Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Sep 22
● As filed195 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

State summary

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 195 priced lines covering 4,190 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 3,364 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 1,044 head. replacement cattle receipts at 545 head. Counted as USDA files them — 58 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Sep 22, 2025
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 3,364Last week 1,386Year ago 3,927
Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,044Last week 263Year ago 1,235
Replacement CattleReceipts 545Last week 134Year ago 314

Yearling steers and calves both sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Yearling heifers and heifer calves both sold unevenly steady in a narrow comparison. Demand was mostly good for light to moderate offerings. Several load lots were seen this week and these offerings were met with very good demand. Packages of calves and yearlings sold unevenly. Quality this week was mixed from plain to very attractive, with lots of variation noticed. CME positions whipsawed over the past week causing buyers to show caution at times. As of Fridays close the September contract had a final settlement of 365.04, up 5.89 from last Friday, while the October closed at 357.00, up 2.90 for the week, the November contract closed Friday at 354.475. Market activity was mostly active this past week with a large crowd of order buyers and farmer feeders in the seats as well as over the internet actively bidding on cattle. Weigh up cows sold on mostly very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly moderate. Very few cows continue to be purchased for immediate harvest. Only extremely poor or very blemished cows were purchased for immediate harvest this week. Slaughter cows were to lightly tested the previous week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on all offerings. Feeding cow demand was very good. Even cows which were slightly blemished, some buyers were willing to put on feed. Feeding cows sold on very good demand as private feeders and packer buyers both showed strong demand for cows to feed. Quality was mostly average to attractive and better than last week. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher on boning flesh cows, while lean cows sold sharply higher with most sales 5.00-10.00 higher. The spread between slaughter cows and feeding cows remains very large. Slaughter bulls sold on good demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00 higher. Many thin fleshed bulls continue to be seen as many have been turned out with cows. Many of these thin bulls were purchased to feed this week. Feeding bulls sold mostly 3.00-4.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on very good demand for limited offerings. Offerings were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however sharply higher undertones were noticed. Buyers showed willingness to buy older cows which were in good condition to rebreed. Good demand was seen for all pairs with summer or early fall born calves. Bred cows of all ages sold on good demand. Most offerings were short bred cows which will calve March -May.

Replacement Cattle

As reported
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)4—1,2762,800.002,800.00
Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)2—1,1533,200.003,200.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)2—1,1533,150.003,150.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)7—1,2022,000.00–2,050.002,019.70
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)1—1,0452,850.002,850.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)46—1,4022,800.00–3,150.002,884.33
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)28—1,350186.00–208.50206.29
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)3—1,5333,100.003,100.00
Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)34—1,2873,050.00–3,400.003,233.38
Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)12—1,121293.00293.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)16—1,3573,050.00–3,400.003,212.17
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)46—1,3532,525.00–2,850.002,795.14
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Aged (>8 yrs)Open12—1,4673,150.00–3,450.003,255.22
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Young (2-4 yrs)Open9—1,3844,450.004,450.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open7—1,5694,150.00–4,200.004,169.90
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open22—1,7664,285.004,285.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Aged (>8 yrs)Open2—1,4953,700.003,700.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open6—1,6123,850.003,850.00
Bred Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
(<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)6—8832,800.002,800.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
(<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo)4—9463,100.003,100.00
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
(<2 yrs)Open2—788255.00–270.00262.52
Stock Cows — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Young (2-4 yrs)Open2—828207.50207.50
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Aged (>8 yrs)Open1—1,295164.00164.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Young (2-4 yrs)Open10—1,050182.00–230.00197.03
(<2 yrs)Open9—967227.50–265.00254.35
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
(<2 yrs)Open2—1,473204.00204.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
(<2 yrs)Open57—1,010221.00–296.00263.25
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open1—1,310184.00184.00
Young (2-4 yrs)Open69—1,089190.00–276.00232.45
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open19—1,291176.00–189.50186.90
Aged (>8 yrs)Open1—1,415169.00169.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Aged (>8 yrs)Open7—1,310173.00–185.00177.57

Feeder Cattle

As reported
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
2400–450413500.00500.00
11450–500472445.00–485.00455.67
3500–550502410.00410.00
4550–600591385.00385.00
2700–750725370.00370.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
2200–250215700.00700.00
18250–300282625.00–630.00627.32
13300–350340545.00–560.00548.54
6350–400393525.00525.00
18450–500468445.00–470.00461.30
5500–550511430.00430.00
26550–600572402.00402.00
5600–650624397.00397.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
31050–11001,060227.50–240.00235.75
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
11200–12501,245225.00225.00
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
51050–11001,086262.50–282.50274.58
21100–11501,118269.00–274.00271.49
41150–12001,176250.00250.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
2850–900853342.50342.50
7900–950908323.00–337.00329.00
7950–1000954314.00314.00
31000–10501,000312.00312.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
8300–350346575.00575.00
1350–400380540.00540.00
23400–450446460.00–505.00492.57
9450–500473425.00–450.00433.32
4500–550538404.00–420.00411.96
26550–600577382.50–429.00409.91
7750–800762371.00371.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
12600–650618420.00420.00
22650–700657410.00–417.00415.94
39700–750738405.00–409.00406.94
52750–800780375.00–393.00385.06
11800–850818360.00360.00
2850–900855360.00360.00
159900–950915351.00–358.00355.57
20950–1000981330.00–341.00331.62
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
3250–300273660.00–700.00686.83
29300–350326595.00–640.00616.65
46350–400374562.50–595.00566.26
21400–450444500.00–530.00512.42
54450–500470475.00–515.00490.10
64500–550528430.00–466.00451.27
53550–600571421.00–441.00428.28
18600–650612397.00–421.00406.80
5650–700691367.00–370.00367.59
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
24700–750726370.00–380.00371.22
9750–800782361.00–365.00363.19
2800–850843350.00350.00
17850–900856350.00–353.00351.76
41000–10501,031312.00312.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
3500–550517420.00420.00
7650–700693360.00360.00
8700–750730342.00–350.00346.08
4750–800778354.00–367.50360.64
3800–850828320.00320.00
3950–1000993316.00316.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
2450–500493445.00445.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
28500–550543420.00–443.00431.64
26550–600569420.00–421.00420.69
22600–650647415.00–420.00419.10
14650–700676371.00–400.00389.80
Steers — Medium 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
6650–700662370.00370.00
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
2600–650608372.50372.50
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
6350–400377530.00530.00
4400–450445490.00490.00
17450–500484427.50427.50
2500–550540435.00435.00
3600–650615390.00390.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
17600–650610402.50402.50
2800–850838335.00335.00
10850–900870337.00337.00
27950–1000970314.00314.00
101050–11001,079309.00–320.00314.56
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
19700–750711388.00388.00
31050–11001,063305.00305.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
3350–400365420.00–475.00455.43
19400–450436420.00–447.50443.77
1450–500460402.50402.50
21500–550529353.00–380.00364.46
4550–600558360.00360.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
8450–500496390.00390.00
28700–750737353.00–362.00358.77
9750–800787325.00–357.50337.32
28800–850829303.00–327.00319.72
18850–900890310.00–328.00321.40
21900–950919298.00–320.00311.33
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
21350–400399480.00480.00
15450–500458436.00436.00
7550–600562357.50357.50
6650–700663375.00375.00
90700–750724359.00–379.00375.35
21750–800759357.00–358.00357.24
203800–850834332.00–353.00339.60
66850–900876326.00–350.00335.34
154900–950924321.00–334.00329.04
336950–1000972309.00–323.00315.39
481000–10501,020300.00–315.00310.90
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
35250–300285560.00–640.00600.33
38300–350328520.00–582.50571.82
13350–400372500.00–535.00516.09
77400–450419457.50–503.00480.93
27450–500470410.00–455.00422.06
52500–550520406.00–425.00413.71
9550–600582347.50–369.00362.52
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
4450–500483390.00390.00
7800–850828329.00329.00
25850–900890320.00–327.50325.43
8950–1000979293.00–309.00304.92
51000–10501,041287.50–295.00290.47
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
5800–850849311.00311.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
12500–550502397.00397.00
8550–600550390.00390.00
31600–650634373.00–383.50380.72
18650–700659360.00–370.00369.44
6750–800778333.00333.00
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
13550–600573352.50352.50
6600–650632347.50–352.50349.21
3650–700665337.50337.50
Heifers — Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
31200–12501,225257.00257.00
Heifers — Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
231050–11001,062317.00317.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
5350–400362427.50427.50
10500–550510367.50367.50
3850–900865308.00308.00
2900–950903324.00324.00
641050–11001,072288.00–311.00300.12
271100–11501,123277.00–285.00283.49
71150–12001,150281.00281.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
13750–800775310.00–334.00319.15
Heifers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
41250–13001,280255.00255.00
21300–13501,338240.00240.00
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
6450–500472399.00399.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
41—1,247175.00–178.00176.06
91—1,178161.00–175.00170.78
38—1,155130.00–166.00157.10
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
2—1,195145.00–147.50146.24
52—1,160110.00–143.00126.39
1—935108.00108.00
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
34—1,590170.00–174.00171.88
18—1,572162.00–169.00165.44
3—1,847155.00155.00
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
6—1,761149.00–158.00155.22
1—1,855165.00165.00
2—1,650169.00169.00
1—1,775137.00137.00
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
230—1,389161.00–175.00170.96
24—1,424141.00–162.00155.13
191—1,407174.50–177.00175.92
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
5—1,418135.00–140.00137.29
5—1,558153.00–161.00158.24
1—1,490151.00151.00
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
2—855105.00–111.00108.16
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
8—1,539124.00–126.00125.35
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
1—1,355172.00172.00
Bulls — Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
3—1,894200.00200.00
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
45—1,652161.00–188.00175.35
47—1,655185.00–202.00191.85
1—1,705200.00200.00
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
8—2,042198.00–205.00201.80
15—1,849160.00–185.00177.82
23—1,955187.00–197.00192.94
1—2,120186.00186.00
2—2,285193.00–197.00195.07
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.