Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 17, 2025

5,957 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 steers $299.24/cwt +8.18 vs last sale · ≈ $2,172/hd at 726 lb · 133 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $346.70/cwt +3.79 vs last sale · ≈ $2,063/hd at 595 lb · 116 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $302.41/cwt -14.21 vs last sale · ≈ $1,827/hd at 604 lb · 89 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Head itemized in priced lots 5,957 — —

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410–447 444 12 392.00–440.00 $395.69 $1,757 —
492 492 5 382.00 $382.00 $1,879 -8.00
505–524 519 62 368.00–385.00 $380.96 $1,977 +10.47
580–597 595 116 334.00–352.00 $346.70 $2,063 +3.79
631–643 632 56 312.00–320.00 $319.13 $2,017 +3.27
719–733 726 133 293.50–305.00 $299.24 $2,172 +8.18
943 943 29 237.00 $237.00 $2,235 -25.14
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
787 787 10 258.00 $258.00 $2,030 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
720 720 10 257.50 $257.50 $1,854 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
464 464 10 295.00 $295.00 $1,369 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 3 370.00 $370.00 $1,702 +10.00
535 535 4 352.50 $352.50 $1,886 —
973 973 2 232.50 $232.50 $2,262 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318 318 2 400.00 $400.00 $1,272 —

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 395 9 390.00 $390.00 $1,540 —
456–467 465 23 345.00–356.00 $354.12 $1,647 +1.62
533 533 15 341.00 $341.00 $1,818 +3.47
603–605 604 89 280.50–311.00 $302.41 $1,827 -14.21
948 948 4 236.00 $236.00 $2,237 +4.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
341 341 5 390.00 $390.00 $1,330 —
400 400 6 342.50 $342.50 $1,370 +20.00
470–490 479 11 320.00–337.50 $329.36 $1,578 +5.67
521–536 530 13 315.00–325.00 $318.78 $1,690 +1.99
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470 470 3 322.00 $322.00 $1,513 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
645 645 1 255.00 $255.00 $1,645 —

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Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
625 625 4 263.00 $263.00 $1,644 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
588 588 2 255.00 $255.00 $1,499 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1110 1110 1 200.00 $200.00 $2,220 —

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Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1292–1485 1322 80-85% 137 137.00–148.00 $145.77 $1,927 —
1260–1460 1347 80-85% 5 131.00–135.00 $132.46 $1,784 —
1265–1440 1353 80-85% 2 152.50–153.00 $152.77 $2,067 +26.76
1300–1620 1410 80-85% 18 109.00–136.00 $122.58 $1,728 -20.19
1309–1703 1429 80-85% 91 130.00–150.50 $146.03 $2,087 +3.26
1379–1550 1463 80-85% 44 151.50–156.50 $154.68 $2,263 +0.55
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050–1205 1118 85-90% 3 94.00–100.00 $96.24 $1,076 —
1015–1340 1157 85-90% 12 102.00–127.00 $113.56 $1,314 -33.71
920–1288 1159 85-90% 35 115.50–132.00 $126.42 $1,465 -20.85
1198–1240 1219 85-90% 9 133.00–143.00 $138.17 $1,684 —
1120–1266 1226 85-90% 45 132.00–144.00 $141.48 $1,735 —
1075–1285 1250 85-90% 30 145.50–146.50 $146.45 $1,831 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1480 1480 75-80% 41 145.25 $145.25 $2,150 —
1535–1685 1549 75-80% 14 152.00–154.00 $152.65 $2,365 —
1533–1620 1562 75-80% 3 138.00–141.50 $140.29 $2,191 —
1528–1870 1685 75-80% 50 142.00–151.00 $149.44 $2,518 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1562 1562 41 143.00 $143.00 $2,234 —

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1460–1705 1628 4 143.00–155.00 $149.15 $2,428 —
1695 1695 1 158.00 $158.00 $2,678 —
1645–1795 1720 2 152.00–162.00 $156.78 $2,697 —
2050 2050 1 188.00 $188.00 $3,854 —

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
987–1081 1028 (<2 yrs)Open 20 185.00–215.00 $203.80 $2,095
845–1435 1147 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 28 139.00–215.00 $166.77 $1,913
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
873–990 912 (<2 yrs)Open 3 155.00–197.00 $170.20 $1,552
970–1222 1142 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 12 130.50–165.00 $139.03 $1,588
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1077 1077 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 146.00 $146.00 $1,572

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1044–1305 1096 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 2,200.00–2,300.00 $2,223.81
1030–1235 1184 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 2,750.00–2,850.00 $2,828.25
1051–1503 1239 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 228 2,900.00–3,985.00 $3,582.03
1231–1246 thin fleshed 1240 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 18 2,300.00–2,375.00 $2,346.05
1168–1600 1401 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 289 2,400.00–2,650.00 $2,525.71
1163–1571 1467 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 146 2,850.00–3,450.00 $3,283.84
1289–1667 1471 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 169 2,550.00–3,100.00 $2,778.13
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1020 1020 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,750.00 $2,750.00
1345 1345 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 2,500.00 $2,500.00
1123–1507 1430 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 2,375.00–2,475.00 $2,459.30
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1592 1592 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,900.00 $2,900.00

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1129–1264 1167 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 144 2,950.00–3,550.00 $3,459.47
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
929 929 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 20 2,850.00 $2,850.00

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
140 140 1 108.00 $108.00 $151 —
160 160 2 142.50 $142.50 $228 —
180 180 13 126.00 $126.00 $227 —
190 190 1 95.00 $95.00 $180 —
201–241 225 32 92.00–110.00 $95.92 $216 —
230 230 2 102.00 $102.00 $235 —
225–243 233 6 72.00–89.00 $81.15 $189 —
270 270 1 92.00 $92.00 $248 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
70 70 —— 1 220.00 $220.00 $154 —
100 100 Kids (<1 yr)N/A 1 260.00 $260.00 $260 —
130 130 —— 1 150.00 $150.00 $195 —
140 140 Kids (<1 yr)N/A 1 240.00 $240.00 $336 —
160 160 —— 1 160.00 $160.00 $256 —
153–185 163 —— 6 187.50–195.00 $191.89 $313 —
240 240 —— 1 197.00 $197.00 $473 —

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
112 112 Lambs (<1 yr)Spring 6 180.00 $180.00 —
120–139 133 Young (2-4 yrs)Spring 10 180.00–215.00 $205.55 —
123–147 138 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Spring 183 210.00–285.00 $266.05 —
139 139 Young (2-4 yrs)Winter 7 185.00 $185.00 —
146 146 Aged (>6yrs)Winter 4 145.00 $145.00 —
165 165 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Winter 34 175.00 $175.00 —
161–178 172 Aged (>6yrs)Spring 58 165.00–185.00 $174.26 —
153–186 173 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Spring 335 160.00–190.00 $182.66 —
173 173 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Spring 3 205.00 $205.00 —
156–197 179 Young (2-4 yrs)Spring 57 180.00–240.00 $215.91 —
201 201 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Spring 53 200.00 $200.00 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
102–109 104 13 50.00–62.00 $53.86 $56 —
120 120 5 85.00 $85.00 $102 —
114–137 133 138 116.50–121.00 $116.69 $155 —
117–148 134 124 98.00–115.00 $106.87 $143 —
150–153 152 3 115.00–120.00 $118.36 $180 —
151–173 161 141 95.00–111.00 $102.04 $164 —
161 161 9 92.00 $92.00 $148 —
167–196 186 81 90.00–102.00 $97.18 $181 —
188 188 2 88.00 $88.00 $165 —
212 212 14 52.00 $52.00 $110 —
200–236 226 6 95.00–97.00 $95.45 $216 —
253 253 2 85.00 $85.00 $215 —
N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
139 139 12 140.00 $140.00 —
146 146 27 150.00 $150.00 —
151–174 169 287 160.00–175.00 $167.24 —
177–187 181 37 175.00–180.00 $176.82 —
206–219 210 18 200.00–205.00 $201.45 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
152 152 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Spring 3 195.00 $195.00 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
68 fancy 68 55 282.50 $282.50 $192 —
85 85 52 214.00 $214.00 $182 —
103 103 8 204.00 $204.00 $210 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
151 151 4 120.00 $120.00 $181 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
32 32 3 250.00 $250.00 $80 —
35–39 38 31 375.00–385.00 $378.52 $144 —
43–48 46 5 365.00–390.00 $374.35 $172 —
47 47 12 372.50 $372.50 $175 —
50 50 2 335.00–355.00 $345.00 $172 —
50 50 4 255.00 $255.00 $128 —
55 55 60 360.00 $360.00 $198 —
60–65 62 98 345.00–360.00 $354.04 $220 —
65–66 66 6 315.00–325.00 $318.30 $210 —
70 70 44 345.00 $345.00 $242 —
80 80 1 220.00 $220.00 $176 —
81–85 82 31 300.00–320.00 $316.53 $260 —
90 90 7 205.00 $205.00 $184 —
90 90 1 285.00 $285.00 $256 —
101 101 12 245.00 $245.00 $247 —

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Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
61–67 63 113 244.00–257.50 $248.35 $156 —
75–77 76 194 232.00–245.00 $241.58 $184 —
83–88 84 25 221.00–227.50 $226.04 $190 —
93–98 96 174 205.00–215.00 $211.70 $203 —
100–101 101 70 194.00–197.00 $195.55 $198 —
110 110 38 194.00 $194.00 $213 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
79 79 19 218.00 $218.00 $172 —

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N/N/A ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
80–87 85 Kids (<1 yr)Bred 51 240.00–250.00 $247.23 —
110–119 118 Young (2-4 yrs)Bred 16 210.00 $210.00 —
134 134 Aged (>6yrs)Bred 5 230.00 $230.00 —
136 136 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Bred 46 225.00 $225.00 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
83 83 2 185.00 $185.00 $154 —
90–95 93 2 155.00–190.00 $172.03 $160 —
95 95 1 65.00 $65.00 $62 —
101–140 117 36 115.00–175.00 $156.08 $183 —
120–147 131 9 155.00–175.00 $166.01 $217 —
155 155 1 145.00 $145.00 $225 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
75 75 5 230.00 $230.00 $172 —
145 145 1 210.00 $210.00 $304 —

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N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
66 66 5 235.00 $235.00 $155 —
72 72 3 246.00 $246.00 $177 —
71–75 73 31 233.00 $233.00 $170 —
80–83 81 235 223.00–229.00 $225.74 $183 —
86 86 21 165.00 $165.00 $142 —
97 97 15 204.00 $204.00 $198 —
109 109 56 200.00 $200.00 $218 —
111–113 112 48 195.00–210.00 $196.99 $221 —
119 119 99 156.00 $156.00 $186 —
123 123 26 180.00 $180.00 $221 —
142 142 23 142.50 $142.50 $202 —
144–146 145 74 169.00–171.00 $170.17 $247 —

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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.