Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 4, 2024

6,844 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 heifers $320.03/cwt +33.19 vs last sale · ≈ $1,648/hd at 515 lb · 302 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $303.09/cwt +21.12 vs last sale · ≈ $1,736/hd at 573 lb · 299 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $331.72/cwt ≈ $1,916/hd at 578 lb · 292 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 6,844 1,960 3,703
Feeder cattle 3,970 653 1,662
Slaughter cattle 945 871 950
Replacement cattle 1,929 436 1,091

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Too few feeder cattle sold the previous week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Demand this week was mostly good to very good for moderate to heavy offerings. Quality was mixed from plain to very attractive. The bulk of the feeder cattle offering were offered in moderate size groups with several partial load lots on offer. Quality this week helped improve demand as buyers showed very good demand for high quality offerings. Demand for feeders to develop into yearlings was very good. Most steer offerings 500-750 lbs and heifer offerings 475-650 lbs were purchased for that purpose this week. Light calves under 450 lbs sold on very good demand as buyers can slow grow these offerings and sell them at a later date. Differed CME positions are higher as the year progresses making light calves a value to buyers. CME positions lost some grown late week ending the week lower than last. The March closed at 249.20 on Friday, 3.775 lower for the week. The April contract closed at 254.10, 3.90 lower for the week. Market activity was mostly active this week. Buyers bid aggressively on offerings this week. Buyers were eager to own offerings and generally started offerings at the initial bid ask. 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 again. Early week all cows were purchased to slaughter as supplies remain short. Slaughter cows sold 5.00-7.00 higher on Premium white and breaking cows, boning cows and lean cows sold 3.00-5.00 higher. Feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher, many high yielding heavy muscled cows were seen again this week. Slaughter and feeding bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 5.00-10.00 higher on a high quality offering. Demand remains good for high quality offerings. Feeding buyers purchased young cows to feed on lighter demand this week. Demand for bred cows remains very good. A moderate to heavy offering of bred cows were seen this week. A large buyer pool for bred cows was seen 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
378–399 386 35 384.00–388.00 $387.25 $1,495 —
407–441 425 142 365.00–380.00 $370.40 $1,574 +12.02
432 unweaned 432 12 342.50 $342.50 $1,480 —
453 unweaned 453 6 374.00 $374.00 $1,694 —
450–499 488 111 349.50–370.00 $361.60 $1,765 +13.60
508 value added 508 69 369.00 $369.00 $1,875 —
520 unweaned 520 3 320.00 $320.00 $1,664 —
500–540 527 107 338.00–358.00 $348.98 $1,839 +14.00
571 571 16 319.00 $319.00 $1,821 —
550–598 577 251 322.50–341.75 $332.60 $1,919 —
589 unweaned 589 25 331.00 $331.00 $1,950 —
600 unweaned 600 2 307.50 $307.50 $1,845 —
602 value added 602 17 325.00 $325.00 $1,956 —
608–643 625 261 306.00–329.00 $316.90 $1,981 +22.90
656–699 676 265 280.00–307.00 $293.48 $1,984 —
703–732 722 44 267.00–273.00 $269.27 $1,944 +1.07
749 749 30 261.00 $261.00 $1,955 —
782 782 23 256.00 $256.00 $2,002 —
810 810 1 250.00 $250.00 $2,025 —
845 845 31 231.75 $231.75 $1,958 —
857–892 876 41 234.00–242.00 $236.41 $2,071 —
885 885 3 212.50 $212.50 $1,881 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
316 unweaned 316 7 360.00 $360.00 $1,138 —
375–385 379 7 355.00–378.00 $365.86 $1,387 —
418–448 440 22 345.00–367.50 $352.88 $1,553 +20.03
455–499 486 40 325.00–347.00 $339.96 $1,652 +15.73
500–518 511 46 325.00–337.00 $331.53 $1,694 +19.81
567–592 586 13 312.00–315.00 $312.69 $1,832 +21.69
603 thin fleshed 603 12 311.00 $311.00 $1,875 —
608–646 634 34 284.50–303.00 $295.46 $1,873 +10.81
667 667 3 275.00 $275.00 $1,834 +13.00
705–748 722 11 263.00–264.00 $263.19 $1,900 +9.19
752–770 762 13 253.00–258.00 $255.05 $1,943 +16.77
805–838 826 12 237.00–242.00 $238.47 $1,970 —
985 985 4 208.00 $208.00 $2,049 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
349 349 5 357.50 $357.50 $1,248 —
378 378 7 351.00 $351.00 $1,327 —
484 484 15 335.00 $335.00 $1,621 —
544 544 6 317.50 $317.50 $1,727 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
412 412 3 360.00 $360.00 $1,483 —
473 473 3 320.00 $320.00 $1,514 —
558 558 5 312.00–317.00 $314.00 $1,752 —
658 658 3 269.00 $269.00 $1,770 —
700 700 1 252.00 $252.00 $1,764 —
753–775 758 9 251.00–259.50 $257.57 $1,952 —
772 772 5 240.00 $240.00 $1,853 —
838 838 3 231.00 $231.00 $1,936 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
458–490 466 4 300.00 $300.00 $1,398 —
529 529 10 297.50 $297.50 $1,574 -12.50
623 623 3 275.00 $275.00 $1,713 —
735 735 2 237.00 $237.00 $1,742 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
379 379 4 340.00 $340.00 $1,289 —
394 unweaned 394 21 315.00 $315.00 $1,241 —
400–445 431 22 320.00–338.00 $325.91 $1,405 +7.91
454–486 469 99 317.50–329.50 $325.40 $1,526 +12.07
503 value added 503 79 340.00 $340.00 $1,710 —
500–547 519 223 300.00–328.00 $312.95 $1,624 +26.11
552–599 567 192 275.00–315.50 $300.84 $1,706 +18.87
579 value added 579 70 313.00 $313.00 $1,812 —
592 592 37 296.00 $296.00 $1,752 +14.03
604–637 617 74 267.00–289.00 $280.83 $1,733 +12.38
602–645 628 150 285.00–294.00 $290.84 $1,826 +22.39
668–685 678 70 252.00–267.50 $261.48 $1,773 +8.60
702–711 709 69 259.00–265.50 $264.38 $1,874 —
702–745 729 48 241.25–254.00 $244.99 $1,786 —
758–795 790 91 237.00–242.00 $238.11 $1,881 —
815–845 830 7 228.00–240.50 $236.78 $1,965 —
872–878 872 48 218.00–223.00 $222.79 $1,943 —
903–943 925 11 215.00–217.00 $216.11 $1,999 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
350–386 369 36 320.00–337.50 $326.26 $1,204 +9.26
415–448 436 50 308.00–324.00 $312.78 $1,364 +0.78
450–487 476 27 300.00–317.00 $307.10 $1,462 +8.96
502–549 527 31 279.00–301.00 $296.79 $1,564 —
553–584 572 23 274.50–286.00 $282.38 $1,615 +39.88
600–620 611 8 252.00–269.00 $266.15 $1,626 —
673–693 683 4 231.00–250.00 $240.64 $1,644 —
715–748 738 25 231.00–241.50 $239.40 $1,767 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
368–393 374 24 320.00–327.00 $325.16 $1,216 —
424–428 427 15 316.00–322.50 $317.72 $1,357 —
465 465 11 310.00 $310.00 $1,442 —
580 580 5 317.50 $317.50 $1,842 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
436 436 5 286.00 $286.00 $1,247 —
500 500 1 264.00 $264.00 $1,320 —
562 562 5 235.00 $235.00 $1,321 —
618 618 6 230.00 $230.00 $1,421 +29.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
687 687 6 250.00 $250.00 $1,718 —
Medium 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
443 443 6 110.00 $110.00 $487 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 1 270.00 $270.00 $1,458 +70.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465–495 482 3 325.00–337.50 $332.11 $1,601 —
528–545 535 21 320.00–330.00 $325.18 $1,740 +10.18
565–583 577 3 314.00–317.00 $314.98 $1,817 —
635 635 3 305.00 $305.00 $1,937 +52.50
655–681 678 8 280.00–293.00 $281.57 $1,909 +49.07
715–730 728 6 246.00–259.00 $256.87 $1,870 +16.87
780 780 1 239.00 $239.00 $1,864 -6.00
809–840 815 5 212.50–222.00 $214.46 $1,748 —
850 850 1 219.00 $219.00 $1,862 —
978–980 979 3 209.00–216.00 $211.34 $2,069 -6.66
1015–1043 1027 6 207.00–209.00 $207.99 $2,136 +11.61
1090 1090 1 212.00 $212.00 $2,311 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 480 2 320.00 $320.00 $1,536 —
650 650 2 252.50 $252.50 $1,641 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155 1155 1 180.00 $180.00 $2,079 —
1268 1268 2 130.00 $130.00 $1,648 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
740 740 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,628 —
1205 1205 1 155.00 $155.00 $1,868 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1195 1195 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,792 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1216–1625 1354 80-85% 117 110.00–122.00 $116.96 $1,584 -0.49
1200–1545 1366 80-85% 61 119.00–127.00 $123.14 $1,682 +5.69
1325–1455 1381 80-85% 7 101.00–108.00 $105.64 $1,459 +7.64
1295–1555 1411 80-85% 21 108.00–119.00 $112.99 $1,594 -5.86
1365–1540 1441 80-85% 4 99.00–107.00 $103.25 $1,488 -15.60
1270–1640 1477 80-85% 48 118.00–124.00 $121.49 $1,794 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
830–993 935 85-90% 18 89.00–100.00 $95.24 $890 +3.38
950–973 965 85-90% 4 101.00–110.00 $104.76 $1,011 +26.76
960–995 978 85-90% 2 74.00–79.00 $76.46 $748 -1.54
1010–1090 1047 85-90% 3 86.00–88.00 $87.36 $915 —
967–1275 1097 85-90% 28 99.50–110.00 $107.45 $1,179 —
1123–1295 1172 85-90% 8 117.00–128.00 $121.49 $1,424 +5.98
1015–1325 1173 85-90% 43 107.00–119.00 $113.22 $1,328 -2.29
1115–1235 1183 85-90% 12 118.50–123.00 $120.31 $1,423 +4.80
1018–1515 1189 85-90% 44 92.00–110.00 $100.42 $1,194 -15.09
1092–1320 1201 85-90% 32 106.00–118.00 $112.60 $1,352 +4.46
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1325–1705 1471 75-80% 37 119.00–128.50 $123.52 $1,817 +13.02
1382–1985 1473 75-80% 35 113.00–122.00 $116.36 $1,714 +5.86
1458–1660 1495 75-80% 85 122.25–127.50 $124.71 $1,864 +10.86
1427–1755 1534 75-80% 13 114.00–122.00 $120.17 $1,843 —
1423–1735 1601 75-80% 9 101.00–110.50 $108.41 $1,736 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1595–1699 1620 65-75% 52 120.25–125.00 $121.59 $1,970 —
1568–1845 1640 65-75% 14 114.00–120.00 $117.50 $1,927 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035–1290 1143 3 93.50–104.00 $98.25 $1,123 —
1271 1271 4 115.00 $115.00 $1,462 +11.61
1290 1290 1 121.00 $121.00 $1,561 +17.61
1365–1435 1400 2 110.00–117.00 $113.59 $1,590 —
1355–1795 1556 15 104.00–125.00 $114.63 $1,784 +1.67
1425–2135 1787 21 120.00–137.00 $126.96 $2,269 +2.20
1925–2219 2115 10 135.00–144.00 $139.94 $2,960 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
882 thin fleshed 882 (<2 yrs)Open 10 189.00 $189.00 $1,667
760–1250 919 (<2 yrs)Open 86 153.00–231.00 $196.26 $1,804
805–1345 1081 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 92 117.00–181.00 $154.12 $1,666
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
795 thin fleshed 795 (<2 yrs)Open 2 155.00 $155.00 $1,232
840–1208 1044 (<2 yrs)Open 5 130.00–182.50 $149.12 $1,557
933–1315 1197 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 31 113.00–139.00 $121.65 $1,456
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
583–793 710 (<2 yrs)Open 29 203.00–245.00 $216.92 $1,540
1098 1098 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 145.00 $145.00 $1,592
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
910 910 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,274

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1158–1520 1179 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 17 1,800.00–1,900.00 $1,807.58
1140–1210 1187 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,400.00–2,500.00 $2,467.98
1024–1400 1195 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 113 2,500.00–2,800.00 $2,624.60
1257–1350 thin fleshed 1287 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 45 1,825.00–2,100.00 $1,989.64
1224–1472 1319 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 81 2,375.00–2,625.00 $2,531.05
1226–1429 1323 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 38 2,400.00–2,650.00 $2,556.94
1328–1458 1346 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 28 2,200.00–2,475.00 $2,437.80
1350 1350 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,450.00 $2,450.00
1124–1601 1351 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 270 2,200.00–2,550.00 $2,368.05
1371 1371 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 8 2,500.00 $2,500.00
1374 1374 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 2,500.00 $2,500.00
1224–1541 1379 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 179 2,000.00–2,350.00 $2,236.70
1285–1525 1388 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 21 1,850.00–2,100.00 $2,032.62
1393 1393 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,450.00 $2,450.00
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1094 thin fleshed 1094 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11 2,350.00 $2,350.00
1203 thin fleshed 1203 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,850.00 $1,850.00
1236 thin fleshed 1236 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 1,850.00 $1,850.00
1226–1378 1248 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 28 2,350.00–2,485.00 $2,463.70
1182–1463 1249 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 25 2,350.00–2,400.00 $2,376.39
1269–1359 1320 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 26 1,900.00–2,000.00 $1,947.50
1322 1322 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 9 1,950.00 $1,950.00
1338–1422 1380 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 26 2,250.00–2,425.00 $2,334.84
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1063–1213 1180 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 28 2,225.00–2,425.00 $2,337.99
1181–1442 1233 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 25 2,050.00–2,300.00 $2,267.14
1245 1245 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,800.00 $1,800.00
1290 1290 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 2,250.00 $2,250.00
1325 1325 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,100.00 $2,100.00
1254–1483 1335 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 25 1,900.00–2,100.00 $2,027.71
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1020–1067 1055 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 22 2,300.00–2,500.00 $2,422.47
1104 1104 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 2,300.00 $2,300.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
990–1293 1112 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 340 2,675.00–2,985.00 $2,839.15
1132 1132 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 2,400.00 $2,400.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
837 837 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 10 1,750.00 $1,750.00
815–977 892 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 39 2,250.00–2,600.00 $2,394.49
955 955 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 2,125.00 $2,125.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
993 thin fleshed 993 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,000.00 $2,000.00
1002–1220 1068 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 2,300.00–2,600.00 $2,368.53

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1510 1510 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 2,750.00 $2,750.00 —

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1324 1324 80-85% 4 100.00 $100.00 $1,324 —
1985 1985 75-80% 4 109.00 $109.00 $2,164 —

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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.