Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Mar 16
● As filed143 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 143 priced lines covering 2,519 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 2,047 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 515 head. replacement cattle receipts at 262 head. Counted as USDA files them — 8 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Mar 16, 2026
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 2,047Last week 570Year ago 3,632
Slaughter CattleReceipts 515Last week 722Year ago 846
Replacement CattleReceipts 262Last week 939Year ago 684

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones. Quality this week was average to attractive and better overall than last week. Most cattle were offered in moderate size packages. Quality was mostly average to attractive. Demand was mostly good on light to moderate supplies. CME positions improved this week. The March closed at 357.75, 8.275 higher than last Fridays close. The April closed at 351.175, 8.075 higher than last Friday. The May contract closed Friday at 346.375, 7.205 higher than last Friday. Market activity was mostly active with a larger 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. Major packers were back in the market this week and were very aggressive as they purchased cows to feed. Canadian buyers were not as active this week as the exchange rate turned unfavorable which made cows too high for their orders. A large crowd of feeding cow buyers were present at all sales this week. Cow quality this week was average to attractive. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average. 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 higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-4.00 higher. 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 5.00-8.00 higher on very good demand. Packers and feeding bull buyers were both competing over similar offerings this week which helped improve prices on both classes. Demand for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed was mostly good this week. 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 to firm. Quality was average to attractive, and similar to last week.

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Beef/Dairy Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
12800–850836322.50322.50
25900–950902306.50306.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
20700–750743349.00349.00
5800–850806322.00322.00
3850–900877311.00311.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per head · actual wt
114700–750718351.00–381.00373.17
218750–800760366.00–370.00366.93
20800–8508252,800.00–2,825.002,812.81
29800–850820352.00352.00
10900–9509342,825.002,825.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14450–500478472.00–522.50482.38
98500–550533450.00–477.50474.45
10550–600576422.00–425.00422.59
105600–650622394.00–420.00412.28
73650–700676372.00–389.00380.15
187700–750736348.00–365.50361.09
26750–800771350.00–355.00352.65
3800–850842319.00319.00
2850–900865320.00320.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3300–350315505.00–510.00506.64
2350–400378500.00500.00
3400–450415472.50–525.00490.20
38450–500457447.50–452.50447.93
2550–600578401.00401.00
5600–650633385.00–387.00386.60
1650–700660357.50357.50
13700–750714345.00345.00
10750–800781322.50–338.00328.81
4800–850814325.00325.00
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2550–600558380.00380.00
2600–650623310.00310.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
9300–350342500.00500.00
7450–500497440.00440.00
12500–550506320.00320.00
14550–600564382.00382.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
5700–750732335.00335.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8350–400366575.00–600.00594.22
5400–450407570.00–575.00572.95
7450–500460510.00–545.00532.82
5500–550531483.00–510.00488.13
25550–600575440.00–470.00453.78
37600–650640415.00–435.50429.65
28650–700668385.00–415.00408.79
1700–750700386.00386.00
9750–800779343.00–345.00344.55
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5350–400375435.00435.00
2400–450420355.00355.00
3600–650610275.00275.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1300–350325570.00570.00
11450–500471475.00475.00
10550–600557335.00335.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3300–350337500.00500.00
6350–400385515.00–530.00520.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
11500–550548486.00486.00
5550–600550460.00460.00
4850–900858340.00340.00
22900–950922330.00–336.50330.88
71000–10501,013305.00305.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2300–350325650.00–660.00654.92
6450–500473535.00535.00
28550–600567462.50–497.00489.33
140600–650627439.00–460.00448.15
131650–700667416.00–446.00436.06
64700–750715390.00–421.50413.98
21750–800758380.00–395.00390.02
31800–850836355.50–367.00356.93
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
29550–600559490.00490.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6600–650633432.00–445.00436.16
Beef/Dairy Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2750–800770320.00320.00
32800–850818320.00320.00
4900–950934290.00290.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3350–400383525.00525.00
3450–500477490.00490.00
15500–550525465.00–480.00473.91
3600–650627395.00395.00
1750–800795342.50342.50
3950–1000988310.00310.00
21000–10501,005297.50297.50
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11100–11501,145245.00245.00
21150–12001,158250.00–277.50263.66
11200–12501,225232.50232.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
150–100951,100.001,100.00
1350–400375650.00650.00
1450–500465530.00530.00
3800–850823347.50347.50
1850–900860320.00320.00
11050–11001,075305.00305.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
7550–600590355.00355.00
11000–10501,025250.00250.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
301,396181.00–188.00183.17
351,404155.00–169.00163.99
1311,414167.00–182.50176.80
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
21,210180.00–181.00180.47
231,129142.50–166.00156.77
151,207170.00–180.00173.64
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
111,091116.00–142.50128.51
11,34595.0095.00
41,146143.00–147.50145.16
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
71,659159.00–166.00162.53
151,751164.00–176.00168.60
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2923100.00–115.00107.28
1890132.50132.50
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
31,553182.00–185.00183.91
171,544160.00–170.50164.35
541,510172.00–180.00178.44
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
21,348140.00–145.00142.36
41,370145.00–154.00149.79
21,445161.00–167.00163.97
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
12,450192.50192.50
331,985193.00–216.00209.30
131,644164.00–198.00186.62
31,962190.00–207.00198.13
22,234216.00–219.00217.48
Bulls — Non-Traditional$ per cwt · actual wt
11,570167.50167.50
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
31,363150.00–177.00162.59
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
81,644185.00–200.00195.52
201,540192.00–216.00206.53

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)Open21,8354,150.004,150.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open31,5874,700.004,700.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open31,2034,650.004,650.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)11,3803,525.003,525.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)11,4153,000.003,000.00
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)61,2494,400.00–4,475.004,440.62
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)31,8653,300.003,300.00
Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)61,1563,185.003,185.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)11,4202,350.002,350.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)21,4234,250.004,250.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)11,5803,500.003,500.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)21,4403,400.003,400.00
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)101,0523,700.003,700.00
Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)11,3002,900.002,900.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)11,3402,400.002,400.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)61,6703,050.00–3,350.003,277.54
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open531,086220.00–317.50271.73
Young (2-4 yrs)Open591,082202.00–322.50267.50
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open91,282183.00–192.00188.18
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open4785275.00–282.50279.93
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1770285.00285.00
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1860295.00295.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open211,092180.00–290.00228.69
(<2 yrs)Open51,059190.00–285.00249.15
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)41,2034,025.00–4,075.004,039.40
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)31,0203,800.003,800.00
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.