Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Montana · Weekly summary · Mon, May 18
● As filed137 lines reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1778

The state in one line

Counts as USDA filed them
Montana reported 137 priced lines covering 2,644 head across feeder cattle, slaughter cattle, replacement cattle. USDA puts feeder cattle receipts at 448 head. slaughter cattle receipts at 1,335 head. replacement cattle receipts at 2,323 head. Counted as USDA files them — 640 of those are cow-calf pairs, each counted once.

Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary

Mon May 18, 2026
USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)
Feeder CattleReceipts 448Last week 1,938Year ago 400
Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,335Last week 961Year ago 974
Replacement CattleReceipts 2,323Last week 1,149Year ago 1,506

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Demand overall for feeder cattle was good. Package sizes this week were mostly small with lots of singles. CME positions moved sharply lower throughout the week in the lead up to the release of Fridays cattle on feed report. The cattle on feed report showed cattle and calves on feed up 2% from May 2025, placements at 6% above May 2025 and marketing's 10% below May 2025. The May CME feeder cattle contract settled Friday at 369.125, 0.45 higher than last Friday. The August contract closed Friday at 349.85, 11.60 lower than last Fridays close. The September contract closed Friday at 346.85, 12.275 lower than last Fridays close. Market activity was mostly moderate to active with a smaller buyer pool noticed this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly very good demand for moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand was very good this week. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher on breaking and boning flesh cows. Lean fleshed cows sold 2.00-4.00 higher. Very good demand was seen this week from private feeders. Canadian buyers were not as active this week. American packers were still not very active as cow prices continue to strengthen. Cow quality was mostly average to attractive this week with many high quality cows off reputation ranches. A large crowd of feeding cow buyers were present at all sales. Young feeding cows were met with very 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 mostly above packer's breakeven to slaughter. Breaking, boning and lean slaughter cows all sold with higher undertones. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher on a higher yielding offering. Feeding bull demand remains very good. Feeding bulls sold 3.00-5.00 higher this week. Demand for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed was mostly good, but significantly stronger than last week. Cows and heifers which lost calves sold on very good demand. Feeding demand for young cows which are still eligible to grade choice was very good. Buyers took heifers up to 3 years old to put on feed this week. Young cows sold 12.00-15.00 higher on a higher quality offering. Quality was mostly average to attractive. Many sets of cattle were off reputation ranches as ranchers sent opens and pairs to town due to drought. Demand for cow-calf pairs continues to soften as heavier supplies are being seen as drought conditions worsen.

Replacement Cattle

As reported
AgeStageHeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)271,3523,875.00–4,300.004,155.32
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)91,4543,500.00–3,875.003,766.57
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)31,229310.00310.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)121,5253,550.00–3,650.003,591.42
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)251,1473,700.00–3,850.003,757.09
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)41,4383,375.00–3,550.003,460.98
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)41,3813,475.003,475.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)131,5793,300.00–3,650.003,565.88
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)81,0273,350.003,350.00
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)31,3832,550.00–3,150.002,945.90
Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)41,4283,200.003,200.00
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open151,0584,525.004,525.00
Heifer Pairs — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open279563,950.00–4,350.004,083.86
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open189994,375.004,375.00
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open2251,047226.00–340.00288.73
Young (2-4 yrs)Open2251,188191.00–331.00232.43
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open91,276193.00–210.00196.43
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open21,083205.00–235.00220.24
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open361,095190.00–300.00222.02
(<2 yrs)Open19977215.00–322.50274.75
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open121,113242.50–288.00283.67
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)Open15853195.00–320.00303.66
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open2940205.00205.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)N/A11,3003,850.003,850.00
Young (2-4 yrs)N/A31,6874,100.004,100.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)Open101,4333,600.00–4,000.003,771.28
Aged (>8 yrs)Open791,5683,925.00–4,450.004,190.50
Cow-Calf Pairs — Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open111,5784,025.004,025.00
Young (2-4 yrs)Open51,4434,400.004,400.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open41,6564,100.004,100.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open2631,4364,910.00–5,400.005,283.24
Young (2-4 yrs)Open41,2414,650.004,650.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open241,4963,500.00–4,350.003,866.15
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open41,4443,950.003,950.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open771,5914,200.00–4,925.004,626.82
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open221,5244,650.00–5,125.004,909.53
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open191,2314,250.00–4,600.004,540.84
Young (2-4 yrs)Open111,3234,350.00–4,475.004,432.57
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open41,4943,600.003,600.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open21,5004,300.004,300.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open61,2084,150.004,150.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)Open241,1843,600.00–4,150.003,893.03
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open51,2163,350.003,350.00
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)Open61,3353,650.003,650.00
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo)21,0553,750.003,750.00
(<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)41,1693,700.003,700.00
(<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo)41,1763,850.00–3,900.003,875.58

Slaughter Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2661,425190.00–208.00195.08
1741,409177.00–190.50186.56
211,436163.00–176.00171.42
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
281,209189.00–197.00192.41
511,170174.00–189.00184.41
431,142150.00–179.00171.71
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
741,626178.00–194.00188.12
91,682169.00–175.00171.65
821,552186.00–204.50196.68
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
51,430144.00–155.00148.44
81,369162.00–171.00167.35
71,409172.00–179.00177.51
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
201,627171.00–175.00173.64
71,695162.00–171.00166.78
31,705188.00188.00
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
42,151156.00–164.00160.09
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1740160.00160.00
3913142.50–154.00150.18
6860125.00–135.00130.11
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
121,166145.00–167.50158.97
11,215170.00170.00
141,115122.00–146.00135.31
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
22,253211.00–218.00214.36
361,883207.50–226.00220.19
81,814182.00–207.50193.50
402,043225.00–254.00233.45
102,034219.00–223.50222.49
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
31,353194.00–206.00198.34
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
431,585213.00–226.00219.98
71,549195.00–213.00207.96
Dairy Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
11,275185.00185.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported
HeadWt rangeAvg wtPrice rangeAvg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3350–400398560.00560.00
2650–700668375.00375.00
3700–750727345.00–365.00358.30
1950–1000965262.50262.50
61000–10501,025242.50–285.00263.69
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
61050–11001,060232.50–237.50236.66
11150–12001,175244.00244.00
11200–12501,245230.00230.00
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
21050–11001,053295.00295.00
11100–11501,110272.00272.00
41150–12001,153265.00265.00
11200–12501,225260.00260.00
11300–13501,345257.50257.50
21350–14001,375238.00238.00
21400–14501,433225.00–237.50231.28
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2600–650625410.00410.00
51000–10501,014302.50–310.00308.00
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3500–550512455.00–470.00464.92
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
41000–10501,015325.00325.00
Bulls — Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
11050–11001,060331.00331.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2400–450408490.00490.00
10450–500456475.00–480.00478.00
11500–550536420.00–425.00422.24
5550–600578390.00–405.00401.94
20600–650636365.00–387.50379.28
12650–700667360.00–369.00366.91
9700–750715360.00–367.50364.99
25800–850824320.00–333.50327.50
2850–900863311.00311.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11550–600593425.00425.00
1600–650605400.00400.00
15800–850823331.00331.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
9700–750742335.00335.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
19850–900888320.00320.00
9950–1000968309.00309.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2400–450435465.00465.00
4450–500493435.00435.00
4500–550541410.00410.00
7550–600571400.00400.00
5600–650611360.00360.00
15650–700679340.00–367.50361.93
3750–800752320.00320.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
10850–900860325.00325.00
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1550–600555440.00440.00
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2500–550520410.00410.00
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4500–550538470.00470.00
9550–600573435.00–440.00436.14
4650–700689402.50402.50
11750–800782367.00367.00
8800–850825360.00–362.50362.19
7900–950933320.00320.00
Steers — Medium 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
3900–950920290.00290.00
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6600–650643382.50382.50
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
11650–700661367.50–385.00370.63
2700–750748350.00350.00
3750–800765355.00355.00
3950–1000965319.00319.00
Steers — Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
7550–600552345.00345.00
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2700–750700385.00385.00
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.