Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Mar 10
● As filed136 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 136 priced lines covering 2,128 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 1,294 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 867 head. replacement cattle receipts at 417 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Mar 10, 2025
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 1,294Last week 3,291Year ago 1,135
Slaughter CattleReceipts 867Last week 1,392Year ago 849
Replacement CattleReceipts 417Last week 2,788Year ago 358

Compared to last week: Steer calves were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed on all offerings. Feeder heifers were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on heifers under 650 lbs, while steady undertones were noticed on heifers over 650 lbs. Demand was mostly good to very good for light offerings. Feeder cattle were mostly plain to average for quality, with a limited offering of attractive cattle seen. Quality overall was not as attractive as last week. Package sizes were mostly small to moderate this week with no load lots on offer. Packages were smaller than last weeks sale. Many sets of calves were cut backs off winter video sales. Several sets of backgrounded feeders were seen this week. Some of these cattle were moderate to fleshy and discounted as a result. Many backgrounded cattle were dirty and taggy as melting snow and mud continues to be an issue for cattle feeders. Demand for grass cattle continues to be very strong as differed CME positions continue to post large gains. CME positions traded mostly higher this week, spurred by higher direct slaughter cattle prices. In Nebraska and the Western Cornbelt slaughter cattle traded 3.00-5.00 higher at 205.00 on Friday. The March feeder cattle contract closed Friday at 281.975, 5.00 higher than last Fridays close. The April contract closed at 281.20 on Friday, 3.05 higher than last Fridays close. Despite light offerings of feeder cattle seen this week demand continues to be very good with large crowds on hand actively bidding on offerings. Market activity this week was mostly active as a result. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for moderate offerings. Regional packers and major packers continue to show very good demand for high quality cows. Regional packers are purchasing their cattle for immediate harvest while major packers are purchasing cows mostly to feed. Premium white fed cows sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher, breaking and boning cows sold steady to 5.00 higher, lean cows sold generally steady. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher on all high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Short term feeding cows sold unevenly steady on a mixed quality offering. Many blemished cows continue to go to feed or to grass until cow supplies shorten. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Very good demand from major packers was seen this week as bull quality was mostly attractive. Several sets of fed bulls were seen this week and were marketed as all natural. Fed bull quality was not as attractive this week as it was the past few weeks. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. 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
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1300–350345425.00425.00
2400–450413430.00430.00
1600–650640287.50287.50
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
31150–12001,155197.00–226.00216.29
11200–12501,240210.00210.00
11250–13001,255212.00212.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7300–350345435.00435.00
14350–400383415.00415.00
3400–450448405.00405.00
3550–600590320.00320.00
5650–700693285.00285.00
3700–750715290.00290.00
7750–800768263.00–274.00267.65
5800–850807260.00–262.00260.41
1850–900875238.00238.00
4900–950909245.00245.00
6950–1000957242.00242.00
21100–11501,123215.00–231.00222.98
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4550–600580317.50317.50
2700–750748267.50267.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
11600–650627304.00304.00
Bulls — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4700–750715264.00264.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3400–450418347.50347.50
8500–550523312.00312.00
2550–600565318.00318.00
1600–650605284.00284.00
3700–750745261.00261.00
4850–900894236.00236.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
181000–10501,035210.50210.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4350–400384380.00380.00
10400–450420337.50–365.00356.94
11450–500488341.00341.00
19500–550540315.00–333.00318.22
51550–600573304.00–320.00312.57
2600–650613285.00285.00
7700–750714260.00–265.00262.85
3750–800782254.00254.00
Heifers — Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
111100–11501,134197.00197.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3250–300282437.50437.50
3400–450433370.00370.00
35450–500464350.00–367.50362.41
53500–550528334.00–337.00335.35
41600–650632309.00–322.50313.50
118650–700686279.00–289.50287.69
10750–800772243.00–268.00257.89
12800–850806256.00–262.00261.49
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3300–350348345.00345.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
6550–600555346.00346.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
2550–600588304.00304.00
35700–750732259.00–261.00259.38
4800–850821232.00232.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2550–600590285.00285.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8450–500478320.00–330.00326.37
Heifers — Medium 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
4550–600584282.50282.50
Steers — Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
41100–11501,136175.00175.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1300–350310455.00455.00
2400–450413385.00385.00
3450–500483367.50367.50
5500–550532345.00–365.00351.93
20550–600587320.00–347.50324.95
15600–650639322.00–329.00324.52
4650–700683292.50–298.00293.82
11700–750716285.00–293.00287.68
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2650–700698308.00308.00
1700–750740282.50282.50
1750–800790280.00280.00
16850–900857249.00–256.00249.91
Steers — Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
111200–12501,222180.00–199.00186.96
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1300–350305505.00505.00
3350–400357500.00–505.00503.30
103400–450439430.25–440.00430.85
8450–500475390.00–400.00393.98
4500–550501377.50377.50
21550–600588341.00–376.00345.38
8600–650622329.00–331.00330.49
41700–750718296.00–309.00306.60
7750–800775287.00–293.00291.72
12800–850827282.00282.00
2850–900855273.00273.00
8900–950916260.00–268.00263.06
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
4650–700674312.00312.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
6800–850832272.00272.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
12400–450443405.00405.00
1600–650620285.00285.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3350–400392390.00390.00
1400–450420365.00365.00
2450–500498332.50332.50
4550–600563290.00290.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2450–500493340.00340.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)11,1652,700.002,700.00
(<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)21,0482,100.002,100.00
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open1885210.00210.00
Young (2-4 yrs)Open5893177.50177.50
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open29980146.00–195.00162.63
(<2 yrs)Open5945200.00–215.00208.55
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1581,115148.00–220.00178.16
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open111,196145.00–170.00157.92
(<2 yrs)Open1221,010173.00–259.00216.98
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open61,465157.00–183.00162.64
(<2 yrs)Open41,442162.00–181.00175.41
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open8750220.00–230.00223.65
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)41,1842,750.002,750.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)11,1902,700.002,700.00
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)61,1332,700.00–2,725.002,715.90
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)31,2872,200.002,200.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)21,2001,750.001,750.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
211,177101.00–131.00111.19
31,18895.00–103.0097.58
31,178129.00–135.00132.50
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
171,451110.00–135.00126.22
431,415129.00–149.50143.67
1371,503146.50–160.50157.56
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
591,198139.00–148.00142.92
281,217146.00–154.00150.00
421,153110.00–136.00125.00
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
711,496140.00–153.50144.82
161,684154.00–160.00157.46
161,698130.00–144.00137.46
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
541,405149.00–160.00152.94
941,379135.00–150.00143.47
311,448120.00–139.00129.78
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
586192.50–106.00100.98
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
621,584139.50–149.00143.27
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
411,481142.00–150.00142.20
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
21,208111.00–117.00114.23
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
22,023175.00–180.00177.46
151,806131.00–165.00150.37
301,899162.00–179.00168.98
72,041179.50–184.00182.03
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
22,533182.00–185.00183.51
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
11,370131.00131.00
Bulls — Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
31,745146.50–165.00156.92
161,916165.00–182.00173.86
11,980185.00185.00
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
21,523165.00–171.00168.08
11,370141.00141.00
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.