Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 167 priced lines covering 5,818 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 4,758 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 1,239 head. replacement cattle receipts at 647 head.

Mon Feb 24, 2025

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 4,758Last week 712Year ago 653

Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,239Last week 592Year ago 871

Replacement CattleReceipts 647Last week 1,146Year ago 436

Compared to last week: Steer calves over 550 lbs sold steady to 10.00 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 an a heavier more attractive offering. Heifers were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market however steady undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly good to very good for moderate to heavy offerings. Feeder cattle were mixed for quality from plain to very attractive. Quality overall was more attractive compared to the previous week. CME positions traded higher much of the week, but saw a set back on Friday when finished cattle traded 2.00 lower in the Southern Plains mostly at 197.00. Not enough Northern cattle traded by report release to develop a full market trend. The March contract closed Friday at 274.975, 7.025 higher than last Fridays close. The April contract closed at 273.00 on Friday, 5.45 higher than last Fridays close. Package sizes were mostly moderate this week with a few load lots on offer as well. Packages were mostly larger than last weeks sale. Cooperate packer feeders continue to show very good demand for high quality feeder cattle as many of this past weeks very attractive offerings were purchased by cooperate packers. Several sets of high quality heifers were seen this past week and replacement buyers and packer buyers both showed very good demand for heifer offerings. Market activity was active this week as bidders bid rapidly on high quality cattle. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Regional packers remain active in buying cows for immediate harvest, while major packers focused most of their efforts on buying feeding cows. Breaking and boning slaughter cows sold steady to 5.00 lower. Lean cows sold steady to firm. Slaughter cow prices improved throughout the week. Feeding cow demand was very good this week as packer buyers were back in the market buying cows to feed. Private and cooperate buyers both showed good demand for feeding quality cows. Private buyers were more willing to take slightly lame or slightly blemished cows to feed. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower as a heavier supply of cows were seen this week across the upper plains due to warmer weather, however demand for feeding cows remains steady with last week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week 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 5.00-10.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Several sets of heifers which lost calves sold on very good demand. Demand from rebreed buyers was very good this week as many try to buy cows to use as recips or to rebreed.

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
90	400–450	431	355.00–385.00	372.81
95	450–500	466	332.00–374.00	349.58
169	500–550	536	328.00–349.50	335.26
96	550–600	570	312.00–330.00	322.88
256	600–650	623	287.00–313.00	301.12
144	650–700	680	274.00–293.00	283.49
133	700–750	724	260.00–291.00	283.17
117	750–800	768	257.00–277.50	273.85
159	800–850	833	257.00–266.00	260.99
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
10	550–600	563	345.00	345.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
11	550–600	554	316.00	316.00
16	600–650	606	283.50	283.50
38	1050–1100	1,064	199.00–209.00	208.20
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
78	700–750	726	270.00–297.00	289.41
10	750–800	774	290.00	290.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	300–350	301	422.50	422.50
34	350–400	385	345.00–371.00	360.86
53	400–450	435	340.00–351.00	347.54
135	450–500	487	322.50–337.00	330.49
75	500–550	529	302.00–332.50	321.71
21	550–600	581	295.00–310.00	304.22
37	600–650	632	269.00–279.00	271.93
25	650–700	682	261.00–276.00	271.38
26	700–750	733	251.00–270.00	263.72
15	750–800	767	240.50–259.00	245.46
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
16	350–400	385	340.00–355.00	347.44
20	450–500	470	310.00–315.00	314.00
25	500–550	539	275.00–300.00	289.31
18	550–600	578	285.00–288.00	287.50
2	600–650	628	267.50	267.50
13	650–700	675	260.00	260.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11	500–550	539	311.00	311.00
23	550–600	555	295.00	295.00
47	600–650	623	267.00–284.50	280.05
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	550–600	582	250.00	250.00
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
14	350–400	359	315.00–330.00	326.73
13	400–450	407	310.00–330.00	325.30
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	300–350	325	350.00	350.00
18	350–400	356	347.50	347.50
12	400–450	421	325.00	325.00
5	450–500	492	331.00	331.00
5	500–550	501	322.50	322.50
4	550–600	586	298.00	298.00
6	600–650	608	285.00	285.00
15	700–750	749	234.00	234.00
Heifers — Medium 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
6	950–1000	984	188.00	188.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	305	512.50	512.50
45	350–400	379	427.50–452.00	437.73
30	400–450	413	396.00–435.00	420.56
94	450–500	471	377.00–410.00	391.07
142	500–550	528	360.00–395.00	374.49
160	550–600	576	340.00–370.00	353.56
260	600–650	624	324.00–345.00	334.94
156	650–700	669	310.00–326.00	317.55
152	700–750	721	292.00–311.00	305.85
53	750–800	770	273.00–294.00	283.00
118	800–850	809	271.00–286.50	283.02
5	850–900	866	266.00	266.00
15	900–950	939	256.00	256.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
4	750–800	778	270.00	270.00
49	800–850	809	255.00–263.00	261.22
4	850–900	881	255.00	255.00
14	1050–1100	1,066	227.50–232.00	229.45
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
41	600–650	603	353.00	353.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	300–350	321	420.00	420.00
6	350–400	361	425.00	425.00
12	400–450	434	400.00–405.00	400.39
24	450–500	483	357.50–377.50	369.28
50	500–550	539	346.00–370.00	361.06
47	550–600	591	327.50–342.00	339.80
37	600–650	634	312.00–330.00	321.78
107	650–700	676	290.00–323.00	299.02
15	700–750	732	280.00–293.00	286.84
12	750–800	780	269.00–281.00	275.03
5	800–850	845	267.00	267.00
13	850–900	864	263.00–265.00	263.15
3	950–1000	965	243.00	243.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	350–400	384	390.00	390.00
2	450–500	455	335.00	335.00
1	500–550	540	327.50	327.50
14	650–700	661	271.00–295.00	291.42
9	700–750	732	261.00–281.00	274.63
4	800–850	821	250.00	250.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
27	450–500	467	362.00–370.00	362.87
20	500–550	531	347.00–357.50	354.82
6	600–650	602	322.50	322.50
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	450–500	495	394.00	394.00
14	550–600	595	337.50	337.50
3	600–650	625	318.00	318.00
9	650–700	676	289.00	289.00
2	800–850	818	271.00	271.00
19	900–950	925	253.00	253.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
8	700–750	728	268.00	268.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
16	400–450	428	362.50–405.00	388.39
11	450–500	454	365.00–380.00	374.58
4	600–650	620	284.00–285.00	284.74
4	650–700	691	252.50–301.00	279.22
1	700–750	705	260.00	260.00
3	750–800	754	267.00–273.00	271.00
2	800–850	830	230.00	230.00
10	850–900	877	233.00	233.00
2	900–950	930	222.00	222.00
2	1000–1050	1,040	212.00	212.00
1	1050–1100	1,055	212.50	212.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	400–450	418	370.00	370.00
5	450–500	480	349.00–350.00	349.38
1	500–550	535	310.00	310.00
1	550–600	570	302.50	302.50
1	1050–1100	1,050	210.00	210.00
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	1150–1200	1,183	197.50–199.50	199.16
2	1200–1250	1,218	174.00	174.00
Bulls — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	750–800	753	240.00	240.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	360	360.00	360.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	8	—	1,269	2,850.00–2,975.00	2,924.86
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	5	—	1,537	2,550.00	2,550.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	6	—	1,186	1,900.00–2,200.00	2,102.59
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	5	—	1,400	2,050.00–2,100.00	2,070.78
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	1	—	1,120	2,800.00	2,800.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	2	—	1,308	2,400.00	2,400.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	25	—	1,305	2,100.00–2,325.00	2,315.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	5	—	1,465	2,250.00	2,250.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	20	—	1,242	1,750.00–1,960.00	1,920.10
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	5	—	1,208	1,800.00	1,800.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	262	—	1,026	179.00–244.00	210.62
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	210	—	1,169	144.00–222.50	171.22
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	12	—	1,475	145.00–179.00	151.37
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	16	—	913	190.00–220.00	201.05
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	17	—	1,116	142.00–172.50	152.68
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,038	140.00	140.00
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	5	—	800	200.00–240.00	214.60

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
59	—	1,131	109.00–134.00	122.24
146	—	1,154	132.00–145.50	142.45
78	—	1,187	146.00–149.00	146.49
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,015	135.00	135.00
1	—	2,045	140.00	140.00
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	900	98.00–118.00	107.87
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	1,696	122.00–143.50	135.15
3	—	1,707	150.50–154.00	152.55
29	—	1,665	142.00–150.00	144.89
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
57	—	1,578	148.00–150.00	148.15
43	—	1,731	131.00–140.00	138.98
68	—	1,583	141.50–145.00	143.99
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
54	—	1,445	131.00–145.50	141.05
1	—	1,395	95.00	95.00
9	—	1,475	117.00–134.50	125.10
8	—	1,420	147.00–160.00	150.34
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
30	—	1,167	108.00–129.00	118.84
1	—	1,275	146.00	146.00
10	—	1,185	82.50–100.00	95.04
11	—	1,233	132.00–141.00	139.11
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
179	—	1,406	131.00–147.00	142.83
118	—	1,296	147.50–152.00	149.00
33	—	1,417	113.00–134.00	126.88
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	2,613	193.00	193.00
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	2,074	182.00–194.00	187.40
1	—	1,955	171.00	171.00
22	—	1,922	159.00–179.00	166.28
23	—	1,761	139.00–159.00	150.71
Bulls — Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
29	—	2,084	180.50–181.50	181.47
31	—	2,002	169.00–178.00	176.86
59	—	1,476	145.00–154.00	150.50
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,156	137.50–142.00	141.58
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,400	160.00–162.00	160.75
7	—	1,642	137.00–156.00	147.25
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,378	109.00	109.00
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,522	120.00	120.00
1	—	1,570	85.00	85.00

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

More

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

The state in one line