Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Oct 20
● As filed214 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 214 priced lines covering 13,985 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 13,554 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 2,741 head. replacement cattle receipts at 1,328 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Oct 20, 2025
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 13,554Last week 9,382Year ago 11,452
Slaughter CattleReceipts 2,741Last week 1,318Year ago 2,616
Replacement CattleReceipts 1,328Last week 958Year ago 1,028

Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however weak undertones were noticed on steers and steady to higher undertones were noticed on heifers on a larger higher quality offering. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly 10.00-20.00 lower, 400-600 lbs sold mostly 15.00-25.00 lower. Steer calves over 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold sharply lower with most sales 20.00-30.00 lower, heifer calves 450-549 lbs sold mostly 10.00-20.00 lower, heifers over 550 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 lower. Demand was mixed this week with good to very good seen early in the week and light to moderate demand seen later in the week. This led to very wide price spreads for the week. Demand for load lots was good throughout the week. Packages of calves sold on mostly light to moderate demand with light demand seen for small packages later in the week. CME positions traded limit lower two days out of the last week which caused buyers to pull back. CME positions were down sharply for the week. The October contract closed Friday at 354.30, 17.65 lower than last Friday. The November contract closed at 352.20, 19.50 lower for the week. The January contract closes at 348.175. This week saw a smaller buyer pool as fewer buyers were present. Internet bidding was also slower by late week as many buyers pulled back and passed on offerings. Market activity was slow to moderate as a result. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand. Feeding cow demand remains very good and continues to be the driving force behind the cow market. Both packers and private feeders both continue to be very active as they put cows away on feed. Packer buyers started buying cows for holiday week harvest. Most of these offerings are slightly blemished cows many with lumps or a slight gimp to their walk. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher oh high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Short term feeding cows sold generally steady. Slaughter cows sold sharply higher with an additional packer in the market this week. Regional packers and major packers both showed very good demand for high quality cows. Breaking and boning cows sold 10.00-15.00 higher, lean cows sold steady to 5.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Very good demand was seen for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed. Coming 2 year old cows outsold yearling offerings in places again this week. Young offerings sold generally steady to firm.

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)41,1692,850.002,850.00
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)11,3552,800.002,800.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)161,2912,850.00–3,100.002,995.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)121,1913,500.003,500.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)521,3652,900.00–3,300.003,194.53
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)31,503191.00191.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)71,337183.00183.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)41,274245.00245.00
Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)661,1223,400.00–3,550.003,467.82
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)421,1823,300.00–3,650.003,544.46
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)121,401196.00–212.50198.66
Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)31,632176.00176.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)211,3543,150.00–3,475.003,359.28
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)31,3752,850.00–3,300.002,984.73
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)191,251227.50227.50
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)21,2383,100.003,100.00
Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)51,0002,800.00–3,150.002,992.11
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)61,1322,950.00–3,200.003,029.37
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)21,3502,700.00–2,950.002,841.67
Bred Cows — Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)51,1012,850.002,850.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)31,3222,550.002,550.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)21,3702,500.002,500.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)39783,400.003,400.00
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)131,1482,750.002,750.00
Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)19503,250.003,250.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)1361,4002,800.00–3,300.003,086.86
Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)91,4292,850.00–2,950.002,870.11
Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)131,236193.00193.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open71,281175.00–182.50179.69
(<2 yrs)Open255970218.00–355.00310.77
Young (2-4 yrs)Open2791,110182.50–307.50232.24
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open2725155.00–240.00198.38
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1770205.00205.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open26962200.00–310.00270.51
Young (2-4 yrs)Open491,043174.00–270.00194.76
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open1975212.50212.50
Young (2-4 yrs)Open3993180.00–195.00189.97
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open61,441185.00–191.00189.98
(<2 yrs)Open51,300205.00–270.00226.51
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open2980285.00285.00
(<2 yrs)Open11826290.00–322.50314.02
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)59143,400.003,400.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
9450–500481450.00450.00
66600–650643379.00379.00
4650–700688370.00370.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
46600–650611430.00430.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11600–650600389.00389.00
16750–800765378.00–382.50379.98
27850–900857346.00–358.00354.90
13900–950920338.00338.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5200–250228800.00–870.00844.10
38250–300264720.00–810.00787.60
102300–350329620.00–710.00660.60
118350–400367550.00–670.00612.64
405400–450428519.00–592.50555.88
876450–500481485.00–555.00514.99
977500–550525431.00–530.00489.20
957550–600571402.00–492.50441.85
982600–650618386.00–455.00426.20
320650–700666379.00–419.00403.04
95700–750725366.00–399.50382.81
11750–800768382.00382.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
26850–900867338.00–342.00341.24
38900–950946331.00331.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5300–350339500.00–580.00531.15
5400–450426495.00495.00
46450–500489350.00–445.00424.79
5500–550520417.50–429.00419.82
3550–600570380.00380.00
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
24350–400380500.00–540.00533.76
20400–450426542.50542.50
3450–500453480.00480.00
Steers — Medium 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
10350–400384517.50517.50
9500–550525417.50417.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7250–300263730.00–760.00742.31
33300–350337540.00–650.00586.54
53350–400378515.00–585.00554.72
132400–450430445.00–543.00505.98
138450–500476420.00–517.50472.41
211500–550540419.00–483.00441.22
107550–600572365.00–437.50412.81
94600–650623335.00–632.00393.89
14650–700660360.00–387.50377.48
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10550–600555400.00400.00
4600–650648376.00376.00
3650–700693366.00366.00
3700–750738383.00383.00
8800–850808355.00355.00
4900–950905338.00338.00
16950–1000985318.00318.00
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5400–450411547.50547.50
13450–500464450.00–475.00463.80
83500–550523401.00–482.50442.13
22550–600568383.50–437.00414.21
68600–650637370.00–417.50397.26
18650–700687335.00–384.00369.66
17800–850809337.00337.00
Steers — Small 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
7350–400351265.00265.00
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
41050–11001,060306.00306.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
204500–550510450.00–482.00457.46
22550–600558442.00–452.00445.65
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
18250–300280570.00–690.00648.99
19300–350325540.00–650.00567.53
128350–400377490.00–570.00528.12
504400–450423461.00–549.00499.72
840450–500476422.00–503.00462.59
578500–550525400.00–450.00430.05
731550–600568357.00–424.00399.75
145600–650615346.00–392.50365.93
15650–700675310.00–360.00322.73
18700–750718304.00–344.00313.64
2750–800755312.50312.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
21600–650627389.00389.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
24500–550507400.00–405.00403.76
18550–600574365.00–375.00367.29
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
39750–800781351.00–363.50360.99
90800–850811341.00–355.00351.76
44850–900881322.00–339.00330.21
150900–950926313.00–340.00329.71
18950–1000961312.50–322.50316.61
501000–10501,025288.00–312.00293.19
71050–11001,082295.00295.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4350–400394435.00435.00
2400–450443415.00415.00
9450–500464315.00315.00
8500–550509340.00–355.00345.73
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
14400–450436350.00350.00
2450–500453420.00420.00
2500–550530402.50402.50
12550–600586340.00340.00
Heifers — Medium 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
8650–700696324.00324.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4600–650629270.00270.00
2650–700665362.50362.50
5750–800783321.00321.00
Heifers — Medium 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
30350–400398472.50472.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3150–200192650.00650.00
4250–300296565.00565.00
27300–350334435.00–570.00531.50
57350–400378420.00–512.50491.21
136400–450432425.00–492.50460.40
46450–500484340.00–440.00405.99
53500–550527370.00–412.50388.85
75550–600572350.00–387.50369.37
5600–650627318.00–335.00324.56
Heifers — Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7650–700699300.00300.00
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
151100–11501,122275.00275.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14500–550549397.50397.50
2750–800783330.00330.00
51050–11001,062287.00287.00
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7350–400376505.00505.00
50400–450427480.00480.00
11450–500485370.00–415.00406.68
3500–550545350.00350.00
3550–600562325.00325.00
3600–650640351.00351.00
3650–700673325.00325.00
12700–750723309.00–310.00309.32
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
33850–900880308.00308.00
137900–950936318.00318.00
18950–1000960283.00–291.00289.16
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8700–750716345.00–351.00347.93
16800–850837307.00–322.00307.92
38850–900882303.00–319.00308.58
5900–950944281.00281.00
Heifers — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
51050–11001,091285.00285.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3350–400367620.00620.00
6450–500464515.00515.00
20550–600587380.00–400.00386.05
13600–650624360.00–370.00365.46
4650–700681365.00365.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11650–700692370.00370.00
1850–900865325.00325.00
4950–1000967310.00–326.00321.94
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
71100–11501,104260.00–269.00261.31
11150–12001,175265.00265.00
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11200–12501,205230.00230.00
Bulls — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
25350–400392540.50540.50
133450–500476510.00510.00
7600–650629355.00355.00
2700–750738325.00325.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4500–550545375.00375.00
4600–650613335.00335.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4551,372165.00–185.50176.08
1691,388179.00–189.00183.66
831,407124.00–172.00155.65
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
631,480179.50–189.50187.65
601,604165.00–185.00179.32
31,642160.50–167.00164.32
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3968117.50–145.00127.50
4901100.00–112.50106.31
295585.0085.00
1985147.50147.50
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
521,218178.50–187.00179.93
2911,214165.00–178.00172.90
801,165112.50–165.00156.57
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
171,11360.00–103.0083.99
391,238155.00–179.00175.58
81,220124.00–167.00149.54
941,182100.00–129.00116.00
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
41,518187.00–190.00188.56
341,669164.00–186.00177.88
51,585158.00–178.00171.20
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Non-Traditional$ per cwt · actual wt
11,490187.00187.00
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
41,414112.00–115.00112.89
441,431157.00–187.50183.23
221,382110.00–126.00122.23
411,380127.50–177.00163.08
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
182,045182.00–192.00186.61
101,934192.00–198.00195.54
201,819160.00–181.00169.08
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
21,270140.00140.00
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
371,769182.00–197.00190.73
211,599159.00–185.00177.03
12,115195.00195.00
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.