Cattle Market Pulse

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Monday, August 3, 2026

6,247 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $316.30/cwt ≈ $2,875/hd at 909 lb · 57 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $328.00/cwt -0.43 vs last sale · ≈ $2,854/hd at 870 lb · 25 head
light 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $334.30/cwt ≈ $2,805/hd at 839 lb · 13 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 6,247 509 3,792
Feeder cattle 292 158 394
Slaughter cattle 535 250 452
Replacement cattle 155 101 96

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mixed from plain to average. Cattle were offered in small groups with many singles noticed as well. Demand was mostly moderate to good. Too few cattle were seen this week for buyers to build loads. CME feeder cattle positions were mixed this week before ending the week slightly higher. Market activity was mostly moderate to active with a small buyer pool was noticed. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand remains very good. A large pool of buyers were in the market this week. Canadian buyers were back in the market this week. Feeding cows sold generally steady to 3.00 lower in a very narrow comparison. Cow quality was not as attractive this week. Slaughter cows sold generally steady on all classes as packer buyers were forced to compete with each other over offerings. Many blemished cows were seen this week and these were purchased mostly for immediate harvest. Lean cows sold with the best demand this week and the lightest offerings as packers search for lean grinding materials. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 lower. Feeding bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Buyers purchased mostly thin fleshed bulls which had been out breeding and could benefit from 30-45 days of feed. Demand for feeding bulls was mostly good this week as a result. Feeding bull quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Demand for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed was mostly moderate. Young age cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend.

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
235 unweaned 235 1 640.00 $640.00 $1,504 —
373 unweaned 373 4 525.00 $525.00 $1,958 +1.59
430–445 unweaned 438 10 460.00–485.00 $474.32 $2,078 —
458–488 unweaned 477 11 440.00–450.00 $444.89 $2,122 —
568 568 8 420.00 $420.00 $2,386 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
254 unweaned 254 4 540.00 $540.00 $1,372 —
310 unweaned 310 3 505.00 $505.00 $1,566 —
375 unweaned 375 3 465.00 $465.00 $1,744 —
454 unweaned 454 8 420.00 $420.00 $1,907 —
700–730 715 2 360.00–367.50 $363.83 $2,601 -6.17
760–787 780 4 344.00–355.00 $346.68 $2,704 -3.32
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
839 839 7 321.00 $321.00 $2,693 —
Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1083 1083 2 272.00 $272.00 $2,946 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
269–299 unweaned 284 8 471.00–495.00 $482.37 $1,370 —
367 unweaned 367 3 490.00 $490.00 $1,798 +45.00
419 unweaned 419 7 418.00 $418.00 $1,751 —
460 unweaned 460 1 375.00 $375.00 $1,725 —
530 unweaned 530 2 362.50 $362.50 $1,921 —
829–844 839 13 334.00–335.00 $334.30 $2,805 —
870 870 25 328.00 $328.00 $2,854 -0.43
905–940 909 57 313.00–319.00 $316.30 $2,875 —
951 951 7 316.00 $316.00 $3,005 +26.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
382 unweaned 382 3 417.50 $417.50 $1,595 —
445 unweaned 445 2 390.00 $390.00 $1,736 —
507 unweaned 507 3 362.00 $362.00 $1,835 —
634 unweaned 634 4 350.00 $350.00 $2,219 —
844 844 10 316.00 $316.00 $2,667 —
905 905 1 309.00 $309.00 $2,796 -3.01
980 980 2 282.00 $282.00 $2,764 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
530 530 4 365.00 $365.00 $1,934 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1052 1052 3 280.00 $280.00 $2,946 +2.00

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Feeder Bulls

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1080 1080 2 260.00 $260.00 $2,808 —
1140 1140 1 265.00 $265.00 $3,021 +7.50
1175 1175 7 250.00 $250.00 $2,938 -10.00
1220 1220 1 252.50 $252.50 $3,080 —
1290 1290 1 237.00 $237.00 $3,057 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145 1145 1 247.50 $247.50 $2,834 —
1185 1185 1 235.00 $235.00 $2,785 —
1265 1265 1 223.00 $223.00 $2,821 —
1320–1340 1330 2 215.00–218.00 $216.49 $2,879 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840 840 1 335.00 $335.00 $2,814 —
905 905 1 322.50 $322.50 $2,919 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
498 unweaned 498 2 380.00 $380.00 $1,892 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230–1470 1368 80-85% 12 170.00–177.00 $174.24 $2,384 +16.80
1200–1525 1388 80-85% 39 149.00–169.00 $161.41 $2,240 +3.97
1333–1480 1394 80-85% 11 126.00–151.00 $143.46 $2,000 -13.98
1240–1490 1399 80-85% 37 150.00–166.00 $160.78 $2,249 +3.34
1260–1580 1412 80-85% 55 167.00–178.00 $172.94 $2,442 -11.92
1470 1470 80-85% 1 117.50 $117.50 $1,727 -51.19
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1374–1870 1479 75-80% 12 155.00–162.50 $160.34 $2,371 —
1525 1525 75-80% 1 145.00 $145.00 $2,211 -28.85
1495–1785 1577 75-80% 69 169.00–178.00 $176.42 $2,782 +13.50
1500–1905 1608 75-80% 17 163.00–175.50 $171.28 $2,754 -7.72
1565–1685 1610 75-80% 3 177.00–181.00 $178.30 $2,871 -0.70
1440–1920 1681 75-80% 9 149.00–164.00 $157.13 $2,641 —
2225 2225 75-80% 1 165.50 $165.50 $3,682 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840 840 85-90% 1 167.50 $167.50 $1,407 —
930 930 85-90% 1 135.00 $135.00 $1,256 —
1105–1145 1125 85-90% 3 165.00 $165.00 $1,856 +27.39
1020–1255 1143 85-90% 7 105.00–127.50 $118.26 $1,352 -19.35
1105–1295 1162 85-90% 19 122.50–148.00 $139.33 $1,619 -12.37
1080–1285 1188 85-90% 22 142.00–167.50 $161.71 $1,921 +10.01
1035–1288 1224 85-90% 17 149.00–161.00 $152.94 $1,872 -6.15

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1390 1390 1 197.50 $197.50 $2,745 —
1305–1490 1428 3 177.00–185.00 $182.22 $2,602 —
1250–2110 1714 19 187.50–201.00 $196.83 $3,374 —
1735 1735 1 206.50 $206.50 $3,583 —
1250–2395 1777 15 202.00–217.00 $207.23 $3,682 —
1360–2305 1803 24 180.00–199.00 $192.14 $3,464 —
918–2350 1855 14 214.00–228.00 $217.53 $4,035 —
1510–2300 1916 44 199.50–215.00 $206.59 $3,958 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2135–2345 2240 2 205.00–210.00 $207.38 $4,645 —
2310 2310 1 198.00 $198.00 $4,574 —
2670 2670 1 205.00 $205.00 $5,474 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
912–1120 1001 (<2 yrs)Open 22 257.50–305.00 $283.61 $2,839
1103–1435 1230 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 48 192.00–237.50 $226.71 $2,789
1360 1360 (<2 yrs)Open 1 202.00 $202.00 $2,747
1410 1410 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 17 205.00 $205.00 $2,890
1335–1468 1433 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 15 183.00–188.00 $184.24 $2,640
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
965–1100 1033 (<2 yrs)Open 2 190.00–250.00 $218.04 $2,252
980–1375 1214 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 7 182.00–247.50 $198.73 $2,413
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1405 1405 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 185.00 $185.00 $2,599
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
885 885 (<2 yrs)Open 1 250.00 $250.00 $2,212

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1240 1240 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,150.00 $3,150.00
1310 1310 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 3,000.00 $3,000.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1020 1020 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 2,500.00 $2,500.00
1065–1155 1110 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 2,750.00 $2,750.00

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Bucks

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
201 201 4 152.50 $152.50 $307 —
230–245 238 5 98.00–115.00 $106.18 $253 —
330 330 1 95.00 $95.00 $314 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
230 230 Lambs (<1 yr)N/A 1 112.00 $112.00 $258 —

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Bucks Billies

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
80 80 1 155.00 $155.00 $124 —
97 97 3 205.00 $205.00 $199 —
100 100 1 170.00 $170.00 $170 —
110 110 1 220.00 $220.00 $242 —
100–135 115 5 215.00–260.00 $234.65 $270 —
115 115 1 185.00 $185.00 $213 —
120–130 124 4 190.00–195.00 $192.48 $239 —
150–170 154 5 200.00–215.00 $204.77 $315 —
160 160 1 170.00 $170.00 $272 —

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1278 1278 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 4,250.00 $4,250.00 —
1678 1678 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 2 3,725.00 $3,725.00 —
1733 1733 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 4,400.00 $4,400.00 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1680 1680 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 4,400.00 $4,400.00 —

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Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
90 90 1 122.00 $122.00 $110 —
120–149 137 47 118.00–128.00 $125.87 $172 —
141 141 11 130.00 $130.00 $183 —
153–155 154 4 136.00–137.00 $136.50 $210 —
150–179 158 114 115.00–128.00 $124.90 $197 —
169 169 14 137.00 $137.00 $232 —
170 170 2 135.00 $135.00 $230 —
175–183 180 3 102.50–113.00 $109.60 $197 —
171–194 184 88 115.00–126.00 $119.98 $221 —
200–242 213 52 106.00–120.00 $115.59 $246 —
247 247 3 105.00 $105.00 $259 —

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Hair Bucks

Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
160 160 Lambs (<1 yr)N/A 1 185.00 $185.00 $296 —

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Hair Ewes

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
93 93 11 113.00 $113.00 $105 —
95 95 32 160.00 $160.00 $152 —
110 110 47 162.50 $162.50 $179 —
103–114 112 14 128.00–137.00 $135.82 $152 —
156 156 16 129.00 $129.00 $201 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
110 110 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 152.50 $152.50 $168 —

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Hair Lambs

Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
49 49 11 330.00 $330.00 $162 —
57 57 6 305.00 $305.00 $174 —
61 61 59 321.00 $321.00 $196 —
77–79 77 71 285.00–290.00 $286.90 $221 —
83–86 84 62 285.00–287.50 $286.63 $241 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
38 38 20 285.00 $285.00 $108 —
42 42 13 280.00 $280.00 $118 —
53–58 57 52 232.50–250.00 $247.51 $141 —
64 64 23 270.00–280.00 $277.39 $178 —
76 76 6 265.00 $265.00 $201 —
90 90 2 230.00 $230.00 $207 —

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Kids

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
28 28 13 215.00 $215.00 $60 —
31–34 31 31 315.00–345.00 $339.77 $105 —
30–38 36 6 175.00–205.00 $189.02 $68 —
38 38 7 250.00–295.00 $276.43 $105 —
40–48 45 45 242.50–285.00 $251.21 $113 —
46 46 4 170.00 $170.00 $78 —
40–49 47 31 290.00–320.00 $309.24 $145 —
47 47 21 225.00 $225.00 $106 —
47 47 5 155.00 $155.00 $73 —
50–53 52 4 257.50–275.00 $266.50 $139 —
50–53 52 3 210.00 $210.00 $109 —
53 53 10 290.00–325.00 $314.50 $167 —
55 55 2 225.00 $225.00 $124 —
55–59 57 42 280.00–290.00 $284.26 $162 —
60 60 10 295.00–305.00 $296.00 $178 —
60–67 63 61 240.00–262.50 $259.47 $163 —
63 63 2 215.00 $215.00 $135 —
65–68 66 52 265.00–275.00 $266.90 $176 —
70–75 71 103 262.50–275.00 $274.33 $195 —
70–78 75 22 232.50–265.00 $244.12 $183 —
75 75 1 290.00 $290.00 $218 —
77 77 8 257.50 $257.50 $198 —
78 78 3 210.00 $210.00 $164 —
80 80 5 195.00 $195.00 $156 —
80–85 83 6 220.00–240.00 $233.33 $194 —
80–87 85 47 249.00–280.00 $259.90 $221 —
90 90 2 235.00 $235.00 $212 —
95 95 47 236.00 $236.00 $224 —
100–105 102 3 225.00–230.00 $228.28 $233 —
105 105 1 230.00 $230.00 $242 —

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Lambs

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
49 49 30 352.00 $352.00 $172 —
50–56 55 105 347.00–358.00 $355.13 $195 —
60–69 66 328 344.00–355.00 $349.87 $231 —
70–79 74 698 336.00–348.00 $343.28 $254 —
81–89 85 387 329.00–344.00 $334.69 $284 —
93 93 16 287.50 $287.50 $267 —
90–98 94 430 311.00–329.00 $324.77 $305 —
90–97 95 7 280.00–285.00 $283.65 $269 —
100–109 105 316 299.00–315.00 $307.04 $322 —
110–115 113 124 291.00–300.00 $293.85 $332 —
119 119 13 240.00 $240.00 $286 —
125 125 2 280.00 $280.00 $350 —
135 135 4 230.00 $230.00 $310 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
47 47 7 340.00 $340.00 $160 —
51–59 55 25 302.00–315.00 $308.71 $170 —
50–58 57 43 330.00–346.00 $334.18 $190 —
65–69 67 53 320.00–342.00 $338.11 $227 —
71–78 73 93 326.00–338.00 $335.88 $245 —
84–88 86 40 300.00–321.00 $308.80 $266 —
91–96 93 29 267.50–304.00 $276.80 $257 —
107 107 9 265.00 $265.00 $284 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
116 116 4 270.00 $270.00 $313 —
121–124 123 23 263.00–275.00 $267.63 $329 —

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Nannies Does

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
57 57 —— 13 98.00 $98.00 $56 —
65 65 —— 9 140.00–145.00 $144.44 $94 —
70 70 —— 3 150.00 $150.00 $105 —
75 75 —— 1 190.00 $190.00 $142 —
80 80 —— 4 140.00–165.00 $152.50 $122 —
85 85 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 205.00 $205.00 $174 —
87 87 —— 3 105.00 $105.00 $91 —
93–96 95 —— 8 120.00–140.00 $129.24 $123 —
100–118 111 —— 59 105.00–175.00 $150.38 $167 —
100–132 118 —— 18 130.00–195.00 $159.73 $188 —
130 130 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 165.00 $165.00 $214 —
140 140 —— 1 85.00 $85.00 $119 —
180 180 —— 2 130.00 $130.00 $234 —

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Wethers

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
68 68 6 175.00 $175.00 $119 —
80–85 84 4 240.00–245.00 $241.19 $203 —
98 98 2 240.00 $240.00 $235 —
104–130 114 8 175.00–242.50 $209.80 $239 —
115–135 128 3 190.00–195.00 $193.51 $248 —
178–195 180 7 175.00–180.00 $179.23 $323 —
208–210 209 3 165.00–177.50 $169.19 $354 —

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Wooled & Shorn

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
114 114 5 260.00 $260.00 $296 —
130–135 130 21 254.00–259.00 $258.75 $336 —
142–145 143 28 265.00–270.00 $266.44 $381 —

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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.