Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Feb 16
● As filed114 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 114 priced lines covering 1,830 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 1,247 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 380 head. replacement cattle receipts at 476 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Feb 16, 2026
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 1,247Last week 3,453Year ago 712
Slaughter CattleReceipts 380Last week 356Year ago 592
Replacement CattleReceipts 476Last week 961Year ago 1,146

Compared to last week: 600-699 lbs steers offered the best test this week selling generally steady in a very narrow comparison. 500-599 lbs heifers offered the best test this week selling mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. All other weights of steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on a smaller, poorer quality offering. Most cattle were offered in small packages or as singles this week forcing buyers to piece together loads. Quality was mostly plain to attractive with lots of variation noticed. Demand overall was moderate to very good. Demand for high quality cattle, suitable to run on grass, remains very good. Quality this week limited demand as cattle were not as attractive as they have been the last few weeks. CME positions showed some strength this past week as higher slaughter cattle prices helped pull feeder prices higher. The March closed at 368.025, 1.875 higher than last Friday. The April closed at 365.05, 1.60 higher than last Friday. The May contract closed Friday at 361.00, 1.575 higher than last Friday. Market activity was mostly active despite a smaller crowd at all sales. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light offerings. Feeding cow demand remains the driving force in the market. Feeding cows sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. A large crowd of feeding cow buyers were present at all sales this week. Buyers showed willingness to take even blemished cows to feed as supplies are currently very tight as very few older cows are being marketed. Slaughter cow demand remains strong as packers continue to show good demand for limited slaughter offerings. Very few cows were purchased for slaughter this week as feeding buyers pushed most offerings higher than buying orders for slaughter. All slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all classes. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher pushed mostly by limited offerings and feeding bull buyers which showed good demand for sound thinner fleshed bulls. Demand for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed was mostly moderate to good this week. A few cows and heifers which lost calves are starting to be marketed. Demand for high quality offerings is very good. Young cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher on an average to attractive quality offering.

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11350–400391500.00–550.00539.03
14400–450426487.50–545.00517.15
7450–500461455.00–482.50466.95
12500–550542440.00–465.00451.66
2550–600585425.00425.00
13600–650625375.00–390.00382.17
8650–700687350.00–360.00355.02
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6250–300298537.50537.50
6350–400378545.00545.00
5450–500456470.00470.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1350–400385557.50557.50
2400–450415552.00552.00
26450–500473487.00–512.50497.53
47500–550515467.00–489.00479.09
217550–600576403.50–460.00440.99
58600–650634390.00–400.00394.01
7700–750747359.00359.00
8750–800755360.00360.00
29850–900851348.00348.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2400–450418470.00–490.00479.70
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5400–450415530.00–540.00537.98
5650–700682330.00330.00
2750–800783342.50342.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
16350–400362647.50–650.00648.14
10400–450420620.00–632.50625.52
27450–500468575.00–582.50580.78
30500–550540505.00–550.00515.11
27550–600565455.00–510.00489.59
38600–650622440.00–468.00451.65
50650–700681418.00–437.00424.29
7700–750728383.00–403.00391.94
1800–850815367.00367.00
37850–900855359.00359.00
35900–950902347.00347.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4300–350320627.50627.50
6350–400360615.00–635.00623.21
9400–450438532.50–602.50556.27
7450–500478507.50–515.00511.81
11500–550524523.00–532.00526.21
30550–600578440.00–480.00452.25
4600–650645415.00415.00
27750–800775364.00–374.00367.58
3850–900882339.00339.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
13750–800772362.00362.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5300–350306650.00650.00
6400–450432560.00–575.00564.80
2700–750718376.00376.00
9750–800777337.50337.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
6700–750738365.00365.00
7800–850800351.00351.00
6850–900883338.00338.00
18900–950924331.00–339.00336.73
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2500–550535500.00500.00
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2700–750718384.00384.00
5850–900863327.50–330.00329.00
51150–12001,154265.00265.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8400–450436537.50537.50
1450–500475570.00570.00
2500–550548509.00509.00
34550–600592425.00–437.50436.42
5600–650620385.00–427.50419.27
7700–750736325.00–382.50340.85
16750–800755362.50–365.00362.66
4800–850836340.00340.00
11000–10501,040210.00210.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7600–650609390.00390.00
4700–750745340.00340.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4350–400392530.00–540.00534.98
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
41050–11001,053260.00260.00
11100–11501,145210.00210.00
Bulls — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
15450–500479467.50–487.50475.19

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
51,423125.00–137.50131.32
11,310142.50142.50
41,420148.00–164.00154.71
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
161,151115.00–132.00120.02
31,07585.00–100.0092.68
101,169125.00–145.00135.44
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
51,654174.00174.00
51,653159.00159.00
81,719176.50–179.00177.74
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
961,412165.00–180.50177.76
141,379145.00–168.00162.20
491,416179.00–185.00182.16
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3948112.50–120.00114.94
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
121,256178.00–180.00178.63
751,110169.00–179.00175.30
151,161136.00–164.00151.73
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
371,592165.00–181.00178.91
841,563176.50–181.50177.30
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Non-Traditional$ per cwt · actual wt
11,330183.00183.00
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
12,310205.00205.00
21,588145.00–175.00159.98
11,880218.00218.00
171,950184.00–209.00197.13
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
71,694167.00–177.00171.15
121,632184.00–205.50194.47

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open31,088237.50237.50
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1775215.00215.00
(<2 yrs)Open1745240.00240.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open8931225.00–285.00262.83
Young (2-4 yrs)Open131,017183.00–285.00228.18
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open71,221185.00–199.00188.78
(<2 yrs)Open251,008220.00–304.00284.68
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1251,121185.00–312.50240.32
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open1935220.00220.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open31,102220.00–250.00238.93
Young (2-4 yrs)Open101,345190.00190.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)181,4573,100.00–3,225.003,192.81
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)241,4243,100.00–3,500.003,345.73
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)41,2052,700.00–2,850.002,808.13
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)91,6623,725.003,725.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)71,4184,100.004,100.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)141,4753,550.00–3,650.003,623.12
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)31,3002,900.002,900.00
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.