State summaries / Montana / Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary / 2026-08-17

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Aug 17

● As filed103 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

State summary

Counts as USDA filed them

Montana reported 103 priced lines covering 1,194 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 828 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 554 head. replacement cattle receipts at 79 head. Counted as USDA files them — 9 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Aug 17, 2026

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 828Last week 313Year ago 1,202

Slaughter CattleReceipts 554Last week 599Year ago 436

Replacement CattleReceipts 79Last week 122Year ago 218

Compared to last week: Feeder steers were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Feeder heifers were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however unevenly steady undertones were noticed on heifers under 950 lbs and steady to lower undertones were noticed on all heifers over 950 lbs. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Cattle were offered in small packages with many singles noticed. Demand was mostly moderate to good, despite lower pressure on CME positions. Too few cattle were seen this week for buyers to build loads which affected demand at some sales. CME feeder cattle positions traded lower most of the week led by pressure from lower live cattle prices. Demand for cattle to go to Canada is very good with most offerings being purchased to send north to feed. Market activity was mostly moderate to active, despite a small buyer pool was noticed. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand remains very good. A large pool of buyers were in the market again this week. Canadian buyers remain in the market as they continue to buy cows to send north to feed. Cow quality was mostly plain to average this week. Many cows were coming off summer breeding pastures and many blemished cows were seen again this week. The selection of cows suitable to go to feed was very limited as a result. Feeding cows sold generally steady to 3.00 lower. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to 2.00 lower on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold steady to weak on a poorer yielding offering. Packers continue to show good demand for cows for immediate harvest. Demand for lean cows remains very good as packers continue to search for lean grinding materials as cows come off summer pastures in mostly breaking and boning flesh. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 5.00 lower. Bulls were mostly average to below average for yield this week as bulls come off summer breeding pastures. Fewer bulls were purchased to feed this week as quality limited demand. Feeding bull quality this week was mostly plain to average. Feeding bulls sold mostly 5.00-7.00 lower. Demand for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed was mostly light to moderate. Young age cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality limited demand this week as very few attractive rebreed type cows were seen. Most young cows were fleshy and purchased by feeding buyers this week.

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	450–500	453	370.00	370.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	250–300	288	560.00	560.00
4	300–350	348	530.00	530.00
5	350–400	367	517.50	517.50
11	400–450	424	495.00	495.00
22	450–500	496	425.00–443.00	439.79
4	550–600	575	397.50	397.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	450–500	484	455.00–457.50	456.82
7	700–750	740	370.00	370.00
11	750–800	781	361.00–362.00	361.26
4	800–850	834	350.00	350.00
19	850–900	852	337.00–352.00	350.40
11	900–950	906	330.00–337.50	332.46
4	1000–1050	1,015	317.00	317.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	550–600	570	392.00	392.00
4	600–650	644	372.50	372.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
24	650–700	669	370.00–392.50	380.10

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
6	850–900	888	330.00	330.00
4	950–1000	950	319.00	319.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	950–1000	990	304.00	304.00
7	1000–1050	1,035	304.00	304.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	750–800	776	340.00	340.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
10	1050–1100	1,064	292.00	292.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	500–550	547	365.00	365.00
12	550–600	594	340.00	340.00
4	600–650	631	331.00	331.00
3	650–700	698	310.00	310.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
24	700–750	723	330.00–341.00	339.31
3	750–800	767	325.00	325.00
2	800–850	815	302.50	302.50
3	850–900	872	295.00–310.00	304.98

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
2	1050–1100	1,088	281.00	281.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	1050–1100	1,075	275.00–286.50	279.54

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
19	700–750	726	341.00–350.00	345.79
12	750–800	790	336.00	336.00
17	800–850	811	338.00–341.00	339.89
38	850–900	889	316.00–333.00	321.23
64	900–950	927	296.50–319.00	307.80
60	950–1000	971	295.00–306.50	300.79
34	1000–1050	1,029	288.50–294.00	291.46

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	300–350	308	500.00	500.00
3	400–450	423	410.00	410.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	200–250	230	570.00	570.00
5	350–400	387	457.50	457.50
4	400–450	441	417.50	417.50
12	450–500	462	385.00–420.00	410.94
2	500–550	508	395.00	395.00
3	600–650	612	331.00	331.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
2	900–950	920	309.00	309.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
11	600–650	625	366.00	366.00
4	650–700	695	356.00	356.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	750–800	756	315.00	315.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Beef/Dairy Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	750–800	777	337.50	337.50
6	800–850	837	324.00	324.00
16	900–950	942	318.00	318.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Beef/Dairy Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
36	800–850	822	314.00	314.00
4	1000–1050	1,013	270.00	270.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Beef/Dairy Heifers — Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	650–700	681	302.50	302.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	450–500	481	385.00	385.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	350–400	392	450.00	450.00
4	500–550	510	397.50	397.50
3	700–750	727	330.00	330.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	1,695	153.00–162.50	159.70
11	—	1,610	163.00–168.00	165.79
1	—	1,480	175.00	175.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	893	105.00–130.00	117.89

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
44	—	1,598	165.00–171.00	166.58
5	—	1,596	160.00–162.00	161.29

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,091	159.00–164.00	162.10
4	—	1,154	142.50–151.00	149.32
3	—	1,137	170.00–175.00	171.72

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,197	155.00–163.00	158.60
35	—	1,183	115.00–150.00	134.19

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,338	168.00–169.00	168.49
13	—	1,414	135.00–155.00	146.58
10	—	1,472	152.00–163.00	159.86
2	—	1,438	130.00–135.00	132.59

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
59	—	1,419	149.00–164.00	160.86
5	—	1,358	178.00–178.50	178.20
86	—	1,426	165.00–177.00	169.81

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,225	165.00–185.00	175.86

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,643	193.50–209.00	196.85
22	—	1,550	172.50–198.00	188.92

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,817	191.00–195.00	191.69

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
78	—	1,776	171.00–196.00	187.77
5	—	2,271	221.00	221.00
50	—	1,931	194.00–216.00	201.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,555	184.00	184.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
30	—	1,602	147.00–152.00	148.03

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,385	124.00	124.00

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
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,173	200.00–272.50	233.54
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	24	—	1,207	188.00–232.50	201.81

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,150	210.00	210.00
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,220	225.00	225.00

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	4	—	1,164	172.50–193.00	183.10
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,130	212.50	212.50

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	2	—	1,275	176.00–182.00	179.07

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	2	—	1,100	165.00	165.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	3	—	717	2,475.00	2,475.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	3	—	1,475	163.50	163.50
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	2	—	1,260	3,000.00	3,000.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,665	3,450.00	3,450.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	7	—	1,376	3,425.00	3,425.00

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.