Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, February 16, 2026

2,103 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $440.99/cwt +8.07 vs last sale · ≈ $2,540/hd at 576 lb · 217 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $394.01/cwt -22.38 vs last sale · ≈ $2,498/hd at 634 lb · 58 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 steers $343.51/cwt -10.59 vs last sale · ≈ $3,124/hd at 909 lb · 53 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,103 7,879 2,450
Feeder cattle 1,247 3,453 712
Slaughter cattle 380 356 592
Replacement cattle 476 961 1,146

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: 600-699 lbs steers offered the best test this week selling generally steady in a very narrow comparison. 500-599 lbs heifers offered the best test this week selling mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. All other weights of steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on a smaller, poorer quality offering. Most cattle were offered in small packages or as singles this week forcing buyers to piece together loads. Quality was mostly plain to attractive with lots of variation noticed. Demand overall was moderate to very good. Demand for high quality cattle, suitable to run on grass, remains very good. Quality this week limited demand as cattle were not as attractive as they have been the last few weeks. CME positions showed some strength this past week as higher slaughter cattle prices helped pull feeder prices higher. The March closed at 368.025, 1.875 higher than last Friday. The April closed at 365.05, 1.60 higher than last Friday. The May contract closed Friday at 361.00, 1.575 higher than last Friday. Market activity was mostly active despite a smaller crowd at all sales. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light offerings. Feeding cow demand remains the driving force in the market. Feeding cows sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. A large crowd of feeding cow buyers were present at all sales this week. 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. Very few cows were purchased for slaughter this week as feeding buyers pushed most offerings higher than buying orders for slaughter. All slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all classes. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 5.00-10.00 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 moderate to good this week. A few cows and heifers which lost calves are starting to be marketed. Demand for high quality offerings is very good. Young cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher on an average to attractive 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
360–368 362 16 647.50–650.00 $648.14 $2,346 +27.24
407–430 420 10 620.00–632.50 $625.52 $2,627 +6.18
463–484 468 27 575.00–582.50 $580.78 $2,718 +13.12
510–548 540 30 505.00–550.00 $515.11 $2,782 -15.67
551–587 565 27 455.00–510.00 $489.59 $2,766 +5.75
605–642 622 38 440.00–468.00 $451.65 $2,809 -7.87
666–689 681 50 418.00–437.00 $424.29 $2,889 +33.74
717–738 728 7 383.00–403.00 $391.94 $2,853 -4.63
738 738 6 365.00 $365.00 $2,694 -5.60
800 800 7 351.00 $351.00 $2,808 -11.72
815 815 1 367.00 $367.00 $2,991 +4.28
855 855 37 359.00 $359.00 $3,069 +10.00
883 883 6 338.00 $338.00 $2,985 -27.00
902 902 35 347.00 $347.00 $3,130 -13.00
916–944 924 18 331.00–339.00 $336.73 $3,111 -1.27
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 4 627.50 $627.50 $2,008 +2.19
350–368 360 6 615.00–635.00 $623.21 $2,244 +53.81
405–448 438 9 532.50–602.50 $556.27 $2,436 -22.51
475–481 478 7 507.50–515.00 $511.81 $2,446 -31.08
514–529 524 11 523.00–532.00 $526.21 $2,757 +20.01
555–599 578 30 440.00–480.00 $452.25 $2,614 +9.93
645 645 4 415.00 $415.00 $2,677 -20.99
772 772 13 362.00 $362.00 $2,795 —
752–798 775 27 364.00–374.00 $367.58 $2,849 —
882 882 3 339.00 $339.00 $2,990 -4.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
306 306 5 650.00 $650.00 $1,989 —
415–441 432 6 560.00–575.00 $564.80 $2,440 —
718 718 2 376.00 $376.00 $2,700 +26.00
777 777 9 337.50 $337.50 $2,622 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
414–420 415 5 530.00–540.00 $537.98 $2,233 —
682 682 5 330.00 $330.00 $2,251 —
783 783 2 342.50 $342.50 $2,682 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
535 535 2 500.00 $500.00 $2,675 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 385 1 557.50 $557.50 $2,146 +1.12
415 415 2 552.00 $552.00 $2,291 +27.06
468–480 473 26 487.00–512.50 $497.53 $2,353 -12.64
506–523 515 47 467.00–489.00 $479.09 $2,467 +9.65
552–598 576 217 403.50–460.00 $440.99 $2,540 +8.07
623–637 634 58 390.00–400.00 $394.01 $2,498 -19.48
747 747 7 359.00 $359.00 $2,682 +11.00
755 755 8 360.00 $360.00 $2,718 +15.10
851 851 29 348.00 $348.00 $2,961 +18.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375–399 391 11 500.00–550.00 $539.03 $2,108 +24.62
408–441 426 14 487.50–545.00 $517.15 $2,203 +20.75
456–467 461 7 455.00–482.50 $466.95 $2,153 -8.52
535–546 542 12 440.00–465.00 $451.66 $2,448 +24.65
585 585 2 425.00 $425.00 $2,486 +9.00
604–648 625 13 375.00–390.00 $382.17 $2,389 -16.83
684–690 687 8 350.00–360.00 $355.02 $2,439 -9.13
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
298 298 6 537.50 $537.50 $1,602 —
378 378 6 545.00 $545.00 $2,060 —
456 456 5 470.00 $470.00 $2,143 +10.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
405–430 418 2 470.00–490.00 $479.70 $2,005 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
436 436 8 537.50 $537.50 $2,344 —
475 475 1 570.00 $570.00 $2,708 +79.91
548 548 2 509.00 $509.00 $2,789 -2.41
582–593 592 34 425.00–437.50 $436.42 $2,584 —
600–625 620 5 385.00–427.50 $419.27 $2,599 +19.30
710–746 736 7 325.00–382.50 $340.85 $2,509 +15.85
754–765 755 16 362.50–365.00 $362.66 $2,738 —
836 836 4 340.00 $340.00 $2,842 +15.00
1040 1040 1 210.00 $210.00 $2,184 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460–491 479 15 467.50–487.50 $475.19 $2,276 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
718 718 2 384.00 $384.00 $2,757 —
860–865 863 5 327.50–330.00 $329.00 $2,839 —
1154 1154 5 265.00 $265.00 $3,058 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
609 609 7 390.00 $390.00 $2,375 —
745 745 4 340.00 $340.00 $2,533 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1053 1053 4 260.00 $260.00 $2,738 -45.00
1145 1145 1 210.00 $210.00 $2,404 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
390–393 392 4 530.00–540.00 $534.98 $2,097 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1310 1310 80-85% 1 142.50 $142.50 $1,867 -6.09
1285–1555 1379 80-85% 14 145.00–168.00 $162.20 $2,237 +42.00
1130–1695 1412 80-85% 96 165.00–180.50 $177.76 $2,510 +9.63
1230–1510 1416 80-85% 49 179.00–185.00 $182.16 $2,579 +78.16
1155–1535 1420 80-85% 4 148.00–164.00 $154.71 $2,197 +50.71
1300–1615 1423 80-85% 5 125.00–137.50 $131.32 $1,869 +27.32
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1330 1330 75-80% 1 183.00 $183.00 $2,434 —
1512–1673 1563 75-80% 84 176.50–181.50 $177.30 $2,771 —
1508–1740 1592 75-80% 37 165.00–181.00 $178.91 $2,848 —
1653 1653 75-80% 5 159.00 $159.00 $2,628 +7.86
1500–1735 1654 75-80% 5 174.00 $174.00 $2,878 +22.86
1610–1837 1719 75-80% 8 176.50–179.00 $177.74 $3,055 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
925–960 948 85-90% 3 112.50–120.00 $114.94 $1,090 —
965–1230 1075 85-90% 3 85.00–100.00 $92.68 $996 -46.74
1005–1250 1110 85-90% 75 169.00–179.00 $175.30 $1,946 +40.16
1030–1310 1151 85-90% 16 115.00–132.00 $120.02 $1,381 +6.70
1015–1255 1161 85-90% 15 136.00–164.00 $151.73 $1,762 +38.41
1110–1230 1169 85-90% 10 125.00–145.00 $135.44 $1,583 -26.15
1090–1295 1256 85-90% 12 178.00–180.00 $178.63 $2,244 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1585–1590 1588 2 145.00–175.00 $159.98 $2,540 —
1320–1980 1632 12 184.00–205.50 $194.47 $3,174 +12.47
1495–1925 1694 7 167.00–177.00 $171.15 $2,899 -23.85
1880 1880 1 218.00 $218.00 $4,098 —
1660–2325 1950 17 184.00–209.00 $197.13 $3,844 -8.87
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2310 2310 1 205.00 $205.00 $4,736 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
929–1250 1008 (<2 yrs)Open 25 220.00–304.00 $284.68 $2,870
1043–1220 1102 (<2 yrs)Open 3 220.00–250.00 $238.93 $2,633
945–1420 1121 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 125 185.00–312.50 $240.32 $2,694
1155–1415 1221 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 7 185.00–199.00 $188.78 $2,305
1345 1345 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 190.00 $190.00 $2,556
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
873–1110 931 (<2 yrs)Open 8 225.00–285.00 $262.83 $2,447
840–1255 1017 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 13 183.00–285.00 $228.18 $2,321
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1088 1088 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 237.50 $237.50 $2,584
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
745 745 (<2 yrs)Open 1 240.00 $240.00 $1,788
775 775 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 215.00 $215.00 $1,666
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
935 935 (<2 yrs)Open 1 220.00 $220.00 $2,057

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1418 1418 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 4,100.00 $4,100.00
1339–1685 1424 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 24 3,100.00–3,500.00 $3,345.73
1350–1489 1457 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 18 3,100.00–3,225.00 $3,192.81
1388–1510 1475 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 14 3,550.00–3,650.00 $3,623.12
1662 1662 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 9 3,725.00 $3,725.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1158–1345 1205 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 2,700.00–2,850.00 $2,808.13
1300 1300 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 2,900.00 $2,900.00

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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.