Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Mar 24
● As filed107 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 107 priced lines covering 1,624 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 777 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 956 head. replacement cattle receipts at 244 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Mar 24, 2025
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 777Last week 3,632Year ago 5,526
Slaughter CattleReceipts 956Last week 846Year ago 470
Replacement CattleReceipts 244Last week 684Year ago 592

Compared to last week: Feeder steer and heifer calves were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Only two sales were held this past week and no feeder specials were seen. Offerings were light as a result. Demand was mostly good to very good. Feeder cattle quality was mostly plain to average. Quality overall was not as attractive as last weeks sales. CME positions saw some resistance as prices pushed to all time highs, however prices continue to see week over week gains. The March feeder cattle contract settled at 286.76, 0.285 higher than last Fridays close. The April contract closed Friday at 286.925 on Friday, 1.95 higher than last Fridays close. The May contract closed at 285.175 and the August closed at 289.675. Package sizes were mostly small this week and buyers were forced to put together cattle to fill loads. Many sets of calves were cut backs off winter video sales. 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. Ranchers were active in bidding on cattle suitable to go to grass again this past week. Market activity this week was mostly active despite a small offering of feeder cattle. 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 generally steady. Breaking cows sold steady to firm, boning and lean cows sold steady to 3.00 higher in a very narrow comparison. Most of the increase in price on lean and boning cows was on low dressing cows as feeding buyers and slaughter buyers competed over offerings. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher 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 4.00 lower. Lighter demand was seen for slaughter bulls this week in places, while other sales saw just as good of demand as last week. A larger portion of the bull offering was purchased to feed this week as offerings were lighter in weight. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady to firm. 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
10400–450410430.00430.00
14450–500465417.50–419.00418.58
34500–550516393.00–403.00399.56
23550–600580347.50–367.50355.24
40600–650627325.00–348.00341.67
39650–700685319.50–320.00319.94
28700–750727305.00–308.00306.60
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2350–400383437.50437.50
16400–450441402.50–412.50406.07
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2650–700658305.00305.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2500–550535335.00335.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9300–350304425.00425.00
2500–550515387.50387.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
26500–550501380.00380.00
55550–600569346.00346.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11350–400384372.00–380.00377.24
25400–450428345.00–360.00349.69
16450–500468330.00–353.00342.11
12500–550528326.00–335.00328.86
7550–600564305.00–322.50313.74
3600–650628285.00–292.50289.93
9650–700672259.00–287.50280.08
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2200–250240470.00470.00
13400–450422370.00–385.00375.94
21450–500467350.00–372.50360.21
28500–550521340.00–353.00347.27
4550–600556336.00336.00
33600–650615300.00–313.00307.62
31650–700665294.00–301.00298.79
7700–750735279.00279.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
4750–800793240.00240.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2300–350333355.00355.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2450–500470340.00340.00
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2450–500480260.00260.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2500–550523300.00300.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7450–500469382.50382.50
1500–550520365.00365.00
5550–600555345.00345.00
11000–10501,025218.00218.00
11050–11001,070211.00211.00
51150–12001,180210.00210.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7350–400362400.00–425.00412.52
7400–450416380.00–405.00393.92
5450–500459345.00–375.00357.28
5600–650638285.00–295.00293.10
2850–900850237.00237.00
3900–950902229.00229.00
3950–1000993219.00219.00
11000–10501,025210.00210.00
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
41050–11001,087211.00–222.50213.83
31150–12001,198191.00191.00
11200–12501,220205.00205.00
11250–13001,255189.00189.00
51300–13501,316179.00–187.00182.37
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1350–400360365.00365.00
6450–500476325.00325.00
Bulls — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2700–750720262.00262.00
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
31150–12001,160180.00180.00
31250–13001,279162.50–172.50165.78

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open8934187.50–222.50206.03
Young (2-4 yrs)Open161,088150.00–195.00161.88
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open11,320161.00161.00
(<2 yrs)Open21,380180.00180.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open21,210149.00149.00
Young (2-4 yrs)Open871,102150.00–239.00192.74
(<2 yrs)Open45962182.00–240.00220.83
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open3770217.00217.00
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open11,045154.00154.00
Stock Cows — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open3798223.00223.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)51,4542,750.002,750.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)11,5102,850.002,850.00
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)261,3943,200.00–3,450.003,258.75
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)41,7452,600.002,600.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)61,7712,575.002,575.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)41,839148.00148.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)21,0402,500.002,500.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)71,3063,100.003,100.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
201,806139.00–157.00150.73
22,283189.00189.00
11,880162.00162.00
171,861154.00–178.00166.13
151,986169.50–195.00182.27
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12,520191.00191.00
12,790135.50135.50
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
111,694142.50–159.00149.65
201,604150.00–169.00165.33
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
171,437113.00–133.00125.96
101,452149.00–154.00151.98
341,489132.00–149.00141.71
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
71,658151.00–154.00152.01
261,681131.00–145.50143.58
371,616141.00–149.50147.14
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
351,249149.00–156.00149.57
431,164137.50–148.00144.50
171,161125.00–134.00131.92
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
71,519153.50–155.00153.86
1101,649147.00–152.50148.14
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
6796102.00–115.00108.83
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1681,400139.00–150.00147.11
241,417124.00–138.00132.62
501,455151.00–154.00151.46
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
21,638132.50–140.00136.18
361,514151.00–155.00153.57
431,547147.00–152.00149.01
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
121,182129.00–140.00133.55
101,093110.00–125.50120.96
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12,035147.00147.00
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.