Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 2, 2026

7,689 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $384.55/cwt +13.45 vs last sale · ≈ $2,569/hd at 668 lb · 206 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $465.39/cwt +10.48 vs last sale · ≈ $2,462/hd at 529 lb · 198 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $385.96/cwt +33.46 vs last sale · ≈ $2,902/hd at 752 lb · 179 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 7,689 3,201 6,490
Feeder cattle 3,304 — 1,543
Slaughter cattle 604 — 918
Replacement cattle 3,781 — 4,029

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. 450 lbs steers and heavier sold steady to 10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Heifers under 500 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Heifers 500 lbs and heavier sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Demand was good to very good for all offerings this week. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings as several buyers still have large orders to fill for summer grass leases. Additionally, demand for offerings too big to develop into yearlings was very good this week, with several major packers actively buying big steers and heifers to fill corporate feedlots. Quality this week was average to very attractive with many home raised offerings seen. Cattle were offered in small to moderate package sizes this week. A few full load lots were seen and these offerings sold with the best demand. Demand for feeding heifers continues to be very good as many attractive heifers are being purchased to feed. Competitive bidding was seen again this week between replacement and packer buyers. CME positions continue to march higher after the release of last weeks cattle inventory report. The March closed at 367.425, 7.15 higher than last Friday. The April closed at 362.80, 4.525 higher than last Friday. The May contract closed Friday at 357.125, 2.00 higher than last Friday. Market activity was mostly active with a larger buyer pool was noticed this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Feeding cow demand remains good. All feeding cows sold steady to 3.00 higher for the week. Slaughter cow demand remains strong as packers continue to show good demand for limited slaughter offerings. All slaughter cows sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher pushed mostly by limited offerings and feeding bull buyers which showed good demand for sound thinner fleshed bulls. Demand for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed was mostly light to moderate this week as quality and light offerings limited demand. Coming 2 year old cows sold mostly steady on an plain to average quality offering.

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
330–340 333 3 650.00–680.00 $669.80 $2,230 —
350–397 369 18 605.00–650.00 $626.87 $2,313 -16.90
419–443 435 32 585.00–607.50 $592.14 $2,576 -7.03
450–496 482 86 540.00–592.50 $559.94 $2,699 -20.60
504–542 528 33 507.00–542.50 $521.59 $2,754 +0.95
552–595 572 132 460.00–506.50 $488.79 $2,796 +13.89
607–646 619 124 430.00–467.50 $450.14 $2,786 +16.54
639 639 18 415.00 $415.00 $2,652 -18.60
661–695 672 99 409.00–435.00 $422.75 $2,841 -0.48
695 695 26 377.50 $377.50 $2,624 -45.73
707–748 736 117 382.00–409.00 $392.81 $2,891 -8.69
750–757 752 179 380.00–392.50 $385.96 $2,902 —
800–843 815 72 358.00–377.00 $367.68 $2,997 +45.68
851–873 865 107 350.00–361.50 $360.51 $3,118 +28.51
911–924 923 63 358.00 $358.00 $3,304 —
935 935 14 307.50 $307.50 $2,875 —
966 966 14 346.00 $346.00 $3,342 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
268 268 2 660.00 $660.00 $1,769 —
325 325 1 625.00 $625.00 $2,031 —
383 383 2 605.00 $605.00 $2,317 —
418–432 427 23 552.50–587.50 $560.89 $2,395 +50.89
454–497 479 17 527.00–565.00 $542.95 $2,601 +27.95
535–545 538 8 495.00 $495.00 $2,663 +16.43
560–599 588 81 425.00–474.50 $457.67 $2,691 +17.06
600–639 628 36 417.50–439.00 $428.08 $2,688 +10.85
685–687 687 11 399.00–400.00 $399.18 $2,742 +8.68
708 708 2 385.00 $385.00 $2,726 +10.64
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
601 601 82 431.00 $431.00 $2,590 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423 423 5 557.50 $557.50 $2,358 +72.50
678 678 2 404.00 $404.00 $2,739 +41.50
765 765 3 359.00 $359.00 $2,746 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
546 546 6 390.00 $390.00 $2,129 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
403–414 410 6 500.00–520.00 $506.55 $2,077 +101.55

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 2 590.00 $590.00 $2,024 +20.00
360–395 374 50 561.00–592.50 $579.40 $2,167 +39.40
415–440 428 40 505.00–532.50 $524.53 $2,245 +29.31
453–494 479 73 465.00–506.00 $491.77 $2,356 +7.43
500–547 529 198 451.00–490.00 $465.39 $2,462 +10.48
552–584 577 30 419.00–435.00 $432.25 $2,494 +4.34
590 590 38 422.00 $422.00 $2,490 -5.91
596 596 7 390.00 $390.00 $2,324 -37.91
603–635 618 160 390.00–423.00 $406.43 $2,512 +9.77
653–654 654 26 392.00–407.50 $399.74 $2,614 +19.79
653–677 667 162 369.00–393.00 $384.73 $2,566 +4.78
692–699 697 18 360.00–363.00 $360.99 $2,516 +28.99
700–748 718 130 354.00–372.50 $362.70 $2,604 -1.58
723 723 4 361.00 $361.00 $2,610 -3.28
766–794 783 70 347.00–359.00 $355.46 $2,783 +4.13
911 911 8 325.00 $325.00 $2,961 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
307–323 313 5 530.00–540.00 $534.12 $1,672 —
380–385 384 7 520.00–540.00 $537.17 $2,063 +58.05
406–436 423 47 465.00–540.00 $509.74 $2,156 +24.31
488–490 489 5 457.50–475.00 $464.48 $2,271 +11.43
515 515 31 457.00 $457.00 $2,354 +38.95
525–548 539 24 400.00–430.00 $414.30 $2,233 -3.75
571 571 76 446.00 $446.00 $2,547 +60.24
597 597 6 404.00 $404.00 $2,412 +18.24
614–623 616 10 375.00 $375.00 $2,310 +37.50
660–695 674 5 345.00–364.00 $356.16 $2,401 +7.48
725–740 729 8 339.00–359.00 $351.44 $2,562 +4.97
808 808 4 325.00 $325.00 $2,626 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
418 418 4 450.00 $450.00 $1,881 —
686 686 4 365.00 $365.00 $2,504 —
735 735 2 353.00 $353.00 $2,595 +11.00
750 750 2 369.00 $369.00 $2,768 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
343 343 2 490.00 $490.00 $1,681 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335–342 340 4 632.50–640.00 $634.35 $2,157 —
393 393 2 627.50 $627.50 $2,466 —
422–425 423 11 520.00–575.00 $564.94 $2,390 —
542 542 10 455.00 $455.00 $2,466 -40.00
620 620 2 380.00 $380.00 $2,356 -12.50
728–730 729 4 362.50 $362.50 $2,643 -3.86
845 845 1 340.00 $340.00 $2,873 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315 1315 1 207.00 $207.00 $2,722 —
1365 1365 1 217.50 $217.50 $2,969 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450–465 458 2 430.00–440.00 $435.08 $1,993 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1035 1035 1 270.00 $270.00 $2,794 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
330 330 1 630.00 $630.00 $2,079 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
945 945 80-85% 2 140.00 $140.00 $1,323 —
1325–1405 1350 80-85% 6 122.00–127.50 $123.02 $1,661 —
1220–1465 1356 80-85% 70 173.00–179.00 $176.17 $2,389 +30.92
1245–1615 1394 80-85% 26 130.00–159.00 $146.88 $2,048 -21.42
1105–1613 1397 80-85% 113 160.00–173.00 $168.26 $2,351 -0.04
1320–1520 1416 80-85% 16 129.00–148.00 $137.91 $1,953 -2.37
1345–1505 1432 80-85% 3 147.00–171.00 $157.43 $2,254 +17.15
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230–1335 1283 75-80% 2 179.00–185.00 $181.88 $2,334 —
1330–1460 1346 75-80% 8 174.00–177.00 $174.41 $2,348 —
1402 1402 75-80% 16 176.00 $176.00 $2,468 —
1458–1640 1519 75-80% 46 163.00–171.00 $169.83 $2,580 +16.11
1455–1960 1623 75-80% 23 131.00–162.00 $157.66 $2,559 —
1655–1663 1660 75-80% 3 151.00–158.00 $155.67 $2,584 -0.41
1455–1805 1677 75-80% 14 162.00–169.00 $166.26 $2,788 +10.18
1625–1790 1723 75-80% 3 141.00–144.00 $142.28 $2,451 -25.03
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
794–975 836 85-90% 12 102.50–125.00 $116.99 $978 —
910–965 938 85-90% 2 123.00–125.00 $124.03 $1,163 +39.03
1045 1045 85-90% 1 147.50 $147.50 $1,541 —
970–1200 1099 85-90% 13 100.00–124.00 $116.00 $1,275 -31.79
968–1245 1143 85-90% 28 122.50–159.00 $143.70 $1,642 +6.72
1030–1200 1143 85-90% 12 159.00–169.00 $164.98 $1,886 +28.00
1060–1197 1153 85-90% 10 122.00–142.00 $134.43 $1,550 -27.87
1050–1275 1181 85-90% 5 85.00–97.50 $93.78 $1,108 -77.01
1153–1283 1228 85-90% 15 170.00–177.00 $173.16 $2,126 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1435–2065 1650 14 150.00–181.00 $173.78 $2,867 +2.26
1335–1995 1683 24 175.00–188.00 $183.79 $3,093 +19.46
1440–2148 1767 15 155.00–175.00 $165.26 $2,920 —
1530–2235 1901 31 176.00–194.00 $186.30 $3,542 —
1845–2360 2103 2 191.00–195.00 $193.24 $4,064 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2293 2293 2 190.00 $190.00 $4,357 —
2348–2425 2374 3 178.00–185.00 $180.38 $4,282 -12.62
2530 2530 1 178.00 $178.00 $4,503 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
712–1235 1011 (<2 yrs)Open 79 230.00–327.50 $278.33 $2,814
770–1350 1069 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 135 130.00–320.00 $248.01 $2,651
1140–1410 1194 (<2 yrs)Open 5 212.50–225.00 $222.05 $2,651
1103–1490 1280 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 5 162.00–174.00 $169.65 $2,172
1125–1453 1294 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 36 169.50–183.00 $175.78 $2,275
1125–1545 1382 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 13 155.00–175.00 $169.33 $2,340
1390 1390 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 174.00 $174.00 $2,419
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
820–1135 995 (<2 yrs)Open 7 235.00–280.00 $256.81 $2,555
785–1285 1010 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 50 175.00–285.00 $219.89 $2,221
1035 1035 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,708
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
667–770 682 (<2 yrs)Open 7 300.00–310.00 $308.39 $2,103
780 780 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 295.00 $295.00 $2,301
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
970 970 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 250.00 $250.00 $2,425

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1011–1499 1111 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 78 3,000.00–4,100.00 $3,719.77
1022–1433 1171 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 184 4,000.00–4,660.00 $4,398.03
1097–1390 1191 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 388 4,000.00–4,700.00 $4,409.48
1160–1440 fancy 1244 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 52 5,100.00–5,300.00 $5,153.41
1294–1331 1306 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 15 3,400.00–3,800.00 $3,535.85
1221–1505 1326 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 58 3,600.00–4,525.00 $4,328.56
1345 1345 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 2,850.00 $2,850.00
1250–1574 1347 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 105 3,700.00–4,450.00 $4,057.72
1251–1644 1348 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 118 3,250.00–4,185.00 $3,708.94
1110–1561 1379 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 216 3,000.00–3,550.00 $3,319.54
1255–1639 1401 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 201 3,000.00–3,725.00 $3,372.02
1375–1510 1420 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 15 3,200.00–3,500.00 $3,393.66
1464 1464 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 14 3,750.00 $3,750.00
1437–1710 1505 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 12 3,000.00–3,100.00 $3,028.40
1270–1765 1539 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 98 3,500.00–4,000.00 $3,893.15
1605 fancy 1605 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 13 5,000.00 $5,000.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1115 1115 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 2,200.00 $2,200.00
1007–1420 1142 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 20 3,350.00–3,900.00 $3,721.64
1145–1303 1204 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 8 2,650.00–2,850.00 $2,768.85
1170–1270 1228 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,300.00–2,600.00 $2,395.25
1243 1243 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 2,650.00 $2,650.00
1280–1290 1285 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 3,300.00 $3,300.00
1303 1303 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 3,100.00 $3,100.00
1180–1424 1333 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 8 3,100.00–3,250.00 $3,149.81
1366 1366 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 14 3,400.00 $3,400.00
1090–1491 1398 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 16 3,500.00–3,850.00 $3,548.10
1308–1516 1447 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 3,200.00–3,750.00 $3,584.24
Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1106 1106 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 3,750.00 $3,750.00
1350 1350 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 32 3,625.00–3,650.00 $3,634.38
1380 1380 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 11 3,700.00 $3,700.00
Small 2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
763 763 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 13 165.00 $165.00 $1,259
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1215–1235 1228 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 172.00–173.00 $172.67 $2,120
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
895 895 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 3,500.00 $3,500.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
985–1104 1007 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 94 3,950.00–4,450.00 $4,151.06
948–1283 1081 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 831 4,025.00–4,700.00 $4,260.50
1189 fancy 1189 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 20 5,100.00 $5,100.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
860–969 913 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 32 3,550.00–4,000.00 $3,869.38
860–975 946 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 188 3,650.00–4,325.00 $3,995.56
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1022 1022 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 3,850.00 $3,850.00
1105 1105 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 21 3,075.00 $3,075.00

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
975 975 85-90% 1 100.00 $100.00 $975 —

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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.