Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Mar 17
● As filed169 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 169 priced lines covering 4,566 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 3,632 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 846 head. replacement cattle receipts at 684 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Mar 17, 2025
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 3,632Last week 1,294Year ago 4,464
Slaughter CattleReceipts 846Last week 867Year ago 701
Replacement CattleReceipts 684Last week 417Year ago 167

Compared to last week: Steer calves were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher 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 all offerings. Demand was mostly good to very good for light to moderate offerings. Feeder cattle were mixed for quality from plain to attractive. Quality overall was more attractive than last weeks sales. CME positions continue to push higher as packers chase limited market ready cattle. As of Fridays close, negotiated cash sales were 7.00-8.00 higher at 210.00 in the south while trades in Nebraska and the western Cornbelt were 6.00-9.00 higher at 212.00-215.00, with dressed delivered trade 10.00 higher at 335.00. The cattle on feed was also released Friday and it showed cattle on feed down 2%, placements down 18% and marketings down 9%. CME positions continue to march higher as a parade of bullish news hit the market. The March feeder cattle contract closed Friday at 286.475, 4.50 higher than last Fridays close. The April contract closed at 284.975 on Friday, 3.775 higher than last Fridays close. Package sizes were mostly small to moderate this week, but larger than last week. A few loads or partial loads were seen. 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. A few packages of cattle that were developed for grass were seen this past week. These cattle were in light to thin flesh and buyers showed strong premiums for these cattle. Market activity this week was mostly active with large crowds on hand for all sales this week. Several ranchers were in the stands this week looking for cattle to run on grass. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Regional packers and major packers continue to show very good demand for high quality cattle. Regional packers are purchasing their cattle for immediate harvest while major packers are purchasing cows mostly to feed. Premium white fed cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher, breaking cows sold fully steady, boning and lean cows sold steady to weak in a very narrow comparison. Feeding cows sold generally steady on all cows going to feed. Many blemished cows continue to go to feed or to grass until cow supplies shorten. Slaughter bulls sold steady to firm on a higher quality offering. Very good demand from major packers was seen this week as bull quality was mostly attractive. 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
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1300–350325505.00505.00
30350–400355490.00490.00
21400–450418432.00–439.00435.53
125450–500476395.00–428.00415.65
44500–550539384.00–393.00389.24
184550–600575350.00–386.50377.75
67600–650628326.00–354.00341.49
95650–700670318.00–337.00329.42
43700–750718300.50–319.00311.03
148750–800763288.00–301.00296.50
16800–850817274.00–280.00278.09
68850–900856269.00–280.00279.37
15900–950907262.00–271.00264.45
9950–1000982258.00–266.00263.37
71050–11001,054245.00245.00
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
81000–10501,023223.00223.00
61050–11001,077249.00249.00
71150–12001,179209.50209.50
221200–12501,202206.25206.25
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4300–350339445.00–490.00456.45
17350–400384432.50–470.00449.31
22400–450440407.50–410.00409.54
9450–500470390.00–416.00402.01
12500–550527340.00–370.00362.60
34600–650629321.00–335.00333.14
25700–750736280.00–290.00284.44
3750–800788279.00–285.00282.98
2800–850810276.00276.00
3900–950922258.00258.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14800–850815261.00261.00
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1250–300250380.00380.00
4350–400394222.50222.50
4400–450420225.00225.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3400–450408420.00420.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3600–650620331.00331.00
5750–800775283.00283.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
7700–750740288.00288.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
63400–450426472.00472.00
33600–650630370.00370.00
5650–700656354.00354.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
45800–850816274.50–275.00274.60
10950–1000968245.00–252.00247.14
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4300–350335380.00380.00
1350–400395425.00425.00
6400–450440407.50407.50
23450–500487380.00–392.50385.39
16500–550524355.00355.00
30550–600593328.00–355.00328.84
11700–750720285.00285.00
2750–800785252.50252.50
2800–850843252.50252.50
8900–950918235.00–256.00244.87
1950–1000965240.00240.00
21000–10501,038236.00236.00
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
41150–12001,168205.00–215.00211.84
11200–12501,230202.50202.50
11250–13001,260195.00195.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1300–350325405.00405.00
5700–750740265.00265.00
6750–800798249.00–255.00251.00
1800–850815242.50242.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3550–600592265.00265.00
4650–700674255.00255.00
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6550–600587280.00–284.00282.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4250–300278442.50442.50
40350–400379390.00–415.00396.93
70400–450412375.00–401.00394.45
247450–500477350.00–381.00364.33
93500–550533333.00–349.00338.75
174550–600588317.00–338.00328.95
86600–650624295.00–316.00306.45
102650–700677290.00–296.50292.55
3700–750725272.50–287.50277.46
12750–800791265.00265.00
4800–850803257.00257.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
3850–900872249.00249.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
22800–850815272.50272.50
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6350–400389370.00370.00
6450–500493337.50337.50
4650–700663277.50277.50
2800–850815254.00254.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2550–600573307.50307.50
4650–700670274.00274.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5300–350339375.00–400.00379.72
15350–400379370.00–400.00387.49
20400–450434350.00–366.00357.92
50450–500474340.00–352.50343.91
18500–550533310.00–335.00323.77
74550–600588292.00–322.50306.90
10650–700670274.00–280.00274.94
13750–800771245.00–260.00256.55
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2350–400370345.00345.00
19600–650644267.50267.50
4650–700666266.00266.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
106500–550537361.00361.00
251600–650622299.00–349.00332.18
42650–700682285.00–297.00291.60
10650–7006882,075.002,075.00
174700–750727295.00–300.00298.79
10750–8007702,175.002,175.00
10750–800764283.00283.00
10800–8508492,200.002,200.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
14950–1000990216.00–222.00219.02
Beef/Dairy Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2750–800778252.00252.00
33800–850836251.00–264.00253.64
6900–950918240.00240.00
31050–11001,050236.00236.00
Beef/Dairy Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8750–800769242.00242.00
13850–900853241.00241.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
81,583139.50–152.00148.41
61,563156.00156.00
31,613141.00141.00
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1421,461149.50–160.00153.34
281,415122.00–136.00131.92
651,392138.00–150.00144.62
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
191,480133.00–149.00139.99
191,468101.00–132.00124.49
101,505149.00–157.00152.63
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
11,100111.00111.00
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
121,666141.00–149.00145.66
11,555159.00159.00
61,605132.00–141.00136.43
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
31,17085.00–102.0093.76
41,223131.00–132.50131.62
191,136106.00–127.00115.07
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
1541,624146.50–151.00148.89
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
301,143110.00–133.00123.47
211,206148.50–153.50149.46
581,194135.00–148.00142.86
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1083081.00–117.50103.65
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
221,576132.00–161.50154.37
211,490157.00–177.00163.79
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
31,263130.00–139.50136.89
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
321,870152.00–181.00171.97
191,568139.00–163.00147.34
132,155184.00–200.00188.03
82,248163.00–182.00178.41
11,950183.00183.00
Bulls — Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
11,690172.00172.00
111,805177.00177.00
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12,710172.00172.00
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
11,300121.00121.00
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
31,458119.00119.00

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)61,1522,700.00–3,000.002,952.24
(<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)11,2652,975.002,975.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open1181,028181.00–251.00217.58
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1321,138150.00–225.00185.77
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open31,232143.00–155.00148.34
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open11,645166.00166.00
(<2 yrs)Open131,043195.00–201.00197.90
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open1795220.00220.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open71,108175.00–202.00195.97
Young (2-4 yrs)Open33987135.00–185.00159.87
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)121,0982,400.00–2,600.002,434.75
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)611,2443,000.00–3,700.003,636.68
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)591,2352,800.00–3,010.002,955.40
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)461,4952,800.00–3,425.003,413.32
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)231,3792,650.00–3,000.002,960.81
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)11,5902,200.002,200.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)71,5163,025.003,025.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)561,2802,725.00–2,900.002,815.06
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)91,0222,250.00–2,400.002,290.13
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)21,2982,400.002,400.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)21,4102,100.002,100.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)141,2632,300.00–2,550.002,455.40
Bred Cows — Medium 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)38301,750.001,750.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)61,1661,650.00–2,100.001,875.77
Bred Cows — Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)41,6252,300.002,300.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)31,2332,300.00–2,400.002,339.46
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.