Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Jan 5
● As filed158 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 158 priced lines covering 5,232 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 4,108 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 1,671 head. replacement cattle receipts at 594 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Jan 5, 2026
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 4,108Last week 2,207Year ago 4,879
Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,671Last week 1,194Year ago 860
Replacement CattleReceipts 594Last week 7,151Year ago 268

All comparisons are to 3 weeks ago. Steer calves under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however sharply higher undertones were noticed. 400-549 lbs steers sold mostly 20.00-30.00 higher; steers 550-649 lbs sold mostly 10.00-20.00 higher; steers over 650 lbs were too lightly tested secession to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Heifers all sold 30.00-40.00 higher on all weight classes. Demand for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings was very good with many high quality offerings that would fit buyers orders this week. Higher CME positions continue to provide support for buyers as positions have marched higher since mid December. Additionally, demand for offerings too big to develop into yearlings was also good this week as feeders and packers fight over lighter sale offerings. The January feeder cattle contract closed Friday at 360.725, 15.125 higher than 3 weeks ago, while the March closed at 354.70, 15.30 higher than 3 weeks ago. The April closed 15.45 higher than 3 weeks ago Friday at 353.05. Market activity was mostly active with a large buyer pool noticed on only 2 feeder specials this week. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good 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. 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. Breaking cows sold unevenly steady. Boning and lean cows sold generally steady to firm. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 4.00-6.00 higher. 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. These offerings sold generally steady on good demand.

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
13250–300288720.00–736.00733.60
7300–350338690.00–700.00694.35
31350–400383635.00–680.00647.05
78400–450427580.00–635.00603.83
153450–500477530.00–590.00556.67
194500–550527470.00–540.00504.90
157550–600580445.00–485.00464.11
149600–650630424.00–456.00438.79
185650–700674400.00–426.00414.31
81700–750732383.00–400.00390.74
38750–800776368.00–380.00371.22
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3350–400375445.00445.00
8550–600579387.50–402.00392.94
3600–650610345.00345.00
2700–750723355.00355.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1250–300260710.00710.00
7300–350333570.00–665.00594.70
9350–400384610.00610.00
14400–450420510.00–590.00560.69
24450–500488487.50–537.50514.34
38500–550532440.00–487.50463.06
5550–600590427.50–440.00434.97
35600–650624395.00–422.50413.71
23650–700676355.00–392.50377.04
16700–750718375.00–377.00375.38
6750–800779352.00–361.00359.53
44800–850840346.00–349.00348.33
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
10400–450423595.00–620.00605.03
12450–500485552.50552.50
14500–550531520.00520.00
18550–600555480.00480.00
113600–650632434.00–445.00438.04
2700–750710389.00389.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4650–700650365.00365.00
5700–750722361.00361.00
6750–800778356.00356.00
7800–850829345.00345.00
3850–900860343.00343.00
5900–950935329.00329.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
15350–400363585.00585.00
29400–450430562.50562.50
52500–550543470.00470.00
5650–700674342.50342.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
61750–800755400.00400.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6600–650613412.50412.50
5650–700656367.50367.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3350–400393500.00500.00
7450–500464420.00–430.00425.79
5500–550537375.00375.00
15600–650646339.00339.00
2650–700690325.00325.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
61500–550533485.00–490.00488.42
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3250–300278520.00520.00
5300–350314590.00590.00
33350–400391525.00525.00
4550–600588330.00330.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5200–250232550.00550.00
7300–350326490.00–560.00522.18
20350–400390470.00–525.00475.05
19400–450445450.00–492.50478.91
58450–500470420.00–470.00451.15
67500–550530380.00–435.00418.82
51550–600580365.00–417.50403.67
70600–650628322.50–396.00376.48
16650–700662332.50–340.00333.93
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3500–550520432.50432.50
3750–800757315.00315.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
24400–450417500.00–530.00503.60
29450–500480457.50–495.00484.04
26600–650604419.00419.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
17500–550541419.00419.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12250–300277652.50–667.50653.67
23300–350333557.50–580.00564.00
39350–400382505.00–550.00520.57
70400–450417500.00–530.00511.41
114450–500478457.00–500.00478.59
176500–550524422.50–479.00451.08
121550–600583397.00–436.00426.14
138600–650618380.00–416.00398.95
43650–700668350.00–382.00373.36
20700–750728345.00–361.00350.86
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
33600–650623388.00–423.00408.69
122650–700694368.50–390.00369.46
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
4550–600585350.00350.00
9700–750708322.50322.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2350–400373610.00610.00
3400–450447480.00480.00
23500–550526445.00–472.00457.73
13550–600568400.00–420.00410.58
6600–650620380.00380.00
5650–700674370.00–375.00372.97
1950–1000955302.50302.50
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2800–850848310.00310.00
71100–11501,140250.00250.00
21350–14001,395200.00200.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2350–400398535.00535.00
1400–450415510.00510.00
8500–550541410.00410.00
7600–650619385.00385.00
7700–750745335.00335.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
7500–550538340.00340.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12,258156.00156.00
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
61,587143.00–148.00144.53
251,522173.00–175.50175.00
461,623149.00–173.00166.32
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
8901110.00–132.50121.75
995595.00–105.00100.54
788965.00–90.0083.53
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
371,719143.50–171.00157.27
61,757169.00–171.50170.75
101,576130.00–154.00139.43
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1811,197150.00–165.00160.76
131,175165.00–174.00169.73
431,155112.00–152.50139.33
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
341,383107.50–125.00117.71
11,34591.0091.00
371,407120.00–139.00132.15
11,605168.00168.00
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
311,145122.50–139.00128.40
101,14680.00–92.5087.69
11,160142.50142.50
971,133100.00–125.00114.57
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4241,348153.00–173.50163.92
2231,386171.00–177.50175.08
421,388121.00–152.50140.51
Cows — Premium White 65-75% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12,125159.00159.00
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
181,744168.00168.00
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
72,089184.00–196.00188.28
232,041175.00–184.00180.16
321,753137.50–173.00161.75
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
11,245125.00125.00
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
181,738173.00–182.00176.40
381,637120.00–172.00162.50
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12,615184.00184.00
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
11,225128.00128.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)31,5172,650.002,650.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)51,2163,400.00–3,600.003,498.44
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)61,174174.50174.50
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)61,109264.00264.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)91,1952,425.00–2,550.002,458.37
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)31,3352,400.002,400.00
Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)31,1733,100.003,100.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)41,5312,400.00–2,475.002,457.12
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)49732,950.002,950.00
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)38722,500.002,500.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)21,2652,350.002,350.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)81,4132,350.002,350.00
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)71,2131,950.00–2,350.002,084.80
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)121,4612,400.00–2,450.002,417.63
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open3421,034189.00–316.00259.54
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open281,173175.00–242.50192.62
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open5759217.50–285.00251.01
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open1860240.00240.00
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1965190.00190.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open21,265158.00–166.00162.06
Young (2-4 yrs)Open51964170.00–287.50228.90
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open21,000185.00–195.00190.28
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open231,300176.00–202.50190.50
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.