Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2026-05-13

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, May 13
● Final97 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,443 head
▲ 1,388 vs last sale 55▼ 335 vs year ago 1,778 · −18.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
111 head
▼ 197 vs last sale 308▲ 1 vs year ago 110 · +0.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
290 head
▼ 532 vs last sale 822▲ 260 vs year ago 30 · +866.7%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week (5-06-26): Feeder cattle too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Most feeders were offered in moderate size packages with a few load lots noticed as well. Feeder quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Many sets of put together offerings from late fall and early spring were seen this sale as backgrounders marketed cattle. Home-raised offerings sold on very good demand this sale. Demand for cattle green enough to go to grass remains very good. Demand for replacement heifers was very good as quality was attractive. A moderate crowd was on hand for todays sale with ranchers and order buyers both in the stands and over the internet actively bidding on feeders. Market activity was active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand remains very good. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to weak on a lower quality and fuller offering. Weigh up conditions were not as attractive to buyers this sale as many cows were pushing some fill as temperatures reached 93 degrees by early afternoon. Packers showed need for cattle for immediate harvest as they showed stronger demand for cows to slaughter. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Fleshy cows sold with much stronger demand this sale and these offerings showed the largest advancement over last week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Feeding bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Bull quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Demand for young cows remains very good. Young age offerings sold with lower undertones on a lower quality offering. Quality this week was average, and not as attractive as last week. A few pairs are starting to be marketed due to drought. Demand for pairs was moderate as all ranchers are showing concerns over drought conditions.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $430.73/cwt on 157 head, down $15.81 from the prior sale. That ranks 17 of 19 comparable sales and sits +35.28 against this barn's trailing median of $395.45.
Average price
$430.73
▼ 15.81 vs prior sale
157 head · 554 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,387
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$576
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2
$101.60/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−3.57
vs MT average
+13.62 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1562441.602,480108
Medium and Large 1-2533426.252,27322
Medium and Large 2538399.782,15023
Medium 2560340.001,9044thin
One grade step is worth $101.60/cwt here — about $576 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 500–600 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale157 hd
430.73
—
MT average3 barns · 261 hd
434.30
−3.57
National average171 barns · 11,385 hd
417.11
+13.62
This barn, trailing median19 sales
395.45
+35.28
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

19 sales
478430382334median 395.4503/1104/1506/0309/0210/21
Heifers 500–600 lb: high $464.07, low $347.53, median $395.45 across 19 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

Slaughter cattle

By class and quality grade · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Bulls—High1,765224.443,96110
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,648178.742,94613
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,397177.692,48252
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,163169.641,97321

Replacement cattle Per head

By class, stage and age
Bred stock and pairs are reported per head, not per hundredweight — these prices are never mixed with the $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,363$3,90016
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,315$3,8003thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,365$3,7251thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,307$3,5505
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,523$3,5002thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,495$3,0002thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,220$3,9255
Bred Heifers2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,217$3,5004thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,480$3,95032
Heifer PairsOpen(<2 yrs)1,154$4,70030

Every lot

97 lots · USDA AMS · Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Wed)
Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Feeder Cattle · Steers21 lots · lightest first
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2367616.60/cwt580.00–640.002,26314
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2439584.96/cwt550.00–602.502,56856
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1467572.95/cwt561.00–587.502,67636
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2469540.63/cwt532.00–552.502,53616
Steers450–500Medium 2475350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,6634
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2507529.00/cwt529.00–529.002,68210
Steers500–550Medium 1509527.50/cwt527.50–527.502,6857
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1565487.56/cwt477.00–500.002,75513
Steers600–650Medium and Large 2604380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,2954
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1611459.83/cwt459.00–460.002,81012
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1671432.84/cwt420.50–436.002,90446
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1716407.00/cwt407.00–407.002,91413
Steers700–750Medium 1718381.00/cwt381.00–381.002,7364
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2748388.00/cwt388.00–388.002,9022
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1774383.32/cwt381.00–390.002,96724
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1Fleshy806357.00/cwt357.00–357.002,8777
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2815357.50/cwt357.50–357.502,9141
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1821383.00/cwt383.00–383.003,144115
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1Fleshy889351.00/cwt351.00–351.003,12063
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1Fleshy951332.00/cwt332.00–332.003,1576
Steers1150–1200Large 1Fleshy1,187271.00/cwt271.00–271.003,2178
Feeder Cattle · Heifers30 lots · lightest first
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2373510.00/cwt510.00–510.001,9026
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 2379470.00/cwt470.00–470.001,78114
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1427547.50/cwt547.50–547.502,33822
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2446515.00/cwt515.00–515.002,29714
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2448441.62/cwt435.00–475.001,9786
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2461452.76/cwt445.00–480.002,0879
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1496482.50/cwt482.50–482.502,3934
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1517473.63/cwt445.00–480.002,44929
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2530426.50/cwt425.00–455.002,26020
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2Spayed532405.00/cwt405.00–405.002,15520
Heifers550–600Medium 2560340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,9044
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2565423.76/cwt422.50–425.002,3942
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2577365.00/cwt365.00–365.002,1063
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1578429.84/cwt428.00–447.502,48479
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 2612353.65/cwt340.00–365.002,16426
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1619407.53/cwt402.50–410.002,52322
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1668394.25/cwt372.00–409.502,63495
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2683370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,5273
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2685340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,32919
Heifers700–750Medium 1Fleshy718305.00/cwt305.00–305.002,1906
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2720351.74/cwt351.00–352.002,5334
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1745356.56/cwt355.00–365.002,65678
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1764356.10/cwt343.00–362.002,72127
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2774340.02/cwt333.00–347.002,63216
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1Replacement7963,050.00/head3,050.00–3,050.003,05064
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1Replacement8072,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,80021
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1828339.83/cwt334.00–342.502,81415
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1860335.00/cwt335.00–335.002,88142
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1Full897315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,8263
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2915305.00/cwt305.00–305.002,7915
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2509445.00/cwt445.00–445.002,2654
Bulls500–550Medium 2525405.00/cwt405.00–405.002,1264
Bulls650–700Large 1694351.00/cwt351.00–351.002,4365
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1-2817322.50/cwt322.50–322.502,6355
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1-2913305.00/cwt305.00–305.002,7852
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 11,001305.00/cwt305.00–305.003,0534
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,456219.60/cwt219.50–220.003,1975
Bulls——1,897222.00/cwt222.00–222.004,2113
Bulls——2,338240.19/cwt234.00–246.005,6162
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight905145.00/cwt145.00–145.001,3121
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,025127.50/cwt127.50–127.501,3071
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,154168.84/cwt160.00–175.001,94812
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,210172.44/cwt170.00–175.002,0872
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,243187.00/cwt187.00–187.002,3242
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,247181.66/cwt180.00–184.002,2653
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,346181.16/cwt174.00–186.002,43819
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,393169.74/cwt162.00–171.002,36415
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,439188.38/cwt187.00–191.002,71110
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,459169.85/cwt168.00–171.502,4786
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,508174.32/cwt173.50–175.002,6292
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,580187.49/cwt186.50–188.502,9622
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,596172.00/cwt172.00–172.002,7454
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,616181.94/cwt177.00–185.002,9405
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,780176.00/cwt176.00–176.003,1331
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,020175.00/cwt175.00–175.003,5351
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows6 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3073,550.00/head3,550.00–3,550.003,5505
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3153,800.00/head3,800.00–3,800.003,8003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3633,900.00/head3,900.00–3,900.003,90016
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3653,725.00/head3,725.00–3,725.003,7251
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4953,000.00/head3,000.00–3,000.003,0002
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5233,500.00/head3,500.00–3,500.003,5002
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows11 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1820300.00/cwt300.00–300.002,4601
Stock Cows—Medium 1863300.19/cwt295.00–305.002,5912
Stock Cows—Medium 1-2895240.00/cwt240.00–240.002,1481
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1987294.01/cwt230.00–330.002,90214
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 2Fleshy1,011250.00/cwt250.00–250.002,52827
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,013276.06/cwt252.50–305.002,7966
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,040239.31/cwt215.00–270.002,48921
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy1,140241.93/cwt222.50–260.002,7585
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,163234.88/cwt195.00–310.002,73223
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,295220.21/cwt212.50–224.002,8523
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,392194.17/cwt188.00–217.502,7034
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers2 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,2173,500.00/head3,500.00–3,500.003,5004
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,2203,925.00/head3,925.00–3,925.003,9255
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,4803,950.00/head3,950.00–3,950.003,95032
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 11,1544,700.00/head4,700.00–4,700.004,70030

This sale against other markets

Montana weighted averages
One sale is one barn on one day. The state ladder is every Montana auction USDA reported that week, weighted by head — the fairer test of whether a lot sold well.