State summaries / Montana / Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary / 2026-03-16

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Mar 16

● As filed143 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

State summary

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 143 priced lines covering 2,519 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 2,047 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 515 head. replacement cattle receipts at 262 head. Counted as USDA files them — 8 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Mar 16, 2026

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 2,047Last week 570Year ago 3,632

Slaughter CattleReceipts 515Last week 722Year ago 846

Replacement CattleReceipts 262Last week 939Year ago 684

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones. Quality this week was average to attractive and better overall than last week. Most cattle were offered in moderate size packages. Quality was mostly average to attractive. Demand was mostly good on light to moderate supplies. CME positions improved this week. The March closed at 357.75, 8.275 higher than last Fridays close. The April closed at 351.175, 8.075 higher than last Friday. The May contract closed Friday at 346.375, 7.205 higher than last Friday. Market activity was mostly active with a larger crowd of buyers noticed all week. 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 generally steady. Major packers were back in the market this week and were very aggressive as they purchased cows to feed. Canadian buyers were not as active this week as the exchange rate turned unfavorable which made cows too high for their orders. A large crowd of feeding cow buyers were present at all sales this week. Cow quality this week was average to attractive. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average. Buyers showed willingness to take even blemished cows to feed as supplies are currently very tight as very few older cows are being marketed. Slaughter cow demand remains strong as packers continue to show good demand for limited slaughter offerings. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-4.00 higher. Demand remains good as packer search for lean meat to blend down excess fat currently on the market. Feeding bull demand was mostly good to very good again this week. Feeding bulls sold 5.00-8.00 higher on very good demand. Packers and feeding bull buyers were both competing over similar offerings this week which helped improve prices on both classes. Demand for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed was mostly good this week. Cows and heifers which lost calves are being marketed, but with very good weather conditions limited offerings are being seen. Demand for high quality offerings is very good. Coming 2 year old cows sold mostly steady to firm. Quality was average to attractive, and similar to last week.

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Beef/Dairy Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
12	800–850	836	322.50	322.50
25	900–950	902	306.50	306.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
20	700–750	743	349.00	349.00
5	800–850	806	322.00	322.00
3	850–900	877	311.00	311.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per head · actual wt
114	700–750	718	351.00–381.00	373.17
218	750–800	760	366.00–370.00	366.93
20	800–850	825	2,800.00–2,825.00	2,812.81
29	800–850	820	352.00	352.00
10	900–950	934	2,825.00	2,825.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14	450–500	478	472.00–522.50	482.38
98	500–550	533	450.00–477.50	474.45
10	550–600	576	422.00–425.00	422.59
105	600–650	622	394.00–420.00	412.28
73	650–700	676	372.00–389.00	380.15
187	700–750	736	348.00–365.50	361.09
26	750–800	771	350.00–355.00	352.65
3	800–850	842	319.00	319.00
2	850–900	865	320.00	320.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	300–350	315	505.00–510.00	506.64
2	350–400	378	500.00	500.00
3	400–450	415	472.50–525.00	490.20
38	450–500	457	447.50–452.50	447.93
2	550–600	578	401.00	401.00
5	600–650	633	385.00–387.00	386.60
1	650–700	660	357.50	357.50
13	700–750	714	345.00	345.00
10	750–800	781	322.50–338.00	328.81
4	800–850	814	325.00	325.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	550–600	558	380.00	380.00
2	600–650	623	310.00	310.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	300–350	342	500.00	500.00
7	450–500	497	440.00	440.00
12	500–550	506	320.00	320.00
14	550–600	564	382.00	382.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
5	700–750	732	335.00	335.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	350–400	366	575.00–600.00	594.22
5	400–450	407	570.00–575.00	572.95
7	450–500	460	510.00–545.00	532.82
5	500–550	531	483.00–510.00	488.13
25	550–600	575	440.00–470.00	453.78
37	600–650	640	415.00–435.50	429.65
28	650–700	668	385.00–415.00	408.79
1	700–750	700	386.00	386.00
9	750–800	779	343.00–345.00	344.55

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	350–400	375	435.00	435.00
2	400–450	420	355.00	355.00
3	600–650	610	275.00	275.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	325	570.00	570.00
11	450–500	471	475.00	475.00
10	550–600	557	335.00	335.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	300–350	337	500.00	500.00
6	350–400	385	515.00–530.00	520.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
11	500–550	548	486.00	486.00
5	550–600	550	460.00	460.00
4	850–900	858	340.00	340.00
22	900–950	922	330.00–336.50	330.88
7	1000–1050	1,013	305.00	305.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	300–350	325	650.00–660.00	654.92
6	450–500	473	535.00	535.00
28	550–600	567	462.50–497.00	489.33
140	600–650	627	439.00–460.00	448.15
131	650–700	667	416.00–446.00	436.06
64	700–750	715	390.00–421.50	413.98
21	750–800	758	380.00–395.00	390.02
31	800–850	836	355.50–367.00	356.93

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
29	550–600	559	490.00	490.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	600–650	633	432.00–445.00	436.16

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Beef/Dairy Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	750–800	770	320.00	320.00
32	800–850	818	320.00	320.00
4	900–950	934	290.00	290.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	350–400	383	525.00	525.00
3	450–500	477	490.00	490.00
15	500–550	525	465.00–480.00	473.91
3	600–650	627	395.00	395.00
1	750–800	795	342.50	342.50
3	950–1000	988	310.00	310.00
2	1000–1050	1,005	297.50	297.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1100–1150	1,145	245.00	245.00
2	1150–1200	1,158	250.00–277.50	263.66
1	1200–1250	1,225	232.50	232.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
1	50–100	95	1,100.00	1,100.00
1	350–400	375	650.00	650.00
1	450–500	465	530.00	530.00
3	800–850	823	347.50	347.50
1	850–900	860	320.00	320.00
1	1050–1100	1,075	305.00	305.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	550–600	590	355.00	355.00
1	1000–1050	1,025	250.00	250.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
30	—	1,396	181.00–188.00	183.17
35	—	1,404	155.00–169.00	163.99
131	—	1,414	167.00–182.50	176.80

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,210	180.00–181.00	180.47
23	—	1,129	142.50–166.00	156.77
15	—	1,207	170.00–180.00	173.64

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,091	116.00–142.50	128.51
1	—	1,345	95.00	95.00
4	—	1,146	143.00–147.50	145.16

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,659	159.00–166.00	162.53
15	—	1,751	164.00–176.00	168.60

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	923	100.00–115.00	107.28
1	—	890	132.50	132.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,553	182.00–185.00	183.91
17	—	1,544	160.00–170.50	164.35
54	—	1,510	172.00–180.00	178.44

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,348	140.00–145.00	142.36
4	—	1,370	145.00–154.00	149.79
2	—	1,445	161.00–167.00	163.97

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,450	192.50	192.50
33	—	1,985	193.00–216.00	209.30
13	—	1,644	164.00–198.00	186.62
3	—	1,962	190.00–207.00	198.13
2	—	2,234	216.00–219.00	217.48

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Non-Traditional$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,570	167.50	167.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,363	150.00–177.00	162.59

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,644	185.00–200.00	195.52
20	—	1,540	192.00–216.00	206.53

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,835	4,150.00	4,150.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,587	4,700.00	4,700.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,203	4,650.00	4,650.00

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	—	1,380	3,525.00	3,525.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,415	3,000.00	3,000.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	6	—	1,249	4,400.00–4,475.00	4,440.62
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,865	3,300.00	3,300.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	6	—	1,156	3,185.00	3,185.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	1	—	1,420	2,350.00	2,350.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	2	—	1,423	4,250.00	4,250.00

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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	1,580	3,500.00	3,500.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,440	3,400.00	3,400.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	10	—	1,052	3,700.00	3,700.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	1	—	1,300	2,900.00	2,900.00

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)	1	—	1,340	2,400.00	2,400.00

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/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	6	—	1,670	3,050.00–3,350.00	3,277.54

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	53	—	1,086	220.00–317.50	271.73
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	59	—	1,082	202.00–322.50	267.50
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	9	—	1,282	183.00–192.00	188.18

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	785	275.00–282.50	279.93
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	770	285.00	285.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	860	295.00	295.00

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	21	—	1,092	180.00–290.00	228.69
(<2 yrs)	Open	5	—	1,059	190.00–285.00	249.15

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	4	—	1,203	4,025.00–4,075.00	4,039.40

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)	3	—	1,020	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.