Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, May 5
● As filed135 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 135 priced lines covering 2,323 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 887 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 958 head. replacement cattle receipts at 1,292 head. Counted as USDA files them — 237 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon May 5, 2025
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 887Last week 3,202Year ago 525
Slaughter CattleReceipts 958Last week 782Year ago 591
Replacement CattleReceipts 1,292Last week 1,718Year ago 671

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Offerings were light. Demand was mostly good to very good. Quality and light sales receipts limited demand this week. Fewer buyers were also in the seats this week as no feeder specials occurred. CME positions continue to press higher as packers continue to fight over limited market ready cattle. Feeder cattle reached all time record highs again this week. The May contract closed Friday at 297.975, 3.025 higher than last Fridays close. The August closed Friday at 300.30, 3.40 higher than last Fridays close and the September closed Friday at 299.025, 3.475 higher than last Fridays close. Many cattle were out of backgrounding lots and were cutbacks for one reason or another. Many unreportable, blemished cattle were seen this past week as producers cleaned out lots. The internet was active this week with several buyers noticed. Market activity this week was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Major packers and private cow feeders continue to show good demand for high quality cattle to feed. Regional packers showed lighter demand for cows for immediate harvest this week, especially fat cattle. Breaking cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 lower, boning and lean cows sold 4.00-6.00 lower. The volume of cows going to immediate harvest remains 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 steady to weak early in the week, however demand improved as the week progressed, ending the week fully steady. Too few cows were seen with too many buyers fighting over limited offerings for prices to fall. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower. 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 1.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady to firm. Quality this week was mostly average, with a limited offering of attractive young cows noticed. Many young cows on offer were slightly blemished and were purchased to feed this week. Very few sets of heifers which lost calves sold this week. Demand from rebreed buyers was very good again this week, however quality limited demand at most sales.

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6400–450419357.50–422.50381.05
16500–550534322.50–338.00328.56
11550–600558325.00–330.00327.28
8600–650617297.50–326.00317.24
18650–700662277.50–306.00297.47
3850–900887241.00241.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5300–350318330.00330.00
3350–400375305.00305.00
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
20550–600582250.00250.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2500–550540321.00321.00
1550–600550302.50302.50
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4550–600558290.00290.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
3850–900853242.00242.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
3500–550548197.50197.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12500–550543350.00–355.00353.76
18600–650619324.00–340.00328.12
14650–700661305.50305.50
23700–750725296.00–297.00296.30
6750–800783272.00272.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5200–250248502.50502.50
11300–350310425.00425.00
56400–450406352.50–385.00369.75
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2400–450418340.00340.00
12450–500476300.00300.00
5650–700652289.00289.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2400–450445415.00415.00
6450–500464400.00–415.00410.15
8500–550510370.00–387.50377.49
7550–600567340.00–361.00348.94
7600–650633327.50–341.00337.98
50650–700664309.00–345.00339.42
2700–750743310.00310.00
26750–800762317.00317.00
5800–850847279.00279.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
7600–650616310.00–324.00313.93
3700–750723301.00301.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
13800–850821249.00–254.00250.51
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4350–400388365.00365.00
Steers — Medium 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
8450–500456270.00270.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1950–1000970267.50267.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3550–600580360.00–377.50371.52
1600–650620355.00355.00
10650–700680327.00327.00
11700–750722314.00–320.00317.44
Steers — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
7550–600569282.50282.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
14350–400393435.00435.00
21400–450428410.00–450.00444.16
9450–500461407.00407.00
9550–600559375.00375.00
14600–650626341.00341.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5250–300257442.50442.50
10300–350314420.00420.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10500–550500345.00345.00
6550–600578320.00–337.50325.83
2600–650640295.00295.00
6750–800753270.00270.00
6900–950925230.00–235.00232.48
3950–1000968202.00202.00
51000–10501,028221.00–225.00224.19
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
61050–11001,061235.00–238.00236.51
151100–11501,125219.00–224.00221.58
61200–12501,242185.00–205.00201.74
21250–13001,283180.00180.00
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
21150–12001,180181.00181.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1400–450425417.50417.50
1800–850830267.00267.00
1850–900865246.00246.00
11900–950919241.00–246.00243.68
1950–1000960246.00246.00
11000–10501,020238.00238.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4300–350313430.00430.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open21,1583,100.003,100.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open31,3023,500.003,500.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open271,5463,325.00–3,500.003,425.78
Young (2-4 yrs)Open31,3173,750.003,750.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open41,5732,925.002,925.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)Open421,4732,850.00–3,275.003,055.75
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)Open61,2732,800.002,800.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open21,6433,800.003,800.00
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open941,2534,150.00–4,425.004,305.86
(<2 yrs)Open421,2783,900.00–4,500.004,421.11
Heifer Pairs — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open121,0463,500.003,500.00
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open9805225.00–242.50235.38
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open71,060175.00–272.50193.82
Young (2-4 yrs)Open11,185163.00163.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1501,107161.00–245.00193.53
(<2 yrs)Open257950185.00–280.00247.75
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open121,230155.00–171.00162.43
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open411,045152.00–205.00171.17
(<2 yrs)Open37942181.00–245.00213.20
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open3855205.00–210.00206.73
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)181,4792,700.00–3,025.002,899.70
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)41,3912,400.002,400.00
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)181,2643,150.00–3,600.003,357.24
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)91,1532,500.002,500.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)261,5392,850.00–3,250.003,014.75
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)21,6252,500.002,500.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)71,5012,500.002,500.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)131,4732,800.00–3,300.003,115.92
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)11,1752,400.002,400.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)11,4752,750.002,750.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)71,2251,975.00–2,000.001,986.95
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)51,0673,200.00–3,300.003,259.51
(<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)11,3252,550.002,550.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)N/A81,273195.00–202.50200.57

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
121,071100.00–106.00104.47
351,176110.00–129.00121.19
71,199130.00–140.00131.86
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
871,181144.00–158.00153.35
401,184159.00–166.00161.37
971,144116.00–147.50133.32
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1891,399147.00–161.00155.49
571,364160.00–166.00161.62
561,463124.00–148.00142.54
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
131,415118.00–135.00126.76
181,473135.00–148.00142.85
31,568155.00155.00
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
221,663140.00–146.00141.47
341,556144.00–159.00155.99
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
22,005142.00142.00
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
6918105.00–130.00112.84
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
111,594147.00–152.50151.11
91,732130.50–146.00137.78
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
381,574160.00–182.00173.10
221,490151.00–167.00161.44
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12,585199.50199.50
12,720179.00179.00
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
11,270137.00137.00
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
12,595184.00184.00
331,937165.00–186.00175.80
141,754141.00–172.00160.81
172,103183.00–205.00191.15
11,825150.00150.00
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
21,040117.50–140.00128.75
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
11,230127.00127.00
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.