Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 195 priced lines covering 17,775 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 12,429 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 2,903 head. replacement cattle receipts at 8,110 head. Counted as USDA files them — 14 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Mon Dec 7, 2020

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 12,429Last week 7,576Year ago 12,513

Slaughter CattleReceipts 2,903Last week 2,781Year ago 523

Replacement CattleReceipts 8,110Last week 1,289Year ago 9,097

Compared to last week: Yearling steer were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Unweaned steer calves under 500 lbs sold steady to 10.00 lower. Steers 500-549 lbs sold fully steady; steers over 550 lbs sold steady to 3.00 higher. Unweaned heifer calves under 400 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 higher; Unweaned heifers 400-499 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; Heifers 500-649 lbs sold steady to 3.00 higher. Heifers calves over 650 lbs sold with lower undertones in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mixed from average to attractive; however quality overall was not as attractive as last week, especially on steer under 500 lbs. Demand was mixed this week with good demand seen Friday of last week and to start the week and waning demand seen as the week progressed. Demand for light weight heifers improved drastically this week as more buyers were willing takers of light weight heifers suitable to run on grass. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mixed demand for heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Packers started the week purchasing cows on light demand but demand improved sharply as the week progressed. Feeding buyers and packer buyers both competed over offerings throughout the week. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Feeding bull buyers continue to buy bulls away from packers. Demand for bulls was moderate to good. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average again this week. Demand for rebreed type cattle was mostly light this week. Quality was lower than last week with no high quality one iron cows on offer this week. This class of cows sold 5.00-8.00 lower.

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
54	—	473	164.00–169.00	165.43
7	—	994	119.00	119.00
32	—	626	135.50–140.00	137.72
31	—	581	141.00–150.50	147.75
44	—	530	140.00–165.00	150.23
6	—	336	182.00	182.00
14	—	729	127.00–135.50	133.72
83	—	432	159.00–179.00	169.68
2	—	695	138.50	138.50
109	—	380	175.50–187.00	181.47
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
152	—	680	138.00–148.50	146.26
655	—	479	165.00–193.00	176.48
817	—	573	150.00–164.50	158.46
4	—	906	133.50	133.50
647	—	527	160.00–177.00	169.29
24	—	774	133.50	133.50
25	—	888	128.50–135.50	132.08
46	—	718	136.00–150.50	144.37
5	—	956	126.50	126.50
413	—	619	147.00–162.00	153.45
3	—	803	136.00	136.00
362	—	431	165.00–193.50	179.63
58	—	341	185.00–212.00	202.47
110	—	386	186.00–205.00	191.38
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	584	144.00	144.00
3	—	545	149.00	149.00
5	—	678	136.00	136.00
10	—	721	136.00–137.00	136.40
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
62	—	431	146.50–178.00	165.34
9	—	621	134.00–143.00	138.84
106	—	473	151.00–169.00	156.96
13	—	384	166.00–174.00	171.60
5	—	681	137.00–140.00	138.15
12	—	339	185.00	185.00
6	—	549	153.50	153.50
36	—	577	131.50–152.00	136.56
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	385	167.50	167.50
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
65	—	387	169.00–187.00	175.87
17	—	481	164.00	164.00
24	—	333	181.00–185.50	183.04
9	—	432	181.00	181.00
7	—	782	132.50	132.50
2	—	503	159.00	159.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	1,016	122.50	122.50
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	499	133.00	133.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
32	—	717	135.00–138.50	137.55
18	—	663	145.00–146.00	145.50
399	—	522	151.00–179.50	169.05
225	—	566	146.00–163.00	157.89
3	—	752	134.00	134.00
147	—	476	167.00–189.00	178.48
24	—	318	175.00–223.00	196.36
132	—	419	170.00–193.00	186.01
201	—	614	140.00–161.50	150.43
23	—	373	185.00–205.00	189.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
52	—	671	124.00–130.00	128.12
44	—	875	122.00–129.00	127.79
578	—	422	152.00–174.00	162.29
659	—	474	145.00–168.50	159.31
173	—	381	158.00–192.50	174.63
39	—	784	128.50–132.50	130.64
390	—	524	142.00–158.00	150.85
180	—	624	130.00–139.50	133.59
39	—	925	123.00–129.25	127.46
21	—	972	121.00–122.50	121.49
28	—	831	126.00–133.25	131.73
20	—	330	167.00–180.00	170.21
42	—	725	124.50–135.00	129.71
396	—	571	134.00–145.00	139.59
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
107	—	425	146.00–165.50	155.76
17	—	658	125.00–126.50	125.26
166	—	472	140.00–165.50	157.85
13	—	339	180.00–183.00	182.10
74	—	385	156.50–170.00	161.72
26	—	618	128.00–134.00	132.31
205	—	575	132.00–144.50	137.69
2	—	768	122.00	122.00
317	—	520	136.00–153.00	147.81
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	378	140.00	140.00
3	—	518	124.00	124.00
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	367	130.00	130.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
38	—	543	142.50–144.50	142.98
8	—	768	121.00	121.00
3	—	823	122.50	122.50
37	—	426	152.00–157.50	153.80
40	—	331	157.50–165.00	161.12
6	—	953	115.00	115.00
10	—	390	152.00	152.00
53	—	480	135.00–150.00	145.69
7	—	852	122.50	122.50
9	—	631	124.00–127.00	124.64
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
48	—	409	143.00–151.00	147.29
48	—	527	127.00–139.00	135.38
41	—	393	154.00–156.50	154.30
41	—	488	125.00–141.00	130.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,062	115.50	115.50
32	—	1,046	115.00	115.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	418	140.00	140.00
5	—	393	140.00	140.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	495	128.50	128.50
9	—	366	125.00–131.00	128.91
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	406	176.50	176.50
80	—	556	151.75	151.75
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	525	152.50–157.00	154.43
49	—	591	144.00	144.00
10	—	415	169.00	169.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	490	144.00	144.00
4	—	799	108.00	108.00
4	—	525	139.00	139.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	433	140.00	140.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	698	125.00	125.00
30	—	342	182.00	182.00
10	—	440	165.00–172.00	170.00
48	—	393	182.00	182.00
10	—	261	177.50	177.50
19	—	554	145.00	145.00
4	—	501	142.00	142.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	679	126.00	126.00
2	—	485	152.50	152.50
4	—	564	135.00–138.00	136.48
16	—	538	144.00–157.00	155.34
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,140	91.00	91.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1,037	—	998	1,350.00–1,825.00	1,499.60
(<2 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	30	—	914	1,100.00–1,275.00	1,188.92
(<2 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	96	—	1,051	1,550.00–1,650.00	1,592.19
Bred Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	19	—	769	925.00–975.00	961.35
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	215	—	876	1,100.00–1,350.00	1,262.12
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	5	—	870	1,000.00	1,000.00
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	127	—	883	1,260.00–1,325.00	1,306.85
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Registered$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	10	—	1,109	1,950.00	1,950.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	17	—	1,194	875.00–950.00	902.89
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	114	—	1,187	600.00–735.00	684.37
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	3	—	1,237	660.00	660.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	4	—	1,390	860.00	860.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	10	—	1,296	950.00	950.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	123	—	1,056	1,075.00–1,475.00	1,312.41
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	40	—	1,151	600.00–750.00	714.52
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	581	—	1,325	750.00–1,050.00	883.43
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	211	—	1,232	750.00–925.00	836.26
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	6	—	1,349	760.00	760.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	4	—	1,238	1,050.00–1,075.00	1,061.97
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	319	—	1,316	1,100.00–1,510.00	1,325.27
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1,135	—	1,156	1,050.00–1,600.00	1,516.45
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	20	—	1,245	1,375.00	1,375.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	506	—	1,354	850.00–1,400.00	1,107.37
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	5	—	1,403	975.00	975.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	212	—	1,273	800.00–1,060.00	998.25
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	9	—	1,248	1,450.00–1,510.00	1,482.47
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	77	—	1,213	1,250.00–1,350.00	1,281.79
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	40	—	1,142	1,075.00–1,375.00	1,260.65
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	12	—	1,094	1,050.00–1,560.00	1,511.84
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	253	—	1,118	900.00–1,500.00	1,407.10
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	25	—	1,270	775.00–925.00	883.73
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	15	—	1,276	1,275.00	1,275.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Registered$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	8	—	1,388	1,700.00	1,700.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	45	—	1,149	1,200.00–1,435.00	1,396.93
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	17	—	1,218	800.00–925.00	881.40
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,605	1,250.00	1,250.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	29	—	1,412	1,675.00	1,675.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	130	—	1,250	1,650.00–1,700.00	1,661.29
Bred Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	27	—	973	1,375.00–1,400.00	1,392.79
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	14	—	1,510	1,410.00–1,575.00	1,433.81
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,074	60.00–64.00	62.47
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	169	—	985	61.50–88.00	76.95
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	830	57.00	57.00
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	765	55.00	55.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	85	—	1,039	52.00–77.50	65.88
(<2 yrs)	Open	201	—	977	60.00–89.00	76.57

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
52	—	1,377	44.00–51.00	47.89
61	—	1,376	61.00–69.00	63.22
264	—	1,358	49.00–61.00	56.21
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
78	—	1,337	50.50–59.00	54.97
33	—	1,383	40.00–49.00	46.52
8	—	1,520	62.00–65.00	64.18
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
453	—	1,201	45.00–57.00	51.03
366	—	1,174	36.00–50.00	46.35
10	—	1,108	59.50–64.00	61.09
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
229	—	1,151	38.00–51.00	45.46
98	—	1,089	27.00–40.00	37.40
132	—	1,191	44.50–55.00	49.70
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
31	—	1,576	47.00–66.00	54.81
7	—	1,821	67.00–71.00	68.10
19	—	1,620	54.00–68.00	61.03
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	944	30.00–35.00	31.88
3	—	937	41.00	41.00
3	—	993	48.50	48.50
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,950	71.50	71.50
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,560	63.00–65.50	64.98
9	—	1,551	55.00–62.00	58.62
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	1,793	74.50–82.50	78.39
1	—	1,895	84.50	84.50
15	—	1,446	59.00–75.00	66.98
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
32	—	1,801	73.00–83.00	79.26
30	—	1,718	54.00–77.00	71.16
9	—	1,897	84.00–86.00	84.60

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