State summaries / Montana / Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary / 2026-02-23

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Feb 23

● As filed136 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

State summary

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 136 priced lines covering 4,874 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 4,727 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 362 head. replacement cattle receipts at 179 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Feb 23, 2026

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 4,727Last week 1,247Year ago 4,758

Slaughter CattleReceipts 362Last week 380Year ago 1,239

Replacement CattleReceipts 179Last week 476Year ago 647

Compared to last week: Steers under 750 lbs sold generally steady to firm. Steers over 750 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Heifers under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop any market trend, 450-549 lbs heifers sold generally steady. 550-649 lbs heifers offered the best test this week selling mostly 10.00-20.00 higher. All other weights of heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Most cattle were offered in moderate size packages up to load lots this week. Quality was mostly average to very attractive this week with lots of variation noticed. Demand overall was good to very good. Demand for high quality cattle, suitable to run on grass, remains very good. Replacement and feeding heifer buyers both showed very good demand for heifers which could fit both buyers needs. This class of offerings these offerings showed the largest week over week gains. CME positions sold off late in the week as lower fed cattle prices weighed on the market. The March closed at 355.425, 12.60 lower than last Friday. The April closed at 351.20, 13.85 lower than last Friday. The May contract closed Friday at 347.20, 13.80 lower than last Friday. Market activity was mostly active despite lower CME positions for the week as buyers continue to bid aggressively over limited offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light offerings. Feeding cow demand remains the driving force in the market. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to weak as packer buyers were less aggressive when bidding on feeding cows. A large crowd of feeding cow buyers were present at all sales this week which helped hold feeding cow prices near steady. Buyers showed willingness to take even blemished cows to feed as supplies are currently very tight as very few older cows are being marketed. One sale this week only had 28 cows on offer! Slaughter cow demand remains strong as packers continue to show good demand for limited slaughter offerings. Packers were forced to purchase some feeding cows for slaughter this week as packers needed cows to cover immediate harvest needs. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however sharply higher undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady. Demand for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed was mostly moderate to good this week. A few cows and heifers which lost calves are starting to be marketed. Demand for high quality offerings is very good. Coming 2 year old cows sold mostly steady to firm on an average to attractive quality offering.

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	350–400	380	565.00	565.00
2	400–450	400	525.00	525.00
5	450–500	494	507.50	507.50
1	550–600	585	415.00	415.00
3	650–700	673	367.50	367.50
2	700–750	745	362.50	362.50
1	800–850	805	340.00	340.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
16	400–450	415	600.00–620.00	618.80
66	450–500	474	559.00–615.00	574.00
230	500–550	540	511.00–550.00	517.32
160	550–600	573	485.00–517.00	493.75
136	600–650	613	445.00–487.50	465.08
207	650–700	671	413.50–435.00	425.91
35	700–750	725	395.00–415.00	402.49
62	750–800	778	377.50–391.00	377.79
54	800–850	828	359.50–369.00	363.41

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	450–500	475	527.50–557.50	541.87
2	500–550	510	547.50	547.50
4	600–650	626	435.00	435.00
24	700–750	708	395.00	395.00
3	750–800	775	375.00	375.00
24	900–950	926	333.00–338.00	335.26

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	300–350	317	620.00–640.00	629.37
5	350–400	375	575.00–595.00	587.05
39	400–450	415	560.00–596.00	584.33
4	450–500	480	530.00–552.50	541.60
52	500–550	545	495.00–505.00	499.90
29	550–600	585	452.00–477.50	468.80
15	600–650	641	422.50–438.00	426.51
37	650–700	672	402.50–422.00	416.82
31	700–750	734	370.50–390.00	374.50
64	750–800	795	360.50	360.50
2	850–900	898	344.00	344.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
31	800–850	829	340.50–345.00	342.92
21	950–1000	967	328.00	328.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
10	650–700	663	382.50	382.50
5	700–750	710	375.00	375.00
10	850–900	886	336.00	336.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
11	850–900	886	348.00	348.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
17	550–600	595	442.50–473.00	453.17

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
8	650–700	666	430.00	430.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
14	400–450	422	510.00–540.00	533.44
10	450–500	483	490.00–500.00	496.48
14	500–550	541	448.00–455.00	451.96
233	550–600	574	412.50–438.00	432.86
25	600–650	636	365.00–405.00	389.57
31	650–700	672	350.00–377.50	373.52
7	700–750	738	353.00–356.00	355.59
18	750–800	769	339.00	339.00
9	800–850	829	310.00–330.00	327.75
6	850–900	863	331.00	331.00
9	950–1000	955	312.00	312.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
34	700–750	743	341.00–351.00	349.56
11	750–800	785	343.00	343.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	400–450	435	505.00	505.00
84	500–550	544	447.50–450.00	448.96
5	550–600	567	415.00	415.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	450–500	461	505.00	505.00
7	600–650	616	405.00	405.00
20	650–700	677	364.00–386.00	382.75
28	700–750	702	371.00	371.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11	350–400	391	550.00–562.50	556.82
18	400–450	427	532.50–542.00	539.37
198	450–500	474	488.00–531.00	512.38
188	500–550	524	456.00–487.00	473.76
216	550–600	573	430.00–467.00	451.88
411	600–650	634	399.00–452.50	432.34
388	650–700	672	365.00–398.00	386.03
62	700–750	717	356.00–380.00	375.08
19	750–800	769	359.00–362.00	359.79
116	800–850	831	340.00–347.50	342.78
39	900–950	939	2,975.00	2,975.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	300–350	336	505.00	505.00
2	350–400	393	482.50	482.50
9	400–450	428	495.00–505.00	503.91

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	600–650	630	375.00	375.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per head · actual wt
229	600–650	636	410.00–446.00	435.90
136	650–700	681	392.00–407.00	400.27
16	700–750	705	398.00–418.00	404.35
62	700–750	739	2,900.00	2,900.00
179	750–800	752	3,050.00–3,075.00	3,072.07
5	850–900	852	2,950.00	2,950.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	500–550	510	540.00	540.00
1	550–600	570	430.00	430.00
7	600–650	636	402.50–410.00	403.54
3	650–700	695	385.00	385.00
2	700–750	710	375.00	375.00
7	800–850	819	322.50–350.00	334.54

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	350–400	357	507.50	507.50
5	450–500	484	477.50–490.00	484.94
1	500–550	500	490.00	490.00
2	750–800	798	345.00	345.00
1	850–900	895	315.00	315.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	830	110.00–125.00	117.27
1	—	990	182.50	182.50
1	—	935	85.00	85.00
1	—	900	130.00	130.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
24	—	1,129	135.00–163.00	148.35
20	—	1,202	161.00–177.00	171.85
9	—	1,215	179.00–179.50	179.44

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
50	—	1,369	180.00–182.00	180.24
85	—	1,397	164.50–180.00	173.27
20	—	1,431	145.00–164.00	157.17

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	1,671	165.00–178.50	171.61
1	—	1,575	163.00	163.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,380	120.00–150.00	133.88
7	—	1,446	171.00–175.00	173.86
16	—	1,359	142.00–173.00	151.58

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,615	170.00–176.50	173.60
1	—	1,670	156.00	156.00
10	—	1,382	180.50	180.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,158	110.00–112.50	111.25
8	—	1,141	139.00–169.00	149.51
14	—	1,157	122.00–136.00	130.94

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	725	115.00	115.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,940	173.00–186.00	179.98
16	—	1,987	184.00–205.00	194.89
4	—	1,948	198.00–206.00	200.38
1	—	2,490	186.00	186.00
5	—	2,098	209.00–218.00	211.40

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,566	188.00–197.50	192.48
9	—	1,581	170.00–186.50	174.79

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,620	206.00	206.00
1	—	2,540	202.00	202.00

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	18	—	1,091	167.50–277.50	212.70
(<2 yrs)	Open	6	—	928	255.00–290.00	279.82

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	4	—	911	205.00–240.00	223.44

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	820	275.00	275.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	34	—	914	235.00–340.00	307.97
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	69	—	1,020	200.00–320.00	279.83
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,223	174.00–187.00	183.29

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	1	—	1,545	3,050.00	3,050.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	11	—	1,394	2,700.00	2,700.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,315	3,400.00	3,400.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,610	3,250.00	3,250.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,363	3,800.00	3,800.00

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.