Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Dec 15
● As filed213 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 213 priced lines covering 8,407 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 2,207 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 1,194 head. replacement cattle receipts at 7,151 head. Counted as USDA files them — 4 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Dec 15, 2025
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 2,207Last week 4,218Year ago 3,178
Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,194Last week 1,320Year ago 1,337
Replacement CattleReceipts 7,151Last week 8,641Year ago 5,168

Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend. Steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. 450-599 lbs steers sold mostly 25.00-35.00 higher; steers 600-699 lbs sold mostly steady to 8.00 higher; steers over 700 lbs were not well tested. Heifer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Heifers 450-599 lbs sold mostly 10.00-15.00 higher; heifers over 600 lbs sold generally steady in a very narrow comparison. Demand for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings was very good. Order buyers and ranchers continue to show increased demand for this class of offerings as higher CME positions continue to provide support. Additionally, demand for offerings too big to develop into yearlings was also good this week as feeders and packers fight over lighter sale offerings. CME positions pushed higher again this week with higher physical sales across the 12 state region providing support for higher CME positions.The January feeder cattle contract closed Friday at 345.60, 6.50 higher for the week, while the March closed at 339.40, 5.325 higher for the week and the April closed 4.375 higher at 337.60. Market activity was mostly active with a large buyer pool noticed on only 2 feeder specials this week. Quality was mostly average this week as many ranchers cleaned up pastures and weaning pens prior to the end of the year. Weigh up cows sold on mixed demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand remains good. Cow supplies have tightened slightly forcing buyers to become more aggressive as they bid to buy high quality cows to feed. All feeding cows sold 2.00-5.00 higher for the week with the largest increase in price seen for slightly lame or blemished cows that well still feed. More slightly blemished cows were purchased to feed this week than in the last few weeks. Slaughter cow demand was very uneven as sales with fewer buyers present allowed for slaughter cow prices to soften while at other sales slaughter cow prices increased as limited offerings had buyers fighting over supplies. Overall slaughter cows sold unevenly steady, from steady to firm to 15.00 lower. Most all slaughter cows were too blemished to feed. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-6.00 lower, as feeding bull buyers squared loads early in the week and didn't start any additional loads. This allowed packers to buy bulls lower for slaughter, especially later in the week. Good to very good demand was seen for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed. Coming 2 year old cows sold generally steady on an average quality offering. One large consignment of fancy 2 coming 3 year old wet bag cows sold on very good demand as these offerings were very attractive and all off one ranch. These offerings sold sharply higher on very good demand.

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open1740260.00260.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open227957212.50–337.50287.93
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1281,076172.00–322.50249.47
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open81,295161.00–175.00169.72
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open209879359.00359.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open31,335161.00–197.50173.96
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open2853190.00–200.00194.84
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open251,049173.00–245.00200.63
(<2 yrs)Open32962222.50–278.00250.95
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)51,4132,300.002,300.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)201,3223,450.003,450.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)1031,3412,875.002,875.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)941,4023,000.00–3,550.003,360.34
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)1781,3093,100.00–3,950.003,522.68
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)1041,3972,700.00–3,100.002,941.91
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)61,6383,200.003,200.00
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)81,3963,550.003,550.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)1651,3502,800.00–3,725.003,662.50
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)4241,2063,300.00–4,300.003,726.41
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)3931,1683,450.00–3,985.003,733.20
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)4331,1753,150.00–3,960.003,767.83
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)821,2413,100.00–3,800.003,599.98
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)1791,3022,400.00–3,175.003,022.28
Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)771,0592,850.00–3,225.003,057.91
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)91,1973,050.003,050.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)71,1722,500.00–2,700.002,636.24
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)51,3042,000.002,000.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)341,3742,975.00–3,350.003,206.63
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)221,4202,650.00–2,950.002,876.10
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)29382,700.002,700.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)141,3292,450.00–2,600.002,554.22
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)191,3312,700.00–3,350.003,096.73
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)101,3002,350.00–2,500.002,440.68
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)241,2872,150.00–2,175.002,168.30
Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)31,2372,000.002,000.00
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)841,2502,000.00–2,510.002,439.27
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)711,2652,200.00–2,500.002,395.63
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)71,3142,300.002,300.00
Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)2181,4152,200.00–3,000.002,726.67
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)2681,3402,550.00–2,950.002,714.15
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)5281,3282,500.00–3,100.002,783.71
Bred Cows — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)239113,500.003,500.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 2-3$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)68531,100.001,100.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)91,1962,925.002,925.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)101,2723,100.00–3,400.003,293.41
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)91,2133,125.003,125.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)321,2252,200.00–2,400.002,330.86
Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)611,2182,100.00–2,450.002,381.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)189953,400.003,400.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)91,1992,450.002,450.00
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)141,2552,100.002,100.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)11,1601,700.001,700.00
Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)31,1152,000.002,000.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)61,3304,500.004,500.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)51,4653,150.003,150.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)291,5532,700.002,700.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)61,3283,050.003,050.00
Bred Heifers — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)39833,500.003,500.00
(<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)89102,400.00–2,500.002,476.30
(<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)679642,850.00–3,475.003,375.38
(<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)1298982,650.00–3,500.003,362.11
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)1141,0073,500.00–3,725.003,556.65
(<2 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)551,0033,400.00–3,725.003,587.28
(<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)6461,0513,500.00–3,900.003,721.54
(<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)61,0222,700.00–2,850.002,795.79
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open41,5613,950.003,950.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
31,698130.00130.00
Dairy Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
22,068144.00144.00
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
11,285111.00111.00
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
11,325153.00153.00
11,515177.00177.00
271,902167.00–184.00176.02
361,732131.00–176.00153.78
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
191,587160.00–175.00166.86
371,532172.00–183.50180.51
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
721,336168.00–171.00168.96
1011,366126.00–157.50149.00
1981,369156.00–170.00163.26
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
491,570155.00–171.00165.59
251,527169.00–174.00170.76
81,561145.00–158.50152.39
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
241,33595.00–127.00116.93
21,445150.00150.00
41,42680.00–102.5089.12
111,385122.00–145.00137.32
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
31,563170.50170.50
191,608152.00–165.50159.58
11,590138.00138.00
61,679146.00–152.00147.19
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1211,169165.75–171.00166.29
331,161115.00–152.50138.55
1001,176145.00–166.00158.93
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
790155.00–85.0059.52
1935117.50117.50
1970143.00143.00
3980105.00105.00
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Non-Traditional$ per cwt · actual wt
11,505190.50190.50
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
871,14487.50–142.50111.26
271,17055.00–100.0081.67
61,140122.50–137.00133.21

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
7500–550533340.00–395.00362.79
2600–650628275.00275.00
2700–750733275.00275.00
2950–1000990225.00225.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3450–500457405.00405.00
5500–550518380.00–385.00383.99
6550–600597362.50362.50
2600–650640325.00325.00
1850–900895270.00270.00
3950–1000952287.50287.50
11000–10501,000255.00255.00
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8550–600584340.00340.00
21000–10501,048267.50267.50
11050–11001,085230.00230.00
21100–11501,140240.00240.00
41250–13001,252217.00–232.50220.87
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
26650–700679336.00336.00
61350–14001,379194.00194.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14400–450432460.00–500.00489.20
3450–500467430.00–435.00431.66
28600–650649343.00343.00
2750–800788290.00290.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4350–400370540.00540.00
5400–450439450.00450.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3200–250238580.00580.00
12300–350324517.50517.50
32350–400375489.00–495.00492.42
45400–450422467.50–502.50479.95
67450–500466432.50–484.00460.68
56500–550528397.50–432.50412.99
81550–600564352.50–395.00378.17
35600–650624350.00–361.00354.62
16650–700665346.00–355.00351.84
1700–750700340.00340.00
15750–800755329.00329.00
10800–850828310.00310.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5350–400395420.00420.00
4400–450445440.00440.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
37300–350327447.50–480.00470.06
41350–400381430.00–470.00449.93
123400–450413402.50–453.00436.96
35450–500475363.00–435.00404.43
33500–550522365.00–387.50378.63
39550–600581340.00–360.00352.82
11600–650630322.00–349.00340.12
10650–700670319.00–330.00326.02
7700–750730307.00–309.00308.73
3750–800793295.00295.00
2800–850800280.00280.00
5850–900878295.50295.50
6950–1000986272.00–280.00277.35
61000–10501,021282.00282.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7350–400384345.00–360.00353.34
5500–550505385.00385.00
7750–800799310.00310.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1300–350340530.00530.00
25450–500475420.00–444.00435.96
18500–550509411.00–432.50431.33
8550–600562355.00–357.50355.33
41600–650642352.00–352.50352.06
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2200–250200420.00420.00
7250–300282445.00445.00
1300–350305400.00400.00
4350–400370370.00370.00
8400–450445397.50–407.50403.81
15450–500474360.00–385.00372.08
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3200–250233400.00400.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
10500–550536352.50352.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
3400–450417312.50312.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3300–350348500.00500.00
37350–400376547.50–552.50547.91
16400–450441487.50–535.00505.86
23450–500477475.00–487.50478.00
28500–550522402.50–457.50443.40
7550–600582407.50–430.00416.41
8600–650613370.00–402.50380.33
16650–700668344.00–354.00348.31
7750–800779343.00–345.00343.83
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1300–350325600.00600.00
8450–500473450.00–490.00479.52
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
3550–600597414.00414.00
10700–750704353.00353.00
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2350–400358390.00390.00
4450–500466300.00300.00
2550–600565285.00285.00
Steers — Medium 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
7400–450438290.00290.00
11500–550509250.00250.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2250–300258700.00–705.00702.43
9300–350333600.00–650.00618.21
14350–400394562.50–592.50583.75
17400–450418540.00–581.00563.25
136450–500468505.00–557.00540.46
59500–550515470.00–511.00483.63
182550–600574435.00–471.00456.90
78600–650636412.00–434.00420.55
3650–700695375.00375.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1200–250230505.00505.00
1250–300285500.00500.00
3350–400368460.00460.00
2400–450410510.00510.00
6450–500466390.00390.00
7700–750704312.50312.50
31750–800797323.50323.50
8800–850813305.00305.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
11450–500482510.00510.00
24550–600565470.00470.00
6650–700656403.00403.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
6500–550518330.00330.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
10650–700688345.00345.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4550–600564445.00445.00
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3450–500465495.00495.00
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2350–400398410.00410.00
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4800–850806250.00250.00
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.