Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 262 priced lines covering 13,177 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 7,818 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 2,455 head. replacement cattle receipts at 5,355 head.

Mon Nov 18, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 7,818Last week 10,684Year ago 1,411

Slaughter CattleReceipts 2,455Last week 4,376Year ago 2,435

Replacement CattleReceipts 5,355Last week 1,900Year ago 1,919

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 450 lbs sold sharply higher, with most sales 15.00-25.00 higher; steer calves 450-599 lbs sold mostly 5.00-15.00 higher; steer calves over 600 lbs steers sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold unevenly steady on a lower quality offering; heifers 500 lbs and heavier sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Load lots of yearlings continue to sell on good to very good demand while small lots sold with large discounts to load lots and part loads. Packages sizes of calves under 5 head sold with significantly lighter demand compared to larger consignments. Calf quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Demand was mostly moderate to very good. Load lots of calves sold on very good demand. Several Canadian buyers were very active again this week buying mostly 500 to 700 lbs steers. Most lightweight calves continue to go south to wheat pastures or west to California to grass. Reports from wheat pasture country are very good as heavy rainfall a few weeks ago have wheat in very good condition and farmers looking for cattle to graze it down. CME positions saw higher movement again this past week. The November settled Friday at 254.54, 3.44 higher than last Fridays close; The January contract closed Friday at 254.30, 7.075 higher than last Fridays close. The March contract closed Friday at 253.125. Market activity this week was mostly active, with good participation seen from bidders both ringside as well as over the internet. Weigh up cows and bulls sold on mostly light to moderate demand for heavy offerings. Packers showed mostly light demand for slaughter cows this week. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 3.00 lower on all offerings. Private feeding cow buyers continue to buy all types of cows to put on feed, even lame or slightly blemished cows continue to be sent to feed. Packers purchased slightly blemished cows to put on short term feed for the upcoming holidays, however, demand for these offerings were lower this week. These type offerings sold 2.00 to 3.00 lower. Feeding cow demand was similar this week compared to last week. Demand was mostly good to very good, with many takers seen for all types of cows. High quality feeding cows sold mostly steady. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 4.00-8.00 lower. Cow and bull quality this week was mixed from plain to very attractive. Weigh conditions were mixed this week. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady. Quality overall, was more attractive this week compared to last week.

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	300–350	317	350.00	350.00
35	350–400	377	322.50–339.00	330.54
55	400–450	431	315.00–322.00	319.49
31	450–500	483	287.00–300.00	297.27
39	500–550	531	255.00–280.00	271.17
6	550–600	583	260.00	260.00
12	700–750	732	236.00–246.00	239.37
5	750–800	796	230.00–232.00	230.80
5	800–850	830	223.00–230.00	225.80
11	850–900	874	216.00–225.00	219.82
7	950–1000	970	205.00–206.00	205.14
8	1000–1050	1,039	195.00–207.00	198.46
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
11	700–750	707	239.00	239.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
35	250–300	283	345.00–397.00	365.77
60	300–350	333	310.00–365.00	347.55
77	350–400	384	310.00–347.50	332.80
60	400–450	422	275.00–315.00	302.51
90	450–500	471	255.00–305.00	293.76
47	500–550	528	235.00–286.00	268.97
15	550–600	578	253.00–266.00	263.47
4	650–700	675	243.00	243.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	300–350	344	365.00–377.00	371.89
22	350–400	379	337.50–370.00	350.19
57	400–450	422	317.50–335.00	328.90
109	450–500	467	300.00–325.00	314.89
169	500–550	529	290.00–308.00	297.73
46	550–600	563	272.00–288.00	284.30
73	600–650	614	245.00–289.00	264.58
14	650–700	665	239.00–249.00	243.59
40	700–750	745	247.00–252.50	252.03
168	750–800	767	231.00–251.00	248.78
46	800–850	836	230.00–244.00	238.65
8	850–900	863	230.00–235.00	230.62
68	900–950	920	215.00–234.50	225.30
64	950–1000	973	207.00–222.50	218.48
64	1000–1050	1,013	202.00–215.50	211.24
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
13	350–400	384	330.00	330.00
26	450–500	495	282.50–296.00	293.32
18	500–550	536	257.50	257.50
73	550–600	580	235.00–266.00	256.07
24	750–800	783	242.00	242.00
7	950–1000	977	204.50–211.00	208.18
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	200–250	231	455.00	455.00
45	300–350	332	360.00–425.00	379.49
80	350–400	375	337.00–387.50	356.17
198	400–450	422	316.00–350.00	332.12
195	450–500	472	300.00–327.50	312.48
307	500–550	521	272.00–312.00	302.57
173	550–600	568	250.00–289.00	276.62
89	600–650	618	245.00–269.00	260.10
30	650–700	663	232.00–255.00	247.62
16	700–750	716	234.00–246.00	241.35
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	250–300	267	320.00	320.00
12	350–400	398	312.50–319.00	316.83
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	400–450	400	280.00	280.00
6	700–750	743	228.00	228.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	500–550	545	257.50	257.50
11	600–650	622	232.50–243.00	240.09
7	650–700	684	234.00	234.00
1	1050–1100	1,055	206.00	206.00
22	1100–1150	1,113	194.00–199.50	196.14
13	1200–1250	1,211	188.50	188.50
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	300–350	323	355.00	355.00
13	350–400	377	300.00–320.00	310.34
11	450–500	472	274.00	274.00
8	550–600	576	252.00–257.50	253.99
17	600–650	624	234.00	234.00
13	650–700	675	247.00–250.00	247.47
1	800–850	840	224.00	224.00
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	600–650	637	255.00	255.00
5	650–700	658	252.00	252.00
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
19	350–400	389	310.00	310.00
3	400–450	402	315.00	315.00
63	450–500	473	272.50–297.00	286.70
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
99	550–600	585	295.50	295.50
100	600–650	621	270.00–278.50	275.70
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	550–600	574	244.00	244.00
6	600–650	639	242.00–249.00	245.52
Heifers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	200–250	204	200.00	200.00
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	300–350	319	287.50	287.50
3	450–500	478	210.00	210.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	400–450	429	387.50	387.50
2	450–500	450	338.00	338.00
1	1000–1050	1,010	210.00	210.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
2	1150–1200	1,178	185.00	185.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	300–350	310	485.00	485.00
1	850–900	880	217.00	217.00
1	900–950	935	215.00	215.00
4	1000–1050	1,039	211.00	211.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	350–400	398	322.50	322.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
4	450–500	475	260.00	260.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	373	335.00	335.00
1	450–500	465	332.00	332.00
3	550–600	577	265.00	265.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	300–350	318	445.00	445.00
21	350–400	390	360.00–402.50	385.48
6	400–450	427	282.50–397.50	353.66
35	500–550	517	306.00–325.00	316.84
31	550–600	575	256.00–286.00	275.51
1	600–650	600	284.00	284.00
7	700–750	704	237.00	237.00
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	1100–1150	1,107	197.00	197.00
1	1200–1250	1,205	172.50	172.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	270	420.00	420.00
13	300–350	331	410.00–455.00	439.44
31	350–400	387	357.50–415.00	377.89
23	400–450	425	330.00–375.00	361.47
29	450–500	478	312.00–350.00	333.70
47	500–550	521	302.00–335.00	308.94
19	550–600	584	284.00–297.50	293.90
14	600–650	618	282.00–283.00	282.43
17	650–700	669	250.00–276.00	265.50
6	700–750	720	240.00–256.00	250.57
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
17	300–350	338	400.00–480.00	430.45
9	350–400	393	392.50–410.00	400.00
13	400–450	428	345.00–370.00	354.64
17	450–500	487	317.50–352.50	323.96
30	500–550	531	276.00–328.00	317.21
2	550–600	598	285.00	285.00
26	600–650	608	264.00–299.00	281.80
25	650–700	678	245.00–273.00	261.05
2	700–750	745	252.00	252.00
7	800–850	839	235.00	235.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1	200–250	230	510.00	510.00
9	250–300	279	485.00–512.00	494.79
19	300–350	314	430.00–490.00	474.19
140	350–400	374	400.00–461.00	437.65
155	400–450	425	360.00–435.00	392.51
176	450–500	470	330.00–384.00	368.67
357	500–550	528	320.00–349.00	338.38
198	550–600	574	290.00–326.00	314.45
183	600–650	619	264.00–310.50	295.95
302	650–700	665	257.00–294.00	289.22
34	700–750	727	258.00–272.50	265.35
20	750–800	775	246.00–259.00	255.01
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
4	400–450	404	355.00	355.00
18	500–550	518	320.00	320.00
10	550–600	593	276.00	276.00
6	650–700	693	273.00	273.00
4	800–850	826	243.00	243.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	250–300	280	480.00	480.00
4	300–350	343	405.00	405.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
19	250–300	255	440.00	440.00
1	300–350	330	360.00	360.00
8	500–550	521	282.50	282.50
2	550–600	565	240.00	240.00
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	350–400	366	390.00	390.00
5	400–450	430	357.00	357.00
3	450–500	497	332.00	332.00
33	500–550	534	312.00–323.00	319.21
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	300–350	320	455.00	455.00
4	450–500	499	345.00	345.00
13	500–550	539	307.00	307.00
7	550–600	596	292.00	292.00
12	650–700	672	246.00–265.00	259.31
5	700–750	737	242.50	242.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
13	250–300	270	500.00–520.00	512.88
3	300–350	322	470.00	470.00
29	350–400	366	427.50–460.00	442.14
103	400–450	420	370.00–435.00	404.23
229	450–500	475	332.00–381.00	361.07
122	500–550	535	331.25–342.00	334.47
114	550–600	579	295.00–338.00	318.44
97	600–650	625	292.00–307.00	299.40
10	650–700	658	285.50	285.50
114	700–750	727	257.00–275.00	269.60
10	750–800	775	254.00–263.00	257.91
3	850–900	880	246.00	246.00
1	950–1000	970	220.00	220.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12	500–550	544	307.00	307.00
11	550–600	571	298.00–300.00	298.89
8	650–700	661	268.00	268.00
3	1100–1150	1,105	210.50	210.50
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	500–550	541	327.00	327.00
5	550–600	599	259.00	259.00
2	600–650	640	276.00	276.00
6	650–700	658	272.00	272.00
Steers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
3	1100–1150	1,147	205.00	205.00
3	1150–1200	1,152	205.00	205.00
Beef/Dairy Steers — Large 3$ per cwt · actual wt
4	650–700	695	215.00	215.00
Dairy Steers — Large 3$ per cwt · actual wt
7	650–700	666	130.00	130.00
4	850–900	888	110.00	110.00
Dairy Heifers — Large 3$ per cwt · actual wt
2	900–950	940	95.00	95.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	56	—	942	125.00–197.50	158.34
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	30	—	1,077	110.00–170.00	125.08
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	17	—	793	175.00–187.50	184.25
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	6	—	860	165.00	165.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,352	124.50–140.00	131.97
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	734	—	937	139.00–221.00	192.10
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	13	—	1,134	122.00–127.00	123.35
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	193	—	1,093	118.00–197.00	145.05
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	11	—	837	130.00–150.00	145.95
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	7	—	1,120	117.50–124.00	123.15
(<2 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,310	130.00	130.00
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	6	—	711	135.00–185.00	174.62
Stock Cows — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	795	125.00	125.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	4	—	944	1,850.00	1,850.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	9	—	1,225	1,625.00–2,025.00	1,839.40
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	2	—	1,035	1,500.00	1,500.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,070	1,950.00–2,200.00	2,067.76
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,190	1,900.00	1,900.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	1,285	1,650.00	1,650.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	42	—	1,217	1,400.00–1,800.00	1,660.16
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	6	—	1,417	1,850.00–2,150.00	2,067.35
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	1,360	116.00	116.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	4	—	1,361	106.00	106.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	20	—	1,332	1,750.00–2,275.00	2,138.17
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	1	—	1,395	1,625.00	1,625.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	14	—	1,239	2,200.00–2,300.00	2,288.11
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	75	—	1,234	2,400.00–3,500.00	2,874.10
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	7	—	1,385	2,050.00–2,900.00	2,535.26
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	113	—	1,158	2,200.00–3,000.00	2,803.65
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	27	—	1,155	2,960.00	2,960.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	49	—	1,146	1,800.00–3,000.00	2,794.33
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	1,565	2,400.00	2,400.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1,732	—	1,166	2,100.00–3,550.00	3,244.58
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	7	—	1,394	1,650.00–1,850.00	1,675.32
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	95	—	1,281	1,550.00–2,200.00	1,935.39
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	7	—	1,338	1,600.00	1,600.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	15	—	1,037	118.00	118.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	10	—	1,140	1,600.00–1,700.00	1,640.86
Bred Cows — Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	6	—	1,332	1,725.00	1,725.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	360	—	1,072	3,000.00–3,475.00	3,176.93
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1,251	—	1,037	2,450.00–3,350.00	2,977.77

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,508	76.00–84.00	80.98
1	—	1,395	124.00	124.00
6	—	1,448	89.00–97.00	91.61
9	—	1,471	102.00–111.50	104.57
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,714	104.00–116.00	109.50
24	—	1,603	116.50–122.00	119.40
1	—	1,660	93.00	93.00
4	—	1,716	124.00–128.00	125.68
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
224	—	1,146	88.00–110.00	101.49
9	—	1,124	122.00–124.50	123.97
321	—	1,189	103.00–120.00	113.80
27	—	1,051	85.00–93.00	89.92
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
61	—	1,087	62.00–88.00	80.69
32	—	1,191	84.00–99.00	87.85
2	—	1,188	95.50–105.00	99.98
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	945	80.00–99.00	93.24
2	—	920	95.00–107.50	101.56
35	—	982	62.50–83.00	80.38
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,389	90.00–96.00	92.76
591	—	1,381	108.00–122.00	117.07
151	—	1,409	94.00–114.00	105.34
26	—	1,388	122.00–130.00	124.23
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,525	130.00	130.00
18	—	1,649	115.00–123.00	117.62
8	—	1,427	116.00	116.00
Dairy Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,950	83.00	83.00
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,090	82.00	82.00
1	—	1,410	87.00	87.00
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,411	92.00	92.00
1	—	1,700	103.00	103.00
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,653	139.50–142.50	140.21
1	—	1,655	125.00	125.00
12	—	1,539	122.50–141.50	134.19
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,455	120.00	120.00
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,899	143.00–155.00	151.41
3	—	2,275	153.50	153.50
47	—	1,855	136.00–149.50	141.67
34	—	1,756	110.00–140.00	128.15

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