Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were not tested today as todays sale focused on pairs and bred cows. Outside of a few split pairs and bum calves no feeders sold. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold 1.00-2.00 lower. Most cows were purchased to feed today as both packers and order buyers purchased a large portion of the cow supply for that propose. Feeding cows sold generally steady to weak. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Weigh up conditions were average to below average with many full offerings noted. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Feeding bull buyers pushed to obtain offerings as several sets of attractive feeding type bulls were seen. Packers purchased most of the bull offering this week despite having to pay up for bulls. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to firm on an attractive quality offering. Much of today sale was comprised of pairs as over 650 heifer and cow pairs were seen. Quality was mixed. Fewer takers were seen for pairs this special and prices were not as robust as the last pair special two weeks ago. Much of eastern Montana forecasted to receive 1-3 inches of rain over the next few days.
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.
Cattle Market
Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were not tested today as todays sale focused on pairs and bred cows. Outside of a few split pairs and bum calves no feeders sold. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold 1.00-2.00 lower. Most cows were purchased to feed today as both packers and order buyers purchased a large portion of the cow supply for that propose. Feeding cows sold generally steady to weak. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Weigh up conditions were average to below average with many full offerings noted. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Feeding bull buyers pushed to obtain offerings as several sets of attractive feeding type bulls were seen. Packers purchased most of the bull offering this week despite having to pay up for bulls. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to firm on an attractive quality offering. Much of today sale was comprised of pairs as over 650 heifer and cow pairs were seen. Quality was mixed. Fewer takers were seen for pairs this special and prices were not as robust as the last pair special two weeks ago. Much of eastern Montana forecasted to receive 1-3 inches of rain over the next few days.