Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, June 10, 2024

2,920 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $294.06/cwt -11.94 vs last sale · ≈ $1,723/hd at 586 lb · 31 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $299.00/cwt -3.33 vs last sale · ≈ $1,558/hd at 521 lb · 24 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $265.37/cwt -22.72 vs last sale · ≈ $1,791/hd at 675 lb · 16 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,920 5,643 2,270
Feeder cattle 410 521 364
Slaughter cattle 1,497 1,912 1,359
Replacement cattle 1,013 962 547

Compared to last week: Too few sales were seen this week to develop any market trend. Cattle were mostly offered in small size packages or as singles. Demand was good for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Cattle suitable to develop on grass continue to sell with the best demand, however very few offerings were seen. CME positions traded higher this week as packers paid higher prices for slaughter cattle in order to secure offerings. This helped spur demand for feeder cattle as buyers continue to search for offerings to fill empty pens. The August feeder cattle contract closed at 261.975, 7.175 higher than last Fridays close, the September closed at 262.70, 6.85 higher than the previous week. Market activity this week was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on good demand for moderate offerings. Ranchers continue to cull cows as many are wrapping up branding and turning out cows. Packers showed mostly good demand for slaughter cows for immediate harvest, however packers mostly purchased lame or blemished cows to send to immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher on breaking cows. Boning and lean cows sold generally steady. Packers showed very good demand for feeding cows as they try to buy up offerings to help manage supplies going forward into high demand periods. Packers also purchased average quality thin and light boning cows to hold for the upcoming 4th of July holiday. Feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold steady to 1.00 higher. Thin feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly average to attritive with many high quality reputation cows seen. However quality this week was not as attractive as last week. Weigh up conditions were mostly average as several hot days had cows pushing extra fill. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00 to 4.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 5.00-7.00 higher. Demand was good to very good for high quality offerings which buyers are looking to rebreed. Quality was average to attractive, however not as attractive as the last few weeks.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 2 333.00 $333.00 $1,182
458 458 2 325.00 $325.00 $1,488
602–635 620 7 290.00–302.50 $299.72 $1,858
659–698 675 16 247.00–280.00 $265.37 $1,791 -22.72
753–775 765 12 257.00–262.00 $260.17 $1,990 +6.82
808 808 3 205.00 $205.00 $1,656
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
445 445 3 360.00 $360.00 $1,602
481 481 8 350.00 $350.00 $1,684 -20.00
508 508 6 345.00 $345.00 $1,753
703–713 707 8 278.00–279.00 $278.38 $1,968
990 990 3 222.00 $222.00 $2,198
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
341 341 4 340.00 $340.00 $1,159
770 770 2 242.00 $242.00 $1,863
810 810 2 216.00 $216.00 $1,750
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
775 775 5 250.00 $250.00 $1,938
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
734 734 4 243.00 $243.00 $1,784

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
474 474 5 310.00 $310.00 $1,469 -4.80
521 521 24 299.00 $299.00 $1,558 -3.33
558–595 583 13 260.00–295.00 $287.27 $1,675 -7.01
615–645 636 4 251.00–255.00 $251.97 $1,603 -19.28
655 655 4 264.00 $264.00 $1,729 +21.16
710–740 718 4 240.00–246.00 $242.97 $1,745 +0.97
755–795 765 4 230.00–231.00 $230.74 $1,765 +3.51
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475 475 1 335.00 $335.00 $1,591 +7.04
558–588 586 31 294.00–295.00 $294.06 $1,723 -11.94
658–676 668 7 260.00–267.00 $262.95 $1,757
700–748 721 7 249.00–257.00 $251.50 $1,813 +8.11
760–773 769 3 241.00–248.00 $243.31 $1,871 -2.05
805 805 3 229.00 $229.00 $1,843
850 850 5 221.00 $221.00 $1,878
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338 338 2 310.00 $310.00 $1,048
350–373 367 4 285.00–313.00 $306.33 $1,124
402–439 421 11 280.00–290.00 $286.24 $1,205
472 472 3 295.00 $295.00 $1,392 +20.00
505–540 509 8 265.00–285.00 $267.65 $1,362
665–670 668 3 240.00 $240.00 $1,603
745 745 2 222.50 $222.50 $1,658
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 2 317.50 $317.50 $1,095
500 500 1 278.00 $278.00 $1,390
703 703 5 226.00 $226.00 $1,589
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 3 320.00 $320.00 $1,184
600 600 3 278.00 $278.00 $1,668
Small 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
575 575 3 165.00 $165.00 $949
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
190 190 1 700.00 $700.00
200 200 1 600.00 $600.00

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
455 455 1 315.00 $315.00 $1,433
753 753 3 230.00 $230.00 $1,732 -12.03
830 830 1 232.50 $232.50 $1,930
851–895 864 10 222.50–235.00 $231.12 $1,997 +24.12
915 915 3 213.00 $213.00 $1,949
1090 1090 1 213.00 $213.00 $2,322
1445 1445 (<2 yrs)N/A 1 156.00 $156.00 $2,254
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400 400 1 320.00 $320.00 $1,280 -6.63
575–595 585 2 275.00–285.00 $279.91 $1,637
640 640 1 290.00 $290.00 $1,856
780 780 1 230.00 $230.00 $1,794
822–825 824 6 213.00–217.00 $214.67 $1,769
950–980 965 2 191.00–195.00 $192.97 $1,862
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1020 1020 2 217.50 $217.50 $2,218
1065–1090 1078 2 208.00–220.00 $214.07 $2,308 +4.07
1105–1110 1108 2 207.50–212.50 $210.01 $2,327 +13.44
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1128 1128 2 182.50 $182.50 $2,059
1190–1195 1193 2 166.00–175.00 $170.49 $2,034
1225 1225 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,838
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
155 155 1 500.00 $500.00
1230–1355 1293 (<2 yrs)N/A 2 3,450.00–3,500.00 $3,476.21
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
130 130 2 500.00 $500.00

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Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250–1565 1376 80-85% 29 119.00–132.00 $128.72 $1,771 -9.00
1200–1625 1377 80-85% 515 130.00–141.50 $138.24 $1,904 +0.52
1205–1580 1390 80-85% 149 141.00–148.50 $143.41 $1,993 +6.48
1320–1535 1411 80-85% 8 116.00–128.00 $125.55 $1,772 -16.45
1220–1690 1460 80-85% 73 129.00–140.00 $135.96 $1,985 +12.60
1215–1623 1492 80-85% 42 139.00–145.50 $142.87 $2,132
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
670–800 732 85-90% 10 77.50–91.00 $88.45 $647
815–995 902 85-90% 16 98.00–122.50 $109.83 $991 +2.95
905–1275 1062 85-90% 19 109.00–125.00 $120.77 $1,283
1065 1065 85-90% 1 101.00 $101.00 $1,076
1095 1095 85-90% 1 90.00 $90.00 $986
1020–1320 1150 85-90% 28 102.00–125.00 $117.90 $1,356 -18.93
963–1308 1169 85-90% 79 127.00–137.00 $132.80 $1,552 +11.32
1035–1290 1189 85-90% 19 125.00–136.00 $130.29 $1,549 +35.41
1040–1260 1193 85-90% 79 137.00–143.00 $139.46 $1,664 +9.16
1210–1285 1264 85-90% 5 137.00–146.00 $139.84 $1,768
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1500–1625 1568 75-80% 18 142.00–151.00 $144.83 $2,271 +12.97
1438–1729 1604 75-80% 25 137.00–142.50 $140.72 $2,257 -2.57
1405–1940 1655 75-80% 26 136.00–142.00 $139.49 $2,309 +8.86
1675 1675 75-80% 1 131.50 $131.50 $2,203 +0.87
1625–1730 1694 75-80% 8 130.00–135.00 $133.75 $2,266 +3.12
1620–1850 1724 75-80% 4 142.00–149.00 $144.96 $2,499

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235–1450 1308 4 127.00–148.00 $139.11 $1,820 +3.23
1250–1400 1318 3 142.00–148.00 $144.60 $1,906 +8.72
1185–1715 1371 9 135.00–149.00 $141.70 $1,943
1275–1695 1415 3 167.50–174.00 $170.10 $2,407
1220–1905 1576 31 152.00–165.00 $158.96 $2,505
1465–1870 1680 7 132.00–147.00 $142.07 $2,387 +2.98
1410–2265 1815 48 150.00–167.00 $158.89 $2,884 -15.11
1855 1855 1 184.00 $184.00 $3,413
1545–2545 1985 100 165.00–189.00 $175.02 $3,474
2540 2540 1 178.00 $178.00 $4,521
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1805–2405 2105 2 165.00 $165.00 $3,473

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
762 thin fleshed 762 (<2 yrs)Open 5 208.00 $208.00 $1,585
780–1385 1050 (<2 yrs)Open 151 149.00–233.00 $194.53 $2,043
845–1365 1148 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 143 134.00–210.00 $166.30 $1,909
1070–1485 1211 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 23 137.00–170.00 $149.68 $1,813
1240 1240 (<2 yrs)Open 1 157.00 $157.00 $1,947
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
723–1250 968 (<2 yrs)Open 24 142.50–210.00 $173.87 $1,683
820–1210 1029 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 134.00–151.00 $143.67 $1,478
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1020–1130 1075 (<2 yrs)Open 2 150.00–163.00 $156.17 $1,679
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
735–755 745 (<2 yrs)Open 2 187.50–192.50 $190.03 $1,416

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
963–1255 1125 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,800.00–2,300.00 $2,023.23
1380 1380 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,550.00 $2,550.00
1425 1425 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 2,300.00 $2,300.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1593 1593 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 140.00 $140.00 $2,230

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1083–1456 1243 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 107 3,250.00–3,525.00 $3,355.87
1260 thin fleshed 1260 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 6 2,400.00 $2,400.00
1491 1491 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 4 2,500.00 $2,500.00
1365–1605 1503 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 27 2,475.00–2,900.00 $2,673.09 +14.34
1420–1574 1526 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 16 3,075.00–3,500.00 $3,376.40 +717.65
1549–1684 1647 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 17 2,800.00–3,425.00 $3,246.74
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1199 1199 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 7 2,875.00 $2,875.00
1215–1485 1319 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 4 2,175.00–2,375.00 $2,277.35 -22.65
1238–1635 1408 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 6 2,500.00–2,850.00 $2,738.27 +438.27
1430–1435 1433 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 5 2,500.00–2,650.00 $2,559.87 +259.87

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1285 1285 85-90% 1 114.00 $114.00 $1,465
1520 1520 85-90% 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,900

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
990–1278 1059 (<2 yrs)Open 63 3,425.00–3,550.00 $3,458.06
1262 1262 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 3,100.00 $3,100.00

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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.