Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, October 23, 2023

11,964 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $262.30/cwt -12.14 vs last sale · ≈ $1,490/hd at 568 lb · 305 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $301.07/cwt -27.13 vs last sale · ≈ $1,412/hd at 469 lb · 273 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $281.55/cwt -16.16 vs last sale · ≈ $1,450/hd at 515 lb · 273 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 11,964 18,805 13,504
Feeder cattle 5,499 10,039 7,168
Slaughter cattle 2,112 2,623 2,008
Replacement cattle 4,353 1,313 4,328

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested this week to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 500 lbs sold sharply lower, with most sales 20.00-35.00 lower, steer calves over 500 lbs sold 15.00-25.00 lower. Yearling heifers sold generally steady. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold 15.00-25.00 lower, heifer calves over 450 lbs sold 10.00-15.00 lower. Winter Weather and lower board positions combined to push the market sharply lower. Late week saw very few offerings as freezing rain and snow made roads extremely treacherous. The Friday feeder special was canceled at Public auction yards as very few cattle were seen. CME traders remain in shock after the cattle on feed report showed both placements and cattle on feed over the industry guess. CME positions were lower to start the week but improved late in the week as packers paid steady to 1.00 higher for slaughter cattle on Friday. Demand for feeder cattle was light to moderate. Quality was mostly average to attractive on calves and yearlings. No load lots of calves were seen again this week as most calves were purchased in small to moderate size packages. One load of yearlings were seen this week and these offerings were very attractive. Market activity this week was moderate to active. Weight up cows sold on light to moderate demand for moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average. Breaking cows sold steady to 3.00 lower, boning and lean cows sold 4.00-6.00 lower. Packers continue to focus on buying feeding cows again this week. Only poorer quality cows were purchased for immediate slaughter. A large portion of the thin cow offering sold to private feeders as they buy cows to turn out on corn stalks or feed. Packers also jumped into buying this class of cows as they worry about supplies going forward. This class of cows sold 1.00-3.00 lower. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white, steady to 3.00 lower. Slaughter and feeding bulls sold steady to weak. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on moderate to good demand this week. Feeding buyers were not as aggressive this week as lower CME positions weighed on buying decisions. Young age cows sold mostly 10.00 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
249 unweaned 249 4 370.00 $370.00 $921 —
252 unweaned 252 5 375.00 $375.00 $945 —
300–349 unweaned 324 128 340.00–377.50 $360.22 $1,167 -30.31
351–395 unweaned 378 138 320.00–367.50 $340.33 $1,286 -50.65
404–448 unweaned 413 147 316.00–335.00 $327.34 $1,352 -34.17
450–498 unweaned 469 271 282.00–317.50 $301.18 $1,413 -27.02
473 473 2 286.00 $286.00 $1,353 —
500–549 unweaned 515 273 270.00–288.00 $281.55 $1,450 -16.51
551–584 unweaned 568 305 246.00–277.00 $262.30 $1,490 -12.80
602–649 unweaned 634 134 236.00–253.00 $241.41 $1,531 -26.15
651–688 unweaned 668 58 231.00–240.00 $235.87 $1,576 -19.91
683 683 3 233.00 $233.00 $1,591 -35.17
709 unweaned 709 4 231.00 $231.00 $1,638 -18.35
718 718 4 239.50 $239.50 $1,720 -0.50
1040 1040 2 207.50 $207.50 $2,158 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
274–294 unweaned 281 25 317.50–325.00 $320.32 $900 -65.71
310–349 unweaned 338 109 282.50–340.00 $317.99 $1,075 -47.10
357–397 unweaned 386 108 290.00–325.00 $309.18 $1,193 -39.78
410 410 9 320.00 $320.00 $1,312 —
401–448 unweaned 435 154 270.00–332.00 $299.78 $1,304 -24.59
455–493 unweaned 480 134 261.00–288.00 $276.47 $1,327 -9.20
513–545 unweaned 528 60 252.50–273.00 $266.09 $1,405 -7.88
558–594 unweaned 574 59 236.00–252.50 $242.68 $1,393 -15.95
623 unweaned 623 4 221.00 $221.00 $1,377 -26.39
650–680 unweaned 662 5 220.00–230.00 $225.89 $1,495 -10.85
743 743 4 233.00 $233.00 $1,731 -15.44
811 811 7 219.00 $219.00 $1,776 —
931 931 5 204.00 $204.00 $1,899 -19.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
317 unweaned 317 21 292.50 $292.50 $927 -61.50
319 319 9 277.50 $277.50 $885 —
369 unweaned 369 5 262.50 $262.50 $969 -67.50
701–729 713 12 238.00–238.50 $238.29 $1,699 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
427 unweaned 427 20 315.00 $315.00 $1,345 +12.50
490 unweaned 490 1 261.00 $261.00 $1,279 —
678 unweaned 678 2 233.00 $233.00 $1,580 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
321 unweaned 321 6 340.00 $340.00 $1,091 —
619 619 8 250.50 $250.50 $1,551 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
458 unweaned 458 2 150.00 $150.00 $687 —
513 unweaned 513 2 200.00 $200.00 $1,026 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
647 647 3 242.00 $242.00 $1,566 +4.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
314–349 unweaned 331 42 272.50–323.00 $302.35 $1,001 -31.25
355–395 unweaned 376 154 272.50–310.00 $297.29 $1,118 -23.06
400–447 unweaned 425 173 260.00–286.00 $275.69 $1,172 -19.78
452–485 unweaned 472 111 252.50–275.00 $261.37 $1,234 -12.64
490 fancy 490 33 277.00 $277.00 $1,357 —
500 fancy 500 17 270.00 $270.00 $1,350 -8.43
502–546 unweaned 524 253 240.00–268.00 $251.07 $1,316 -11.95
551–595 unweaned 566 112 221.00–244.00 $238.53 $1,350 -15.85
600–620 unweaned 615 28 221.00–235.00 $230.83 $1,420 -16.04
647 647 27 246.00 $246.00 $1,592 —
669 unweaned 669 8 220.00 $220.00 $1,472 -15.23
658–698 674 15 240.00–241.00 $240.59 $1,622 -9.46
701–727 715 30 237.00–241.00 $238.99 $1,709 -8.00
753–786 760 126 230.50–236.50 $235.46 $1,789 +1.02
801–842 825 118 225.00–234.50 $229.50 $1,893 +5.07
857–893 872 32 212.00–227.50 $219.36 $1,913 -1.24
905 905 4 204.00 $204.00 $1,846 -10.88
907–914 910 21 210.00–213.00 $212.14 $1,930 -2.74
950–965 961 80 211.50–212.50 $211.95 $2,037 +4.45
1058 1058 9 190.50 $190.50 $2,015 —
1108 1108 8 183.00 $183.00 $2,028 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
235 unweaned 235 6 260.00 $260.00 $611 —
265–297 unweaned 292 72 252.50–325.00 $280.45 $819 -35.08
302–335 unweaned 319 97 253.00–302.50 $271.03 $865 -29.33
363–394 unweaned 379 71 255.00–285.00 $267.53 $1,014 -24.85
410–443 unweaned 438 52 230.00–261.50 $251.12 $1,100 -7.06
450–490 unweaned 469 45 240.00–257.00 $252.35 $1,184 -8.49
508–533 unweaned 519 19 230.00–240.00 $236.83 $1,229 -10.51
574 unweaned 574 4 216.00 $216.00 $1,240 -19.00
649 649 16 240.50 $240.50 $1,561 -3.63
663 663 4 242.00 $242.00 $1,604 +7.00
704–715 712 14 215.00–228.00 $224.33 $1,597 -11.31
756 756 17 213.00 $213.00 $1,610 —
818 818 3 207.00 $207.00 $1,693 -14.92
839 unweaned 839 4 224.00 $224.00 $1,879 —
893 893 2 210.00 $210.00 $1,875 -5.60
924–929 927 12 200.00–204.00 $201.33 $1,866 -2.50
1030 1030 5 189.00 $189.00 $1,947 +2.00
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
527 527 15 245.00 $245.00 $1,291 —
572–593 592 73 238.00–242.50 $242.20 $1,434 —
635 635 4 182.50 $182.50 $1,159 -44.50
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
621–636 631 15 242.00–243.00 $242.67 $1,531 +18.30
687–693 691 8 236.00–239.00 $237.88 $1,644 +1.88
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
328 unweaned 328 3 262.50 $262.50 $861 +7.50
413 unweaned 413 6 240.00 $240.00 $991 +4.00
461 unweaned 461 7 232.50 $232.50 $1,072 —
542 unweaned 542 3 202.50 $202.50 $1,098 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005 1005 5 195.50 $195.50 $1,965 —
1101–1127 1110 9 187.00–188.50 $187.51 $2,081 -6.85

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Feeder Bulls

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020–1029 1028 6 160.00–172.00 $170.01 $1,748 -19.99
1065–1088 1073 16 162.00–180.00 $164.74 $1,768 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545 unweaned 545 4 243.00 $243.00 $1,324 -27.36
563 unweaned 563 4 221.00 $221.00 $1,244 -32.67
648 unweaned 648 12 219.00 $219.00 $1,419 -13.20
1070 1070 1 188.00 $188.00 $2,012 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 unweaned 465 4 265.00 $265.00 $1,232 +15.00
504 unweaned 504 5 239.00 $239.00 $1,205 —
620 unweaned 620 3 198.00 $198.00 $1,228 —
975 975 3 131.00 $131.00 $1,277 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845–970 915 85-90% 5 63.00–74.00 $70.65 $646 —
895–970 952 85-90% 6 54.00–62.50 $56.75 $540 -20.11
955–1340 1119 85-90% 53 50.00–73.00 $67.73 $758 -16.36
980–1280 1131 85-90% 34 62.00–72.50 $65.77 $744 -18.32
910–1336 1167 85-90% 367 73.50–86.00 $80.64 $941 -21.25
1005–1350 1210 85-90% 145 71.00–85.00 $77.88 $942 -12.64
920–1295 1211 85-90% 66 97.00–103.50 $98.09 $1,188 +7.57
900–1380 1212 85-90% 272 84.50–96.50 $89.80 $1,088 -0.72
1150–1321 1261 85-90% 22 84.00–95.00 $87.37 $1,102 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1280–1570 1378 80-85% 121 77.00–92.00 $85.22 $1,174 -3.30
1224–1600 1395 80-85% 288 92.00–104.50 $97.28 $1,357 +8.76
1290–1920 1408 80-85% 63 72.00–91.00 $81.44 $1,147 -19.03
1307–1555 1433 80-85% 11 87.00–97.00 $93.09 $1,334 +6.02
1340–1643 1456 80-85% 8 62.00–77.00 $73.11 $1,064 -20.61
1415–1515 1489 80-85% 14 105.00–109.00 $105.53 $1,571 +11.81
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1423–1690 1517 75-80% 11 92.00–95.00 $94.44 $1,433 -13.52
1603–1638 1614 75-80% 11 105.00–109.00 $106.20 $1,714 +5.95
1570–1765 1634 75-80% 8 104.00–108.00 $105.79 $1,729 +3.79
1345–1940 1653 75-80% 15 87.00–102.00 $95.33 $1,576 —
1655–1735 1695 75-80% 2 112.50–116.00 $114.29 $1,937 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1183–1305 1222 6 80.00–90.00 $86.28 $1,054 —
1160–1775 1568 36 86.00–104.00 $96.57 $1,514 —
1615–1980 1761 8 104.50–109.50 $106.31 $1,872 —
1390–2025 1769 26 91.00–105.50 $99.77 $1,765 —
1645–2115 1899 19 106.00–115.00 $109.09 $2,072 -2.05
2070–2265 2135 3 119.50–120.50 $120.15 $2,565 —
2625 2625 1 95.00 $95.00 $2,494 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
725–837 thin fleshed 784 (<2 yrs)Open 27 132.50–167.50 $148.95 $1,168
816–965 thin fleshed 919 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 32 105.00–123.00 $107.00 $983
795–1270 947 (<2 yrs)Open 384 120.50–185.00 $159.89 $1,514
900–1430 1056 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 238 102.00–155.00 $121.50 $1,283
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
758 thin fleshed 758 (<2 yrs)Open 2 140.00 $140.00 $1,061
720–1160 887 (<2 yrs)Open 24 105.00–150.00 $136.71 $1,213
733–1290 1038 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 23 82.00–110.00 $92.60 $961
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1035 1035 (<2 yrs)Open 1 123.00 $123.00 $1,273

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
960 thin fleshed 960 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,700.00 $1,700.00
1014–1203 1069 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 155 1,675.00–2,875.00 $2,687.58
1130 1130 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 2,800.00 $2,800.00
960–1341 1158 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1,538 1,750.00–3,125.00 $2,783.50
1194 1194 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 8 1,700.00 $1,700.00
1254–1355 1267 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,200.00–1,300.00 $1,213.37
1268 1268 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 1,350.00 $1,350.00
1280 1280 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 10 1,925.00 $1,925.00
1235–1292 1287 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 25 1,325.00–2,725.00 $2,617.56
1313 1313 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 11 1,650.00 $1,650.00
1471 1471 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 2,200.00 $2,200.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1257 1257 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 81.00 $81.00 $1,018
1373–1430 1407 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 7 76.00–94.00 $81.43 $1,146
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1223–1402 1283 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,175.00–1,275.00 $1,211.43

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
884–982 thin fleshed 946 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 47 1,900.00–2,125.00 $2,000.70
917–970 thin fleshed 963 (<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 24 1,935.00–2,100.00 $2,080.37
958–1070 1032 (<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 139 2,200.00–2,500.00 $2,390.01
803–1085 1042 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1,488 1,985.00–3,300.00 $2,613.98
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1017 1017 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,925.00 $1,925.00

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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.