Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 240 priced lines covering 10,021 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 9,160 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 2,045 head. replacement cattle receipts at 841 head.

Mon Dec 2, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 9,160Last week 2,183Year ago 6,358

Slaughter CattleReceipts 2,045Last week 1,220Year ago 1,904

Replacement CattleReceipts 841Last week 2,020Year ago 7,796

Compared to last week: All calves were too lightly tested last week due to the short holiday week to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand remains very good for all offerings. Offerings were moderate to heavy. Quality was mixed this week from plain to very attractive. Most light weight offerings continue to go south to wheat or west to winter grass. Demand for light weight offerings was very good with a large number of buyers purchasing this class of calves. More weaned offerings continue to be seen as some ranchers are selling weaned offerings early as they attempt to take advantage of higher prices. Cattle over 500 lbs continue to be purchased heavily by Canadian buyers, as the majority of these cattle are being shipped north to feed. CME positions were lower this week after a large swing up in price the past two weeks. The January contract closed Friday at 255.825, 3.65 lower than last Fridays close. The March contract closed Friday at 254.675, 3.95 lower than last Fridays close. Market activity this week was mostly active, with good participation seen from bidders both ringside as well as over the internet. Some feeder sales had as many as 16 feeder buyers in the seats actively filling orders. Weigh up cows and bulls sold on mostly light to moderate demand for moderate offerings. Packers showed mostly light to moderate demand for slaughter cows this week and slightly stronger demand for slaughter cows this week compared to last. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to firm on breaking cows, boning cows sold steady to 2.00 higher, lean cows sold generally steady to weak. 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 holiday. These type offerings sold 1.00 to 3.00 higher. Feeding cow demand was stronger 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, suitable to feed to premium white sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. Slaughter bull prices were pushed higher buy feeding bull demand as some packers put bulls away on feed. Cow and bull quality this week was average to attractive. Weigh conditions were mostly average this past week. Young cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher. Quality overall, was average to attractive this week.

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
19	250–300	290	360.00–400.00	388.23
10	300–350	314	365.00–381.00	373.11
36	350–400	382	332.50–350.00	344.76
57	400–450	421	319.50–332.50	323.42
76	450–500	471	300.00–312.50	309.14
30	500–550	518	290.00–304.00	297.10
6	550–600	582	257.00–257.50	257.34
8	600–650	600	246.00	246.00
7	700–750	707	241.00	241.00
8	750–800	788	247.50	247.50
12	800–850	830	222.00–231.00	224.27
10	850–900	876	217.00–227.50	222.90
6	950–1000	993	200.00–210.50	205.28
9	1000–1050	1,026	205.00	205.00
6	1050–1100	1,073	191.00	191.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
17	250–300	294	415.00	415.00
37	300–350	342	382.50–408.00	401.28
134	350–400	373	350.00–400.00	384.94
369	400–450	426	331.00–376.00	346.96
425	450–500	476	315.00–349.00	329.53
373	500–550	518	290.00–325.00	316.82
198	550–600	570	264.50–309.50	293.74
55	600–650	637	269.00–280.00	271.81
78	650–700	661	247.00–267.00	261.72
10	700–750	708	240.50–244.00	241.55
123	750–800	759	244.00–254.00	251.63
8	800–850	839	232.50–236.00	232.93
144	850–900	869	232.00–249.25	248.14
171	900–950	911	224.00–239.50	238.19
10	950–1000	976	216.00–222.50	220.21
6	1000–1050	1,038	212.50–215.00	214.17
1	1050–1100	1,065	206.00	206.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	250–300	294	420.00	420.00
1	300–350	310	420.00	420.00
19	350–400	374	361.00–375.00	370.41
7	400–450	402	349.00–352.00	350.28
151	450–500	470	312.00–337.00	329.05
102	500–550	525	291.00–323.00	310.32
225	550–600	572	268.00–310.00	296.58
31	600–650	617	258.00–285.00	273.81
15	650–700	675	250.00–267.00	258.57
17	700–750	714	239.00–241.00	240.29
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	300–350	337	305.00	305.00
13	350–400	391	310.00	310.00
38	450–500	483	265.00–285.00	283.52
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
17	450–500	459	358.00	358.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	300–350	345	370.00	370.00
18	350–400	372	322.50–332.50	323.62
27	400–450	431	295.00–316.00	308.96
13	450–500	492	289.00–313.00	307.72
39	500–550	528	265.00–287.50	281.99
96	550–600	594	247.50–279.00	264.16
9	600–650	639	248.00–257.50	251.14
2	650–700	660	250.00	250.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
4	600–650	638	256.00	256.00
5	900–950	931	220.00	220.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
28	800–850	816	238.00	238.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
10	800–850	824	226.00	226.00
4	1050–1100	1,086	172.00	172.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	450–500	461	314.00	314.00
14	550–600	557	280.00	280.00
4	800–850	808	233.50	233.50
5	1050–1100	1,080	208.00–212.50	208.88
2	1100–1150	1,118	196.00	196.00
63	1150–1200	1,153	192.50–194.00	193.93
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1100–1150	1,110	193.00	193.00
3	1150–1200	1,177	180.00	180.00
2	1200–1250	1,200	187.00	187.00
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
26	600–650	617	258.00	258.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
29	300–350	329	360.00–372.50	364.01
28	350–400	385	336.00–340.00	336.92
43	400–450	417	300.00–337.50	324.00
18	450–500	467	302.00	302.00
2	500–550	523	286.00	286.00
7	750–800	798	237.00	237.00
12	800–850	819	236.00	236.00
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	400–450	448	265.00	265.00
3	600–650	630	237.00	237.00
Heifers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
23	450–500	489	241.00	241.00
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	450–500	482	318.00	318.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
5	750–800	789	233.00	233.00
6	950–1000	966	225.00	225.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
19	400–450	433	341.00–345.00	343.07
8	450–500	479	322.50	322.50
12	550–600	556	238.00	238.00
2	850–900	898	226.00	226.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	250–300	262	510.00–517.50	513.87
54	300–350	321	455.00–502.00	488.58
102	350–400	372	435.00–495.00	465.75
197	400–450	418	390.00–435.00	420.71
485	450–500	479	351.50–406.00	377.90
227	500–550	518	340.00–374.00	354.45
384	550–600	573	309.00–342.50	326.13
112	600–650	613	293.00–313.00	305.01
61	650–700	674	275.00–296.00	289.60
100	700–750	733	267.00–279.00	274.62
89	750–800	781	251.00–264.00	260.55
19	800–850	823	250.00–254.00	253.37
3	850–900	877	248.00	248.00
16	950–1000	954	245.50	245.50
97	1000–1050	1,014	227.00–235.50	233.52
5	1050–1100	1,058	222.50	222.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	200–250	246	540.00	540.00
1	250–300	280	510.00	510.00
37	300–350	316	450.00–505.00	474.33
63	350–400	382	420.00–447.00	443.39
113	400–450	430	390.00–428.00	411.62
224	450–500	482	335.00–393.00	369.66
328	500–550	522	339.00–366.00	356.66
60	550–600	570	317.00–333.00	322.60
291	600–650	633	293.00–313.50	303.46
22	650–700	655	274.00–297.00	293.80
14	700–750	726	266.00	266.00
28	750–800	759	258.00	258.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
15	450–500	454	412.00	412.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11	300–350	331	437.50–450.00	440.92
22	350–400	378	406.00–417.50	413.89
37	400–450	437	340.00–390.00	365.03
27	450–500	478	322.00–350.00	334.82
160	500–550	533	319.00–341.00	332.97
45	550–600	590	282.00–315.00	288.78
11	600–650	602	291.00	291.00
8	650–700	693	269.00	269.00
4	700–750	744	249.00	249.00
4	800–850	844	248.00	248.00
2	900–950	918	231.00	231.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	250–300	290	490.00	490.00
22	300–350	341	445.00–467.50	456.37
3	350–400	378	385.00	385.00
3	400–450	417	370.00–389.00	377.78
48	450–500	480	325.00–351.00	347.35
40	500–550	525	312.50–328.00	324.15
20	550–600	593	297.50–299.00	298.70
18	600–650	611	283.00–294.50	291.20
16	650–700	669	250.00–274.00	268.72
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
14	850–900	881	245.50	245.50
8	900–950	933	237.00	237.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	400–450	409	340.00	340.00
47	450–500	494	295.00–315.00	296.71
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
12	650–700	692	266.00	266.00
Steers — Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
10	700–750	706	255.00	255.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	400–450	425	325.00	325.00
9	500–550	523	320.00	320.00
22	600–650	634	279.00–297.00	285.78
7	650–700	656	262.00	262.00
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
18	500–550	515	300.00–346.00	330.33
40	550–600	592	288.00–303.00	297.26
6	650–700	689	242.50	242.50
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	500–550	516	280.00	280.00
Steers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	450–500	478	260.00	260.00
4	500–550	511	250.00	250.00
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	500–550	508	230.00	230.00
Steers — Medium 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
3	400–450	423	340.00	340.00
Steers — Small and Medium 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
6	550–600	588	110.00	110.00
Steers — Small and Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	400–450	423	165.00	165.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	450–500	491	319.00	319.00
6	550–600	583	274.00	274.00
8	650–700	685	251.00	251.00
10	700–750	746	240.00–259.00	249.47
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	450–500	478	325.00	325.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
3	1000–1050	1,015	202.50	202.50
3	1100–1150	1,120	182.50	182.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	550–600	588	265.00	265.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	300–350	305	470.00	470.00
5	400–450	437	352.50	352.50
13	450–500	470	320.00–349.00	346.84
20	550–600	573	306.00	306.00
2	900–950	920	228.00	228.00
2	950–1000	985	222.50	222.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	295	495.00	495.00
1	300–350	315	470.00	470.00
2	400–450	410	385.00	385.00
15	550–600	577	297.50–307.00	302.46
10	600–650	618	284.00	284.00
7	650–700	694	243.00–250.00	247.00
6	700–750	716	240.00–245.00	242.53
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
15	400–450	449	335.00	335.00
33	500–550	507	316.00–320.00	318.00
10	600–650	620	270.00–280.00	277.09
1	750–800	775	232.50	232.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	500–550	511	307.50	307.50
3	600–650	612	272.50	272.50
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
10	1100–1150	1,137	210.00	210.00
3	1200–1250	1,237	172.50–192.50	179.16
Bulls — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
31	450–500	498	312.50	312.50

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	143	—	1,042	122.00–203.00	159.75
(<2 yrs)	Open	387	—	954	131.50–232.00	199.96
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	758	193.00–197.50	195.26
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	7	—	1,275	135.00–161.00	143.46
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	6	—	831	125.00–182.50	149.69
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	23	—	972	132.50–195.00	159.34
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	8	—	989	119.00–155.00	135.95
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	745	170.00	170.00
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	915	155.00	155.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,285	1,725.00	1,725.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	7	—	1,250	1,650.00	1,650.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	6	—	1,252	1,950.00	1,950.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	8	—	1,103	1,500.00	1,500.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	988	1,950.00–2,100.00	2,036.09
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	21	—	1,204	2,300.00–2,400.00	2,379.17
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	905	2,050.00	2,050.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	19	—	1,359	1,700.00–1,985.00	1,899.20
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	6	—	1,029	2,200.00	2,200.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	17	—	1,363	2,050.00–2,200.00	2,160.69
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	5	—	1,214	1,775.00	1,775.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	21	—	1,317	1,800.00–1,875.00	1,818.85
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	1	—	1,315	1,750.00	1,750.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	1	—	1,370	1,675.00	1,675.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	22	—	1,250	1,500.00–1,650.00	1,601.91
Bred Cows — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	1	—	920	2,000.00	2,000.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
61	—	1,895	137.00–155.00	146.99
55	—	1,732	110.00–147.50	130.70
6	—	2,049	157.00–160.00	159.01
2	—	2,535	143.00–148.00	145.55
1	—	2,165	149.00	149.00
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,761	145.00–150.00	147.80
36	—	1,606	124.00–145.50	137.34
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
374	—	1,386	110.00–128.50	120.57
102	—	1,396	93.00–115.50	108.82
68	—	1,385	124.00–132.00	128.65
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	1,404	90.00–102.00	96.64
15	—	1,462	103.00–117.00	110.54
7	—	1,432	86.00–95.00	90.03
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,644	116.00–121.00	119.77
2	—	1,840	129.50–131.00	130.21
12	—	1,564	105.00–116.50	112.01
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,035	125.00	125.00
1	—	2,040	111.00	111.00
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,608	104.00–120.00	116.27
35	—	1,686	118.50–128.50	121.01
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
42	—	1,144	72.00–91.00	81.72
6	—	1,214	98.00–106.00	99.95
24	—	1,136	89.00–103.00	94.88
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,098	91.00	91.00
29	—	1,202	123.00–132.50	126.89
309	—	1,194	108.00–125.00	116.61
157	—	1,124	91.00–114.00	105.25
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
34	—	838	65.00–85.00	75.69
7	—	887	83.00–100.00	90.49
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,780	95.00	95.00

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

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Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

The state in one line