Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Jul 8
● As filed110 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 110 priced lines covering 1,722 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 437 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 1,236 head. replacement cattle receipts at 337 head. Counted as USDA files them — 56 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Jul 8, 2024
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 437Last week 0Year ago 220
Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,236Last week 0Year ago 925
Replacement CattleReceipts 337Last week 0Year ago 186

Compared to last week: Too few sales were seen this week or last to develop any market trend. Feeder cattle were mostly offered in small packages or as singles. Demand was good to very good for very light offerings. A few offerings off grass were seen and these were met with very good demand. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. CME positions traded near steady for the week. The August feeder cattle contract closed at 258.65, 0.375 lower than two weeks ago, the September closed at 258.10, 1.55 lower than two weeks ago. Market activity this week was mostly active, with a good crowd on hand and several internet bidders actively bidding. Weigh up cows and bulls comprised the majority of the cattle offering again this week. Ranchers continue to cull cows as many are wrapping up branding and are turning out cows. Some cows who have yet to calve are being sold as ranchers don't want to deal with the hassle of late calves. Most of these offerings sold at slaughter price with some going to slaughter and other returning to feed. Packers showed mixed demand for cows this week with some showing lighter demand while other packers showed stronger demand. Additional packer buyers were in the market again this week and were very aggressive as they searched for slaughter cows for harvest following the holiday. Slaughter cows sold unevenly steady from 2.00 lower to 3.00 higher. Packers showed very good demand for feeding cows, however with additional packer buyers in the market buying high quality feeding cows was difficult as buyers were reluctant to push offerings higher but did so on several sets of attractive offerings. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive but not as attractive as the previous week of sales. Weigh conditions were average to above average, however most offerings are starting to flesh up and some are starting to show more fill as well. Offerings were more full this week as very hot weather was seen and most cows were tanked up on water. Slaughter bulls sold unevenly steady from 3.00 lower to 5.00 higher. Feeding bull buyers forced packers to give more money for average dressing bulls this week while bulls to big or too fleshy to feed mostly sold lower. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady. Demand was good to very good for high quality offerings which buyers are looking to rebreed. Quality was mixed from plain to attractive. The calendar is starting to get late in the season to buy cows to rebreed so many buyers are slowing down on purchasing offerings for that purpose. Cows purchased this week would mostly be late April and later calving cows.

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open21,4182,500.002,500.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open101,6062,875.002,875.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open31,2332,500.002,500.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)Open141,4892,600.00–2,675.002,664.21
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open21,6382,900.002,900.00
Young (2-4 yrs)Open41,3382,900.002,900.00
Young (2-4 yrs)Open81,5183,075.00–3,100.003,090.92
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open131,6942,750.00–2,900.002,837.89
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open51,081147.00–174.50160.35
Young (2-4 yrs)Open401,067136.00–186.50173.94
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1031,167143.00–196.00157.79
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open21,205143.00143.00
(<2 yrs)Open391,133165.00–207.50174.32

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
71,673127.00–138.50132.58
501,662141.50–148.50146.25
611,590144.50–154.50148.56
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
381,260125.00–139.00132.55
251,153114.00–129.00122.09
121,209142.00–146.50144.22
61,17195.00–105.00101.23
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3950126.00–138.50132.58
5884106.00–122.00114.55
488697.50–100.0099.33
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
11,895127.00127.00
301,480147.00–155.00153.97
91,595143.50–144.00143.67
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1131,389144.00–156.00150.37
1031,343139.00–148.00143.02
91,259125.00–135.00131.61
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12,065141.00141.00
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
151,105131.00–138.00133.50
141,269141.00–143.00141.13
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1761,384144.00–156.75151.50
301,366125.00–136.00131.92
1111,312133.00–147.00143.32
Bulls — Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
401,967178.00–192.50187.61
31,747171.00–173.00172.02
31,593145.00–151.00147.99
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
12,330143.00143.00
12,130166.00166.00
12,420174.00174.00
311,691130.00–158.00147.97
701,887158.00–177.75170.23
801,947173.00–189.00180.37
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
11,235164.00164.00
51,289137.00–150.00143.36
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
41,729176.00–183.00178.56
501,610161.00–176.00168.49
31,480151.00–156.00152.83

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3350–400393340.00340.00
3400–450415340.00340.00
2450–500493310.00310.00
10550–600571277.00–277.50277.26
18600–650620261.00–272.50265.12
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
8600–650642268.00268.00
8650–700699259.00259.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3550–600553290.00290.00
21650–700671270.00–274.00273.44
5700–750700264.00264.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2350–400393337.50337.50
3400–450403335.00335.00
4500–550549320.00320.00
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2400–450445260.00260.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
10450–500494276.00276.00
4500–550530253.00253.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12800–850842225.00225.00
21050–11001,095205.00205.00
51150–12001,161193.00193.00
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11750–800776225.00225.00
Heifers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
21000–10501,045220.00220.00
51050–11001,088214.00214.00
11100–11501,135213.00213.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1300–350330360.00360.00
2350–400370362.50–377.50370.10
6400–450425347.50–360.00350.45
13500–550507331.00331.00
5650–700686266.00–277.00272.65
9700–750709271.00–278.00275.30
6750–800773262.00262.00
9900–950922229.00229.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5850–900876258.00–258.50258.40
8950–1000956249.00249.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7300–350336364.00364.00
1550–600550317.00317.00
3600–650622297.00297.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1850–900880244.00244.00
61150–12001,186218.50218.50
21200–12501,228200.00–207.50203.71
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2550–600565290.00290.00
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
131050–11001,078221.00221.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
150–10080400.00400.00
2750–800773230.00230.00
1800–850840236.00236.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2800–850843222.50222.50
3850–900874222.50–224.00223.49
1950–1000950211.00211.00
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
41050–11001,076201.00–215.00208.54
21100–11501,130186.00–192.50189.25
21200–12501,218181.00181.00
21250–13001,268183.00183.00
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
121000–10501,020211.00–221.00212.66
21050–11001,085225.00225.00
51100–11501,130212.00–217.50215.30
21150–12001,168195.00–204.00199.49
21200–12501,215187.50–190.00188.77
Beef/Dairy Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7750–800764251.00251.00
46850–900884245.25245.25
Beef/Dairy Heifers — Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6700–750727225.00225.00
Beef/Dairy Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
14800–850819228.00228.00
Cows — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
21100–11501,108194.00194.00
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.