
556 556 14 279.00 $279.00 $1,551 —
550–595 unweaned 574 115 264.00–287.50 $279.11 $1,602 +1.38
618 fancy 618 34 280.00 $280.00 $1,730 —
600–645 unweaned 624 167 255.50–275.00 $264.84 $1,653 -4.51
629 629 28 276.00 $276.00 $1,736 —
655–692 unweaned 677 61 241.00–265.00 $258.05 $1,747 -6.95
682 682 19 278.00 $278.00 $1,896 -4.50
700–705 unweaned 702 11 250.00–259.00 $254.11 $1,784 -6.89
705–717 710 26 264.00–274.00 $270.11 $1,918 -2.77
759–788 765 58 250.50–271.00 $261.55 $2,001 +31.55
766 unweaned 766 10 241.00 $241.00 $1,846 —
830 830 5 234.00 $234.00 $1,942 -11.42
851 851 6 240.00 $240.00 $2,042 +0.26
894 894 4 229.00 $229.00 $2,047 -10.74
910 910 9 232.00 $232.00 $2,111 ±0.00
998 998 3 221.00 $221.00 $2,206 —
1085 1085 4 216.50 $216.50 $2,349 —
1092 1092 3 213.00 $213.00 $2,326 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
274–276 unweaned 275 9 352.50–360.00 $355.85 $979 —
300–348 unweaned 316 32 350.00–375.00 $358.12 $1,132 +27.59
363–397 unweaned 390 54 255.00–379.00 $353.87 $1,380 +47.12
405–448 unweaned 428 44 325.00–355.00 $342.04 $1,464 +36.34
453–492 unweaned 468 84 270.00–308.00 $290.47 $1,359 +1.71
505–544 unweaned 524 34 255.00–280.00 $265.21 $1,390 -14.82
554–590 unweaned 577 49 255.00–270.00 $261.78 $1,510 -5.10
607 unweaned 607 7 250.00 $250.00 $1,518 +2.51
744 744 5 260.00 $260.00 $1,934 —
758 758 2 259.00 $259.00 $1,963 —
852–886 873 20 230.00–239.50 $236.88 $2,068 —
924 924 5 218.50 $218.50 $2,019 -8.92
955 955 1 214.00 $214.00 $2,044 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
424 unweaned 424 7 323.00 $323.00 $1,370 +25.50
475 unweaned 475 15 257.50 $257.50 $1,223 —
503–520 unweaned 509 36 270.00–297.50 $288.13 $1,467 —
553–572 unweaned 568 35 267.00–268.00 $267.81 $1,521 +2.31
1108 1108 4 205.00 $205.00 $2,271 —
1205 1205 1 187.00 $187.00 $2,253 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
339 unweaned 339 8 235.00 $235.00 $797 —
383 unweaned 383 4 245.00 $245.00 $938 -71.00
404 unweaned 404 5 295.00 $295.00 $1,192 —
474–487 unweaned 481 13 224.00–255.00 $240.12 $1,155 —
529–535 unweaned 533 10 220.00–225.00 $221.99 $1,183 —
741 741 9 231.00 $231.00 $1,712 -15.25
783–792 787 12 224.50–247.50 $234.15 $1,843 +1.65
830 830 3 220.00 $220.00 $1,826 —
883 883 5 226.00 $226.00 $1,996 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
570 570 27 256.00 $256.00 $1,459 —
618–648 634 11 234.50–259.50 $248.43 $1,575 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 unweaned 400 3 340.00 $340.00 $1,360 —
549 549 7 282.00 $282.00 $1,548 —
652 652 7 266.00 $266.00 $1,734 —
725 725 3 249.00 $249.00 $1,805 —
Small 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 unweaned 343 8 135.00 $135.00 $463 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
626 unweaned 626 6 232.50 $232.50 $1,455 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
597 597 5 237.00 $237.00 $1,415 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
256–288 unweaned 270 13 340.00–355.00 $348.90 $942 +35.79
309–334 unweaned 326 42 320.00–352.50 $339.79 $1,108 +21.98
351–399 unweaned 376 109 310.00–345.00 $324.48 $1,220 +26.88
400–444 unweaned 417 153 285.00–327.50 $308.23 $1,285 +21.93
450–499 unweaned 469 113 265.00–290.00 $277.05 $1,299 +1.13
472 472 16 290.00 $290.00 $1,369 —
516 516 14 286.00 $286.00 $1,476 —
500–549 unweaned 520 134 250.00–284.00 $269.86 $1,403 +7.66
538 538 26 281.00 $281.00 $1,512 —
550–580 unweaned 562 80 245.00–269.00 $254.80 $1,432 +0.63
567 fancy 567 25 271.00 $271.00 $1,537 —
612–649 unweaned 627 63 241.00–255.00 $248.61 $1,559 +2.07
626–645 630 78 257.50–276.75 $272.71 $1,718 —
668 unweaned 668 4 235.00 $235.00 $1,570 -8.30
708 unweaned 708 2 237.50 $237.50 $1,682 —
702–745 726 100 245.50–267.00 $255.96 $1,858 -1.50
753–793 767 57 235.00–243.00 $239.50 $1,837 +0.11
808–835 826 54 229.00–238.00 $236.16 $1,951 +4.17
853–888 869 88 218.00–230.00 $226.91 $1,972 +5.85
920–940 937 41 214.00–224.50 $222.21 $2,082 +2.43
962–982 967 22 216.00–217.50 $217.15 $2,100 +4.54
1015–1036 1028 26 202.00–211.50 $208.54 $2,144 +0.18
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
241 unweaned 241 8 320.00 $320.00 $771 —
287–299 unweaned 289 44 297.50–320.00 $310.87 $898 -6.63
300–346 unweaned 326 32 272.50–320.00 $302.87 $987 +7.87
350–390 unweaned 372 78 210.00–320.00 $302.22 $1,124 +7.22
412–448 unweaned 434 78 250.00–275.00 $272.69 $1,183 +18.57
453–497 unweaned 477 46 245.00–268.00 $258.13 $1,231 —
508–544 unweaned 530 48 235.00–260.00 $253.11 $1,341 +1.69
580–590 unweaned 588 13 240.00–244.00 $240.61 $1,415 +0.61
620 620 3 266.00 $266.00 $1,649 +18.31
650–696 662 22 239.00–255.00 $244.49 $1,619 -9.51
678 unweaned 678 2 222.50 $222.50 $1,509 —
744 744 4 253.00 $253.00 $1,882 +8.66
770–790 780 39 230.00–238.00 $234.58 $1,830 +11.34
811–836 826 31 215.00–226.00 $224.63 $1,855 +5.27
873–898 891 9 214.00–221.50 $215.63 $1,921 +2.68
903–935 922 5 209.50–213.00 $210.87 $1,944 -4.13
965 965 1 202.00 $202.00 $1,949 +0.40
1025–1035 1028 3 200.00–205.00 $201.68 $2,073 +0.18
1080 1080 2 196.50 $196.50 $2,122 +1.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
394 unweaned 394 9 292.50 $292.50 $1,152 -5.50
414 unweaned 414 9 247.50 $247.50 $1,025 -40.00
498 unweaned 498 9 255.00 $255.00 $1,270 —
501–539 unweaned 531 23 237.00–253.00 $240.28 $1,276 +20.28
550 unweaned 550 3 234.00 $234.00 $1,287 —
1105 1105 2 196.00 $196.00 $2,166 -4.52
1153 1153 2 193.50 $193.50 $2,231 +1.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
399 unweaned 399 5 300.00 $300.00 $1,197 +65.00
490 unweaned 490 12 250.00 $250.00 $1,225 —
572 572 13 264.00 $264.00 $1,510 -11.50
665–697 683 24 244.00–254.00 $248.35 $1,696 -2.46
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
394 unweaned 394 13 222.50 $222.50 $877 —
440 440 3 237.50 $237.50 $1,045 —
447 unweaned 447 3 220.00 $220.00 $983 —
463 unweaned 463 6 235.00 $235.00 $1,088 —
798 798 3 203.00 $203.00 $1,620 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
428 unweaned 428 5 202.50 $202.50 $867 —
549 549 7 253.00 $253.00 $1,389 —
Small 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
421 unweaned 421 5 150.00 $150.00 $632 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380 unweaned 380 1 375.00 $375.00 $1,425 +80.00
474–475 unweaned 474 6 260.00–290.00 $279.99 $1,327 +10.73
543 unweaned 543 3 265.00 $265.00 $1,439 —
585 unweaned 585 3 255.00 $255.00 $1,492 -35.00
630 unweaned 630 5 228.00 $228.00 $1,436 —
691 691 6 241.00 $241.00 $1,665 —
791 791 12 234.50 $234.50 $1,855 +4.50
858 unweaned 858 2 210.00 $210.00 $1,802 —
965 965 11 215.50 $215.50 $2,080 +14.29
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
295 unweaned 295 11 287.50 $287.50 $848 —
348 unweaned 348 2 305.00 $305.00 $1,061 —
421 unweaned 421 8 275.00 $275.00 $1,158 —
1136 1136 4 167.00 $167.00 $1,897 -5.50
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
472 472 8 210.00 $210.00 $991 —
557–571 unweaned 561 15 222.50–225.00 $223.18 $1,252 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1094–1095 1094 5 165.00–177.00 $167.40 $1,831 —
1193 1193 6 124.00 $124.00 $1,479 -41.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070 1070 3 195.00 $195.00 $2,086 +10.00
1105 1105 1 171.00 $171.00 $1,890 —
1190 1190 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,934 -10.00
1220 1220 2 140.00 $140.00 $1,708 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
565 unweaned 565 6 205.00 $205.00 $1,158 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
860–965 904 85-90% 5 62.50–74.00 $69.73 $630 -11.80
815–995 925 85-90% 5 76.00–83.00 $81.00 $749 -0.53
985 985 85-90% 1 95.00 $95.00 $936 —
890–1303 1116 85-90% 91 60.00–77.00 $72.97 $814 -14.69
1080–1180 1145 85-90% 3 107.00–111.00 $109.15 $1,250 +21.49
925–1335 1155 85-90% 174 79.50–94.00 $86.93 $1,004 —
985–1410 1184 85-90% 152 77.00–95.00 $84.99 $1,006 -25.44
980–1345 1199 85-90% 117 92.00–107.50 $100.24 $1,202 -1.66
1130–1303 1281 85-90% 18 94.00–101.00 $96.43 $1,235 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1223–1538 1379 80-85% 270 97.00–110.00 $103.06 $1,421 -10.03
1304–1565 1386 80-85% 71 86.00–98.50 $94.14 $1,305 +0.47
1301–1600 1402 80-85% 85 84.00–97.00 $91.49 $1,283 -11.11
1430 1430 80-85% 1 62.50 $62.50 $894 -29.18
1205–1780 1443 80-85% 24 95.00–110.00 $101.31 $1,462 +9.63
1380–1564 1500 80-85% 37 109.00–114.00 $112.45 $1,687 +1.79
1430–1575 1511 80-85% 4 110.00–111.50 $110.61 $1,671 -0.05
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1453–1707 1537 75-80% 26 106.50–112.00 $110.17 $1,693 —
1528–1885 1560 75-80% 62 105.00–111.25 $110.67 $1,726 +0.86
1535–1720 1628 75-80% 11 93.00–106.50 $101.72 $1,656 —
1550–1805 1668 75-80% 13 95.00–105.50 $101.79 $1,698 -6.54

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1288–1760 1420 17 106.00–120.00 $115.64 $1,642 —
1153–1945 1466 25 91.00–106.00 $100.12 $1,468 +1.18
1260–2065 1629 41 89.00–107.00 $99.83 $1,626 —
1018–2175 1791 26 106.00–117.00 $111.44 $1,996 —
1745–2215 2006 8 117.00–122.00 $120.29 $2,413 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
757–1325 954 (<2 yrs)Open 196 129.00–206.00 $168.09 $1,604
785–1340 1046 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 223 102.00–175.00 $133.68 $1,398
956–1172 1099 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 26 106.50–112.00 $109.39 $1,202
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
785–1170 946 (<2 yrs)Open 19 130.00–162.00 $147.05 $1,391
950–1245 1082 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 104.50–112.50 $108.08 $1,169
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
690 690 (<2 yrs)Open 1 120.00 $120.00 $828

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1012–1224 1141 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 30 1,775.00–1,960.00 $1,828.14
1143–1280 1250 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 18 1,850.00–1,900.00 $1,889.84
1330–1425 1382 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 11 1,485.00–1,535.00 $1,506.88
1417 1417 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 15 1,475.00 $1,475.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1113 1113 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,475.00 $1,475.00
1194 thin fleshed 1194 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 7 950.00 $950.00
1257 1257 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 1,500.00 $1,500.00
1201–1424 1290 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 39 1,100.00–1,375.00 $1,207.33
1342 1342 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 1,500.00 $1,500.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1463 1463 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 90.00 $90.00 $1,317

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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.