Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Apr 28
● As filed172 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 172 priced lines covering 4,424 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 3,202 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 782 head. replacement cattle receipts at 1,718 head. Counted as USDA files them — 442 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Apr 28, 2025
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 3,202Last week 1,530Year ago 2,676
Slaughter CattleReceipts 782Last week 543Year ago 634
Replacement CattleReceipts 1,718Last week 423Year ago 2,066

Compared to last week: Feeder steer sold mostly 10.00-20.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Feeder heifers all sold generally steady to firm. Quality this week was mixed with lots of variation noticed. Offerings were light to moderate. Demand was mostly good to very good. CME positions gave support to the market again this week as higher feeder cattle contract prices gave buyers additional market support. The May contract closed Friday at 294.95, 9.425 higher than last Fridays close. The August closed Friday at 296.90, 7.75 higher than last Fridays close and the September closed Friday at 295.55, 7.55 higher than last Fridays close. Quality this week was mixed from plain to very attractive. Many cattle were out of backgrounding lots but were in light to very light flesh as most were developed to sell as grass cattle. Cattle too heavy to go to grass sold on mostly good demand as packers and private feeders both showed good demand for high quality offerings. A moderate size crowd was on hand for every sale with both ranchers and order buyers in the market. The internet was active this week with several buyers noticed. Market activity this week was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Regional packers and major packers and private cow feeders continue to show good demand for high quality cattle. Regional packers are purchasing their cattle for immediate harvest while major packers are purchasing cows mostly to feed. Breaking cows sold mostly 2.00 lower, boning cows sold 3.00-5.00 lower, lean cows sold generally steady to weak. The volume of cows going to immediate harvest is very small, as packers have backed off slaughter cow prices and many feeding cow buyers are buying blemished cows to feed. Feeding cows demand was very good again this week. Canadian cow feeders remain a large player in all auction markets pushing packer buyers to own high quality feeding cows. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to weak as packer buyers tried to buy cows lower this week. Packers have been operating in the red for weeks and are trying to buy cows lower in order to get prices back in line with profits from the cutout and drop values. Too few cows were seen with too many buyers fighting over limited offerings for prices to lower with any significance. Cows started the week lower, but improved in price as the week progressed and buyers pushed to fill loads. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 4.00 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. Feeding bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher. Buyers looking for light weight and lower yielding bulls to feed helped push lower yielding bulls higher this week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady 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 again this week as many try to buy cows to use as recips or to rebreed. Additionally, feeding buyers were in the market this week buying cows to blend onto fed loads. This helped improve the cost of cows with slight blemishes as many of these offerings had short ears or tails of poor bags.

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)Open41,1412,100.002,100.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open451,5163,450.00–3,850.003,641.61
Young (2-4 yrs)Open581,2794,300.00–4,525.004,438.90
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open131,4034,100.004,100.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open181,4653,000.00–3,300.003,181.96
Young (2-4 yrs)Open401,2513,900.00–4,500.004,419.13
Aged (>8 yrs)Open271,4752,750.00–2,975.002,922.71
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)Open541,4512,950.00–3,600.003,388.52
Aged (>8 yrs)Open141,3202,650.00–2,875.002,768.68
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open61,7233,300.00–3,450.003,371.97
Young (2-4 yrs)Open41,5053,725.003,725.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open41,6763,600.003,600.00
Aged (>8 yrs)Open21,4702,550.002,550.00
Young (2-4 yrs)Open21,1883,075.003,075.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open31,4683,050.003,050.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open31,3553,850.003,850.00
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open1111,1224,050.00–4,300.004,248.32
(<2 yrs)Open271,1183,400.00–4,500.004,175.39
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open41,1533,700.003,700.00
(<2 yrs)Open31,2983,600.003,600.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open111,183161.50–172.50164.96
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1851,117160.00–242.00197.86
(<2 yrs)Open211990190.00–279.00240.26
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open111,080187.50187.50
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open2798205.00205.00
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open11,000202.50202.50
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open31907210.00–245.00224.66
Young (2-4 yrs)Open401,005160.00–212.50186.10
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1805180.00180.00
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open3752230.00230.00
Stock Cows — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open3727115.00115.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)231,5002,700.00–3,000.002,846.42
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)81,5572,500.00–2,700.002,579.31
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)11,1602,400.002,400.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)101,1452,500.00–2,950.002,653.50
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)71,3462,850.00–3,000.002,905.58
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)171,3273,000.00–3,600.003,289.08
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)121,5192,600.00–2,900.002,714.63
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)21,5432,100.002,100.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)81,1582,700.002,700.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)51,4862,800.00–2,850.002,831.29
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fancy$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)51,2463,350.003,350.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)51,0373,000.00–3,100.003,061.43
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)11,130234.00234.00
Bred Heifers — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)39732,900.002,900.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
131,443135.00–148.00140.88
1751,411150.00–162.00158.13
631,366160.00–168.00162.23
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
181,686133.00–149.00145.07
61,641159.00–163.00160.56
311,622149.00–159.00156.92
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
341,486159.00–167.00161.22
11,685115.00115.00
151,434140.00–152.50147.35
131,449120.50–140.00132.32
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
41,598152.00–157.00153.75
61,723139.00139.00
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
541,214147.00–160.50155.76
421,235159.00–166.00161.03
311,152125.00–148.00138.74
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
291,142157.00–164.00160.03
71,219145.00–157.00153.20
161,168110.00–145.00127.11
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
4831102.50–107.50106.15
6897105.00–123.00116.23
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
22,333176.00176.00
361,844169.00–186.00178.07
172,143185.00–207.00193.72
151,686145.00–170.00156.56
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12,565179.50179.50
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
301,475145.00–167.50158.81
281,621168.00–183.00174.60
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
41,589118.00–131.00127.46
21,348163.50163.50
21,715133.00133.00
Dairy Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
11,800146.00146.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
95450–500480435.00–437.50436.56
51500–550507402.50–438.00417.41
165550–600577360.00–404.50388.46
152600–650611350.00–378.00370.84
139650–700681332.00–344.00340.84
22700–750734309.00–335.00318.15
64750–800777299.00–304.50302.07
195800–850841297.75–306.00297.92
61850–900884281.00–300.00284.00
4900–950936271.00271.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5300–350325460.00–465.00461.89
29350–400391459.00–467.00460.60
26400–450431387.50–450.00436.71
20450–500485370.00–425.00397.65
29500–550521360.00–407.50381.64
15550–600579370.00–375.00371.82
43650–700693310.00–317.50316.04
6700–750746308.00308.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3300–350313430.00430.00
4450–500460387.50387.50
3500–550535355.00355.00
6650–700653265.00265.00
2700–750720290.00290.00
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6500–550521312.50312.50
8600–650626290.00290.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9400–450433419.00419.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
4550–600559355.00355.00
51000–10501,015243.00243.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9550–600585326.00–352.50334.58
2600–650600327.50327.50
3700–750722296.00296.00
1850–900875274.00274.00
Steers — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
101100–11501,104237.00237.00
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5350–400368390.00390.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5450–500463370.00370.00
119500–550516350.00–361.00355.75
114550–600564340.00–355.00350.37
51600–650628314.00–336.50326.12
81650–700662303.00–319.00308.04
173700–750719292.50–303.50297.01
52750–800764285.00–292.00291.33
50800–850824267.00–278.00272.12
3850–900878266.00266.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4350–400394360.00360.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3300–350318400.00400.00
42400–450421367.00–397.50376.95
62450–500473340.00–360.00351.06
84500–550529330.00–342.00335.78
38550–600589311.00–332.00326.00
52600–650639297.00–310.00304.89
17650–700676277.50–302.50292.08
3700–750737278.00278.00
25750–800766266.00–280.00276.62
7800–850834253.00253.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4400–450408337.50337.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4400–450440340.00340.00
16450–500486290.00–325.00304.80
35500–550544280.00–315.00305.39
3550–600593314.00314.00
15600–650609282.50–284.00283.68
9700–750726258.00258.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
5700–750713222.50222.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
26750–800779300.00300.00
76800–850805284.00–302.00296.93
30850–900870269.00269.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3450–500498356.00356.00
2850–900853258.00258.00
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8300–350348330.00330.00
20450–500476312.50312.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
12650–700678289.00289.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
12550–600593300.00–327.50313.63
24700–750728273.00–280.00273.58
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3450–500470355.00355.00
17700–750742282.00282.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
350–10095450.00450.00
5100–150105500.00500.00
8700–750724297.00297.00
16800–850807272.00272.00
17850–900890265.00265.00
1900–950915249.00249.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2500–550540335.00335.00
8600–650642295.00–325.00313.78
6800–850847230.00230.00
9950–1000961233.00–239.50238.77
101000–10501,031216.00–227.50225.67
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
15350–400391400.00400.00
7450–500474370.00370.00
12550–600573310.00310.00
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
41050–11001,059228.00–239.00233.47
71100–11501,126225.50225.50
91150–12001,179202.50–224.00211.31
101200–12501,205209.00209.00
11250–13001,255200.00200.00
11300–13501,340184.00184.00
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11050–11001,070230.00230.00
81150–12001,175202.00–205.00203.49
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.