Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, January 27, 2025

6,119 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $298.70/cwt +2.49 vs last sale · ≈ $1,868/hd at 625 lb · 375 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $338.61/cwt +15.69 vs last sale · ≈ $2,088/hd at 617 lb · 353 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $322.07/cwt +10.29 vs last sale · ≈ $1,843/hd at 572 lb · 301 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 6,119 7,598 6,610
Feeder cattle 4,514 2,627 4,561
Slaughter cattle 1,139 454 1,587
Replacement cattle 466 720 462

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Steers 450-699 lbs sold mostly 5.00-15.00 higher; steers over 700 lbs sold mostly steady to 8.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Heifers under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Heifers 450-599 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Heifers over 600 lbs sold steady to 8.00 higher. Demand was mostly very good for light to moderate offerings. Higher fed cattle prices continues to spur demand for feeder cattle as feedlots attempt to fill empty bunk space. Many sets of cattle were purchased to develop into yearlings, either on California grass or southern wheat pastures. Canadian buyers were back in the market this week and showed very good demand for calves to ship into Canada to feed. CME positions traded sideways this week but saw strong support from higher fed cattle prices. The January contract settled at 281.68, 2.98 higher than last Fridays close. The March contract closed Friday at 275.725, 0.85 lower than last Fridays close. The April contract closed at 275.125 on Friday, 0.325 lower than last Fridays close. Quality this week was mixed from plain to very attractive, overall quality this week was not as attractive as last weeks offering. Package sizes were mostly small to moderate this week and not as large as last weeks sale. Cooperate packer feeders continue to show very good demand for all feeder cattle on offer. Packers remain active in buying cattle too big or slightly too fleshy to go to grass. Most of these cattle were purchased to put in feedlots. Market activity was active with all bidders quickly bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Regional packers showed stronger demand for fat, breaking flesh cows. This pushed fleshy cows higher as major packers and regional packers fought over offerings. Breaking cows sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher as a result. Boning and lean cows sold steady to 4.00 higher. Only blemished cows, not suitable to feed, were purchased to slaughter this week. Feeding cow demand remains very good and packers were back in the market this week buying cows to put away on feed. Private buyers and packer buyers were both very aggressive as they bid on cows to feed. Even slightly lame or slightly blemished cows sold to feeding buyers as they purchased these cows to put on a holding ration. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white sold mostly 3.00-8.00 higher. Thin short term feeding or holding cows sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 8.00-12.00 higher driven by strong demand from packers for immediate harvest. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to 5.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Very good demand was seen from feeder buyers this week as many try to blend these older offerings in with yearlings.

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
350–355 unweaned 353 5 415.00–430.00 $424.05 $1,497 —
355–381 365 15 454.00–490.00 $477.62 $1,743 +44.59
415 unweaned 415 2 415.00 $415.00 $1,722 —
425–445 441 25 420.00–440.00 $429.19 $1,893 +10.07
450–494 470 82 382.00–423.50 $395.70 $1,860 +10.65
460–494 unweaned 476 22 357.00–392.50 $379.87 $1,808 —
500 thin fleshed 500 7 403.00 $403.00 $2,015 —
500–538 517 252 360.00–396.00 $384.17 $1,986 +14.56
550–592 568 281 331.00–372.00 $360.76 $2,049 +15.86
573 573 4 332.50 $332.50 $1,905 -12.40
600–637 616 330 320.00–349.50 $339.70 $2,093 +16.78
613–627 625 23 322.50–325.00 $322.93 $2,018 +0.01
650–698 675 116 309.00–328.00 $317.44 $2,143 +22.44
693 693 4 294.00 $294.00 $2,037 -9.95
700–749 729 298 290.00–309.00 $303.00 $2,209 +1.27
755–799 769 110 280.50–298.00 $290.39 $2,233 +8.92
811–832 830 39 280.00–282.50 $280.39 $2,327 +5.32
850–880 861 22 271.00–274.00 $273.68 $2,356 +18.68
902 902 3 253.00 $253.00 $2,282 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320–347 343 13 420.00–480.00 $447.40 $1,535 —
350–397 380 33 395.00–432.00 $427.23 $1,623 +17.23
400–442 429 29 370.00–430.00 $391.71 $1,680 -1.23
452–494 474 48 345.00–390.00 $366.43 $1,737 +1.43
503–545 519 62 325.00–375.00 $361.22 $1,875 —
570–578 574 22 313.00–339.00 $326.01 $1,871 +3.57
613–645 624 53 292.00–326.00 $316.33 $1,974 +22.33
650–692 671 78 285.00–313.00 $306.54 $2,057 +8.12
715–748 726 6 285.00–290.00 $288.28 $2,093 +8.04
805–813 810 3 267.00–268.00 $267.67 $2,168 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 3 402.50 $402.50 $1,711 —
496 496 8 375.00 $375.00 $1,860 —
566 566 26 340.00 $340.00 $1,924 —
688 688 2 271.00 $271.00 $1,864 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
595 595 6 301.00 $301.00 $1,791 —
640–648 645 10 300.00–319.00 $307.54 $1,984 +30.04
698 698 4 305.00 $305.00 $2,129 +18.00
1219 1219 9 216.00 $216.00 $2,633 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415–427 418 13 352.50–372.50 $367.78 $1,537 —
492 492 3 337.00 $337.00 $1,658 +27.00
532 532 3 320.00 $320.00 $1,702 —
590 590 10 312.00 $312.00 $1,841 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
661 661 7 276.00 $276.00 $1,824 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353 353 2 397.50 $397.50 $1,403 —
625 625 3 267.00 $267.00 $1,669 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
484 484 4 290.00 $290.00 $1,404 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
324 unweaned 324 4 390.00 $390.00 $1,264 —
337 337 16 418.00 $418.00 $1,409 —
354–384 370 24 397.50–409.00 $403.96 $1,495 +22.20
417 417 6 367.50 $367.50 $1,532 -9.11
404–441 429 69 360.00–417.50 $379.15 $1,627 +2.54
450–495 477 166 335.00–380.00 $364.34 $1,738 +7.56
488 unweaned 488 3 327.00 $327.00 $1,596 —
494 494 14 330.00 $330.00 $1,630 -26.78
500–546 518 245 323.50–356.00 $337.68 $1,749 +8.27
527 unweaned 527 9 316.00 $316.00 $1,665 —
550–587 572 278 308.00–329.00 $321.99 $1,842 +10.21
574 574 23 323.00 $323.00 $1,854 +11.22
600–647 623 335 287.50–309.00 $299.02 $1,863 +2.81
645 645 40 296.00 $296.00 $1,909 —
650–695 680 73 274.00–286.00 $280.61 $1,908 +3.83
726 fancy 726 12 278.00 $278.00 $2,018 —
705–749 733 25 265.50–272.00 $269.31 $1,974 +1.44
765–770 767 6 266.00–270.00 $268.66 $2,061 +9.59
770 fancy 770 29 269.50 $269.50 $2,075 —
804–818 810 9 255.00–267.00 $262.51 $2,126 —
860–895 888 5 241.00–249.00 $242.55 $2,154 -2.45
915 915 1 241.00 $241.00 $2,205 +4.00
1020 1020 2 224.00–231.00 $227.50 $2,320 +10.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345–346 345 9 375.00–390.00 $381.68 $1,317 —
351–399 385 38 360.00–385.00 $374.37 $1,441 -2.75
415–444 432 34 330.00–376.00 $348.56 $1,506 -4.84
456–498 481 51 305.00–349.00 $331.44 $1,594 +10.61
505–544 539 15 299.00–321.00 $309.18 $1,666 -7.88
550–586 573 10 303.00–317.50 $306.58 $1,757 +8.74
615–633 622 9 273.00–282.00 $275.10 $1,711 —
668–699 692 19 264.00–266.00 $265.59 $1,838 +0.59
703–720 708 21 252.00 $252.00 $1,784 —
860–890 876 15 229.00–245.00 $235.45 $2,063 -3.55
940 940 3 226.00 $226.00 $2,124 +1.21
1025 1025 3 220.00 $220.00 $2,255 —
1053–1090 1075 5 210.00–216.00 $212.35 $2,283 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
436 436 6 361.00 $361.00 $1,574 +21.00
493 493 4 307.50 $307.50 $1,516 —
513–546 521 53 309.00–326.00 $312.74 $1,629 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
616–627 621 14 283.00–287.00 $284.73 $1,768 —
1146 1146 4 212.00 $212.00 $2,430 -11.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365–388 376 6 340.00–352.50 $344.16 $1,294 +14.16
524 524 5 282.50 $282.50 $1,480 +2.50
575 575 2 280.00 $280.00 $1,610 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 3 345.00 $345.00 $1,138 —
1100–1128 1121 4 203.00–208.00 $206.77 $2,318 +5.77
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
639 639 4 265.00 $265.00 $1,693 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
417 417 3 390.00 $390.00 $1,626 +11.33
485 485 1 385.00 $385.00 $1,867 —
563–588 576 14 301.00–325.00 $308.85 $1,779 +3.85
663–691 680 11 285.00–295.00 $287.66 $1,956 +13.16
763–770 767 4 254.00–270.00 $261.96 $2,009 —
800 800 1 256.00 $256.00 $2,048 +10.00
910 910 3 253.00 $253.00 $2,302 —
965–981 978 5 225.00–241.00 $237.84 $2,326 +0.34
1003 1003 4 225.00 $225.00 $2,257 —
1062–1086 1076 7 220.00–224.00 $222.31 $2,392 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505–527 523 11 310.00–320.00 $311.76 $1,631 —
595 595 12 285.00 $285.00 $1,696 —
780–795 790 3 250.00 $250.00 $1,975 ±0.00
910 910 1 234.00 $234.00 $2,129 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1148 1148 4 214.00 $214.00 $2,457 —
1173 1173 2 209.00 $209.00 $2,452 —
1300 1300 1 162.50 $162.50 $2,112 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1210 1210 2 180.00 $180.00 $2,178 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1272–1590 1362 80-85% 7 138.00–145.00 $142.35 $1,939 +9.87
1228–1645 1367 80-85% 268 118.00–143.00 $135.48 $1,852 +3.00
1170–1444 1368 80-85% 115 140.00–150.25 $147.15 $2,013 +14.67
1220–1610 1409 80-85% 47 108.00–126.00 $122.03 $1,719 —
1310–1565 1414 80-85% 9 102.00–119.00 $108.52 $1,534 —
1045–1695 1441 80-85% 21 118.00–134.50 $127.98 $1,844 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
805–965 874 85-90% 4 96.00–115.00 $105.10 $919 —
982–1225 1093 85-90% 12 112.00–128.00 $120.99 $1,322 —
1105–1175 1140 85-90% 5 84.00–99.00 $93.06 $1,061 —
928–1310 1150 85-90% 78 105.00–123.50 $119.14 $1,370 +3.99
915–1280 1166 85-90% 145 123.50–136.00 $128.79 $1,502 +27.55
1015–1300 1176 85-90% 26 91.00–119.00 $110.13 $1,295 -6.35
1195 1195 85-90% 1 132.00 $132.00 $1,577 +15.52
1100–1250 1201 85-90% 29 135.00–145.00 $139.26 $1,673 +9.26
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1342–1615 1450 75-80% 6 127.00–129.00 $128.17 $1,858 —
1348–1835 1495 75-80% 64 136.00–145.00 $140.64 $2,103 —
1438–1635 1506 75-80% 23 142.00–149.00 $146.11 $2,200 +10.11
1450–1790 1605 75-80% 24 135.00–146.00 $142.06 $2,280 +10.84
1405–1910 1680 75-80% 15 143.00–149.50 $145.90 $2,451 —
1575–1825 1698 75-80% 5 123.00–134.00 $129.88 $2,205 —
2020–2220 2120 75-80% 2 136.00–142.00 $138.86 $2,944 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1590–1835 1687 65-75% 14 137.00–150.50 $143.53 $2,421 —
1730 1730 65-75% 1 139.50 $139.50 $2,413 —
2130 2130 65-75% 1 125.00 $125.00 $2,662 —
2130 2130 65-75% 1 150.00 $150.00 $3,195 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1120–1320 1228 3 130.00–142.00 $134.05 $1,646 +11.70
1260 1260 1 130.50 $130.50 $1,644 —
1250–1630 1452 11 157.00–175.00 $160.76 $2,334 —
1385–2065 1700 26 131.00–158.00 $145.12 $2,467 —
1575–2235 1896 18 147.00–169.00 $159.07 $3,016 —
2055–2480 2228 14 159.00–190.00 $180.17 $4,014 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1990–2265 2165 8 150.00–155.00 $154.43 $3,343 —
2390 2390 3 167.00 $167.00 $3,991 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
750–1315 1011 (<2 yrs)Open 192 152.00–240.00 $199.03 $2,012
855–1405 1145 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 78 139.50–202.50 $157.03 $1,798
1118–1175 1166 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 13 124.00–128.00 $127.41 $1,486
1243 1243 (<2 yrs)Open 6 157.00 $157.00 $1,952
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
818–1120 967 (<2 yrs)Open 19 145.00–191.00 $172.34 $1,667
833–1300 1053 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 18 127.50–152.50 $141.34 $1,488
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
734 thin fleshed 734 (<2 yrs)Open 5 172.50 $172.50 $1,266
750–775 763 (<2 yrs)Open 4 170.00–185.00 $178.85 $1,365
968 968 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 133.00 $133.00 $1,287
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
833 833 (<2 yrs)Open 3 187.50 $187.50 $1,562
1410 1410 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 161.00 $161.00 $2,270
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1008 1008 (<2 yrs)Open 4 154.00 $154.00 $1,552

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1094 1094 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 2,050.00 $2,050.00
1117–1145 1128 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 2,150.00–2,200.00 $2,170.30
1064–1315 1142 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 9 2,450.00–2,600.00 $2,522.37
1080–1470 1205 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 2,200.00–2,500.00 $2,396.90
1293–1418 1356 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 2,000.00–2,025.00 $2,007.32
1453 1453 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 2,500.00 $2,500.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1165 1165 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00
1210 thin fleshed 1210 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,650.00 $1,650.00
1263 1263 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,100.00 $2,100.00
1293 1293 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 7 1,850.00 $1,850.00
1340–1392 1379 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 2,250.00 $2,250.00
1430 1430 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 2,000.00 $2,000.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
996 996 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 2,475.00 $2,475.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1000 1000 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,250.00 $2,250.00
1130 1130 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 2,400.00 $2,400.00

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Dairy Steers

Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
652 652 8 250.00 $250.00 $1,630 —

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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.