Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, March 30, 2026

7,315 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $421.65/cwt +20.37 vs last sale · ≈ $2,644/hd at 627 lb · 662 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $405.42/cwt +21.00 vs last sale · ≈ $2,723/hd at 672 lb · 641 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $435.98/cwt +14.92 vs last sale · ≈ $2,520/hd at 578 lb · 351 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 7,315 1,433 6,085
Feeder cattle 6,119 616 4,924
Slaughter cattle 762 511 754
Replacement cattle 434 306 407

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Last week had no feeder specials and just over 1400 head total for 3 sales. Quality this week was average to very attractive and significantly more attractive than last week. Most cattle were offered in moderate size packages up to load lots. Several load lots were seen this week and buyers all showed good demand for these offerings. Demand was mostly good to very good on moderate to heavy offerings. CME positions continued to improve providing support for feeders. The April closed Thursday (Friday was closed to trade due to Good Friday) at 372.90, 11.45 higher than last Friday. The May contract closed Thursday at 370.625, 10.80 higher than last Friday. The August contract closed Thursday at 369.50, 11.70 higher than last Fridays close. Demand for grass cattle was very good this week as buyers purchased steers up to 750 lbs and heifers up to 700 lbs to send to grass. Buyers were very aware of flesh as they showed heavy discounts for even moderately fleshed feeders. Market activity was mostly active with a large crowd of both order buyers and ranchers noticed all week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand remains the driving force in the market. Feeding cows sold 1.00-3.00 higher. Major packers showed good to very good demand for high quality cows this week. Cow quality was mixed this week from plain to attractive. A large crowd of feeding cow buyers were present at all sales. Young feeding cows saw increased demand again this week as feeding cow buyers purchased young to middle age cows in hopes they can get a few young cows to grade. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average. Several sets of cows have been out on green grass this week as they were very empty come sale time. Weigh conditions this week were very good and looked more like cows would in June rather than April. 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. Premium white cows sold fully steady on a heavy offering. Fed cow quality was mostly attractive this week. Breaking, boning and lean slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher 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 3.00-5.00 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 higher. 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
368 unweaned 368 2 625.00 $625.00 $2,300 —
392 392 5 630.00 $630.00 $2,470 —
420 unweaned 420 3 580.00 $580.00 $2,436 —
400–440 432 25 595.00–600.00 $595.93 $2,574 +20.93
454–498 468 69 550.00–580.00 $570.24 $2,669 +39.65
493 unweaned 493 11 545.00 $545.00 $2,687 —
504–530 518 190 520.00–555.00 $536.51 $2,779 +11.51
553–590 581 131 481.00–517.50 $498.52 $2,896 —
622 622 18 430.00 $430.00 $2,675 —
600–643 630 229 459.00–490.00 $474.47 $2,989 —
654–695 665 235 423.00–459.00 $442.81 $2,945 +36.40
704–742 727 120 401.50–424.00 $413.18 $3,004 —
757 thin fleshed 757 47 422.00 $422.00 $3,195 —
750–798 792 141 386.00–411.00 $388.60 $3,078 —
800–830 823 123 370.00–380.00 $375.46 $3,090 +14.46
850–882 871 40 337.50–372.50 $344.01 $2,996 —
913 913 2 340.00 $340.00 $3,104 —
965 965 2 328.00 $328.00 $3,165 —
965–976 974 6 327.00–327.50 $327.08 $3,186 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–382 380 17 550.00–615.00 $557.69 $2,119 —
415–425 422 5 555.00–575.00 $567.96 $2,397 +35.53
455–497 494 14 502.50–535.00 $532.86 $2,632 —
505–517 511 6 502.50–507.50 $504.97 $2,580 —
544 544 7 475.00 $475.00 $2,584 —
554–598 588 41 455.00–477.50 $465.90 $2,739 +27.36
610 thin fleshed 610 22 468.00 $468.00 $2,855 —
602–637 620 9 427.50–449.00 $440.54 $2,731 +17.23
670–693 685 14 405.50–417.50 $411.59 $2,819 +0.88
702 thin fleshed 702 84 423.00 $423.00 $2,969 —
711–749 738 24 381.00–404.00 $395.24 $2,917 —
750–783 773 4 368.00–375.00 $370.85 $2,867 +15.85
816–822 818 9 357.50–363.00 $359.62 $2,942 +9.62
901 901 4 325.00 $325.00 $2,928 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323 323 2 540.00 $540.00 $1,744 +5.00
363–369 366 15 500.00–525.00 $517.37 $1,894 -7.63
435 435 2 475.00 $475.00 $2,066 -20.00
455 455 4 470.00 $470.00 $2,138 ±0.00
605–643 630 3 380.00–405.00 $388.00 $2,444 —
795 795 2 335.00 $335.00 $2,663 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 7 525.00 $525.00 $2,441 —
524–543 530 10 475.00–515.00 $502.70 $2,664 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
662–680 667 4 419.00–424.00 $422.72 $2,820 —
862 862 3 322.50 $322.50 $2,780 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
376 unweaned 376 4 540.00 $540.00 $2,030 —
388–399 397 12 525.00–535.00 $533.37 $2,117 —
432–448 441 31 522.50–532.50 $526.91 $2,324 —
400–448 unweaned 443 20 515.00–540.00 $517.26 $2,291 —
452–491 468 64 490.00–528.00 $510.06 $2,387 —
500–545 517 280 475.00–496.00 $487.93 $2,523 —
531 531 8 417.50 $417.50 $2,217 —
576 576 12 426.00 $426.00 $2,454 +4.94
550–597 578 339 417.00–459.00 $436.33 $2,522 +15.27
602–604 thin fleshed 603 53 447.00–449.00 $448.24 $2,703 —
605–649 629 601 400.00–435.00 $419.81 $2,641 +18.53
636 636 8 384.00 $384.00 $2,442 -17.28
661 661 25 387.50 $387.50 $2,561 +3.08
655–670 thin fleshed 664 19 424.00–425.00 $424.36 $2,818 —
650–698 669 469 375.00–422.00 $410.91 $2,749 +26.49
680–695 684 128 386.00 $386.00 $2,640 +1.58
701–744 718 49 351.00–368.00 $362.90 $2,606 +6.27
701–748 730 189 362.50–390.00 $381.42 $2,784 +24.79
721–749 742 104 371.00–380.00 $372.18 $2,762 +15.55
750–798 762 299 343.00–380.00 $367.58 $2,801 +22.83
818 818 2 354.00 $354.00 $2,896 +32.76
833 833 74 363.00 $363.00 $3,024 +41.76
855–870 868 69 339.00–344.00 $343.21 $2,979 —
932 932 10 320.00 $320.00 $2,982 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
723 723 6 2,750.00 $2,750.00 —
750–798 772 466 2,875.00–3,160.00 $3,043.44 —
801–845 827 116 2,950.00–3,125.00 $3,054.85 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370–398 387 10 490.00–520.00 $508.52 $1,968 —
458–493 480 20 472.50–502.50 $482.64 $2,317 —
504–547 527 30 422.50–457.50 $434.97 $2,292 +21.76
545 unweaned 545 7 397.50 $397.50 $2,166 —
563–590 573 41 392.50–432.50 $422.64 $2,422 +16.67
605–646 630 29 385.00–412.00 $401.65 $2,530 +10.19
681–688 685 18 349.00–375.50 $358.20 $2,454 +18.24
710–748 724 10 345.00–356.00 $353.31 $2,558 +6.23
873 873 2 330.00 $330.00 $2,881 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
296 296 4 470.00 $470.00 $1,391 —
393 393 4 470.00 $470.00 $1,847 —
415 415 2 470.00 $470.00 $1,950 +44.42
485–496 489 18 422.50–432.50 $429.12 $2,098 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
624 624 6 409.00 $409.00 $2,552 —
685 685 3 399.00 $399.00 $2,733 —
778 778 16 371.00 $371.00 $2,886 —
Small 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
414 414 16 220.00 $220.00 $911 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300 300 4 495.00 $495.00 $1,485 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
657 657 3 349.00 $349.00 $2,293 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
477 477 11 540.00 $540.00 $2,576 —
487 thin fleshed 487 31 537.50 $537.50 $2,618 —
592 thin fleshed 592 31 450.00 $450.00 $2,664 —
623 623 5 410.00 $410.00 $2,554 —
640 unweaned 640 2 390.00 $390.00 $2,496 —
652 652 3 395.00 $395.00 $2,575 —
896 896 4 325.00 $325.00 $2,912 —
1025 1025 1 290.00 $290.00 $2,972 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
389 389 4 565.00 $565.00 $2,198 -10.00
543 543 2 465.00 $465.00 $2,525 +1.00
621 621 4 370.00 $370.00 $2,298 +7.52
663–678 666 9 350.00–377.50 $371.28 $2,473 —
702–743 727 9 350.00–372.50 $358.36 $2,605 —
993 993 2 287.50 $287.50 $2,855 -12.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1057–1070 1060 4 292.50–300.00 $294.39 $3,121 +9.39
1140 1140 1 270.00 $270.00 $3,078 +10.00
1260 1260 2 235.00 $235.00 $2,961 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 3 535.00 $535.00 $2,274 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1205–1563 1372 80-85% 48 140.00–170.50 $164.73 $2,260 -1.95
1230–1614 1389 80-85% 142 173.00–183.50 $179.45 $2,493 +4.84
1070–1570 1405 80-85% 45 184.00–189.00 $185.88 $2,612 +27.25
1400–1485 1443 80-85% 2 112.50–115.00 $113.71 $1,641 -48.70
1375–1615 1451 80-85% 6 145.00–166.50 $155.11 $2,251 —
1280–1770 1516 80-85% 6 162.00–181.00 $167.89 $2,545 —
1420–1615 1518 80-85% 2 135.00–144.00 $139.21 $2,113 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
810–995 893 85-90% 5 112.50–135.00 $126.02 $1,125 —
895 895 85-90% 1 105.00 $105.00 $940 —
890–970 918 85-90% 4 145.00–165.00 $156.19 $1,434 +23.69
900–1285 1112 85-90% 75 137.00–170.00 $158.96 $1,768 -13.29
1020–1275 1155 85-90% 13 115.00–140.00 $126.23 $1,458 -54.19
1085–1290 1159 85-90% 36 170.00–181.00 $173.67 $2,013 -6.75
1060–1295 1169 85-90% 10 152.00–160.00 $157.90 $1,846 -22.52
1170 1170 85-90% 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,901 -17.92
1090–1375 1221 85-90% 4 105.00–112.50 $106.80 $1,304 -55.70
1100–1343 1244 85-90% 12 179.00–184.00 $182.73 $2,273 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1501–1657 1571 65-75% 20 164.00–170.50 $167.08 $2,625 —
1842–1993 1881 65-75% 105 171.00–174.00 $173.65 $3,266 —
2025 2025 65-75% 1 164.00 $164.00 $3,321 —
2096 2096 65-75% 19 173.00 $173.00 $3,626 —
2205 2205 65-75% 1 141.00 $141.00 $3,109 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1338–1535 1417 75-80% 40 182.00–186.50 $184.52 $2,615 —
1530 1530 75-80% 1 145.00 $145.00 $2,218 —
1500–1625 1552 75-80% 13 172.00–183.00 $178.96 $2,777 +1.82
1535–1635 1585 75-80% 2 165.50–169.00 $167.19 $2,650 -9.95
1652–1653 1652 75-80% 5 176.50–177.00 $176.80 $2,921 +17.07
1515–1925 1693 75-80% 8 149.00–166.00 $158.50 $2,683 -1.23
1740–1800 1760 75-80% 4 163.00–176.00 $168.73 $2,970 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160 1160 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,914 —
1363 1363 2 220.00 $220.00 $2,999 —
1250–1910 1500 24 164.00–207.00 $195.80 $2,937 —
1290–1760 1528 16 199.00–215.50 $210.82 $3,221 —
1280–1910 1698 6 164.00–193.00 $183.78 $3,121 +14.84
1515–2385 1880 29 198.00–218.50 $210.32 $3,954 —
1980–2195 2071 14 210.00–224.00 $218.77 $4,531 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2348 2348 2 218.50 $218.50 $5,130 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
790 thin fleshed 790 (<2 yrs)Open 1 330.00 $330.00 $2,607
845–1305 1062 (<2 yrs)Open 119 240.00–342.50 $286.52 $3,043
955–1345 1141 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 97 207.50–337.50 $261.41 $2,983
1155–1337 1297 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 188.00–215.00 $200.02 $2,594
1370 1370 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 185.00 $185.00 $2,534
1505 1505 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 185.00 $185.00 $2,784
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
801–1140 902 (<2 yrs)Open 20 210.00–312.50 $284.65 $2,568
845–1317 1051 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 64 190.00–312.50 $254.27 $2,672
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
720 thin fleshed 720 (<2 yrs)Open 1 295.00 $295.00 $2,124
695–795 761 (<2 yrs)Open 7 320.00–342.50 $332.85 $2,533
820–840 830 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 325.00 $325.00 $2,698
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
753–895 828 (<2 yrs)Open 8 260.00–300.00 $283.24 $2,345
815–850 833 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 275.00–280.00 $277.55 $2,312
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
838–990 914 (<2 yrs)Open 4 245.00–285.00 $263.34 $2,407
925–980 943 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 210.00–240.00 $230.19 $2,171

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1150–1332 1287 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 3,300.00–3,350.00 $3,338.83
1422–1475 1435 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 3,800.00–3,950.00 $3,838.54
1525 1525 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,800.00 $3,800.00
1543 1543 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 3,250.00 $3,250.00
1705 1705 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 3,375.00 $3,375.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1415 1415 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,950.00 $2,950.00
1508 1508 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 3,200.00 $3,200.00
1565 1565 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 3,150.00 $3,150.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1063–1328 1128 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 21 3,900.00–4,050.00 $3,980.99
1332 1332 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 3,350.00 $3,350.00
1363 1363 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 3,400.00 $3,400.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
778 778 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 13 3,000.00 $3,000.00

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145 1145 85-90% 1 147.50 $147.50 $1,689 —

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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.