Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Mar 4
● As filed186 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 186 priced lines covering 5,972 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 3,970 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 945 head. replacement cattle receipts at 1,929 head. Counted as USDA files them — 1 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Mar 4, 2024
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 3,970Last week 653Year ago 1,662
Slaughter CattleReceipts 945Last week 871Year ago 950
Replacement CattleReceipts 1,929Last week 436Year ago 1,091

Compared to last week: Too few feeder cattle sold the previous week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Demand this week was mostly good to very good for moderate to heavy offerings. Quality was mixed from plain to very attractive. The bulk of the feeder cattle offering were offered in moderate size groups with several partial load lots on offer. Quality this week helped improve demand as buyers showed very good demand for high quality offerings. Demand for feeders to develop into yearlings was very good. Most steer offerings 500-750 lbs and heifer offerings 475-650 lbs were purchased for that purpose this week. Light calves under 450 lbs sold on very good demand as buyers can slow grow these offerings and sell them at a later date. Differed CME positions are higher as the year progresses making light calves a value to buyers. CME positions lost some grown late week ending the week lower than last. The March closed at 249.20 on Friday, 3.775 lower for the week. The April contract closed at 254.10, 3.90 lower for the week. Market activity was mostly active this week. Buyers bid aggressively on offerings this week. Buyers were eager to own offerings and generally started offerings at the initial bid ask. Weigh up cows sold on very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive and similar to last week. Packers showed very good demand for all cows this week as they balanced buying both feeding cows and slaughter cows again. Early week all cows were purchased to slaughter as supplies remain short. Slaughter cows sold 5.00-7.00 higher on Premium white and breaking cows, boning cows and lean cows sold 3.00-5.00 higher. Feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher, many high yielding heavy muscled cows were seen again this week. Slaughter and feeding bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 5.00-10.00 higher on a high quality offering. Demand remains good for high quality offerings. Feeding buyers purchased young cows to feed on lighter demand this week. Demand for bred cows remains very good. A moderate to heavy offering of bred cows were seen this week. A large buyer pool for bred cows was seen as ranchers continue to rebuild their herds.

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3450–500482325.00–337.50332.11
21500–550535320.00–330.00325.18
3550–600577314.00–317.00314.98
3600–650635305.00305.00
8650–700678280.00–293.00281.57
6700–750728246.00–259.00256.87
1750–800780239.00239.00
5800–850815212.50–222.00214.46
1850–900850219.00219.00
3950–1000979209.00–216.00211.34
61000–10501,027207.00–209.00207.99
11050–11001,090212.00212.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2450–500480320.00320.00
2650–700650252.50252.50
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1700–750740220.00220.00
11200–12501,205155.00155.00
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11150–12001,155180.00180.00
21250–13001,268130.00130.00
Bulls — Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
11150–12001,195150.00150.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4350–400379340.00340.00
22400–450431320.00–338.00325.91
99450–500469317.50–329.50325.40
223500–550519300.00–328.00312.95
192550–600567275.00–315.50300.84
74600–650617267.00–289.00280.83
70650–700678252.00–267.50261.48
48700–750729241.25–254.00244.99
91750–800790237.00–242.00238.11
7800–850830228.00–240.50236.78
48850–900872218.00–223.00222.79
11900–950925215.00–217.00216.11
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
37550–600592296.00296.00
150600–650628285.00–294.00290.84
69700–750709259.00–265.50264.38
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Value Added$ per cwt · actual wt
79500–550503340.00340.00
70550–600579313.00313.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
36350–400369320.00–337.50326.26
50400–450436308.00–324.00312.78
27450–500476300.00–317.00307.10
31500–550527279.00–301.00296.79
23550–600572274.50–286.00282.38
8600–650611252.00–269.00266.15
4650–700683231.00–250.00240.64
25700–750738231.00–241.50239.40
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5400–450436286.00286.00
1500–550500264.00264.00
5550–600562235.00235.00
6600–650618230.00230.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
21350–400394315.00315.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6650–700687250.00250.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
24350–400374320.00–327.00325.16
15400–450427316.00–322.50317.72
11450–500465310.00310.00
5550–600580317.50317.50
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1500–550540270.00270.00
Heifers — Medium 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
6400–450443110.00110.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
35350–400386384.00–388.00387.25
142400–450425365.00–380.00370.40
111450–500488349.50–370.00361.60
107500–550527338.00–358.00348.98
251550–600577322.50–341.75332.60
261600–650625306.00–329.00316.90
265650–700676280.00–307.00293.48
44700–750722267.00–273.00269.27
23750–800782256.00256.00
1800–850810250.00250.00
41850–900876234.00–242.00236.41
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
30700–750749261.00261.00
31800–850845231.75231.75
3850–900885212.50212.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
12400–450432342.50342.50
6450–500453374.00374.00
3500–550520320.00320.00
25550–600589331.00331.00
2600–650600307.50307.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7300–350316360.00360.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
12600–650603311.00311.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7350–400379355.00–378.00365.86
22400–450440345.00–367.50352.88
40450–500486325.00–347.00339.96
46500–550511325.00–337.00331.53
13550–600586312.00–315.00312.69
34600–650634284.50–303.00295.46
3650–700667275.00275.00
11700–750722263.00–264.00263.19
13750–800762253.00–258.00255.05
12800–850826237.00–242.00238.47
4950–1000985208.00208.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4450–500466300.00300.00
10500–550529297.50297.50
3600–650623275.00275.00
2700–750735237.00237.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Value Added$ per cwt · actual wt
69500–550508369.00369.00
17600–650602325.00325.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
16550–600571319.00319.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3400–450412360.00360.00
3450–500473320.00320.00
5550–600558312.00–317.00314.00
3650–700658269.00269.00
1700–750700252.00252.00
9750–800758251.00–259.50257.57
3800–850838231.00231.00
Steers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
5750–800772240.00240.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5300–350349357.50357.50
7350–400378351.00351.00
15450–500484335.00335.00
6500–550544317.50317.50

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)31,2451,800.001,800.00
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)251,3351,900.00–2,100.002,027.71
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)251,2332,050.00–2,300.002,267.14
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)71,2902,250.002,250.00
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)281,1802,225.00–2,425.002,337.99
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)21,3252,100.002,100.00
Bred Cows — Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)261,3201,900.00–2,000.001,947.50
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)91,3221,950.001,950.00
Bred Cows — Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)261,3802,250.00–2,425.002,334.84
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)251,2492,350.00–2,400.002,376.39
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)281,2482,350.00–2,485.002,463.70
Bred Cows — Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)111,0942,350.002,350.00
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)71,2361,850.001,850.00
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)51,2031,850.001,850.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)81,3712,500.002,500.00
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)1131,1952,500.00–2,800.002,624.60
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)31,1872,400.00–2,500.002,467.98
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)811,3192,375.00–2,625.002,531.05
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)281,3462,200.00–2,475.002,437.80
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)71,3742,500.002,500.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)381,3232,400.00–2,650.002,556.94
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)11,3502,450.002,450.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)2701,3512,200.00–2,550.002,368.05
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)21,3932,450.002,450.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)211,3881,850.00–2,100.002,032.62
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)1791,3792,000.00–2,350.002,236.70
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)171,1791,800.00–1,900.001,807.58
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)451,2871,825.00–2,100.001,989.64
Bred Cows — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)221,0552,300.00–2,500.002,422.47
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)61,1042,300.002,300.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open311,197113.00–139.00121.65
(<2 yrs)Open51,044130.00–182.50149.12
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open2795155.00155.00
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1910140.00140.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open921,081117.00–181.00154.12
(<2 yrs)Open86919153.00–231.00196.26
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open10882189.00189.00
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open21,098145.00145.00
(<2 yrs)Open29710203.00–245.00216.92
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)51,0682,300.00–2,600.002,368.53
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)29932,000.002,000.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)3401,1122,675.00–2,985.002,839.15
(<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)31,1322,400.002,400.00
Bred Heifers — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)398922,250.00–2,600.002,394.49
(<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)108371,750.001,750.00
(<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)79552,125.002,125.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)Open11,5102,750.002,750.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
521,620120.25–125.00121.59
141,640114.00–120.00117.50
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1893589.00–100.0095.24
297874.00–79.0076.46
4965101.00–110.00104.76
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
131,534114.00–122.00120.17
851,495122.25–127.50124.71
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
31,04786.00–88.0087.36
441,18992.00–110.00100.42
81,172117.00–128.00121.49
321,201106.00–118.00112.60
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
121,183118.50–123.00120.31
431,173107.00–119.00113.22
281,09799.50–110.00107.45
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1171,354110.00–122.00116.96
611,366119.00–127.00123.14
71,381101.00–108.00105.64
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
351,473113.00–122.00116.36
91,601101.00–110.50108.41
371,471119.00–128.50123.52
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
481,477118.00–124.00121.49
41,44199.00–107.00103.25
211,411108.00–119.00112.99
Dairy Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
41,985109.00109.00
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
41,324100.00100.00
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
11,290121.00121.00
41,271115.00115.00
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
151,556104.00–125.00114.63
211,787120.00–137.00126.96
102,115135.00–144.00139.94
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
31,14393.50–104.0098.25
21,400110.00–117.00113.59
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.