USDA Billings, MT Weekly Wtd Avg 05/18 10:10
05/18/2026 | 10:10 am CDT USDA Billings, MT Weekly Wtd Avg 05/18 10:10
AMS_1778 MARS
Montana Weekly Livestock Auction Summary
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Livestock Weighted Average Report for 05/11/2026 - Final
Summary This Week Last Reported Last Year
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Total Receipts:
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FEEDER CATTLE 1938 925 2147
REPLACEMENT CATTLE 1149 1539 892
SLAUGHTER CATTLE 961 1065 1257
Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to
develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed.
Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Demand overall for feeder
cattle was good. Package sizes this week were mixed from small to moderate with
a limited offering of load lots seen. Demand for cattle suitable to go to grass
was moderate to good as some ranchers continue to look for offerings to run on
grass this summer. Demand for grass cattle has softened some as drought
conditions continue to worsen across parts of the state. CME positions moved
sharply higher and lower throughout the week but finished unevenly steady. The
May contract closed Friday at 368.675, 1.30 higher than last Friday. The August
contract closed Friday at 361.45, 2.775 lower than last Fridays close. The
September contract closed Friday at 359.175, 3.00 lower than last Fridays
close. Market activity was mostly moderate to active with a larger buyer pool
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 1.00-3.00 higher on breaking flesh cows. Boning and lean fleshed cows sold
generally steady. Good to very good demand continues to be seen from Canadian
buyers as they purchased a large portion of the feeding cow offering this week.
Private feeders continue to show good demand for cows to feed again this week.
American packers were more active this week as they showed strong demand for
fleshy cows both to feed, and for immediate harvest. 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 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 too
higher above packer's breakeven to slaughter. Breaking, boning and lean
slaughter cows all sold 4.00-6.00 higher on all offerings. The largest increase
in demand was seen for fleshy breaking cows this week. Slaughter bulls sold
3.00-5.00 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 mostly steady on a poorer quality offering. Demand for
young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed was mostly good, but not as strong
as last week. Cows and heifers which lost calves sold on very good demand.
Demand softened slightly for lower quality and feeding quality cattle this
week. Young cows sold 10.00-15.00 lower on a poorer quality offering. Quality
was mostly plain to average with a limited offering of attractive quality
cattle seen. Demand for pairs has softened as all ranchers show concern over
drought.
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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 1073-1085 1076 250-282.5 258.19
6 1168-1168 1168 232.5-232.5 232.5 Fleshy
9 1233-1240 1238 236-236 236
1 1250-1250 1250 232.5-232.5 232.5 Fleshy
3 1308-1308 1308 221-221 221 Fleshy
5 694-694 694 351-351 351
BULLS - Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 1100-1100 1100 230-230 230
BULLS - Medium 2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
4 525-525 525 405-405 405
BULLS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
7 1001-1025 1008 297.5-305 302.47
2 670-670 670 400-400 400
3 950-958 955 310-320 313.31
BULLS - Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
2 1023-1023 1023 245-245 245
4 509-509 509 445-445 445
4 783-783 783 342.5-342.5 342.5
5 817-817 817 322.5-322.5 322.5
2 858-858 858 335-335 335
3 910-913 912 282.5-305 297.52
4 951-951 951 312.5-312.5 312.5
HEIFERS - Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
3 758-758 758 347.5-347.5 347.5
HEIFERS - Medium 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
6 718-718 718 305-305 305 Fleshy
HEIFERS - Medium 2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
2 438-438 438 305-305 305
4 560-560 560 340-340 340
HEIFERS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
22 427-427 427 547.5-547.5 547.5
4 496-496 496 482.5-482.5 482.5
38 508-546 522 445-480 467.86
136 550-593 582 424-448 429.69
48 600-637 623 397.5-410 407.01
116 653-688 670 370-409.5 391.25
154 720-747 738 355-370 359.98
27 752-792 764 343-362 356.1
64 796-796 796 3050-3050 3050 Replacement
21 807-807 807 2800-2800 2800 Replacement
15 807-848 828 334-342.5 339.83
42 860-860 860 335-335 335
3 897-897 897 315-315 315 Full
HEIFERS - Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
6 373-373 373 510-510 510
14 446-446 446 515-515 515
28 460-492 475 445-480 456.37
28 505-530 527 425-455 431.51
4 553-570 559 410-425 416.95
6 607-620 614 360-395 377.31
18 653-683 658 360-370 361.73
7 712-745 722 351-360 355.01
24 755-795 772 332-349 341.36
2 802-802 802 337-337 337
8 851-878 858 320-320 320
5 915-915 915 305-305 305
HEIFERS - Medium and Large 2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
14 379-379 379 470-470 470
6 445-449 448 435-475 441.62
2 505-505 505 400-400 400
20 532-532 532 405-405 405 Spayed
3 577-577 577 365-365 365
26 604-643 612 340-365 353.65
23 660-685 681 333-340 339.41
STEERS - Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
8 1187-1187 1187 271-271 271 Fleshy
STEERS - Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
8 719-719 719 340-340 340
STEERS - Medium 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
3 498-498 498 480-480 480
7 509-509 509 527.5-527.5 527.5
4 718-718 718 381-381 381
STEERS - Medium 2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
4 475-475 475 350-350 350
STEERS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
36 460-474 467 561-587.5 572.95
13 555-575 565 477-500 487.56
27 607-620 612 440-460 451.06
91 654-698 668 420.5-436 431.02
13 716-716 716 407-407 407
24 752-783 774 381-390 383.32
7 806-806 806 357-357 357 Fleshy
115 821-821 821 383-383 383
63 889-889 889 351-351 351 Fleshy
6 951-951 951 332-332 332 Fleshy
STEERS - Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
14 353-393 367 580-640 616.6
56 422-443 439 550-602.5 584.96
18 452-475 469 485-552.5 534.47
21 507-538 520 475-529 503.76
2 585-585 585 465-465 465
4 745-748 747 385-388 386.5
1 815-815 815 357.5-357.5 357.5
STEERS - Medium and Large 2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
7 537-537 537 400-400 400
11 604-645 615 365-401 377.23
2 700-700 700 322.5-322.5 322.5
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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
6 1307-1395 1322 3500-3550 3541.2 T2-3
BRED COWS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
31 1055-1500 1311 3700-4100 3894.41
3 1315-1315 1315 3800-3800 3800
7 1220-1635 1380 3400-3900 3576.79
7 1438-1523 1462 3500-3600 3570.24
2 1495-1495 1495 3000-3000 3000 Broken Mouth
BRED COWS - Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
2 1263-1263 1263 2800-2800 2800 T2-3
BRED COWS - Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
4 1288-1288 1288 2600-2600 2600 Thin Fleshed
BRED HEIFERS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
4 1205-1228 1217 3500-3500 3500 T2-3
BRED HEIFERS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
9 1075-1230 1207 3450-3925 3761.21
BULLS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
4 1147-1185 1157 300-340 329.75
COW-CALF PAIRS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
70 1423-1621 1501 3950-4250 4101.88 O
81 1418-1652 1507 3610-3950 3706.88 Broken Mouth O
8 1648-1648 1648 4700-4700 4700 O
COW-CALF PAIRS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
9 1265-1265 1265 4850-4850 4850 O
COW-CALF PAIRS - Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
6 1368-1375 1372 3200-3300 3250.13 Broken Mouth O
HEIFER PAIRS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
56 1154-1405 1247 4700-4900 4778.74 O
HEIFER PAIRS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
21 1217-1233 1229 4550-4985 4882.46 O
HEIFER PAIRS - Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
8 1276-1303 1286 4300-4625 4501.53 O
STOCK COWS - Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 1035-1035 1035 230-230 230 O
3 1075-1325 1158 194-232.5 217.82 O
STOCK COWS - Medium 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
10 730-865 843 297.5-332.5 306.34 O
5 830-940 891 277.5-305 287.76 O
STOCK COWS - Medium 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
5 775-895 851 240-290 274.63 O
3 830-885 860 250-265 260.17 O
STOCK COWS - Medium 2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
1 815-815 815 160-160 160 O
STOCK COWS - Medium and Large 1 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
157 723-1340 1052 221-355 287.77 O
142 860-1550 1158 188-347.5 247.23 O
8 1105-1303 1235 212.5-242.5 226.14 Fleshy O
32 1165-1500 1328 183-230 196.29 O
STOCK COWS - Medium and Large 1-2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
24 872-1210 1024 202.5-312.5 267 O
40 930-1240 1064 180-285 231.63 O
3 1160-1323 1269 222.5-237.5 232.93 Fleshy O
2 948-948 948 260-260 260 Fleshy O
STOCK COWS - Medium and Large 2 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
27 1011-1011 1011 250-250 250 Fleshy O
1 915-915 915 252.5-252.5 252.5 O
2 980-980 980 235-235 235 O
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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
4 1065-1380 1240 170-198 187.05 Low Light Weight
14 1100-2085 1433 175-216 200.78 Low Return to Feed
33 1222-2020 1556 200-227 214.82 Average Return to Feed
7 1513-1790 1654 180-206 187.49 Low
31 1515-2390 1915 201-225 219.43 Average
28 1760-2420 2092 223-246 232.43 High
1 2630-2630 2630 220-220 220 High Heavy Weight
BULLS - 2-3 (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing
1 2320-2320 2320 218-218 218 High
COWS - Boner 80-85% (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing
1 1380-1380 1380 130-130 130 Low
149 1227-1645 1397 174-188 183.97 Average Return to Feed
41 1230-1610 1398 154-175 168.94 Low Return to Feed
132 1200-1605 1402 186-194 189.47 High Return to Feed
13 1330-1730 1466 158-171.5 165.55 Average
11 1353-1715 1546 170-186 173.86 High
COWS - Breaker 75-80% (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing
34 1430-1693 1592 184-191 187.4 High Return to Feed
52 1308-1698 1601 177-187 182.82 Average Return to Feed
10 1596-1735 1640 168-188 173.65 Low Return to Feed
7 1620-1845 1706 171-180 175.87 Average
1 1760-1760 1760 159-159 159 Low
2 1795-1795 1795 183-183 183 High
1 2020-2020 2020 175-175 175 Average Heavy Weight
COWS - Lean 85-90% (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing
8 933-1225 1021 102.5-127.5 118.22 Very Low
36 835-1385 1129 152.5-175 165.72 Low Return to Feed
11 1030-1270 1177 120-152.5 137.69 Low
49 950-1295 1185 170-185 178.38 Average Return to Feed
5 1120-1280 1197 152-166 158.1 Average
46 1050-1270 1210 185-197 190.75 High Return to Feed
46 1050-1270 1210 185-197 190.75 High Return to Feed
9 720-975 849 120-147.5 133.9 Low Light Weight
2 910-945 928 145-152.5 148.82 Average Light Weight
DAIRY COWS - Breaker 75-80% (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing
1 1945-1945 1945 170-170 170 Average
DAIRY COWS - Lean 85-90% (Per Cwt/Actual)
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price Dressing
2 1145-1190 1168 85-117 100.69 Very Low
1 1230-1230 1230 147.5-147.5 147.5 Low
[06001349]