Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, April 6, 2026

1,836 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 $394.07/cwt -11.35 vs last sale · ≈ $2,660/hd at 675 lb · 46 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $465.14/cwt -20.83 vs last sale · ≈ $2,484/hd at 534 lb · 39 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $499.22/cwt -10.84 vs last sale · ≈ $2,426/hd at 486 lb · 30 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,836 7,315 2,138
Feeder cattle 553 6,119 638
Slaughter cattle 655 762 916
Replacement cattle 628 434 584

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested this week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. No feeder specials were held this week and sale sizes were small. Quality this week was plain to average. Most cattle were offered in small packages or as singles. Buyers were forced to piece together loads as a result. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly good despite a light, plain offering. Fewer buyers were in the stands this week, but all showed good demand for offerings especially late in the week as buyers pushed to finish loads of cattle started at other sales across the state. Cattle suitable to run on grass sold with the best demand as order buyers and ranchers both chased limited offerings. CME positions continue to march higher this week as tight supplies keep feeders searching for feeders to fill pen and pasture space. The April closed Friday at 374.15, 1.25 higher than last Friday. The May contract closed Friday at 372.35, 1.725 higher than last Friday. The August contract closed Friday at 372.45, 2.95 higher than last Fridays close. Market activity was mostly active despite a smaller crowd. A mix of order buyers and ranchers were noticed this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand remains very good. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher with most of the uptick in prices seen for high quality and young feeding cows. 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 more and more of these offerings are being purchased by rebreed buyers. The demand for these young to middle age cows was very good this week as both feeding and rebreed buyers bid on this age of cows. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average. Slaughter cow demand remains strong as packers continue to show good demand for limited slaughter offerings. Premium white cows sold mostly 6.00 higher on a lower yielding offering, making cows higher both live and dressed. Fed cow quality was mostly average this week. Breaking, boning and lean slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 5.00-7.00 higher. Demand remains good as packer search for lean meat to blend down excess fat currently on the market. Feeding bull demand was mostly very good. Feeding bulls sold 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 to very good. Cows and heifers which lost calves are being marketed, but with very good weather conditions limited offerings are being seen. Demand for all offerings is very good with buyers for all quality levels. Young cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 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
425–435 434 14 625.00–630.00 $629.30 $2,731 +33.37
475–498 495 10 535.00–550.00 $537.85 $2,662 -32.39
583 583 16 492.00 $492.00 $2,868 -6.52
605–645 618 3 450.00–460.00 $456.52 $2,821 +26.52
715–728 723 14 410.00–414.00 $412.36 $2,981 -0.82
803 803 10 357.00 $357.00 $2,867 -18.46
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
510 510 2 500.00 $500.00 $2,550 -4.97
558–590 566 4 450.00–470.00 $464.79 $2,631 -1.11
600–643 632 11 402.50–432.50 $422.25 $2,669 -18.29
902–925 911 8 327.50–333.00 $330.90 $3,014 +5.90
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
562 562 6 402.50 $402.50 $2,262 —
692–695 693 8 360.00–385.00 $381.86 $2,646 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1057 1057 10 325.00 $325.00 $3,435 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
393–398 395 9 515.00–565.00 $533.47 $2,107 +0.10
413 413 2 550.00 $550.00 $2,272 +23.09
467–499 486 30 492.50–510.00 $499.22 $2,426 -10.84
510–542 534 39 457.50–485.00 $465.14 $2,484 +47.64
579–588 581 25 430.00–438.00 $436.38 $2,535 +0.05
600–623 613 11 410.00–434.00 $426.13 $2,612 +6.32
655–678 675 46 385.00–396.00 $394.07 $2,660 -16.84
710 710 4 379.00 $379.00 $2,691 +16.10
786 786 15 344.50 $344.50 $2,708 -23.08
807 807 3 340.00 $340.00 $2,744 -14.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–323 319 3 510.00–560.00 $526.21 $1,679 —
478 478 2 475.00 $475.00 $2,270 -7.64
523–539 530 19 435.00–460.00 $447.38 $2,371 +12.41
573 573 9 428.00 $428.00 $2,452 +5.36
610–647 636 10 385.00–397.50 $394.83 $2,511 -6.82
660–693 679 6 355.00–375.00 $364.23 $2,473 +6.03
700–740 726 10 360.00–369.00 $366.31 $2,659 +13.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
468–483 476 4 385.00–435.00 $409.61 $1,950 -19.51
672 672 3 345.00 $345.00 $2,318 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
80–90 85 2 900.00–1,000.00 $947.06 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
78 78 1 600.00 $600.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
522 522 3 477.50 $477.50 $2,493 +12.50
565 565 1 415.00 $415.00 $2,345 —
625–630 628 6 410.00–420.00 $411.67 $2,585 +41.67
670–688 685 6 360.00–390.00 $371.59 $2,545 +0.31
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
505 505 2 490.00 $490.00 $2,474 —
658–663 661 4 390.00–402.50 $396.23 $2,619 +1.23
901 901 4 311.00 $311.00 $2,802 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
75–90 79 7 900.00–1,000.00 $967.57 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1141 1141 4 270.00 $270.00 $3,081 ±0.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
80–90 85 2 800.00–825.00 $813.24 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235–1765 1395 80-85% 99 171.00–183.00 $177.69 $2,479 -1.76
1395 1395 80-85% 1 129.00 $129.00 $1,800 -50.45
1230–1740 1396 80-85% 46 152.00–172.00 $167.02 $2,332 -12.43
1260–1850 1441 80-85% 64 183.00–193.00 $187.40 $2,700 +73.69
1275–1705 1529 80-85% 5 156.00–166.00 $162.16 $2,479 +22.95
1455–1755 1598 80-85% 4 168.00–171.00 $169.77 $2,713 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
850 850 85-90% 1 85.00 $85.00 $722 —
740–980 878 85-90% 7 110.00–135.00 $122.52 $1,076 -3.50
1005–1255 1132 85-90% 16 107.50–142.50 $128.65 $1,456 -30.31
805–1305 1139 85-90% 55 135.00–171.00 $161.73 $1,842 +2.77
1145–1180 1159 85-90% 4 140.00–158.00 $148.68 $1,723 -24.99
995–1290 1185 85-90% 33 170.00–179.00 $174.31 $2,066 +11.81
1205 1205 85-90% 2 85.00–112.50 $98.75 $1,190 -8.05
1200–1285 1228 85-90% 18 181.00–188.00 $184.23 $2,262 +77.43
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1325–1720 1475 75-80% 20 183.00–187.50 $184.55 $2,722 —
1545–1585 1568 75-80% 3 165.00–170.00 $168.36 $2,640 -10.60
1435–1694 1587 75-80% 41 170.00–182.00 $178.19 $2,828 +11.00
1485–1840 1676 75-80% 22 168.00–177.00 $171.22 $2,870 +12.72
1610–1880 1750 75-80% 4 161.00–165.00 $163.56 $2,862 -5.17
1800 1800 75-80% 1 180.50 $180.50 $3,249 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1468 1468 65-75% 40 179.50 $179.50 $2,635 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1135–1445 1303 3 155.00–188.00 $175.70 $2,289 —
1335–1635 1483 10 191.00–208.50 $202.56 $3,004 —
1465–1625 1570 3 192.50–199.00 $196.45 $3,084 —
1115–1910 1592 42 205.00–222.50 $215.37 $3,429 —
1535–1955 1726 8 207.00–221.00 $210.91 $3,640 —
1560–2290 1904 26 195.00–223.00 $215.13 $4,096 —
1970 1970 1 225.00 $225.00 $4,432 —
1845–2355 2042 12 223.00–229.00 $226.31 $4,621 —
1795–2255 2108 5 226.00–235.00 $229.94 $4,847 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2568 2568 2 208.00 $208.00 $5,341 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
745–891 thin fleshed 832 (<2 yrs)Open 13 320.00–347.50 $332.16 $2,764
850–1340 1011 (<2 yrs)Open 181 226.00–361.00 $303.93 $3,073
875–1425 1201 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 117 190.00–332.50 $238.62 $2,866
1073–1580 1239 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 65 182.00–238.00 $210.91 $2,613
1220–1385 1319 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 186.00–189.00 $187.09 $2,468
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
765–935 thin fleshed 850 (<2 yrs)Open 2 265.00–285.00 $274.00 $2,329
825–1165 980 (<2 yrs)Open 50 231.00–327.50 $292.16 $2,863
860–1380 1090 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 48 181.00–310.00 $234.36 $2,555
1110 1110 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 2 270.00 $270.00 $2,997
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
775 775 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 222.50 $222.50 $1,724
710–938 835 (<2 yrs)Open 4 245.00–310.00 $268.98 $2,246
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
755–1095 912 (<2 yrs)Open 3 255.00–325.00 $290.50 $2,649
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
925 925 (<2 yrs)Open 1 280.00 $280.00 $2,590
960–1125 1043 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 192.50–210.00 $200.56 $2,092
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
905 905 (<2 yrs)Open 1 237.50 $237.50 $2,149

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1033–1720 1352 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 3,800.00–4,100.00 $3,987.79
1355 1355 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 3,400.00 $3,400.00
1208–1533 1368 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 13 4,000.00–4,450.00 $4,221.59
1237–1542 1428 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 8 4,200.00–4,250.00 $4,216.25
1410–1480 1445 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 3,200.00–3,500.00 $3,346.37
1497 1497 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 3,650.00 $3,650.00
1488–1608 1548 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 4,250.00 $4,250.00
1587 1587 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 3,250.00 $3,250.00
1616 1616 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 3,650.00 $3,650.00
1650 1650 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 1 4,000.00 $4,000.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1330 1330 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,100.00 $3,100.00
1380 1380 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 $
1005 1005 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 4,000.00 $4,000.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1328 1328 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 8 4,500.00 $4,500.00 —
1512 1512 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 11 4,250.00 $4,250.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1437 1437 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 6 3,900.00 $3,900.00 —
1622 1622 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 5 3,650.00 $3,650.00 —

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915 915 85-90% 1 105.00 $105.00 $961 —

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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.