State summaries / Montana / Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary / 2026-03-30

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Mar 30

● As filed172 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

State summary

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 172 priced lines covering 6,660 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 6,119 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 762 head. replacement cattle receipts at 434 head.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Mar 30, 2026

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 6,119Last week 616Year ago 4,924

Slaughter CattleReceipts 762Last week 511Year ago 754

Replacement CattleReceipts 434Last week 306Year ago 407

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Last week had no feeder specials and just over 1400 head total for 3 sales. Quality this week was average to very attractive and significantly more attractive than last week. Most cattle were offered in moderate size packages up to load lots. Several load lots were seen this week and buyers all showed good demand for these offerings. Demand was mostly good to very good on moderate to heavy offerings. CME positions continued to improve providing support for feeders. The April closed Thursday (Friday was closed to trade due to Good Friday) at 372.90, 11.45 higher than last Friday. The May contract closed Thursday at 370.625, 10.80 higher than last Friday. The August contract closed Thursday at 369.50, 11.70 higher than last Fridays close. Demand for grass cattle was very good this week as buyers purchased steers up to 750 lbs and heifers up to 700 lbs to send to grass. Buyers were very aware of flesh as they showed heavy discounts for even moderately fleshed feeders. Market activity was mostly active with a large crowd of both order buyers and ranchers noticed all week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand remains the driving force in the market. Feeding cows sold 1.00-3.00 higher. Major packers showed good to very good demand for high quality cows this week. Cow quality was mixed this week from plain to attractive. A large crowd of feeding cow buyers were present at all sales. Young feeding cows saw increased demand again this week as feeding cow buyers purchased young to middle age cows in hopes they can get a few young cows to grade. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average. Several sets of cows have been out on green grass this week as they were very empty come sale time. Weigh conditions this week were very good and looked more like cows would in June rather than April. 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. Premium white cows sold fully steady on a heavy offering. Fed cow quality was mostly attractive this week. Breaking, boning and lean slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher 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 3.00-5.00 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 higher. Quality was average to attractive, and similar to last week.

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
8	500–550	531	417.50	417.50
12	550–600	576	426.00	426.00
8	600–650	636	384.00	384.00
128	650–700	684	386.00	386.00
49	700–750	718	351.00–368.00	362.90
10	900–950	932	320.00	320.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
25	650–700	661	387.50	387.50
104	700–750	742	371.00–380.00	372.18
466	750–800	772	2,875.00–3,160.00	3,043.44
74	800–850	833	363.00	363.00
116	800–850	827	2,950.00–3,125.00	3,054.85

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	250–300	296	470.00	470.00
4	350–400	393	470.00	470.00
2	400–450	415	470.00	470.00
18	450–500	489	422.50–432.50	429.12

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Small 3-4$ per cwt · actual wt
16	400–450	414	220.00	220.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	350–400	376	540.00	540.00
20	400–450	443	515.00–540.00	517.26

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	350–400	387	490.00–520.00	508.52
20	450–500	480	472.50–502.50	482.64
30	500–550	527	422.50–457.50	434.97
41	550–600	573	392.50–432.50	422.64
29	600–650	630	385.00–412.00	401.65
18	650–700	685	349.00–375.50	358.20
10	700–750	724	345.00–356.00	353.31
2	850–900	873	330.00	330.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12	350–400	397	525.00–535.00	533.37
31	400–450	441	522.50–532.50	526.91
64	450–500	468	490.00–528.00	510.06
280	500–550	517	475.00–496.00	487.93
339	550–600	578	417.00–459.00	436.33
601	600–650	629	400.00–435.00	419.81
469	650–700	669	375.00–422.00	410.91
6	700–750	723	2,750.00	2,750.00
189	700–750	730	362.50–390.00	381.42
299	750–800	762	343.00–380.00	367.58
2	800–850	818	354.00	354.00
69	850–900	868	339.00–344.00	343.21

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	600–650	624	409.00	409.00
3	650–700	685	399.00	399.00
16	750–800	778	371.00	371.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
53	600–650	603	447.00–449.00	448.24
19	650–700	664	424.00–425.00	424.36

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	300–350	300	495.00	495.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	650–700	657	349.00	349.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	500–550	545	397.50	397.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	350–400	389	565.00	565.00
2	500–550	543	465.00	465.00
4	600–650	621	370.00	370.00
9	650–700	666	350.00–377.50	371.28
9	700–750	727	350.00–372.50	358.36
2	950–1000	993	287.50	287.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11	450–500	477	540.00	540.00
5	600–650	623	410.00	410.00
3	650–700	652	395.00	395.00
4	850–900	896	325.00	325.00
1	1000–1050	1,025	290.00	290.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	1050–1100	1,060	292.50–300.00	294.39
1	1100–1150	1,140	270.00	270.00
2	1250–1300	1,260	235.00	235.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
31	450–500	487	537.50	537.50
31	550–600	592	450.00	450.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	400–450	425	535.00	535.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	600–650	640	390.00	390.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	300–350	323	540.00	540.00
15	350–400	366	500.00–525.00	517.37
2	400–450	435	475.00	475.00
4	450–500	455	470.00	470.00
3	600–650	630	380.00–405.00	388.00
2	750–800	795	335.00	335.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	350–400	392	630.00	630.00
25	400–450	432	595.00–600.00	595.93
69	450–500	468	550.00–580.00	570.24
190	500–550	518	520.00–555.00	536.51
131	550–600	581	481.00–517.50	498.52
229	600–650	630	459.00–490.00	474.47
235	650–700	665	423.00–459.00	442.81
120	700–750	727	401.50–424.00	413.18
141	750–800	792	386.00–411.00	388.60
123	800–850	823	370.00–380.00	375.46
40	850–900	871	337.50–372.50	344.01
2	900–950	913	340.00	340.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
17	350–400	380	550.00–615.00	557.69
5	400–450	422	555.00–575.00	567.96
14	450–500	494	502.50–535.00	532.86
6	500–550	511	502.50–507.50	504.97
41	550–600	588	455.00–477.50	465.90
9	600–650	620	427.50–449.00	440.54
14	650–700	685	405.50–417.50	411.59
24	700–750	738	381.00–404.00	395.24
4	750–800	773	368.00–375.00	370.85
9	800–850	818	357.50–363.00	359.62
4	900–950	901	325.00	325.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
47	750–800	757	422.00	422.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
22	600–650	610	468.00	468.00
84	700–750	702	423.00	423.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	450–500	465	525.00	525.00
10	500–550	530	475.00–515.00	502.70

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
6	950–1000	974	327.00–327.50	327.08

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
18	600–650	622	430.00	430.00
2	950–1000	965	328.00	328.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
7	500–550	544	475.00	475.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	368	625.00	625.00
3	400–450	420	580.00	580.00
11	450–500	493	545.00	545.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	650–700	667	419.00–424.00	422.72
3	850–900	862	322.50	322.50

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	914	245.00–285.00	263.34
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	3	—	943	210.00–240.00	230.19

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	720	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	64	—	1,051	190.00–312.50	254.27
(<2 yrs)	Open	20	—	902	210.00–312.50	284.65

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	7	—	761	320.00–342.50	332.85
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	2	—	830	325.00	325.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,505	185.00	185.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	97	—	1,141	207.50–337.50	261.41
(<2 yrs)	Open	119	—	1,062	240.00–342.50	286.52
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	8	—	1,297	188.00–215.00	200.02

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	790	330.00	330.00

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	1	—	1,370	185.00	185.00

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	2	—	833	275.00–280.00	277.55
(<2 yrs)	Open	8	—	828	260.00–300.00	283.24

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)	2	—	1,565	3,150.00	3,150.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,508	3,200.00	3,200.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,415	2,950.00	2,950.00

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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	4	—	1,435	3,800.00–3,950.00	3,838.54
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,705	3,375.00	3,375.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	4	—	1,287	3,300.00–3,350.00	3,338.83
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	2	—	1,543	3,250.00	3,250.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	1,525	3,800.00	3,800.00

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)	21	—	1,128	3,900.00–4,050.00	3,980.99
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,332	3,350.00	3,350.00
(<2 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	2	—	1,363	3,400.00	3,400.00

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)	13	—	778	3,000.00	3,000.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,530	145.00	145.00
4	—	1,760	163.00–176.00	168.73
8	—	1,693	149.00–166.00	158.50
5	—	1,652	176.50–177.00	176.80

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
36	—	1,159	170.00–181.00	173.67
75	—	1,112	137.00–170.00	158.96
12	—	1,244	179.00–184.00	182.73

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Premium White 65-75% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,025	164.00	164.00
19	—	2,096	173.00	173.00
1	—	2,205	141.00	141.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	918	145.00–165.00	156.19
5	—	893	112.50–135.00	126.02
1	—	895	105.00	105.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,221	105.00–112.50	106.80
13	—	1,155	115.00–140.00	126.23
1	—	1,170	162.50	162.50
10	—	1,169	152.00–160.00	157.90

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
142	—	1,389	173.00–183.50	179.45
45	—	1,405	184.00–189.00	185.88
48	—	1,372	140.00–170.50	164.73

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
105	—	1,881	171.00–174.00	173.65
20	—	1,571	164.00–170.50	167.08

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,585	165.50–169.00	167.19
40	—	1,417	182.00–186.50	184.52
13	—	1,552	172.00–183.00	178.96

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,518	135.00–144.00	139.21
6	—	1,451	145.00–166.50	155.11
2	—	1,443	112.50–115.00	113.71
6	—	1,516	162.00–181.00	167.89

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,145	147.50	147.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
24	—	1,500	164.00–207.00	195.80
2	—	1,363	220.00	220.00
16	—	1,528	199.00–215.50	210.82

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,698	164.00–193.00	183.78
29	—	1,880	198.00–218.50	210.32
2	—	2,348	218.50	218.50
14	—	2,071	210.00–224.00	218.77

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,160	165.00	165.00

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.