Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 16, 2026

2,824 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $364.63/cwt +24.63 vs last sale · ≈ $2,662/hd at 730 lb · 321 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $365.41/cwt +35.41 vs last sale · ≈ $2,781/hd at 761 lb · 244 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $448.15/cwt +21.46 vs last sale · ≈ $2,810/hd at 627 lb · 140 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,824 3,973 5,162
Feeder cattle 2,047 570 3,632
Slaughter cattle 515 722 846
Replacement cattle 262 939 684

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones. Quality this week was average to attractive and better overall than last week. Most cattle were offered in moderate size packages. Quality was mostly average to attractive. Demand was mostly good on light to moderate supplies. CME positions improved this week. The March closed at 357.75, 8.275 higher than last Fridays close. The April closed at 351.175, 8.075 higher than last Friday. The May contract closed Friday at 346.375, 7.205 higher than last Friday. Market activity was mostly active with a larger crowd of buyers noticed all week. 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 generally steady. Major packers were back in the market this week and were very aggressive as they purchased cows to feed. Canadian buyers were not as active this week as the exchange rate turned unfavorable which made cows too high for their orders. A large crowd of feeding cow buyers were present at all sales this week. Cow quality this week was average to attractive. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average. 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. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-4.00 higher. Demand remains good as packer search for lean meat to blend down excess fat currently on the market. Feeding bull demand was mostly good to very good again this week. Feeding bulls sold 5.00-8.00 higher on very good demand. Packers and feeding bull buyers were both competing over similar offerings this week which helped improve prices on both classes. Demand for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed was mostly good this week. Cows and heifers which lost calves are being marketed, but with very good weather conditions limited offerings are being seen. Demand for high quality offerings is very good. Coming 2 year old cows sold mostly steady to firm. Quality was average to attractive, and similar to last week.

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
320–330 325 2 650.00–660.00 $654.92 $2,128 —
473 473 6 535.00 $535.00 $2,531 —
548 548 11 486.00 $486.00 $2,663 —
550 550 5 460.00 $460.00 $2,530 —
561–588 567 28 462.50–497.00 $489.33 $2,775 —
600–648 627 140 439.00–460.00 $448.15 $2,810 +21.46
656–695 667 131 416.00–446.00 $436.06 $2,909 +22.72
702–725 715 64 390.00–421.50 $413.98 $2,960 —
755–759 758 21 380.00–395.00 $390.02 $2,956 +17.52
806–840 836 31 355.50–367.00 $356.93 $2,984 —
858 858 4 340.00 $340.00 $2,917 —
918–923 922 22 330.00–336.50 $330.88 $3,051 —
1006–1022 1013 7 305.00 $305.00 $3,090 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
337 unweaned 337 3 500.00 $500.00 $1,685 —
362–390 366 8 575.00–600.00 $594.22 $2,175 +14.22
385 unweaned 385 6 515.00–530.00 $520.00 $2,002 —
400–418 407 5 570.00–575.00 $572.95 $2,332 +27.43
450–475 460 7 510.00–545.00 $532.82 $2,451 +12.82
505–538 531 5 483.00–510.00 $488.13 $2,592 +4.10
559 thin fleshed 559 29 490.00 $490.00 $2,739 —
553–593 575 25 440.00–470.00 $453.78 $2,609 +17.13
622–645 640 37 415.00–435.50 $429.65 $2,750 +13.00
650–695 668 28 385.00–415.00 $408.79 $2,731 +16.79
700 700 1 386.00 $386.00 $2,702 +5.00
777–785 779 9 343.00–345.00 $344.55 $2,684 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325 325 1 570.00 $570.00 $1,852 —
471 471 11 475.00 $475.00 $2,237 —
557 557 10 335.00 $335.00 $1,866 -87.50
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 5 435.00 $435.00 $1,631 —
420 420 2 355.00 $355.00 $1,491 —
610 610 3 275.00 $275.00 $1,678 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
608–646 633 6 432.00–445.00 $436.16 $2,761 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
458–483 478 14 472.00–522.50 $482.38 $2,306 —
525–547 533 98 450.00–477.50 $474.45 $2,529 -5.55
565–579 576 10 422.00–425.00 $422.59 $2,434 +1.33
600–648 622 105 394.00–420.00 $412.28 $2,564 +18.28
653–697 676 73 372.00–389.00 $380.15 $2,570 +7.81
706–741 718 114 351.00–381.00 $373.17 $2,679 +28.17
700–746 736 187 348.00–365.50 $361.09 $2,658 +21.09
743 743 20 349.00 $349.00 $2,593 +11.50
758–760 760 218 366.00–370.00 $366.93 $2,789 +36.93
768–778 771 26 350.00–355.00 $352.65 $2,719 +22.65
806 806 5 322.00 $322.00 $2,595 —
820 820 29 352.00 $352.00 $2,886 —
842 842 3 319.00 $319.00 $2,686 —
865 865 2 320.00 $320.00 $2,768 —
877 877 3 311.00 $311.00 $2,727 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–318 315 3 505.00–510.00 $506.64 $1,596 —
378 378 2 500.00 $500.00 $1,890 —
413–420 415 3 472.50–525.00 $490.20 $2,034 +5.46
454–495 457 38 447.50–452.50 $447.93 $2,047 -21.75
578 578 2 401.00 $401.00 $2,318 -21.00
630–634 633 5 385.00–387.00 $386.60 $2,447 -9.00
660 660 1 357.50 $357.50 $2,360 —
706–717 714 13 345.00 $345.00 $2,463 +3.76
732 732 5 335.00 $335.00 $2,452 -6.24
772–795 781 10 322.50–338.00 $328.81 $2,568 —
814 814 4 325.00 $325.00 $2,646 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
342 342 9 500.00 $500.00 $1,710 +38.07
497 497 7 440.00 $440.00 $2,187 —
506 506 12 320.00 $320.00 $1,619 —
564 564 14 382.00 $382.00 $2,154 +7.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
804–845 825 20 2,800.00–2,825.00 $2,812.81 —
934 934 10 2,825.00 $2,825.00 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
558 558 2 380.00 $380.00 $2,120 —
623 623 2 310.00 $310.00 $1,931 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383 383 3 525.00 $525.00 $2,011 —
477 477 3 490.00 $490.00 $2,337 +20.00
519–538 525 15 465.00–480.00 $473.91 $2,488 —
627 627 3 395.00 $395.00 $2,477 +17.49
795 795 1 342.50 $342.50 $2,723 —
988 988 3 310.00 $310.00 $3,063 +20.00
1005 1005 2 297.50 $297.50 $2,990 +17.50
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 7 355.00 $355.00 $2,094 —
1025 1025 1 250.00 $250.00 $2,562 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
375 375 1 650.00 $650.00 $2,438 —
465 465 1 530.00 $530.00 $2,464 -6.67
823 823 3 347.50 $347.50 $2,860 —
860 860 1 320.00 $320.00 $2,752 —
1075 1075 1 305.00 $305.00 $3,279 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145 1145 1 245.00 $245.00 $2,805 —
1150–1165 1158 2 250.00–277.50 $263.66 $3,053 —
1225 1225 1 232.50 $232.50 $2,848 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
95 95 1 1,100.00 $1,100.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1270–1425 1348 80-85% 2 140.00–145.00 $142.36 $1,919 -44.30
1270–1505 1370 80-85% 4 145.00–154.00 $149.79 $2,052 -29.29
1265–1485 1396 80-85% 30 181.00–188.00 $183.17 $2,557 +4.09
1185–1755 1404 80-85% 35 155.00–169.00 $163.99 $2,302 +8.63
1160–1705 1414 80-85% 131 167.00–182.50 $176.80 $2,500 +21.44
1430–1460 1445 80-85% 2 161.00–167.00 $163.97 $2,369 -19.37
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1340–1845 1510 75-80% 54 172.00–180.00 $178.44 $2,694 —
1320–1835 1544 75-80% 17 160.00–170.50 $164.35 $2,538 —
1395–1695 1553 75-80% 3 182.00–185.00 $183.91 $2,856 —
1510–1830 1659 75-80% 7 159.00–166.00 $162.53 $2,696 -3.05
1305–1927 1751 75-80% 15 164.00–176.00 $168.60 $2,952 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
890 890 85-90% 1 132.50 $132.50 $1,179 —
895–950 923 85-90% 2 100.00–115.00 $107.28 $990 -26.42
1000–1198 1091 85-90% 11 116.00–142.50 $128.51 $1,402 —
950–1280 1129 85-90% 23 142.50–166.00 $156.77 $1,770 +2.18
1010–1265 1146 85-90% 4 143.00–147.50 $145.16 $1,664 -10.43
1135–1250 1207 85-90% 15 170.00–180.00 $173.64 $2,096 -0.34
1145–1275 1210 85-90% 2 180.00–181.00 $180.47 $2,184 +6.49
1345 1345 85-90% 1 95.00 $95.00 $1,278 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230–1500 1363 3 150.00–177.00 $162.59 $2,216 —
1258–1823 1540 20 192.00–216.00 $206.53 $3,181 +21.84
1350–1975 1644 13 164.00–198.00 $186.62 $3,068 —
1410–1848 1644 8 185.00–200.00 $195.52 $3,214 —
1795–2395 1985 33 193.00–216.00 $209.30 $4,155 —
2198–2270 2234 2 216.00–219.00 $217.48 $4,859 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1570 1570 1 167.50 $167.50 $2,630 —
1575–2190 1962 3 190.00–207.00 $198.13 $3,887 —
2450 2450 1 192.50 $192.50 $4,716 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
885–1375 1082 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 59 202.00–322.50 $267.50 $2,894
825–1260 1086 (<2 yrs)Open 53 220.00–317.50 $271.73 $2,951
1190–1445 1282 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 9 183.00–192.00 $188.18 $2,412
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
870–1270 1059 (<2 yrs)Open 5 190.00–285.00 $249.15 $2,638
850–1295 1092 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 21 180.00–290.00 $228.69 $2,497
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
770 770 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 285.00 $285.00 $2,194
695–845 785 (<2 yrs)Open 4 275.00–282.50 $279.93 $2,197
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
860 860 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 295.00 $295.00 $2,537

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1156 1156 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 3,185.00 $3,185.00
1145–1353 1249 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 6 4,400.00–4,475.00 $4,440.62
1380 1380 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 3,525.00 $3,525.00
1415 1415 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 3,000.00 $3,000.00
1420 1420 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 2,350.00 $2,350.00
1423 1423 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 4,250.00 $4,250.00
1440–1893 1670 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 3,050.00–3,350.00 $3,277.54
1865 1865 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 3,300.00 $3,300.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1052 1052 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 3,700.00 $3,700.00
1300 1300 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 2,900.00 $2,900.00
1340 1340 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 2,400.00 $2,400.00
1440 1440 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 3,400.00 $3,400.00
1580 1580 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 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 $
1090–1385 1203 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 4,025.00–4,075.00 $4,039.40
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1020 1020 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 3,800.00 $3,800.00

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Beef Dairy Heifers

Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
770 770 2 320.00 $320.00 $2,464 —
818 818 32 320.00 $320.00 $2,618 —
934 934 4 290.00 $290.00 $2,709 —

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Beef Dairy Steers

Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
832–837 836 12 322.50 $322.50 $2,696 —
902 902 25 306.50 $306.50 $2,765 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1587 1587 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 4,700.00 $4,700.00 —
1835 1835 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 2 4,150.00 $4,150.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1203 1203 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 4,650.00 $4,650.00 —

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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.