USDA Billings, MT Weekly Wtd Avg 04/06 08:45
04/06/2026 | 8:45 am CDT USDA Billings, MT Weekly Wtd Avg 04/06 08:45
AMS_1778 MARS
Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary
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Livestock Weighted Average Report for 03/30/2026 - Final
Summary This Week Last Reported Last Year
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Total Receipts:
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FEEDER CATTLE 6119 616 4924
SLAUGHTER CATTLE 762 511 754
REPLACEMENT CATTLE 434 306 407
Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to
develop any market trend. Last week had no feeder specials and just over 1400
head total for 3 sales. Quality this week was average to very attractive and
significantly more attractive than last week. Most cattle were offered in
moderate size packages up to load lots. Several load lots were seen this week
and buyers all showed good demand for these offerings. Demand was mostly good
to very good on moderate to heavy offerings. CME positions continued to improve
providing support for feeders. The April closed Thursday (Friday was closed to
trade due to Good Friday) at 372.90, 11.45 higher than last Friday. The May
contract closed Thursday at 370.625, 10.80 higher than last Friday. The August
contract closed Thursday at 369.50, 11.70 higher than last Fridays close.
Demand for grass cattle was very good this week as buyers purchased steers up
to 750 lbs and heifers up to 700 lbs to send to grass. Buyers were very aware
of flesh as they showed heavy discounts for even moderately fleshed feeders.
Market activity was mostly active with a large crowd of both order buyers and
ranchers noticed all week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good
demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand remains the driving
force in the market. Feeding cows sold 1.00-3.00 higher. 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 feeding cow buyers purchased young to middle age cows in hopes they can get
a few young cows to grade. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above
average. Several sets of cows have been out on green grass this week as they
were very empty come sale time. Weigh conditions this week were very good and
looked more like cows would in June rather than April. Buyers showed
willingness to take even blemished cows to feed as supplies are currently very
tight as very few older cows are being marketed. Slaughter cow demand remains
strong as packers continue to show good demand for limited slaughter offerings.
Premium white cows sold fully steady on a heavy offering. Fed cow quality was
mostly attractive this week. Breaking, boning and lean slaughter cows were too
lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher
undertones were noticed on all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to
3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Demand remains good as packer search for
lean meat to blend down excess fat currently on the market. Feeding bull demand
was mostly good to very good again this week. Feeding bulls sold 3.00-5.00
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 this
week. Cows and heifers which lost calves are being marketed, but with very good
weather conditions limited offerings are being seen. Demand for high quality
offerings is very good. Young cows sold mostly 5.00 higher. Quality was average
to attractive, and similar to last week.
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FEEDER CATTLE
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BULLS - Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
4 1057-1070 1060 292.5-300 294.39
1 1140-1140 1140 270-270 270
2 1260-1260 1260 235-235 235
BULLS - Medium 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
3 425-425 425 535-535 535
BULLS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 1025-1025 1025 290-290 290
11 477-477 477 540-540 540
31 487-487 487 537.5-537.5 537.5 Thin Fleshed
31 592-592 592 450-450 450 Thin Fleshed
5 623-623 623 410-410 410
2 640-640 640 390-390 390 Unweaned
3 652-652 652 395-395 395
4 896-896 896 325-325 325
BULLS - Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
4 389-389 389 565-565 565
2 543-543 543 465-465 465
4 621-621 621 370-370 370
9 663-678 666 350-377.5 371.28
9 702-743 727 350-372.5 358.36
2 993-993 993 287.5-287.5 287.5
HEIFERS - Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
6 624-624 624 409-409 409
3 685-685 685 399-399 399
16 778-778 778 371-371 371
HEIFERS - Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
3 657-657 657 349-349 349
HEIFERS - Medium 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
4 300-300 300 495-495 495
HEIFERS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
4 376-376 376 540-540 540 Unweaned
12 388-399 397 525-535 533.37
31 432-448 441 522.5-532.5 526.91
20 400-448 443 515-540 517.26 Unweaned
64 452-491 468 490-528 510.06
280 500-545 517 475-496 487.93
8 531-531 531 417.5-417.5 417.5 Fleshy
12 576-576 576 426-426 426 Fleshy
339 550-597 578 417-459 436.33
53 602-604 603 447-449 448.24 Thin Fleshed
601 605-649 629 400-435 419.81
8 636-636 636 384-384 384 Fleshy
25 661-661 661 387.5-387.5 387.5 Replacement
19 655-670 664 424-425 424.36 Thin Fleshed
469 650-698 669 375-422 410.91
128 680-695 684 386-386 386 Fleshy
49 701-744 718 351-368 362.9 Fleshy
6 723-723 723 2750-2750 2750
189 701-748 730 362.5-390 381.42
104 721-749 742 371-380 372.18 Replacement
299 750-798 762 343-380 367.58
466 750-798 772 2875-3160 3043.44 Replacement
2 818-818 818 354-354 354
116 801-845 827 2950-3125 3054.85 Replacement
74 833-833 833 363-363 363 Replacement
69 855-870 868 339-344 343.21
10 932-932 932 320-320 320 Fleshy
HEIFERS - Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
10 370-398 387 490-520 508.52
20 458-493 480 472.5-502.5 482.64
30 504-547 527 422.5-457.5 434.97
7 545-545 545 397.5-397.5 397.5 Unweaned
41 563-590 573 392.5-432.5 422.64
29 605-646 630 385-412 401.65
18 681-688 685 349-375.5 358.2
10 710-748 724 345-356 353.31
2 873-873 873 330-330 330
HEIFERS - Medium and Large 2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
4 296-296 296 470-470 470
4 393-393 393 470-470 470
2 415-415 415 470-470 470
18 485-496 489 422.5-432.5 429.12
HEIFERS - Small 3-4 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
16 414-414 414 220-220 220
STEERS - Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
4 662-680 667 419-424 422.72
3 862-862 862 322.5-322.5 322.5
STEERS - Medium 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
7 465-465 465 525-525 525
10 524-543 530 475-515 502.7
STEERS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
2 368-368 368 625-625 625 Unweaned
5 392-392 392 630-630 630
3 420-420 420 580-580 580 Unweaned
25 400-440 432 595-600 595.93
69 454-498 468 550-580 570.24
11 493-493 493 545-545 545 Unweaned
190 504-530 518 520-555 536.51
131 553-590 581 481-517.5 498.52
18 622-622 622 430-430 430 Fleshy
229 600-643 630 459-490 474.47
235 654-695 665 423-459 442.81
120 704-742 727 401.5-424 413.18
47 757-757 757 422-422 422 Thin Fleshed
141 750-798 792 386-411 388.6
123 800-830 823 370-380 375.46
40 850-882 871 337.5-372.5 344.01
2 913-913 913 340-340 340
2 965-965 965 328-328 328 Fleshy
6 965-976 974 327-327.5 327.08 Full
STEERS - Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
17 355-382 380 550-615 557.69
5 415-425 422 555-575 567.96
14 455-497 494 502.5-535 532.86
6 505-517 511 502.5-507.5 504.97
7 544-544 544 475-475 475 Fleshy
41 554-598 588 455-477.5 465.9
22 610-610 610 468-468 468 Thin Fleshed
9 602-637 620 427.5-449 440.54
14 670-693 685 405.5-417.5 411.59
84 702-702 702 423-423 423 Thin Fleshed
24 711-749 738 381-404 395.24
4 750-783 773 368-375 370.85
9 816-822 818 357.5-363 359.62
4 901-901 901 325-325 325
STEERS - Medium and Large 2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
2 323-323 323 540-540 540
15 363-369 366 500-525 517.37
2 435-435 435 475-475 475
4 455-455 455 470-470 470
3 605-643 630 380-405 388
2 795-795 795 335-335 335
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SLAUGHTER CATTLE
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BULLS - 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing
1 1160-1160 1160 165-165 165 Low Light Weight
2 1363-1363 1363 220-220 220 High Return to Feed
24 1250-1910 1500 164-207 195.8 Low Return to Feed
16 1290-1760 1528 199-215.5 210.82 Average Return to Feed
6 1280-1910 1698 164-193 183.78 Low
29 1515-2385 1880 198-218.5 210.32 Average
14 1980-2195 2071 210-224 218.77 High
BULLS - 2-3 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing
2 2348-2348 2348 218.5-218.5 218.5 High
COWS - Boner 80-85% (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing
48 1205-1563 1372 140-170.5 164.73 Low Return to Feed
142 1230-1614 1389 173-183.5 179.45 Average Return to Feed
45 1070-1570 1405 184-189 185.88 High Return to Feed
2 1400-1485 1443 112.5-115 113.71 Very Low
6 1375-1615 1451 145-166.5 155.11 Average
6 1280-1770 1516 162-181 167.89 High
2 1420-1615 1518 135-144 139.21 Low
COWS - Breaker 75-80% (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing
40 1338-1535 1417 182-186.5 184.52 High Return to Feed
1 1530-1530 1530 145-145 145 Very Low
13 1500-1625 1552 172-183 178.96 Average Return to Feed
2 1535-1635 1585 165.5-169 167.19 Low Return to Feed
5 1652-1653 1652 176.5-177 176.8 High
8 1515-1925 1693 149-166 158.5 Low
4 1740-1800 1760 163-176 168.73 Average
COWS - Lean 85-90% (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing
75 900-1285 1112 137-170 158.96 Low Return to Feed
13 1020-1275 1155 115-140 126.23 Low
36 1085-1290 1159 170-181 173.67 Average Return to Feed
10 1060-1295 1169 152-160 157.9 Average
1 1170-1170 1170 162.5-162.5 162.5 High
4 1090-1375 1221 105-112.5 106.8 Very Low
12 1100-1343 1244 179-184 182.73 High Return to Feed
5 810-995 893 112.5-135 126.02 Low Light Weight
1 895-895 895 105-105 105 Very Low Light Weight
4 890-970 918 145-165 156.19 Average Light Weight
COWS - Premium White 65-75% (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing
20 1501-1657 1571 164-170.5 167.08 Low
105 1842-1993 1881 171-174 173.65 Average
1 2025-2025 2025 164-164 164 Low Heavy Weight
19 2096-2096 2096 173-173 173 Average Heavy Weight
1 2205-2205 2205 141-141 141 Very Low Heavy Weight
DAIRY COWS - Lean 85-90% (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing
1 1145-1145 1145 147.5-147.5 147.5 Average
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REPLACEMENT CATTLE
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BRED COWS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
4 1150-1332 1287 3300-3350 3338.83
BRED COWS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
2 1543-1543 1543 3250-3250 3250 T2-3
BRED COWS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
4 1422-1475 1435 3800-3950 3838.54
1 1525-1525 1525 3800-3800 3800 Fleshy
2 1705-1705 1705 3375-3375 3375
BRED COWS - Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 1415-1415 1415 2950-2950 2950
BRED COWS - Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
2 1565-1565 1565 3150-3150 3150 T2-3
BRED COWS - Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
2 1508-1508 1508 3200-3200 3200
BRED HEIFERS - Medium 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
13 778-778 778 3000-3000 3000 T2-3
BRED HEIFERS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
3 1332-1332 1332 3350-3350 3350
BRED HEIFERS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
2 1363-1363 1363 3400-3400 3400 T2-3
BRED HEIFERS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
21 1063-1328 1128 3900-4050 3980.99
STOCK COWS - Medium 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 720-720 720 295-295 295 Thin Fleshed O
7 695-795 761 320-342.5 332.85 O
2 820-840 830 325-325 325 O
STOCK COWS - Medium 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
8 753-895 828 260-300 283.24 O
2 815-850 833 275-280 277.55 O
STOCK COWS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
119 845-1305 1062 240-342.5 286.52 O
97 955-1345 1141 207.5-337.5 261.41 O
8 1155-1337 1297 188-215 200.02 O
1 1370-1370 1370 185-185 185 Fleshy O
1 1505-1505 1505 185-185 185 O
1 790-790 790 330-330 330 Thin Fleshed O
STOCK COWS - Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
64 845-1317 1051 190-312.5 254.27 O
20 801-1140 902 210-312.5 284.65 O
STOCK COWS - Medium and Large 2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
4 838-990 914 245-285 263.34 O
3 925-980 943 210-240 230.19 O
[06001349]