Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, July 28, 2025

2,799 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary report →

light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $310.50/cwt ≈ $2,909/hd at 937 lb · 10 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1-2 steers $358.00/cwt +17.25 vs last sale · ≈ $2,467/hd at 689 lb · 10 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Head itemized in priced lots 2,799 — —

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
432 unweaned 432 8 445.00 $445.00 $1,922 —
465 465 2 450.00 $450.00 $2,092 —
555 555 3 359.00 $359.00 $1,992 —
689 689 10 358.00 $358.00 $2,467 +17.25
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
937 937 10 310.50 $310.50 $2,909 —
1016 1016 10 296.50 $296.50 $3,012 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
770 770 3 298.00 $298.00 $2,295 —
1118 1118 4 265.00 $265.00 $2,963 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
583 583 3 325.00 $325.00 $1,895 —
615 615 2 317.00 $317.00 $1,950 —
975 975 1 288.00 $288.00 $2,808 +8.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945 945 2 302.00 $302.00 $2,854 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 unweaned 335 2 370.00 $370.00 $1,240 —
445 445 2 385.00 $385.00 $1,713 —
514–545 519 6 350.00–355.00 $354.13 $1,838 —
602 602 8 338.00 $338.00 $2,035 —
873 873 2 290.00 $290.00 $2,532 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
468 unweaned 468 7 367.50 $367.50 $1,720 —
803–810 805 3 302.50–306.00 $303.67 $2,445 —
889 889 5 290.50 $290.50 $2,583 —
935 935 1 288.00 $288.00 $2,693 +1.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
779 779 7 307.00 $307.00 $2,392 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
575 575 5 330.00 $330.00 $1,898 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
713 713 2 312.50 $312.50 $2,228 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338 unweaned 338 2 475.00 $475.00 $1,606 —
485 unweaned 485 1 365.00 $365.00 $1,770 —
503 503 6 390.00 $390.00 $1,962 —
735 735 2 317.50 $317.50 $2,334 —
758 758 3 321.00 $321.00 $2,433 +40.00
945 945 1 289.00 $289.00 $2,731 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
900–934 927 5 295.00–305.00 $303.06 $2,809 +8.06
1030–1040 1035 2 280.00–281.00 $280.50 $2,903 -4.37
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1065 1065 1 275.00 $275.00 $2,929 —
1200–1205 1203 2 207.00–212.50 $209.74 $2,523 -22.26
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1155 1155 1 235.00 $235.00 $2,714 +8.00

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1215–1575 1414 80-85% 79 160.50–178.00 $167.11 $2,363 +5.01
1270–1673 1416 80-85% 54 152.00–163.00 $159.24 $2,255 -2.86
1320–1550 1437 80-85% 11 140.00–152.00 $147.47 $2,119 -5.31
1125–1770 1454 80-85% 18 153.00–161.00 $157.30 $2,287 —
1260–1650 1478 80-85% 4 130.00–147.00 $140.99 $2,084 —
1433–1600 1490 80-85% 9 163.00–168.50 $166.13 $2,475 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230–1625 1355 75-80% 7 157.50–162.00 $159.35 $2,159 —
1559–1820 1607 75-80% 11 166.50–170.00 $167.62 $2,694 —
1525–1895 1707 75-80% 6 164.00–169.50 $165.32 $2,822 +0.70
1510–1833 1745 75-80% 13 159.00–164.50 $161.12 $2,812 -6.87
1535–1925 1764 75-80% 4 153.00–157.00 $154.96 $2,733 —
1868 1868 75-80% 2 157.00 $157.00 $2,933 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915 915 85-90% 1 117.50 $117.50 $1,075 —
1010–1170 1097 85-90% 6 116.00–137.50 $125.04 $1,372 —
1083–1295 1185 85-90% 17 157.00–161.50 $159.22 $1,887 -2.31
1010–1253 1221 85-90% 8 164.00–168.00 $164.80 $2,012 —
1190–1263 1248 85-90% 5 140.00–145.00 $140.95 $1,759 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015–1085 1050 2 147.50–153.00 $150.16 $1,577 —
1230–1650 1459 24 182.00–193.00 $185.82 $2,711 —
1205–1785 1471 18 169.00–183.00 $178.31 $2,623 —
1225–2210 1650 5 165.00–180.00 $176.97 $2,920 —
1605–2235 1936 31 198.00–225.00 $203.50 $3,940 —
1478–2720 1953 24 183.00–197.00 $191.50 $3,740 —
2535 2535 1 196.00 $196.00 $4,969 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320 1320 1 182.00 $182.00 $2,402 —
1765 1765 1 199.00 $199.00 $3,512 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
930–1425 1147 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 178.00–221.00 $192.11 $2,204
1120–1224 1202 (<2 yrs)Open 14 207.00–237.50 $219.25 $2,635
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1143 1143 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 180.00 $180.00 $2,057
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
775 775 (<2 yrs)Open 1 270.00 $270.00 $2,092

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1160 1160 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 191.00 $191.00 $2,216
1560 1560 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 168.00 $168.00 $2,621

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
162 162 3 170.00 $170.00 $275 —
189 189 8 92.00 $92.00 $174 —
295 295 1 91.00 $91.00 $268 —

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Bucks/Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
55 55 —— 1 162.00 $162.00 $89 —
63 63 —— 2 175.00 $175.00 $110 —
90 90 —— 1 167.00 $167.00 $150 —
93 93 —— 2 210.00 $210.00 $195 —
120 120 —— 1 187.00 $187.00 $224 —
138 138 —— 2 220.00 $220.00 $304 —
140 140 Kids (<1 yr)N/A 1 221.00 $221.00 $309 —
155 155 —— 1 185.00 $185.00 $287 —
178 178 —— 2 204.00 $204.00 $363 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1272–1273 1273 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 18 3,775.00–3,850.00 $3,820.85 —
1389 1389 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 3,300.00 $3,300.00 —
1522 1522 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 10 3,750.00 $3,750.00 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1288 1288 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 2,950.00 $2,950.00 —

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1565 1565 80-85% 1 147.50 $147.50 $2,308 —

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
90 90 1 65.00 $65.00 $58 —
98 98 8 60.00 $60.00 $59 —
110 110 1 65.00 $65.00 $72 —
100–147 138 23 72.50–82.00 $75.85 $105 —
124–149 145 61 85.00–95.00 $90.36 $131 —
155–185 169 37 84.00–93.00 $89.85 $152 —
170–190 181 11 84.00–90.00 $88.67 $160 —
203–220 208 17 86.00–90.00 $87.88 $183 —
202–238 216 5 70.00–74.00 $71.76 $155 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
120 120 Lambs (<1 yr)Open 1 220.00 $220.00 $264 —
112–124 122 Yearlings (1-2 yrs)Open 45 125.00–160.00 $133.41 $163 —

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Hair Breeds

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
53 53 8 222.50 $222.50 $118 —
63 63 7 160.00 $160.00 $101 —
66 66 9 200.00 $200.00 $132 —
81 81 26 195.00–220.00 $204.62 $166 —

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Hair Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
145 145 1 106.00 $106.00 $154 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
91 91 9 100.00 $100.00 $91 —
145 145 1 87.00 $87.00 $126 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
67 67 Lambs (<1 yr)Open 8 215.00 $215.00 $144 —

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Hair Lambs

Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
58 58 57 202.50 $202.50 $117 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
32 32 6 150.00 $150.00 $48 —
53 53 11 145.00 $145.00 $77 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
67 67 9 210.00 $210.00 $141 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
30 30 3 120.00 $120.00 $36 —
35 35 5 185.00 $185.00 $65 —
32–39 36 12 185.00–200.00 $190.73 $69 —
38 38 9 232.00 $232.00 $88 —
40–47 41 38 270.00–300.00 $273.84 $112 —
40–45 43 4 205.00–251.00 $238.23 $102 —
42–47 46 48 305.00–325.00 $318.50 $147 —
50 50 1 260.00 $260.00 $130 —
50–58 52 72 307.50–326.00 $322.83 $168 —
55 55 3 330.00 $330.00 $182 —
57 57 19 332.00 $332.00 $189 —
60 60 2 205.00–242.50 $223.75 $134 —
60–66 65 60 327.00–330.00 $328.84 $214 —
60–68 66 49 310.00–322.00 $321.52 $212 —
65–68 68 7 290.00–297.00 $290.96 $198 —
70 70 3 250.00–292.00 $278.00 $195 —
70–78 75 12 320.00–335.00 $325.40 $244 —
73–79 76 8 310.00–320.00 $314.20 $239 —
80–85 82 5 302.50–305.00 $303.96 $249 —
80–88 85 14 310.00–326.00 $321.71 $273 —
90–91 91 6 245.00–275.00 $249.95 $227 —
90–95 94 41 302.00–321.00 $320.51 $301 —
110 110 1 255.00 $255.00 $280 —
100–133 119 4 270.00–298.00 $279.35 $332 —

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Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
46–49 47 31 231.00–246.00 $236.54 $111 —
54 54 29 238.00 $238.00 $129 —
60–69 67 207 222.00–240.00 $231.52 $155 —
70–79 76 74 220.00–230.00 $224.42 $171 —
80–86 81 161 217.00–235.00 $230.71 $187 —
91–98 95 259 195.00–219.00 $208.96 $199 —
101–108 103 159 189.00–205.00 $200.75 $207 —
111 111 11 180.00 $180.00 $200 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
46 46 10 225.00 $225.00 $104 —
55 55 4 225.00 $225.00 $124 —
65 65 10 200.00 $200.00 $130 —
70–78 76 19 207.00–219.00 $214.44 $163 —
92–98 95 9 180.00–187.00 $183.78 $175 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
71 71 26 222.00 $222.00 $158 —
88 88 25 205.00 $205.00 $180 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
58 58 12 215.00 $215.00 $125 —

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Nannies/Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
56 56 —— 4 142.00 $142.00 $80 —
63 63 —— 3 135.00 $135.00 $85 —
85 85 Kids (<1 yr)Open 2 320.00 $320.00 $272 —
90–95 93 —— 2 132.00–145.00 $138.68 $129 —
100–125 113 —— 9 132.00–162.00 $150.27 $170 —
115–145 133 —— 21 149.00–185.00 $157.94 $210 —
160 160 Middle Aged (4-6 yrs)Bred 1 151.00 $151.00 $242 —
175 175 —— 2 137.00 $137.00 $240 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
65 65 1 230.00 $230.00 $150 —
100–125 113 2 195.00–235.00 $217.22 $245 —

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
69 69 12 202.50 $202.50 $140 —
72 72 3 203.00 $203.00 $146 —
70–78 73 36 216.00–233.00 $229.33 $167 —
80–89 84 183 218.00–233.00 $229.41 $193 —
87 87 6 195.00 $195.00 $170 —
90–95 93 44 192.00–203.00 $202.05 $188 —
106 106 7 187.00 $187.00 $198 —
121–125 123 7 175.00 $175.00 $215 —
135–139 138 26 180.00 $180.00 $248 —
149 149 7 175.00 $175.00 $261 —

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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.