Weekly Summary  - ( Montana )  - May 4, 2026

Billings, MT Mon May, 11 2026 Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary Weighted Average Report for 5/04/2026 Current Previous Year Ago —————————— —————————— —————————— Total 3529 4680 3137 Replacement Cattle 1539 1400 1292 Slaughter Cattle 1065 751 958 Feeder Cattle 925 2529 887 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. Steers Medium and Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 4 406 406 610.00 610.00 7 419 419 585.00 585.00 Unweaned 5 468 468 577.50 577.50 22 508 508 532.50 532.50 Unweaned 3 587 587 474.00 474.00 Fleshy 8 652-657 654 435.00-437.00 435.75 3 713 713 410.00 410.00 15 722 722 383.00 383.00 Fleshy 3 760-763 762 385.00-391.00 386.99 10 909 909 351.00 351.00 6 913 913 341.00 341.00 Fleshy Steers Medium and Large 1-2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 2 73 73 750.00 750.00 2 290 290 600.00 600.00 Unweaned 4 370-395 379 600.00-605.00 601.22 3 415-435 422 560.00-570.00 566.56 Unweaned 31 500-544 522 490.00-516.00 499.61 32 554 554 507.50 507.50 Thin Fleshed 5 579 579 455.00 455.00 51 613 613 475.00 475.00 Thin Fleshed 5 619 619 440.00 440.00 7 655-667 662 372.50-427.00 400.09 28 681 681 445.00 445.00 Thin Fleshed 3 700-735 712 392.50-395.00 393.36 Steers Medium and Large 2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 4 376 376 540.00 540.00 Thin Fleshed 11 486 486 447.50 447.50 Thin Fleshed 3 523 523 450.00 450.00 Unweaned 5 510-544 537 447.50-460.00 449.87 7 577 577 420.00 420.00 Thin Fleshed 4 585 585 432.00 432.00 9 615-633 629 400.00-415.00 403.26 4 658 658 377.50 377.50 Thin Fleshed 5 710-722 717 367.50-385.00 378.07 2 763 763 360.00 360.00 3 885 885 330.00 330.00 Fleshy Steers Large 1-2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 11 1127 1127 278.00 278.00 Fleshy Steers Medium 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 2 508 508 495.00 495.00 Steers Small and Medium 2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 10 409 409 2,000.00 2,000.00 Heifers Medium and Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 1 100 100 950.00 950.00 34 465-480 467 505.00-512.50 506.08 24 514-539 534 460.00-480.00 473.01 16 559-590 564 422.50-455.00 449.84 5 610-645 625 411.00-420.00 414.38 30 673-689 676 386.00-407.50 403.85 5 694 694 365.00 365.00 Fleshy 15 701-706 704 335.00-341.50 337.16 Fleshy 43 705-726 712 362.00-384.00 375.45 22 755-760 757 354.00-359.00 357.18 12 837 837 341.50 341.50 8 891 891 317.00 317.00 Fleshy Heifers Medium and Large 1-2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 1 365 365 525.00 525.00 10 428-446 441 505.00-513.00 509.04 9 515-535 523 439.00-441.00 440.44 12 585 585 417.50 417.50 4 615-628 625 375.00-382.50 380.65 9 650-695 682 340.00-381.00 363.75 9 710-745 732 341.00-358.00 349.64 3 783 783 350.00 350.00 Heifers Medium and Large 2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 4 520-545 533 405.00-430.00 412.38 1 630 630 347.50 347.50 5 847 847 312.00 312.00 Heifers Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 3 635 635 377.50 377.50 Heifers Large 1-2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 1 565 565 385.00 385.00 Heifers Medium 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 11 431 431 502.50 502.50 Heifers Small and Medium 2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 7 372 372 2,000.00 2,000.00 Bulls Medium and Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 7 85-97 88 925.00 925.00 4 588 588 457.50 457.50 14 922 922 327.00 327.00 Bulls Medium and Large 1-2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 9 558-585 561 415.00-450.00 445.94 4 668 668 392.50 392.50 6 705-723 715 355.00-370.00 361.70 2 785 785 347.50 347.50 6 803-848 827 300.00-347.00 330.64 4 1024 1024 262.50 262.50 Bulls Medium and Large 2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 6 734 734 347.00 347.00 Bulls Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 7 1009-1038 1017 301.00-306.00 304.54 8 1063-1083 1074 275.00-295.00 286.69 2 1240 1240 230.00 230.00 Bulls Large 1-2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 3 1080-1095 1090 275.00-280.00 276.65 Slaughter Bulls Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 1 1370 1370 187.50 187.50 Light Weight 4 1295-1635 1466 160.00-185.00 170.04 Light Weight, Low Dressing 67 1320-2190 1643 202.00-223.00 217.07 Return to Feed 20 1380-2125 1685 180.00-212.00 203.47 Return to Feed, Low Dressing 10 1410-1980 1711 175.00-206.00 193.50 Low Dressing 42 1510-2490 1956 202.00-221.00 215.71 2 1845-2210 2028 211.00-218.00 214.82 23 1736-2340 2059 222.00-236.50 225.75 High Dressing 16 2124-2168 2146 223.00-227.00 225.02 High Dressing Slaughter Cows Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 1 890 890 155.00 155.00 Light Weight, Lean 1 955 955 125.00 125.00 Light Weight, Low Dressing, Lean 2 975 975 110.00-115.00 112.50 Light Weight, Very Low Dressing, Lean 9 1010-1175 1089 100.00-125.00 115.97 Very Low Dressing, Lean 21 908-1390 1109 120.00-142.50 134.97 Low Dressing, Lean 45 910-1273 1122 150.00-174.00 163.87 Return to Feed, Low Dressing, Lean 45 1032-1290 1131 175.00-188.00 182.23 Return to Feed, Lean 5 1000-1250 1179 146.00-162.50 153.34 Lean 3 1165-1280 1207 164.00-175.00 170.79 High Dressing, Lean 133 1080-1330 1218 186.00-196.00 191.32 Return to Feed, High Dressing, Lean 4 1245-1435 1338 130.00-157.00 144.59 Low Dressing, Boner 188 1214-1580 1358 185.00-194.00 190.12 Return to Feed, High Dressing, Boner 35 1250-1535 1399 153.00-175.00 166.83 Return to Feed, Low Dressing, Boner 98 1225-1700 1408 175.00-188.00 182.36 Return to Feed, Boner 14 1275-1700 1431 150.00-164.00 157.95 Boner 5 1520-1585 1564 165.00-171.00 167.79 Return to Feed, Low Dressing, Breaker 24 1510-1855 1602 182.50-195.50 188.73 Return to Feed, High Dressing, Breaker 12 1605-1740 1646 172.00-184.00 177.87 Return to Feed, Breaker 12 1503-1805 1686 165.00-171.00 167.04 Breaker 14 1505-1995 1704 153.00-164.00 160.10 Low Dressing, Breaker 86 1509-1955 1823 175.00-180.00 179.67 Premium White 2 1735-1930 1833 150.00-155.00 152.37 Low Dressing, Premium White 1 2165 2165 175.50 175.50 Heavy Weight, Premium White Bred Cows Medium 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 2 948 948 3,500.00 3,500.00 Young, 3rd Stage Bred Cows Medium and Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 6 968-1343 1175 3,300.00-3,600.00 3,517.64 Young, 2nd Stage 49 1075-1403 1278 4,000.00-4,300.00 4,187.85 Young, 3rd Stage 4 1445 1445 3,700.00 3,700.00 Young, 2nd/3rd Stage 16 1390-1649 1483 3,300.00-3,550.00 3,419.99 Broken Mouth, Aged, 3rd Stage 7 1320-1575 1536 3,450.00-3,800.00 3,525.84 Middle Aged/Aged, 3rd Stage 3 1513-1610 1545 3,250.00-3,400.00 3,302.09 Middle Aged/Aged, 2nd/3rd Stage Bred Cows Medium and Large 1-2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 1 1265 1265 3,350.00 3,350.00 Young, 2nd/3rd Stage 1 1290 1290 3,250.00 3,250.00 Middle Aged/Aged, 3rd Stage 5 1286-1565 1342 3,100.00-3,300.00 3,253.35 Broken Mouth, Aged, 3rd Stage 2 1480 1480 3,700.00 3,700.00 Young, 3rd Stage Bred Heifers Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 4 1347 1347 3,700.00 3,700.00 (<2 yrs), 3rd Stage Bred Heifers Medium and Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 9 1152-1335 1191 3,900.00-4,100.00 3,923.14 (<2 yrs), 3rd Stage Bred Heifers Medium and Large 1-2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 7 1043-1095 1080 3,600.00-3,800.00 3,744.82 (<2 yrs), 3rd Stage Cow-Calf Pairs Medium 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 10 1146 1146 4,900.00 4,900.00 Young, Open, <150 lb calf Cow-Calf Pairs Medium and Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 1 1275 1275 3,600.00 3,600.00 Thin Fleshed, Aged, Open, 150-300 lb calf 10 1388 1388 4,750.00 4,750.00 Young, Open, 150-300 lb calf 21 1338-1538 1404 4,200.00-4,350.00 4,223.60 Middle Aged/Aged, Open, 150-300 lb calf 76 1435-1738 1553 3,975.00-4,300.00 4,060.28 Broken Mouth, Aged, Open, 150-300 lb calf 4 1629 1629 4,550.00 4,550.00 Middle Aged, Open, <150 lb calf Cow-Calf Pairs Medium and Large 1-2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 12 997 997 4,200.00 4,200.00 Non-Legible BANGS, Young, Open, <150 lb calf 4 1285-1373 1329 4,150.00-4,500.00 4,330.79 Young, Open, <150 lb calf 3 1343 1343 4,450.00 4,450.00 Middle Aged, Open, <150 lb calf 2 1363 1363 3,600.00 3,600.00 Middle Aged, Open, 150-300 lb calf 8 1420-1483 1436 3,650.00-3,800.00 3,688.73 Broken Mouth, Aged, Open, 150-300 lb calf Heifer Pairs Medium 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 25 934-1049 961 4,200.00-4,600.00 4,452.62 (<2 yrs), Open, <150 lb calf Heifer Pairs Medium and Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 64 1075-1088 1080 4,550.00-5,300.00 5,070.60 (<2 yrs), Open, <150 lb calf 27 1208-1292 1255 5,300.00-5,350.00 5,328.60 (<2 yrs), Open, 150-300 lb calf Heifer Pairs Medium and Large 1-2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 2 1003 1003 4,000.00 4,000.00 (<2 yrs), Open, <150 lb calf Stock Cows Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 1 1185 1185 205.00 205.00 (<2 yrs), Open 1 1500 1500 188.00 188.00 Young, Open Stock Cows Medium 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 17 645-890 825 295.00-355.00 322.11 (<2 yrs), Open Stock Cows Medium 1-2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 7 645-853 780 255.00-285.00 273.14 (<2 yrs), Open 3 820-853 842 225.00-260.00 248.64 Young, Open 2 883 883 215.00 215.00 Thin Fleshed, (<2 yrs), Open Stock Cows Medium and Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 278 775-1320 1023 220.00-373.00 311.84 (<2 yrs), Open 2 1030-1085 1058 237.50-275.00 255.76 Fleshy, (<2 yrs), Open 233 900-1490 1126 191.00-335.00 263.64 Young, Open 9 1152-1238 1171 196.00-205.00 202.89 Middle Aged, Open 60 1080-1515 1210 190.00-262.00 201.91 Young/Middle Aged, Open 1 1250 1250 212.50 212.50 Fleshy, Young, Open Stock Cows Medium and Large 1-2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 3 940-960 953 196.00-275.00 249.03 Thin Fleshed, Young, Open 6 957 957 310.00 310.00 (<2 yrs), Open 23 765-1185 987 220.00-340.00 274.20 (<2 yrs), Open 52 905-1275 1032 195.00-310.00 237.01 Young, Open 2 1045 1045 215.00 215.00 Young, Open