Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, May 11, 2026

4,048 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 $359.98/cwt -5.57 vs last sale · ≈ $2,657/hd at 738 lb · 154 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $429.69/cwt -20.15 vs last sale · ≈ $2,501/hd at 582 lb · 136 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 steers $381.51/cwt ≈ $3,129/hd at 820 lb · 122 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,048 3,529 4,296
Feeder cattle 1,938 925 2,147
Slaughter cattle 961 1,065 1,257
Replacement cattle 1,149 1,539 892

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Demand overall for feeder cattle was good. Package sizes this week were mixed from small to moderate with a limited offering of load lots seen. Demand for cattle suitable to go to grass was moderate to good as some ranchers continue to look for offerings to run on grass this summer. Demand for grass cattle has softened some as drought conditions continue to worsen across parts of the state. CME positions moved sharply higher and lower throughout the week but finished unevenly steady. The May contract closed Friday at 368.675, 1.30 higher than last Friday. The August contract closed Friday at 361.45, 2.775 lower than last Fridays close. The September contract closed Friday at 359.175, 3.00 lower than last Fridays close. Market activity was mostly moderate to active with a larger buyer pool 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 1.00-3.00 higher on breaking flesh cows. Boning and lean fleshed cows sold generally steady. Good to very good demand continues to be seen from Canadian buyers as they purchased a large portion of the feeding cow offering this week. Private feeders continue to show good demand for cows to feed again this week. American packers were more active this week as they showed strong demand for fleshy cows both to feed, and for immediate harvest. 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 were met with good demand this week. Young cows were in high demand both from replacement buyers and from feeding buyers. Slaughter cow demand increased slightly this week but most cows remain too higher above packer's breakeven to slaughter. Breaking, boning and lean slaughter cows all sold 4.00-6.00 higher on all offerings. The largest increase in demand was seen for fleshy breaking cows this week. Slaughter bulls sold 3.00-5.00 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 mostly steady on a poorer quality offering. Demand for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed was mostly good, but not as strong as last week. Cows and heifers which lost calves sold on very good demand. Demand softened slightly for lower quality and feeding quality cattle this week. Young cows sold 10.00-15.00 lower on a poorer quality offering. Quality was mostly plain to average with a limited offering of attractive quality cattle seen. Demand for pairs has softened as all ranchers show concern over drought.

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
460–474 467 36 561.00–587.50 $572.95 $2,676 -4.55
555–575 565 13 477.00–500.00 $487.56 $2,755 +13.56
607–620 612 27 440.00–460.00 $451.06 $2,760 —
654–698 668 91 420.50–436.00 $431.02 $2,879 -4.73
716 716 13 407.00 $407.00 $2,914 -3.00
752–783 774 24 381.00–390.00 $383.32 $2,967 -3.67
806 806 7 357.00 $357.00 $2,877 —
821 821 115 383.00 $383.00 $3,144 —
889 889 63 351.00 $351.00 $3,120 —
951 951 6 332.00 $332.00 $3,157 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353–393 367 14 580.00–640.00 $616.60 $2,263 +15.38
422–443 439 56 550.00–602.50 $584.96 $2,568 —
452–475 469 18 485.00–552.50 $534.47 $2,507 —
507–538 520 21 475.00–529.00 $503.76 $2,620 +4.15
585 585 2 465.00 $465.00 $2,720 +10.00
745–748 747 4 385.00–388.00 $386.50 $2,887 -6.86
815 815 1 357.50 $357.50 $2,914 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
537 537 7 400.00 $400.00 $2,148 -49.87
604–645 615 11 365.00–401.00 $377.23 $2,320 -26.03
700 700 2 322.50 $322.50 $2,258 -55.57
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
498 498 3 480.00 $480.00 $2,390 —
509 509 7 527.50 $527.50 $2,685 +32.50
718 718 4 381.00 $381.00 $2,736 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1187 1187 8 271.00 $271.00 $3,217 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
719 719 8 340.00 $340.00 $2,445 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
475 475 4 350.00 $350.00 $1,662 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
427 427 22 547.50 $547.50 $2,338 —
496 496 4 482.50 $482.50 $2,393 -23.58
508–546 522 38 445.00–480.00 $467.86 $2,442 -5.15
550–593 582 136 424.00–448.00 $429.69 $2,501 -20.15
600–637 623 48 397.50–410.00 $407.01 $2,536 -7.37
653–688 670 116 370.00–409.50 $391.25 $2,621 -12.60
720–747 738 154 355.00–370.00 $359.98 $2,657 -15.47
752–792 764 27 343.00–362.00 $356.10 $2,721 -1.08
807–848 828 15 334.00–342.50 $339.83 $2,814 -1.67
860 860 42 335.00 $335.00 $2,881 +18.00
897 897 3 315.00 $315.00 $2,826 -2.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
373 373 6 510.00 $510.00 $1,902 -15.00
446 446 14 515.00 $515.00 $2,297 +5.96
460–492 475 28 445.00–480.00 $456.37 $2,168 —
505–530 527 28 425.00–455.00 $431.51 $2,274 -8.93
553–570 559 4 410.00–425.00 $416.95 $2,331 -0.55
607–620 614 6 360.00–395.00 $377.31 $2,317 -3.34
653–683 658 18 360.00–370.00 $361.73 $2,380 -2.02
712–745 722 7 351.00–360.00 $355.01 $2,563 +5.37
755–795 772 24 332.00–349.00 $341.36 $2,635 -8.64
802 802 2 337.00 $337.00 $2,703 —
851–878 858 8 320.00 $320.00 $2,746 —
915 915 5 305.00 $305.00 $2,791 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
379 379 14 470.00 $470.00 $1,781 —
445–449 448 6 435.00–475.00 $441.62 $1,978 —
505 505 2 400.00 $400.00 $2,020 -12.38
532 532 20 405.00 $405.00 $2,155 -7.38
577 577 3 365.00 $365.00 $2,106 —
604–643 612 26 340.00–365.00 $353.65 $2,164 +6.15
660–685 681 23 333.00–340.00 $339.41 $2,311 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
796 796 64 3,050.00 $3,050.00 —
807 807 21 2,800.00 $2,800.00 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
718 718 6 305.00 $305.00 $2,190 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
438 438 2 305.00 $305.00 $1,336 —
560 560 4 340.00 $340.00 $1,904 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
758 758 3 347.50 $347.50 $2,634 —

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Feeder Bulls

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
694 694 5 351.00 $351.00 $2,436 —
1073–1085 1076 4 250.00–282.50 $258.19 $2,778 -28.50
1168 1168 6 232.50 $232.50 $2,716 —
1233–1240 1238 9 236.00 $236.00 $2,922 +6.00
1250 1250 1 232.50 $232.50 $2,906 —
1308 1308 3 221.00 $221.00 $2,891 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
509 509 4 445.00 $445.00 $2,265 —
783 783 4 342.50 $342.50 $2,682 -5.00
817 817 5 322.50 $322.50 $2,635 -8.14
858 858 2 335.00 $335.00 $2,874 —
910–913 912 3 282.50–305.00 $297.52 $2,713 —
951 951 4 312.50 $312.50 $2,972 —
1023 1023 2 245.00 $245.00 $2,506 -17.50
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
670 670 —— 2 400.00 $400.00 $2,680 —
950–958 955 —— 3 310.00–320.00 $313.31 $2,992 —
1001–1025 1008 —— 7 297.50–305.00 $302.47 $3,049 —
1147–1185 1157 (<2 yrs)N/A 4 300.00–340.00 $329.75 $3,815 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
525 525 4 405.00 $405.00 $2,126 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1100 1100 1 230.00 $230.00 $2,530 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1380 1380 80-85% 1 130.00 $130.00 $1,794 -36.83
1227–1645 1397 80-85% 149 174.00–188.00 $183.97 $2,570 +17.14
1230–1610 1398 80-85% 41 154.00–175.00 $168.94 $2,362 +2.11
1200–1605 1402 80-85% 132 186.00–194.00 $189.47 $2,656 +7.11
1330–1730 1466 80-85% 13 158.00–171.50 $165.55 $2,427 —
1353–1715 1546 80-85% 11 170.00–186.00 $173.86 $2,688 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
720–975 849 85-90% 9 120.00–147.50 $133.90 $1,137 —
910–945 928 85-90% 2 145.00–152.50 $148.82 $1,381 —
933–1225 1021 85-90% 8 102.50–127.50 $118.22 $1,207 —
835–1385 1129 85-90% 36 152.50–175.00 $165.72 $1,871 -16.51
1030–1270 1177 85-90% 11 120.00–152.50 $137.69 $1,621 -15.65
950–1295 1185 85-90% 49 170.00–185.00 $178.38 $2,114 +25.04
1120–1280 1197 85-90% 5 152.00–166.00 $158.10 $1,892 +4.76
1050–1270 1210 85-90% 46 185.00–197.00 $190.75 $2,308 +19.96
1180–1240 1210 85-90% 2 170.00–175.00 $172.44 $2,087 +1.65
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1430–1693 1592 75-80% 34 184.00–191.00 $187.40 $2,983 +19.61
1308–1698 1601 75-80% 52 177.00–187.00 $182.82 $2,927 -5.91
1596–1735 1640 75-80% 10 168.00–188.00 $173.65 $2,848 -4.22
1620–1845 1706 75-80% 7 171.00–180.00 $175.87 $3,000 +15.77
1760 1760 75-80% 1 159.00 $159.00 $2,798 —
1795 1795 75-80% 2 183.00 $183.00 $3,285 —
2020 2020 75-80% 1 175.00 $175.00 $3,535 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1065–1380 1240 4 170.00–198.00 $187.05 $2,319 —
1100–2085 1433 14 175.00–216.00 $200.78 $2,877 —
1222–2020 1556 33 200.00–227.00 $214.82 $3,343 —
1513–1790 1654 7 180.00–206.00 $187.49 $3,101 -15.98
1515–2390 1915 31 201.00–225.00 $219.43 $4,202 —
1760–2420 2092 28 223.00–246.00 $232.43 $4,862 +6.68
2630 2630 1 220.00 $220.00 $5,786 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2320 2320 1 218.00 $218.00 $5,058 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
723–1340 1052 (<2 yrs)Open 157 221.00–355.00 $287.77 $3,027
860–1550 1158 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 142 188.00–347.50 $247.23 $2,863
1105–1303 1235 (<2 yrs)Open 8 212.50–242.50 $226.14 $2,793
1165–1500 1328 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 32 183.00–230.00 $196.29 $2,607
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
872–1210 1024 (<2 yrs)Open 24 202.50–312.50 $267.00 $2,734
930–1240 1064 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 40 180.00–285.00 $231.63 $2,465
1160–1323 1269 (<2 yrs)Open 3 222.50–237.50 $232.93 $2,956
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
915 915 (<2 yrs)Open 1 252.50 $252.50 $2,310
980 980 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 235.00 $235.00 $2,303
1011 1011 (<2 yrs)Open 27 250.00 $250.00 $2,528
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
730–865 843 (<2 yrs)Open 10 297.50–332.50 $306.34 $2,582
830–940 891 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 277.50–305.00 $287.76 $2,564
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
775–895 851 (<2 yrs)Open 5 240.00–290.00 $274.63 $2,337
830–885 860 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 250.00–265.00 $260.17 $2,237
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1035 1035 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 230.00 $230.00 $2,380
1075–1325 1158 (<2 yrs)Open 3 194.00–232.50 $217.82 $2,522
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
948 948 (<2 yrs)Open 2 260.00 $260.00
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
815 815 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 160.00 $160.00 $1,304

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1055–1500 1311 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 31 3,700.00–4,100.00 $3,894.41
1315 1315 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 3,800.00 $3,800.00
1307–1395 1322 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 6 3,500.00–3,550.00 $3,541.20
1220–1635 1380 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 3,400.00–3,900.00 $3,576.79
1438–1523 1462 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 3,500.00–3,600.00 $3,570.24
1495 1495 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 3,000.00 $3,000.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1263 1263 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 2,800.00 $2,800.00
1288 thin fleshed 1288 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 2,600.00 $2,600.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1075–1230 1207 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 3,450.00–3,925.00 $3,761.21
1205–1228 1217 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 3,500.00 $3,500.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1265 1265 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 9 4,850.00 $4,850.00 —
1423–1621 1501 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 70 3,950.00–4,250.00 $4,101.88 —
1418–1652 1507 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 81 3,610.00–3,950.00 $3,706.88 —
1648 1648 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 8 4,700.00 $4,700.00 +150.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1368–1375 1372 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 6 3,200.00–3,300.00 $3,250.13 -349.87

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Dairy Cows

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145–1190 1168 85-90% 2 85.00–117.00 $100.69 $1,176 —
1230 1230 85-90% 1 147.50 $147.50 $1,814 —
1945 1945 75-80% 1 170.00 $170.00 $3,306 —

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Heifer Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1217–1233 1229 (<2 yrs)Open 21 4,550.00–4,985.00 $4,882.46 —
1154–1405 1247 (<2 yrs)Open 56 4,700.00–4,900.00 $4,778.74 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1276–1303 1286 (<2 yrs)Open 8 4,300.00–4,625.00 $4,501.53 —

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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.