Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Apr 13
● As filed171 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 171 priced lines covering 4,716 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 3,667 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 717 head. replacement cattle receipts at 475 head. Counted as USDA files them — 23 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Apr 13, 2026
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 3,667Last week 553Year ago 5,620
Slaughter CattleReceipts 717Last week 655Year ago 158
Replacement CattleReceipts 475Last week 628Year ago 62

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. No feeder specials were held last week and sale sizes were small. This week Public auction yards held their annual Aprilfest feeder special and the bulk of the feeder offering was at that one sale. Quality this week was plain to attractive. Most cattle were offered in moderate size packages, with a few load lots on offer as well. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly good to very good. Many sets of cattle were put together and backgrounded over the winter and spring. Demand for load lots was very good, even on backgrounded offerings. Cattle suitable to run on grass sold with the best demand as order buyers and ranchers both chased this weight of feeders. CME positions retreated some this week after flirting with contract highs. The April closed Friday at 371.32, 2.83 lower than last Friday. The May contract closed Friday at 372.35 365.275, 7.075 lower than last Friday. The August contract closed Friday at 365.675, 6.775 lower than last Fridays close. Market activity was mostly active with a large pool of buyers noticed, both in the stands and over the internet. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand remains very good. Feeding cows sold mostly generally steady. 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 were met with very good demand again this week as more and more of these offerings are being purchased by rebreed buyers. The demand for these young to middle age cows was very good this week as both feeding and rebreed buyers bid on this age of cows. Slaughter cow demand remains strong as packers continue to show good demand for limited slaughter offerings. Breaking, boning and lean slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady. Demand remains good as packer search for lean meat to blend down excess fat currently on the market. Feeding bull demand was mostly very good. Feeding bulls sold steady to firm on very good demand. Packers and feeding bull buyers were both competing over similar offerings this week. Demand for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed was mostly good to very good. Cows and heifers which lost calves are being marketed, but with very good weather conditions limited offerings are being seen. Demand for all offerings is very good with buyers for all quality levels. Young cows sold mostly steady to firm. Quality was average to attractive, and similar to last week.

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
241,205181.00–188.50184.20
181,158160.00–182.50174.69
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
71,11795.00–127.50115.47
91,160152.00–177.50165.20
211,071120.00–146.00133.04
251,120135.00–161.00151.07
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
91,351187.00–196.00189.99
1161,303175.00–187.50183.33
31,383165.00–166.00165.36
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
511,512173.00–184.00180.29
841,516179.00–191.00184.66
321,633159.00–175.50170.20
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
31,486151.00–159.00155.91
241,322156.00–175.00165.10
121,292169.00–176.00172.77
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
191,541161.00–178.00167.86
141,521137.50–163.00153.81
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
471,662197.50–220.00211.45
71,379233.00–250.00245.55
12,200215.00215.00
61,812185.00–195.00189.78
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
191,618227.00–257.50238.02
161,879197.00–216.00208.96
21,980207.50–209.00208.34
151,138257.50–266.00260.74
261,669215.00–237.50219.99
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
21,378180.00–182.00181.13
Bulls — Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
81,886225.00–229.00226.18

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
19300–350313605.00605.00
3350–400373515.00–520.00518.39
91400–450421470.00–615.00594.73
97450–500482492.50–560.00509.61
156500–550535447.50–505.00487.04
131550–600582420.00–475.00448.33
152600–650629390.00–431.00411.08
163650–700668373.00–414.00395.79
248700–750719358.00–415.00385.53
72750–800778325.00–375.00362.13
27800–850817328.00–350.50343.63
20850–900859325.00–357.50341.94
24900–950923320.00–352.50336.26
4950–1000982317.50–330.00326.93
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1550–600555430.00430.00
7650–700682356.00–380.00367.92
1800–850805325.00325.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2250–300288550.00–570.00559.74
10350–400376450.00–525.00512.75
23400–450430475.00–530.00510.40
18450–500482400.00–495.00442.32
31500–550528410.00–465.00447.46
15550–600585355.00–437.50391.98
25600–650624342.50–383.00370.64
29650–700671361.00–389.00368.31
43700–750732315.00–358.00343.71
4800–850814315.00–327.50319.48
2850–900873260.00–325.00292.41
4900–950930305.00–310.00308.15
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
4900–950910290.00290.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per head · actual wt
23550–6005842,600.00–2,725.002,671.81
56650–700697408.00408.00
42700–750716390.00–401.00398.32
38700–7507362,885.00–2,900.002,887.39
8750–8007852,900.002,900.00
108750–800759361.00–384.00375.57
15800–850825342.00342.00
192800–8508393,050.00–3,200.003,179.76
178850–9008642,925.00–3,250.003,154.25
64900–950913339.00–353.50346.49
114900–9509093,335.003,335.00
14950–10009613,100.00–3,150.003,107.16
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4350–400384440.00–450.00444.88
6400–450429305.00–450.00379.78
4450–500484360.00–415.00389.26
2500–550510305.00–350.00327.28
5550–600561380.00380.00
20600–650614270.00–357.00352.57
2650–700683325.00–330.00327.53
1700–750715300.00300.00
7750–800789250.00–310.00285.96
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3500–550517335.00–355.00341.45
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7600–650646352.50352.50
21000–10501,028315.00315.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6250–300268700.00–710.00703.39
5300–350344650.00–670.00664.12
29350–400354575.00–680.00652.11
69400–450430600.00–631.00625.17
68450–500478530.00–590.00568.00
42500–550534475.00–552.50526.59
100550–600577450.00–526.00496.04
120600–650624442.50–487.50457.89
89650–700675412.50–450.00429.00
74700–750722399.00–425.00413.76
105750–800753385.00–408.00401.80
35800–850823355.00–375.00361.22
82850–900858353.00–361.00359.53
11900–950927333.00–345.00334.48
3950–1000957341.00341.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2350–400393480.00–510.00494.90
7400–450416420.00–520.00482.85
1450–500480400.00400.00
2550–600580395.00–405.00399.87
2600–650630332.50–335.00333.77
2650–700675310.00–340.00324.56
18750–800771325.00–340.00326.14
1800–850800305.00305.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4350–400391550.00–605.00571.01
22400–450435525.00–585.00561.26
35450–500481425.00–517.50500.25
21500–550542420.00–482.50476.92
14550–600578427.00–470.00440.98
68600–650616400.00–445.00423.30
47650–700671342.50–400.00370.44
28700–750735350.00–387.50375.54
13750–800767320.00–380.00361.76
8800–850814330.00–355.00346.80
5850–900869322.50–337.50328.68
4900–950924310.00–320.00314.96
5950–1000964307.00–318.00311.38
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
9650–700688381.00381.00
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
19850–900867335.00335.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5500–550509457.50–517.50496.25
4550–600585435.00–460.00440.87
47600–650646400.00–430.00401.32
1650–700675400.00400.00
14700–750725360.00–385.00365.39
8750–800768335.00–357.50340.26
3800–850820330.00–365.00346.79
1850–900860345.00345.00
7900–950930312.50–330.00327.11
3950–1000974315.00315.00
51000–10501,023272.50–307.50300.42
71050–11001,085284.00–300.00286.26
21150–12001,190260.00260.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1200–250225560.00560.00
3450–500472425.00–470.00453.53
3500–550512410.00–470.00450.26
9550–600562430.00–440.00436.14
1850–900885317.50317.50

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open21,3333,000.00–3,800.003,454.78
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open11,2652,750.002,750.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open31,3673,550.00–3,650.003,620.13
Young (2-4 yrs)Open21,2804,000.00–4,500.004,243.16
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open61,4013,600.00–3,700.003,633.62
Cow-Calf Pairs — Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open21,6832,400.002,400.00
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open79364,200.004,200.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)29302,750.00–2,950.002,851.08
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)11,0053,750.003,750.00
Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)11,0403,300.003,300.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1031,016240.00–355.00308.17
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open261,182220.00–258.00240.29
(<2 yrs)Open16965267.50–320.00306.44
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open441,220190.00–225.00207.19
(<2 yrs)Open22968227.50–305.00285.26
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1161,127217.50–292.50257.70
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open61,301185.00–191.00188.63
Young (2-4 yrs)Open141,207215.00–228.00219.81
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)31,2123,000.00–3,400.003,250.39
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)61,3233,400.00–3,550.003,501.61
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)261,2424,000.00–4,485.004,362.78
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)21,1333,050.00–3,250.003,151.55
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)41,3823,800.00–3,900.003,853.02
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)41,2183,000.00–3,400.003,215.23
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)91,4553,750.00–4,000.003,973.08
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)51,2974,150.00–4,400.004,230.41
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)21,1582,600.00–2,800.002,716.20
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)31,3523,700.00–3,950.003,853.21
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)11,1253,550.003,550.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)31,2032,375.00–2,550.002,499.34
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)21,1632,300.00–2,600.002,458.06
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)61,2422,400.00–2,700.002,553.52
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)61,4382,700.00–3,550.003,430.33
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.