State summaries / Montana / Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary / 2025-12-01

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Dec 1

● As filed156 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

State summary

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 156 priced lines covering 3,828 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 3,026 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 1,019 head. replacement cattle receipts at 378 head. Counted as USDA files them — 2 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Dec 1, 2025

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 3,026Last week 1,157Year ago 9,160

Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,019Last week 1,536Year ago 2,045

Replacement CattleReceipts 378Last week 1,695Year ago 841

Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 550 lbs sold sharply higher in a narrow comparison, with most sales 50.00-75.00 higher. 550 lbs steers and heavier sold sharply higher with most sales 15.00-30.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold mostly 30.00-60.00 higher in a narrow comparison, Heifers over 500 lbs sold mostly 20.00-40.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Demand was mostly good to very good for last weeks light offering. More buyers were in the market last week following the holiday week. Demand for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings was very good for limited offerings. CME positions saw very strong gains over the last week driven higher by lighter supplies of calves available. Many calves have been marketed already as summer videos have pushed many marketings sooner in the calendar year. CME positions were higher throughout the week with a couple days of 3.00 or higher movement seen. The January feeder cattle contract closed Friday at 339.05, while the March closed at 333.30 and the April at 332.225. Several of the nearby contracts are 30.00 or more higher than they were just 2 weeks ago. Market activity was mostly active with a significantly larger buyer pool noticed. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand remains good, however demand was not as strong as the last few weeks. All cow feeders report they are starting to fill pens and demand for feeding cows was lighter again this week as a result. High quality cows suitable to feed to premium white sold mostly steady to 5.00 lower. Thin cows sold 5.00-10.00 lower on lighter demand and fewer feeding buyers present. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly light. Many lame or blemished cows were seen again this week. Breaking cows sold mostly 5.00 lower, boning and lean cows sold 3.00-5.00 lower. Regional packers were not in the market this past week. Slaughter bulls sold steady to weak. Good demand was seen for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed. Coming 2 year old cows generally steady. Demand for these offerings has improved as some southern buyers reentered the market this week looking for cows to rebreed.

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
3	600–650	635	357.50	357.50
2	650–700	673	346.00	346.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	200–250	230	640.00	640.00
1	250–300	290	590.00	590.00
33	300–350	325	420.00–580.00	553.90
14	350–400	378	560.00–565.00	562.25
11	400–450	424	450.00–480.00	471.59
23	450–500	489	365.00–475.00	448.24
14	500–550	533	360.00–441.00	425.60
27	550–600	585	342.50–419.00	404.26
15	600–650	635	391.00–394.00	393.68
6	650–700	676	340.00–365.00	356.73
6	700–750	717	342.00–353.00	346.49
14	750–800	769	280.00–337.00	327.83
2	800–850	848	309.00	309.00
2	900–950	948	267.50	267.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	340	490.00	490.00
13	350–400	365	625.00–640.00	638.84
34	400–450	416	565.00–585.00	574.79
38	450–500	464	465.00–532.50	503.19
130	500–550	517	417.50–480.00	467.08
169	550–600	573	377.50–465.00	418.83
229	600–650	627	381.00–414.00	396.55
178	650–700	670	350.00–388.00	384.37
68	700–750	715	345.00–374.00	365.57
4	750–800	780	353.00	353.00
47	800–850	828	345.00–350.00	345.31
1	850–900	890	285.00	285.00
16	900–950	929	308.00–317.00	309.11
7	950–1000	958	319.00	319.00
1	1050–1100	1,060	277.50	277.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 3$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	295	555.00	555.00
4	300–350	325	510.00	510.00
1	350–400	365	500.00	500.00
4	400–450	438	415.00–420.00	416.21
7	450–500	475	412.50–420.00	413.53
4	500–550	545	345.00	345.00
2	650–700	650	322.50–330.00	326.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	200–250	225	660.00	660.00
3	250–300	297	620.00	620.00
6	300–350	310	595.00	595.00
6	350–400	378	597.49	597.49
13	400–450	436	520.00–545.00	529.57
29	450–500	487	480.00–500.00	491.76
164	500–550	528	410.00–462.00	449.85
61	550–600	580	352.50–439.00	420.08
9	600–650	624	399.50	399.50
39	650–700	685	342.50–372.00	362.39
10	700–750	739	355.00	355.00
16	750–800	774	322.50–344.00	341.11
3	800–850	807	323.00	323.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	300–350	345	575.00	575.00
12	400–450	409	582.50	582.50
97	450–500	484	497.00	497.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	363	560.00	560.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Value Added$ per cwt · actual wt
2	500–550	518	430.00	430.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
9	550–600	558	415.00	415.00
62	650–700	676	370.00	370.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 3$ per cwt · actual wt
2	300–350	325	385.00	385.00
7	350–400	367	335.00	335.00
5	500–550	526	330.00–341.00	332.24
3	600–650	612	311.00	311.00
1	650–700	675	305.00	305.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	350–400	384	465.00–467.50	466.90
26	400–450	440	450.00–460.00	456.54
43	450–500	494	362.00–433.50	424.26
23	500–550	542	372.00–387.00	384.30
13	550–600	559	371.00–379.00	374.46
17	600–650	634	315.00–350.00	334.94
2	650–700	650	336.00	336.00
6	700–750	716	281.00–320.00	306.96

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	300–350	337	475.00–500.00	494.34
22	350–400	374	475.00–500.00	489.71
17	400–450	404	462.50–480.00	469.50
61	450–500	474	430.00–450.00	440.52
111	500–550	521	350.00–420.00	405.60
96	550–600	575	345.00–390.00	369.85
167	600–650	620	344.00–370.00	357.58
21	650–700	673	322.00–355.00	334.74
31	700–750	718	312.50–337.00	335.47
6	800–850	804	320.00	320.00
10	850–900	892	316.00	316.00
27	950–1000	964	300.00	300.00
2	1000–1050	1,030	260.00	260.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	400–450	426	430.00	430.00
7	450–500	478	430.00	430.00
2	550–600	568	371.00	371.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	250–300	293	460.00	460.00
12	300–350	323	410.00–455.00	431.53
6	350–400	384	360.00–440.00	405.38
13	400–450	435	425.00–445.00	433.85
20	450–500	489	320.00–410.00	401.14
16	500–550	523	330.00–376.00	360.18
10	550–600	570	300.00–361.00	341.95
9	600–650	623	300.00–344.00	326.63
5	650–700	682	310.00–330.00	317.24
5	700–750	729	280.00–317.50	307.96
1	800–850	845	263.00	263.00
8	1000–1050	1,020	235.00	235.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	370	430.00	430.00
7	400–450	411	414.00–435.00	422.93
17	600–650	643	340.00	340.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	450–500	480	411.00	411.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
14	400–450	437	560.00	560.00
14	600–650	617	360.00–409.50	388.52

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Spayed$ per cwt · actual wt
25	750–800	778	323.00	323.00
24	950–1000	975	288.00	288.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Spayed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	750–800	778	320.00	320.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	360	612.50	612.50
2	500–550	528	402.50	402.50
7	700–750	706	275.00–310.00	300.04
1	900–950	935	280.00	280.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	300–350	333	570.00–590.00	579.62
2	350–400	378	550.00	550.00
4	450–500	482	402.50–405.00	403.79
3	550–600	555	400.00–405.00	401.65
2	700–750	705	322.50	322.50
2	750–800	758	270.00	270.00
2	850–900	855	302.00	302.00
1	900–950	935	220.00	220.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	103	—	1,066	170.00–277.50	238.37
(<2 yrs)	Open	126	—	940	180.00–310.00	281.89

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,103	192.50–220.00	210.63
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	865	250.00–265.00	256.63

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	14	—	1,164	2,600.00–3,700.00	3,370.60
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	10	—	1,123	2,100.00–2,800.00	2,607.45
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	27	—	1,370	2,000.00–2,450.00	2,333.83
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	16	—	1,224	2,350.00–2,700.00	2,533.27
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	5	—	1,380	1,850.00–2,050.00	1,948.77

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,023	2,350.00–2,450.00	2,398.66
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	11	—	889	2,550.00	2,550.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,627	2,650.00	2,650.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,255	3,300.00	3,300.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	1,777	164.00–184.00	171.52
11	—	1,741	160.00–162.50	161.36
14	—	1,885	179.00–183.00	180.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	1,535	142.50–182.50	164.39
10	—	1,445	123.00–137.50	135.14

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
241	—	1,309	139.00–181.00	159.01
22	—	1,266	126.00–169.00	141.30
40	—	1,268	156.00–192.50	173.86

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,589	122.00–142.00	133.71
4	—	1,526	161.00–165.00	161.99
48	—	1,568	147.00–189.00	156.96

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	1,197	128.00–162.00	150.28
43	—	1,153	114.00–166.00	139.63
8	—	1,127	100.00–124.00	116.35

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	1,311	157.50–166.00	159.78
20	—	1,398	112.50–144.00	130.82
77	—	1,247	140.00–166.00	152.62

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
28	—	1,166	80.00–111.00	94.98
8	—	1,024	75.00–105.00	90.37
4	—	1,337	129.00–132.50	130.87
42	—	1,132	97.50–122.50	115.31

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
102	—	1,415	153.00–175.00	163.08
13	—	1,203	180.00–232.50	193.06

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.