Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 6, 2024

1,787 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $253.18/cwt +1.28 vs last sale · ≈ $1,820/hd at 719 lb · 63 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $279.39/cwt +14.60 vs last sale · ≈ $1,562/hd at 559 lb · 56 head
light 6-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $263.76/cwt +4.71 vs last sale · ≈ $1,667/hd at 632 lb · 29 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,787 5,376 4,294
Feeder cattle 525 2,676 763
Slaughter cattle 591 634 1,363
Replacement cattle 671 2,066 2,168

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Too few sales were seen this week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on all feeders on offer. Cattle this week were mostly offered in small packages or as singles. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Cattle suitable to develop on grass continue to sell with the best demand. Demand was mostly good for light offerings. CME positions inched lower again this week. The May feeder cattle contract closed Friday at 238.80, down 4.50 from last Friday. August closed at 250.90 down 3.85 from last Friday. Market activity this week was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Packers showed mostly very good demand for slaughter cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold steady to 3.00 higher on breaking cows; boning and lean cows sold mostly steady to firm. Cows were purchased by packers to slaughter in at least 5 different states this week as tight supplies have packers searching for cows for immediate use. Packers were mostly out of the market for feeding cows this week as they purchased cows they would normally feed for immediate harvest. Feeding cow demand remains mostly good as several private buyers continue to buy cows to feed. Feeding cows all sold steady to firm. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week as rain and changes in the weather had cows full at some sales but mostly empty at others. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold to 5.00 higher. 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 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
508–519 516 8 317.50–332.00 $321.07 $1,657 -4.64
553–575 561 21 289.00–320.00 $313.45 $1,758 +14.20
610–641 631 10 261.00–265.00 $262.31 $1,655 -24.19
670–675 673 10 251.00–256.00 $252.00 $1,696 -18.17
725 725 2 245.00 $245.00 $1,776 -17.24
775 775 3 244.00 $244.00 $1,891 -3.52
813 813 10 250.00 $250.00 $2,032 —
883 883 3 224.00 $224.00 $1,978 —
912 912 5 210.00 $210.00 $1,915 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
671 671 19 289.50 $289.50 $1,943 -7.01
756 756 6 253.00 $253.00 $1,913 -1.37
930 930 2 213.00 $213.00 $1,981 -7.76

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
364–388 378 10 297.50–322.50 $307.12 $1,161 -20.38
493 493 2 306.50 $306.50 $1,511 +9.85
543 543 2 291.50 $291.50 $1,583 +4.07
556–595 559 56 256.00–281.50 $279.39 $1,562 +14.60
602–647 632 29 244.00–269.00 $263.76 $1,667 +4.71
670 670 7 243.50 $243.50 $1,631 +0.24
715 715 3 243.00 $243.00 $1,737 -0.08
758 758 4 233.00 $233.00 $1,766 +4.86
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
650 650 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,755 +3.65
710–733 719 63 246.00–253.50 $253.18 $1,820 -2.43
758 758 2 244.00 $244.00 $1,850 -2.69
825–843 834 17 220.00–230.00 $226.68 $1,891 +0.18
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
357 357 10 280.00 $280.00 $1,000 -12.50
403 403 5 302.00 $302.00 $1,217 —
516–533 522 11 254.00–271.50 $265.00 $1,383 —
552 552 3 242.50 $242.50 $1,339 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425–440 439 13 265.00–270.00 $269.43 $1,183 —
578 578 3 220.00 $220.00 $1,272 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
617 617 14 264.00 $264.00 $1,629 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423–449 443 8 225.00–247.50 $242.12 $1,073 —
450 450 3 225.00 $225.00 $1,012 —
610 610 2 180.00 $180.00 $1,098 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 5 252.50 $252.50 $871 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
613 613 3 250.00 $250.00 $1,532 -10.00
713 713 3 226.00 $226.00 $1,611 +1.00
798 798 3 213.00 $213.00 $1,700 —
865 865 2 195.00 $195.00 $1,687 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230 1230 2 170.00 $170.00 $2,091 -10.00
1275–1295 1285 2 160.00–162.50 $161.24 $2,072 -9.76
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
712 712 3 248.00 $248.00 $1,766 -5.71
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
402 402 3 315.00 $315.00 $1,266 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1270–1588 1414 80-85% 58 126.00–137.50 $132.80 $1,878 +9.66
1095–1740 1428 80-85% 84 125.00–139.50 $132.74 $1,896 -4.88
1315–1575 1431 80-85% 9 115.00–126.00 $121.04 $1,732 -16.58
1315–1600 1434 80-85% 8 117.00–126.50 $122.69 $1,759 -14.93
1240–1550 1442 80-85% 14 138.00–145.00 $140.68 $2,029 +3.06
1428–1550 1464 80-85% 4 138.00–140.00 $139.35 $2,040 +22.24
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
800–990 898 85-90% 6 95.00–109.00 $101.98 $916 —
920–965 943 85-90% 2 89.00–90.00 $89.51 $844 —
1010–1015 1012 85-90% 3 83.00–96.00 $87.99 $890 —
965–1345 1165 85-90% 23 102.50–117.50 $109.20 $1,272 -7.91
1020–1245 1184 85-90% 22 117.00–123.00 $119.84 $1,419 -4.13
1095–1295 1194 85-90% 45 121.00–131.00 $126.37 $1,509 +0.06
1083–1323 1201 85-90% 32 120.00–130.00 $125.91 $1,512 —
1155–1270 1229 85-90% 8 130.50–134.00 $131.86 $1,621 —
1180–1305 1235 85-90% 24 131.50–136.00 $134.52 $1,661 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1510–1557 1545 75-80% 4 135.50–139.00 $136.36 $2,107 —
1380–1895 1564 75-80% 18 134.00–140.00 $135.52 $2,120 -0.10
1558–1935 1641 75-80% 28 143.00–146.00 $144.06 $2,364 —
1585–1770 1643 75-80% 13 128.00–134.00 $130.58 $2,145 —
1565–1850 1692 75-80% 18 124.50–134.00 $130.61 $2,210 +1.61

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1215–1305 1248 3 100.00–110.00 $106.19 $1,325 —
1345 1345 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,614 -4.34
1425–1870 1641 11 124.00–138.00 $130.75 $2,146 +0.54
1500–2240 1857 25 141.00–156.00 $146.37 $2,718 +0.55
1670–2390 2011 8 156.00–169.00 $159.41 $3,206 —
2525 2525 1 162.00 $162.00 $4,090 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2710 2710 1 125.00 $125.00 $3,388 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
723–825 thin fleshed 749 (<2 yrs)Open 5 187.50–206.00 $193.08 $1,446
889 fancy 889 (<2 yrs)Open 18 230.00 $230.00 $2,045
720–1203 954 (<2 yrs)Open 144 160.00–219.00 $190.13 $1,814
890–1240 1089 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 5 121.00–162.00 $133.76 $1,457
863–1405 1139 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 81 133.00–186.00 $155.87 $1,775
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
760–1103 947 (<2 yrs)Open 30 128.00–195.50 $167.46 $1,586
880–1175 1005 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 129.00–160.00 $137.49 $1,382
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1025–1218 1122 (<2 yrs)Open 2 150.00–164.50 $157.87 $1,771
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
725 725 (<2 yrs)Open 1 196.00 $196.00 $1,421

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1194–1330 1267 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 32 2,325.00–2,650.00 $2,590.70
1275 1275 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 2,100.00 $2,100.00
1330–1510 1370 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 2,350.00–2,500.00 $2,386.74
1255–1602 1489 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11 2,200.00–2,425.00 $2,358.62
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
950 950 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,500.00 $1,500.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1395 1395 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,875.00 $1,875.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
750–920 818 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 1,700.00–2,000.00 $1,834.96
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1150–1283 1239 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 2,125.00–2,300.00 $2,227.21

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1323 thin fleshed 1323 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 10 2,425.00 $2,425.00 —
1345 thin fleshed 1345 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 18 2,700.00 $2,700.00 —
1375 thin fleshed 1375 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 6 2,200.00 $2,200.00 —
1384 1384 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 9 2,800.00 $2,800.00 -818.60
1466 1466 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 4 2,950.00 $2,950.00 +459.77
1502–1569 1523 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 38 2,650.00–2,750.00 $2,674.40 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1258 1258 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 2,500.00 $2,500.00 +250.00
1358 1358 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 2,200.00 $2,200.00 —

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1895 1895 75-80% 1 124.00 $124.00 $2,350 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
971 thin fleshed 971 (<2 yrs)Open 33 3,050.00 $3,050.00 —

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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.