How do Montana cattle compare to the U.S. average?
We analyzed 9,600 head of cattle marketed between 1999 and 2001. The data indicate that: • Montana Beef Network cattle tend to be more concentrated in the Choice quality grade compared to the U.S. average, with fewer cattle in the Montana Beef Network grading Prime or Select. Yield Grade results also suggest noticeable differences between cattle in the Montana Beef Network and the U.S. averages. The average Yield Grade for Montana Beef Network cattle was 2.58, while the U.S. average is 2.35. • Cattle from the Montana Beef Network would average a discount of -$3.46 per cwt if sold using the U.S. average premium/discount schedule or a -$3.36 per cwt discount if sold on the Gelbvieh grid. • Although average cattle should not be sold on the grid this does not imply that all cattle should not be sold on the grid. Some producers have high quality cattle and can earn better prices for those cattle by selling on the grid. Only 2.5 percent of all producers would ever find it advantageous to sel
