Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 210 priced lines covering 13,220 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 12,570 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 3,653 head. replacement cattle receipts at 1,430 head.

Mon Nov 6, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 12,570Last week 8,897Year ago 8,367

Slaughter CattleReceipts 3,653Last week 1,898Year ago 2,685

Replacement CattleReceipts 1,430Last week 720Year ago 2,436

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 500 lbs sold unevenly steady, steer calves 500-649 lbs sold generally steady, steers over 650 lbs sold steady to 10.00 lower. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested last week to develop a full market trend, steady to lower undertones were noticed. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold steady to 10.00 lower, heifer calves 450-650 lbs sold steady to 3.00 higher, heifer calves over 650 lbs sold mostly steady to 10.00 lower. Demand this week was mostly attractive to very attractive as this week saw some of the highest quality calves of the fall. Buyers finally had the opportunity to buy cattle in load lot quantities this week and demand was very good on these offerings. Package sizes were bigger this week as a much larger run of calves was seen. Demand for packages was mostly moderate to good. CME positions nosedived this week as all contracts sold off hard on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The November closed Friday at 229.725, with the Jan contract settling at 226.425, 10.875 and 13.325 lower for the week respectfully. Market activity this week was mostly active with a very large buyer pool seen for feeder cattle. Weight up cows sold on moderate demand for heavy offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Breaking cows sold 5.00-6.00 lower, boning cows sold 3.00-5.00 lower, and lean cows sold 2.00-3.00 lower. Packers continue to focus on buying feeding cows again this week. Only poorer quality cows were purchased for immediate slaughter. Both packer buyers and private feeders continue to buy thin cows to feed or turn out on corn stalks this winter. This class of feeding cows sold 1.00-3.00 lower. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white, sold 2.00 to 3.00 lower. Slaughter and feeding bulls sold generally steady on a larger offering. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on moderate to good demand this week. Young age cows sold mostly steady to firm. Quality was average to very attractive.

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,565	110.00	110.00
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	2,091	115.00–118.00	116.87
41	—	1,766	82.00–107.00	99.72
53	—	1,867	106.00–116.00	111.20
3	—	1,433	100.00	100.00
9	—	1,729	109.00–112.00	110.74
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,386	84.00–105.00	93.11
4	—	1,241	110.00–115.00	113.34
Bulls — Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,881	105.00–109.00	107.62
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,275	84.00–92.50	88.17
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
160	—	1,377	74.00–88.00	84.66
71	—	1,448	101.00–109.50	104.53
283	—	1,415	88.50–103.50	95.34
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,644	94.00–97.00	96.01
7	—	1,749	84.50–102.00	93.66
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,647	95.00–97.00	95.60
1	—	1,705	74.00	74.00
30	—	1,454	85.00–93.00	86.71
169	—	1,381	70.00–87.00	82.21
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	1,173	96.50–100.00	98.93
416	—	1,239	82.50–94.00	87.24
2	—	1,018	62.00	62.00
431	—	1,174	65.00–84.00	77.59
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
88	—	1,126	51.00–67.50	60.86
111	—	1,252	82.00–92.00	84.21
248	—	1,204	64.00–83.00	76.92
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
31	—	1,650	97.00–108.50	103.02
17	—	1,614	85.00–104.00	96.97
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	935	64.00–79.00	73.25
1	—	965	78.00	78.00
9	—	933	51.00–62.00	57.74
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,055	96.50	96.50

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	12	—	793	160.00	160.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	2	—	785	127.50	127.50
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	700	145.00	145.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	250	—	1,040	87.50–168.00	117.42
(<2 yrs)	Open	415	—	936	108.50–189.50	161.89
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	33	—	1,122	92.50–95.00	94.16
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,049	140.00	140.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	15	—	917	91.00–152.00	127.41
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	13	—	903	92.00–115.00	103.96
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	70	—	936	2,125.00–2,300.00	2,251.98
(<2 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	5	—	961	1,850.00	1,850.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	1,145	1,050.00	1,050.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,457	1,550.00	1,550.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	4	—	1,297	1,350.00	1,350.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,118	1,600.00	1,600.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	62	—	1,081	1,585.00–2,000.00	1,889.84
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	13	—	1,272	1,400.00–1,600.00	1,527.20
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	2	—	1,058	1,600.00	1,600.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	3	—	1,318	1,225.00	1,225.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	25	—	1,326	2,100.00–2,300.00	2,226.24
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	4	—	1,262	1,200.00–1,500.00	1,284.72
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	9	—	1,197	83.00–88.00	85.79
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	34	—	1,355	1,375.00–1,775.00	1,602.89
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	79	—	1,268	2,250.00–2,650.00	2,427.37
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	8	—	1,183	1,700.00–1,875.00	1,812.74
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	5	—	1,412	1,225.00	1,225.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	12	—	1,294	1,300.00–1,335.00	1,314.66
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	67	—	1,296	1,300.00–1,525.00	1,442.76
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	23	—	1,297	85.00–96.50	94.47
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	4	—	1,110	1,550.00	1,550.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	23	—	1,133	1,800.00–1,985.00	1,921.02
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	11	—	1,216	1,275.00–1,300.00	1,281.55
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	4	—	1,176	1,300.00	1,300.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	275	280.00	280.00
79	—	669	225.00–236.50	233.33
9	—	315	350.00–365.00	360.21
160	—	580	234.00–261.00	248.34
79	—	425	285.00–332.50	310.09
158	—	476	275.00–299.00	294.73
48	—	368	252.50–365.00	333.59
64	—	537	250.00–290.00	269.93
55	—	620	215.00–247.00	242.05
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	605	248.00	248.00
14	—	479	295.00	295.00
33	—	578	256.00–259.50	257.14
3	—	440	320.00	320.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
141	—	385	360.00–400.00	371.35
860	—	578	245.00–286.00	267.75
133	—	726	225.00–240.00	233.85
34	—	328	370.00–390.00	378.12
3	—	825	223.00	223.00
18	—	782	231.00–237.00	232.25
503	—	482	300.00–346.00	310.90
513	—	622	249.00–265.00	258.53
362	—	667	235.00–252.50	245.35
795	—	524	278.00–310.25	297.02
2	—	258	405.00	405.00
370	—	429	327.50–382.50	340.69
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	337	322.50	322.50
93	—	493	280.00–295.50	291.42
80	—	573	205.00–251.00	245.31
20	—	392	315.00	315.00
60	—	420	300.00–337.50	323.84
6	—	513	220.00	220.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
24	—	782	218.00–229.00	222.19
43	—	680	243.50	243.50
10	—	969	211.00	211.00
64	—	538	276.00–296.00	290.05
14	—	464	305.00–312.50	308.77
17	—	716	233.00	233.00
23	—	400	362.50	362.50
5	—	564	282.00	282.00
31	—	905	214.00–223.00	220.66
28	—	614	265.00–266.00	265.57
2	—	815	225.50	225.50
Steers — Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	585	215.00	215.00
8	—	719	187.50	187.50
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	565	252.50–256.00	254.97
9	—	489	285.00–300.00	288.17
10	—	525	282.00	282.00
11	—	633	241.00	241.00
3	—	410	362.00	362.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	472	292.50	292.50
29	—	539	274.00	274.00
15	—	393	352.50	352.50
8	—	311	320.00	320.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	535	235.00	235.00
5	—	277	315.00	315.00
2	—	745	216.00	216.00
8	—	562	213.00–225.00	223.46
34	—	372	305.00–315.00	306.96
1	—	485	230.00	230.00
12	—	414	275.00–315.00	301.30
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	395	340.00	340.00
4	—	919	199.00	199.00
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
28	—	428	296.00	296.00
7	—	341	290.00	290.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	718	214.00	214.00
Steers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	453	195.00	195.00
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	940	196.00	196.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	815	215.00	215.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
132	—	612	268.00–272.00	271.17
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	973	192.00–196.00	192.98
5	—	827	202.50–205.00	203.52
58	—	780	202.00–219.00	211.52
30	—	872	198.00–212.00	204.43
34	—	918	194.00–203.00	199.40
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
684	—	470	260.00–293.00	279.41
2	—	953	201.00	201.00
497	—	567	237.00–257.00	248.69
12	—	349	296.00–320.00	304.00
461	—	524	249.00–278.00	260.17
16	—	706	218.50–224.00	221.05
256	—	423	270.00–302.00	289.58
126	—	375	292.00–320.00	304.27
83	—	615	224.00–244.00	238.84
61	—	682	222.00–231.00	225.82
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
23	—	644	240.00–244.00	240.67
137	—	463	274.00–291.50	289.99
23	—	660	247.50	247.50
11	—	954	215.50	215.50
112	—	831	215.00–224.00	219.86
18	—	326	305.00	305.00
54	—	392	296.00–300.00	299.32
74	—	778	221.00–226.00	223.12
59	—	572	239.00–253.00	245.65
62	—	919	214.50–219.50	217.82
89	—	882	213.50–218.50	214.91
32	—	741	213.00–224.00	219.57
23	—	526	250.00–252.00	251.52
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	593	228.50	228.50
5	—	327	245.00	245.00
6	—	495	207.50	207.50
3	—	448	210.00	210.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	325	270.00–291.00	278.22
9	—	282	272.50–295.00	282.20
44	—	577	211.00–238.00	225.57
5	—	743	209.00	209.00
57	—	380	270.00–287.00	279.40
148	—	481	244.00–265.00	255.57
7	—	654	224.00	224.00
67	—	417	252.00–277.00	262.34
11	—	613	220.00–230.00	223.75
195	—	528	210.00–254.00	242.65
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
30	—	623	226.50–233.00	229.25
4	—	576	209.00	209.00
3	—	688	218.00	218.00
24	—	528	234.00–250.00	241.36
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,104	180.00	180.00
Heifers — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
23	—	1,239	171.00	171.00
Heifers — Medium 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	418	217.50	217.50
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	397	287.00	287.00
47	—	689	218.00–223.00	221.87
11	—	708	213.00–218.00	215.26
2	—	513	242.00	242.00
44	—	498	260.00	260.00
5	—	440	220.00	220.00
24	—	760	205.00–215.00	207.98
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	407	265.00–276.00	268.99
3	—	495	232.50	232.50
34	—	518	235.00–254.00	249.69
8	—	347	282.50	282.50
Heifers — Medium 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	505	210.00	210.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	948	166.00	166.00
19	—	738	182.50	182.50
Heifers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	453	195.00	195.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	515	278.00	278.00
92	—	867	223.00	223.00
41	—	570	258.00–262.00	259.53
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
113	—	1,080	189.50	189.50
7	—	1,028	190.00	190.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	585	235.00	235.00
10	—	621	220.00–231.00	227.56
1	—	355	330.00	330.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	534	225.00–235.00	227.96
5	—	426	255.00	255.00
15	—	382	285.00–304.00	291.36
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	760	200.00	200.00

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