Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 6, 2025

6,007 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary report →

light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $339.10/cwt +24.08 vs last sale · ≈ $1,790/hd at 528 lb · 404 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $364.85/cwt +31.67 vs last sale · ≈ $1,689/hd at 463 lb · 239 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $278.22/cwt +19.26 vs last sale · ≈ $1,874/hd at 674 lb · 237 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 6,007 9,683 8,229
Feeder cattle 4,879 3,178 5,563
Slaughter cattle 860 1,337 1,496
Replacement cattle 268 5,168 1,170

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last report(12-16-24): Steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. 450-849 lbs steers sold mostly 12.00-20.00 higher. Heifers under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Heifers 450 lbs and heavier sold 15.00-25.00 higher. Demand was good to very good for this first week back following the holiday break. CME positions have moved higher since the holidays fueled by higher slaughter cattle prices. The January contract closed Friday at 272.35. The March contract closed Friday at 269.40. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Package sizes were mostly moderate this week as several sales had feeder cattle specials. Buyers bid aggressively as they pushed to fill loads. A large crowd of bidders were at the sale ringside as well as over the internet. 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 sales prior to the holidays. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 higher on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 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 5.00 higher on both short term and high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 4.00-7.00 lower as packers saw less competition from private feeders. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and lower in quality than the last sale.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
311–343 336 113 475.00–515.00 $482.20 $1,620 -24.54
363–380 369 12 435.00–470.00 $460.66 $1,700 +17.10
400–434 422 236 410.00–445.00 $421.28 $1,778 -6.83
454–496 470 203 371.00–405.00 $389.90 $1,833 +22.28
514 unweaned 514 5 361.00 $361.00 $1,856 +17.35
501–545 530 182 357.50–378.00 $362.39 $1,921 +10.57
550–594 567 196 326.50–365.00 $348.44 $1,976 +20.21
604–645 618 237 310.00–345.00 $331.25 $2,047 +18.95
657 unweaned 657 10 308.00 $308.00 $2,024 +6.32
655–683 671 218 306.00–321.00 $318.61 $2,138 +29.56
703–747 723 122 284.50–313.00 $294.58 $2,130 +4.30
759 759 12 269.00 $269.00 $2,042 —
757–784 780 58 278.00–283.00 $282.25 $2,202 —
802–847 819 35 260.00–273.00 $268.07 $2,195 +18.73
861–898 880 38 250.00–269.50 $266.70 $2,347 —
980 980 6 241.00 $241.00 $2,362 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375–385 380 10 417.50–429.00 $423.90 $1,611 +10.69
418–442 429 52 362.50–403.00 $378.50 $1,624 +53.50
463–486 482 24 357.50–376.00 $372.67 $1,796 +32.84
532–539 535 31 330.00–353.00 $348.78 $1,866 +22.76
560–594 571 18 310.00–325.00 $321.76 $1,837 +13.71
635–640 640 47 290.00–318.00 $316.82 $2,028 +26.85
661–690 665 16 261.00–290.00 $270.92 $1,802 -10.57
707–745 722 5 279.00–284.00 $281.94 $2,036 +10.41
760–763 760 15 272.00–278.00 $276.66 $2,103 +27.66
858 858 4 248.00 $248.00 $2,128 —
964 964 5 240.00 $240.00 $2,314 —
1007–1045 1017 21 226.00–234.50 $232.79 $2,367 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
284 284 13 465.00 $465.00 $1,321 —
441 441 6 364.00 $364.00 $1,605 —
712–732 724 23 265.00–276.00 $269.23 $1,949 —
882 882 9 249.00 $249.00 $2,196 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
398 398 6 385.00 $385.00 $1,532 +10.00
425 425 2 387.50 $387.50 $1,647 +12.50
478 478 4 310.00 $310.00 $1,482 -2.00
647 647 6 278.00 $278.00 $1,799 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
515 515 3 325.00 $325.00 $1,674 -9.00
568 568 3 287.50 $287.50 $1,633 —
686 686 4 268.00 $268.00 $1,838 —
1165 1165 7 215.00 $215.00 $2,505 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
311–349 344 89 400.00–412.00 $410.35 $1,412 +7.10
355–393 380 90 373.00–405.00 $385.57 $1,465 +21.12
410–446 435 230 347.50–379.00 $368.99 $1,605 +19.79
457 thin fleshed 457 82 382.00 $382.00 $1,746 —
465 unweaned 465 11 354.00 $354.00 $1,646 +29.76
451–493 466 146 332.00–378.00 $356.03 $1,659 +22.26
507–549 528 398 312.00–347.00 $338.95 $1,790 +24.44
528 thin fleshed 528 6 349.00 $349.00 $1,843 —
550–595 568 109 293.00–332.00 $311.94 $1,772 +19.02
572 unweaned 572 3 304.00 $304.00 $1,739 -5.33
603 fancy 603 20 319.00 $319.00 $1,924 —
601–635 626 123 289.00–306.00 $292.98 $1,834 +27.70
637 637 6 254.00 $254.00 $1,618 -11.28
650–698 673 230 267.00–291.00 $278.74 $1,876 +19.78
695 695 7 261.00 $261.00 $1,814 —
700–739 716 80 262.50–275.00 $266.74 $1,910 +29.74
754–786 762 29 256.00–266.00 $260.69 $1,986 +15.86
805–818 814 9 253.00–255.00 $253.66 $2,065 +4.85
821 fancy 821 11 261.00 $261.00 $2,143 —
855–868 857 15 240.00–251.00 $241.49 $2,070 +7.87
886 886 8 232.00 $232.00 $2,056 -1.62
958–997 989 17 230.50–233.00 $230.73 $2,282 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318 318 2 345.00 $345.00 $1,097 —
356–399 375 21 365.00–374.00 $370.40 $1,389 +17.94
431–448 441 28 344.50–357.00 $348.51 $1,537 +17.49
453–480 460 11 315.00–330.00 $320.53 $1,474 +15.46
500–515 503 42 310.00–322.00 $314.85 $1,584 +19.70
555–595 560 50 275.00–290.00 $285.88 $1,601 +24.34
604–626 615 9 281.00–284.00 $282.64 $1,738 +28.64
667 667 5 252.00 $252.00 $1,681 —
712–728 717 7 249.00–250.00 $249.71 $1,790 +9.71
765–797 788 35 244.00–250.50 $249.13 $1,963 +12.23
829 829 4 236.00 $236.00 $1,956 +3.83
872 872 6 231.00 $231.00 $2,014 —
920 920 2 233.00 $233.00 $2,144 +16.69
1040 1040 1 210.00 $210.00 $2,184 +8.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
319–320 319 26 347.50–355.00 $348.37 $1,111 —
359–399 373 33 337.50–380.00 $355.46 $1,326 —
423–448 428 52 320.00–357.00 $337.81 $1,446 +22.19
662–682 668 17 232.50–255.00 $240.47 $1,606 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
379 379 13 350.00 $350.00 $1,326 —
434–440 436 9 325.00 $325.00 $1,417 —
470 470 4 300.00 $300.00 $1,410 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100 1100 1 213.00 $213.00 $2,343 +8.84

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
387 387 3 410.00 $410.00 $1,587 —
482–484 483 14 342.50–360.00 $351.23 $1,696 +18.75
677 677 3 282.00 $282.00 $1,909 —
700–715 708 10 268.00–281.00 $274.43 $1,943 +34.43
802 802 3 248.00 $248.00 $1,989 —
1110 1110 3 206.00 $206.00 $2,287 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1242–1690 1357 80-85% 122 116.00–132.00 $126.58 $1,718 -3.61
1305–1560 1416 80-85% 10 96.00–107.00 $102.48 $1,451 -3.78
1315–1695 1439 80-85% 52 94.00–117.00 $112.77 $1,623 +6.51
1270–1750 1463 80-85% 89 131.00–144.00 $133.87 $1,959 +52.80
1555 1555 80-85% 1 91.00 $91.00 $1,415 —
1515–1810 1635 80-85% 8 108.00–117.00 $113.21 $1,851 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
730–930 822 85-90% 6 92.00–100.00 $94.17 $774 —
925 925 85-90% 1 87.50 $87.50 $809 —
988 988 85-90% 12 110.00 $110.00 $1,087 —
1125 1125 85-90% 2 88.00 $88.00 $990 +8.62
835–1280 1151 85-90% 19 70.00–89.00 $80.28 $924 -11.63
970–1305 1165 85-90% 61 96.50–117.00 $105.41 $1,228 +13.50
1020–1285 1175 85-90% 36 115.00–129.00 $120.86 $1,420 +15.83
1025–1388 1192 85-90% 25 89.00–105.00 $95.41 $1,137 -9.62
1125–1283 1220 85-90% 23 127.00–133.50 $129.12 $1,575 +0.33
1205–1305 1259 85-90% 6 105.00–115.00 $110.88 $1,396 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1266–1428 1408 75-80% 40 136.00–138.00 $137.78 $1,940 —
1545 1545 75-80% 1 131.00 $131.00 $2,024 —
1440–1700 1613 75-80% 3 131.50–133.50 $132.90 $2,144 —
1540–1790 1657 75-80% 12 118.00–130.00 $124.47 $2,062 +10.00
1890 1890 75-80% 1 115.00 $115.00 $2,174 —
1980 1980 75-80% 1 107.00 $107.00 $2,119 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1410 1410 1 105.00 $105.00 $1,480 —
1240–1685 1451 6 139.00–151.00 $146.36 $2,124 —
1325–1830 1470 8 122.00–138.50 $134.59 $1,978 —
1490–2350 1816 18 119.00–139.00 $129.79 $2,357 +0.87
1615–2395 2062 16 138.00–146.00 $143.30 $2,955 —
2180–2220 2200 2 150.00–150.50 $150.25 $3,306 -3.75
2510–2565 2538 2 136.00–139.00 $137.52 $3,490 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
920–1423 1086 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 91 132.00–185.50 $166.85 $1,812
810–1480 1099 (<2 yrs)Open 70 141.00–211.00 $167.81 $1,844
1373 1373 (<2 yrs)Open 2 173.00 $173.00 $2,375
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
830–1185 962 (<2 yrs)Open 6 129.00–192.50 $152.12 $1,463
1078–1095 1087 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 130.00–136.00 $133.02 $1,446

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
977 977 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 2,000.00 $2,000.00
987–1052 1044 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 25 2,250.00–2,300.00 $2,294.33
1266 1266 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 2,500.00 $2,500.00
1370 1370 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,400.00 $2,400.00
1423 1423 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 2,400.00 $2,400.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1160–1400 1350 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 1,500.00–1,875.00 $1,690.49
1400 1400 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 2,250.00 $2,250.00

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1400 1400 85-90% 3 95.00 $95.00 $1,330 —

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle scores — common across the Southeast.

What is $/cwt?

Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at $450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per cwt but less per head.

Why are some prices per head?

Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a $/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News — federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the official USDA document at the top of the page.