Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock · usually sells Mondays

Sale of Monday, July 13, 2026

3,620 head sold ·Official USDA report · Past reports (282)

light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $408.94/cwt -4.82 vs last sale · ≈ $2,576/hd at 630 lb · 32 head
heavy 5-weight M 2 heifers $336.73/cwt ≈ $1,896/hd at 563 lb · 20 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,620 1,214 3,722
Feeder cattle 302 146 85
Slaughter cattle 390 807 461
Replacement cattle 187 261 105

Market comments — USDA reporter

One one sale was held this last week as sales have started their summer sale schedules. Please check out Billings Livestock commission for last weeks market commentary.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
313 unweaned 313 6 650.00 $650.00 $2,034 —
413 unweaned 413 2 515.00 $515.00 $2,127 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
633 633 3 425.00 $425.00 $2,690 —
746 746 5 382.00 $382.00 $2,850 -5.97
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
553 553 4 225.00 $225.00 $1,244 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
331 unweaned 331 4 462.50 $462.50 $1,531 —
423 unweaned 423 8 450.00 $450.00 $1,904 —
610–631 630 32 392.50–410.00 $408.94 $2,576 -4.82
713 713 5 360.00 $360.00 $2,567 -5.00
770 770 4 358.00 $358.00 $2,757 -4.76
922 922 6 314.50 $314.50 $2,900 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
560–580 563 20 332.50–337.50 $336.73 $1,896 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
656 656 5 367.50 $367.50 $2,411 —
715 715 2 350.00 $350.00 $2,502 —
774 774 5 345.00 $345.00 $2,670 +7.45
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505 505 6 340.00 $340.00 $1,717 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410 unweaned 410 2 517.50 $517.50 $2,122 —
488 unweaned 488 4 445.00 $445.00 $2,172 —
895 895 1 315.00 $315.00 $2,819 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1130 1130 1 220.00 $220.00 $2,486 —
1188 1188 2 230.00 $230.00 $2,732 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160 1160 3 240.00 $240.00 $2,784 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
608 608 2 300.00 $300.00 $1,824 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1278 1278 80-85% 2 146.00 $146.00 $1,866 —
1225–1620 1344 80-85% 7 153.00–166.00 $157.46 $2,116 —
1290–1628 1428 80-85% 33 180.00–186.00 $183.56 $2,621 +16.33
1305–1555 1434 80-85% 5 167.00–172.00 $168.56 $2,417 +1.33
1239–1610 1451 80-85% 133 186.00–191.00 $188.57 $2,736 +19.13
1305–1690 1499 80-85% 10 157.00–173.00 $167.42 $2,510 -18.98
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
965 965 85-90% 1 140.00 $140.00 $1,351 —
990 990 85-90% 1 154.00 $154.00 $1,525 —
1098–1180 1125 85-90% 3 117.50–135.00 $128.88 $1,450 —
1145 1145 85-90% 1 170.00 $170.00 $1,946 —
1035–1290 1147 85-90% 6 145.00–147.50 $145.79 $1,672 —
1015–1224 1205 85-90% 20 152.50–172.00 $165.43 $1,993 -20.14
1105–1410 1249 85-90% 10 170.00–181.00 $173.49 $2,167 +28.33
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1350–1631 1566 75-80% 20 171.50–180.00 $175.33 $2,746 -2.36
1608–1633 1621 75-80% 4 183.00 $183.00 $2,966 +17.17
1626 1626 75-80% 5 169.00 $169.00 $2,748 -17.13
1550–1755 1653 75-80% 2 168.00–168.50 $168.27 $2,782 —
1633–1975 1754 75-80% 4 170.50–173.00 $171.83 $3,014 -12.17

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–1275 1173 2 185.00–195.00 $189.56 $2,224 +4.56
1325–1680 1397 12 213.00–219.00 $217.64 $3,040 —
1300–1903 1462 15 190.00–209.00 $202.54 $2,961 +9.52
1390–1850 1629 16 187.00–209.00 $199.62 $3,252 —
1343–2328 1926 34 210.00–223.50 $216.52 $4,170 +6.20
1600–2078 1944 27 224.00–238.00 $225.62 $4,386 +15.30
2505 2505 1 226.00 $226.00 $5,661 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2090–2198 2162 3 214.00–215.00 $214.32 $4,634 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1050–1160 1105 (<2 yrs)Open 2 204.00–267.00 $233.93 $2,585
1055–1330 1209 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 8 192.50–245.00 $209.12 $2,528
1125–1385 1319 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 12 191.00–195.00 $194.65 $2,567
1438 1438 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 193.00 $193.00 $2,775
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1075 1075 (<2 yrs)Open 6 197.00 $197.00 $2,118
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1317 1317 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 202.00 $202.00 $2,660
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
820 820 (<2 yrs)Open 2 245.00 $245.00 $2,009
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1065–1365 1215 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 181.00–192.50 $186.04 $2,260

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1215–1355 1321 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 196.00–207.00 $202.58 $2,676
1437 1437 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 175.00 $175.00 $2,515
1342–1537 1472 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 17 171.00–186.00 $178.98 $2,635

↑ Back to top

Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
163 163 3 147.50 $147.50 $240 —
205 205 3 117.50–122.50 $119.17 $244 —
215–245 229 28 99.00–117.00 $113.45 $260 —
250–278 267 7 97.00–114.00 $102.74 $274 —

↑ Back to top

Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
75 75 1 140.00 $140.00 $105 —
85 85 2 190.00 $190.00 $162 —
105 105 1 175.00 $175.00 $184 —
125 125 1 192.50 $192.50 $241 —
170 170 2 162.50 $162.50 $276 —
190 190 2 202.00–206.00 $204.00 $388 —
200 200 1 191.00 $191.00 $382 —

↑ Back to top

Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1548 1548 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 3,450.00 $3,450.00 -350.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1575 1575 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 1 4,000.00 $4,000.00 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1500 1500 85-90% 1 146.00 $146.00 $2,190 —
1570 1570 80-85% 1 157.00 $157.00 $2,465 —

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

Medium 4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
656 656 8 147.00 $147.00 $964 —

↑ Back to top

Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
106 106 5 86.00 $86.00 $91 —
135 135 16 142.50 $142.50 $192 —
128–140 139 32 104.00–110.00 $109.66 $152 —
142 142 51 85.00 $85.00 $121 —
158 158 5 142.50 $142.50 $225 —
150–178 161 147 101.00–112.00 $109.62 $176 —
153–172 163 23 85.00–97.00 $93.33 $152 —
158–178 166 60 113.00–118.00 $115.44 $192 —
184 184 7 121.00 $121.00 $223 —
178–195 185 13 102.00–112.00 $108.85 $201 —
180–188 186 4 116.00–120.00 $119.03 $221 —
195 195 6 94.00 $94.00 $183 —
210 210 1 95.00 $95.00 $200 —
215 215 4 110.00–112.00 $111.00 $239 —
215–248 227 17 96.00–102.00 $99.05 $225 —

↑ Back to top

Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
78 78 20 267.50 $267.50 $209 —

↑ Back to top

Hair Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
127 127 3 145.00 $145.00 $184 —
139 139 4 88.00 $88.00 $122 —

↑ Back to top

Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
110 110 11 150.00 $150.00 $165 —
116–138 122 11 102.00–103.00 $102.69 $125 —
120–140 127 24 109.00–120.00 $116.01 $147 —
133–140 138 13 120.00–123.00 $122.33 $169 —
137–146 139 15 127.50–142.50 $131.69 $183 —
155 155 2 112.00 $112.00 $174 —

↑ Back to top

Hair Lambs

Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
58–59 59 71 300.00–320.00 $308.37 $182 —
69 69 7 315.00 $315.00 $217 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
38 38 4 270.00 $270.00 $103 —
52–59 54 31 272.50–290.00 $283.06 $153 —
62–65 62 15 270.00–280.00 $275.66 $171 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
72 72 39 261.00 $261.00 $188 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
49 49 9 230.00 $230.00 $113 —
63 63 5 210.00 $210.00 $132 —

↑ Back to top

Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
23 23 3 125.00 $125.00 $29 —
29 29 13 195.00 $195.00 $57 —
31 31 11 65.00 $65.00 $20 —
30–34 33 10 337.50–345.00 $343.64 $113 —
35 35 3 302.50 $302.50 $106 —
38 38 3 195.00 $195.00 $74 —
41 41 11 205.00 $205.00 $84 —
40–48 46 41 320.00–352.50 $331.82 $153 —
42–49 47 49 275.00–312.50 $306.02 $144 —
50 50 15 250.00–285.00 $273.33 $137 —
51 51 7 275.00 $275.00 $140 —
53–59 54 63 305.00–325.00 $312.95 $169 —
55 55 2 230.00 $230.00 $126 —
50–58 56 20 329.00–330.00 $329.53 $185 —
61 61 4 215.00 $215.00 $131 —
60–65 62 13 260.00–305.00 $293.40 $182 —
63–64 63 29 310.00–317.50 $314.93 $198 —
68 68 3 275.00 $275.00 $187 —
73–75 73 18 305.00–331.00 $329.52 $241 —
73–75 74 3 270.00–290.00 $283.21 $210 —
75 75 1 280.00 $280.00 $210 —
81–85 82 8 305.00–315.00 $308.15 $253 —
82 82 3 185.00 $185.00 $152 —
83 83 2 290.00 $290.00 $241 —
88 88 7 285.00 $285.00 $251 —
90–95 93 12 295.00–317.50 $298.69 $278 —
93 93 3 270.00 $270.00 $251 —

↑ Back to top

Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
60–68 67 12 350.00–355.00 $350.75 $235 —
68 68 9 344.00 $344.00 $234 —
76–79 77 156 340.00–353.00 $348.45 $268 —
79 79 11 338.00 $338.00 $267 —
80 80 12 305.00 $305.00 $244 —
80–88 83 332 320.00–348.00 $343.56 $285 —
89 89 12 277.50 $277.50 $247 —
93 93 24 315.00 $315.00 $293 —
92–99 95 154 314.00–327.50 $318.27 $302 —
101–107 103 227 285.00–319.00 $308.34 $318 —
110 110 1 325.00 $325.00 $358 —
114 114 14 260.00 $260.00 $296 —
121–124 123 16 296.00–315.00 $301.42 $371 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
53–58 55 58 320.00–330.00 $324.69 $179 —
63–66 65 33 325.00–342.50 $340.42 $221 —
73–74 74 15 317.50–328.00 $321.67 $238 —
95–99 98 14 310.00 $310.00 $304 —
106 106 4 287.50 $287.50 $305 —
115 115 2 291.00 $291.00 $335 —
127 127 6 292.00 $292.00 $371 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
55 55 5 330.00 $330.00 $182 —
66–67 66 36 337.50–340.00 $337.71 $223 —
79 79 9 335.00 $335.00 $265 —
80 80 22 331.00 $331.00 $265 —

↑ Back to top

Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
63 63 6 120.00 $120.00 $76 —
70 70 1 155.00 $155.00 $108 —
80 80 1 90.00 $90.00 $72 —
80–89 87 5 125.00–130.00 $129.08 $112 —
87 87 3 175.00 $175.00 $152 —
91–98 94 18 120.00–185.00 $173.57 $163 —
94–99 97 11 105.00–110.00 $106.76 $104 —
98 98 5 90.00 $90.00 $88 —
107 107 5 130.00 $130.00 $139 —
106–145 120 28 125.00–175.00 $153.93 $185 —
120 120 1 130.00 $130.00 $156 —
105–139 128 34 150.00–190.00 $164.87 $211 —
153–193 173 16 120.00–152.50 $139.88 $242 —

↑ Back to top

Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
73–79 77 6 175.00–200.00 $192.10 $148 —
105–122 118 4 180.00–247.50 $232.45 $274 —
130–145 135 3 225.00–250.00 $241.98 $327 —
175 175 1 175.00 $175.00 $306 —
185 185 2 182.50–190.00 $186.25 $345 —
220–235 225 3 155.00–205.00 $173.74 $391 —

↑ Back to top

Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
156–162 157 36 175.00–192.50 $188.50 $296 —

↑ Back to top

Price trend

high 523.42 low 379.17 Aug 2025 Jun 2026

550–599 lb Medium and Large 1 steers — head-weighted average $/cwt by sale date, last 12 months.

Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle scores — common across the Southeast.

What is $/cwt?

Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at $450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per cwt but less per head.

Why are some prices per head?

Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a $/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News — federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the official USDA document at the top of the page.

← Previous sale (Jun 29, 2026)