State summaries / Montana / Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary / 2025-05-05

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, May 5

● As filed135 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

State summary

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

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	400–450	419	357.50–422.50	381.05
16	500–550	534	322.50–338.00	328.56
11	550–600	558	325.00–330.00	327.28
8	600–650	617	297.50–326.00	317.24
18	650–700	662	277.50–306.00	297.47
3	850–900	887	241.00	241.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	300–350	318	330.00	330.00
3	350–400	375	305.00	305.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
20	550–600	582	250.00	250.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	500–550	540	321.00	321.00
1	550–600	550	302.50	302.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	550–600	558	290.00	290.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
3	850–900	853	242.00	242.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
3	500–550	548	197.50	197.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12	500–550	543	350.00–355.00	353.76
18	600–650	619	324.00–340.00	328.12
14	650–700	661	305.50	305.50
23	700–750	725	296.00–297.00	296.30
6	750–800	783	272.00	272.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	200–250	248	502.50	502.50
11	300–350	310	425.00	425.00
56	400–450	406	352.50–385.00	369.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	400–450	418	340.00	340.00
12	450–500	476	300.00	300.00
5	650–700	652	289.00	289.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	400–450	445	415.00	415.00
6	450–500	464	400.00–415.00	410.15
8	500–550	510	370.00–387.50	377.49
7	550–600	567	340.00–361.00	348.94
7	600–650	633	327.50–341.00	337.98
50	650–700	664	309.00–345.00	339.42
2	700–750	743	310.00	310.00
26	750–800	762	317.00	317.00
5	800–850	847	279.00	279.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	600–650	616	310.00–324.00	313.93
3	700–750	723	301.00	301.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
13	800–850	821	249.00–254.00	250.51

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	350–400	388	365.00	365.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
8	450–500	456	270.00	270.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	950–1000	970	267.50	267.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	550–600	580	360.00–377.50	371.52
1	600–650	620	355.00	355.00
10	650–700	680	327.00	327.00
11	700–750	722	314.00–320.00	317.44

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
7	550–600	569	282.50	282.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
14	350–400	393	435.00	435.00
21	400–450	428	410.00–450.00	444.16
9	450–500	461	407.00	407.00
9	550–600	559	375.00	375.00
14	600–650	626	341.00	341.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	250–300	257	442.50	442.50
10	300–350	314	420.00	420.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	500–550	500	345.00	345.00
6	550–600	578	320.00–337.50	325.83
2	600–650	640	295.00	295.00
6	750–800	753	270.00	270.00
6	900–950	925	230.00–235.00	232.48
3	950–1000	968	202.00	202.00
5	1000–1050	1,028	221.00–225.00	224.19

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	1050–1100	1,061	235.00–238.00	236.51
15	1100–1150	1,125	219.00–224.00	221.58
6	1200–1250	1,242	185.00–205.00	201.74
2	1250–1300	1,283	180.00	180.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	1150–1200	1,180	181.00	181.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	400–450	425	417.50	417.50
1	800–850	830	267.00	267.00
1	850–900	865	246.00	246.00
11	900–950	919	241.00–246.00	243.68
1	950–1000	960	246.00	246.00
1	1000–1050	1,020	238.00	238.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	300–350	313	430.00	430.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,158	3,100.00	3,100.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,302	3,500.00	3,500.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	27	—	1,546	3,325.00–3,500.00	3,425.78
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,317	3,750.00	3,750.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,573	2,925.00	2,925.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	42	—	1,473	2,850.00–3,275.00	3,055.75

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,273	2,800.00	2,800.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,643	3,800.00	3,800.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	94	—	1,253	4,150.00–4,425.00	4,305.86
(<2 yrs)	Open	42	—	1,278	3,900.00–4,500.00	4,421.11

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifer Pairs — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	12	—	1,046	3,500.00	3,500.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	9	—	805	225.00–242.50	235.38

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	7	—	1,060	175.00–272.50	193.82
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,185	163.00	163.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	150	—	1,107	161.00–245.00	193.53
(<2 yrs)	Open	257	—	950	185.00–280.00	247.75
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	12	—	1,230	155.00–171.00	162.43

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	41	—	1,045	152.00–205.00	171.17
(<2 yrs)	Open	37	—	942	181.00–245.00	213.20

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	3	—	855	205.00–210.00	206.73

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)	18	—	1,479	2,700.00–3,025.00	2,899.70

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	4	—	1,391	2,400.00	2,400.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	18	—	1,264	3,150.00–3,600.00	3,357.24
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	9	—	1,153	2,500.00	2,500.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	26	—	1,539	2,850.00–3,250.00	3,014.75
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,625	2,500.00	2,500.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	7	—	1,501	2,500.00	2,500.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	13	—	1,473	2,800.00–3,300.00	3,115.92

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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	1,175	2,400.00	2,400.00

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)	1	—	1,475	2,750.00	2,750.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	7	—	1,225	1,975.00–2,000.00	1,986.95

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)	5	—	1,067	3,200.00–3,300.00	3,259.51
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,325	2,550.00	2,550.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	N/A	8	—	1,273	195.00–202.50	200.57

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,071	100.00–106.00	104.47
35	—	1,176	110.00–129.00	121.19
7	—	1,199	130.00–140.00	131.86

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
87	—	1,181	144.00–158.00	153.35
40	—	1,184	159.00–166.00	161.37
97	—	1,144	116.00–147.50	133.32

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
189	—	1,399	147.00–161.00	155.49
57	—	1,364	160.00–166.00	161.62
56	—	1,463	124.00–148.00	142.54

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,415	118.00–135.00	126.76
18	—	1,473	135.00–148.00	142.85
3	—	1,568	155.00	155.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	1,663	140.00–146.00	141.47
34	—	1,556	144.00–159.00	155.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	2,005	142.00	142.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	918	105.00–130.00	112.84

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,594	147.00–152.50	151.11
9	—	1,732	130.50–146.00	137.78

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
38	—	1,574	160.00–182.00	173.10
22	—	1,490	151.00–167.00	161.44

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,585	199.50	199.50
1	—	2,720	179.00	179.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,270	137.00	137.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,595	184.00	184.00
33	—	1,937	165.00–186.00	175.80
14	—	1,754	141.00–172.00	160.81
17	—	2,103	183.00–205.00	191.15
1	—	1,825	150.00	150.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,040	117.50–140.00	128.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,230	127.00	127.00

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.