State summaries / Montana / Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary / 2026-01-12

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Jan 12

● As filed180 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

State summary

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 180 priced lines covering 7,860 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 6,747 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 1,292 head. replacement cattle receipts at 1,489 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Jan 12, 2026

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 6,747Last week 4,108Year ago 6,698

Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,292Last week 1,671Year ago 1,210

Replacement CattleReceipts 1,489Last week 594Year ago 1,237

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 450 lbs too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. 450-549 lbs steers sold mostly 15.00-20.00 higher; steers 550-649 lbs sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher; steers over 650 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 higher. Heifers under 450 sold steady to 10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Heifers 450-649 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifers over 650 lbs sold mostly 5.00 higher. Demand was good to very good for all offerings this week. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings, and these offerings sold with the largest price increase this week. Additionally, demand for offerings too big to develop into yearlings was also good this week as several packer buyers had orders for steers and heifers over 650 lbs. Higher CME positions continue to provide support for buyers as positions held steady to higher for most of the week before moving lower on Friday. The January feeder cattle contract closed Friday at 361.925, 1.20 higher than last Fridays close, while the March closed at 356.45, 1.75 higher than last Friday. The April closed at 354.90, 1.85 higher than last Friday. Market activity was mostly active with a large buyer pool noticed at all feeder specials this week. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand remains good. All feeding cows sold steady to 5.00 higher for the week with the largest price increase seen in lower yielding offerings as some buyers were willing to take blemished cows to feed. Slaughter cow demand was slightly stronger this week as southern packers showed slightly stronger demand for cows as they competed with feeding buyers over blemished offerings. Breaking cows sold mostly 5.00 higher. Boning and lean cows sold generally steady to 3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to firm. Good to very good demand was seen for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed. Coming 2 year old cows sold generally steady on an average quality offering.

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	180	—	1,011	178.00–320.00	260.58
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	11	—	1,251	169.00–185.00	175.35

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	47	—	1,017	165.00–285.00	214.45
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	9	—	1,298	170.00	170.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	3	—	842	187.50–210.00	202.47

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	1	—	765	282.50	282.50

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	5	—	948	170.00	170.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	10	—	899	212.50	212.50

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	2	—	778	275.00–280.00	277.46

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	16	—	1,435	180.00–197.00	195.31

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	3	—	1,138	2,400.00	2,400.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	3	—	1,118	2,500.00	2,500.00

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)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	45	—	1,474	2,700.00–3,400.00	3,102.28
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	5	—	1,215	3,000.00–3,100.00	3,055.56
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,483	176.00	176.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	10	—	1,297	3,500.00–4,000.00	3,783.97
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	34	—	1,148	3,500.00–4,150.00	4,053.74
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	5	—	1,319	2,350.00	2,350.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	9	—	1,356	3,350.00–3,550.00	3,487.44
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,415	2,700.00	2,700.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	4	—	1,231	2,450.00	2,450.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	30	—	1,596	3,600.00–4,150.00	4,048.77
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	18	—	1,585	3,825.00	3,825.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	29	—	1,350	4,250.00–4,625.00	4,491.30

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)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	33	—	1,314	2,200.00–2,550.00	2,373.67
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	20	—	1,200	2,150.00–2,425.00	2,307.30

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	8	—	975	3,200.00	3,200.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	3	—	837	2,900.00	2,900.00

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/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	3	—	1,230	1,850.00	1,850.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	14	—	1,303	2,400.00–2,600.00	2,542.42
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	5	—	1,246	2,250.00	2,250.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	5	—	1,183	3,000.00–3,450.00	3,362.50
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	42	—	1,215	2,600.00	2,600.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	12	—	1,531	3,400.00	3,400.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium 2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	993	2,800.00	2,800.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,367	3,000.00	3,000.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	7	—	1,384	2,650.00	2,650.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	6	—	1,314	2,950.00–3,000.00	2,965.64
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	8	—	1,408	3,325.00	3,325.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	10	—	1,154	3,200.00–3,625.00	3,317.12
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	13	—	1,314	2,200.00–2,825.00	2,660.64

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/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	140	—	1,354	2,550.00–3,000.00	2,798.79
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	38	—	1,486	2,750.00–3,000.00	2,912.87
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	103	—	1,323	2,450.00–2,950.00	2,704.17

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	7	—	1,092	2,200.00	2,200.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium 2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	3	—	877	2,600.00	2,600.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	10	—	964	3,500.00	3,500.00

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)	7	—	1,081	3,500.00–3,900.00	3,674.69
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	6	—	1,088	4,050.00	4,050.00
(<2 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	3	—	1,153	3,300.00	3,300.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	285	740.00	740.00
5	300–350	306	700.00–710.00	701.99
17	350–400	375	655.00–690.00	671.85
59	400–450	433	562.50–652.50	591.07
106	450–500	477	550.00–594.00	576.67
317	500–550	518	500.00–550.00	526.20
533	550–600	576	460.00–502.50	482.49
469	600–650	615	429.00–469.00	447.48
408	650–700	673	401.00–430.00	419.11
216	700–750	728	387.00–411.00	396.65
169	750–800	774	350.00–395.00	380.23
12	800–850	810	369.00–371.00	370.66
26	850–900	882	340.50–347.00	343.24
5	1000–1050	1,010	312.00	312.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	300–350	336	620.00–685.00	663.83
27	350–400	386	525.00–635.00	596.16
29	400–450	427	550.00–605.00	570.94
27	450–500	483	500.00–550.00	530.49
68	500–550	523	442.50–531.00	501.62
45	550–600	567	420.00–445.00	437.20
83	600–650	630	410.00–432.00	416.48
74	650–700	695	388.00–403.00	391.24
26	700–750	717	370.00–388.00	380.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
3	700–750	735	370.00	370.00
24	850–900	892	338.00	338.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
17	550–600	584	455.00	455.00
22	800–850	843	347.00	347.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
23	350–400	379	630.00–635.00	632.28
6	400–450	434	605.00	605.00
29	500–550	527	497.50–500.00	499.29
10	600–650	647	407.00	407.00
8	650–700	681	404.00	404.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	450–500	450	630.00	630.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
22	450–500	488	572.50	572.50
43	500–550	513	480.00–535.00	519.06
2	550–600	595	435.00	435.00
26	600–650	619	418.00–432.50	429.07
12	650–700	695	388.00–390.00	388.67
3	750–800	778	367.00	367.00
2	800–850	840	355.00	355.00
5	900–950	946	321.00	321.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	400–450	428	430.00–522.50	453.13
6	600–650	617	363.50–365.00	363.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	500–550	540	380.00	380.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	350–400	385	422.50	422.50
4	400–450	443	380.00	380.00
23	500–550	544	380.00–390.00	388.69
3	550–600	560	380.00	380.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
16	350–400	376	485.00	485.00
5	400–450	430	530.00	530.00
22	450–500	496	450.00	450.00
7	500–550	534	472.50	472.50
5	600–650	626	426.00	426.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
30	350–400	391	510.00–525.00	512.68
63	400–450	423	442.50–505.00	488.89
181	450–500	482	430.00–467.50	447.66
82	500–550	529	402.50–435.00	423.29
113	550–600	579	390.00–410.50	404.41
17	600–650	630	365.00–382.00	377.04
26	650–700	668	342.00–370.00	356.02
8	750–800	767	347.00	347.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
4	800–850	839	331.00	331.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
3	450–500	468	450.00	450.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
43	600–650	602	416.00	416.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12	300–350	318	565.00–620.00	593.97
49	350–400	383	530.00–550.00	535.20
102	400–450	429	497.50–547.50	529.10
242	450–500	485	462.00–506.00	480.11
448	500–550	524	440.00–490.00	459.57
623	550–600	575	412.00–445.00	432.34
109	600–650	618	384.00–411.00	404.24
158	650–700	669	355.00–391.00	371.05
55	700–750	715	363.00–371.00	366.52
11	750–800	767	316.00–350.00	334.46

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	550–600	573	412.50	412.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	400–450	448	425.00	425.00
23	500–550	505	395.00	395.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
15	500–550	509	500.00–504.00	503.20
41	600–650	606	426.00–427.50	426.15
69	650–700	656	396.00	396.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	300–350	303	485.00	485.00
5	450–500	498	425.00	425.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
80	450–500	479	450.00–480.00	466.76
2	500–550	535	420.00	420.00
9	650–700	670	363.00–367.00	366.07

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	500–550	537	420.00	420.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	600–650	613	360.00–387.50	381.49
19	650–700	666	350.00–380.00	356.41
6	900–950	931	262.50	262.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12	550–600	586	420.00–455.00	443.27
16	650–700	661	385.00–397.50	391.49
4	700–750	728	380.00	380.00
11	750–800	760	360.00–372.50	367.94
2	900–950	913	316.00	316.00
3	950–1000	963	295.00	295.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,925	165.00	165.00
1	—	2,255	186.00	186.00
10	—	2,126	184.00	184.00
14	—	1,970	168.00–186.00	179.23
18	—	1,877	151.00–176.00	162.36
11	—	2,057	187.00–197.50	189.60

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,440	196.00	196.00
1	—	2,510	178.00	178.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,734	145.00–175.00	165.71

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,670	125.00–129.00	127.11
35	—	1,663	150.00–168.00	162.70
3	—	1,865	170.00	170.00
9	—	1,685	132.00–154.00	140.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
68	—	1,095	117.50–154.00	142.68
23	—	1,151	169.00–173.50	172.51
151	—	1,133	154.00–167.00	162.77

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
43	—	1,523	170.00–172.00	171.80
7	—	1,690	148.00–155.00	151.46
82	—	1,662	154.00–169.50	164.17

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,435	109.00–125.00	118.93
39	—	1,414	125.00–142.00	131.45
3	—	1,533	145.00–146.00	145.65

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	933	120.00–125.00	122.59
4	—	868	60.00–85.00	71.59
8	—	907	85.00–115.00	101.06

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
64	—	1,375	170.00–177.50	171.38
50	—	1,369	127.50–158.00	146.58
266	—	1,352	156.00–171.00	165.30

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,138	75.00–95.00	85.40
1	—	1,125	138.00	138.00
58	—	1,149	100.00–122.50	114.88
14	—	1,116	123.00–136.50	131.16

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,823	131.00	131.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,425	120.00	120.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,531	114.00	114.00

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.