Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, May 4
● As filed154 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 154 priced lines covering 2,755 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 925 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 1,065 head. replacement cattle receipts at 1,539 head. Counted as USDA files them — 269 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon May 4, 2026
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 925Last week 2,529Year ago 887
Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,065Last week 751Year ago 958
Replacement CattleReceipts 1,539Last week 1,400Year ago 1,292

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested this week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones

were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Demand overall for feeder cattle was moderate. Light offerings and lower quality

limited demand this week. Fewer buyers were in the stands as light offerings and poorer quality kept most buyers out of the market. Most

cattle were offered in small packages or as singles. CME positions moved sharply higher and lower throughout the week but finished lower

overall. The May contract closed Friday at 367.375, 4.025 lower than last Friday. The August contract closed Friday at 364.225, 7.95 lower

than last Fridays close. The September contract closed Friday at 362.175. Market activity was mostly moderate with a small pool of buyers

noticed. 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 on all cows suitable to feed. Major American packers showed light demand for cows as they tried to buy

cows lower. However, strong demand from Canadian buyers and order buyers buying for private feeders helped keep cow prices fully steady.

A large portion of the cow offerings were purchased to ship north to Canada again 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 were met with very good demand again this

week. Young cows were in high demand both from replacement buyers and from feeding buyers. Slaughter cow demand weakened slightly as

southern packers showed slightly lighter demand for slaughter cows. Breaking, boning and lean slaughter cows were too lightly tested to

develop an accurate market trend, however weak undertones were noticed on all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. 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 3.00-5.00 higher on very good demand. Feeding bull buyers showed good to very good demand for bulls as they bid against

each other. Demand for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed was mostly good to very good. Cows and heifers which lost calves sold on

very good demand. Demand remains good for all quality levels. Demand for young heifers which never calved remains very good as well as

several buyers were looking for young offerings which still have the ability to grade choice. Young cows sold 10.00-12.00 higher. Quality was

mixed from plain to attractive. Several long strings of young offerings sold this week. Most were sold by year brand and buyers were willing to

take up to 7 year old cows to try and rebreed. A few pairs are starting to be marketed as dry conditions persist across the state. Demand for

pairs has softened slightly as ranchers are all in the same boat as they worry about drought conditions and increasing hay prices.

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1100–150100950.00950.00
34450–500467505.00–512.50506.08
24500–550534460.00–480.00473.01
16550–600564422.50–455.00449.84
5600–650625411.00–420.00414.38
30650–700676386.00–407.50403.85
43700–750712362.00–384.00375.45
22750–800757354.00–359.00357.18
12800–850837341.50341.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
5650–700694365.00365.00
15700–750704335.00–341.50337.16
8850–900891317.00317.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1350–400365525.00525.00
10400–450441505.00–513.00509.04
9500–550523439.00–441.00440.44
12550–600585417.50417.50
4600–650625375.00–382.50380.65
9650–700682340.00–381.00363.75
9700–750732341.00–358.00349.64
3750–800783350.00350.00
Heifers — Small and Medium 2$ per head · actual wt
7350–4003722,000.002,000.00
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3600–650635377.50377.50
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4500–550533405.00–430.00412.38
1600–650630347.50347.50
5800–850847312.00312.00
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1550–600565385.00385.00
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11400–450431502.50502.50
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
4350–400376540.00540.00
11450–500486447.50447.50
7550–600577420.00420.00
4650–700658377.50377.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
3550–600587474.00474.00
15700–750722383.00383.00
6900–950913341.00341.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5500–550537447.50–460.00449.87
4550–600585432.00432.00
9600–650629400.00–415.00403.26
5700–750717367.50–385.00378.07
2750–800763360.00360.00
Steers — Small and Medium 2$ per head · actual wt
10400–4504092,000.002,000.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
250–10073750.00750.00
4350–400379600.00–605.00601.22
31500–550522490.00–516.00499.61
5550–600579455.00455.00
5600–650619440.00440.00
7650–700662372.50–427.00400.09
3700–750712392.50–395.00393.36
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4400–450406610.00610.00
5450–500468577.50577.50
8650–700654435.00–437.00435.75
3700–750713410.00410.00
3750–800762385.00–391.00386.99
10900–950909351.00351.00
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2500–550508495.00495.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2250–300290600.00600.00
3400–450422560.00–570.00566.56
Steers — Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
111100–11501,127278.00278.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
3850–900885330.00330.00
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3500–550523450.00450.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7400–450419585.00585.00
22500–550508532.50532.50
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
32550–600554507.50507.50
51600–650613475.00475.00
28650–700681445.00445.00
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
71000–10501,017301.00–306.00304.54
81050–11001,074275.00–295.00286.69
21200–12501,240230.00230.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9550–600561415.00–450.00445.94
4650–700668392.50392.50
6700–750715355.00–370.00361.70
2750–800785347.50347.50
6800–850827300.00–347.00330.64
41000–10501,024262.50262.50
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
750–10088925.00925.00
4550–600588457.50457.50
14900–950922327.00327.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6700–750734347.00347.00
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
31050–11001,090275.00–280.00276.65

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open601,210190.00–262.00201.91
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open91,171196.00–205.00202.89
Young (2-4 yrs)Open2331,126191.00–335.00263.64
(<2 yrs)Open2781,023220.00–373.00311.84
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open3842225.00–260.00248.64
(<2 yrs)Open7780255.00–285.00273.14
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open17825295.00–355.00322.11
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open11,185205.00205.00
Young (2-4 yrs)Open11,500188.00188.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open29981220.00–340.00281.43
Young (2-4 yrs)Open541,032195.00–310.00236.18
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open21,058237.50–275.00255.76
Young (2-4 yrs)Open11,250212.50212.50
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open3953196.00–275.00249.03
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open2883215.00215.00
Heifer Pairs — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open259614,200.00–4,600.004,452.62
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open641,0804,550.00–5,300.005,070.60
(<2 yrs)Open271,2555,300.00–5,350.005,328.60
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open21,0034,000.004,000.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)Open11,2753,600.003,600.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open129974,200.004,200.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open31,3434,450.004,450.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open21,3633,600.003,600.00
Young (2-4 yrs)Open41,3294,150.00–4,500.004,330.79
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open41,6294,550.004,550.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open211,4044,200.00–4,350.004,223.60
Young (2-4 yrs)Open101,3884,750.004,750.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)Open761,5533,975.00–4,300.004,060.28
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)Open81,4363,650.00–3,800.003,688.73
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open101,1464,900.004,900.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)31,5453,250.00–3,400.003,302.09
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)61,1753,300.00–3,600.003,517.64
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)491,2784,000.00–4,300.004,187.85
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)71,5363,450.00–3,800.003,525.84
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)41,4453,700.003,700.00
Bred Cows — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)29483,500.003,500.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)11,2903,250.003,250.00
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)11,2653,350.003,350.00
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)21,4803,700.003,700.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)51,3423,100.00–3,300.003,253.35
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)161,4833,300.00–3,550.003,419.99
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)71,0803,600.00–3,800.003,744.82
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)91,1913,900.00–4,100.003,923.14
Bred Heifers — Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)41,3473,700.003,700.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
121,686165.00–171.00167.04
141,704153.00–164.00160.10
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
141,431150.00–164.00157.95
41,338130.00–157.00144.59
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
121,646172.00–184.00177.87
241,602182.50–195.50188.73
51,564165.00–171.00167.79
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
981,408175.00–188.00182.36
351,399153.00–175.00166.83
1881,358185.00–194.00190.12
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
31,207164.00–175.00170.79
211,109120.00–142.50134.97
51,179146.00–162.50153.34
91,089100.00–125.00115.97
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1955125.00125.00
1890155.00155.00
2975110.00–115.00112.50
Cows — Premium White 65-75% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
12,165175.50175.50
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
21,833150.00–155.00152.37
861,823175.00–180.00179.67
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
451,122150.00–174.00163.87
451,131175.00–188.00182.23
1331,218186.00–196.00191.32
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
232,059222.00–236.50225.75
162,146223.00–227.00225.02
101,711175.00–206.00193.50
421,956202.00–221.00215.71
22,028211.00–218.00214.82
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
11,370187.50187.50
41,466160.00–185.00170.04
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
671,643202.00–223.00217.07
201,685180.00–212.00203.47
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.