State summaries / Montana / Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary / 2025-01-13

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Jan 13

● As filed208 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

State summary

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 208 priced lines covering 7,630 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 6,698 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 1,210 head. replacement cattle receipts at 1,237 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Jan 13, 2025

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 6,698Last week 4,879Year ago 1,614

Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,210Last week 860Year ago 450

Replacement CattleReceipts 1,237Last week 268Year ago 153

Compared to last report(12-16-24): Steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Steers 450 lbs and heavier sold mostly steady to 10.00 lower, except 500-549 lbs which sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifers under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market however steady undertones were noticed. Heifers 450 lbs and heavier sold steady to 8.00 lower. Demand was mostly good for heavy offerings. Ranchers continue to market cattle early as many are opting to sell cattle due to very good market conditions. CME positions have moved higher since the holidays fueled by higher slaughter cattle prices. The January contract closed Friday at 273.50, 1.15 higher than last Fridays close. The March contract closed Friday at 268.05, 1.35 lower than last Fridays close. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Package sizes were mostly moderate this week as several sales had feeder cattle specials. A large crowd of bidders were at the sale ringside as well as over the internet actively bidding on offerings. Market activity was active as a result. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers showed slightly stronger demand for slaughter cows compared to last week as they showed need for cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold steady to 4.00 higher on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold unevenly steady from 2.00 lower to 3.00 higher. Feeding cow demand remains very good. Private buyers and packer buyers both showed very good demand for any cows suitable to feed. Even slightly lame or slightly blemished cows sold to feeding buyers. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 1.00 higher on both short term and high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average. A large portion of the young cow offering was purchased to feed this week.

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	300–350	340	445.00–475.00	464.27
29	350–400	379	415.00–465.00	431.78
11	400–450	441	377.50–387.50	384.85
71	450–500	476	350.00–375.00	363.17
24	500–550	519	321.00–357.00	341.63
104	550–600	588	290.00–337.00	312.97
37	600–650	624	287.00–309.00	296.09
17	650–700	671	279.00–306.00	287.04
9	700–750	735	275.00–285.00	278.89
12	750–800	774	259.00–278.00	263.65

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	450–500	474	315.00	315.00
23	550–600	576	281.00	281.00
5	600–650	608	271.00	271.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	275	530.00	530.00
5	300–350	322	470.00–510.00	483.30
14	350–400	362	458.00–495.00	472.60
116	400–450	416	394.00–453.00	430.88
257	450–500	472	370.00–417.50	388.32
346	500–550	527	347.00–389.00	368.31
539	550–600	574	330.00–355.00	345.36
502	600–650	621	305.00–336.50	326.03
242	650–700	685	290.00–310.00	300.73
210	700–750	718	280.00–308.50	297.87
23	750–800	771	270.00–284.00	275.23
134	800–850	833	260.00–270.00	266.68
8	850–900	883	261.00–264.00	263.62
30	900–950	931	256.00	256.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
49	600–650	603	341.50	341.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	350–400	386	447.50	447.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	500–550	540	312.50	312.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
18	600–650	608	277.00–305.00	286.61
40	700–750	709	272.50–286.00	274.60
14	750–800	794	254.00–276.00	271.30
3	1150–1200	1,170	222.00	222.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	400–450	425	345.00	345.00
5	450–500	482	325.00–350.00	339.84
5	550–600	589	297.50	297.50
4	700–750	741	283.00	283.00
3	750–800	797	264.00	264.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	300–350	325	465.00	465.00
26	400–450	441	367.50–375.00	371.91
13	450–500	478	345.00–363.00	355.40
28	500–550	521	320.00–355.00	345.88
115	550–600	578	316.50–328.00	323.09
48	600–650	637	305.00	305.00
11	750–800	750	265.00	265.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	400–450	445	383.00	383.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	400–450	441	270.00	270.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	300–350	344	378.00	378.00
8	350–400	363	355.00–375.00	365.69
45	400–450	420	320.00–347.50	344.72
20	450–500	471	305.00–325.00	313.53
64	500–550	526	300.00–319.00	311.28
17	550–600	577	285.00–294.00	288.64
14	600–650	632	244.00–280.00	265.12
20	650–700	670	253.00–261.00	257.42
11	700–750	723	234.00–244.00	238.96
2	850–900	873	231.00	231.00
16	900–950	929	202.00–230.00	215.99
10	950–1000	974	215.00	215.00
7	1000–1050	1,030	210.00	210.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
10	350–400	384	375.00–400.00	382.42
142	400–450	436	349.00–390.00	360.35
240	450–500	474	329.00–358.00	345.84
523	500–550	520	319.00–346.00	329.90
293	550–600	578	292.00–324.00	303.94
227	600–650	624	285.00–299.50	296.13
116	650–700	677	263.00–287.00	270.83
51	700–750	719	253.00–264.00	259.65
33	800–850	816	241.00–252.00	247.27
20	850–900	874	238.00	238.00
5	900–950	949	230.00	230.00
1	950–1000	970	233.00	233.00
15	1000–1050	1,023	221.00	221.00
5	1050–1100	1,091	119.00–213.00	156.66
6	1100–1150	1,142	209.50	209.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	400–450	443	320.00	320.00
4	450–500	461	272.50	272.50
4	500–550	545	267.50	267.50
3	550–600	597	271.00	271.00
5	600–650	608	233.00–255.00	237.49

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
17	400–450	443	312.50	312.50
23	450–500	485	310.00–329.00	313.40
16	500–550	537	275.00–295.00	293.30
13	550–600	574	280.00–286.00	282.79
17	600–650	600	278.00	278.00
3	650–700	680	259.00–263.00	260.30
6	800–850	840	220.00	220.00
22	1050–1100	1,067	205.00–208.00	207.32

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
15	650–700	651	293.00	293.00
30	750–800	778	257.00	257.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
69	550–600	554	339.50	339.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	350–400	365	320.00	320.00
17	400–450	424	312.50–340.00	328.60
9	450–500	462	315.00	315.00
6	500–550	530	312.00	312.00
3	550–600	569	292.50	292.50
3	650–700	682	255.00	255.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	350–400	393	312.50–355.00	326.28
24	400–450	430	285.00–315.00	288.60
2	600–650	623	245.00	245.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
74	500–550	504	348.50	348.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
3	800–850	817	222.00	222.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
2	650–700	698	255.00	255.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
2	600–650	625	249.00	249.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	450–500	463	345.00	345.00
17	500–550	521	320.00–360.00	327.16
1	550–600	570	322.50	322.50
6	600–650	625	280.00–290.00	285.02
4	650–700	683	254.00–282.50	268.15
2	700–750	748	209.00	209.00
1	950–1000	975	226.00	226.00
3	1050–1100	1,050	224.00	224.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	250–300	270	515.00	515.00
2	350–400	360	430.00	430.00
6	450–500	456	372.50	372.50
5	500–550	530	340.00	340.00
18	550–600	594	274.00–309.00	293.48
7	650–700	671	270.00	270.00
3	700–750	717	275.00	275.00
12	750–800	758	244.00	244.00
10	850–900	869	252.00–256.00	253.62
1	1000–1050	1,005	219.00	219.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	300–350	343	465.00	465.00
6	500–550	517	357.50	357.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	400–450	433	345.00	345.00
5	550–600	561	305.00	305.00
6	1200–1250	1,209	199.00	199.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	850–900	868	244.00	244.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	985	151.00	151.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	1	—	965	112.50	112.50
(<2 yrs)	Open	197	—	1,027	143.00–212.50	185.70
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	68	—	1,074	132.00–212.00	159.93

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	880	152.50	152.50

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	11	—	985	137.50–195.00	163.10
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	15	—	933	127.50–170.00	141.48

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	738	130.00–190.00	157.66

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	7	—	797	202.00–215.00	203.62

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	4	—	1,313	1,800.00	1,800.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	34	—	1,216	1,900.00	1,900.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	94	—	1,403	2,075.00–2,485.00	2,288.53
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	6	—	1,401	2,925.00	2,925.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	8	—	1,390	2,000.00–2,050.00	2,036.58
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	10	—	1,194	2,700.00–2,750.00	2,728.20
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	35	—	1,171	2,425.00–2,850.00	2,816.70
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	9	—	1,110	2,700.00	2,700.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	4	—	1,356	2,400.00	2,400.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	8	—	1,261	2,425.00	2,425.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	2	—	1,090	2,200.00	2,200.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	2	—	1,475	1,750.00	1,750.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	8	—	1,496	2,375.00–2,675.00	2,490.60

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	31	—	1,220	2,400.00–2,675.00	2,507.15
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,250	2,250.00	2,250.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	5	—	1,306	1,700.00–2,200.00	1,987.75
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	12	—	1,329	1,700.00–1,800.00	1,775.79
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	12	—	1,376	1,850.00–2,050.00	1,884.58
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	5	—	1,152	2,300.00–2,450.00	2,363.92

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	5	—	958	2,150.00	2,150.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	12	—	959	2,025.00–2,700.00	2,478.75

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium 2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	11	—	924	1,100.00–1,350.00	1,188.97

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Small and Medium 2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	5	—	661	775.00	775.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	2	—	770	800.00	800.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	10	—	1,211	1,500.00–1,775.00	1,722.18
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	25	—	1,339	1,625.00–1,950.00	1,840.25

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	11	—	1,059	1,450.00	1,450.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	8	—	1,389	1,900.00–2,050.00	2,030.57
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	92	—	1,466	2,000.00–2,375.00	2,163.89

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	73	—	952	2,825.00–2,975.00	2,908.32
(<2 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	9	—	1,208	3,000.00	3,000.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	2	—	1,023	2,250.00	2,250.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	867	1,700.00	1,700.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	38	—	873	2,535.00	2,535.00
(<2 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	13	—	865	1,400.00–1,850.00	1,811.76

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,575	111.00	111.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,405	146.00	146.00
39	—	1,701	116.00–140.00	131.12
26	—	1,842	140.00–155.00	144.92
2	—	2,153	150.00–161.00	154.83

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,280	135.00	135.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,640	131.00–140.00	135.89
11	—	1,391	142.00–157.00	145.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
38	—	1,422	99.00–117.00	112.29
97	—	1,437	130.00–139.75	135.76
224	—	1,392	117.00–133.00	127.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	858	91.00–100.00	93.17
5	—	939	75.00–85.00	78.41
4	—	895	93.00–113.00	103.39

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	1,409	106.00–125.00	117.05
12	—	1,489	115.00–140.50	132.36
30	—	1,386	91.00–111.00	102.40

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,125	132.00	132.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	1,093	67.50–88.00	81.09
55	—	1,130	87.00–104.00	95.19
3	—	1,127	123.00–125.00	124.00
14	—	1,196	108.00–122.00	113.28

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,940	120.00	120.00
144	—	1,568	118.00–135.00	127.21
10	—	1,629	131.00–148.00	142.06

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,603	92.00–101.00	96.68
48	—	1,529	117.00–136.50	124.86
9	—	1,608	105.00–126.00	113.25
8	—	1,783	137.50–142.00	139.38

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
29	—	1,210	129.00–134.00	130.75
69	—	1,152	93.00–117.50	108.37
107	—	1,186	116.00–129.00	123.41

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,683	92.00	92.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,310	108.00	108.00
2	—	1,270	80.00	80.00

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.