Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 191 priced lines covering 11,037 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 7,439 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 3,184 head. replacement cattle receipts at 4,428 head.

Mon Dec 14, 2020

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 7,439Last week 12,429Year ago 8,015

Slaughter CattleReceipts 3,184Last week 2,903Year ago 814

Replacement CattleReceipts 4,428Last week 8,110Year ago 5,550

Compared to last week: Yearling steer were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Unweaned steer calves under 600 lbs sold steady to 6.00 higher. Steers 600 lbs and heavier sold unevenly, most sales were 3.00-4.00 lower, however instances of higher sale were seen on high quality offerings. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; heifers 450 lbs and heavier sold steady to 3.00 lower. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and overall lower than last week. Lots of odd and end cattle sold this week as ranchers cleaned out pastures and lots. Demand was mostly moderate. The best demand this week was seen for light weight heifers suitable to spay and run on grass. The January feeder cattle contract closed at 140.975 and the March closed at 142.60. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Packers were more aggressive as they purchased most cows for slaughter instead of short term feed this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00 higher on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows sold steady to weak. Feeding and packer buyers both competed over high quality offerings suitable to feed to premium white. Feeding cows sold firm as a result. Slaughter bulls sold on mostly good demand this week. Bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher as feeding and slaughter buyers competed over limited offerings. 2 year old to young age cows sold on light to moderate demand for mostly moderate to heavy offerings. The best demand was seen for one iron home-raised offerings. These cows sold steady to firm. Quality was not as attractive this week as last.

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
41	—	477	159.00–164.00	163.65
2	—	680	124.00	124.00
5	—	529	158.00	158.00
5	—	631	140.00	140.00
7	—	801	121.00	121.00
5	—	751	126.00	126.00
7	—	560	151.00	151.00
2	—	723	127.00	127.00
5	—	406	178.00	178.00
22	—	391	147.00–180.00	177.20
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	454	154.00	154.00
11	—	579	137.50	137.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	978	97.00	97.00
14	—	494	130.00–144.00	134.96
10	—	593	130.50	130.50
6	—	532	134.00	134.00
5	—	632	126.00	126.00
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,210	87.00	87.00
4	—	1,194	89.00	89.00
33	—	1,080	94.00–104.00	100.36
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	478	135.00	135.00
1	—	720	126.00	126.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	913	123.00	123.00
24	—	980	121.75	121.75
66	—	564	132.00–141.00	138.50
129	—	380	163.00–187.50	170.86
73	—	634	127.00–135.50	133.59
128	—	812	127.00–134.25	133.76
22	—	782	129.00–133.00	131.39
63	—	874	127.00–133.50	130.74
125	—	433	158.00–175.00	161.38
38	—	732	126.00–132.25	131.58
337	—	524	140.00–158.50	149.57
83	—	680	128.25–134.00	130.83
38	—	328	165.00–183.00	173.22
317	—	468	145.00–165.00	156.60
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	634	131.00–135.50	134.78
154	—	480	149.50–158.00	153.75
114	—	419	158.00–170.00	163.68
57	—	379	163.00–169.50	168.45
20	—	343	167.00–167.50	167.18
63	—	515	142.00–149.00	144.75
9	—	669	123.00–124.00	123.55
148	—	571	134.00–144.50	140.39
14	—	709	124.00–125.50	124.86
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	555	145.00	145.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
110	—	463	161.00–169.50	162.59
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	322	172.50	172.50
21	—	416	139.00–158.50	145.14
7	—	467	133.00	133.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	585	131.50	131.50
19	—	431	151.50–153.00	152.30
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	549	146.00	146.00
4	—	565	130.00	130.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
72	—	389	146.00–168.00	159.42
17	—	674	120.50	120.50
24	—	514	137.00–144.00	139.04
14	—	472	136.00–144.00	138.97
7	—	594	128.00–129.50	128.64
3	—	708	126.00	126.00
15	—	433	132.00–158.00	152.71
15	—	797	125.00	125.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
30	—	371	150.00–155.00	153.96
3	—	343	157.50	157.50
28	—	436	146.00–153.50	150.80
14	—	575	124.00–132.00	127.30
8	—	492	142.00	142.00
24	—	515	131.00–139.50	136.06
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	421	147.00–150.00	148.11
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	718	131.00	131.00
2	—	685	143.00	143.00
76	—	425	177.50–190.00	185.61
20	—	335	187.50–211.00	202.72
322	—	535	159.00–182.00	168.15
60	—	374	182.00–195.00	187.73
115	—	593	146.00–152.50	149.99
132	—	616	142.00–153.50	146.81
217	—	475	171.00–188.50	177.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
89	—	671	140.00–156.00	147.81
59	—	725	131.00–138.50	135.15
351	—	526	165.00–180.00	173.41
99	—	378	188.00–210.75	194.52
2	—	795	133.00	133.00
87	—	829	136.50	136.50
11	—	953	123.00	123.00
273	—	424	179.00–209.50	193.16
178	—	623	144.00–160.00	150.57
472	—	578	148.00–168.00	158.26
36	—	332	190.00–214.00	211.21
2	—	930	125.00	125.00
246	—	467	169.00–191.00	181.94
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	572	138.00–149.00	145.62
5	—	326	187.50	187.50
20	—	440	170.00–178.00	171.16
7	—	364	180.00–181.00	180.85
43	—	488	159.00–170.50	160.95
3	—	537	162.00	162.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	668	135.00–138.00	136.24
7	—	929	121.00	121.00
4	—	429	162.50–182.00	176.09
10	—	518	145.00–163.00	152.39
24	—	336	167.50–190.00	184.33
12	—	614	139.00–142.00	140.92
26	—	493	165.00–173.00	170.88
22	—	585	141.00–148.00	144.90
26	—	385	165.00–180.00	172.57
9	—	846	131.00	131.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	457	137.50	137.50
10	—	388	164.50	164.50
12	—	762	127.00	127.00
18	—	428	178.00	178.00
6	—	342	187.00	187.00
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	490	100.00	100.00
5	—	551	110.00	110.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	510	152.00	152.00
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
61	—	528	161.00	161.00
19	—	622	146.00	146.00
7	—	436	160.00	160.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	522	132.00	132.00
6	—	341	167.00	167.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	388	140.00	140.00
Dairy Heifers — Large 3$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	835	60.50	60.50
16	—	930	59.00	59.00
Dairy Steers — Large 3$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	516	66.00	66.00
9	—	707	68.50	68.50
Dairy Steers — Large 3-4$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	419	60.00	60.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	1,839	90.00–91.50	91.35
16	—	1,693	84.00–88.00	84.96
1	—	1,810	81.00	81.00
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
23	—	1,596	79.00–82.50	81.61
3	—	1,317	84.50	84.50
14	—	1,457	65.00–77.00	71.54
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	1,928	79.00–83.00	81.47
9	—	2,018	76.00–83.00	78.46
8	—	2,112	82.00–88.00	85.62
35	—	1,770	61.00–77.50	71.59
1	—	2,135	75.50	75.50
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,668	52.00–59.00	56.77
5	—	1,617	61.00–68.00	63.95
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
284	—	1,167	39.00–50.00	46.06
200	—	1,210	48.50–56.50	52.14
8	—	1,153	58.00–59.50	59.30
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
49	—	1,324	43.00–51.00	47.91
333	—	1,351	50.50–61.00	55.83
21	—	1,398	61.50–66.00	62.37
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
48	—	966	34.00–39.00	35.38
17	—	960	35.00–48.00	40.91
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
96	—	1,096	30.00–41.00	36.84
1	—	1,250	59.00	59.00
348	—	1,175	38.00–50.00	45.04
42	—	1,262	49.50–54.00	51.33
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	1,572	57.00–67.00	62.06
28	—	1,597	48.00–60.00	56.79
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
102	—	1,414	42.00–51.00	47.63
81	—	1,446	49.50–59.00	52.95
14	—	1,483	60.00–62.00	60.78

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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	16	—	1,204	1,300.00	1,300.00
(<2 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	6	—	1,178	1,300.00	1,300.00
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	376	—	1,013	1,285.00–1,625.00	1,413.78
Bred Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	185	—	837	1,025.00–1,250.00	1,183.43
(<2 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	16	—	817	925.00–1,000.00	973.53
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Registered$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,025	1,585.00	1,585.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	118	—	1,029	48.50–80.00	67.63
(<2 yrs)	Open	472	—	917	60.50–94.25	82.15
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	10	—	824	42.50–77.50	70.11
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	3	—	988	48.00–51.00	49.90
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	10	—	977	52.00–74.00	68.18
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	110	—	1,174	1,200.00–1,350.00	1,296.27
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	3	—	1,308	900.00	900.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	12	—	1,293	1,300.00	1,300.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	28	—	1,278	1,000.00–1,075.00	1,029.47
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	1,230	1,000.00	1,000.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	469	—	1,203	1,300.00–1,550.00	1,425.18
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	11	—	1,296	910.00	910.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	33	—	1,303	775.00–925.00	888.64
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	40	—	1,225	1,075.00–1,200.00	1,143.63
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	182	—	1,310	900.00–1,450.00	1,224.32
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	230	—	1,275	850.00–1,250.00	1,003.08
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	19	—	1,341	710.00–775.00	748.59
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	30	—	1,444	810.00–1,110.00	961.40
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	22	—	1,293	1,250.00	1,250.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	11	—	1,121	835.00	835.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	54	—	1,197	550.00–725.00	639.42
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	29	—	966	950.00–1,200.00	1,104.22
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	9	—	1,245	760.00	760.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	22	—	1,290	810.00–1,085.00	979.76
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	507	—	1,262	725.00–985.00	851.23
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	25	—	1,284	760.00–800.00	774.65
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	12	—	1,338	775.00	775.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	33	—	1,294	800.00–925.00	880.67
Bred Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	6	—	1,421	885.00	885.00

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