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Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, December 16, 2024

9,683 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $315.02/cwt -5.29 vs last sale · ≈ $1,647/hd at 523 lb · 277 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $350.27/cwt +2.14 vs last sale · ≈ $1,829/hd at 522 lb · 216 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $312.32/cwt +3.18 vs last sale · ≈ $1,935/hd at 620 lb · 212 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 9,683 16,801 7,285
Feeder cattle 3,178 6,777 1,510
Slaughter cattle 1,337 1,467 903
Replacement cattle 5,168 8,557 4,872

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
255–291 281 8 512.50–520.00 $515.55 $1,449 +2.48
296 unweaned 296 4 505.00 $505.00 $1,495 -5.00
300–310 307 3 500.00–510.00 $506.74 $1,556 +42.99
305–320 unweaned 310 3 497.50–512.50 $507.34 $1,573 —
358 unweaned 358 11 465.00 $465.00 $1,665 +36.18
350–393 383 38 420.00–460.00 $443.56 $1,699 -5.86
404–448 415 48 401.00–450.00 $428.11 $1,777 +22.54
415–426 unweaned 422 38 392.50–438.00 $410.82 $1,734 +21.27
460–497 478 78 357.00–397.50 $367.62 $1,757 -21.18
491–497 unweaned 496 31 361.00–370.00 $363.01 $1,801 -5.16
509–535 520 175 333.00–361.00 $351.82 $1,829 +15.82
515–536 unweaned 531 41 338.00–350.00 $343.65 $1,825 -9.22
550–595 560 75 315.00–334.00 $328.23 $1,838 -0.30
573 unweaned 573 3 329.00 $329.00 $1,885 +11.70
593 593 5 314.00 $314.00 $1,862 -14.53
601 unweaned 601 4 313.50 $313.50 $1,884 +6.46
600–637 620 208 305.00–318.00 $312.30 $1,936 +1.06
658–675 unweaned 658 35 291.00–302.00 $301.68 $1,985 +7.41
653–677 665 8 283.00–295.00 $289.05 $1,922 -6.81
699 699 4 256.00 $256.00 $1,789 -39.86
702–738 718 56 245.00–314.00 $290.28 $2,084 -2.29
817–838 819 28 244.00–250.00 $249.34 $2,042 -9.44
1078 1078 2 225.00 $225.00 $2,426 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 unweaned 300 1 475.00 $475.00 $1,425 —
300–349 332 18 440.00–485.00 $463.59 $1,539 +33.59
390–398 395 11 410.00–415.00 $413.21 $1,632 +20.27
407 unweaned 407 6 377.50 $377.50 $1,536 -1.56
434 434 4 325.00 $325.00 $1,410 -49.04
420–447 437 44 360.00–387.50 $365.77 $1,598 -8.27
450–495 484 62 317.50–351.00 $339.83 $1,645 -21.30
498 unweaned 498 4 345.00 $345.00 $1,718 —
510–545 525 12 317.50–340.00 $326.02 $1,712 +28.48
510–545 unweaned 528 4 317.50–337.50 $329.32 $1,739 +8.47
570–597 586 14 300.00–312.50 $308.05 $1,805 +8.32
586 unweaned 586 6 314.00 $314.00 $1,840 +11.69
601–638 628 28 280.00–304.00 $289.97 $1,821 +10.97
634 unweaned 634 11 295.00 $295.00 $1,870 +7.57
650–690 674 29 278.50–296.00 $281.49 $1,897 —
740–744 743 13 270.00–275.00 $271.53 $2,017 +2.95
791 791 4 249.00 $249.00 $1,970 -5.18
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
378 unweaned 378 2 385.00 $385.00 $1,455 —
350–394 379 6 375.00 $375.00 $1,421 —
408 408 17 375.00 $375.00 $1,530 —
422 unweaned 422 5 390.00 $390.00 $1,646 —
490 490 11 312.00 $312.00 $1,529 —
511 511 5 287.00 $287.00 $1,467 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
433 433 4 411.00 $411.00 $1,780 —
533 533 14 334.00 $334.00 $1,780 —
608–645 620 3 285.00–291.00 $288.92 $1,791 +3.92
650 650 4 276.00 $276.00 $1,794 —
740 740 2 257.00 $257.00 $1,902 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
456 456 14 252.50 $252.50 $1,151 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
543 543 8 333.00 $333.00 $1,808 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
263 unweaned 263 2 430.00 $430.00 $1,131 —
271–295 274 8 415.00–430.00 $417.02 $1,143 —
316–334 326 13 382.50–415.00 $403.25 $1,315 +14.10
311–347 unweaned 333 12 365.00–392.50 $380.06 $1,266 —
357–382 367 14 352.50–385.00 $364.45 $1,338 -14.00
357–389 unweaned 369 23 360.00–372.50 $365.21 $1,348 -12.47
401–435 415 105 340.00–367.50 $349.20 $1,449 -8.30
413–437 unweaned 422 40 337.50–345.00 $342.44 $1,445 -7.89
458–473 unweaned 466 12 319.00–331.00 $324.24 $1,511 -10.57
450–499 471 180 317.00–352.00 $333.77 $1,572 -5.90
511–529 unweaned 517 51 313.00–321.00 $317.27 $1,640 -5.46
503–549 524 226 305.50–327.00 $314.51 $1,648 -3.80
551–556 unweaned 552 21 296.00–312.50 $309.33 $1,708 +12.70
551–587 570 82 279.00–295.00 $292.92 $1,670 +0.89
619 unweaned 619 67 283.00 $283.00 $1,752 +8.68
604–648 626 20 260.00–269.00 $265.28 $1,661 -7.43
652–668 658 12 253.00–262.00 $258.96 $1,704 +0.25
748 748 4 237.00 $237.00 $1,773 -14.37
773–786 785 28 236.00–245.50 $244.83 $1,922 +5.83
810–825 818 13 237.00–250.50 $248.81 $2,035 +2.16
850–885 880 8 232.00–237.00 $233.62 $2,056 -8.38
905–919 916 9 227.00–227.50 $227.11 $2,080 -10.14
1000–1038 1027 5 210.00–224.00 $214.92 $2,207 -0.43
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290 290 2 390.00 $390.00 $1,131 —
298 unweaned 298 4 385.00 $385.00 $1,147 —
358–365 unweaned 360 3 360.00–367.50 $364.97 $1,314 —
365–378 372 4 350.00–355.00 $352.46 $1,311 +1.64
400–443 430 41 310.00–340.00 $331.02 $1,423 +3.45
440 unweaned 440 2 330.00 $330.00 $1,452 +1.55
455–495 470 16 292.50–310.00 $305.07 $1,434 -8.80
455–496 unweaned 487 10 301.00–314.00 $304.63 $1,484 —
522 unweaned 522 8 298.00 $298.00 $1,556 +1.83
505–548 529 34 285.00–302.00 $295.15 $1,561 +6.07
568–573 572 13 260.00–262.00 $261.54 $1,496 -12.61
580 unweaned 580 4 275.00 $275.00 $1,595 +7.00
603–648 unweaned 626 4 257.50–258.00 $257.76 $1,614 +11.30
647 647 5 254.00 $254.00 $1,643 -0.47
715 715 2 240.00 $240.00 $1,716 -3.48
763–772 768 5 236.00–237.50 $236.90 $1,819 -8.10
835–838 838 6 223.00–234.00 $232.17 $1,946 -9.83
920–932 929 6 213.00–229.00 $216.31 $2,010 -9.78
1044 1044 6 202.00 $202.00 $2,109 -5.76
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
555–594 592 17 270.00 $270.00 $1,598 +4.14
683 683 2 232.00 $232.00 $1,585 —
710 710 2 239.00 $239.00 $1,697 —
880 880 1 234.00 $234.00 $2,059 —
1055–1085 1073 5 208.00–214.00 $210.20 $2,255 —
1101–1145 1117 11 193.00–212.00 $204.16 $2,280 —
1120 1120 3 188.00 $188.00 $2,106 —
1287–1298 1294 8 179.00–186.00 $181.61 $2,350 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
401 401 4 292.50 $292.50 $1,173 —
459 459 8 260.00 $260.00 $1,193 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
675–688 679 11 243.00 $243.00 $1,650 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
403–439 421 10 307.00–325.00 $315.62 $1,329 -20.79
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
334 334 4 235.00 $235.00 $785 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320–335 328 2 455.00–470.00 $462.33 $1,516 +7.33
405 405 1 395.00 $395.00 $1,600 —
460–497 475 13 325.00–345.00 $332.48 $1,579 —
495 unweaned 495 6 335.00 $335.00 $1,658 —
570–590 578 10 288.00–319.00 $309.81 $1,791 +3.93
579 unweaned 579 4 310.00 $310.00 $1,795 ±0.00
603–643 637 19 262.50–302.50 $274.42 $1,748 -18.58
742 742 3 240.00 $240.00 $1,781 -2.00
928 928 1 227.00 $227.00 $2,107 —
978 978 3 215.00 $215.00 $2,103 -7.00
1015 1015 4 222.00 $222.00 $2,253 +3.00
1097 1097 3 211.00 $211.00 $2,315 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
426 426 4 365.00 $365.00 $1,555 —
494 494 10 335.00 $335.00 $1,655 —
545 545 31 303.00 $303.00 $1,651 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1226 1226 5 177.00 $177.00 $2,170 —
1280 1280 1 152.00 $152.00 $1,946 -2.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
597 597 3 245.00 $245.00 $1,463 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
700 700 1 250.00 $250.00 $1,750 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
797–995 873 85-90% 10 83.00–96.00 $85.67 $748 -5.09
790–985 883 85-90% 6 72.00–80.00 $74.87 $661 -15.89
985–1140 1073 85-90% 3 87.00–91.00 $89.44 $960 —
1005–1330 1126 85-90% 31 65.00–87.00 $79.38 $894 -26.67
828–1355 1143 85-90% 210 90.00–115.50 $105.33 $1,204 -0.72
1015–1280 1163 85-90% 20 87.00–98.00 $91.91 $1,069 -3.33
1106–1260 1174 85-90% 14 101.00–109.00 $105.03 $1,233 -22.62
910–1370 1204 85-90% 295 114.00–127.00 $120.31 $1,449 —
1000–1250 1213 85-90% 13 127.00–132.50 $128.79 $1,562 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1325–1470 1346 80-85% 7 94.00–95.00 $94.16 $1,267 —
1275–1595 1363 80-85% 13 126.00–134.50 $130.19 $1,774 +3.31
1200–1675 1397 80-85% 167 95.00–116.50 $110.26 $1,540 +2.85
1232–1629 1399 80-85% 293 116.00–129.00 $121.04 $1,693 +13.63
1345–1635 1420 80-85% 7 104.00–110.00 $106.26 $1,509 -13.76
1385–1600 1493 80-85% 2 80.00–82.00 $81.07 $1,210 -38.93
1310–1800 1510 80-85% 6 91.00–102.00 $98.61 $1,489 -11.39
1892 1892 80-85% 3 122.00 $122.00 $2,308 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1452–1625 1550 75-80% 13 115.00–121.00 $119.03 $1,845 —
1425–1647 1573 75-80% 9 121.00–124.00 $122.12 $1,921 -0.22
1110–1990 1659 75-80% 8 108.75–119.00 $114.47 $1,899 -10.52
1775–1860 1815 75-80% 4 121.00–124.00 $123.02 $2,233 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1291–1470 1337 5 115.00–122.00 $117.99 $1,578 —
1337–1990 1500 6 131.00–144.00 $140.57 $2,109 —
1490–2435 1848 60 110.00–146.00 $128.92 $2,382 -7.57
1743–2233 1879 36 146.00–151.00 $148.91 $2,798 —
2160–2305 2233 2 154.00 $154.00 $3,439 —
2565 2565 1 144.00 $144.00 $3,694 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2328–2390 2349 3 141.00–142.00 $141.66 $3,328 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
774–807 thin fleshed 792 (<2 yrs)Open 13 184.00–195.00 $188.96 $1,497
765–1315 975 (<2 yrs)Open 283 141.00–225.50 $191.17 $1,864
835–1290 1084 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 82 123.00–192.00 $151.65 $1,644
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
808–1120 893 (<2 yrs)Open 44 127.00–196.00 $176.13 $1,573
795–1370 1065 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 32 116.00–155.00 $128.40 $1,367

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
994–1093 1044 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 8 2,300.00–2,400.00 $2,352.37
1105 1105 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 2,100.00 $2,100.00
1118 1118 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 8 1,900.00 $1,900.00
960–1468 1156 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 631 2,400.00–3,650.00 $3,146.07
973–1313 1160 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 279 2,700.00–3,000.00 $2,904.47
1115–1261 thin fleshed 1194 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 48 1,500.00–1,785.00 $1,744.80
943–1435 1200 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 13 2,100.00–2,600.00 $2,421.26
1201 thin fleshed 1201 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,800.00 $1,800.00
1323 1323 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 24 2,525.00–2,775.00 $2,587.50
1296–1377 1331 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 22 2,550.00–2,825.00 $2,713.07
1340 thin fleshed 1340 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,950.00 $1,950.00
1126–1434 1351 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 45 2,050.00–2,550.00 $2,321.04
1306–1661 1352 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 171 2,700.00–3,000.00 $2,951.76
1174–1794 1364 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 486 1,850.00–2,500.00 $2,159.44
1147–1558 1370 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 338 1,925.00–2,985.00 $2,486.57
1300–1433 1374 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 130 1,900.00–2,250.00 $2,068.42
1510 1510 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 14 2,450.00 $2,450.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
943–1076 1053 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 14 2,000.00–2,300.00 $2,184.43
905–1205 1139 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 31 2,075.00–2,800.00 $2,648.03
1170 1170 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00
1170 1170 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 1,925.00 $1,925.00
1204 1204 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 2,750.00 $2,750.00
1170–1451 1302 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 26 2,025.00–2,525.00 $2,423.42
1070–1396 1320 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 51 1,500.00–1,850.00 $1,761.40
1145–1466 1410 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 33 1,850.00–2,175.00 $2,042.07
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1221–1474 1277 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 41 2,200.00 $2,200.00
1253–1296 1290 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 15 1,950.00–2,100.00 $2,080.58
1399 1399 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 2,600.00 $2,600.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
953–1194 1030 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 74 2,800.00–3,125.00 $3,045.26
990–1109 1036 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 302 2,800.00–3,010.00 $2,911.37
982–1135 1049 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 515 2,300.00–3,450.00 $2,953.99
1170 1170 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 14 2,650.00 $2,650.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
797 797 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,850.00 $1,850.00
787–914 876 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 105 2,400.00–2,700.00 $2,595.65
922 922 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 2,500.00 $2,500.00
931 931 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 2,550.00 $2,550.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1060 1060 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 110 2,760.00–2,800.00 $2,763.64
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1068–1086 1079 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 12 2,550.00–2,650.00 $2,591.26

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1115 1115 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 36 2,775.00 $2,775.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1312–1337 1316 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 28 3,100.00–3,225.00 $3,122.67 —

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1470 1470 85-90% 2 82.00 $82.00 $1,205 —

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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.