State summaries / Montana / Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary / 2025-10-20

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Oct 20

● As filed214 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

State summary

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 214 priced lines covering 13,985 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 13,554 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 2,741 head. replacement cattle receipts at 1,328 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Oct 20, 2025

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 13,554Last week 9,382Year ago 11,452

Slaughter CattleReceipts 2,741Last week 1,318Year ago 2,616

Replacement CattleReceipts 1,328Last week 958Year ago 1,028

Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however weak undertones were noticed on steers and steady to higher undertones were noticed on heifers on a larger higher quality offering. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly 10.00-20.00 lower, 400-600 lbs sold mostly 15.00-25.00 lower. Steer calves over 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold sharply lower with most sales 20.00-30.00 lower, heifer calves 450-549 lbs sold mostly 10.00-20.00 lower, heifers over 550 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 lower. Demand was mixed this week with good to very good seen early in the week and light to moderate demand seen later in the week. This led to very wide price spreads for the week. Demand for load lots was good throughout the week. Packages of calves sold on mostly light to moderate demand with light demand seen for small packages later in the week. CME positions traded limit lower two days out of the last week which caused buyers to pull back. CME positions were down sharply for the week. The October contract closed Friday at 354.30, 17.65 lower than last Friday. The November contract closed at 352.20, 19.50 lower for the week. The January contract closes at 348.175. This week saw a smaller buyer pool as fewer buyers were present. Internet bidding was also slower by late week as many buyers pulled back and passed on offerings. Market activity was slow to moderate as a result. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand. Feeding cow demand remains very good and continues to be the driving force behind the cow market. Both packers and private feeders both continue to be very active as they put cows away on feed. Packer buyers started buying cows for holiday week harvest. Most of these offerings are slightly blemished cows many with lumps or a slight gimp to their walk. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher oh high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Short term feeding cows sold generally steady. Slaughter cows sold sharply higher with an additional packer in the market this week. Regional packers and major packers both showed very good demand for high quality cows. Breaking and boning cows sold 10.00-15.00 higher, lean cows sold steady to 5.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Very good demand was seen for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed. Coming 2 year old cows outsold yearling offerings in places again this week. Young offerings sold generally steady to firm.

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	4	—	1,169	2,850.00	2,850.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,355	2,800.00	2,800.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	16	—	1,291	2,850.00–3,100.00	2,995.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	12	—	1,191	3,500.00	3,500.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	52	—	1,365	2,900.00–3,300.00	3,194.53
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,503	191.00	191.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	7	—	1,337	183.00	183.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	4	—	1,274	245.00	245.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	66	—	1,122	3,400.00–3,550.00	3,467.82
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	42	—	1,182	3,300.00–3,650.00	3,544.46
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	12	—	1,401	196.00–212.50	198.66
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	3	—	1,632	176.00	176.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	21	—	1,354	3,150.00–3,475.00	3,359.28
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	3	—	1,375	2,850.00–3,300.00	2,984.73
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	19	—	1,251	227.50	227.50

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,238	3,100.00	3,100.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	5	—	1,000	2,800.00–3,150.00	2,992.11
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	6	—	1,132	2,950.00–3,200.00	3,029.37
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,350	2,700.00–2,950.00	2,841.67

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	5	—	1,101	2,850.00	2,850.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	3	—	1,322	2,550.00	2,550.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,370	2,500.00	2,500.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	978	3,400.00	3,400.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	13	—	1,148	2,750.00	2,750.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	950	3,250.00	3,250.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	136	—	1,400	2,800.00–3,300.00	3,086.86
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	9	—	1,429	2,850.00–2,950.00	2,870.11
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	13	—	1,236	193.00	193.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	7	—	1,281	175.00–182.50	179.69
(<2 yrs)	Open	255	—	970	218.00–355.00	310.77
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	279	—	1,110	182.50–307.50	232.24

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	725	155.00–240.00	198.38
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	770	205.00	205.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	26	—	962	200.00–310.00	270.51
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	49	—	1,043	174.00–270.00	194.76

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	975	212.50	212.50
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	3	—	993	180.00–195.00	189.97

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,441	185.00–191.00	189.98
(<2 yrs)	Open	5	—	1,300	205.00–270.00	226.51

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	2	—	980	285.00	285.00
(<2 yrs)	Open	11	—	826	290.00–322.50	314.02

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	5	—	914	3,400.00	3,400.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
9	450–500	481	450.00	450.00
66	600–650	643	379.00	379.00
4	650–700	688	370.00	370.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
46	600–650	611	430.00	430.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11	600–650	600	389.00	389.00
16	750–800	765	378.00–382.50	379.98
27	850–900	857	346.00–358.00	354.90
13	900–950	920	338.00	338.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	200–250	228	800.00–870.00	844.10
38	250–300	264	720.00–810.00	787.60
102	300–350	329	620.00–710.00	660.60
118	350–400	367	550.00–670.00	612.64
405	400–450	428	519.00–592.50	555.88
876	450–500	481	485.00–555.00	514.99
977	500–550	525	431.00–530.00	489.20
957	550–600	571	402.00–492.50	441.85
982	600–650	618	386.00–455.00	426.20
320	650–700	666	379.00–419.00	403.04
95	700–750	725	366.00–399.50	382.81
11	750–800	768	382.00	382.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
26	850–900	867	338.00–342.00	341.24
38	900–950	946	331.00	331.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	300–350	339	500.00–580.00	531.15
5	400–450	426	495.00	495.00
46	450–500	489	350.00–445.00	424.79
5	500–550	520	417.50–429.00	419.82
3	550–600	570	380.00	380.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
24	350–400	380	500.00–540.00	533.76
20	400–450	426	542.50	542.50
3	450–500	453	480.00	480.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
10	350–400	384	517.50	517.50
9	500–550	525	417.50	417.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	250–300	263	730.00–760.00	742.31
33	300–350	337	540.00–650.00	586.54
53	350–400	378	515.00–585.00	554.72
132	400–450	430	445.00–543.00	505.98
138	450–500	476	420.00–517.50	472.41
211	500–550	540	419.00–483.00	441.22
107	550–600	572	365.00–437.50	412.81
94	600–650	623	335.00–632.00	393.89
14	650–700	660	360.00–387.50	377.48

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	550–600	555	400.00	400.00
4	600–650	648	376.00	376.00
3	650–700	693	366.00	366.00
3	700–750	738	383.00	383.00
8	800–850	808	355.00	355.00
4	900–950	905	338.00	338.00
16	950–1000	985	318.00	318.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	400–450	411	547.50	547.50
13	450–500	464	450.00–475.00	463.80
83	500–550	523	401.00–482.50	442.13
22	550–600	568	383.50–437.00	414.21
68	600–650	637	370.00–417.50	397.26
18	650–700	687	335.00–384.00	369.66
17	800–850	809	337.00	337.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Small 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
7	350–400	351	265.00	265.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	1050–1100	1,060	306.00	306.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
204	500–550	510	450.00–482.00	457.46
22	550–600	558	442.00–452.00	445.65

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
18	250–300	280	570.00–690.00	648.99
19	300–350	325	540.00–650.00	567.53
128	350–400	377	490.00–570.00	528.12
504	400–450	423	461.00–549.00	499.72
840	450–500	476	422.00–503.00	462.59
578	500–550	525	400.00–450.00	430.05
731	550–600	568	357.00–424.00	399.75
145	600–650	615	346.00–392.50	365.93
15	650–700	675	310.00–360.00	322.73
18	700–750	718	304.00–344.00	313.64
2	750–800	755	312.50	312.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
21	600–650	627	389.00	389.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
24	500–550	507	400.00–405.00	403.76
18	550–600	574	365.00–375.00	367.29

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
39	750–800	781	351.00–363.50	360.99
90	800–850	811	341.00–355.00	351.76
44	850–900	881	322.00–339.00	330.21
150	900–950	926	313.00–340.00	329.71
18	950–1000	961	312.50–322.50	316.61
50	1000–1050	1,025	288.00–312.00	293.19
7	1050–1100	1,082	295.00	295.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	350–400	394	435.00	435.00
2	400–450	443	415.00	415.00
9	450–500	464	315.00	315.00
8	500–550	509	340.00–355.00	345.73

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
14	400–450	436	350.00	350.00
2	450–500	453	420.00	420.00
2	500–550	530	402.50	402.50
12	550–600	586	340.00	340.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
8	650–700	696	324.00	324.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	600–650	629	270.00	270.00
2	650–700	665	362.50	362.50
5	750–800	783	321.00	321.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
30	350–400	398	472.50	472.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	150–200	192	650.00	650.00
4	250–300	296	565.00	565.00
27	300–350	334	435.00–570.00	531.50
57	350–400	378	420.00–512.50	491.21
136	400–450	432	425.00–492.50	460.40
46	450–500	484	340.00–440.00	405.99
53	500–550	527	370.00–412.50	388.85
75	550–600	572	350.00–387.50	369.37
5	600–650	627	318.00–335.00	324.56

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	650–700	699	300.00	300.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
15	1100–1150	1,122	275.00	275.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14	500–550	549	397.50	397.50
2	750–800	783	330.00	330.00
5	1050–1100	1,062	287.00	287.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	350–400	376	505.00	505.00
50	400–450	427	480.00	480.00
11	450–500	485	370.00–415.00	406.68
3	500–550	545	350.00	350.00
3	550–600	562	325.00	325.00
3	600–650	640	351.00	351.00
3	650–700	673	325.00	325.00
12	700–750	723	309.00–310.00	309.32

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
33	850–900	880	308.00	308.00
137	900–950	936	318.00	318.00
18	950–1000	960	283.00–291.00	289.16

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	700–750	716	345.00–351.00	347.93
16	800–850	837	307.00–322.00	307.92
38	850–900	882	303.00–319.00	308.58
5	900–950	944	281.00	281.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
5	1050–1100	1,091	285.00	285.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	350–400	367	620.00	620.00
6	450–500	464	515.00	515.00
20	550–600	587	380.00–400.00	386.05
13	600–650	624	360.00–370.00	365.46
4	650–700	681	365.00	365.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11	650–700	692	370.00	370.00
1	850–900	865	325.00	325.00
4	950–1000	967	310.00–326.00	321.94

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	1100–1150	1,104	260.00–269.00	261.31
1	1150–1200	1,175	265.00	265.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1200–1250	1,205	230.00	230.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
25	350–400	392	540.50	540.50
133	450–500	476	510.00	510.00
7	600–650	629	355.00	355.00
2	700–750	738	325.00	325.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	500–550	545	375.00	375.00
4	600–650	613	335.00	335.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
455	—	1,372	165.00–185.50	176.08
169	—	1,388	179.00–189.00	183.66
83	—	1,407	124.00–172.00	155.65

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
63	—	1,480	179.50–189.50	187.65
60	—	1,604	165.00–185.00	179.32
3	—	1,642	160.50–167.00	164.32

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	968	117.50–145.00	127.50
4	—	901	100.00–112.50	106.31
2	—	955	85.00	85.00
1	—	985	147.50	147.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
52	—	1,218	178.50–187.00	179.93
291	—	1,214	165.00–178.00	172.90
80	—	1,165	112.50–165.00	156.57

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	1,113	60.00–103.00	83.99
39	—	1,238	155.00–179.00	175.58
8	—	1,220	124.00–167.00	149.54
94	—	1,182	100.00–129.00	116.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,518	187.00–190.00	188.56
34	—	1,669	164.00–186.00	177.88
5	—	1,585	158.00–178.00	171.20

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Non-Traditional$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,490	187.00	187.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,414	112.00–115.00	112.89
44	—	1,431	157.00–187.50	183.23
22	—	1,382	110.00–126.00	122.23
41	—	1,380	127.50–177.00	163.08

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	2,045	182.00–192.00	186.61
10	—	1,934	192.00–198.00	195.54
20	—	1,819	160.00–181.00	169.08

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,270	140.00	140.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
37	—	1,769	182.00–197.00	190.73
21	—	1,599	159.00–185.00	177.03
1	—	2,115	195.00	195.00

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.