Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 153 priced lines covering 10,149 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 5,499 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 2,112 head. replacement cattle receipts at 4,353 head.

Mon Oct 23, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 5,499Last week 10,039Year ago 7,168

Slaughter CattleReceipts 2,112Last week 2,623Year ago 2,008

Replacement CattleReceipts 4,353Last week 1,313Year ago 4,328

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested this week to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 500 lbs sold sharply lower, with most sales 20.00-35.00 lower, steer calves over 500 lbs sold 15.00-25.00 lower. Yearling heifers sold generally steady. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold 15.00-25.00 lower, heifer calves over 450 lbs sold 10.00-15.00 lower. Winter Weather and lower board positions combined to push the market sharply lower. Late week saw very few offerings as freezing rain and snow made roads extremely treacherous. The Friday feeder special was canceled at Public auction yards as very few cattle were seen. CME traders remain in shock after the cattle on feed report showed both placements and cattle on feed over the industry guess. CME positions were lower to start the week but improved late in the week as packers paid steady to 1.00 higher for slaughter cattle on Friday. Demand for feeder cattle was light to moderate. Quality was mostly average to attractive on calves and yearlings. No load lots of calves were seen again this week as most calves were purchased in small to moderate size packages. One load of yearlings were seen this week and these offerings were very attractive. Market activity this week was moderate to active. Weight up cows sold on light to moderate demand for moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average. Breaking cows sold steady to 3.00 lower, boning and lean cows sold 4.00-6.00 lower. Packers continue to focus on buying feeding cows again this week. Only poorer quality cows were purchased for immediate slaughter. A large portion of the thin cow offering sold to private feeders as they buy cows to turn out on corn stalks or feed. Packers also jumped into buying this class of cows as they worry about supplies going forward. This class of cows sold 1.00-3.00 lower. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white, steady to 3.00 lower. Slaughter and feeding bulls sold steady to weak. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on moderate to good demand this week. Feeding buyers were not as aggressive this week as lower CME positions weighed on buying decisions. Young age cows sold mostly 10.00 lower.

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/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	3	—	1,257	81.00	81.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	155	—	1,069	1,675.00–2,875.00	2,687.58
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	4	—	1,268	1,350.00	1,350.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	25	—	1,287	1,325.00–2,725.00	2,617.56
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	8	—	1,194	1,700.00	1,700.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	11	—	1,313	1,650.00	1,650.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1,538	—	1,158	1,750.00–3,125.00	2,783.50
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	10	—	1,280	1,925.00	1,925.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	9	—	1,283	1,175.00–1,275.00	1,211.43
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	2	—	960	1,700.00	1,700.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	7	—	1,407	76.00–94.00	81.43
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	8	—	1,267	1,200.00–1,300.00	1,213.37
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Registered$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	4	—	1,130	2,800.00	2,800.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	4	—	1,471	2,200.00	2,200.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	24	—	887	105.00–150.00	136.71
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	23	—	1,038	82.00–110.00	92.60
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	384	—	947	120.50–185.00	159.89
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	238	—	1,056	102.00–155.00	121.50
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	32	—	919	105.00–123.00	107.00
(<2 yrs)	Open	27	—	784	132.50–167.50	148.95
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	758	140.00	140.00
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,035	123.00	123.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	47	—	946	1,900.00–2,125.00	2,000.70
(<2 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	24	—	963	1,935.00–2,100.00	2,080.37
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	9	—	1,017	1,925.00	1,925.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	139	—	1,032	2,200.00–2,500.00	2,390.01
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1,488	—	1,042	1,985.00–3,300.00	2,613.98

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	691	236.00–239.00	237.88
15	—	631	242.00–243.00	242.67
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	905	204.00	204.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	500	270.00	270.00
33	—	490	277.00	277.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	647	246.00	246.00
30	—	715	237.00–241.00	238.99
8	—	1,108	183.00	183.00
118	—	825	225.00–234.50	229.50
80	—	961	211.50–212.50	211.95
15	—	674	240.00–241.00	240.59
21	—	910	210.00–213.00	212.14
126	—	760	230.50–236.50	235.46
32	—	872	212.00–227.50	219.36
9	—	1,058	190.50	190.50
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,110	187.00–188.50	187.51
5	—	1,005	195.50	195.50
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	635	182.50	182.50
73	—	592	238.00–242.50	242.20
15	—	527	245.00	245.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	663	242.00	242.00
2	—	893	210.00	210.00
17	—	756	213.00	213.00
14	—	712	215.00–228.00	224.33
5	—	1,030	189.00	189.00
12	—	927	200.00–204.00	201.33
16	—	649	240.50	240.50
3	—	818	207.00	207.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	519	230.00–240.00	236.83
97	—	319	253.00–302.50	271.03
52	—	438	230.00–261.50	251.12
71	—	379	255.00–285.00	267.53
4	—	574	216.00	216.00
45	—	469	240.00–257.00	252.35
6	—	235	260.00	260.00
4	—	839	224.00	224.00
72	—	292	252.50–325.00	280.45
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
42	—	331	272.50–323.00	302.35
8	—	669	220.00	220.00
154	—	376	272.50–310.00	297.29
173	—	425	260.00–286.00	275.69
112	—	566	221.00–244.00	238.53
253	—	524	240.00–268.00	251.07
111	—	472	252.50–275.00	261.37
28	—	615	221.00–235.00	230.83
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	461	232.50	232.50
3	—	328	262.50	262.50
3	—	542	202.50	202.50
6	—	413	240.00	240.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	648	219.00	219.00
4	—	563	221.00	221.00
4	—	545	243.00	243.00
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	1,073	162.00–180.00	164.74
6	—	1,028	160.00–172.00	170.01
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	975	131.00	131.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,070	188.00	188.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	620	198.00	198.00
5	—	504	239.00	239.00
4	—	465	265.00	265.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	369	262.50	262.50
21	—	317	292.50	292.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
271	—	469	282.00–317.50	301.18
4	—	249	370.00	370.00
147	—	413	316.00–335.00	327.34
273	—	515	270.00–288.00	281.55
138	—	378	320.00–367.50	340.33
305	—	568	246.00–277.00	262.30
134	—	634	236.00–253.00	241.41
4	—	709	231.00	231.00
128	—	324	340.00–377.50	360.22
58	—	668	231.00–240.00	235.87
5	—	252	375.00	375.00
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	678	233.00	233.00
1	—	490	261.00	261.00
20	—	427	315.00	315.00
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	321	340.00	340.00
Steers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	458	150.00	150.00
2	—	513	200.00	200.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
60	—	528	252.50–273.00	266.09
25	—	281	317.50–325.00	320.32
134	—	480	261.00–288.00	276.47
5	—	662	220.00–230.00	225.89
109	—	338	282.50–340.00	317.99
59	—	574	236.00–252.50	242.68
154	—	435	270.00–332.00	299.78
108	—	386	290.00–325.00	309.18
4	—	623	221.00	221.00
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	647	242.00	242.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	410	320.00	320.00
7	—	811	219.00	219.00
4	—	743	233.00	233.00
5	—	931	204.00	204.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,040	207.50	207.50
4	—	718	239.50	239.50
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	619	250.50	250.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	473	286.00	286.00
3	—	683	233.00	233.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	319	277.50	277.50
12	—	713	238.00–238.50	238.29

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
36	—	1,568	86.00–104.00	96.57
8	—	1,761	104.50–109.50	106.31
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	1,899	106.00–115.00	109.09
3	—	2,135	119.50–120.50	120.15
26	—	1,769	91.00–105.50	99.77
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,222	80.00–90.00	86.28
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,625	95.00	95.00
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,433	87.00–97.00	93.09
63	—	1,408	72.00–91.00	81.44
8	—	1,456	62.00–77.00	73.11
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
34	—	1,131	62.00–72.50	65.77
367	—	1,167	73.50–86.00	80.64
272	—	1,212	84.50–96.50	89.80
66	—	1,211	97.00–103.50	98.09
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	915	63.00–74.00	70.65
6	—	952	54.00–62.50	56.75
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
121	—	1,378	77.00–92.00	85.22
14	—	1,489	105.00–109.00	105.53
288	—	1,395	92.00–104.50	97.28
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,634	104.00–108.00	105.79
2	—	1,695	112.50–116.00	114.29
15	—	1,653	87.00–102.00	95.33
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
53	—	1,119	50.00–73.00	67.73
22	—	1,261	84.00–95.00	87.37
145	—	1,210	71.00–85.00	77.88
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,614	105.00–109.00	106.20
11	—	1,517	92.00–95.00	94.44

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