Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, May 17
● As filed107 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 107 priced lines covering 2,696 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 814 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 1,498 head. replacement cattle receipts at 951 head. Counted as USDA files them — 70 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon May 17, 2021
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 814Last week 3,576Year ago 1,164
Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,498Last week 1,507Year ago 477
Replacement CattleReceipts 951Last week 1,242Year ago 1,666

Compared to last week: The best test for feeder steers was 600-649 lbs which sold generally steady. All other weights of steers were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. The best test for heifers was 650-699 lbs which sold steady to firm. All other heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and overall lower than last week. Most calves were offered in small packages or as singles. No load lots were seen this week. Demand was mostly moderate for light offerings. Ranchers continue to show up to purchase feeders to run on pasture this summer. This created some stronger competition in places as order buyers were forced to be more aggressive in order to fill loads. The May feeder contract closed Friday at 137.225 while the August closed at 153.70, 0.325 lower and 2.55 higher respectfully. Market activity was mostly moderate this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Heavy supplies of cows continue to be seen across the upper plains as drought conditions are driving cows to market. Packers opted to send most cows to feed this week as they only slaughtered cows with some type of blemish. Packers opted to feed high quality cows to premium white and plain to average quality cows they put on a holding ration until they can find the shackle space to slaughter them. The weekly cutter cow cutout value was up 4.42 to 209.34. Breaking cows sold 1.00-2.00 higher, boning and lean cows sold 1.00-2.00 lower. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower. Packers put a lower quality set of cows on feed this week as they purchased many sets of cows to hold which would have normally sold as slaughter cows. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold unevenly steady from firm to 5.00 lower. Good demand was seen for high quality rebreed type cows, while average to plain feeding cows sold with lighter demand.

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11787120.00–122.00121.00
22708126.00–132.00129.32
47660135.00–142.50139.22
12621142.00–146.00144.61
6508150.00–152.00151.32
42568146.00–157.00148.43
6812116.00–120.00117.99
5210300.00–390.00329.24
4493153.00153.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
41,016105.00105.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11479147.00147.00
15586140.00–144.00141.86
5724119.00–120.00119.79
4324150.00150.00
11396148.00–154.00150.74
3639124.00–129.00125.67
14511135.00–145.00136.46
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5504124.00124.00
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9431135.00135.00
5545128.00128.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4485134.00134.00
9583124.50124.50
Heifers — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
51,03397.0097.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7559159.00–179.00164.62
28738141.00–153.00147.56
4670151.50151.50
3822126.00–136.00132.76
6765138.00–140.00139.01
16962119.50119.50
11515188.00188.00
1385200.00200.00
54627157.00–166.00160.45
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
29654133.00–140.00138.04
8529165.00–174.00167.32
2700134.00134.00
12484167.50–171.00168.99
3787129.00129.00
3338185.00185.00
6580153.50153.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
4841124.00124.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
21,255117.00117.00
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5392150.00150.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4613132.00132.00
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4581131.00131.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2535157.50157.50
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
91,11896.0096.00
71,20594.0094.00
61,09398.0098.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2988105.00105.00
13814110.50–114.50113.23
2898106.00106.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2635122.00122.00
3753110.00110.00
5548122.50122.50

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)Open71,3291,100.001,100.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open101,3761,350.001,350.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open91,3211,200.00–1,225.001,216.80
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open51,1371,500.001,500.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)Open101,3781,010.001,010.00
Aged (>8 yrs)Open201,272900.00–950.00919.17
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open41,2281,275.001,275.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open51,2391,150.001,150.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open489161.00–72.0064.33
(<2 yrs)Open2288762.00–80.0073.80
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open81,00552.0052.00
(<2 yrs)Open280865.00–71.0067.73
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1751,09855.00–90.0070.25
(<2 yrs)Open42796963.00–105.0089.62
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open21,06874.0074.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open191072.0072.00
Young (2-4 yrs)Open191,02451.00–70.0058.03
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)41,114750.00750.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)71,286800.00800.00
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)61,155600.00600.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)71,147800.00800.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)31,3621,050.001,050.00
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)21,35561.0061.00
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)181,1881,050.00–1,085.001,081.15
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)331,109900.00–975.00972.04
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)23968950.00–1,135.001,011.97

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
81,37185.00–91.0086.62
71,68272.00–84.0075.27
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
231,57372.00–84.5080.74
412,02993.00–104.5096.55
511,79584.00–93.0088.03
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12,55082.0082.00
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
21,56070.0070.00
31,52758.5058.50
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
41,50671.00–73.0072.27
751,40560.00–67.7563.83
611,40951.00–63.0058.49
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1031,39468.50–76.0072.28
501,42053.00–62.5058.95
2031,38959.00–69.0064.87
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
151,72270.00–74.5071.78
161,59265.00–70.5068.45
231,55260.00–64.5062.00
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
2151,16447.00–62.5056.05
61,05041.00–43.0042.67
1441,23458.00–67.0061.19
51,15268.00–69.5068.62
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
184042.5042.50
1293248.00–58.5054.40
388859.00–63.0061.33
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
121,24368.00–73.5070.08
921,16652.00–62.0057.50
1651,21457.50–68.5061.82
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.