Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-05-01

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-05-01
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-05-01

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, May 1

● Final59 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Apr 24May 1May 8 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

115 head

▼ 889 vs last sale 1,004▼ 84 vs year ago 199 · −42.2%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

295 head

▼ 37 vs last sale 332▼ 140 vs year ago 435 · −32.2%

Replacement Cattle receipts

564 head

▲ 239 vs last sale 325▲ 363 vs year ago 201 · +180.6%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle offerings were were too lightly tested today to develop any market trend. Demand for feeders was mostly moderate for light offerings. Quality today was mostly plain to average and limited demand throughout the sale. Most calves were offered in small packages or as singles this week. Market activity today was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of the sale today. Cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Demand from packers was stronger this sale compared to last week. Packers showed good demand for cows to feed and send to immediate slaughter. Slaughter cows sold steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold steady to 4.00 higher. High dressing, high quality cows sold generally steady while low dressing cows all sold higher due to stronger demand from private feeding buyers. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 4.00 higher, with the biggest increase in price coming from lower quality feeding cows. Cow quality was average to very attractive today with several strings of cows off reputation ranches. Weigh up conditions were average to above average as many cows have been out on grass and were very empty at sale time. Slaughter bulls sold 4.00-8.00 higher. Very good demand was seen for bulls for immediate slaughter. Young age cows sold generally steady. Cows which lost calves sold with the best demand this week. Feeding quality cows sold at a discount to cows suitable to rebreed. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $290.71/cwt on 8 head. That ranks 1 of 19 comparable sales and sits −104.75 against this barn's trailing median of $395.45.

Average price

$290.71

8 head · 541 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,573

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$41

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2

$20.81/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+7.72

vs MT average

+22.33 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	534	293.31	1,566	7thin
Medium and Large 1-2	590	272.50	1,608	1thin

One grade step is worth $20.81/cwt here — about −$41 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 600–700 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 sale8 hd

290.71

—

MT average2 barns · 31 hd

282.99

+7.72

National average173 barns · 11,009 hd

268.38

+22.33

This barn, trailing median19 sales

395.45

−104.75

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

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Average	1,756	141.68	2,487	82
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,599	133.71	2,137	17
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,383	131.13	1,814	241
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,183	119.69	1,416	144

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.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,868	$2,550	4thin

Every lot

59 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.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers4 lots · lightest first
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	528	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,690	2
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	644	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,868	4
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	703	268.00/cwt	268.00–268.00	1,884	3
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	717	254.32/cwt	253.00–255.00	1,823	3
Feeder Cattle · Heifers8 lots · lightest first
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	534	293.31/cwt	292.00–295.00	1,566	7
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	590	272.50/cwt	272.50–272.50	1,608	1
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	610	274.00/cwt	274.00–274.00	1,671	2
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	677	252.77/cwt	251.00–260.00	1,711	5
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	689	218.00/cwt	218.00–218.00	1,502	4
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	736	246.00/cwt	246.00–246.00	1,811	4
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	794	215.98/cwt	214.00–220.00	1,715	6
Heifers	850–900	Medium and Large 1	876	214.00/cwt	214.00–214.00	1,875	4
Feeder Cattle · Bulls12 lots · lightest first
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1	550	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,595	1
Bulls	700–750	Medium and Large 1	733	256.35/cwt	248.00–265.00	1,879	2
Bulls	800–850	Medium and Large 1	805	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	1,771	1
Bulls	900–950	Medium and Large 1	925	212.50/cwt	212.50–212.50	1,966	1
Bulls	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	970	219.00/cwt	219.00–219.00	2,124	1
Bulls	1000–1050	Large 1	1,031	215.20/cwt	212.50–216.00	2,219	8
Bulls	1050–1100	Large 1	1,070	207.00/cwt	207.00–207.00	2,215	1
Bulls	1150–1200	Large 1	1,173	187.63/cwt	184.00–192.00	2,201	5
Bulls	1200–1250	Large 1	1,225	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	2,205	1
Bulls	1250–1300	Large 1-2	1,275	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	1,976	2
Bulls	1250–1300	Large 1	1,278	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	2,185	2
Bulls	1300–1350	Large 1	1,310	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	2,109	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,270	134.42/cwt	122.50–140.00	1,707	3
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,330	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,702	1
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,369	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	2,054	5
Bulls	—	—	1,586	131.37/cwt	117.50–139.00	2,084	34
Bulls	—	—	1,595	129.58/cwt	127.00–132.00	2,067	2
Bulls	—	—	1,919	146.51/cwt	141.00–149.50	2,812	21
Bulls	—	—	2,160	158.39/cwt	154.00–163.00	3,421	16
Slaughter Cattle · Cows21 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	800	90.00/cwt	90.00–90.00	720	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	910	106.33/cwt	104.00–107.50	968	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	955	109.00/cwt	109.00–109.00	1,041	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,102	94.79/cwt	91.00–97.00	1,045	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,143	110.37/cwt	105.00–119.00	1,262	20
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,197	128.91/cwt	127.00–132.00	1,543	15
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,201	116.87/cwt	112.00–120.00	1,404	24
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,206	124.63/cwt	121.00–127.00	1,503	67
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,253	120.84/cwt	117.00–125.00	1,514	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,270	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,613	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,365	130.41/cwt	124.00–135.00	1,780	167
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,389	136.92/cwt	136.00–139.00	1,902	37
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,415	122.84/cwt	118.00–125.00	1,738	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,453	128.04/cwt	124.00–132.00	1,860	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,455	136.74/cwt	136.50–138.50	1,990	17
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,500	116.20/cwt	112.00–117.00	1,743	9
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,576	134.45/cwt	133.00–137.00	2,119	11
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,593	135.37/cwt	133.00–139.00	2,156	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,630	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	2,282	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,675	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	2,161	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,755	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	2,088	1
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,868	2,550.00/head	2,550.00–2,550.00	2,550	4
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1	605	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	1,029	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	770	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,386	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	788	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	1,478	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	913	134.10/cwt	125.00–140.00	1,224	8
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	980	185.28/cwt	160.00–206.00	1,816	141
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,120	155.00/cwt	120.00–184.50	1,736	65

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.

Montana feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Wed)

Wed May 1, 2024

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 115Last week 1,004Year ago 199

Slaughter CattleReceipts 295Last week 332Year ago 435

Replacement CattleReceipts 564Last week 325Year ago 201

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,868	2,550.00	2,550.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	8	—	913	125.00–140.00	134.10
(<2 yrs)	Open	3	—	788	187.50	187.50

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	141	—	980	160.00–206.00	185.28
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	65	—	1,120	120.00–184.50	155.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	770	180.00	180.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	605	170.00	170.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	500–550	534	292.00–295.00	293.31
2	600–650	610	274.00	274.00
5	650–700	677	251.00–260.00	252.77
4	700–750	736	246.00	246.00
4	850–900	876	214.00	214.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	550–600	590	272.50	272.50
4	650–700	689	218.00	218.00
6	750–800	794	214.00–220.00	215.98

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	500–550	528	320.00	320.00
3	700–750	717	253.00–255.00	254.32

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	600–650	644	290.00	290.00
3	700–750	703	268.00	268.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	550–600	550	290.00	290.00
2	700–750	733	248.00–265.00	256.35
1	800–850	805	220.00	220.00
1	900–950	925	212.50	212.50
1	950–1000	970	219.00	219.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	1000–1050	1,031	212.50–216.00	215.20
1	1050–1100	1,070	207.00	207.00
5	1150–1200	1,173	184.00–192.00	187.63
1	1200–1250	1,225	180.00	180.00
2	1250–1300	1,278	171.00	171.00
1	1300–1350	1,310	161.00	161.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	1250–1300	1,275	155.00	155.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,369	150.00	150.00
3	—	1,270	122.50–140.00	134.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	2,160	154.00–163.00	158.39
21	—	1,919	141.00–149.50	146.51
34	—	1,586	117.50–139.00	131.37
2	—	1,595	127.00–132.00	129.58

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,330	128.00	128.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,415	118.00–125.00	122.84
167	—	1,365	124.00–135.00	130.41
37	—	1,389	136.00–139.00	136.92

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	1,197	127.00–132.00	128.91
67	—	1,206	121.00–127.00	124.63
24	—	1,201	112.00–120.00	116.87

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	800	90.00	90.00
3	—	910	104.00–107.50	106.33
1	—	955	109.00	109.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,630	140.00	140.00
3	—	1,593	133.00–139.00	135.37
1	—	1,755	119.00	119.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,675	129.00	129.00
11	—	1,576	133.00–137.00	134.45

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,270	127.00	127.00
6	—	1,253	117.00–125.00	120.84
6	—	1,102	91.00–97.00	94.79
20	—	1,143	105.00–119.00	110.37

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,453	124.00–132.00	128.04
9	—	1,500	112.00–117.00	116.20
17	—	1,455	136.50–138.50	136.74

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.