Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Jan 29
● As filed155 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 155 priced lines covering 5,635 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 4,561 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 1,587 head. replacement cattle receipts at 462 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Jan 29, 2024
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 4,561Last week 6,196Year ago 852
Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,587Last week 2,036Year ago 263
Replacement CattleReceipts 462Last week 1,267Year ago 110

Compared to last week: Steers under 500 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Steers 500-799 lbs sold generally steady, steers over 800 lbs were not well compared. Heifers under 500 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Heifers 500-549 lbs sold mostly steady. Heifers 550-799 lbs sold unevenly steady. Demand was mostly good to very good this week for moderate to heavy offerings. Quality was mixed from plain to attractive with lots of variation seen. Many different cattle breeds, frame scores and flesh conditions were seen this week. Package sizes varied greatly but several light loads and partial loads were seen. The best demand continues to be for cattle light and green enough to go to grass. Flesh conditions overall remain light especially on cattle turned out on pasture or hay meadows. CME positions continue to push higher. This week the cattle inventory report was released mid week and higher feeder positions were seen both before and after its release. The cattle inventory report showed all cattle and calves in the US down 2% at 87.157 million head. This is the lowest cattle heard since 1951. The March closed at 244.80 on Friday, 5.10 higher for the week. The April contract closed at 250.20, 4.60 higher for the week. Market activity was mostly active this week as both order-buyers, farmer feeders, and ranchers bid aggressively over high quality offerings. Sale attendance was high again this week with lots of buyers in the stands for all sales. Weigh up cows sold on good demand for light to moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Packers showed good demand for all cows this week as they balanced buying both feeding cows and slaughter cows. Feeding buyers on both Tuesday and Thursdays sales saw very aggressive buying, but were not as aggressive on Wednesday and prices softened slightly as a result. Slaughter cows sold steady to 3.00 higher on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold unevenly steady from 2.00 lower to 3.00 higher. Feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold steady to 2.00 higher. Slaughter and feeding bulls sold steady to weak in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were not well compared as more two year old heifers that lost calves were seen this week. Both feeding and rebreed buyers both showed good demand for these offerings as higher live cattle prices improved feeding demand. Coming 2 and coming 3 year old heifers remain eligible to grade choice and buyers some will to take the risk to feed these offerings. Quality was average to attractive this week.

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
16315280.00–310.00295.38
9438305.00305.00
3363305.00305.00
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
161,061188.00188.00
151,110184.00184.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
14684255.00–260.00256.29
54529297.50–315.50305.84
3385343.00343.00
27587282.00–295.00291.47
12732235.00–241.00236.97
27467302.50–334.00319.34
35637265.00–280.00276.10
59428321.00–337.50331.14
2873222.00222.00
5341350.00350.00
15776233.00233.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
51,150185.00185.00
75652232.50–264.00261.93
10615267.50267.50
3877225.00225.00
9555300.00300.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
52630259.00–272.00267.02
48326320.00–337.50327.24
4729235.00235.00
5394321.00321.00
4508311.00311.00
15483318.00–327.00323.85
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
37421337.50–359.00347.75
8798237.75237.75
416578295.00–316.00307.63
90679253.00–272.50266.61
40378365.00–372.50367.11
64717250.00–256.00252.77
265524319.00–340.00332.29
183632284.00–295.00291.00
85467330.00–354.50343.96
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
35967208.00208.00
12870210.00210.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
25547304.00304.00
37485322.00–335.75335.06
42417334.00334.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
27876220.00220.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2413305.00305.00
3492290.00290.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
9553331.00331.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
62376294.00–307.50303.30
16520279.00–282.50281.14
7730216.00216.00
37586241.00–262.00246.93
24309302.50–310.00308.34
1845199.00199.00
27438287.50–300.00291.01
16613220.00–237.50232.98
16881199.00–201.50200.57
43480277.50–291.00285.02
5780205.00205.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4576250.00250.00
4759215.00215.00
8497293.00293.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
255583261.00–286.00271.46
2845217.50217.50
4863204.00–210.00205.53
13337320.00–322.50322.14
27720224.00–244.00229.25
88421305.00–317.50314.25
140626254.00–266.00258.83
46677235.00–244.00239.54
381475294.00–318.00309.39
193523284.00–308.00294.21
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
85630264.00264.00
173573285.50–286.00285.76
37765234.00234.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
35986189.00–190.00189.14
41,035185.00185.00
17887197.75197.75
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2548245.00245.00
4480271.00271.00
7392292.50292.50
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
19356275.00–295.00278.37
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
32382317.50317.50
32462288.00–291.00288.76
5525290.00290.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5486266.00266.00
6393277.50–295.00280.21
6591236.00236.00
5340302.50302.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
2860215.00215.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
7729240.00240.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
6692228.00228.00
10549274.50274.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1840217.00217.00
2750230.00230.00
11,085160.00160.00
21,033180.00180.00
7625255.00–273.00265.26
7489312.00–320.00313.07
5667248.00–255.00250.81
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2673205.00205.00
2945175.00175.00
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
31,132143.00143.00
10643267.00267.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1631,15175.00–93.0084.79
691,19288.00–99.0093.91
41,286102.50–104.00102.88
161,08265.00–78.0074.35
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
101,54898.00–104.50103.60
81,618106.50–109.00107.83
231,65293.00–101.0096.99
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
61,413102.00–113.00106.71
271,37380.00–94.5087.10
531,40090.00–104.5097.55
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
311,424102.00–106.50104.08
1631,39492.00–105.0099.53
111,35189.00–94.0092.64
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
251,57594.50–99.0095.31
1031,40199.00–103.0099.48
51,590106.50–108.00107.10
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
231,23297.00–105.00101.82
741,16881.00–92.5090.43
2951,19289.50–100.0096.10
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
81,657103.50–104.00103.93
741,710105.25–106.25105.49
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
198592.0092.00
1197467.50–85.0078.24
491452.50–75.0062.39
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
91,644112.00112.00
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
71,32993.00–103.0097.04
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12,60092.0092.00
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
431,873111.00–119.00112.81
521,75090.00–111.00103.13
12,340117.00117.00
141,986119.00–128.00121.77

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)241,289109.00109.00
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)141,3981,550.00–1,560.001,554.97
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)81,3421,610.00–1,700.001,628.88
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)51,3161,500.00–1,575.001,559.04
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)31,1971,700.00–1,750.001,733.78
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)21,2581,750.001,750.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)91,3321,335.00–1,385.001,373.91
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)21,2401,500.001,500.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)21,4501,710.001,710.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)21,3101,650.001,650.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)51,1701,800.00–2,050.001,956.15
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)21,1452,000.002,000.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)81,4721,550.00–1,635.001,623.52
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)171,3972,350.00–2,450.002,416.84
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)21,0931,100.001,100.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open178597.0097.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open201,223151.00151.00
Young (2-4 yrs)Open11,355114.00114.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open941,011122.00–191.50167.45
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open221,16896.00–122.00108.99
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1571,010102.00–163.00131.49
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open14894120.00–185.00155.67
Young (2-4 yrs)Open51,03091.00–125.00105.73
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.