Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, Apr 6
● As filed108 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 108 priced lines covering 1,584 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 553 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 655 head. replacement cattle receipts at 628 head. Counted as USDA files them — 30 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon Apr 6, 2026
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 553Last week 6,119Year ago 638
Slaughter CattleReceipts 655Last week 762Year ago 916
Replacement CattleReceipts 628Last week 434Year ago 584

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.

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
750–10079900.00–1,000.00967.57
2500–550505490.00490.00
4650–700661390.00–402.50396.23
4900–950901311.00311.00
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
41100–11501,141270.00270.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
250–10085800.00–825.00813.24
3500–550522477.50477.50
1550–600565415.00415.00
6600–650628410.00–420.00411.67
6650–700685360.00–390.00371.59
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2500–550510500.00500.00
4550–600566450.00–470.00464.79
11600–650632402.50–432.50422.25
8900–950911327.50–333.00330.90
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6550–600562402.50402.50
8650–700693360.00–385.00381.86
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14400–450434625.00–630.00629.30
10450–500495535.00–550.00537.85
16550–600583492.00492.00
3600–650618450.00–460.00456.52
14700–750723410.00–414.00412.36
10800–850803357.00357.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
101050–11001,057325.00325.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
3800–850807340.00340.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
250–10085900.00–1,000.00947.06
9350–400395515.00–565.00533.47
2400–450413550.00550.00
30450–500486492.50–510.00499.22
39500–550534457.50–485.00465.14
25550–600581430.00–438.00436.38
11600–650613410.00–434.00426.13
46650–700675385.00–396.00394.07
4700–750710379.00379.00
15750–800786344.50344.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
150–10078600.00600.00
3300–350319510.00–560.00526.21
2450–500478475.00475.00
19500–550530435.00–460.00447.38
9550–600573428.00428.00
10600–650636385.00–397.50394.83
6650–700679355.00–375.00364.23
10700–750726360.00–369.00366.31
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4450–500476385.00–435.00409.61
3650–700672345.00345.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
31,303155.00–188.00175.70
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
11,970225.00225.00
101,483191.00–208.50202.56
421,592205.00–222.50215.37
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
261,904195.00–223.00215.13
31,570192.50–199.00196.45
22,568208.00208.00
122,042223.00–229.00226.31
Bulls — Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
52,108226.00–235.00229.94
81,726207.00–221.00210.91
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
7878110.00–135.00122.52
185085.0085.00
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
641,441183.00–193.00187.40
991,395171.00–183.00177.69
461,396152.00–172.00167.02
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
41,598168.00–171.00169.77
51,529156.00–166.00162.16
11,395129.00129.00
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
401,468179.50179.50
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
21,20585.00–112.5098.75
161,132107.50–142.50128.65
41,159140.00–158.00148.68
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
551,139135.00–171.00161.73
181,228181.00–188.00184.23
331,185170.00–179.00174.31
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
201,475183.00–187.50184.55
411,587170.00–182.00178.19
31,568165.00–170.00168.36
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
11,800180.50180.50
41,750161.00–165.00163.56
221,676168.00–177.00171.22
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1915105.00105.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open61,4373,900.003,900.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open51,6223,650.003,650.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open81,3284,500.004,500.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)Open111,5124,250.004,250.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)11,3553,400.003,400.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)81,4284,200.00–4,250.004,216.25
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)41,5484,250.004,250.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)21,4453,200.00–3,500.003,346.37
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)131,3684,000.00–4,450.004,221.59
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)61,4973,650.003,650.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)11,6504,000.004,000.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)61,3523,800.00–4,100.003,987.79
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)11,3803,500.003,500.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)11,3303,100.003,100.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)31,5873,250.003,250.00
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)51,6163,650.003,650.00
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1775222.50222.50
(<2 yrs)Open4835245.00–310.00268.98
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open1925280.00280.00
Young (2-4 yrs)Open21,043192.50–210.00200.56
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open651,239182.00–238.00210.91
(<2 yrs)Open1811,011226.00–361.00303.93
Young (2-4 yrs)Open1171,201190.00–332.50238.62
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open3912255.00–325.00290.50
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open50980231.00–327.50292.16
Young (2-4 yrs)Open481,090181.00–310.00234.36
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open21,110270.00270.00
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open1905237.50237.50
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open13832320.00–347.50332.16
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open2850265.00–285.00274.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open41,319186.00–189.00187.09
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)21,0054,000.004,000.00
Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.
Source: USDA AMS, as filed — nothing recomputed and nothing rounded. This summary aggregates the same sales the Montana barn reports cover, so it must never be added to a state total built from those barns.