Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Mar 31
● As filed147 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 147 priced lines covering 5,451 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 4,924 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 754 head. replacement cattle receipts at 407 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Mar 31, 2025
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 4,924Last week 777Year ago 5,526
Slaughter CattleReceipts 754Last week 956Year ago 470
Replacement CattleReceipts 407Last week 244Year ago 592

Compared to last week: Feeder steer and heifer calves were all too lightly tested the previous week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Only two sales were held the previous week and this week two sales offered feeder specials. Offerings were moderate. Demand was mostly very good. Feeder cattle quality was average to very attractive. Quality overall was significantly more attractive than the previous weeks sales. Many backgrounded cattle were seen this week, however many of these cattle were developed for grass and in mostly light flesh. Demand for these offerings was good to very good. Several ranchers were in the stands this week looking for cattle to run on grass this summer. Buyers gave strong premiums for light and thin fleshed cattle as these will see quick, compensatory gains at turn out time. Package sizes were mostly moderate to large this week with several load lots and partial load lots noted. Demand for replacement heifers was light to moderate as buyers showed concern that high input costs will not overcome the value they need to receive for these cattle as bred heifers this fall or next spring. Packer buyers were very aggressive as they purchased large heifers to feed, with some feeding heifers outselling replacements on some sales. CME feeder and live cattle positions ended the week on a sour note as outside market forces weakened the entire cattle complex. Cattle supplies remain tight but traders showed concern over a potential downturn in the economy and packers ability to keep selling meat at these price levels. The April contract closed Friday at 279.425 on Friday, 7.50 lower than last Fridays close. The May contract closed at 274.875, 10.30 lower than last Fridays close; the August closed at 281.050, 8.625 lower than last Fridays close. Market activity this week was mostly active with large crowds on hand at all the sales this week. Bidding was rapid with bidders both on the internet and in the stands actively trying to buy cattle. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for moderate to heavy 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 were not tested this week. Breaking cows sold 6.00-9.00 higher, boning and lean cows sold steady to 5.00 higher. The volume of cows going to immediate harvest is very small. Feeding cows sold on very good demand this week as private buyers and packer buyers both showed very good demand for cows to feed. Many blemished cows continue to go to feed or to grass until cow supplies shorten. Feeding cows sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00 to 5.00 higher. A portion of the bull offering continues to be purchased to feed, especially light weight, thin bulls which could see quick improvements to yield. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally 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 again 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$ per cwt · actual wt
250–10090900.00900.00
1350–400360500.00500.00
8650–700697284.00284.00
9750–800759262.50–279.00277.14
4850–900858253.00–257.50254.12
7900–950915244.00–257.50247.06
71000–10501,017223.00–242.00233.73
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11050–11001,060227.00227.00
21100–11501,100221.00–227.50224.25
21150–12001,175209.00–219.00213.98
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
21200–12501,248187.50187.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9400–450440397.50–402.50398.06
2600–650608307.50307.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
11600–650627346.00346.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2400–450443365.00365.00
1450–500485350.00350.00
1500–550510345.00345.00
4550–600587342.50342.50
7600–650628322.00322.00
7650–700656284.00284.00
8750–800763274.00274.00
4800–850804258.00258.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1300–350305530.00530.00
15400–450414437.50–455.00444.78
38450–500467407.50–412.50409.09
132500–550526391.00–411.00397.05
102550–600580357.00–387.00374.76
282600–650627340.00–364.00350.83
63650–700672321.00–339.50327.87
194700–750732300.75–318.00308.22
111750–800770289.50–303.50296.11
96800–850809280.00–293.50292.01
8850–900882276.00–281.00279.78
16900–950915270.00–274.00272.23
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8350–400370430.00–465.00445.68
2400–450430420.00–425.00422.47
14450–500475400.00–405.00404.65
57500–550535360.00–380.00376.39
60550–600590324.00–352.50331.50
63600–650621320.00–340.00329.76
19650–700666313.00–327.50315.95
60700–750710287.50–305.00301.80
11750–800786280.00–282.50280.68
8800–850835271.00–278.00274.49
3950–1000955244.00244.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3450–500457400.00400.00
21600–650637313.00–340.00327.27
4700–750703279.00279.00
7800–850831265.00265.00
Steers — Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
51050–11001,078231.00231.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
16750–800776283.00–288.00285.38
13850–900877261.00–267.00264.16
16900–950903260.00260.00
10950–1000974252.00–256.00254.38
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
35650–700650362.00362.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
9450–500454382.50382.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6350–400395362.00362.00
4400–450415320.00320.00
3450–500488302.50302.50
8500–550542322.50322.50
3550–600588277.50277.50
3600–650632260.00260.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3600–650612312.00312.00
7650–700697279.00279.00
21750–800780258.50258.50
3800–850815252.00252.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5550–600586316.00316.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4300–350338447.50447.50
4350–400389415.00–420.00416.27
31400–450422393.00–415.00399.78
63450–500468360.00–395.00381.84
143500–550531331.00–372.00358.61
217550–600565330.50–355.00349.92
668600–650623312.00–336.00322.64
454650–700664304.00–315.25312.64
160700–750717274.00–300.50296.76
95750–800770275.00–287.50283.72
71800–850822267.00–277.00272.44
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2300–350323407.00407.00
10350–400369395.00–400.00397.11
33400–450433350.00–375.00368.05
14450–500494342.50–359.00350.40
39500–550533312.50–345.00330.74
70550–600573300.00–332.50316.01
32600–650638286.00–313.00305.52
23650–700678291.00–295.00293.46
16700–750720273.00–281.00277.46
6750–800768268.00268.00
4800–850814253.00–259.00256.04
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
3750–800793255.00255.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
6500–550544340.00340.00
72600–650636311.50–312.50312.29
12650–700675292.50–299.00296.88
22700–750728275.50–281.00278.49
9750–800774266.00266.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
1500–550500375.00375.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
71650–700698311.00311.00
247700–750716293.50–310.50303.57
28700–7507132,100.002,100.00
31750–8007592,275.002,275.00
48750–800760280.00–287.00283.45
69800–8508002,310.002,310.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6350–400387380.00380.00
4450–500491350.00350.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)31,5232,400.002,400.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)31,4022,625.002,625.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)11,3352,300.002,300.00
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)29551,900.001,900.00
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)51,1782,800.002,800.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)51,0152,725.002,725.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)61,2262,100.002,100.00
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)21,463155.50155.50
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open91,028162.50–218.00193.29
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open1920152.50152.50
Young (2-4 yrs)Open21982160.00–225.00188.49
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1361,112152.00–233.00194.59
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open41,274153.00–158.00156.76
(<2 yrs)Open129981186.00–265.00231.89
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open231,055225.00–236.00227.22
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open3837162.50–250.00202.66
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)N/A21,088241.00241.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)31,2633,000.003,000.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
71,496121.00–136.00128.99
11,38599.0099.00
321,470132.00–152.00143.97
61,514154.00–160.00157.94
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
31,542151.00–153.00152.31
71,555157.00–160.00158.56
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1171,401140.00–158.50153.34
701,409154.00–166.00159.20
41,416134.00–136.00134.97
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
221,696150.50–156.00153.13
71,598155.00–160.00158.16
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2893102.50–105.00103.65
8944105.00–127.00114.21
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
581,215152.00–159.00155.95
1191,210140.00–154.00148.93
781,098119.00–143.00135.78
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
131,137107.50–130.00120.77
61,09090.00–101.0097.08
61,169131.00–144.00138.95
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
331,800160.00–184.00175.98
121,752135.00–161.00151.75
92,094182.50–197.00188.24
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
101,452134.50–162.00151.16
51,413162.00–166.00164.00
Dairy Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
11,305151.00151.00
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.