State summaries / Montana / Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary / 2026-03-23

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Mar 23

● As filed114 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

State summary

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 114 priced lines covering 1,193 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 616 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 511 head. replacement cattle receipts at 306 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Mar 23, 2026

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 616Last week 2,047Year ago 777

Slaughter CattleReceipts 511Last week 515Year ago 956

Replacement CattleReceipts 306Last week 262Year ago 244

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was plain to average and not as attractive as last week. Most cattle were offered in small size packages with many singles on offer. No feeder cattle specials were held this week. Demand was mostly moderate to good on very light offerings. CME positions improved greatly this week. The March had a final settlement of 362.98, 5.23 higher than last Fridays close. The April closed Friday at 361.45, 10.275 higher than last Friday. The May contract closed Friday at 359.825, 13.45 higher than last Friday. The August contract closed Friday at 357.80. Market activity was mostly active despite a small 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 unevenly steady, as younger and higher quality cows sold higher and poorer quality cows sold weak. Major packers showed good to very good demand for high quality cows this week. Canadian buyers remain sidelined as the exchange rate remains unfavorable. A large crowd of feeding cow buyers were present at all sales this week. Young feeding cows took a jump this week as buyers purchased some groups of young to middle age cows in hopes they can get a few younger cows to grade choice. 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 steady to firm in a narrow comparison. 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 steady to 2.00 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. Young cows sold mostly 5.00-12.00 higher. Quality was average to attractive, and similar to last week.

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	250–300	266	615.00	615.00
5	400–450	432	517.50–542.50	532.43
5	550–600	573	433.00–442.50	438.54
12	600–650	631	422.50–425.00	423.31
15	650–700	663	392.50–415.00	410.71
2	700–750	700	385.00	385.00
5	750–800	775	355.00	355.00
1	800–850	800	350.00	350.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	350–400	378	525.00	525.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	300–350	308	535.00	535.00
6	350–400	395	525.00	525.00
4	400–450	444	495.00	495.00
1	450–500	460	470.00	470.00
3	550–600	552	360.00	360.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	400–450	444	575.00	575.00
19	450–500	481	522.50–532.50	530.59
5	500–550	525	525.00	525.00
13	650–700	673	402.00–431.00	406.41
4	800–850	825	361.00	361.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	800–850	813	330.00	330.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
17	600–650	604	400.00	400.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	550–600	590	335.00	335.00
5	600–650	618	335.00–365.00	347.33
1	700–750	725	305.00	305.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	50–100	98	750.00	750.00
6	350–400	367	575.00	575.00
1	400–450	445	495.00	495.00
24	450–500	475	485.00–512.50	503.43
15	500–550	529	450.00–465.00	464.00
3	600–650	632	355.00–377.50	362.48
2	750–800	768	362.50	362.50
2	950–1000	975	300.00	300.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1000–1050	1,040	290.00	290.00
1	1100–1150	1,110	240.00	240.00
1	1250–1300	1,265	205.00	205.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1050–1100	1,050	285.00	285.00
4	1100–1150	1,130	260.00	260.00
9	1150–1200	1,190	250.00–255.00	253.34

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	500–550	502	380.00	380.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	900–950	924	317.50	317.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	200–250	247	565.00	565.00
7	300–350	336	500.00	500.00
3	400–450	440	485.00	485.00
24	500–550	527	412.50–430.00	413.21
8	550–600	561	405.00–410.00	405.97
15	600–650	610	382.50–395.00	391.46
7	650–700	670	327.50–355.00	339.96
6	700–750	741	347.00–347.50	347.08
5	750–800	790	327.50–338.00	329.55

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	400–450	425	425.00–430.00	425.58
1	550–600	550	360.00	360.00
1	600–650	610	367.50	367.50
6	700–750	709	302.50–310.00	306.27

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
18	550–600	559	419.00–425.00	421.06
23	600–650	618	397.50–405.00	401.28
30	650–700	672	360.00–391.00	384.42
11	700–750	723	352.50–360.00	356.63
8	750–800	772	344.00–345.00	344.75
8	800–850	816	319.00–325.00	321.24
3	950–1000	998	299.00	299.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	400–450	421	460.00	460.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
23	—	1,408	150.00–167.50	162.41
54	—	1,394	182.00–191.00	183.73
54	—	1,390	168.00–181.00	174.61

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	810	90.00	90.00
1	—	905	132.50	132.50
3	—	948	100.00–108.00	104.36

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
23	—	1,137	167.00–177.50	172.25
5	—	1,157	179.00–182.00	180.42
23	—	1,018	144.00–164.50	154.22

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,457	182.00–186.00	183.72
66	—	1,568	170.00–182.00	177.14
11	—	1,607	155.00–170.00	164.43

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,735	164.00–170.00	165.85
4	—	1,669	152.00–164.00	159.73
3	—	1,700	175.00–182.00	179.09

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,383	164.50–170.00	166.68
9	—	1,403	148.00–162.00	158.63
3	—	1,320	132.00–139.00	136.20

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,189	112.50–137.50	126.37
1	—	1,205	162.50	162.50
3	—	1,148	105.00	105.00
8	—	1,187	134.00–159.00	145.92

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
96	—	1,825	171.00–174.50	173.74
1	—	1,825	159.00	159.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	2,004	203.00–216.00	210.04
4	—	2,008	207.00–217.00	212.15
5	—	1,698	160.00–179.00	168.94
2	—	2,088	206.00–211.00	208.47
1	—	2,295	186.00	186.00
3	—	2,393	202.00–208.00	204.55

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,613	185.00–197.00	192.39
23	—	1,554	192.50–215.00	204.54

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,460	177.50	177.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,305	173.00	173.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

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)	3	—	1,205	4,000.00	4,000.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,125	250.00	250.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,443	187.50	187.50
(<2 yrs)	Open	10	—	1,238	182.00–249.00	236.04

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	—	735	342.50	342.50

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	7	—	998	220.00–315.00	250.58
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,195	178.00	178.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	20	—	1,081	181.00–290.00	234.50

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	22	—	1,247	183.00–222.50	198.70
(<2 yrs)	Open	97	—	1,050	222.50–365.00	283.12
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	82	—	1,086	172.00–340.00	258.41

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	805	220.00	220.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	790	317.50	317.50

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	834	200.00–255.00	219.59

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	1	—	870	225.00	225.00

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)	1	—	1,030	3,600.00	3,600.00

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)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	1	—	1,095	3,250.00	3,250.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	10	—	1,274	4,100.00–4,300.00	4,187.91

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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	15	—	1,337	3,375.00	3,375.00

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.