Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 172 priced lines covering 12,539 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 11,736 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 3,283 head. replacement cattle receipts at 985 head.

Mon Nov 9, 2020

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 11,736Last week 12,934Year ago 14,002

Slaughter CattleReceipts 3,283Last week 4,397Year ago 1,164

Replacement CattleReceipts 985Last week 2,009Year ago 3,926

Compared to last week: Yearling steer and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Unweaned steer calves under 400 lbs sold 5.00-15.00 higher; 400-599 lbs steers sold mostly 4.00-6.00 higher, 600 lbs and heavier sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Unweaned heifer calves all sold steady to 5.00 higher, except 500-549 lbs heifers which sold mostly 4.00-6.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Demand was mostly moderate to good for heavy offerings. The best demand was seen for light weight calves suitable to run as yearlings. Transportation was tight last Friday leading to lower prices, however trucks were more readily available this week. Many sets of short weaned calves were seen this week, buyers discounted most of these offerings as many were full, dirty and not eye appealing. Calves weaned longer than 45 days sold with little to no premium to unweaned calves. CME positions as of yesterday's close showed the November at 140.075, a gain of 2.50 for the week. Many buyers were in the market this week, both ringside as well as over the internet bidding on offerings. Market activity was mostly active with offerings quickly being absorbed. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for heavy offerings. Packers were slightly more aggressive this week as they purchased cows to both feed and to slaughter. Demand for slaughter cows was stronger this week and packers opted to send a larger portion of the offering to slaughter this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher. Cow quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Packer buyers continue to buy cows to feed for the upcoming holiday season. Short term holiday cows sold at similar prices to slaughter cows. Slaughter bulls and feeding bulls sold steady. Weigh up conditions for both cows and bulls was mostly average to below average this week. Demand for rebreed type cattle was light to moderate this week. This class of cows sold fully steady.

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	524	120.00	120.00
21	—	430	129.00	129.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	496	140.50	140.50
6	—	700	127.00	127.00
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
58	—	583	132.50–133.25	133.12
28	—	525	135.00–137.00	135.79
18	—	476	142.00	142.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	726	114.00	114.00
17	—	280	155.00–170.00	162.56
217	—	374	150.00–167.00	157.78
55	—	618	119.00–138.00	132.03
482	—	521	134.00–152.50	144.34
47	—	668	126.50–131.00	129.04
614	—	475	139.00–154.50	147.84
375	—	569	126.00–144.50	135.99
402	—	416	143.50–159.00	152.63
154	—	321	153.00–167.50	160.71
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
91	—	483	130.00–145.00	137.97
98	—	531	130.00–138.50	134.84
6	—	638	127.00	127.00
50	—	322	142.50–155.00	151.76
10	—	295	156.00	156.00
96	—	428	134.00–148.00	142.71
100	—	392	140.00–151.00	145.80
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	774	123.50–136.00	130.62
52	—	813	124.00–143.50	134.74
32	—	869	128.25–133.00	129.85
53	—	632	130.00–139.00	136.02
112	—	517	136.75–148.00	145.07
4	—	383	167.50	167.50
69	—	590	135.00–136.00	135.60
10	—	446	158.50	158.50
28	—	462	150.00	150.00
35	—	976	116.00–123.00	120.34
13	—	914	122.00–131.00	127.39
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	348	142.00	142.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	345	135.00	135.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	847	119.00–129.50	122.69
10	—	902	122.50	122.50
9	—	521	139.00–141.00	140.09
3	—	750	125.00	125.00
9	—	987	112.00	112.00
3	—	872	122.00	122.00
6	—	462	142.00	142.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,120	108.00	108.00
5	—	1,184	107.50–109.00	108.41
3	—	1,074	110.50–114.50	111.83
14	—	1,006	115.50–118.50	117.86
Heifers — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,045	113.00	113.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	584	126.00	126.00
7	—	611	117.50	117.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
53	—	700	134.75	134.75
98	—	486	159.00–160.75	160.06
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	590	111.00	111.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	503	152.00	152.00
44	—	474	157.50	157.50
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	1,076	88.00–91.50	89.75
8	—	1,121	91.00	91.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
42	—	579	132.00–143.00	134.82
24	—	522	137.50–158.00	145.10
14	—	617	127.00–134.00	130.12
13	—	666	122.00–134.00	129.83
89	—	428	152.00–179.00	156.15
9	—	451	148.00	148.00
9	—	372	157.50–173.00	167.56
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	482	121.00–140.00	126.26
2	—	523	128.00	128.00
21	—	349	150.00	150.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	697	114.00	114.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	684	131.00	131.00
5	—	766	123.00	123.00
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	814	128.50	128.50
17	—	480	159.00	159.00
55	—	646	138.50–140.00	138.58
4	—	650	134.00	134.00
19	—	548	147.50	147.50
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
50	—	451	144.00	144.00
4	—	550	146.00	146.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	544	146.50	146.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
357	—	379	175.00–208.00	195.40
464	—	471	155.00–185.50	173.61
56	—	768	131.00–142.00	135.83
405	—	619	133.00–149.50	144.68
40	—	714	131.50–140.00	136.64
992	—	523	146.00–169.50	160.00
265	—	674	132.00–145.00	139.74
51	—	319	179.00–212.50	190.65
1,166	—	569	144.00–160.25	152.79
486	—	426	166.00–199.00	180.87
64	—	290	185.00–219.00	206.84
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
23	—	600	160.00	160.00
59	—	462	186.00–188.00	187.69
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	874	137.00–140.50	138.05
28	—	483	169.00–169.50	169.30
20	—	818	134.50–139.00	136.37
40	—	525	152.50–160.50	155.63
24	—	770	133.00–138.00	135.05
3	—	950	126.00	126.00
20	—	719	144.00	144.00
6	—	443	194.00	194.00
94	—	581	150.50–157.00	151.78
13	—	659	137.00–141.00	138.68
47	—	624	145.50–147.50	147.05
4	—	384	207.50	207.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
53	—	362	161.00–190.00	180.39
67	—	330	165.00–192.50	185.59
50	—	580	132.00–147.00	143.35
3	—	695	134.00	134.00
5	—	257	187.50	187.50
96	—	475	149.50–166.50	158.64
90	—	426	154.00–179.00	167.87
77	—	522	141.50–156.00	146.56
11	—	640	124.00–143.50	133.83
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	414	163.00	163.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	821	136.50	136.50
6	—	921	131.00–132.00	131.84
4	—	469	164.00	164.00
2	—	765	137.00	137.00
4	—	520	149.00	149.00
2	—	723	141.00	141.00
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,028	118.00	118.00
Steers — Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
30	—	505	135.50	135.50
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	646	133.00	133.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	646	137.00	137.00
Dairy Steers — Large 4$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	645	42.00	42.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	4	—	1,206	900.00	900.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	40	—	1,087	1,000.00–1,110.00	1,052.91
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	6	—	1,380	735.00–750.00	742.43
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,233	800.00	800.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	12	—	1,210	800.00–1,010.00	861.98
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	1,335	885.00	885.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	4	—	1,068	48.00	48.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	8	—	1,118	600.00	600.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	13	—	993	800.00	800.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	40	—	1,210	650.00–685.00	656.69
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,090	53.00	53.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	5	—	918	750.00	750.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	17	—	1,040	650.00	650.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	6	—	1,003	835.00	835.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,180	57.00	57.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	10	—	1,055	55.00–66.00	57.39
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	9	—	1,138	51.00–55.00	53.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	197	—	1,081	52.00–78.00	64.62
(<2 yrs)	Open	282	—	970	64.00–90.00	77.95

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,700	70.00	70.00
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	1,849	75.00–81.00	77.69
4	—	2,099	82.75–85.00	83.83
1	—	2,290	48.50	48.50
18	—	1,779	52.00–75.00	70.22
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	1,742	75.00–82.50	78.05
14	—	1,587	63.00–73.50	70.55
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
424	—	1,230	46.00–60.50	51.53
24	—	1,214	57.00–64.50	60.51
21	—	1,119	36.00–42.50	38.13
491	—	1,157	40.50–51.00	45.41
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
36	—	1,253	47.00–54.00	49.14
128	—	1,101	28.50–42.00	36.54
248	—	1,176	39.00–47.50	43.79
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
102	—	1,368	47.00–56.50	51.88
1	—	1,525	41.50	41.50
59	—	1,407	41.00–48.00	45.32
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
368	—	1,400	48.00–61.50	55.53
203	—	1,405	59.00–67.00	63.05
1	—	1,505	39.00	39.00
77	—	1,328	41.00–50.50	47.36
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,626	62.00–67.00	65.44
47	—	1,567	58.00–67.50	61.96
24	—	1,609	53.00–63.00	59.02
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	942	31.00–37.00	33.51
2	—	890	43.00–48.00	45.71
16	—	966	34.50–46.00	40.97
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,522	51.00	51.00

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.

Source: USDA AMS, as filed — nothing recomputed and nothing rounded. This summary aggregates the same sales the Montana barn reports cover, so it must never be added to a state total built from those barns.

Feeder Cattle — prices, barns, and planning

Fed Cattle — the cash market and what quality pays

Beef & Retail — from the box to the grocery shelf

Feed & Hay — the cost side, cash not futures

Cows & Bred Stock — the rebuild market

More

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

The state in one line