Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 23, 2026

1,433 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 $384.42/cwt +4.27 vs last sale · ≈ $2,583/hd at 672 lb · 30 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1-2 bulls $503.43/cwt +13.43 vs last sale · ≈ $2,391/hd at 475 lb · 24 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $413.21/cwt ≈ $2,178/hd at 527 lb · 24 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,433 2,824 1,977
Feeder cattle 616 2,047 777
Slaughter cattle 511 515 956
Replacement cattle 306 262 244

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was plain to average and not as attractive as last week. Most cattle were offered in small size packages with many singles on offer. No feeder cattle specials were held this week. Demand was mostly moderate to good on very light offerings. CME positions improved greatly this week. The March had a final settlement of 362.98, 5.23 higher than last Fridays close. The April closed Friday at 361.45, 10.275 higher than last Friday. The May contract closed Friday at 359.825, 13.45 higher than last Friday. The August contract closed Friday at 357.80. Market activity was mostly active despite a small 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 unevenly steady, as younger and higher quality cows sold higher and poorer quality cows sold weak. Major packers showed good to very good demand for high quality cows this week. Canadian buyers remain sidelined as the exchange rate remains unfavorable. A large crowd of feeding cow buyers were present at all sales this week. Young feeding cows took a jump this week as buyers purchased some groups of young to middle age cows in hopes they can get a few younger cows to grade choice. 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 steady to firm in a narrow comparison. 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 steady to 2.00 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. Young cows sold mostly 5.00-12.00 higher. Quality was average to attractive, and similar to last week.

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
266 266 4 615.00 $615.00 $1,636 —
378 unweaned 378 4 525.00 $525.00 $1,984 +5.00
430–435 432 5 517.50–542.50 $532.43 $2,300 -40.52
557–598 573 5 433.00–442.50 $438.54 $2,513 -15.24
615–649 631 12 422.50–425.00 $423.31 $2,671 -6.34
662–670 663 15 392.50–415.00 $410.71 $2,723 +1.92
700 700 2 385.00 $385.00 $2,695 -1.00
775 775 5 355.00 $355.00 $2,751 +10.45
800 800 1 350.00 $350.00 $2,800 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
444 444 7 575.00 $575.00 $2,553 —
450–495 481 19 522.50–532.50 $530.59 $2,552 -4.41
525 525 5 525.00 $525.00 $2,756 +39.00
665–674 673 13 402.00–431.00 $406.41 $2,735 -29.65
825 825 4 361.00 $361.00 $2,978 +4.07
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
308 308 2 535.00 $535.00 $1,648 -35.00
395 395 6 525.00 $525.00 $2,074 —
444 444 4 495.00 $495.00 $2,198 —
460 460 1 470.00 $470.00 $2,162 -5.00
552 552 3 360.00 $360.00 $1,987 +25.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
813 813 5 330.00 $330.00 $2,683 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
554–563 559 18 419.00–425.00 $421.06 $2,354 -1.53
606–630 618 23 397.50–405.00 $401.28 $2,480 -11.00
666–698 672 30 360.00–391.00 $384.42 $2,583 +4.27
705–740 723 11 352.50–360.00 $356.63 $2,578 -16.54
769–780 772 8 344.00–345.00 $344.75 $2,661 -7.90
813–818 816 8 319.00–325.00 $321.24 $2,621 -30.76
998 998 3 299.00 $299.00 $2,984 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
247 247 5 565.00 $565.00 $1,396 —
336 336 7 500.00 $500.00 $1,680 -6.64
421 unweaned 421 6 460.00 $460.00 $1,937 —
440 440 3 485.00 $485.00 $2,134 -5.20
510–528 527 24 412.50–430.00 $413.21 $2,178 —
552–595 561 8 405.00–410.00 $405.97 $2,277 +4.97
605–618 610 15 382.50–395.00 $391.46 $2,388 +4.86
665–675 670 7 327.50–355.00 $339.96 $2,278 -17.54
705–748 741 6 347.00–347.50 $347.08 $2,572 +12.08
770–795 790 5 327.50–338.00 $329.55 $2,603 +0.74
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423–445 425 9 425.00–430.00 $425.58 $1,809 —
550 550 1 360.00 $360.00 $1,980 -22.00
610 610 1 367.50 $367.50 $2,242 —
705–713 709 6 302.50–310.00 $306.27 $2,171 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
367 367 6 575.00 $575.00 $2,110 +50.00
445 445 1 495.00 $495.00 $2,203 —
465–495 475 24 485.00–512.50 $503.43 $2,391 +13.43
529–530 529 15 450.00–465.00 $464.00 $2,455 -9.91
604 thin fleshed 604 17 400.00 $400.00 $2,416 —
630–633 632 3 355.00–377.50 $362.48 $2,291 -32.52
768 768 2 362.50 $362.50 $2,784 +20.00
975 975 2 300.00 $300.00 $2,925 -10.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050 1050 1 285.00 $285.00 $2,992 —
1130 1130 4 260.00 $260.00 $2,938 +15.00
1187–1192 1190 9 250.00–255.00 $253.34 $3,015 -10.32
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
590 590 1 335.00 $335.00 $1,976 -20.00
607–635 618 5 335.00–365.00 $347.33 $2,146 —
725 725 1 305.00 $305.00 $2,211 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
920–928 924 4 317.50 $317.50 $2,934 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1040 1040 1 290.00 $290.00 $3,016 —
1110 1110 1 240.00 $240.00 $2,664 —
1265 1265 1 205.00 $205.00 $2,593 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
502 502 3 380.00 $380.00 $1,908 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
98 98 2 750.00 $750.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1290–1380 1320 80-85% 3 132.00–139.00 $136.20 $1,798 -6.16
1270–1580 1383 80-85% 3 164.50–170.00 $166.68 $2,305 -16.49
1215–1610 1390 80-85% 54 168.00–181.00 $174.61 $2,427 -8.56
1200–1540 1394 80-85% 54 182.00–191.00 $183.73 $2,561 +0.56
1285–1590 1403 80-85% 9 148.00–162.00 $158.63 $2,226 -5.36
1275–1573 1408 80-85% 23 150.00–167.50 $162.41 $2,287 -1.58
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1380–1521 1457 75-80% 11 182.00–186.00 $183.72 $2,677 —
1415–1715 1568 75-80% 66 170.00–182.00 $177.14 $2,778 -6.77
1390–1820 1607 75-80% 11 155.00–170.00 $164.43 $2,642 —
1430–1950 1669 75-80% 4 152.00–164.00 $159.73 $2,666 -2.80
1455–1865 1700 75-80% 3 175.00–182.00 $179.09 $3,045 —
1520–1950 1735 75-80% 5 164.00–170.00 $165.85 $2,877 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1721–1994 1825 65-75% 96 171.00–174.50 $173.74 $3,171 —
1825 1825 65-75% 1 159.00 $159.00 $2,902 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810 810 85-90% 1 90.00 $90.00 $729 —
905 905 85-90% 1 132.50 $132.50 $1,199 +25.22
920–995 948 85-90% 3 100.00–108.00 $104.36 $989 -2.92
875–1280 1018 85-90% 23 144.00–164.50 $154.22 $1,570 —
845–1285 1137 85-90% 23 167.00–177.50 $172.25 $1,958 +15.48
1010–1345 1148 85-90% 3 105.00 $105.00 $1,205 -40.16
980–1260 1157 85-90% 5 179.00–182.00 $180.42 $2,087 —
1105–1270 1187 85-90% 8 134.00–159.00 $145.92 $1,732 —
1075–1265 1189 85-90% 10 112.50–137.50 $126.37 $1,503 —
1205 1205 85-90% 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,958 -11.14

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1460 1460 1 177.50 $177.50 $2,592 —
1275–1915 1554 23 192.50–215.00 $204.54 $3,179 —
1310–1930 1613 12 185.00–197.00 $192.39 $3,103 +5.77
1515–1865 1698 5 160.00–179.00 $168.94 $2,869 —
1800–2220 2004 10 203.00–216.00 $210.04 $4,209 —
1885–2110 2008 4 207.00–217.00 $212.15 $4,260 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2060–2115 2088 2 206.00–211.00 $208.47 $4,353 —
2295 2295 1 186.00 $186.00 $4,269 —
2225–2490 2393 3 202.00–208.00 $204.55 $4,895 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
735 thin fleshed 735 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 342.50 $342.50 $2,517
745–1335 1050 (<2 yrs)Open 97 222.50–365.00 $283.12 $2,973
820–1375 1086 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 82 172.00–340.00 $258.41 $2,806
1173–1605 1238 (<2 yrs)Open 10 182.00–249.00 $236.04 $2,922
1113–1460 1247 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 22 183.00–222.50 $198.70 $2,478
1443 1443 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 187.50 $187.50 $2,706
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
790–1165 998 (<2 yrs)Open 7 220.00–315.00 $250.58 $2,501
930–1245 1081 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 20 181.00–290.00 $234.50 $2,535
1125 1125 (<2 yrs)Open 1 250.00 $250.00 $2,812
1195 1195 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 178.00 $178.00 $2,127
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
705–895 834 (<2 yrs)Open 4 200.00–255.00 $219.59 $1,831
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
790 790 (<2 yrs)Open 1 317.50 $317.50 $2,508
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
805 805 (<2 yrs)Open 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,771
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
870 870 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 225.00 $225.00 $1,958

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1095 1095 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 3,250.00 $3,250.00
1224–1360 1274 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 10 4,100.00–4,300.00 $4,187.91
1337 1337 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 15 3,375.00 $3,375.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1030 1030 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,600.00 $3,600.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1200–1215 1205 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 4,000.00 $4,000.00

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Dairy Bulls

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1305 1305 1 173.00 $173.00 $2,258 —

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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.