Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Mar 9
● As filed123 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 123 priced lines covering 1,881 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 570 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 722 head. replacement cattle receipts at 939 head. Counted as USDA files them — 6 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Mar 9, 2026
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 570Last week 2,062Year ago 1,294
Slaughter CattleReceipts 722Last week 942Year ago 867
Replacement CattleReceipts 939Last week 2,833Year ago 417

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. Most cattle were offered in small packages or as singles this week. Very few buyers were in the stands this week as no feeder specials were held at any sale this week. Quality was mostly plain to average this week and not as attractive as last weeks offering. Demand overall was moderate on light supplies. CME positions sold off again this week as outside influences continue to impact the market. Cash slaughter cattle prices continue to try to find stability after falling from 249.00 just a few weeks ago. The last established market test in Kansas was Wednesday at 235.00, while the last established market test in the Texas Panhandle was last week with live purchases at mostly 240.00. The last established market test in Nebraska was Wednesday with live purchases at mostly 235.00 and dressed purchases at mostly 372.00. The March closed at 349.475, 6.15 lower than last Fridays close. The April closed at 343.10, 8.52 lower than last Friday. The May contract closed Friday at 339.175, 8.90 lower than last Friday. Market activity was mostly moderate with a very small crowd of buyers noticed all week. 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 generally steady. Private feeders and Canadian buyers pushed packers aside this week as both showed very good demand for feeding cows. A large crowd of feeding cow buyers were present at all sales this week. Feeding cows sold generally steady without major packer support as tight supplies and a large crowd of buyers held market positions near steady. Cow quality this week was average to attractive, but not as attractive as last weeks offering. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average. A winter storm seen later in the week had cows tanked up due to the change in weather. 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. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower, after moving sharply higher over the last couple weeks. Demand remains good as packer search for lean meat to blend down excess fat currently on the market. Feeding bull demand was mostly good to very good again this week. Feeding bulls sold generally steady. Demand for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed was mostly moderate to good this week. A cows and heifers which lost calves are being marketed, but with very good weather conditions limited offerings are being seen. Demand for high quality offerings is very good. Coming 2 year old cows sold mostly steady after sharply higher movement was seen over the last two weeks. Quality was average to attractive, but not as attractive as last week.

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1500–550500480.00480.00
11550–600568418.00–422.50421.26
6600–650643394.00394.00
12650–700662360.00–373.50372.34
3700–750717345.00345.00
1750–800770330.00330.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
35400–450417465.00–490.00484.74
5450–500463450.00–480.00469.68
21500–550519420.00–449.00436.65
7550–600555422.00422.00
5600–650634395.00–396.00395.60
4700–750721340.00–345.00341.24
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
6700–750744337.50337.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5200–250243450.00450.00
5300–350331460.00–465.00461.93
4350–400370470.00470.00
18400–450428345.00–450.00381.66
1550–600555375.00375.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2400–450433462.50462.50
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3600–650625387.50387.50
3700–750715342.50342.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
14700–750741340.00340.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
7600–650644332.00332.00
2700–750743320.00320.00
Bulls — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2500–550505400.00400.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2400–450418515.00515.00
2450–500475470.00470.00
17550–600576380.00–440.00411.04
2600–650628375.00–380.00377.51
8650–700680352.50–355.00354.06
4700–750701360.00360.00
2750–800753340.00340.00
2850–900873301.00301.00
12950–1000973290.00290.00
31000–10501,012280.00280.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6450–500468532.50–537.50536.67
2550–600593425.00425.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3650–700687310.00–350.00323.40
2800–850818290.00290.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4250–300298590.00590.00
3350–400350580.00580.00
17400–450419535.00–565.00545.52
3450–500488520.00520.00
16500–550519480.00–490.00484.03
21550–600582420.00–450.00436.65
6600–650607410.00–420.00416.65
2650–700668392.00392.00
4700–750713381.00381.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2350–400350595.00595.00
5400–450413567.50–570.00568.03
42600–650639425.50–432.00426.69
3650–700654410.00–420.00413.34
26750–800756372.50372.50
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2250–300250510.00510.00
2350–400388495.00495.00
4400–450426460.00–515.00472.90
2500–550545405.00405.00
1550–600590422.50422.50
9800–850847302.50302.50
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1450–500455490.00490.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
290890.00–105.0097.48
4933130.00–135.00133.70
Cows — Premium White 65-75% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
22,060164.00164.00
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
61,132140.00–165.00154.59
21,108109.00–110.00109.46
61,104115.00–137.50124.63
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
191,346181.00–196.00186.66
1071,389167.00–184.00179.08
191,423142.00–166.50155.36
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
51,464182.00–184.00183.56
181,656161.00–172.00165.58
831,608172.00–181.00176.56
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
281,140135.00–165.00155.59
181,117180.00–185.00181.06
721,225167.50–180.00173.98
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
71,491141.50–162.00154.66
591,443162.00–186.00183.34
81,351126.00–136.00133.40
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
81,743162.25–169.50166.18
121,722152.50–165.00160.34
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
32,128185.00–194.50189.87
52,050215.00–219.00216.29
481,921187.00–213.00201.92
141,652175.00–196.00185.34
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
221,697192.00–201.00196.20
181,525165.00–194.00184.69
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
21,388139.00139.00
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
21,335138.00138.00
41,501125.00125.00
Dairy Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
11,090165.00165.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)21,5182,700.002,700.00
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)311,3323,425.003,425.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)61,4063,100.00–3,900.003,644.84
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)231,2373,500.00–4,350.004,064.94
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)81,4153,100.00–3,400.003,138.71
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)21,3982,950.002,950.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)51,2864,000.004,000.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)171,4534,050.004,050.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)1131,3413,650.00–5,050.004,955.49
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)721,1834,100.00–5,000.004,811.95
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)21,1253,700.003,700.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)181,4072,500.00–3,100.002,865.63
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)41,1432,100.002,100.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)11,1802,800.002,800.00
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)141,1252,750.002,750.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)51,1822,900.002,900.00
Bred Cows — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)189663,100.00–4,600.003,595.51
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open5864195.00–265.00212.80
(<2 yrs)Open2898260.00260.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open501,242183.00–237.50196.07
Young (2-4 yrs)Open2551,061197.00–319.00273.55
(<2 yrs)Open191,065232.50–321.00266.44
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open41,011265.00–308.00297.31
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open61,293189.00–210.00206.27
(<2 yrs)Open11,310204.00204.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open271,005215.00–297.50265.12
Young (2-4 yrs)Open281,096177.50–255.00218.80
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open41,197173.00–187.50179.60
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open15919300.00–303.00300.97
(<2 yrs)Open11866275.00–300.00279.46
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)Open61,3504,100.004,100.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)241,0084,000.00–4,100.004,016.29
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)549884,250.004,250.00
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.