Compared to last week: Weather limited the volume of cattle marketed this week as extreme cold gripped most of the state. Low temperatures ranged from 25 to 45 below 0 with highs 5 to 15 below 0 for much of last weekend and early week. Miles city canceled their sale on Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursdays sales were very light. Friday saw larger numbers with warmer weather and a feeder special. Steers under 550 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. steers 550-699 lbs sold 10.00-20.00 higher, steers over 700 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifers under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Heifers 450-649 lbs sold mostly 10.00-12.00 higher. Heifers over 650 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly good to very good this week for light offerings. Quality was mostly average to very attractive. Package sizes were mostly moderate this week, with a few load lots seen. The best demand continues to be for cattle light and green enough to go to grass. Flesh conditions were very green this week as the severe cold greened cattle up this past week, especially cattle that were hay fed and weaned on the meadows. CME positions continue to show mostly positive movement. The January contract closed Friday at 230.10, while the March closed at 231.95, 3.525 and 4.25 higher respectfully for the week. Market activity was mostly active this week as both order-buyers and farmer feeders bid aggressively over high quality offerings. Weigh up cows sold on very good demand for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Packers showed very good demand for slaughter cows this week as they pushed to purchase as many cows as possible for immediate harvest. Feeding buyers showed good demand for cows as well as they continue to bid aggressively right along with packers. Slaughter cows sold sharply higher with most sales 5.00-10.00 higher on breaking and boning cows, lean slaughter cows sold 10.00-12.00 higher. Feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold 5.00-8.00 higher. No thin feeding cows were purchased this week. Slaughter and feeding bulls sold 5.00-8.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on light to moderate demand this week. Young age cows sold mostly steady. Quality was average.
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 58 | — | 1,110 | 72.00–88.00 | 84.38 |
| 9 | — | 1,112 | 59.00–72.00 | 65.32 |
| 1 | — | 1,240 | 106.50 | 106.50 |
| 15 | — | 1,201 | 87.00–100.00 | 95.31 |
| Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 6 | — | 889 | 80.00–84.50 | 83.16 |
| 4 | — | 950 | 84.00–85.00 | 84.24 |
| 1 | — | 810 | 61.00 | 61.00 |
| Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 10 | — | 1,488 | 104.00–110.00 | 106.96 |
| 51 | — | 1,316 | 94.00–104.75 | 99.86 |
| Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 25 | — | 1,153 | 98.00–107.50 | 102.62 |
| 8 | — | 1,091 | 81.00–91.00 | 86.33 |
| 75 | — | 1,170 | 90.00–98.00 | 95.02 |
| Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 55 | — | 1,489 | 91.00–104.00 | 100.16 |
| 14 | — | 1,444 | 79.00–97.00 | 87.47 |
| 10 | — | 1,394 | 105.00–107.00 | 105.77 |
| Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 2 | — | 1,493 | 99.00 | 99.00 |
| 8 | — | 1,637 | 99.00–104.50 | 102.55 |
| Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 28 | — | 1,674 | 98.00–111.00 | 104.84 |
| 20 | — | 1,743 | 112.00–123.00 | 116.27 |
| 2 | — | 2,063 | 125.00–132.00 | 128.79 |
| 6 | — | 2,073 | 115.00–121.00 | 119.88 |
| Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 4 | — | 1,393 | 93.00–102.00 | 99.67 |
| Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 6 | — | 393 | 305.00 | 305.00 |
| 25 | — | 974 | 184.00–188.00 | 187.68 |
| 4 | — | 486 | 282.00 | 282.00 |
| 6 | — | 680 | 215.00–221.00 | 216.99 |
| 12 | — | 821 | 197.00 | 197.00 |
| 7 | — | 629 | 249.00 | 249.00 |
| 1 | — | 1,055 | 180.00 | 180.00 |
| 8 | — | 565 | 252.00–256.00 | 253.01 |
| 3 | — | 940 | 184.00–194.00 | 190.65 |
| 3 | — | 1,000 | 184.50 | 184.50 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 3 | — | 985 | 195.00 | 195.00 |
| 71 | — | 571 | 253.00–287.00 | 278.02 |
| 114 | — | 521 | 290.50–301.00 | 297.41 |
| 16 | — | 904 | 200.25 | 200.25 |
| 119 | — | 613 | 253.00–265.50 | 261.60 |
| 4 | — | 410 | 307.00 | 307.00 |
| 36 | — | 483 | 291.00–307.00 | 299.42 |
| 8 | — | 702 | 215.00–224.00 | 216.14 |
| 7 | — | 396 | 310.00 | 310.00 |
| 43 | — | 674 | 232.00–240.00 | 238.90 |
| 1 | — | 855 | 203.00 | 203.00 |
| Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 3 | — | 815 | 195.00 | 195.00 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 70 | — | 655 | 253.00 | 253.00 |
| Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 1 | — | 465 | 255.00 | 255.00 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 4 | — | 726 | 225.00–235.00 | 227.43 |
| 11 | — | 538 | 293.00–303.00 | 300.28 |
| 27 | — | 685 | 230.00–249.50 | 244.63 |
| 8 | — | 455 | 320.00–323.00 | 320.77 |
| 2 | — | 910 | 214.00 | 214.00 |
| 8 | — | 440 | 320.00 | 320.00 |
| 2 | — | 323 | 330.00 | 330.00 |
| 13 | — | 577 | 271.00–285.00 | 281.18 |
| 12 | — | 622 | 252.50–274.00 | 269.20 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 133 | — | 579 | 294.00–309.00 | 299.31 |
| 165 | — | 654 | 263.50–288.50 | 283.07 |
| 89 | — | 538 | 309.00–330.00 | 314.96 |
| 3 | — | 370 | 352.50–370.00 | 361.64 |
| 3 | — | 448 | 341.00 | 341.00 |
| 15 | — | 767 | 226.00–243.00 | 237.41 |
| 68 | — | 613 | 282.00–299.00 | 295.19 |
| 51 | — | 820 | 224.00–231.50 | 229.94 |
| 107 | — | 727 | 242.50–261.00 | 254.58 |
| 24 | — | 468 | 326.00–338.00 | 332.96 |
| Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 16 | — | 450 | 290.00 | 290.00 |
| 2 | — | 388 | 310.00 | 310.00 |
| 6 | — | 551 | 230.00 | 230.00 |
| Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 7 | — | 427 | 320.00–337.50 | 330.33 |
| Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 13 | — | 650 | 297.00 | 297.00 |
| Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||
| 6 | — | 690 | 228.00 | 228.00 |
| Age | Stage | Head | Wt range | Avg wt | Price range | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt | ||||||
| Middle Aged (5-8 yrs) | 2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) | 3 | — | 1,393 | 1,875.00 | 1,875.00 |
| Young (2-4 yrs) | 2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) | 5 | — | 1,170 | 2,010.00 | 2,010.00 |
| Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt | ||||||
| Aged (>8 yrs) | 2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) | 20 | — | 1,295 | 1,475.00 | 1,475.00 |
| Aged (>8 yrs) | 2nd Stage (4-6 mo) | 3 | — | 1,537 | 1,600.00 | 1,600.00 |
| Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt | ||||||
| Aged (>8 yrs) | 2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) | 15 | — | 1,232 | 1,360.00–1,385.00 | 1,375.12 |
| Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt | ||||||
| Young (2-4 yrs) | 2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) | 6 | — | 1,046 | 1,925.00 | 1,925.00 |
| Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||||
| Young (2-4 yrs) | Open | 32 | — | 1,159 | 105.50–122.50 | 109.57 |
| (<2 yrs) | Open | 50 | — | 959 | 125.00–182.50 | 138.23 |
| Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt | ||||||
| (<2 yrs) | Open | 2 | — | 893 | 110.00–121.00 | 115.45 |