Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 199 priced lines covering 11,627 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 9,335 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 3,791 head. replacement cattle receipts at 1,815 head.

Mon Nov 15, 2021

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 9,335Last week 12,235Year ago 16,944

Slaughter CattleReceipts 3,791Last week 4,316Year ago 5,284

Replacement CattleReceipts 1,815Last week 3,460Year ago 1,314

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Steer calves under 600 lbs sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher over 600 lbs sold 5.00-7.00 lower. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower, heifer calves over 500 lbs sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive. Package sizes were mostly small to medium size this week with fewer load lots seen than the last few weeks. Trucks have started to loosen up and demand was more consistent this week. Calves with fall preconditioning shots continue to sell at large premiums this week. Very wide price spreads continue to be seen. Local yard space remains tight. CME positions traded mostly higher this past week. The November contract settled Thursday at 155.925. The January contract closed at 160.925 on Friday. Market activity was moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for heavy offerings. The majority of cows sold to return to the country to feed. Packer buyers only purchased very poor quality, lame, or severely blemished cows harvest this week. Slaughter cows were of very poor quality this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on breaking and lean cows, boning cows sold steady to 5.00 higher. Feeding cows sold steady to firm. Thin fleshed cows continue to be purchased to hold for the holidays. A large buyer pool continues to be seen for thin cows. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Young age cows sold mostly 5.00 lower. Most of these offerings are destined for the southern plains and the corn belt. Quality was average to attractive with many long strings coming off reputation ranches.

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
30	—	658	135.50–145.00	141.74
22	—	366	161.00–186.00	167.54
4	—	711	136.00	136.00
71	—	476	150.00–176.00	168.74
4	—	276	185.00	185.00
18	—	615	125.00–151.50	139.61
2	—	758	135.00	135.00
61	—	523	140.00–184.50	150.29
17	—	332	170.00–186.00	177.91
81	—	590	138.00–158.50	149.45
67	—	438	156.00–183.00	172.49
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	479	145.00–169.50	164.13
4	—	864	134.50	134.50
27	—	587	130.00–149.00	145.14
4	—	600	139.00	139.00
9	—	539	140.00	140.00
2	—	658	142.00	142.00
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	652	132.50	132.50
3	—	408	156.00	156.00
19	—	634	155.50	155.50
3	—	567	139.00	139.00
18	—	483	130.00–162.00	145.83
4	—	381	190.00	190.00
7	—	516	120.00–154.00	136.08
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
64	—	721	138.00–155.50	146.24
225	—	627	144.00–165.00	153.80
14	—	285	200.00–232.50	224.05
115	—	376	170.00–219.00	205.12
407	—	572	145.00–198.50	168.03
14	—	787	133.00–157.00	148.44
51	—	328	170.00–220.00	211.78
23	—	848	160.00	160.00
328	—	471	180.50–203.00	190.88
183	—	664	136.00–165.50	156.20
355	—	425	170.00–217.00	197.95
604	—	526	158.50–183.50	173.27
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
170	—	382	194.00–227.00	222.21
6	—	824	134.00–152.00	140.83
231	—	472	161.00–194.00	185.33
4	—	1,180	123.00	123.00
10	—	915	135.50–152.00	142.32
100	—	524	157.00–186.00	172.80
14	—	1,058	125.00–136.50	129.13
11	—	976	142.00–152.50	144.87
3	—	733	150.00	150.00
38	—	633	144.00–165.50	150.76
34	—	417	185.00–202.00	194.84
30	—	581	148.00–161.00	158.54
6	—	685	153.00–158.00	154.70
48	—	326	224.00–230.00	229.36
10	—	862	151.50	151.50
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	617	137.50	137.50
53	—	517	160.00–164.00	160.22
11	—	400	197.00	197.00
19	—	465	174.00	174.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	493	165.00	165.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	433	223.00	223.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	426	132.50	132.50
3	—	507	139.00	139.00
2	—	463	154.00	154.00
12	—	553	125.00	125.00
Steers — Medium 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	545	130.00	130.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	783	136.00	136.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	546	137.50	137.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
289	—	423	145.00–181.50	166.83
133	—	619	130.00–149.00	139.92
5	—	1,001	133.50	133.50
5	—	697	150.00	150.00
671	—	525	138.00–165.00	147.83
141	—	377	159.00–180.00	163.67
44	—	324	157.00–190.00	173.03
252	—	571	131.00–158.50	146.63
45	—	718	144.00–155.50	152.97
545	—	474	140.00–178.00	154.46
12	—	289	162.00–190.00	171.05
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
100	—	532	140.00–152.00	145.60
38	—	639	134.00–142.50	138.77
69	—	435	154.00–172.00	164.09
67	—	756	142.00–161.50	160.28
10	—	1,071	121.00–128.50	124.67
312	—	835	134.00–162.50	159.02
23	—	718	160.50	160.50
113	—	478	142.00–162.00	158.44
38	—	975	128.00–141.00	135.10
2	—	278	175.00	175.00
22	—	944	134.50–142.00	138.62
5	—	550	154.00	154.00
11	—	650	132.00	132.00
2	—	1,100	124.50	124.50
2	—	1,185	111.00	111.00
52	—	378	160.00–170.00	164.34
92	—	863	135.00–158.50	151.57
18	—	1,016	111.00–132.50	126.95
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
25	—	516	141.00	141.00
9	—	831	117.00–120.00	117.65
4	—	351	152.50	152.50
17	—	623	126.00–130.00	129.07
26	—	569	135.00–136.00	135.30
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	624	127.00	127.00
10	—	413	136.00–154.00	141.68
3	—	700	115.00	115.00
5	—	473	136.00	136.00
43	—	574	146.50–150.00	148.83
2	—	503	130.00	130.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	720	129.50	129.50
3	—	895	122.00	122.00
32	—	676	126.00–135.00	129.24
29	—	334	152.50–165.00	157.62
79	—	425	130.00–159.00	148.43
6	—	155	155.00	155.00
58	—	524	120.00–145.00	136.10
1	—	290	170.00	170.00
82	—	491	132.00–151.00	140.97
28	—	608	132.00–140.00	134.89
39	—	374	131.00–162.00	152.20
86	—	570	129.00–136.00	134.25
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	620	118.00–132.00	121.21
7	—	374	130.00–135.00	133.64
17	—	433	126.00–142.00	133.88
11	—	516	122.00–146.00	132.14
2	—	335	156.00	156.00
3	—	555	122.50	122.50
25	—	459	144.50	144.50
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	535	137.00	137.00
9	—	946	124.00	124.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	908	116.00	116.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	488	132.00	132.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	484	135.00–145.00	140.01
7	—	327	170.00	170.00
11	—	622	126.00–138.00	131.44
35	—	584	125.00–134.50	132.05
3	—	355	153.00	153.00
27	—	530	135.00–141.00	137.90
14	—	720	123.00–135.50	130.32
Heifers — Medium 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	707	110.00	110.00
Heifers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	455	115.00	115.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,010	116.00	116.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	583	127.50	127.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	387	197.50–213.00	205.30
7	—	769	134.00–138.00	136.33
4	—	298	210.00	210.00
15	—	483	125.00–154.00	145.82
10	—	720	137.00–140.00	138.81
5	—	627	143.00	143.00
18	—	520	135.00–160.00	142.91
29	—	596	132.00–135.50	134.79
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	925	117.00	117.00
5	—	461	180.00	180.00
3	—	695	134.00	134.00

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)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	11	—	1,273	700.00–975.00	930.06
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	20	—	1,142	800.00–1,150.00	1,041.17
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,308	950.00	950.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	88	—	1,203	700.00–1,285.00	828.74
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	85	—	1,234	650.00–1,035.00	763.77
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	25	—	1,050	735.00–1,160.00	1,015.40
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	35	—	1,084	47.50–69.00	56.38
(<2 yrs)	Open	33	—	982	53.00–85.00	72.41
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	393	—	1,006	51.00–99.50	73.16
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	8	—	1,078	55.00–62.00	57.68
(<2 yrs)	Open	497	—	936	68.00–114.50	93.01
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	941	52.00–55.00	52.94
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,297	73.00	73.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	8	—	1,140	42.00–55.00	53.83
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,075	49.00	49.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	21	—	1,061	45.00–47.00	46.00
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	928	40.00–77.00	56.53
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	8	—	857	600.00–925.00	826.17

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,232	89.00	89.00
31	—	1,593	62.00–77.00	71.96
20	—	1,543	76.00–87.50	82.41
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	2,305	76.00	76.00
24	—	1,669	85.00–90.00	87.64
33	—	1,834	76.00–86.00	82.16
27	—	1,798	62.00–78.00	71.66
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
24	—	1,314	34.00–42.00	38.73
226	—	1,389	40.00–53.50	48.40
40	—	1,375	60.50–65.00	61.82
265	—	1,325	51.00–64.00	57.03
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
313	—	1,242	44.00–57.50	49.27
120	—	1,099	22.00–36.00	30.66
1	—	1,215	63.00	63.00
889	—	1,194	34.00–48.75	40.74
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	964	33.00–39.00	35.22
22	—	954	24.00–36.00	26.76
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
50	—	1,339	39.00–49.00	43.70
32	—	1,401	50.00–62.00	59.02
1	—	1,505	35.00	35.00
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,328	68.00	68.00
74	—	1,517	56.00–65.00	59.84
27	—	1,487	49.00–55.00	52.65
2	—	1,738	38.00–45.00	41.44
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
40	—	1,198	40.50–50.00	46.01
1	—	1,845	61.50	61.50
113	—	1,126	21.00–36.00	31.00
178	—	1,198	25.50–45.00	37.35
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,745	61.50	61.50
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,586	64.50–66.50	65.49
17	—	1,697	55.00–65.00	60.37
14	—	1,629	48.00–55.50	51.66

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