Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, August 26, 2024

7,474 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $219.51/cwt +11.51 vs last sale · ≈ $2,015/hd at 918 lb · 108 head
light 6-weight M 1 steers $292.46/cwt +38.46 vs last sale · ≈ $1,790/hd at 612 lb · 102 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $227.46/cwt +14.46 vs last sale · ≈ $1,874/hd at 824 lb · 96 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 7,474 753 8,494
Feeder cattle 1,529 265 1,349
Slaughter cattle 463 397 562
Replacement cattle 108 91 19

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Demand was mostly moderate to good. Most feeders were offered in small to moderate size packages; no load lots were seen. CME positions inched higher following sharply lower movement over the past four weeks. Market activity this week was mostly active, with good participation seen from bidders both ringside as well as over the internet. Weigh up cows and bulls sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers showed slightly lighter demand for slaughter cows compared to the last few weeks. However, feeding cow demand remains good as both packers and private feeders pushed to fill loads for the week. Slaughter cows sold steady to 3.00 lower on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold 3.00-5.00 lower. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower. Demand for feeding bulls remains good as both packers and private feeders continue to put bulls away on feed. Feeding bulls sold fully steady. Cow and bull quality this week was mostly average to attractive but not as attractive as the previous week. Weigh conditions were mixed, but mostly below average as most sets of cattle were pushing moderate to heavy amounts of fill, especially later in the week. Cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for limited offerings remains good.

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
508 unweaned 508 21 270.00 $270.00 $1,372 +10.00
668–694 683 37 254.50–264.00 $259.06 $1,769 -0.94
755–798 765 87 248.50–260.50 $249.97 $1,912 —
814–828 823 77 243.00–247.00 $244.69 $2,014 —
890 890 26 233.50 $233.50 $2,078 —
951–990 959 5 222.00–225.00 $224.38 $2,152 —
1020–1034 1030 7 220.00–222.00 $220.57 $2,272 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
610–612 612 102 258.00–293.50 $292.46 $1,790 +38.46
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
341 unweaned 341 7 300.00 $300.00 $1,023 —
425 unweaned 425 2 270.00 $270.00 $1,148 —
528 unweaned 528 4 252.00 $252.00 $1,331 +12.00
572 572 6 252.00 $252.00 $1,441 —
623 623 19 252.00 $252.00 $1,570 —
730–740 735 4 243.00–248.00 $245.48 $1,804 +5.48
752–795 770 10 238.00–243.50 $240.35 $1,851 -3.65
808–848 815 21 236.00–240.00 $237.90 $1,939 —
853–895 870 11 231.50–236.00 $233.17 $2,029 —
992 992 3 221.50 $221.50 $2,197 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
476 476 7 301.00 $301.00 $1,433 —
573 573 7 287.00 $287.00 $1,645 +44.50
605 605 4 282.00 $282.00 $1,706 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
927 927 3 225.00 $225.00 $2,086 —
1136 1136 4 202.00 $202.00 $2,295 —
1198 1198 9 185.50 $185.50 $2,222 +1.50

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
326 unweaned 326 7 325.00 $325.00 $1,060 —
384 unweaned 384 4 282.50 $282.50 $1,085 —
413–445 unweaned 441 18 260.00–270.00 $268.96 $1,186 —
548 unweaned 548 4 242.00 $242.00 $1,326 —
688–690 688 45 248.75–249.00 $248.77 $1,712 —
705–736 727 37 238.00–244.00 $239.52 $1,741 +15.52
762–796 782 76 226.00–240.00 $232.75 $1,820 +15.75
809–847 824 96 224.50–230.00 $227.46 $1,874 +14.46
856–895 873 48 221.00–226.00 $223.57 $1,952 +11.78
900–947 918 108 214.00–224.00 $219.51 $2,015 +11.51
950–993 971 55 205.50–219.00 $212.67 $2,065 +15.17
1033–1043 1040 17 194.50–198.00 $197.27 $2,052 -3.84
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
421 421 8 274.00 $274.00 $1,154 —
465 465 3 270.00 $270.00 $1,256 —
501–533 511 64 234.00–274.00 $270.19 $1,381 +39.48
574–590 585 13 239.00–257.00 $244.43 $1,430 —
696 696 5 240.50 $240.50 $1,674 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
572 572 5 266.00 $266.00 $1,522 —
616–626 619 16 257.00–260.00 $259.24 $1,605 —
653 653 14 248.00 $248.00 $1,619 +13.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
708–723 718 9 229.00–236.00 $233.31 $1,675 —
754–795 779 10 227.00–230.00 $228.16 $1,777 —
847 847 3 223.00 $223.00 $1,889 —
872 872 5 214.00 $214.00 $1,866 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1058–1078 1070 19 194.00–198.50 $197.37 $2,112 +1.16
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
498 498 8 255.50 $255.50 $1,272 —
573 573 5 237.00 $237.00 $1,358 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1001–1045 1010 5 182.00–191.00 $189.14 $1,910 —

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Feeder Bulls

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1043 1043 3 212.50 $212.50 $2,216 —
1085 1085 1 210.00 $210.00 $2,278 —
1140 1140 1 184.00 $184.00 $2,098 -11.00
1175 1175 1 200.00 $200.00 $2,350 —
1200–1205 1203 2 185.00–190.00 $187.49 $2,256 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
313 unweaned 313 3 339.50 $339.50 $1,063 +12.00
1005–1020 1013 2 204.00–206.00 $205.01 $2,077 +3.01
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
178 unweaned 178 3 225.00 $225.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040 1040 1 187.50 $187.50 $1,950 ±0.00
1050 1050 1 188.00 $188.00 $1,974 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1257–1458 1352 80-85% 20 115.00–132.00 $126.28 $1,707 —
1235–1598 1411 80-85% 97 131.00–143.00 $138.22 $1,950 +14.59
1318–1515 1425 80-85% 15 107.00–122.00 $114.83 $1,636 -8.89
1438 1438 80-85% 4 145.00 $145.00 $2,085 +21.28
1470–1545 1508 80-85% 2 144.00–149.00 $146.56 $2,210 +9.11
1245–1713 1589 80-85% 8 127.00–141.50 $131.66 $2,092 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
910 910 85-90% 1 115.00 $115.00 $1,046 —
1003 1003 85-90% 4 105.00 $105.00 $1,053 —
1005–1340 1162 85-90% 24 100.00–119.00 $110.38 $1,283 -11.91
1045–1350 1172 85-90% 42 106.00–125.00 $122.60 $1,437 +0.31
1060–1280 1190 85-90% 18 119.00–127.00 $124.33 $1,480 +2.04
1040–1280 1218 85-90% 37 124.50–136.00 $132.23 $1,611 -9.19
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1475–1692 1608 75-80% 5 135.00–141.50 $137.45 $2,210 -2.55
1610 1610 75-80% 1 112.00 $112.00 $1,803 -28.00
1355–1835 1622 75-80% 13 121.00–133.00 $129.16 $2,095 -15.84
1545–1765 1651 75-80% 4 140.00–145.00 $142.17 $2,347 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1260–1380 1304 5 125.00–148.00 $135.79 $1,771 —
1340 1340 1 150.50 $150.50 $2,017 —
1260–1783 1534 19 152.00–163.00 $158.56 $2,432 —
1210–1975 1637 3 144.00–150.00 $147.72 $2,418 —
1300–2300 1717 48 128.00–152.00 $144.90 $2,488 -4.49
1305–2215 1815 39 152.00–168.00 $158.25 $2,872 -11.55
1675–2245 1975 14 166.00–176.00 $170.47 $3,367 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
955–1100 1013 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 157.00–171.00 $165.89 $1,680
1050–1255 1129 (<2 yrs)Open 8 162.00–180.00 $169.54 $1,914
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1010–1090 1043 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 139.00–147.50 $143.39 $1,496

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Beef Dairy Heifers

Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
756 756 8 237.00 $237.00 $1,792 —
802–846 834 62 225.00–229.00 $227.95 $1,901 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
718 718 5 230.00 $230.00 $1,651 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
701 701 6 255.50 $255.50 $1,791 —
836 836 32 237.00 $237.00 $1,981 —
981 981 8 222.00 $222.00 $2,178 —

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
185 185 12 132.50 $132.50 $245 —
195 195 1 104.00 $104.00 $203 —
210 210 1 136.00 $136.00 $286 —
210–238 228 7 92.00–103.00 $95.87 $219 —
250 250 1 75.00 $75.00 $188 —
255–265 260 3 93.00 $93.00 $242 —
310 310 1 84.00 $84.00 $260 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
75 75 1 130.00 $130.00 $98 —
76 76 4 120.00 $120.00 $91 —
85 85 1 140.00 $140.00 $119 —
90–95 93 2 170.00–175.00 $172.57 $160 —
105 105 1 200.00 $200.00 $210 —
145 145 1 212.50 $212.50 $308 —
150 150 1 165.00 $165.00 $248 —
195 195 1 152.50 $152.50 $297 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1364–1860 1488 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 8 2,425.00–2,650.00 $2,495.31 —
1488 1488 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 20 2,675.00 $2,675.00 —
1995 1995 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00 —

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1378 1378 85-90% 2 109.00 $109.00 $1,502 —
1485 1485 85-90% 1 83.00 $83.00 $1,233 —

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
130–136 135 6 85.00–87.00 $86.68 $117 —
127–148 137 165 70.00–81.00 $73.68 $101 —
137 137 13 65.00 $65.00 $89 —
145 145 4 62.00–66.00 $64.00 $93 —
150 150 12 30.00 $30.00 $45 —
150–155 153 5 66.00–67.00 $66.39 $102 —
150–170 159 98 72.00–85.00 $77.67 $123 —
157–179 168 53 87.00–94.00 $89.15 $150 —
163–178 173 39 89.00 $89.00 $154 —
160–198 182 51 82.00–88.00 $87.15 $159 —
206–215 209 24 86.00–88.00 $87.25 $182 —
209–235 215 12 73.00–80.00 $74.76 $161 —
248 248 2 92.00 $92.00 $228 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
139 139 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 33 129.00 $129.00 $179 —

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
53 53 35 217.00 $217.00 $115 —
68 68 59 211.00 $211.00 $143 —
72–78 74 91 168.00–190.00 $179.28 $133 —
76 76 4 205.00 $205.00 $156 —
86–88 88 62 160.00–169.00 $165.00 $145 —
91–95 94 36 164.00–171.00 $169.12 $159 —
110 110 2 157.50 $157.50 $173 —

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Hair Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
143 143 3 132.50 $132.50 $189 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
122 122 14 85.00 $85.00 $104 —
140 140 2 102.50 $102.50 $144 —
149 149 4 72.00 $72.00 $107 —
183 183 2 85.00 $85.00 $156 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
120 120 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 2 114.00 $114.00 $137 —

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Hair Lambs

Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
45 45 25 167.50 $167.50 $75 —
51 51 8 192.50 $192.50 $98 —
66 66 29 192.50 $192.50 $127 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
25 25 1 285.00 $285.00 $71 —
28 28 3 70.00 $70.00 $20 —
30 30 2 130.00 $130.00 $39 —
30 30 3 65.00 $65.00 $20 —
30 30 2 265.00 $265.00 $80 —
33 33 6 70.00 $70.00 $23 —
30–34 34 8 125.00–130.00 $125.56 $43 —
34 34 5 250.00 $250.00 $85 —
36 36 31 235.00 $235.00 $85 —
41–42 41 13 242.50–250.00 $245.43 $101 —
43 43 3 185.00 $185.00 $80 —
40–45 44 6 225.00–255.00 $241.24 $106 —
44–48 45 39 260.00–270.00 $263.86 $119 —
47 47 5 122.50 $122.50 $58 —
50 50 1 255.00 $255.00 $128 —
52 52 3 125.00 $125.00 $65 —
53–55 53 12 182.50–190.00 $183.15 $97 —
52–58 54 36 257.50–260.00 $259.16 $140 —
51–59 56 61 227.50–257.50 $244.78 $137 —
58 58 3 167.50 $167.50 $97 —
60–63 61 23 250.00–265.00 $251.77 $154 —
64 64 6 232.50 $232.50 $149 —
65 65 1 260.00 $260.00 $169 —
73 73 9 240.00 $240.00 $175 —
73 73 2 270.00 $270.00 $197 —
73–78 75 47 230.00–250.00 $244.94 $184 —
80–81 81 22 202.50–227.50 $204.75 $166 —
80–84 84 51 230.00–255.00 $238.14 $200 —
90 90 1 230.00 $230.00 $207 —

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Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
45–48 48 17 220.00–222.50 $222.36 $107 —
50–58 53 136 215.00–226.00 $221.11 $117 —
60–69 63 417 214.00–225.00 $221.35 $139 —
71–78 74 621 204.00–216.50 $211.95 $157 —
80–89 87 398 185.00–210.00 $192.59 $168 —
91 91 6 160.00 $160.00 $146 —
90–99 94 535 176.00–187.50 $183.75 $173 —
100–108 104 116 170.00–177.50 $173.70 $181 —
110–117 116 23 170.00–173.00 $171.82 $199 —
130 130 13 166.00 $166.00 $216 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
39 39 5 215.00 $215.00 $84 —
48 48 4 220.00 $220.00 $106 —
51–54 51 55 203.00–215.00 $205.03 $105 —
60–67 63 54 197.50–212.00 $205.13 $129 —
70–78 75 22 193.00–194.00 $193.62 $145 —
83–89 87 32 175.00–177.00 $176.40 $153 —
97–99 99 26 172.00–174.00 $172.38 $171 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
72 72 15 183.00 $183.00 $132 —
80–88 85 30 167.50–180.00 $176.09 $150 —
105 105 14 161.00 $161.00 $169 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
77 77 3 167.50 $167.50 $129 —
83 83 40 167.50 $167.50 $139 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
40 40 1 85.00 $85.00 $34 —
43 43 3 100.00 $100.00 $43 —
68 68 2 80.00 $80.00 $54 —
80 80 3 85.00 $85.00 $68 —
93–95 94 3 110.00–115.00 $111.69 $105 —
100–140 110 52 92.50–115.00 $102.86 $113 —
110 110 1 95.00 $95.00 $104 —
103–143 124 35 120.00–147.50 $123.39 $153 —
155 155 1 102.50 $102.50 $159 —
165 165 1 115.00 $115.00 $190 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
110–128 119 4 132.50–142.50 $137.12 $163 —
125–137 134 4 150.00–170.00 $154.66 $207 —
165 165 1 167.50 $167.50 $276 —
180 180 1 137.50 $137.50 $248 —
218 218 2 165.00 $165.00 $360 —

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
61–69 66 117 216.00–225.00 $219.64 $145 —
70–78 74 164 206.00–221.00 $213.69 $158 —
83 83 5 172.00 $172.00 $143 —
119 119 10 147.50 $147.50 $176 —
139 139 4 147.50 $147.50 $205 —

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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.