Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 3, 2025

6,490 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $275.71/cwt -14.68 vs last sale · ≈ $2,153/hd at 781 lb · 117 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $299.11/cwt -17.55 vs last sale · ≈ $2,031/hd at 679 lb · 112 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $373.46/cwt -11.22 vs last sale · ≈ $1,983/hd at 531 lb · 102 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 6,490 6,119 8,675
Feeder cattle 1,543 4,514 5,194
Slaughter cattle 918 1,139 549
Replacement cattle 4,029 466 2,932

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Steers 450-649 lbs sold mostly steady to 10.00 lower; steers over 650 lbs sold mostly 10.00-12.00 lower in a narrow comparison. One consignment of steers over 900 lbs was seen this week and these offerings were met with very good demand as quality was very attractive. Heifers under 500 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market however lower undertones were noticed on a smaller, poorer quality offering. Heifers over 500 lbs sold mostly 10.00-20.00 lower. Demand was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. Most cattle were of plain to average quality with a limited offering of attractive quality cattle seen. CME positions sold off sharply this past week as traders reacted to the reopening of the southern border to receive Mexican live cattle imports after being closed since late November. The March contract closed Friday at 264.90, 10.825 lower than last Fridays close. The April contract closed at 264.825 on Friday, 10.30 lower than last Fridays close. Package sizes were mostly small this week and not as large as last weeks sale. Cooperate packer feeders continue to show very good demand for high quality feeder cattle and when pushed this past week would give close to steady with last week for very attractive offerings. Market activity was moderate to active this week as bidders showed some reluctance as they tried to buy cattle lower. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light offerings. Regional packers were very active as they showed stronger demand for all classes of cows this week. Major packers were very active as well as they showed very strong demand for cows for immediate harvest. Breaking cows sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher. Boning and lean cows sold sharply higher with most sales 8.00 to 12.00 higher. Slaughter cow prices improved throughout the week as packers were forced to pay higher prices in order to secure offerings. Many cows which would normally go to feed were purchased for slaughter this week. Most packer buyers only purchased cows to slaughter this week while private farmer feeders and order buyers were active in buying cows to feed. Feeding cow demand remains very good as private buyers were both very aggressive as they bid on cows to feed. Even slightly lame or slightly blemished cows sold to feeding buyers again this week. High quality feeding cows, suitable to feed to premium white sold mostly 4.00-6.00 higher. Thin short term feeding or holding cows sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher driven by strong demand from packers for immediate harvest. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 8.00-12.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Very good demand was seen from both feeder and rebreed buyers this week.

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
435 435 11 398.00 $398.00 $1,731 -31.19
469–499 477 51 370.00–392.00 $386.47 $1,843 -9.23
509–548 531 102 367.00–376.00 $373.46 $1,983 -10.71
560–586 579 35 330.00–360.00 $337.22 $1,953 +4.72
610–614 612 73 312.00–341.00 $331.11 $2,026 -8.59
654–693 679 108 294.00–314.00 $299.67 $2,035 -17.77
681 681 4 284.00 $284.00 $1,934 -33.44
719–740 723 21 280.00–287.00 $285.64 $2,065 -17.36
778–785 779 12 273.00–274.00 $273.83 $2,133 -16.56
760–791 781 105 275.00–277.50 $275.92 $2,155 -14.47
804 804 19 276.00 $276.00 $2,219 -4.39
870 870 4 244.00 $244.00 $2,123 -29.68
903–927 923 66 261.00–264.00 $263.56 $2,433 +10.56
963 963 3 250.50 $250.50 $2,412 —
1208 1208 10 201.50 $201.50 $2,434 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
396–398 397 11 395.00–417.00 $407.03 $1,616 -20.20
413–449 443 59 347.50–404.00 $357.08 $1,582 -34.63
455–483 463 13 255.00–365.00 $314.17 $1,455 -52.26
505–540 524 24 332.00–346.00 $341.67 $1,790 -19.55
557–599 586 43 320.00–328.50 $324.55 $1,902 -1.46
617–645 634 15 287.00–312.50 $304.09 $1,928 -12.24
651–695 661 28 281.00–288.00 $286.31 $1,893 -20.23
705 705 4 275.00 $275.00 $1,939 -13.28
798 798 2 266.00 $266.00 $2,123 —
850 850 1 251.00 $251.00 $2,134 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
733 733 18 283.00 $283.00 $2,074 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
620 620 4 310.00 $310.00 $1,922 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
351 351 4 365.00 $365.00 $1,281 -32.50

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
334–345 335 8 417.00–422.00 $417.64 $1,399 -0.36
380 380 15 394.00 $394.00 $1,497 -9.96
440 440 1 403.00 $403.00 $1,773 +23.85
450–483 478 73 335.00–340.00 $338.61 $1,619 -25.73
500–539 525 45 320.00–335.00 $325.82 $1,711 -11.86
567–595 582 32 301.50–320.00 $304.42 $1,772 -18.58
610–643 626 23 281.00–292.50 $284.29 $1,780 -14.73
673–696 691 50 261.00–283.00 $274.16 $1,894 -6.45
724 724 4 248.00 $248.00 $1,796 -21.31
785 785 4 262.50 $262.50 $2,061 -6.16
863 863 5 250.00 $250.00 $2,158 +7.45
1014 1014 5 243.50 $243.50 $2,469 +16.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 385 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,386 -14.37
499 499 11 316.00 $316.00 $1,577 -15.44
504–539 527 37 303.00–322.00 $310.37 $1,636 +1.19
567 567 45 302.00 $302.00 $1,712 -4.58
553–595 581 12 290.00–309.00 $298.51 $1,734 -8.07
619–643 632 20 281.00–287.50 $282.22 $1,784 +7.12
703 703 6 248.00 $248.00 $1,743 -4.00
765–778 772 4 244.00 $244.00 $1,884 —
807–820 810 4 150.00–249.00 $223.95 $1,814 —
880 880 1 243.00 $243.00 $2,138 +7.55
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
592 592 47 311.50 $311.50 $1,844 —
1075 1075 1 228.00 $228.00 $2,451 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338 338 2 327.50 $327.50 $1,107 —
368 unweaned 368 6 315.00 $315.00 $1,159 —
387 387 6 330.00 $330.00 $1,277 -14.16
491 491 8 260.00 $260.00 $1,277 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423 423 6 282.50 $282.50 $1,195 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
633 633 3 242.50 $242.50 $1,535 -22.50
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1090 1090 1 222.00 $222.00 $2,420 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
329 unweaned 329 5 500.00 $500.00 $1,645 —
375 unweaned 375 18 428.50 $428.50 $1,607 —
430 unweaned 430 20 405.50 $405.50 $1,744 —
458–491 475 8 334.00–372.50 $352.58 $1,675 -32.42
660 660 3 275.00 $275.00 $1,815 -12.66
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435–448 439 9 330.00–350.00 $336.80 $1,479 —
584 584 6 287.50 $287.50 $1,679 +2.50
739 739 6 252.00 $252.00 $1,862 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1298 1298 3 175.00 $175.00 $2,272 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790–818 810 85-90% 5 80.00–91.00 $88.62 $718 —
908 908 85-90% 3 118.00 $118.00 $1,071 —
915 915 85-90% 1 125.00 $125.00 $1,144 —
987–1295 1066 85-90% 77 111.00–129.00 $118.07 $1,259 -2.92
1075–1175 1122 85-90% 7 92.50–101.00 $98.07 $1,100 +5.01
1033–1298 1150 85-90% 58 100.00–132.00 $122.66 $1,411 +3.52
965–1290 1164 85-90% 192 127.00–143.00 $138.97 $1,618 +10.18
1060–1275 1195 85-90% 90 139.00–152.00 $146.09 $1,746 +14.09
1045–1275 1209 85-90% 16 122.00–145.00 $133.99 $1,620 -5.27
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115–1730 1356 80-85% 9 113.00–132.00 $120.72 $1,637 -21.63
1230–1590 1381 80-85% 53 130.00–148.00 $139.26 $1,923 -7.89
1304–1670 1417 80-85% 50 144.00–152.50 $148.72 $2,107 +40.20
1255–1605 1421 80-85% 72 129.00–148.00 $142.99 $2,032 +34.47
1235–1570 1435 80-85% 8 119.00–131.00 $127.62 $1,831 -0.36
1489–1640 1508 80-85% 9 149.50–152.50 $150.88 $2,275 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1485–1715 1521 75-80% 9 147.00–152.50 $150.70 $2,292 +4.59
1555–1668 1651 75-80% 8 135.00–145.00 $143.06 $2,362 -2.84
1575–1885 1714 75-80% 7 143.00–149.50 $144.17 $2,471 —
1805 1805 75-80% 1 134.00 $134.00 $2,419 —
1823 1823 75-80% 2 128.00 $128.00 $2,333 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1340–1545 1451 4 150.00–159.00 $156.52 $2,271 -4.24
1330–1800 1560 13 130.00–159.00 $145.10 $2,264 —
1555–2275 1925 39 150.00–172.00 $167.87 $3,231 —
2490 2490 1 176.00 $176.00 $4,382 —
2850 2850 1 160.00 $160.00 $4,560 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
925 thin fleshed 925 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 14 133.00 $133.00 $1,230
745–1445 936 (<2 yrs)Open 162 145.50–233.00 $213.89 $2,002
865–1333 1076 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 72 145.00–192.50 $169.94 $1,829
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
843–1185 1013 (<2 yrs)Open 14 142.00–190.00 $165.56 $1,677
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
845 845 (<2 yrs)Open 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,563

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
944–1295 1070 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 54 2,400.00–2,600.00 $2,546.01
1075–1522 1167 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 274 2,700.00–3,025.00 $2,969.90
1110–1250 1208 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 24 2,500.00–2,900.00 $2,767.35
1047–1559 1224 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 566 2,775.00–3,375.00 $3,225.12
1253–1513 1305 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 100 2,350.00–2,850.00 $2,710.04
1306 1306 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 2,500.00 $2,500.00
1217–1443 1327 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 57 2,200.00–2,550.00 $2,422.15
1244–1408 1338 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 14 2,525.00–2,650.00 $2,600.18
1153–1548 1354 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 305 2,300.00–2,700.00 $2,427.67
1223–1436 1369 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 59 2,200.00–2,450.00 $2,373.40
1174–1656 1411 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 233 2,400.00–3,175.00 $2,821.18
1411 1411 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 2,950.00 $2,950.00
1222–1550 1418 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 83 2,600.00–3,100.00 $2,945.46
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1050–1217 1100 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 10 2,600.00 $2,600.00
1128–1280 thin fleshed 1189 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,800.00–1,900.00 $1,843.07
1187–1194 1192 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11 2,500.00 $2,500.00
1108–1223 thin fleshed 1194 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 1,500.00–1,650.00 $1,615.21
1133–1297 1204 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 47 2,800.00–2,910.00 $2,867.82
1161–1408 1222 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 46 1,850.00–2,200.00 $2,007.67
1335 1335 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 2,100.00 $2,100.00
1244–1484 1351 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 1,950.00–2,200.00 $2,077.92
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1199 thin fleshed 1199 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11 153.00 $153.00 $1,834
1291–1348 1331 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 101 164.00 $164.00 $2,183
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
822 822 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 15 3,100.00 $3,100.00

↑ Back to top

Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1023 1023 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 14 3,000.00 $3,000.00
931–1228 1065 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 897 2,850.00–3,225.00 $3,123.93
1013–1129 1087 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 44 2,650.00–2,825.00 $2,763.76
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
865–954 891 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 88 2,500.00–2,800.00 $2,697.31
825–979 895 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 87 2,500.00–2,950.00 $2,805.26
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
915–1065 968 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 39 2,700.00–3,050.00 $2,900.27

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1384 1384 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 3,550.00 $3,550.00 —

↑ Back to top

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.