State summaries / Montana / Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary / 2025-04-07

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Apr 7

● As filed118 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

State summary

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 118 priced lines covering 1,783 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 638 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 916 head. replacement cattle receipts at 584 head. Counted as USDA files them — 61 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Apr 7, 2025

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 638Last week 4,924Year ago 706

Slaughter CattleReceipts 916Last week 754Year ago 436

Replacement CattleReceipts 584Last week 407Year ago 310

Compared to last week: Feeder steer and heifer calves were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on all offerings. Every sale this past week was an all class sale with no feeder specials. Offerings were very light. Demand was mostly good despite light offerings. A moderate size crowd was on hand for every sale with both ranchers and order buyers in the market. Feeder cattle quality was mostly plain to average with a limited offering of attractive feeders seen. Quality overall was significantly less attractive than the previous weeks sales. CME feeder and live cattle positions continue to show high volatility with large price swings in either direction. The April contract closed Friday at 285.175 on Friday, 4.125 higher than last Fridays close. The May contract closed at 278.70, 3.825 higher than last Fridays close; the August closed at 283.675, 2.625 higher than last Fridays close. Package sizes were mostly small with many singles noted. Market activity this week was mostly active with takers both in the seats and over the internet actively bidding on limited offerings. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Regional packers, major packers and private cow feeders 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 mostly steady to 2.00 higher, boning cows sold 2.00 to 4.00 higher, lean cows sold 6.00-10.00 higher. The volume of cows going to immediate harvest is very small, but was larger this week compared to last week as packers all showed a stronger need for cows for immediate harvest. Feeding cows demand was very good this week. One sale had as many as 9 feeding cow buyers in the stands all with active orders. Canadian cow feeders were back in the market this week and they showed very good demand for young to middle age high quality cows. Some blemished cows continue to go to feed or to grass until cow supplies shorten, however with a slight increase in the number of cows going to slaughter, the number of blemished cows going to feed lightened this week. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher on all classes. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 1.00 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 3.00-5.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady to 5.00 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

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	450–500	488	400.00	400.00
5	500–550	501	355.00	355.00
1	650–700	660	298.00	298.00
3	700–750	742	288.00	288.00
2	750–800	780	278.00	278.00
1	1000–1050	1,005	235.00	235.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	750–800	778	248.00	248.00
1	900–950	920	235.00	235.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	750–800	786	254.00–285.00	261.71
1	950–1000	975	224.00	224.00
3	1000–1050	1,003	226.00	226.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1000–1050	1,020	237.00	237.00
5	1050–1100	1,068	227.00–236.00	228.81
9	1100–1150	1,124	222.50–231.00	226.35
3	1150–1200	1,197	206.00	206.00
3	1250–1300	1,298	192.00	192.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	700–750	725	237.50	237.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1050–1100	1,095	218.00	218.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	350–400	379	380.00–397.50	386.97
43	400–450	446	342.50–362.50	344.08
27	450–500	480	331.00–377.00	365.80
5	500–550	530	310.00–330.00	321.94
6	550–600	568	308.00–312.50	309.51
7	600–650	620	280.00–290.00	284.76
11	650–700	681	280.00–284.00	281.82
3	700–750	715	268.00	268.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	275	465.00	465.00
7	350–400	392	402.50	402.50
4	400–450	410	375.00	375.00
4	450–500	477	351.00–360.00	355.39
13	500–550	532	340.00–345.00	344.62
21	550–600	570	313.00–337.00	325.00
27	600–650	613	305.00–322.00	320.57
3	650–700	653	290.00	290.00
45	700–750	703	279.00–286.00	285.22
10	750–800	778	272.50	272.50
7	800–850	813	259.00	259.00
2	850–900	888	252.50	252.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	390	330.00	330.00
2	500–550	503	315.00	315.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
6	750–800	778	259.00	259.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	250–300	284	440.00	440.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	400–450	421	421.00	421.00
14	550–600	567	346.00–370.00	366.00
5	600–650	611	330.00–342.00	337.09
3	650–700	690	310.00–311.00	310.67
9	700–750	722	299.00–305.00	302.25
4	750–800	793	285.00–290.00	286.23
1	800–850	825	280.00	280.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	300–350	329	455.00–490.00	469.79
9	400–450	423	390.00–422.50	411.30
10	450–500	466	390.00–405.00	398.74
45	500–550	541	365.00–375.00	370.20
2	550–600	568	350.00–355.00	352.53
3	650–700	690	305.00–306.00	305.33
2	700–750	720	288.00–293.00	290.53

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	500–550	535	320.00	320.00
1	800–850	825	260.00	260.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
3	800–850	843	264.00	264.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12	500–550	508	371.00	371.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
4	650–700	699	293.00	293.00
10	800–850	841	264.00	264.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	500–550	503	325.00	325.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	750–800	752	276.00	276.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

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	—	1,290	155.00	155.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	92	—	1,185	152.00–229.50	184.08
(<2 yrs)	Open	235	—	1,022	185.00–269.00	226.85

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	9	—	853	279.00	279.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	798	245.00	245.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,280	180.00	180.00
(<2 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,302	175.00–184.50	181.81

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	13	—	1,014	170.00–239.00	204.83
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	15	—	1,037	148.00–215.00	175.26

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	7	—	800	231.00–239.00	232.89

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,044	204.00–227.00	209.10

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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	6	—	1,507	2,975.00–3,000.00	2,979.18
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	4	—	1,152	2,400.00–2,450.00	2,422.64
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	8	—	1,320	3,000.00–3,300.00	3,152.76

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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	15	—	1,502	2,700.00–2,725.00	2,701.58
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	7	—	1,348	2,050.00–2,200.00	2,132.74

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	3	—	1,537	2,450.00	2,450.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	54	—	1,153	4,200.00–4,300.00	4,286.82

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	5	—	1,550	4,100.00	4,100.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,838	3,600.00	3,600.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,058	2,400.00	2,400.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	2,074	181.00–201.00	189.71
28	—	1,881	160.00–182.00	174.62
1	—	1,835	175.00	175.00
6	—	2,288	188.00–194.00	189.09
14	—	1,630	141.00–159.00	153.93

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,534	140.00–163.00	154.96
31	—	1,583	162.00–180.00	170.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,323	137.00–146.00	141.70

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	1,497	151.00–160.00	154.88
63	—	1,444	139.00–153.00	146.65
17	—	1,446	122.00–140.00	134.03

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
77	—	1,192	136.00–156.00	150.60
35	—	1,105	117.50–144.00	132.90
26	—	1,211	157.00–166.00	159.48

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,133	146.00–152.00	150.47
6	—	1,164	139.00–146.00	142.61
18	—	1,201	112.50–136.00	124.37
3	—	1,140	105.00	105.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
68	—	1,501	150.00–159.00	154.25
2	—	1,688	143.00	143.00
5	—	1,495	163.00	163.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	960	100.00–122.00	108.92
1	—	800	92.50	92.50
3	—	932	126.00–142.50	132.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
165	—	1,406	139.00–161.00	155.91
115	—	1,392	151.00–168.00	163.97
21	—	1,309	114.00–148.00	139.91

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,623	155.00–160.00	158.93
14	—	1,719	151.00–159.00	155.07
9	—	1,675	137.50–147.50	143.46

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,921	149.00	149.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,276	104.00–137.00	121.27

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,905	145.00	145.00

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.