Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 15, 2024

6,557 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 $270.79/cwt +6.81 vs last sale · ≈ $1,828/hd at 675 lb · 506 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $276.67/cwt +4.32 vs last sale · ≈ $1,740/hd at 629 lb · 492 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $299.19/cwt +4.12 vs last sale · ≈ $1,554/hd at 519 lb · 386 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 6,557 1,452 1,706
Feeder cattle 4,748 706 572
Slaughter cattle 980 436 682
Replacement cattle 829 310 452

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Too few sales were seen the previous week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on a higher quality offering. Cattle this week were mostly offered in moderate size packages with a few load lots and several partial load lots seen. Cattle suitable to develop on grass continue to sell with the best demand. Most cattle on offer were lightly fleshed and met the weight requirements buyers were looking for in grass cattle. Demand was mostly good to very good for moderate offerings. Timely spring rains and mountain snow continue to help improve drought conditions in many locations, especially in Southern and Eastern Montana. Western portions of the state remain dry. See the drought monitor for an updated look at the drought at https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?MT. CME positions improved throughout the week in anticipation of the cattle on feed report which was released Friday. USDA pegged cattle on feed at 11,838,000, up 1% from last year, placements were estimated at 1,746,000, down 12% from last year and marketing's were estimated at 1,706,000, down 14% from last year. The April feeder contract closed Friday at 241.325, May closed at 242.00 and August at 253.50. Market activity this week was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Packers showed mostly moderate demand for cows for immediate harvest as they tried to buy cows slightly lower. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to weak with mostly low dressing cows and cows not suitable to feed seeing the softest prices. Feeding cow demand was very good throughout the week with multiple packer and private buyers in the market. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold steady to frim. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Demand remains good for high quality offerings which buyers are looking to rebreed.

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
375 375 3 377.50 $377.50 $1,416 -2.50
410 fancy 410 9 397.50 $397.50 $1,630 —
440–449 448 6 360.00–372.50 $362.05 $1,622 -0.99
450–485 479 37 331.00–375.00 $359.88 $1,724 +8.48
503–545 507 31 325.00–342.50 $339.20 $1,720 +13.76
553–568 fancy 564 58 348.00 $348.00 $1,963 —
550–599 574 171 321.00–341.00 $331.73 $1,904 +10.11
605–616 fancy 616 105 330.00 $330.00 $2,033 —
603–649 619 87 290.00–325.00 $306.73 $1,899 +0.48
650–692 677 173 275.50–294.00 $283.43 $1,919 +3.75
707 fancy 707 16 284.00 $284.00 $2,008 —
700–748 721 160 255.00–280.00 $267.37 $1,928 -2.17
756–787 768 52 246.00–262.50 $254.82 $1,957 +12.82
800–845 814 24 232.00–258.00 $246.44 $2,006 —
850–873 862 88 233.00–244.00 $239.26 $2,062 +2.26
906–938 918 78 220.00–230.50 $226.71 $2,081 —
958–990 962 50 219.50–229.00 $221.73 $2,133 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
225 225 1 300.00 $300.00 $675 —
345 345 2 365.00–367.50 $366.25 $1,264 —
355 355 1 357.50 $357.50 $1,269 —
410–443 434 17 317.50–365.00 $344.13 $1,494 —
453–493 476 12 322.50–340.00 $330.66 $1,574 —
510 510 6 320.00 $320.00 $1,632 —
550–597 583 31 290.00–320.00 $305.82 $1,783 -2.18
625–648 645 15 275.00–289.00 $287.10 $1,852 —
672–695 676 11 267.00–272.00 $267.93 $1,811 +1.93
708–735 717 8 251.00–257.00 $254.74 $1,826 —
750–785 762 9 250.00–255.00 $254.43 $1,939 —
838–843 841 4 215.00–223.00 $219.01 $1,842 —
853–873 857 26 225.00–234.00 $226.18 $1,938 —
945 945 1 217.00 $217.00 $2,051 —
983 983 2 203.00 $203.00 $1,995 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
315 315 1 327.50 $327.50 $1,032 —
465–483 479 8 280.00–317.00 $308.01 $1,475 —
538 538 4 225.00–257.50 $241.25 $1,298 —
569 569 9 279.00 $279.00 $1,588 —
620–641 637 15 241.00–255.00 $248.58 $1,583 —
680 680 1 247.50 $247.50 $1,683 —
732 732 6 246.00 $246.00 $1,801 —
765–799 793 6 239.00–240.00 $239.16 $1,897 —
863 863 2 209.00 $209.00 $1,804 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
361–396 382 23 320.00–330.00 $324.50 $1,240 +0.79
405–447 439 37 290.00–325.00 $309.00 $1,357 +2.34
450–499 475 27 297.50–320.00 $308.66 $1,466 +3.27
502–545 515 331 285.00–310.00 $296.63 $1,528 +1.56
545–547 fancy 546 55 314.00–315.00 $314.62 $1,718 —
551–575 fancy 568 54 307.00–315.25 $309.37 $1,757 —
553–598 578 169 265.00–298.50 $283.36 $1,638 +4.98
600–649 629 492 256.00–288.00 $276.67 $1,740 +4.32
651–695 675 506 249.00–275.50 $270.79 $1,828 +6.81
707 fancy 707 29 264.00 $264.00 $1,866 —
700–744 732 144 231.00–257.00 $250.32 $1,832 +7.96
750–798 783 217 221.00–246.00 $235.80 $1,846 +5.86
800–848 831 34 220.00–239.00 $223.38 $1,856 —
865–875 868 12 217.00–222.00 $220.50 $1,914 +22.50
938–945 938 90 204.00–214.00 $213.17 $2,000 —
950–970 965 4 210.00–213.00 $212.26 $2,048 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
737 737 13 2,000.00 $2,000.00 —
779–794 785 153 1,875.00–2,000.00 $1,922.60 —
802 802 62 1,910.00 $1,910.00 —
878 878 54 1,950.00 $1,950.00 —
903 903 57 2,275.00 $2,275.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
313–335 324 4 300.00–322.50 $311.63 $1,010 —
415–443 428 13 260.00–305.00 $286.40 $1,226 +3.55
460–499 484 36 285.00–302.00 $293.10 $1,419 -9.40
505–545 536 32 267.00–282.50 $272.54 $1,461 -6.50
567–595 575 33 252.00–271.00 $260.51 $1,498 -1.54
625–644 641 16 242.50–259.00 $256.18 $1,642 —
653–696 675 67 237.00–265.00 $249.79 $1,686 +19.79
705–722 718 4 236.00–237.50 $236.37 $1,697 —
750–793 774 9 220.00–238.00 $229.46 $1,776 +22.79
805–811 808 2 207.50–211.00 $209.26 $1,691 —
875 875 1 212.50 $212.50 $1,859 —
928 928 3 190.00 $190.00 $1,763 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
312 312 1 250.00 $250.00 $780 -5.00
430–445 441 4 225.00–232.50 $230.67 $1,017 —
470–488 484 9 215.00–265.00 $231.05 $1,118 —
503–545 519 14 225.00–270.00 $250.33 $1,299 +10.33
568–592 583 8 227.50–242.50 $234.31 $1,366 +14.31
632–648 638 17 222.50–233.00 $230.20 $1,469 —
658–675 667 4 225.00–233.00 $229.05 $1,528 —
703–708 706 4 205.00–212.50 $208.76 $1,474 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390 390 1 342.50 $342.50 $1,336 —
470 470 1 330.00 $330.00 $1,551 —
500–515 505 3 312.50–322.50 $319.10 $1,611 +9.10
601–645 610 5 280.00–298.00 $294.19 $1,795 +9.19
688 688 4 255.00 $255.00 $1,754 —
730–743 737 4 238.00–240.00 $238.99 $1,761 —
775–794 791 6 214.00–240.00 $218.25 $1,726 —
837 837 8 212.00 $212.00 $1,774 +2.00
880 880 1 212.50 $212.50 $1,870 —
926 926 5 208.00 $208.00 $1,926 —
1074 1074 5 203.00 $203.00 $2,180 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 335 1 330.00 $330.00 $1,106 -25.00
393 393 3 330.00 $330.00 $1,297 -40.00
688 688 2 226.00 $226.00 $1,555 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
105 105 5 450.00 $450.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
100–110 105 4 450.00–475.00 $462.50 -25.00

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–1205 1203 80-85% 2 141.00 $141.00 $1,696 +5.92
1027–1490 1239 80-85% 225 122.00–142.00 $128.21 $1,589 -6.87
1115–1545 1307 80-85% 48 122.00–136.00 $128.22 $1,676 -1.51
1320–1430 1375 80-85% 2 128.00–129.00 $128.48 $1,767 +7.51
1335–1570 1388 80-85% 12 108.00–123.00 $115.23 $1,599 -5.74
1320–1481 1460 80-85% 20 139.00–140.50 $140.32 $2,049 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1313–1485 1342 75-80% 6 143.50–144.00 $143.91 $1,931 —
1325–1420 1404 75-80% 21 141.00–142.00 $141.91 $1,992 +2.92
1318–1808 1502 75-80% 126 124.50–143.00 $135.43 $2,034 +15.18
1355–1805 1561 75-80% 25 126.00–142.00 $134.96 $2,107 —
1315–1785 1564 75-80% 7 117.00–132.00 $124.82 $1,952 —
1440–1723 1585 75-80% 5 114.00–123.00 $118.11 $1,872 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
805–960 907 85-90% 3 100.00–115.00 $108.99 $989 —
1090 1090 85-90% 1 136.00 $136.00 $1,482 —
1025–1295 1095 85-90% 6 102.00–115.00 $109.75 $1,202 —
1010–1470 1114 85-90% 9 104.00–123.00 $114.63 $1,277 +20.81
1080–1185 1133 85-90% 2 95.00–96.00 $95.52 $1,082 -42.38
1030–1265 1164 85-90% 43 112.00–135.00 $123.11 $1,433 -12.39
1022–1318 1191 85-90% 16 109.00–133.00 $115.49 $1,375 -20.01
1135–1273 1218 85-90% 20 133.00–138.00 $135.94 $1,656 +13.42
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1355–1930 1522 65-75% 71 136.00–141.00 $139.01 $2,116 —
2125–2275 2200 65-75% 2 128.00–133.00 $130.59 $2,873 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1185–1415 1278 3 109.00–118.00 $114.90 $1,468 —
1285 1285 1 123.00 $123.00 $1,581 —
1325–2170 1615 29 115.00–137.00 $128.01 $2,067 —
1415–2430 1868 18 151.00–167.00 $154.82 $2,892 +3.37
1325–2640 1890 73 135.00–158.00 $145.47 $2,749 -5.98

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
755–1080 919 (<2 yrs)Open 150 174.00–210.00 $191.45 $1,759
750–1225 1083 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 66 158.50–185.00 $170.65 $1,848
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
786–1120 929 (<2 yrs)Open 112 171.00–214.00 $192.85 $1,792
700–1230 1076 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 32 133.00–203.00 $158.56 $1,706
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
772–775 773 (<2 yrs)Open 4 172.50–181.00 $178.87 $1,383
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1258 1258 (<2 yrs)Open 2 144.00 $144.00 $1,812

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1135–1155 1142 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,700.00–1,900.00 $1,832.55
1115–1378 1273 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 19 1,925.00–2,975.00 $2,628.76
1355 1355 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,300.00 $2,300.00
1335–1393 1374 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,400.00 $2,400.00
1312–1522 1431 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 1,800.00–2,000.00 $1,935.01
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1000–1260 1130 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,400.00–2,000.00 $1,734.51

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
950–1120 1057 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,000.00–2,700.00 $2,438.17

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1150 1150 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 1,525.00 $1,525.00 —
1200 1200 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 1,900.00 $1,900.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1250 1250 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 2,475.00 $2,475.00 —

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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.