Weekly Summary, Montana

Market report for Monday, October 27, 2025

Data sourced from USDA AMS

Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly sharply lower with most sales 25.00-55.00 lower. 450-550 lbs sold mostly 25.00-40.00 lower. Steer calves over 550 lbs sold steady to 25.00 lower. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold 10.00-25.00 lower, heifer calves over 500 lbs sold mostly 5.00-30.00 lower. Demand was mostly moderate to good for moderate to heavy offerings. Demand improved as the week progressed. This led to very wide price spreads as some sales late in the week approached steady with the previous week. Demand for load lots was good throughout the week. Packages of calves sold on mostly light to moderate demand with light demand seen for small packages. CME positions were volatile again this week with large trading ranges seen throughout the trading day. CME positions ended the week mostly lower, however both sharply higher and lower movement was seen. The October contract final settlement was Thursday at 347.25, 7.05 lower than last Friday. The November contract closed at 338.875, 13.325 lower for the week. The January contract closed at 331.90, 16.275 lower than last Friday. This week saw a smaller buyer pool as fewer buyers were present. Internet bidding was also slower for the week. Internet bidders were very active in buying plain or blemished before CME positions fell, but have since been very reserved. Market activity was mostly moderate this week. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand. Feeding cow demand remains very good and continues to be the driving force behind the cow market. Both packers and private feeders both continue to be very active as they put cows away on feed. Packer buyers started buying cows for holiday week harvest but struggled to do so this week as private feeders kept cows above where packers were looking to purchase this class. Most of these offerings are slightly blemished cows many with lumps or a slight gimp to their walk. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 5.00 lower oh high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Thin feeding cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold sharply lower as additional packers who were in the market last week were not as active this week allowing all slaughter cow prices to fall. Breaking and boning cows sold 5.00-10.00 lower, lean cows sold 3.00 to 5.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 lower. Very good demand was seen for young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed. Coming 2 year old cows outsold yearling offerings again this week. Young offerings sold generally steady.