Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Apr 29
● As filed152 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

State summary

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 152 priced lines covering 4,110 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 2,676 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 634 head. replacement cattle receipts at 2,066 head. Counted as USDA files them — 540 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Apr 29, 2024
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 2,676Last week 1,548Year ago 724
Slaughter CattleReceipts 634Last week 495Year ago 1,205
Replacement CattleReceipts 2,066Last week 613Year ago 792

Compared to last week: Too few sales were seen last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on steers under 550 lbs, while steady to higher undertones were noticed on steers over 550 lbs. All heifers sold with steady undertones. Feeder cattle were mostly offered in small to moderate size packages, with a few partial loads and load lots seen. Demand for full load lots was very good. Cattle suitable to develop on grass continue to sell with the best demand, and most cattle sold this week were marketed as grass cattle. Most cattle on offer were lightly fleshed, fleshy cattle sold with a large discount. Demand was mostly good to very good for light to moderate offerings. CME positions sold off throughout the week. The May feeder cattle contract closed Friday at 243.30, down 5.70 from last Friday. August closed at 254.75 down 5.80 from last Friday. Market activity this week was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on good demand for light offerings. Packers showed good demand for slaughter cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold fully steady on breaking cows; boning and lean cows sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher. The biggest increase in price this week was seen on lower yielding cows which private feeders were looking for for quick compensatory gain and packers were buying for immediate harvest. Packers continue to show good demand for cows suitable to feed. Feeding cow demand was mostly good with private feeders and packers both competing over high quality offerings. Feeding cows all sold steady to 3.00 higher, again the biggest value increase this week was from lower yielding thinner cows. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Several sets of very high quality reputation offerings were seen this week as ranchers culled cows. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Demand remains good to very good for high quality offerings which buyers are looking to rebreed. Young two year old heifers which have not calved yet sold with a 8.00-12.00 discount to ones which lost calves.

Replacement Cattle

As reported
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Young (2-4 yrs)Open113—1,117120.00–188.00155.50
(<2 yrs)Open318—981149.00–212.00184.95
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
(<2 yrs)Open9—755180.00–205.00199.34
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
(<2 yrs)Open2—1,068147.00–190.00165.73
Stock Cows — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
(<2 yrs)Open2—693117.50117.50
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
(<2 yrs)Open17—740147.50–188.00175.99
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
(<2 yrs)Open24—922135.00–187.50169.93
Young (2-4 yrs)Open15—976125.00–162.50138.12
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)11—1,3092,650.002,650.00
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)3—1,1103,000.003,000.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)3—1,2331,850.001,850.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)9—1,3052,525.00–2,675.002,605.30
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)11—1,4992,325.00–2,450.002,358.25
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)2—1,1882,425.002,425.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)2—1,6031,900.001,900.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Aged (>8 yrs)Open45—1,4672,200.00–2,650.002,490.23
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open24—1,4003,375.00–3,500.003,483.04
Young (2-4 yrs)Open110—1,3913,500.00–3,750.003,618.60
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open13—1,0513,175.003,175.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open85—1,4722,600.00–3,500.003,015.18
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Young (2-4 yrs)Open17—1,2112,975.00–3,125.003,034.11
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open4—1,4852,825.002,825.00
Aged (>8 yrs)Open7—1,2892,250.002,250.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open16—1,6042,350.00–2,550.002,432.94
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Aged (>8 yrs)Open11—1,2451,900.001,900.00
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
(<2 yrs)Open150—1,1943,275.00–3,750.003,470.50
(<2 yrs)Open27—1,0813,500.003,500.00
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
(<2 yrs)Open31—1,0332,800.00–3,000.002,909.94
Bred Heifers — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)10—8982,300.00–2,350.002,305.35
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)2—1,2602,175.002,175.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per head · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
7650–700688260.00260.00
44700–750742248.00–258.00249.08
58750–8007801,900.00–1,960.001,954.88
74750–800757243.50–249.00246.69
21850–9008772,010.002,010.00
5850–900873221.50221.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
11550–600565261.00261.00
30800–850824226.50226.50
3900–950942211.00211.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
5350–400392292.50292.50
4400–450441285.00285.00
18450–500463255.00–262.50258.84
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
8400–450409331.00–332.50332.11
50500–550513292.00–296.00295.19
187550–600581279.50–292.50285.81
53600–650610270.00–281.50278.56
68650–700667251.00–273.50266.35
44700–750711246.00–260.00255.61
98750–800762239.00–249.00242.66
10800–850823224.50–231.00227.97
4850–900876214.00214.00
16950–1000973213.50213.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
5600–650603274.50274.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
3300–350322330.00330.00
12350–400352327.50327.50
17400–450408320.00320.00
11450–500481292.50–300.00296.65
40500–550516280.75–296.00287.43
35550–600582250.50–280.00264.79
48600–650635251.50–271.00259.05
15650–700684218.00–256.00243.26
10700–750729233.00–247.00243.08
17750–800785214.00–236.00228.14
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
5700–750749244.00244.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
6600–650633223.00223.00
13750–800764221.00221.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
250–10090400.00400.00
5150–200150450.00–500.00470.00
3500–550505299.00299.00
5550–600569290.00–310.00306.13
2650–700668245.00245.00
4700–750724248.00–265.00253.71
9750–800763229.00–244.00234.00
15800–850822220.00–239.00237.76
4850–900884191.00191.00
1900–950925212.50212.50
8950–1000969214.00–219.00216.60
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
3600–650625260.00260.00
2700–750743225.00225.00
6900–950902222.50222.50
6950–1000981212.00–215.00213.01
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
81000–10501,031212.50–216.00215.20
11050–11001,070207.00207.00
141100–11501,115176.00176.00
61150–12001,174174.00–192.00185.36
11200–12501,225180.00180.00
21250–13001,278171.00171.00
11300–13501,310161.00161.00
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
21250–13001,275155.00155.00
Bulls — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
10600–650624270.00270.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
21500–550505346.00–367.50356.37
80550–600575310.50–339.00328.86
95600–650611290.00–315.00311.13
211650–700664280.00–303.00296.51
76700–750722268.00–279.00270.86
254750–800778250.25–265.50254.37
4800–850801250.50250.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
11650–700695265.00265.00
16850–900867226.00–232.00228.80
17900–950921219.00–221.50220.76
71000–10501,026215.00215.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
2500–550500290.00290.00
10600–650622275.50275.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
3300–350347380.00380.00
12350–400370367.50–380.00372.54
17450–500497322.50–347.50331.16
30500–550520316.00–332.50325.71
32550–600593293.00–308.00299.25
2600–650638286.50286.50
27650–700690250.00–279.00270.17
49700–750715247.50–266.00262.24
17750–800770246.00–249.00247.52
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
2650–700673267.00267.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
11650–700675283.00283.00
8700–750713240.00240.00
2850–900878224.00224.00
61050–11001,051215.50215.50
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
3500–550518317.50317.50
19550–600574290.00–315.00300.27
5600–650606310.50310.50
2750–800780235.00235.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
4800–850813240.00240.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
1—2,120120.00120.00
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
1—1,675129.00129.00
19—1,575133.00–139.50135.62
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
6—1,113127.00–136.00133.81
37—1,152105.00–119.00109.88
9—1,13691.00–98.0095.22
16—1,182117.00–133.00123.97
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
2—1,710140.00–141.00140.52
4—1,818119.00–125.00123.04
5—1,654133.00–139.00135.62
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
27—1,433136.50–144.00137.62
12—1,474112.00–122.00117.11
28—1,389124.00–137.00132.19
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
1—955109.00109.00
1—80090.0090.00
7—84197.50–112.50106.47
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
47—1,396136.00–139.00137.24
206—1,363124.00–138.00131.13
17—1,420118.00–129.00123.14
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
35—1,171112.00–121.00117.11
51—1,199127.00–139.50134.21
108—1,194121.00–134.00126.31
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
1—1,285140.00140.00
3—1,348114.00–131.00124.34
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
8—1,391115.00–140.00133.43
7—1,494135.00–150.00146.46
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
47—1,611116.00–139.00130.21
2—1,595127.00–132.00129.58
52—1,866136.00–154.00145.82
27—2,082147.00–165.00156.63
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.