Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 19, 2024

9,156 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $262.33/cwt +16.03 vs last sale · ≈ $1,757/hd at 670 lb · 528 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $276.60/cwt +13.18 vs last sale · ≈ $1,729/hd at 625 lb · 410 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $294.19/cwt +13.77 vs last sale · ≈ $1,687/hd at 573 lb · 401 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 9,156 11,240 3,100
Feeder cattle 7,125 2,506 1,879
Slaughter cattle 1,005 870 396
Replacement cattle 1,026 347 825

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steers steers under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed; steers 450-599 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; steers 600-699 lbs steers sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher; 700-799 lbs sold mostly 10.00-15.00 higher; steers over 800 lbs were not well compared, however higher undertones were noticed. Heifers under 550 lbs sold mostly steady to firm; 550-699 lbs sold mostly 10.00-15.00 higher. Heifers over 700 lbs were not well compared however higher undertones were noticed. Demand this week was mostly good to very good for moderate to heavy offerings. Quality was mostly average to very attractive. Several long strings of reputation feeders off reputation ranches sold this week, many in multiple load lots. This allowed buyers to buy long strings of uniform cattle that will grow and feed together. Demand was very good for these offerings, especially from corporate packers. Flesh conditions were mostly light this week with very few fleshy offerings seen. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings. Steers weighing 475-725 lbs and heifers weighing 450-660 lbs were purchased for that purpose. CME positions climbed all week in anticipation of the cattle on feed report which was released at 1 pm local time on Friday. The March closed at 254.575 on Friday, 3.55 higher for the week. The April contract closed at 259.975, 6.425 higher for the week. Market activity was mostly active as the stands were packed at all the sales this week. Order-buyers, farmer feeders, and ranchers all bid aggressively over this weeks very attractive offering. Weigh up cows sold on very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive and similar to last week. Packers showed very good demand for all cows this week as they balanced buying both feeding cows and slaughter cows. Slaughter cows sold 3.00-4.00 higher on breaking cows. Boning cows sold with the best demand as packers and feeding buyers both purchased the majority of the feeding cow offering from this class. Slaughter boning cows sold 6.00-9.00 higher as a result. Lean cows sold 6.00-8.00 higher. Feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold 5.00-9.00 higher. Slaughter and feeding bulls sold 3.00-6.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to 5.00 higher on higher quality offering. Demand remains good for high quality offerings. Both feeding and rebreed buyers both showed good demand for these offering as higher live cattle prices continue to improved feeding demand. Demand for bred cows remains very good. Ranchers were very active in buying this weeks light offering of bred cows. Most offerings stayed in the state as ranchers continue to rebuild their herds.

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
350–387 362 15 375.00–387.50 $383.05 $1,387 +23.05
400–447 420 53 345.00–375.00 $356.09 $1,496 +3.51
450–499 482 73 332.00–371.00 $355.75 $1,715 +8.46
503–546 519 172 326.00–354.00 $343.43 $1,782 +6.03
550–599 576 336 313.00–335.00 $320.40 $1,846 -6.46
603–647 625 300 295.00–328.50 $314.94 $1,968 +12.22
651 thin fleshed 651 125 298.25–303.00 $299.58 $1,950 +6.08
650–678 662 149 266.00–296.00 $283.91 $1,879 +6.83
675–681 677 29 275.00 $275.00 $1,862 -2.08
704–743 720 283 253.00–286.50 $276.91 $1,994 +15.84
718–724 723 33 246.00–250.50 $246.82 $1,785 -14.25
754–774 764 114 246.00–261.00 $253.12 $1,934 +8.90
768 768 4 231.00 $231.00 $1,774 -13.22
807 807 353 255.50 $255.50 $2,062 +16.50
809–843 820 38 227.00–240.00 $235.78 $1,933 -3.22
869 869 25 247.50 $247.50 $2,151 +25.50
911–926 922 36 209.50–224.00 $222.14 $2,048 —
970 970 5 215.00 $215.00 $2,086 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
252 252 3 400.00 $400.00 $1,008 —
337–338 337 12 355.00–362.50 $356.25 $1,201 —
362–391 377 10 350.00–370.00 $360.25 $1,358 +6.44
408–448 425 51 330.00–360.00 $342.61 $1,456 +2.16
450–498 479 73 322.00–348.00 $330.71 $1,584 -3.75
500–544 534 106 312.00–332.50 $317.73 $1,697 -7.73
550–592 569 91 293.50–317.00 $307.72 $1,751 +5.87
600–647 626 80 276.00–297.50 $287.17 $1,798 -1.19
656–698 680 87 252.50–277.00 $269.82 $1,835 +15.40
710–749 739 32 245.00–256.00 $252.49 $1,866 +11.82
755–780 764 22 217.50–245.00 $223.44 $1,707 -15.77
819 819 4 237.00 $237.00 $1,941 +9.60
950–985 979 15 197.50–208.00 $205.78 $2,015 —
1005–1033 1022 5 190.50–194.00 $191.88 $1,961 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
382 382 8 332.50 $332.50 $1,270 -10.00
421–425 422 11 320.00–331.00 $324.02 $1,367 -19.87
478 478 6 321.00 $321.00 $1,534 +8.50
517–528 526 17 316.00–325.00 $317.56 $1,670 +9.98
567–584 581 51 286.00–308.00 $300.97 $1,749 —
630 630 11 282.00 $282.00 $1,777 +6.00
685 685 22 267.00 $267.00 $1,829 —
854 854 6 221.00 $221.00 $1,887 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
507–548 531 16 296.00–302.00 $298.53 $1,585 —
556 556 5 298.00 $298.00 $1,657 —
600–610 604 58 285.00–298.00 $293.34 $1,772 —
663–694 680 13 252.00–272.00 $261.00 $1,775 —
750 750 4 240.00 $240.00 $1,800 —
910 910 25 220.00 $220.00 $2,002 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
453–492 473 22 310.00–312.50 $311.20 $1,472 —
501 501 6 306.00 $306.00 $1,533 —
1037 1037 5 181.00 $181.00 $1,877 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
545 545 21 260.00 $260.00 $1,417 —
588 588 7 253.00 $253.00 $1,488 —
609 609 4 265.00 $265.00 $1,614 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
381 381 5 331.00 $331.00 $1,261 +41.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
386 386 6 332.50 $332.50 $1,283 -4.93
403–447 434 47 324.00–340.00 $326.49 $1,417 -0.11
450–496 466 151 304.00–325.00 $315.90 $1,472 +0.72
502–548 526 239 292.00–314.00 $304.94 $1,604 +4.49
556 fancy 556 19 311.00 $311.00 $1,729 —
553–587 574 376 280.50–305.00 $293.90 $1,687 +13.48
589 589 6 259.00 $259.00 $1,526 -21.42
600–639 623 349 265.50–284.50 $276.70 $1,724 +13.28
637 637 61 276.00 $276.00 $1,758 +12.58
657–662 661 261 260.00–266.50 $265.81 $1,757 +19.51
653–698 678 267 250.00–266.00 $258.93 $1,756 +12.63
704 fancy 704 12 260.00 $260.00 $1,830 —
721 721 19 252.00 $252.00 $1,817 +18.67
713–740 728 34 239.50–248.00 $245.68 $1,789 +12.35
744 744 7 232.00 $232.00 $1,726 -1.33
750–790 fancy 763 30 245.00–247.00 $245.74 $1,875 —
759–798 766 89 231.00–236.00 $234.08 $1,793 +7.00
829–834 832 24 225.00–229.00 $227.51 $1,893 +16.51
822–848 837 19 209.00–231.50 $222.20 $1,860 +11.20
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
356–395 375 83 310.00–335.00 $326.17 $1,223 +16.45
411–446 430 18 317.00–322.50 $320.04 $1,376 +3.72
472–487 478 32 303.50–307.00 $305.04 $1,458 +21.25
500–549 532 72 270.00–298.00 $288.11 $1,533 +7.48
557–597 584 39 260.00–281.00 $273.82 $1,599 +5.52
611–648 624 63 255.00–265.00 $259.86 $1,622 +11.71
653–688 674 21 221.00–248.00 $240.05 $1,618 +2.31
712–713 712 5 233.00–235.00 $234.20 $1,668 +12.52
753–775 762 12 223.00–227.00 $226.15 $1,723 —
921–938 932 17 200.00–205.00 $203.26 $1,894 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
371–394 389 30 321.00–329.00 $327.48 $1,274 +7.48
429 429 6 320.00 $320.00 $1,373 +26.68
469–496 485 30 287.50–305.00 $296.52 $1,438 +6.52
514–539 522 28 286.00–296.00 $292.68 $1,528 +10.84
569–590 577 47 256.00–277.25 $269.39 $1,554 -2.60
664 664 31 247.00 $247.00 $1,640 +5.37
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
583 583 3 271.00 $271.00 $1,580 +14.00
607 607 25 262.50 $262.50 $1,593 —
845 845 25 228.00 $228.00 $1,927 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1005 1005 39 168.00 $168.00 $1,688 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1001 1001 21 155.00 $155.00 $1,552 —
1112 1112 9 144.00 $144.00 $1,601 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 6 300.00 $300.00 $990 -5.00
400–445 420 18 282.50–295.00 $285.94 $1,201 —
614 614 6 240.00 $240.00 $1,474 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
301–330 308 8 285.00–315.00 $293.03 $903 —
492 492 13 291.00 $291.00 $1,432 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415–448 446 21 332.50–355.00 $333.50 $1,487 —
457 457 3 320.00 $320.00 $1,462 —
559 559 7 309.00 $309.00 $1,727 +4.79
665–670 669 6 240.00–260.00 $256.69 $1,717 -3.31
1085–1087 1086 7 200.00 $200.00 $2,172 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
428 428 2 330.00 $330.00 $1,412 —
475 475 2 320.00 $320.00 $1,520 —
515 515 5 305.00 $305.00 $1,571 +2.00
655 655 3 225.00 $225.00 $1,474 -12.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1158 1158 4 181.00 $181.00 $2,096 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1223–1520 1304 80-85% 50 113.25–115.00 $113.76 $1,483 +21.08
1300–1455 1365 80-85% 6 109.00–115.00 $112.79 $1,540 +19.15
1163–1593 1390 80-85% 212 107.00–113.00 $110.40 $1,535 +16.76
1290–1555 1394 80-85% 19 92.00–108.00 $101.86 $1,420 +8.22
1335–1570 1398 80-85% 18 95.00–109.50 $103.65 $1,449 +10.01
1305–1635 1411 80-85% 73 106.00–113.00 $110.39 $1,558 -1.02
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
825–954 933 85-90% 6 98.00–101.00 $100.56 $938 —
870–985 943 85-90% 4 86.00–88.00 $86.73 $818 —
1009–1520 1114 85-90% 13 75.00–88.00 $83.48 $930 -26.56
910–1285 1123 85-90% 84 90.00–104.00 $99.53 $1,118 -10.51
1023–1285 1162 85-90% 80 104.00–112.00 $107.71 $1,252 +19.18
1100–1330 1172 85-90% 17 102.50–112.00 $107.20 $1,256 +18.67
915–1455 1179 85-90% 63 84.00–104.00 $96.10 $1,133 -3.18
1040–1290 1235 85-90% 27 111.00–116.00 $112.66 $1,391 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1383–1825 1494 75-80% 58 109.00–114.00 $110.97 $1,658 —
1390–1673 1508 75-80% 42 110.00–114.50 $112.83 $1,701 +11.29
1393–1720 1529 75-80% 13 115.00–117.50 $116.10 $1,775 +14.56
1645 1645 75-80% 1 106.00 $106.00 $1,744 —
1572–1850 1654 75-80% 7 115.50–118.00 $117.52 $1,944 —
1685–1920 1817 75-80% 3 104.00–108.50 $106.51 $1,935 —
2040 2040 75-80% 1 121.50 $121.50 $2,479 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1541–1547 1544 65-75% 89 110.00–113.25 $111.83 $1,727 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1283 1283 2 124.00 $124.00 $1,591 +24.17
1220–1445 1324 4 91.50–112.00 $101.30 $1,341 -14.70
1155–1690 1375 3 100.00–108.00 $103.32 $1,421 -6.68
1575–1685 1630 2 113.00–118.00 $115.58 $1,884 —
1320–2165 1631 22 104.00–116.00 $110.84 $1,808 —
1730–1773 1759 3 119.00–127.00 $124.38 $2,188 +7.41
1470–2188 1848 37 117.00–128.50 $122.02 $2,255 —
1795–2250 2024 18 129.00–139.00 $132.48 $2,681 —
2500 2500 1 144.00 $144.00 $3,600 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2695 2695 1 121.00 $121.00 $3,261 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
717–1280 973 (<2 yrs)Open 135 151.00–217.50 $182.34 $1,774
841–1465 1002 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 164 110.00–175.10 $151.63 $1,519
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
800–1300 880 (<2 yrs)Open 30 114.00–186.00 $167.95 $1,478
875–1155 952 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 14 109.00–155.00 $125.85 $1,198
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
985–1085 1052 (<2 yrs)Open 3 146.00–175.00 $155.05 $1,631
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
860 860 (<2 yrs)Open 1 181.00 $181.00 $1,557

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1132–1225 thin fleshed 1166 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 36 1,750.00–2,000.00 $1,905.12
1263–1489 1398 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 156 1,925.00–2,185.00 $2,131.39
1357–1517 1429 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 20 2,025.00–2,175.00 $2,096.66
1430 1430 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 13 1,900.00 $1,900.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1019 1019 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 2,375.00 $2,375.00
1355 1355 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,225.00 $2,225.00
1273–1542 1416 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 32 2,050.00–2,085.00 $2,069.06
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1249 thin fleshed 1249 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 103.00 $103.00 $1,286
1362 1362 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 118.00 $118.00 $1,607
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1394 1394 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 1,725.00 $1,725.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1023–1137 1074 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 190 2,650.00–2,900.00 $2,839.88
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
807–966 911 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 26 2,150.00–2,650.00 $2,496.68
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1029 1029 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 2,475.00 $2,475.00

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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
1428 1428 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 9 2,250.00 $2,250.00 —

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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.