Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 149 priced lines covering 7,934 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 6,060 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 2,364 head. replacement cattle receipts at 1,270 head.

Mon Sep 13, 2021

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 6,060Last week 3,347Year ago 2,939

Slaughter CattleReceipts 2,364Last week 1,428Year ago 956

Replacement CattleReceipts 1,270Last week 900Year ago 103

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly plain to average and lower overall than last week. Yearling heifers under 850 lbs sold 5.00-8.00 lower, 850 lbs and heavier sold mostly 1.00-3.00 lower. All steer and heifer calves under 400 lbs sold unevenly steady, from sharply higher to sharply lower. 400-599 lbs steer calves sold mostly 2.00-5.00 lower, heavier steer calves were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. 400-549 lbs heifer calves sold unevenly steady from 3.00 lower to 3.00 higher, all heavier weight heifer calves were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Load lots sold on moderate to good demand this week as buyers were looking for uniform cattle. However, most cattle were offered in small packages this past week. Fewer takers were seen this week for feeder cattle as it is still early to take cattle. Many farmers in the Midwest have yet to start harvest and have put feeding cattle on the back burner as they focus on harvest. CME positions stabilized after a sharply lower downturn the last couple weeks. The September feeder contract closed at 154.875, 0.625 higher, while the October closed at 156.375, 1.35 lower. Market activity this week was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for heavy offerings. Packers continue to show light demand for thin cows, however average to high dressing cows sold on moderate demand. Cows suitable to feed continue to sell on good demand. Fleshy cows sold on very good demand again this week. Breaking cows sold fully steady, boning and lean cows sold unevenly steady. Feeding cows sold steady to 1.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and not as attractive for feeding as last week. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Many long strings of cows were sold as exposed again this week. Most older cows sold as exposed as consigners were not willing to pay to have them preg tested as they are not bringing any premium to the open cows. Young replacement cows sold on mostly good demand again this week. Quality was mostly attractive this week with many long strings of one iron home-raised open cows. Offerings sold 5.00-8.00 higher compared to last weeks average to plain quality offering.

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
23	—	1,597	78.00–88.00	82.02
19	—	1,454	64.00–76.50	71.94
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
83	—	1,689	79.50–88.50	84.25
21	—	1,929	88.00–94.50	91.33
36	—	1,647	66.00–81.50	75.86
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
132	—	1,243	54.00–62.00	57.17
357	—	1,206	47.00–56.00	51.89
78	—	1,113	41.00–47.50	45.60
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
49	—	1,391	51.00–59.00	57.73
72	—	1,414	69.00–78.00	73.75
338	—	1,378	59.00–70.50	65.77
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	941	46.00–51.00	48.36
62	—	860	26.50–46.00	30.49
2	—	973	53.50–58.00	55.76
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
38	—	1,381	57.00–63.50	61.84
4	—	1,446	66.00–72.00	68.96
62	—	1,387	48.00–58.75	54.70
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,661	69.75	69.75
4	—	1,379	73.50	73.50
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	1,678	71.00–74.50	72.19
11	—	1,647	81.00–86.00	83.56
24	—	1,588	71.00–78.50	74.97
5	—	1,611	62.00–63.00	62.81
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
231	—	1,190	48.00–58.75	53.60
1	—	1,205	72.00	72.00
179	—	1,257	55.00–65.00	58.25

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)	8	—	1,095	1,100.00–1,125.00	1,115.95
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	26	—	1,139	1,050.00–1,200.00	1,095.10
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	3	—	1,135	875.00	875.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	12	—	1,336	960.00–1,000.00	975.11
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	61	—	1,138	1,060.00–1,310.00	1,196.98
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	11	—	1,312	1,210.00	1,210.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	38	—	1,340	60.50–62.00	60.74
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	2	—	1,085	750.00	750.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	5	—	1,179	1,185.00	1,185.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	2	—	1,373	62.00	62.00
Bred Cows — Small 3$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	37	—	720	42.50	42.50
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	9	—	1,243	750.00–800.00	771.69
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	31	—	1,311	56.00–59.50	59.28
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	34	—	955	71.00–85.00	80.24
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	6	—	943	57.00–58.50	58.23
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	7	—	1,007	61.00–74.00	65.21
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	2	—	983	58.00–61.00	59.41
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	29	—	928	80.50	80.50
(<2 yrs)	Open	383	—	959	68.00–109.00	91.30
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	52	—	1,149	55.00–72.50	64.60
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	194	—	1,064	58.00–88.50	74.66
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	2	—	985	54.50	54.50
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	4	—	965	54.00–56.00	54.57
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,080	55.00	55.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	11	—	956	1,360.00	1,360.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
56	—	395	190.00	190.00
Heifers — Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,072	136.00	136.00
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	442	161.00	161.00
22	—	393	156.00–182.00	169.72
4	—	461	164.00	164.00
Heifers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	378	122.50	122.50
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	723	145.00	145.00
51	—	640	149.00–158.00	154.10
5	—	650	154.00	154.00
6	—	566	159.00	159.00
16	—	777	147.00	147.00
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	434	156.00	156.00
22	—	320	172.00	172.00
13	—	262	160.00	160.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	428	159.00–162.00	160.14
4	—	471	145.00	145.00
11	—	335	171.00–172.00	171.44
2	—	553	134.00	134.00
34	—	378	163.00–185.00	182.64
5	—	504	142.00	142.00
10	—	277	170.00–180.00	174.11
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
44	—	737	148.00–148.50	148.34
81	—	766	145.00–152.50	150.28
108	—	917	133.50–144.00	141.76
30	—	972	131.00–136.00	132.53
203	—	818	143.00–148.00	145.81
4	—	458	165.00	165.00
133	—	878	138.00–151.00	145.58
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
136	—	464	157.50–173.00	164.89
35	—	566	145.00–155.50	151.39
8	—	604	143.00–150.00	145.62
62	—	288	190.00–216.00	213.66
72	—	517	150.00–160.00	155.22
483	—	424	165.50–187.00	177.13
550	—	379	167.00–200.00	183.64
121	—	328	178.00–206.00	189.38
Heifers — Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
34	—	316	155.00–159.50	157.95
22	—	370	153.50	153.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	718	144.00–145.50	144.75
3	—	978	128.00	128.00
15	—	774	142.00–147.00	144.71
8	—	921	131.00–132.50	132.13
7	—	849	143.50	143.50
8	—	891	141.00	141.00
Heifers — Medium 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	363	153.00	153.00
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	565	145.00–147.00	146.17
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,069	124.50–130.00	127.26
15	—	1,009	131.00–133.25	133.10
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,000	127.00	127.00
Heifers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,006	119.50	119.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	812	140.00	140.00
Steers — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,291	112.00	112.00
Steers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	435	122.50	122.50
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	679	160.00–169.00	165.50
13	—	632	172.50–174.00	173.17
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	575	159.00	159.00
9	—	638	164.00	164.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
38	—	515	150.00–168.00	164.03
22	—	473	152.00–178.00	169.27
10	—	282	190.00–202.50	198.58
13	—	392	165.00–212.50	191.75
14	—	552	143.00–157.50	155.42
26	—	428	161.00–185.00	170.55
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
122	—	566	156.00–167.00	164.74
23	—	634	159.50–160.00	159.78
3	—	664	148.00–155.50	150.51
86	—	522	164.00–176.00	168.74
161	—	331	201.00–249.00	228.32
489	—	471	170.00–195.25	184.51
731	—	428	180.50–207.00	196.04
413	—	368	189.00–243.00	221.74
40	—	286	225.00–241.00	235.41
11	—	738	164.50	164.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	554	164.00	164.00
56	—	723	165.75	165.75
13	—	879	141.00	141.00
17	—	823	146.50–149.00	146.95
6	—	629	160.00	160.00
Steers — Medium 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	374	156.00	156.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	850	153.00	153.00
18	—	717	155.00–162.00	158.40
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	398	204.00	204.00
5	—	474	164.00	164.00
14	—	448	193.50	193.50
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	430	174.00–179.00	176.38
5	—	270	215.00	215.00
43	—	393	176.00–187.50	177.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	895	145.00	145.00
Steers — Small and Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	317	150.00	150.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	376	162.00	162.00
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,210	96.00	96.00
7	—	1,124	100.00–106.00	104.98
6	—	1,083	113.00	113.00
1	—	1,015	115.00	115.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	851	133.00	133.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	726	144.00	144.00
20	—	517	145.00–151.00	149.49
7	—	396	173.00	173.00

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

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Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

The state in one line