Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, September 16, 2024

2,699 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $332.24/cwt +35.72 vs last sale · ≈ $1,631/hd at 491 lb · 183 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $363.78/cwt +42.78 vs last sale · ≈ $1,506/hd at 414 lb · 119 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $242.48/cwt +3.30 vs last sale · ≈ $2,122/hd at 875 lb · 108 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,699 9,606 3,527
Feeder cattle 2,055 2,547 2,646
Slaughter cattle 521 811 776
Replacement cattle 123 111 105

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder calves were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Yearling steers sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher. Yearling heifers under 800 lbs sold steady to weak, yearling heifers over 800 lbs sold unevenly steady on a mostly lower quality offering. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive and overall not as attractive as last week. Demand was mostly moderate to good. Heifer quality was better than steer quality as many sets of open replacement heifers were seen. Most feeders were offered in small to moderate size packages; however a few load lots or partial load lots were seen. CME positions continue to inch higher this past week. The September feeder contract closed Friday at 244.825 while the October closed at 243.90. 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 demand for light offerings. Packers showed slightly stronger demand for slaughter cows this week as feeder buyers pushed to own most of the offering. Slaughter cows sold steady on breaking and boning cows lean cows sold 4.00-6.00 higher. Feeding cow demand was good to very good. Feeding cows sold steady to firm. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Demand for feeding bulls was light this week as packers were the main buyers of feeding bulls. Feeding bulls sold generally steady. Cow and bull quality this week was mostly average. Weigh conditions were mixed, but mostly below average as most sets of cattle were pushing moderate to heavy amounts of fill, especially midweek with cooler and rainy conditions. 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
326–346 unweaned 336 43 362.50–381.00 $372.24 $1,251 —
360 unweaned 360 23 362.50 $362.50 $1,305 —
401–416 unweaned 414 119 355.00–365.00 $363.78 $1,506 +42.78
469–499 unweaned 491 183 301.00–334.75 $332.24 $1,631 +35.30
512–538 unweaned 526 53 284.00–286.00 $285.19 $1,500 —
555–575 unweaned 567 8 271.00–280.00 $274.31 $1,555 -2.26
683 683 8 269.50 $269.50 $1,841 —
725 725 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,849 +0.50
749 unweaned 749 6 247.00 $247.00 $1,850 —
750–776 766 32 252.50–262.00 $255.73 $1,959 +5.32
825–835 832 10 245.50 $245.50 $2,043 +9.50
862–883 875 108 238.00–244.50 $242.48 $2,122 +3.30
900 900 1 232.00 $232.00 $2,088 —
960–998 985 42 217.50–222.00 $218.79 $2,155 -1.21
1005 1005 7 219.00 $219.00 $2,201 +11.30
1045 1045 13 210.00 $210.00 $2,194 +2.30
1055–1080 1076 13 210.00–215.50 $215.05 $2,314 +8.55
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
231 unweaned 231 8 420.00 $420.00 $970 —
298 unweaned 298 8 385.00 $385.00 $1,147 +35.78
423–449 unweaned 441 10 280.00–300.00 $294.25 $1,298 +3.62
653 unweaned 653 2 236.00 $236.00 $1,541 —
678 678 3 255.00 $255.00 $1,729 —
705–725 719 5 252.00–255.00 $252.99 $1,819 +3.53
755–773 769 4 245.00–249.00 $245.98 $1,892 +7.34
820–825 821 7 237.00–240.00 $239.14 $1,963 -0.38
876–885 879 14 236.00–237.00 $236.36 $2,078 +7.44
882 882 3 226.00 $226.00 $1,993 -2.92
897 897 3 215.00 $215.00 $1,929 -13.92
903–915 907 7 215.00–222.00 $219.56 $1,991 +1.46
973 973 2 215.00 $215.00 $2,092 —
1023–1029 1027 17 199.00–213.00 $203.92 $2,094 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
565 565 11 284.00 $284.00 $1,605 —
617–633 620 11 260.00–268.00 $266.51 $1,652 -0.78
655 655 7 278.00 $278.00 $1,821 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
387–396 unweaned 393 8 295.00–300.00 $296.85 $1,167 —
468 unweaned 468 4 276.00 $276.00 $1,292 —
842 842 3 229.00 $229.00 $1,928 +6.88
968 968 4 185.00 $185.00 $1,791 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
387 unweaned 387 7 345.00 $345.00 $1,335 —
456 unweaned 456 8 245.00 $245.00 $1,117 —
612 612 3 273.00 $273.00 $1,671 +12.18
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
665 unweaned 665 3 233.00 $233.00 $1,549 —
1170 1170 6 201.00 $201.00 $2,352 +8.00

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
378 unweaned 378 23 325.00 $325.00 $1,228 —
418–430 unweaned 424 35 292.50–302.00 $296.93 $1,259 -2.07
475–484 unweaned 481 9 277.00–280.00 $279.01 $1,342 +0.84
611 thin fleshed 611 48 276.00 $276.00 $1,686 —
650 unweaned 650 3 230.00 $230.00 $1,495 —
700–746 728 49 242.00–251.00 $246.87 $1,797 -1.99
750–790 769 105 232.00–242.75 $236.97 $1,822 +0.92
800–845 819 61 219.00–232.00 $224.36 $1,838 -5.85
853–899 882 94 219.00–224.50 $222.70 $1,964 +2.22
888 888 2 211.00 $211.00 $1,874 -9.48
911 911 4 219.00 $219.00 $1,995 +2.41
900–948 919 71 214.00–224.50 $221.17 $2,033 +4.58
930 930 2 198.00 $198.00 $1,841 -18.59
953–990 960 17 210.50–220.00 $214.77 $2,062 +1.34
960 960 5 202.00 $202.00 $1,939 -11.43
985 985 14 192.00 $192.00 $1,891 -21.43
1015–1028 1018 8 202.00–217.00 $213.21 $2,170 +2.13
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
314 unweaned 314 13 312.50 $312.50 $981 —
361–395 unweaned 369 9 290.00–305.00 $301.43 $1,112 +23.59
402–440 unweaned 421 6 275.00–281.00 $277.86 $1,170 +14.86
478 unweaned 478 2 267.00 $267.00 $1,276 +8.02
523 unweaned 523 4 245.00 $245.00 $1,281 -2.59
659–697 680 41 251.00–256.00 $252.81 $1,719 +3.51
703–744 736 16 237.50–244.00 $240.64 $1,771 +1.63
786–799 793 18 221.00–232.00 $226.91 $1,799 +3.75
814–848 827 20 213.00–220.00 $217.97 $1,803 +0.23
835 835 3 212.00 $212.00 $1,770 -5.74
868–890 873 17 215.00–219.50 $217.04 $1,895 +4.04
924–942 932 14 210.00–217.00 $213.93 $1,994 +4.98
1040 1040 2 185.00 $185.00 $1,924 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
524 524 11 240.00 $240.00 $1,258 —
598 598 5 244.00 $244.00 $1,459 —
633–638 634 25 244.00–255.00 $249.12 $1,579 +4.12
658–668 663 4 238.00–241.00 $239.51 $1,588 +9.51
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
532 532 12 284.00 $284.00 $1,511 —
583 583 6 280.00 $280.00 $1,632 +45.00
639 639 7 266.00 $266.00 $1,700 +18.40
710 710 4 241.00 $241.00 $1,711 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945 945 3 193.00 $193.00 $1,824 -2.00
1055 1055 3 197.00 $197.00 $2,078 -1.26
1055–1073 1064 4 200.50–201.00 $200.75 $2,136 +2.49
1100 1100 4 194.00 $194.00 $2,134 -0.57
1150 1150 4 193.50 $193.50 $2,225 ±0.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
873 873 6 180.00 $180.00 $1,571 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
284 unweaned 284 7 385.00 $385.00 $1,093 —
305 unweaned 305 3 360.00 $360.00 $1,098 —
452 unweaned 452 3 265.00 $265.00 $1,198 —
752 752 3 222.50 $222.50 $1,673 —
820 820 1 222.50 $222.50 $1,824 +17.50
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410 unweaned 410 2 332.50 $332.50 $1,363 —
772 772 5 231.00 $231.00 $1,783 —
950–983 974 9 213.00–218.00 $215.44 $2,098 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105–1139 1133 8 188.00–192.00 $190.00 $2,153 ±0.00
1220–1238 1232 3 171.00–177.50 $173.15 $2,133 -8.85
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155–1175 1165 2 164.00–177.50 $170.69 $1,989 -7.31
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
578 578 2 285.00 $285.00 $1,647 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1360 1360 80-85% 1 138.00 $138.00 $1,877 -3.86
1200–1578 1391 80-85% 77 125.00–137.50 $133.34 $1,855 +10.23
1265–1600 1401 80-85% 8 115.00–124.00 $121.52 $1,702 -11.03
1180–1640 1426 80-85% 22 115.00–126.50 $123.31 $1,758 -5.55
1320–1520 1444 80-85% 12 125.00–131.00 $127.17 $1,836 -1.69
1474–1675 1535 80-85% 6 137.00–138.00 $137.82 $2,116 +28.82
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
805 805 85-90% 1 80.00 $80.00 $644 —
698–990 806 85-90% 6 95.00–104.00 $96.84 $781 —
945–995 962 85-90% 3 115.00–120.00 $116.72 $1,123 —
1080–1090 1082 85-90% 5 78.00–92.50 $80.92 $876 -17.89
1100 1100 85-90% 2 105.00 $105.00 $1,155 —
1070–1140 1107 85-90% 3 126.00–132.00 $128.27 $1,420 —
858–1280 1113 85-90% 37 109.00–125.00 $120.17 $1,337 —
1005–1310 1175 85-90% 13 102.00–120.00 $114.28 $1,343 +6.50
975–1305 1179 85-90% 47 122.00–135.50 $128.86 $1,519 +21.08
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1510–1775 1622 75-80% 18 133.00–138.00 $134.58 $2,183 +2.42
1525–1890 1648 75-80% 7 127.00–130.25 $128.32 $2,115 —
1520–1885 1649 75-80% 12 123.50–132.00 $128.15 $2,113 —
1555–1860 1657 75-80% 25 133.00–138.00 $135.85 $2,251 +7.98
1580–1785 1683 75-80% 2 141.50–142.00 $141.73 $2,385 +5.46

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1165 1165 1 128.00 $128.00 $1,491 —
1370 1370 1 120.00 $120.00 $1,644 —
1195–1665 1395 21 124.00–145.00 $137.85 $1,923 —
1445–2155 1719 44 127.00–148.00 $142.80 $2,455 —
1580–1860 1720 2 151.00–152.00 $151.54 $2,606 —
1505–2125 1868 48 148.00–161.00 $152.97 $2,857 +0.20
1910–2275 2100 9 159.00–173.00 $164.92 $3,463 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
820–1228 1024 (<2 yrs)Open 17 145.00–194.00 $172.80 $1,769
930–1375 1160 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 45 133.00–181.00 $152.15 $1,765
1206–1235 1210 (<2 yrs)Open 8 152.50–158.50 $157.73 $1,909
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
850–970 889 (<2 yrs)Open 11 165.00–177.50 $170.37 $1,515

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1140–1167 1160 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,850.00–2,000.00 $1,886.85
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1129 1129 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,400.00 $1,400.00

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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.