Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Mar 30
● As filed172 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 172 priced lines covering 6,660 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 6,119 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 762 head. replacement cattle receipts at 434 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Mar 30, 2026
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 6,119Last week 616Year ago 4,924
Slaughter CattleReceipts 762Last week 511Year ago 754
Replacement CattleReceipts 434Last week 306Year ago 407

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Last week had no feeder specials and just over 1400 head total for 3 sales. Quality this week was average to very attractive and significantly more attractive than last week. Most cattle were offered in moderate size packages up to load lots. Several load lots were seen this week and buyers all showed good demand for these offerings. Demand was mostly good to very good on moderate to heavy offerings. CME positions continued to improve providing support for feeders. The April closed Thursday (Friday was closed to trade due to Good Friday) at 372.90, 11.45 higher than last Friday. The May contract closed Thursday at 370.625, 10.80 higher than last Friday. The August contract closed Thursday at 369.50, 11.70 higher than last Fridays close. Demand for grass cattle was very good this week as buyers purchased steers up to 750 lbs and heifers up to 700 lbs to send to grass. Buyers were very aware of flesh as they showed heavy discounts for even moderately fleshed feeders. Market activity was mostly active with a large crowd of both order buyers and ranchers noticed all week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand remains the driving force in the market. Feeding cows sold 1.00-3.00 higher. Major packers showed good to very good demand for high quality cows this week. Cow quality was mixed this week from plain to attractive. A large crowd of feeding cow buyers were present at all sales. Young feeding cows saw increased demand again this week as feeding cow buyers purchased young to middle age cows in hopes they can get a few young cows to grade. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average. Several sets of cows have been out on green grass this week as they were very empty come sale time. Weigh conditions this week were very good and looked more like cows would in June rather than April. 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. Premium white cows sold fully steady on a heavy offering. Fed cow quality was mostly attractive this week. Breaking, boning and lean slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. 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 3.00-5.00 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. Young cows sold mostly 5.00 higher. Quality was average to attractive, and similar to last week.

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
8500–550531417.50417.50
12550–600576426.00426.00
8600–650636384.00384.00
128650–700684386.00386.00
49700–750718351.00–368.00362.90
10900–950932320.00320.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
25650–700661387.50387.50
104700–750742371.00–380.00372.18
466750–8007722,875.00–3,160.003,043.44
74800–850833363.00363.00
116800–8508272,950.00–3,125.003,054.85
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4250–300296470.00470.00
4350–400393470.00470.00
2400–450415470.00470.00
18450–500489422.50–432.50429.12
Heifers — Small 3-4$ per cwt · actual wt
16400–450414220.00220.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4350–400376540.00540.00
20400–450443515.00–540.00517.26
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10350–400387490.00–520.00508.52
20450–500480472.50–502.50482.64
30500–550527422.50–457.50434.97
41550–600573392.50–432.50422.64
29600–650630385.00–412.00401.65
18650–700685349.00–375.50358.20
10700–750724345.00–356.00353.31
2850–900873330.00330.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12350–400397525.00–535.00533.37
31400–450441522.50–532.50526.91
64450–500468490.00–528.00510.06
280500–550517475.00–496.00487.93
339550–600578417.00–459.00436.33
601600–650629400.00–435.00419.81
469650–700669375.00–422.00410.91
6700–7507232,750.002,750.00
189700–750730362.50–390.00381.42
299750–800762343.00–380.00367.58
2800–850818354.00354.00
69850–900868339.00–344.00343.21
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6600–650624409.00409.00
3650–700685399.00399.00
16750–800778371.00371.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
53600–650603447.00–449.00448.24
19650–700664424.00–425.00424.36
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4300–350300495.00495.00
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3650–700657349.00349.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7500–550545397.50397.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4350–400389565.00565.00
2500–550543465.00465.00
4600–650621370.00370.00
9650–700666350.00–377.50371.28
9700–750727350.00–372.50358.36
2950–1000993287.50287.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11450–500477540.00540.00
5600–650623410.00410.00
3650–700652395.00395.00
4850–900896325.00325.00
11000–10501,025290.00290.00
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
41050–11001,060292.50–300.00294.39
11100–11501,140270.00270.00
21250–13001,260235.00235.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
31450–500487537.50537.50
31550–600592450.00450.00
Bulls — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3400–450425535.00535.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2600–650640390.00390.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2300–350323540.00540.00
15350–400366500.00–525.00517.37
2400–450435475.00475.00
4450–500455470.00470.00
3600–650630380.00–405.00388.00
2750–800795335.00335.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5350–400392630.00630.00
25400–450432595.00–600.00595.93
69450–500468550.00–580.00570.24
190500–550518520.00–555.00536.51
131550–600581481.00–517.50498.52
229600–650630459.00–490.00474.47
235650–700665423.00–459.00442.81
120700–750727401.50–424.00413.18
141750–800792386.00–411.00388.60
123800–850823370.00–380.00375.46
40850–900871337.50–372.50344.01
2900–950913340.00340.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
17350–400380550.00–615.00557.69
5400–450422555.00–575.00567.96
14450–500494502.50–535.00532.86
6500–550511502.50–507.50504.97
41550–600588455.00–477.50465.90
9600–650620427.50–449.00440.54
14650–700685405.50–417.50411.59
24700–750738381.00–404.00395.24
4750–800773368.00–375.00370.85
9800–850818357.50–363.00359.62
4900–950901325.00325.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
47750–800757422.00422.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
22600–650610468.00468.00
84700–750702423.00423.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7450–500465525.00525.00
10500–550530475.00–515.00502.70
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
6950–1000974327.00–327.50327.08
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
18600–650622430.00430.00
2950–1000965328.00328.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
7500–550544475.00475.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2350–400368625.00625.00
3400–450420580.00580.00
11450–500493545.00545.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4650–700667419.00–424.00422.72
3850–900862322.50322.50

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open4914245.00–285.00263.34
Young (2-4 yrs)Open3943210.00–240.00230.19
Stock Cows — Medium 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open1720295.00295.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open641,051190.00–312.50254.27
(<2 yrs)Open20902210.00–312.50284.65
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open7761320.00–342.50332.85
Young (2-4 yrs)Open2830325.00325.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open11,505185.00185.00
Young (2-4 yrs)Open971,141207.50–337.50261.41
(<2 yrs)Open1191,062240.00–342.50286.52
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open81,297188.00–215.00200.02
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open1790330.00330.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open11,370185.00185.00
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open2833275.00–280.00277.55
(<2 yrs)Open8828260.00–300.00283.24
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)21,5653,150.003,150.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)21,5083,200.003,200.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)11,4152,950.002,950.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)41,4353,800.00–3,950.003,838.54
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)21,7053,375.003,375.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)41,2873,300.00–3,350.003,338.83
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)21,5433,250.003,250.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)11,5253,800.003,800.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)211,1283,900.00–4,050.003,980.99
(<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)31,3323,350.003,350.00
(<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)21,3633,400.003,400.00
Bred Heifers — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)137783,000.003,000.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
11,530145.00145.00
41,760163.00–176.00168.73
81,693149.00–166.00158.50
51,652176.50–177.00176.80
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
361,159170.00–181.00173.67
751,112137.00–170.00158.96
121,244179.00–184.00182.73
Cows — Premium White 65-75% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12,025164.00164.00
192,096173.00173.00
12,205141.00141.00
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
4918145.00–165.00156.19
5893112.50–135.00126.02
1895105.00105.00
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
41,221105.00–112.50106.80
131,155115.00–140.00126.23
11,170162.50162.50
101,169152.00–160.00157.90
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1421,389173.00–183.50179.45
451,405184.00–189.00185.88
481,372140.00–170.50164.73
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
1051,881171.00–174.00173.65
201,571164.00–170.50167.08
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
21,585165.50–169.00167.19
401,417182.00–186.50184.52
131,552172.00–183.00178.96
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
21,518135.00–144.00139.21
61,451145.00–166.50155.11
21,443112.50–115.00113.71
61,516162.00–181.00167.89
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
11,145147.50147.50
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
241,500164.00–207.00195.80
21,363220.00220.00
161,528199.00–215.50210.82
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
61,698164.00–193.00183.78
291,880198.00–218.50210.32
22,348218.50218.50
142,071210.00–224.00218.77
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
11,160165.00165.00
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.