Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Jan 13
● As filed208 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 208 priced lines covering 7,630 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 6,698 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 1,210 head. replacement cattle receipts at 1,237 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Jan 13, 2025
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 6,698Last week 4,879Year ago 1,614
Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,210Last week 860Year ago 450
Replacement CattleReceipts 1,237Last week 268Year ago 153

Compared to last report(12-16-24): Steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Steers 450 lbs and heavier sold mostly steady to 10.00 lower, except 500-549 lbs which sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifers under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market however steady undertones were noticed. Heifers 450 lbs and heavier sold steady to 8.00 lower. Demand was mostly good for heavy offerings. Ranchers continue to market cattle early as many are opting to sell cattle due to very good market conditions. CME positions have moved higher since the holidays fueled by higher slaughter cattle prices. The January contract closed Friday at 273.50, 1.15 higher than last Fridays close. The March contract closed Friday at 268.05, 1.35 lower than last Fridays close. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Package sizes were mostly moderate this week as several sales had feeder cattle specials. A large crowd of bidders were at the sale ringside as well as over the internet actively bidding on offerings. Market activity was active as a result. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers showed slightly stronger demand for slaughter cows compared to last week as they showed need for cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold steady to 4.00 higher on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold unevenly steady from 2.00 lower to 3.00 higher. Feeding cow demand remains very good. Private buyers and packer buyers both showed very good demand for any cows suitable to feed. Even slightly lame or slightly blemished cows sold to feeding buyers. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 1.00 higher on both short term and high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average. A large portion of the young cow offering was purchased to feed this week.

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8300–350340445.00–475.00464.27
29350–400379415.00–465.00431.78
11400–450441377.50–387.50384.85
71450–500476350.00–375.00363.17
24500–550519321.00–357.00341.63
104550–600588290.00–337.00312.97
37600–650624287.00–309.00296.09
17650–700671279.00–306.00287.04
9700–750735275.00–285.00278.89
12750–800774259.00–278.00263.65
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8450–500474315.00315.00
23550–600576281.00281.00
5600–650608271.00271.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1250–300275530.00530.00
5300–350322470.00–510.00483.30
14350–400362458.00–495.00472.60
116400–450416394.00–453.00430.88
257450–500472370.00–417.50388.32
346500–550527347.00–389.00368.31
539550–600574330.00–355.00345.36
502600–650621305.00–336.50326.03
242650–700685290.00–310.00300.73
210700–750718280.00–308.50297.87
23750–800771270.00–284.00275.23
134800–850833260.00–270.00266.68
8850–900883261.00–264.00263.62
30900–950931256.00256.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
49600–650603341.50341.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5350–400386447.50447.50
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7500–550540312.50312.50
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
18600–650608277.00–305.00286.61
40700–750709272.50–286.00274.60
14750–800794254.00–276.00271.30
31150–12001,170222.00222.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3400–450425345.00345.00
5450–500482325.00–350.00339.84
5550–600589297.50297.50
4700–750741283.00283.00
3750–800797264.00264.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3300–350325465.00465.00
26400–450441367.50–375.00371.91
13450–500478345.00–363.00355.40
28500–550521320.00–355.00345.88
115550–600578316.50–328.00323.09
48600–650637305.00305.00
11750–800750265.00265.00
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9400–450445383.00383.00
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4400–450441270.00270.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10300–350344378.00378.00
8350–400363355.00–375.00365.69
45400–450420320.00–347.50344.72
20450–500471305.00–325.00313.53
64500–550526300.00–319.00311.28
17550–600577285.00–294.00288.64
14600–650632244.00–280.00265.12
20650–700670253.00–261.00257.42
11700–750723234.00–244.00238.96
2850–900873231.00231.00
16900–950929202.00–230.00215.99
10950–1000974215.00215.00
71000–10501,030210.00210.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
10350–400384375.00–400.00382.42
142400–450436349.00–390.00360.35
240450–500474329.00–358.00345.84
523500–550520319.00–346.00329.90
293550–600578292.00–324.00303.94
227600–650624285.00–299.50296.13
116650–700677263.00–287.00270.83
51700–750719253.00–264.00259.65
33800–850816241.00–252.00247.27
20850–900874238.00238.00
5900–950949230.00230.00
1950–1000970233.00233.00
151000–10501,023221.00221.00
51050–11001,091119.00–213.00156.66
61100–11501,142209.50209.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5400–450443320.00320.00
4450–500461272.50272.50
4500–550545267.50267.50
3550–600597271.00271.00
5600–650608233.00–255.00237.49
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
17400–450443312.50312.50
23450–500485310.00–329.00313.40
16500–550537275.00–295.00293.30
13550–600574280.00–286.00282.79
17600–650600278.00278.00
3650–700680259.00–263.00260.30
6800–850840220.00220.00
221050–11001,067205.00–208.00207.32
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
15650–700651293.00293.00
30750–800778257.00257.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
69550–600554339.50339.50
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3350–400365320.00320.00
17400–450424312.50–340.00328.60
9450–500462315.00315.00
6500–550530312.00312.00
3550–600569292.50292.50
3650–700682255.00255.00
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9350–400393312.50–355.00326.28
24400–450430285.00–315.00288.60
2600–650623245.00245.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
74500–550504348.50348.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
3800–850817222.00222.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
2650–700698255.00255.00
Heifers — Medium 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
2600–650625249.00249.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4450–500463345.00345.00
17500–550521320.00–360.00327.16
1550–600570322.50322.50
6600–650625280.00–290.00285.02
4650–700683254.00–282.50268.15
2700–750748209.00209.00
1950–1000975226.00226.00
31050–11001,050224.00224.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2250–300270515.00515.00
2350–400360430.00430.00
6450–500456372.50372.50
5500–550530340.00340.00
18550–600594274.00–309.00293.48
7650–700671270.00270.00
3700–750717275.00275.00
12750–800758244.00244.00
10850–900869252.00–256.00253.62
11000–10501,005219.00219.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6300–350343465.00465.00
6500–550517357.50357.50
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6400–450433345.00345.00
5550–600561305.00305.00
61200–12501,209199.00199.00
Bulls — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3850–900868244.00244.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open2985151.00151.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open1965112.50112.50
(<2 yrs)Open1971,027143.00–212.50185.70
Young (2-4 yrs)Open681,074132.00–212.00159.93
Stock Cows — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open1880152.50152.50
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open11985137.50–195.00163.10
Young (2-4 yrs)Open15933127.50–170.00141.48
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open2738130.00–190.00157.66
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open7797202.00–215.00203.62
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)41,3131,800.001,800.00
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)341,2161,900.001,900.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)941,4032,075.00–2,485.002,288.53
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)61,4012,925.002,925.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)81,3902,000.00–2,050.002,036.58
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)101,1942,700.00–2,750.002,728.20
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)351,1712,425.00–2,850.002,816.70
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)91,1102,700.002,700.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)41,3562,400.002,400.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)81,2612,425.002,425.00
Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)21,0902,200.002,200.00
Bred Cows — Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)21,4751,750.001,750.00
Bred Cows — Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)81,4962,375.00–2,675.002,490.60
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)311,2202,400.00–2,675.002,507.15
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)11,2502,250.002,250.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)51,3061,700.00–2,200.001,987.75
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)121,3291,700.00–1,800.001,775.79
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)121,3761,850.00–2,050.001,884.58
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)51,1522,300.00–2,450.002,363.92
Bred Cows — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)59582,150.002,150.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)129592,025.00–2,700.002,478.75
Bred Cows — Medium 2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)119241,100.00–1,350.001,188.97
Bred Cows — Small and Medium 2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)5661775.00775.00
Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)2770800.00800.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)101,2111,500.00–1,775.001,722.18
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)251,3391,625.00–1,950.001,840.25
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)111,0591,450.001,450.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)81,3891,900.00–2,050.002,030.57
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)921,4662,000.00–2,375.002,163.89
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)739522,825.00–2,975.002,908.32
(<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)91,2083,000.003,000.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)21,0232,250.002,250.00
Bred Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)38671,700.001,700.00
Bred Heifers — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)388732,535.002,535.00
(<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)138651,400.00–1,850.001,811.76

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12,575111.00111.00
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
12,405146.00146.00
391,701116.00–140.00131.12
261,842140.00–155.00144.92
22,153150.00–161.00154.83
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
11,280135.00135.00
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
31,640131.00–140.00135.89
111,391142.00–157.00145.50
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
381,42299.00–117.00112.29
971,437130.00–139.75135.76
2241,392117.00–133.00127.42
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
685891.00–100.0093.17
593975.00–85.0078.41
489593.00–113.00103.39
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
181,409106.00–125.00117.05
121,489115.00–140.50132.36
301,38691.00–111.00102.40
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12,125132.00132.00
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
191,09367.50–88.0081.09
551,13087.00–104.0095.19
31,127123.00–125.00124.00
141,196108.00–122.00113.28
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
11,940120.00120.00
1441,568118.00–135.00127.21
101,629131.00–148.00142.06
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
21,60392.00–101.0096.68
481,529117.00–136.50124.86
91,608105.00–126.00113.25
81,783137.50–142.00139.38
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
291,210129.00–134.00130.75
691,15293.00–117.50108.37
1071,186116.00–129.00123.41
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
21,68392.0092.00
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
21,310108.00108.00
21,27080.0080.00
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.