Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Feb 17
● As filed67 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 67 priced lines covering 2,335 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 712 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 592 head. replacement cattle receipts at 1,146 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Feb 17, 2025
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 712Last week 1,745Year ago 7,125
Slaughter CattleReceipts 592Last week 109Year ago 1,005
Replacement CattleReceipts 1,146Last week 62Year ago 1,026

Compared to last week: Steer calves over 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. All other weighs of steers were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Heifers were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market however steady undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly good for light offerings. Most cattle were average to very attractive in quality this past week. Quality was similar to the previous week. CME positions were slightly higher this past week as contracts tried to gain back some of the losses seen two weeks ago. Feeder cattle continue to show some support. Placements were 2% higher than last year, however last year saw significant lower placements (down 7%) on this report due to extreme weather. The March contract closed Friday at 267.95, 1.60 higher than last Fridays close. The April contract closed at 267.55 on Friday, 1.125 higher than last Fridays close. Package sizes were mostly small to moderate this week and smaller than 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 more money than last week for very attractive offerings. Market activity was moderate to active this week as bidders were very active in buying offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly 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 were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Boning and lean cows sold steady to 3.00 higher. Slaughter cow prices were constant throughout the week. Many cows which would normally go to feed were purchased for slaughter again this week as packers remain short on immediate harvest needs. Feeding cow demand remains very good as private feeders were 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 steady to firm. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Very good demand from major packers pushed bull prices higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Very good demand was seen from both feeder and rebreed buyers again this week.

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1371,322137.00–148.00145.77
51,347131.00–135.00132.46
21,353152.50–153.00152.77
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
301,250145.50–146.50146.45
451,226132.00–144.00141.48
351,159115.50–132.00126.42
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
411,562143.00143.00
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
441,463151.50–156.50154.68
911,429130.00–150.50146.03
181,410109.00–136.00122.58
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
411,480145.25145.25
31,562138.00–141.50140.29
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
501,685142.00–151.00149.44
141,549152.00–154.00152.65
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
121,157102.00–127.00113.56
91,219133.00–143.00138.17
31,11894.00–100.0096.24
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
12,050188.00188.00
41,628143.00–155.00149.15
21,720152.00–162.00156.78
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
11,695158.00158.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11100–11501,110200.00200.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2550–600588255.00255.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4600–650625263.00263.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
10750–800787258.00258.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12400–450444392.00–440.00395.69
5450–500492382.00382.00
62500–550519368.00–385.00380.96
116550–600595334.00–352.00346.70
56600–650632312.00–320.00319.13
133700–750726293.50–305.00299.24
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
29900–950943237.00237.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3450–500460370.00370.00
4500–550535352.50352.50
2950–1000973232.50232.50
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
10700–750720257.50257.50
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
10450–500464295.00295.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2300–350318400.00400.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9350–400395390.00390.00
23450–500465345.00–356.00354.12
15500–550533341.00341.00
89600–650604280.50–311.00302.41
4900–950948236.00236.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5300–350341390.00390.00
6400–450400342.50342.50
11450–500479320.00–337.50329.36
13500–550530315.00–325.00318.78
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3450–500470322.00322.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1600–650645255.00255.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open31,077146.00146.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open281,147139.00–215.00166.77
(<2 yrs)Open201,028185.00–215.00203.80
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open121,142130.50–165.00139.03
(<2 yrs)Open3912155.00–197.00170.20
Bred Cows — Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)31,5922,900.002,900.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)51,0962,200.00–2,300.002,223.81
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)1461,4672,850.00–3,450.003,283.84
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)2281,2392,900.00–3,985.003,582.03
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)41,1842,750.00–2,850.002,828.25
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)1691,4712,550.00–3,100.002,778.13
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)101,4302,375.00–2,475.002,459.30
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)31,0202,750.002,750.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)21,3452,500.002,500.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)2891,4012,400.00–2,650.002,525.71
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)181,2402,300.00–2,375.002,346.05
Bred Heifers — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)209292,850.002,850.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)1441,1672,950.00–3,550.003,459.47
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.