Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 29, 2024

5,376 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $254.37/cwt -5.37 vs last sale · ≈ $1,979/hd at 778 lb · 254 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $294.70/cwt +16.61 vs last sale · ≈ $1,962/hd at 666 lb · 224 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $284.43/cwt -1.91 vs last sale · ≈ $1,650/hd at 580 lb · 198 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,376 4,949 2,721
Feeder cattle 2,676 1,548 724
Slaughter cattle 634 495 1,205
Replacement cattle 2,066 613 792

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Too few sales were seen last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on steers under 550 lbs, while steady to higher undertones were noticed on steers over 550 lbs. All heifers sold with steady undertones. Feeder cattle were mostly offered in small to moderate size packages, with a few partial loads and load lots seen. Demand for full load lots was very good. Cattle suitable to develop on grass continue to sell with the best demand, and most cattle sold this week were marketed as grass cattle. Most cattle on offer were lightly fleshed, fleshy cattle sold with a large discount. Demand was mostly good to very good for light to moderate offerings. CME positions sold off throughout the week. The May feeder cattle contract closed Friday at 243.30, down 5.70 from last Friday. August closed at 254.75 down 5.80 from last Friday. Market activity this week was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on good demand for light offerings. Packers showed good demand for slaughter cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold fully steady on breaking cows; boning and lean cows sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher. The biggest increase in price this week was seen on lower yielding cows which private feeders were looking for for quick compensatory gain and packers were buying for immediate harvest. Packers continue to show good demand for cows suitable to feed. Feeding cow demand was mostly good with private feeders and packers both competing over high quality offerings. Feeding cows all sold steady to 3.00 higher, again the biggest value increase this week was from lower yielding thinner cows. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Several sets of very high quality reputation offerings were seen this week as ranchers culled cows. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Demand remains good to very good for high quality offerings which buyers are looking to rebreed. Young two year old heifers which have not calved yet sold with a 8.00-12.00 discount to ones which lost calves.

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
501–508 505 21 346.00–367.50 $356.37 $1,800 +21.71
556–595 575 80 310.50–339.00 $328.86 $1,891 -1.47
601–644 611 95 290.00–315.00 $311.13 $1,901 +4.53
654–690 664 211 280.00–303.00 $296.51 $1,969 +18.42
673 unweaned 673 2 267.00 $267.00 $1,797 —
695 695 11 265.00 $265.00 $1,842 -13.09
703–737 722 76 268.00–279.00 $270.86 $1,956 +0.78
752–791 778 254 250.25–265.50 $254.37 $1,979 -5.37
801 801 4 250.50 $250.50 $2,007 +6.00
813 813 4 240.00 $240.00 $1,951 -4.50
855–877 867 16 226.00–232.00 $228.80 $1,984 +3.89
920–922 921 17 219.00–221.50 $220.76 $2,033 +1.26
1026 1026 7 215.00 $215.00 $2,206 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
347 347 3 380.00 $380.00 $1,319 +20.00
356–396 370 12 367.50–380.00 $372.54 $1,378 —
493–498 497 17 322.50–347.50 $331.16 $1,646 —
504–542 520 30 316.00–332.50 $325.71 $1,694 +7.17
575–599 593 32 293.00–308.00 $299.25 $1,775 -14.05
638 638 2 286.50 $286.50 $1,828 +11.50
664–697 690 27 250.00–279.00 $270.17 $1,864 -0.58
705–748 715 49 247.50–266.00 $262.24 $1,875 —
764–780 770 17 246.00–249.00 $247.52 $1,906 -11.98
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
518 518 3 317.50 $317.50 $1,645 —
565–595 574 19 290.00–315.00 $300.27 $1,724 —
606 606 5 310.50 $310.50 $1,882 +29.50
780 780 2 235.00 $235.00 $1,833 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
675 675 11 283.00 $283.00 $1,910 —
713 713 8 240.00 $240.00 $1,711 —
878 878 2 224.00 $224.00 $1,967 —
1051 1051 6 215.50 $215.50 $2,265 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
500 500 2 290.00 $290.00 $1,450 —
622 622 10 275.50 $275.50 $1,714 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
404–425 409 8 331.00–332.50 $332.11 $1,358 +12.11
509–545 513 50 292.00–296.00 $295.19 $1,514 -14.31
565 565 11 261.00 $261.00 $1,475 -25.34
557–598 581 187 279.50–292.50 $285.81 $1,661 -0.53
603 unweaned 603 5 274.50 $274.50 $1,655 —
602–640 610 53 270.00–281.50 $278.56 $1,699 +0.80
650–680 667 68 251.00–273.50 $266.35 $1,777 +6.00
688 688 7 260.00 $260.00 $1,789 -0.35
703–740 711 44 246.00–260.00 $255.61 $1,817 +6.90
703–747 742 44 248.00–258.00 $249.08 $1,848 +0.37
749 749 5 244.00 $244.00 $1,828 -4.71
754–760 757 74 243.50–249.00 $246.69 $1,867 +7.46
755–781 762 98 239.00–249.00 $242.66 $1,849 +3.43
813–834 823 10 224.50–231.00 $227.97 $1,876 +6.48
811–827 824 30 226.50 $226.50 $1,866 +5.01
873 873 5 221.50 $221.50 $1,934 +12.50
876 876 4 214.00 $214.00 $1,875 +5.00
942 942 3 211.00 $211.00 $1,988 —
973 973 16 213.50 $213.50 $2,077 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
322 322 3 330.00 $330.00 $1,063 -5.16
352 352 12 327.50 $327.50 $1,153 —
408 408 17 320.00 $320.00 $1,306 +11.87
460–491 481 11 292.50–300.00 $296.65 $1,427 -3.62
503–547 516 40 280.75–296.00 $287.43 $1,483 -0.43
570–599 582 35 250.50–280.00 $264.79 $1,541 -6.21
603–648 635 48 251.50–271.00 $259.05 $1,645 -2.79
653–691 684 15 218.00–256.00 $243.26 $1,664 +13.02
708–748 729 10 233.00–247.00 $243.08 $1,772 —
777–798 785 17 214.00–236.00 $228.14 $1,791 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
773–781 780 58 1,900.00–1,960.00 $1,954.88 —
877 877 21 2,010.00 $2,010.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
392 392 5 292.50 $292.50 $1,147 —
441 441 4 285.00 $285.00 $1,257 -7.38
452–473 463 18 255.00–262.50 $258.84 $1,198 -21.16
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
633 633 6 223.00 $223.00 $1,412 -20.11
764 764 13 221.00 $221.00 $1,688 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505 505 3 299.00 $299.00 $1,510 —
550–574 569 5 290.00–310.00 $306.13 $1,742 —
668 668 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,637 -7.00
715–745 724 4 248.00–265.00 $253.71 $1,837 +1.71
763 763 9 229.00–244.00 $234.00 $1,785 -7.00
805–823 822 15 220.00–239.00 $237.76 $1,954 +20.76
884 884 4 191.00 $191.00 $1,688 —
925 925 1 212.50 $212.50 $1,966 —
958–983 969 8 214.00–219.00 $216.60 $2,099 +0.60
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010–1044 1031 8 212.50–216.00 $215.20 $2,219 —
1070 1070 1 207.00 $207.00 $2,215 -4.00
1115 1115 14 176.00 $176.00 $1,962 —
1158–1185 1174 6 174.00–192.00 $185.36 $2,176 —
1225 1225 1 180.00 $180.00 $2,205 —
1278 1278 2 171.00 $171.00 $2,185 —
1310 1310 1 161.00 $161.00 $2,109 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
625 625 3 260.00 $260.00 $1,625 +15.00
743 743 2 225.00 $225.00 $1,672 —
902 902 6 222.50 $222.50 $2,007 —
976–990 981 6 212.00–215.00 $213.01 $2,090 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
624 624 10 270.00 $270.00 $1,685 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
90 90 2 400.00 $400.00 -262.85
150 150 5 450.00–500.00 $470.00 +239.00
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1275 1275 2 155.00 $155.00 $1,976 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–1660 1363 80-85% 206 124.00–138.00 $131.13 $1,787 -9.74
1274–1563 1389 80-85% 28 124.00–137.00 $132.19 $1,836 +8.01
1308–1525 1396 80-85% 47 136.00–139.00 $137.24 $1,916 +13.06
1300–1585 1420 80-85% 17 118.00–129.00 $123.14 $1,749 +2.75
1260–1650 1433 80-85% 27 136.50–144.00 $137.62 $1,972 +17.23
1330–1658 1474 80-85% 12 112.00–122.00 $117.11 $1,726 -18.11
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
800 800 85-90% 1 90.00 $90.00 $720 —
635–915 841 85-90% 7 97.50–112.50 $106.47 $895 —
955 955 85-90% 1 109.00 $109.00 $1,041 +7.49
1003–1270 1113 85-90% 6 127.00–136.00 $133.81 $1,489 +47.37
950–1215 1136 85-90% 9 91.00–98.00 $95.22 $1,082 +8.78
1055–1295 1152 85-90% 37 105.00–119.00 $109.88 $1,266 +1.80
850–1325 1171 85-90% 35 112.00–121.00 $117.11 $1,371 +9.03
1050–1315 1182 85-90% 16 117.00–133.00 $123.97 $1,465 +15.89
985–1360 1194 85-90% 108 121.00–134.00 $126.31 $1,508 -1.29
1040–1270 1199 85-90% 51 127.00–139.50 $134.21 $1,609 +6.61
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1410–1810 1575 75-80% 19 133.00–139.50 $135.62 $2,136 —
1530–1770 1654 75-80% 5 133.00–139.00 $135.62 $2,243 -1.11
1675 1675 75-80% 1 129.00 $129.00 $2,161 -7.73
1630–1790 1710 75-80% 2 140.00–141.00 $140.52 $2,403 —
1755–1878 1818 75-80% 4 119.00–125.00 $123.04 $2,237 —
2120 2120 75-80% 1 120.00 $120.00 $2,544 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1285 1285 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,799 —
1330–1365 1348 3 114.00–131.00 $124.34 $1,676 -9.33
1208–1675 1391 8 115.00–140.00 $133.43 $1,856 -0.57
1369–1905 1494 7 135.00–150.00 $146.46 $2,188 —
1345–2075 1611 47 116.00–139.00 $130.21 $2,098 —
1400–2350 1866 52 136.00–154.00 $145.82 $2,721 —
1660–2450 2082 27 147.00–165.00 $156.63 $3,261 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1545–1645 1595 2 127.00–132.00 $129.58 $2,067 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
751–770 thin fleshed 755 (<2 yrs)Open 9 180.00–205.00 $199.34 $1,505
702–1283 981 (<2 yrs)Open 318 149.00–212.00 $184.95 $1,814
920–1425 1117 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 113 120.00–188.00 $155.50 $1,737
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
788–1305 922 (<2 yrs)Open 24 135.00–187.50 $169.93 $1,567
740–1240 976 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 15 125.00–162.50 $138.12 $1,348
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
605–835 740 (<2 yrs)Open 17 147.50–188.00 $175.99 $1,302
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
930–1205 1068 (<2 yrs)Open 2 147.00–190.00 $165.73 $1,770
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
693 693 (<2 yrs)Open 2 117.50 $117.50 $814

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1110 1110 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 3,000.00 $3,000.00
1233 1233 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,850.00 $1,850.00
1257–1364 1305 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 2,525.00–2,675.00 $2,605.30
1309 1309 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11 2,650.00 $2,650.00
1462–1513 1499 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11 2,325.00–2,450.00 $2,358.25
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1188 1188 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,425.00 $2,425.00
1603 1603 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,900.00 $1,900.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
891–960 898 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 2,300.00–2,350.00 $2,305.35
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1260 1260 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,175.00 $2,175.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1051 1051 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 13 3,175.00 $3,175.00 —
1207–1487 1391 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 110 3,500.00–3,750.00 $3,618.60 —
1383–1520 1400 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 24 3,375.00–3,500.00 $3,483.04 —
1340–1688 1467 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 45 2,200.00–2,650.00 $2,490.23 +65.23
1114–1762 1472 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 85 2,600.00–3,500.00 $3,015.18 +590.18
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1134–1352 1211 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 17 2,975.00–3,125.00 $3,034.11 —
1245 1245 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 11 1,900.00 $1,900.00 —
1289 1289 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 7 2,250.00 $2,250.00 —
1485 1485 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 4 2,825.00 $2,825.00 —
1481–1868 1604 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 16 2,350.00–2,550.00 $2,432.94 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1081 1081 (<2 yrs)Open 27 3,500.00 $3,500.00 —
1127–1299 1194 (<2 yrs)Open 150 3,275.00–3,750.00 $3,470.50 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1024–1051 1033 (<2 yrs)Open 31 2,800.00–3,000.00 $2,909.94 —

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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.