Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 5, 2024

8,675 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 steers $297.71/cwt +6.71 vs last sale · ≈ $1,867/hd at 627 lb · 438 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $320.17/cwt +12.05 vs last sale · ≈ $1,857/hd at 580 lb · 395 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $343.27/cwt +13.42 vs last sale · ≈ $1,809/hd at 527 lb · 299 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 8,675 6,610 8,991
Feeder cattle 5,194 4,561 4,857
Slaughter cattle 549 1,587 761
Replacement cattle 2,932 462 3,373

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steers under 500 lbs sold mostly 5.00-15.00 higher in a narrow comparison; 500-750 lbs sold 15.00-20.00 higher; steers over 750 lbs were not well compared, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Heifers under 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; heifers over 550 lbs sold 10.00-15.00 higher. Demand was mostly good to very good this week for moderate to heavy offerings. Quality was mixed from plain to very attractive. Package sizes varied greatly, but many partial load lots and load lots were seen. The best demand continues to be for cattle light and green enough to go to grass. Flesh conditions overall remain light, especially on cattle turned out on pasture or hay meadows. CME positions continue to push higher, but slowed slightly this week after an aggressive push higher over the last few weeks. The March closed at 247.05 on Friday, 2.25 higher for the week. The April contract closed at 251.775, 1.575 higher for the week. Market activity was mostly active this week as both order-buyers, farmer feeders, and ranchers bid aggressively over high quality offerings. Sale attendance was high again this week with lots of buyers in the stands for all sales this week. Weigh up cows sold on very good demand for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Packers showed very good demand for all cows this week as they balanced buying both feeding cows and slaughter cows. Slaughter cows sold 3.00-5.00 higher on all offerings. Feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold 2.00-5.00 higher. Slaughter and feeding bulls sold 2.00-4.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 5.00-10.00 higher, with very good demand seen for young cows that are still eligible to grade choice. Both feeding and rebreed buyers both showed good demand for these offerings as higher live cattle prices improved feeding demand. Quality was average to attractive this week.

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
370–396 377 48 370.00–371.00 $370.90 $1,398 +3.79
403–435 415 31 366.00–376.00 $369.23 $1,532 +21.48
440 unweaned 440 3 345.00 $345.00 $1,518 +11.00
450–499 474 272 347.50–369.00 $357.70 $1,695 +13.74
504–546 527 299 323.00–356.00 $343.27 $1,809 +10.98
553–598 580 395 299.00–337.00 $320.17 $1,857 +12.54
616–625 thin fleshed 619 56 320.00–324.50 $322.80 $1,998 —
600–641 623 291 282.50–318.00 $299.02 $1,863 +8.02
644–649 645 91 277.50–281.00 $278.08 $1,794 -12.92
650–698 679 298 267.00–300.00 $277.20 $1,882 +10.59
702–743 721 94 255.00–269.00 $260.23 $1,876 +7.46
750–799 779 168 244.25–255.00 $247.13 $1,925 +9.38
803–846 815 143 241.25–241.50 $241.28 $1,966 —
859–860 859 74 241.00–242.50 $241.28 $2,073 +21.28
913–942 937 17 227.00–228.00 $227.83 $2,135 —
964–972 969 46 216.00–224.00 $219.11 $2,123 —
1038 1038 24 209.50 $209.50 $2,175 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
308–331 323 6 350.00–355.00 $351.59 $1,136 +1.59
350–358 356 10 363.00–370.00 $364.37 $1,297 +21.37
424–448 438 43 342.00–367.50 $356.73 $1,562 +25.59
464–497 487 63 325.00–348.00 $332.05 $1,617 +12.71
518–543 528 25 310.00–324.00 $319.83 $1,689 +13.99
552–598 584 53 288.00–311.00 $294.28 $1,719 +2.81
608–646 627 45 253.00–297.00 $283.93 $1,780 +7.83
650–677 674 25 267.00–275.00 $268.28 $1,808 +11.99
710–733 716 11 244.00–253.00 $247.46 $1,772 +10.49
771 771 6 236.00 $236.00 $1,820 +3.00
796 796 4 236.00 $236.00 $1,879 +3.00
805–838 810 44 232.00–237.50 $235.87 $1,911 —
883 883 2 225.00 $225.00 $1,987 +3.00
920 920 3 210.00 $210.00 $1,932 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
324 324 22 360.00 $360.00 $1,166 +32.76
387 387 17 371.00 $371.00 $1,436 +50.00
447–448 447 38 342.00–358.00 $356.73 $1,595 —
493–499 498 43 331.00–334.00 $333.72 $1,662 +9.87
503 503 27 328.00 $328.00 $1,650 +17.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
482 482 13 309.00 $309.00 $1,489 —
533 533 10 317.50 $317.50 $1,692 —
585 585 6 293.00 $293.00 $1,714 -7.00
629 629 6 260.00 $260.00 $1,635 -7.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
418–447 430 20 305.00–327.50 $318.14 $1,368 +13.14
648 648 5 272.00 $272.00 $1,763 —
674 674 6 223.00 $223.00 $1,503 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 385 5 290.00 $290.00 $1,116 —
500 500 4 250.00 $250.00 $1,250 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
441 441 6 336.00 $336.00 $1,482 +31.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
367–393 374 37 327.00–335.00 $330.56 $1,236 —
403–440 428 94 310.00–325.00 $318.11 $1,362 +3.86
453–499 485 264 303.00–322.00 $312.21 $1,514 +2.82
503–548 521 267 291.50–318.00 $306.83 $1,599 +12.62
558–573 thin fleshed 562 59 299.00–305.50 $303.93 $1,708 —
553–590 568 162 278.00–295.00 $286.99 $1,630 +1.23
600–642 616 86 266.00–280.00 $274.37 $1,690 +15.54
672–699 683 44 245.00–255.00 $249.32 $1,703 +9.78
700–745 724 91 233.00–242.00 $237.46 $1,719 +8.21
789–799 795 21 218.50–221.00 $219.56 $1,746 -14.44
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325–348 329 20 320.00–330.00 $321.68 $1,058 +13.34
353–376 370 8 300.00–312.00 $309.14 $1,144 +5.84
437 437 25 295.00 $295.00 $1,289 +3.99
468–499 492 30 290.00–305.00 $296.47 $1,459 +11.45
502–545 519 51 276.00–289.00 $284.28 $1,475 +3.14
553–582 558 80 253.00–278.00 $272.83 $1,522 +25.90
620–633 626 22 260.00–266.00 $261.93 $1,640 +28.95
652–699 680 28 229.00–234.00 $232.01 $1,578 —
769 769 11 218.50 $218.50 $1,680 +13.50
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 435 2 280.00 $280.00 $1,218 —
485 485 20 286.00 $286.00 $1,387 +20.00
501–538 520 26 271.00–282.00 $276.70 $1,439 —
577 577 21 262.00 $262.00 $1,512 +26.00
674 674 4 240.00 $240.00 $1,618 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
454–485 473 15 242.50–276.00 $263.52 $1,246 -7.48
517 517 7 270.00 $270.00 $1,396 +25.00
551–596 584 15 230.00–242.50 $239.36 $1,398 —
604–608 605 12 211.00–236.00 $219.37 $1,327 —
690 690 2 241.00 $241.00 $1,663 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
431 431 8 306.00 $306.00 $1,319 —
452 452 17 292.50 $292.50 $1,322 —
530 530 10 261.00 $261.00 $1,383 —
559 559 8 272.00 $272.00 $1,520 +22.00
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
416–418 417 17 270.00–280.00 $274.13 $1,143 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 12 267.00 $267.00 $1,135 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
456 456 9 340.00 $340.00 $1,550 +26.93
530 530 8 308.00 $308.00 $1,632 —
599 599 11 280.00 $280.00 $1,677 —
620 620 4 286.00 $286.00 $1,773 +20.74
659 659 7 277.00 $277.00 $1,825 +26.19
710–740 731 5 225.00–230.00 $229.03 $1,674 —
900 900 4 210.00 $210.00 $1,890 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380 380 11 332.50 $332.50 $1,264 —
670 670 5 220.00 $220.00 $1,474 +15.00
715 715 1 205.00 $205.00 $1,466 —
923–948 941 7 190.00–206.00 $194.48 $1,830 +19.48
1070 1070 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,819 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1232–1680 1368 80-85% 77 94.00–106.00 $102.49 $1,402 +15.39
1390 1390 80-85% 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,473 +6.47
1345–1595 1418 80-85% 8 92.00–95.00 $93.68 $1,328 -13.03
1282–1750 1423 80-85% 51 93.50–104.50 $97.64 $1,389 -6.44
1227–1645 1435 80-85% 25 105.00–114.00 $108.76 $1,561 +4.68
1270–1765 1478 80-85% 26 85.00–92.00 $89.02 $1,316 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
930–965 948 85-90% 2 62.50 $62.50 $592 +0.11
965 965 85-90% 1 90.00 $90.00 $868 +11.76
999 999 85-90% 9 93.00 $93.00 $929 +1.00
850–1308 1064 85-90% 30 86.00–93.50 $89.90 $957 +15.55
853–1568 1159 85-90% 35 79.00–92.50 $86.22 $999 +1.43
1030–1280 1161 85-90% 41 93.50–100.00 $97.81 $1,136 +7.38
1050–1220 1163 85-90% 15 103.50–111.00 $105.82 $1,231 +15.39
965–1304 1185 85-90% 50 93.00–103.00 $98.40 $1,166 +2.30
1140–1238 1205 85-90% 3 103.00–104.00 $103.68 $1,249 +1.86
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1413–1590 1432 75-80% 17 102.50–105.50 $104.95 $1,503 +5.47
1517–1595 1561 75-80% 8 107.50–115.00 $109.19 $1,704 +13.88
1589–1670 1598 75-80% 9 93.50–98.00 $94.69 $1,513 -12.41
1596–1905 1624 75-80% 28 106.00–112.50 $108.34 $1,759 +0.51
1595–1853 1680 75-80% 20 101.50–108.00 $104.99 $1,764 +8.00
2065 2065 75-80% 1 106.50 $106.50 $2,199 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1290 1226 4 110.00–115.00 $111.31 $1,365 —
1260–1382 1333 5 90.00–95.50 $93.42 $1,245 -3.62
1425–2080 1697 28 88.50–111.00 $102.48 $1,739 —
1845 1845 1 120.00 $120.00 $2,214 —
1500–2080 1861 15 112.00–121.00 $115.39 $2,147 +2.58
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2170–2395 2245 3 115.00–124.00 $118.20 $2,654 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
700–1290 941 (<2 yrs)Open 134 147.00–228.00 $192.19 $1,809
745–1385 1015 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 79 103.00–180.00 $132.75 $1,347
1095 1095 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 98.50 $98.50 $1,079
1415 1415 (<2 yrs)Open 1 170.00 $170.00 $2,406
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
845–930 888 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 102.00–110.00 $105.81 $940
761–1056 905 (<2 yrs)Open 29 148.00–206.00 $161.98 $1,466
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
648 648 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 182.50 $182.50 $1,183
693–880 776 (<2 yrs)Open 7 152.50–207.00 $191.58 $1,487
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
857 857 (<2 yrs)Open 5 197.00 $197.00 $1,688

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1106–1122 1108 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 89 2,450.00–2,600.00 $2,468.77
1128 1128 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 2,250.00 $2,250.00
1128–1335 1238 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 10 2,300.00–2,450.00 $2,401.48
1260–1424 thin fleshed 1278 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 36 1,860.00–1,900.00 $1,864.95
1074–1404 1282 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 222 2,535.00–3,035.00 $2,779.08
1134–1538 1296 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 63 2,350.00–2,560.00 $2,517.93
1210–1370 1315 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 168 1,900.00–2,350.00 $2,214.54
1339 1339 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 7 1,950.00 $1,950.00
1280–1675 1422 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 145 2,200.00–2,650.00 $2,529.96
1221–1735 1434 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 301 2,100.00–2,675.00 $2,385.38
1241–1649 1437 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 244 1,800.00–2,300.00 $2,076.07
1319–1533 1455 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 36 2,000.00–2,450.00 $2,390.44
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1060–1143 1120 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 13 1,975.00–2,500.00 $2,279.23
1123 1123 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,600.00 $1,600.00
1145 1145 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 2,025.00 $2,025.00
1152 1152 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 1,600.00 $1,600.00
1224 1224 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 1,700.00 $1,700.00
1153–1355 thin fleshed 1274 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,250.00–1,325.00 $1,297.85
1106–1484 1332 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 108 1,625.00–1,875.00 $1,809.67
1337 1337 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 1,900.00 $1,900.00
1283–1590 1360 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 1,775.00–1,950.00 $1,898.84
1519–1555 1526 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,950.00 $1,950.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
940–1245 1055 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 642 2,400.00–3,100.00 $2,773.20
1001–1245 1117 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 42 2,350.00–2,650.00 $2,509.20
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
938–1040 1004 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 34 2,175.00–2,200.00 $2,195.88

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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.