Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 8, 2024

8,229 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 heifers $255.11/cwt +6.92 vs last sale · ≈ $1,571/hd at 616 lb · 404 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $299.85/cwt +21.65 vs last sale · ≈ $1,729/hd at 576 lb · 320 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $288.53/cwt +5.44 vs last sale · ≈ $1,382/hd at 479 lb · 281 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 8,229 2,102 10,893
Feeder cattle 5,563 1,390 7,302
Slaughter cattle 1,496 557 1,513
Replacement cattle 1,170 155 2,078

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Only one sale was held the previous week, so no full market comparisons can be made, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on all steer offerings. Heifers under 500 lbs sold with steady to higher undertones, while all heifers over 500 lbs sold with mostly higher undertones. Demand was mostly good this week for moderate offerings. Quality was mostly average to very attractive. Package sizes were mostly moderate this week. Two full load lots were seen this week with many partial loads offered. The best demand continues to be for cattle light and green enough to go to grass. In general, buyers were purchasing steers up to 660 lbs and heifers up to 615 lbs for that purpose. Flesh conditions were critical to buyers this week as they showed the best demand for green, hay fed cattle that could easily be held for grass. CME positions continue to show mostly positive movement. The January contract closed Friday at 226.575, while the March closed at 227.70. Market activity was mostly active this week as buyers bid aggressively over high quality offerings. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Packers and private buyers both purchased the majority of the offering to feed, opting only to slaughter lame or blemished cows. Packers, in a surprising move, purchased several offerings of thin cows to send to feed. This class of cows are historically only purchased in November and December for the holiday lull, but were purchased this week to hold for the coming months in the event supplies tighten. Slaughter breaking cows sold mostly 3.00-4.00 higher; boning cows sold mostly 2.00 higher; lean cows sold 2.00-4.00 higher. Feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold steady to 2.00 higher. No thin feeding cows sold last week so no trend is available. Slaughter and feeding bulls sold steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on light to moderate demand this week. Young age cows sold mostly steady. Quality was average to attractive.

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
311 311 5 367.50 $367.50 $1,143 —
356–388 374 45 338.00–385.00 $350.97 $1,313 —
403–448 426 176 325.00–387.00 $353.32 $1,505 +10.82
456 thin fleshed 456 13 362.00 $362.00 $1,651 —
472 unweaned 472 19 316.00 $316.00 $1,492 —
455–491 477 175 312.00–355.00 $331.44 $1,581 +15.33
506 unweaned 506 4 301.00 $301.00 $1,523 —
502–548 526 221 297.00–325.00 $313.32 $1,648 +2.83
549 549 27 298.00 $298.00 $1,636 -12.49
559 thin fleshed 559 40 315.00 $315.00 $1,761 —
551–598 579 280 282.00–313.00 $297.68 $1,724 +14.98
602–649 618 155 267.00–289.00 $277.43 $1,715 +18.42
607–630 unweaned 620 32 254.00–289.00 $280.49 $1,739 —
660 660 7 247.00 $247.00 $1,630 -5.54
653–695 669 239 250.00–266.50 $260.08 $1,740 +7.54
684 unweaned 684 5 250.00 $250.00 $1,710 —
719 unweaned 719 18 239.00 $239.00 $1,718 —
700–745 724 150 243.00–252.00 $246.09 $1,782 +2.18
751–755 752 31 235.50–247.50 $240.39 $1,808 -3.61
788 788 26 227.25 $227.25 $1,791 -16.75
803 803 6 224.00 $224.00 $1,799 -2.08
868–884 879 17 215.00–221.00 $218.51 $1,921 —
892 892 18 213.50 $213.50 $1,904 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
339 339 6 365.00 $365.00 $1,237 —
387 387 3 327.00 $327.00 $1,265 —
403–447 428 16 308.00–346.00 $324.65 $1,390 +0.76
455–483 469 37 300.00–315.00 $306.72 $1,439 +5.22
520–549 537 42 273.00–298.00 $286.50 $1,539 +5.07
552–592 571 38 267.00–282.00 $275.61 $1,574 +21.14
618 unweaned 618 6 276.50 $276.50 $1,709 —
606–644 629 105 240.00–264.00 $256.14 $1,611 +15.75
671–695 679 56 235.00–246.50 $240.93 $1,636 +22.93
700–704 702 11 231.00–236.00 $233.28 $1,638 —
809–829 822 22 221.00–224.00 $222.64 $1,830 +13.27
922 922 5 214.50 $214.50 $1,978 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
386 386 17 330.00 $330.00 $1,274 —
408–444 442 33 327.00–340.00 $327.73 $1,449 —
463 463 21 308.00–315.00 $312.33 $1,446 —
536 536 14 290.00 $290.00 $1,554 —
582 582 25 277.00 $277.00 $1,612 —
628 628 7 256.00 $256.00 $1,608 —
678 678 4 245.00 $245.00 $1,661 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
586 586 17 270.00 $270.00 $1,582 —
699 699 43 242.00 $242.00 $1,692 —
746 746 4 236.50 $236.50 $1,764 —
820 820 6 226.00 $226.00 $1,853 —
1147 1147 10 174.50 $174.50 $2,002 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
324 324 21 312.00 $312.00 $1,011 +44.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
344 344 9 322.00 $322.00 $1,108 —
407 407 3 305.00 $305.00 $1,241 +43.17
567 567 3 255.00 $255.00 $1,446 +16.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
376 unweaned 376 4 299.00 $299.00 $1,124 —
378–393 389 17 301.00–313.00 $309.87 $1,205 —
408–435 423 54 293.00–309.00 $300.28 $1,270 +1.94
477 unweaned 477 6 286.00 $286.00 $1,364 —
461–496 479 275 276.00–293.00 $288.59 $1,382 +5.50
517 fancy 517 35 299.00 $299.00 $1,546 —
507–541 521 130 271.00–289.00 $281.80 $1,468 +11.69
536 unweaned 536 6 270.00 $270.00 $1,447 —
556 thin fleshed 556 20 288.00 $288.00 $1,601 —
554–598 579 184 254.50–276.00 $265.87 $1,539 +12.78
554–591 588 50 265.00–268.50 $268.24 $1,577 +15.15
600 fancy 600 31 266.00 $266.00 $1,596 —
609–613 611 44 262.00–266.00 $264.18 $1,614 +15.99
600–633 617 269 247.00–261.00 $254.59 $1,571 +6.40
617 617 49 246.00 $246.00 $1,518 -2.19
635–639 unweaned 638 11 241.00–243.00 $241.54 $1,541 —
656 656 30 256.00–257.00 $256.43 $1,682 +22.41
664 664 73 235.50 $235.50 $1,564 +1.48
653–689 677 137 236.00–251.75 $242.98 $1,645 +8.96
700–746 713 128 229.00–238.50 $232.72 $1,659 —
730 730 33 219.00 $219.00 $1,599 —
754–771 761 14 211.00–219.00 $215.53 $1,640 —
873–897 887 5 201.00–207.00 $203.36 $1,804 —
905 905 1 197.00 $197.00 $1,783 —
987 987 13 199.00 $199.00 $1,964 —
1008 1008 2 195.00 $195.00 $1,966 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
396 396 15 285.00 $285.00 $1,129 —
429 unweaned 429 11 267.00 $267.00 $1,145 —
400–446 438 14 271.00–286.00 $276.67 $1,212 -23.33
456–493 472 31 241.00–276.00 $266.41 $1,257 -2.44
520 520 6 222.50 $222.50 $1,157 -33.73
516–542 532 64 248.00–270.00 $262.28 $1,395 +6.05
573 unweaned 573 11 232.00 $232.00 $1,329 —
572–599 592 46 247.50–255.00 $250.81 $1,485 +19.71
605–637 624 15 236.00–246.00 $242.12 $1,511 +7.33
660–695 680 14 222.00–231.00 $227.31 $1,546 +17.56
681 681 11 219.00 $219.00 $1,491 +9.25
700–727 720 29 202.00–212.00 $205.79 $1,482 —
814 814 11 201.00 $201.00 $1,636 +6.53
857–875 863 27 186.00–196.00 $189.14 $1,632 —
1005 1005 6 179.00 $179.00 $1,799 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
354–398 364 73 261.00–280.00 $278.86 $1,015 —
437 437 7 282.00 $282.00 $1,232 —
456 456 6 270.00 $270.00 $1,231 —
538–540 539 15 246.50–262.00 $258.50 $1,393 +2.50
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 19 231.00 $231.00 $774 —
404–442 425 38 230.00–245.00 $234.95 $999 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
449 449 10 282.00 $282.00 $1,266 —
490 490 11 277.00 $277.00 $1,357 —
565 565 3 250.00 $250.00 $1,412 —
629 629 6 237.00 $237.00 $1,491 —
723 723 5 211.00 $211.00 $1,526 —
1095 1095 5 181.50 $181.50 $1,987 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
803 803 4 180.00 $180.00 $1,445 —
975 975 2 178.00 $178.00 $1,736 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
344 thin fleshed 344 44 361.00 $361.00 $1,242 —
426 thin fleshed 426 53 349.00 $349.00 $1,487 —
487 487 5 305.00 $305.00 $1,485 +20.00
516 unweaned 516 5 284.00 $284.00 $1,465 —
610 unweaned 610 5 247.50 $247.50 $1,510 —
640 640 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,472 +7.85
706 unweaned 706 13 220.00 $220.00 $1,553 —
805 805 1 204.00 $204.00 $1,642 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525 525 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,260 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
785–905 867 85-90% 5 51.00–64.00 $60.07 $521 -12.93
935–945 938 85-90% 3 63.00–64.00 $63.34 $594 —
950–975 968 85-90% 4 76.00–78.00 $76.99 $745 -3.01
1060–1180 1086 85-90% 25 55.00–66.00 $63.59 $691 +6.79
880–1285 1123 85-90% 168 67.50–84.50 $78.54 $882 —
1123–1255 1154 85-90% 8 93.00–95.00 $93.82 $1,083 +15.19
1000–1384 1182 85-90% 117 61.50–83.50 $72.69 $859 -9.37
995–1290 1189 85-90% 43 82.00–89.00 $86.11 $1,024 +11.12
1045–1345 1197 85-90% 221 82.00–93.50 $86.16 $1,031 +11.17
1259–1358 1314 85-90% 9 92.00–93.00 $92.43 $1,215 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1231–1670 1363 80-85% 330 85.00–98.00 $91.26 $1,244 —
1302–1483 1366 80-85% 16 84.00–96.00 $90.13 $1,231 —
1280–1600 1417 80-85% 28 73.00–85.00 $82.76 $1,173 -10.28
1293–1780 1433 80-85% 21 74.00–83.00 $79.45 $1,139 -13.59
1494 1494 80-85% 4 103.50 $103.50 $1,546 +15.09
1371–1760 1496 80-85% 16 97.00–103.00 $99.65 $1,491 +11.24
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1399–1600 1510 75-80% 41 101.50–103.50 $102.12 $1,542 +9.42
1603–1628 1624 75-80% 12 102.50–104.00 $103.75 $1,685 +15.30
1528–1795 1635 75-80% 10 85.50–92.00 $89.98 $1,471 +1.53
1575–1875 1644 75-80% 6 93.00–98.50 $95.83 $1,575 +7.38
1510–1865 1650 75-80% 5 96.50–98.00 $97.42 $1,607 —
1690 1690 75-80% 1 85.00 $85.00 $1,436 —
2215 2215 75-80% 1 102.00 $102.00 $2,259 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1573 1573 65-75% 6 102.50 $102.50 $1,612 —
1925 1925 65-75% 7 95.50 $95.50 $1,838 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145 1145 1 112.50 $112.50 $1,288 —
1415–1430 1422 3 82.00–91.00 $86.66 $1,232 -3.34
1310–2105 1730 38 78.00–106.00 $95.27 $1,648 -0.26
1505–2225 1777 11 105.00–121.00 $111.00 $1,972 —
1730–2125 1939 6 109.50–128.00 $123.33 $2,391 —
2520 2520 1 126.00 $126.00 $3,175 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2175–2330 2253 2 106.00–107.00 $106.52 $2,400 —
2200–2327 2279 8 110.00 $110.00 $2,507 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
775–1290 948 (<2 yrs)Open 276 110.00–187.00 $145.87 $1,383
800–1370 1026 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 49 87.50–135.00 $111.02 $1,139
1168–1413 1242 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 20 89.50–91.00 $90.49 $1,124
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
814–1135 840 (<2 yrs)Open 14 105.00–120.00 $113.71 $955
855–905 883 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 80.00–100.00 $89.65 $792

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1040–1490 1250 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 49 2,200.00–2,700.00 $2,430.80
1271 1271 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 8 2,300.00 $2,300.00
1226–1540 1351 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 150 1,450.00–1,600.00 $1,554.41
1367 1367 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 2,250.00 $2,250.00
1271–1649 1425 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 137 1,525.00–1,825.00 $1,674.18
1475 1475 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,510.00 $1,510.00
1528 1528 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 2,150.00 $2,150.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1089 1089 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 8 2,050.00 $2,050.00
1049–1118 1095 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 29 2,060.00–2,160.00 $2,132.65
1223 1223 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,675.00 $1,675.00
1233 1233 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,450.00 $1,450.00
1276 1276 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 1,425.00 $1,425.00
1398 1398 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 2,200.00 $2,200.00
1230–1508 1404 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 11 1,550.00–1,625.00 $1,585.87
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1338–1420 1384 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 9 92.50–94.50 $93.64 $1,296
1546 1546 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 7 104.00 $104.00 $1,608

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
936–1149 1065 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 106 2,150.00–2,410.00 $2,324.20
1107 1107 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 2,225.00 $2,225.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
824–1026 868 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 32 1,800.00–2,100.00 $1,877.55
1021 1021 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 16 2,175.00 $2,175.00
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
802 802 (<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 1,410.00 $1,410.00
831 831 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 8 1,550.00 $1,550.00

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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.