Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Feb 3
● As filed129 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 129 priced lines covering 5,640 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 1,543 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 918 head. replacement cattle receipts at 4,029 head. Counted as USDA files them — 11 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Feb 3, 2025
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 1,543Last week 4,514Year ago 5,194
Slaughter CattleReceipts 918Last week 1,139Year ago 549
Replacement CattleReceipts 4,029Last week 466Year ago 2,932

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Steers 450-649 lbs sold mostly steady to 10.00 lower; steers over 650 lbs sold mostly 10.00-12.00 lower in a narrow comparison. One consignment of steers over 900 lbs was seen this week and these offerings were met with very good demand as quality was very attractive. Heifers under 500 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market however lower undertones were noticed on a smaller, poorer quality offering. Heifers over 500 lbs sold mostly 10.00-20.00 lower. Demand was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. Most cattle were of plain to average quality with a limited offering of attractive quality cattle seen. CME positions sold off sharply this past week as traders reacted to the reopening of the southern border to receive Mexican live cattle imports after being closed since late November. The March contract closed Friday at 264.90, 10.825 lower than last Fridays close. The April contract closed at 264.825 on Friday, 10.30 lower than last Fridays close. Package sizes were mostly small this week and not as large as last weeks sale. Cooperate packer feeders continue to show very good demand for high quality feeder cattle and when pushed this past week would give close to steady with last week for very attractive offerings. Market activity was moderate to active this week as bidders showed some reluctance as they tried to buy cattle lower. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light offerings. Regional packers were very active as they showed stronger demand for all classes of cows this week. Major packers were very active as well as they showed very strong demand for cows for immediate harvest. Breaking cows sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher. Boning and lean cows sold sharply higher with most sales 8.00 to 12.00 higher. Slaughter cow prices improved throughout the week as packers were forced to pay higher prices in order to secure offerings. Many cows which would normally go to feed were purchased for slaughter this week. Most packer buyers only purchased cows to slaughter this week while private farmer feeders and order buyers were active in buying cows to feed. Feeding cow demand remains very good as private buyers were both very aggressive as they bid on cows to feed. Even slightly lame or slightly blemished cows sold to feeding buyers again this week. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white sold mostly 4.00-6.00 higher. Thin short term feeding or holding cows sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher driven by strong demand from packers for immediate harvest. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 8.00-12.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Very good demand was seen from both feeder and rebreed buyers this week.

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8450–500475334.00–372.50352.58
3650–700660275.00275.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9400–450439330.00–350.00336.80
6550–600584287.50287.50
6700–750739252.00252.00
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
31250–13001,298175.00175.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5300–350329500.00500.00
18350–400375428.50428.50
20400–450430405.50405.50
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4600–650620310.00310.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11350–400397395.00–417.00407.03
59400–450443347.50–404.00357.08
13450–500463255.00–365.00314.17
24500–550524332.00–346.00341.67
43550–600586320.00–328.50324.55
15600–650634287.00–312.50304.09
28650–700661281.00–288.00286.31
4700–750705275.00275.00
2750–800798266.00266.00
1850–900850251.00251.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11400–450435398.00398.00
51450–500477370.00–392.00386.47
102500–550531367.00–376.00373.46
35550–600579330.00–360.00337.22
73600–650612312.00–341.00331.11
108650–700679294.00–314.00299.67
21700–750723280.00–287.00285.64
105750–800781275.00–277.50275.92
19800–850804276.00276.00
66900–950923261.00–264.00263.56
3950–1000963250.50250.50
101200–12501,208201.50201.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
4650–700681284.00284.00
12750–800779273.00–274.00273.83
4850–900870244.00244.00
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4350–400351365.00365.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
18700–750733283.00283.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
47550–600592311.50311.50
11050–11001,075228.00228.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1350–400385360.00360.00
11450–500499316.00316.00
37500–550527303.00–322.00310.37
12550–600581290.00–309.00298.51
20600–650632281.00–287.50282.22
6700–750703248.00248.00
4750–800772244.00244.00
4800–850810150.00–249.00223.95
1850–900880243.00243.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
45550–600567302.00302.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2300–350338327.50327.50
6350–400387330.00330.00
8450–500491260.00260.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8300–350335417.00–422.00417.64
15350–400380394.00394.00
1400–450440403.00403.00
73450–500478335.00–340.00338.61
45500–550525320.00–335.00325.82
32550–600582301.50–320.00304.42
23600–650626281.00–292.50284.29
50650–700691261.00–283.00274.16
4700–750724248.00248.00
4750–800785262.50262.50
5850–900863250.00250.00
51000–10501,014243.50243.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6350–400368315.00315.00
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6400–450423282.50282.50
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11050–11001,090222.00222.00
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3600–650633242.50242.50

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)101,1002,600.002,600.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)91,3511,950.00–2,200.002,077.92
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)471,2042,800.00–2,910.002,867.82
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)31,3352,100.002,100.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)111,1922,500.002,500.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)81,4112,950.002,950.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)1001,3052,350.00–2,850.002,710.04
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)141,3382,525.00–2,650.002,600.18
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)831,4182,600.00–3,100.002,945.46
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)2741,1672,700.00–3,025.002,969.90
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)241,2082,500.00–2,900.002,767.35
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)5661,2242,775.00–3,375.003,225.12
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)1011,331164.00164.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)2331,4112,400.00–3,175.002,821.18
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)541,0702,400.00–2,600.002,546.01
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)571,3272,200.00–2,550.002,422.15
Bred Cows — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)158223,100.003,100.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)591,3692,200.00–2,450.002,373.40
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)51,3062,500.002,500.00
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)3051,3542,300.00–2,700.002,427.67
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)111,199153.00153.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)81,1941,500.00–1,650.001,615.21
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)51,1891,800.00–1,900.001,843.07
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)461,2221,850.00–2,200.002,007.67
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open721,076145.00–192.50169.94
(<2 yrs)Open162936145.50–233.00213.89
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open14925133.00133.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open141,013142.00–190.00165.56
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open1845185.00185.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)8971,0652,850.00–3,225.003,123.93
(<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)441,0872,650.00–2,825.002,763.76
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)141,0233,000.003,000.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)399682,700.00–3,050.002,900.27
Bred Heifers — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)878952,500.00–2,950.002,805.26
(<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)888912,500.00–2,800.002,697.31
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open111,3843,550.003,550.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
581,150100.00–132.00122.66
161,209122.00–145.00133.99
71,12292.50–101.0098.07
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
21,823128.00128.00
71,714143.00–149.50144.17
91,521147.00–152.50150.70
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
11,805134.00134.00
81,651135.00–145.00143.06
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
81,435119.00–131.00127.62
501,417144.00–152.50148.72
531,381130.00–148.00139.26
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
771,066111.00–129.00118.07
1921,164127.00–143.00138.97
901,195139.00–152.00146.09
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
721,421129.00–148.00142.99
91,356113.00–132.00120.72
91,508149.50–152.50150.88
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1915125.00125.00
581080.00–91.0088.62
3908118.00118.00
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12,850160.00160.00
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
131,560130.00–159.00145.10
12,490176.00176.00
391,925150.00–172.00167.87
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
41,451150.00–159.00156.52
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.