Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2026-04-08

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2026-04-08
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-04-08

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Apr 8

● Final66 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Apr 1Apr 8Apr 15 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

192 head

▼ 1 vs last sale 193▲ 61 vs year ago 131 · +46.6%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

303 head

▼ 159 vs last sale 462▼ 12 vs year ago 315 · −3.8%

Replacement Cattle receipts

212 head

▼ 77 vs last sale 289▲ 54 vs year ago 158 · +34.2%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week (4-01-26): Feeder cattle too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly good for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and offered in small packages or as singles. A small crowd of feeder buyers on hand for todays sale. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand again this week. Almost every cow purchased today was once again purchased to feed in some capacity. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher on all classes. Quality this week was mostly average. A few sets of cows which had be started on feed sold again this week; these cows were met with mostly good demand. Weigh up conditions were not as attractive to buyers this week. Weigh conditions were mixed, but not as attractive as last week. Cows with blemishes were also heavily purchased to feed this week as buyers pushed cow prices well over packer buyers orders for slaughter cows. The volume of cows purchased for immediate harvest remains very low, however more cows were purchased to slaughter this week than the last few weeks. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on breaking, boning and lean cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher in a very narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Feeding bull buyers continue to show very good demand for light weight and lower dressing bulls that would improve on feed. Feeding bulls sold mostly 5.00 higher. Bull quality this week was mostly attractive and better than the last few weeks. Demand for young cows remains very good. Young age offerings sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive. Several sets of attractive wet bagged 2 year olds sold for $3,200-3,350 per head!

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 $445.45/cwt on 38 head, up $31.65 from the prior sale. That ranks 17 of 19 comparable sales and sits +50.00 against this barn's trailing median of $395.45.

Average price

$445.45

▲ 31.65 vs prior sale

38 head · 540 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,404

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$17

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

$16.35/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−11.67

vs MT average

+17.09 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	528	457.50	2,416	10thin
Medium and Large 1-2	544	441.15	2,399	28

One grade step is worth $16.35/cwt here — about $17 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 400–500 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 sale38 hd

445.45

—

MT average3 barns · 662 hd

457.13

−11.67

National average175 barns · 10,626 hd

428.36

+17.09

This barn, trailing median19 sales

395.45

+50.00

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	1,788	216.41	3,870	53
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,420	177.20	2,517	118
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,597	176.94	2,825	60
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,168	160.48	1,875	47

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
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,332	$4,180	6
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,140	$3,921	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,355	$3,400	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,587	$3,250	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,480	$3,200	1thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,437	$3,900	6

Every lot

66 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 · Steers6 lots · lightest first
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	434	629.30/cwt	625.00–630.00	2,731	14
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	605	460.00/cwt	460.00–460.00	2,783	2
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	619	431.66/cwt	430.00–432.50	2,672	3
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 2	693	381.86/cwt	360.00–385.00	2,646	8
Steers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	925	327.50/cwt	327.50–327.50	3,029	3
Steers	1050–1100	Large 1	1,057	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	3,435	10
Feeder Cattle · Heifers13 lots · lightest first
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	323	510.00/cwt	510.00–510.00	1,647	2
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1	395	530.00/cwt	530.00–530.00	2,094	1
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 2	483	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	1,860	2
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	486	499.22/cwt	492.50–510.00	2,426	30
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	528	457.50/cwt	457.50–457.50	2,416	10
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	530	447.38/cwt	435.00–460.00	2,371	19
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	573	428.00/cwt	428.00–428.00	2,452	9
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	600	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	2,460	2
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	642	395.80/cwt	385.00–397.50	2,541	7
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 2	672	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	2,318	3
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	673	358.68/cwt	355.00–365.00	2,414	4
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	710	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	2,556	2
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	807	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	2,744	3
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	50–100	Medium and Large 1-2	85	813.24/head	800.00–825.00	813	2
Bulls	50–100	Medium and Large 1	90	900.00/head	900.00–900.00	900	2
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 1	505	490.00/cwt	490.00–490.00	2,475	2
Bulls	650–700	Medium and Large 1	663	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	2,586	2
Bulls	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	687	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	2,473	3
Bulls	1100–1150	Large 1	1,141	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	3,081	4
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,388	184.17/cwt	180.00–188.00	2,556	2
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,511	205.16/cwt	201.00–208.50	3,100	6
Bulls	—	—	1,623	195.76/cwt	192.50–199.00	3,177	2
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,672	216.11/cwt	209.00–222.50	3,613	20
Bulls	—	—	1,868	219.55/cwt	218.00–221.00	4,101	8
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,970	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	4,433	1
Bulls	—	—	2,051	226.08/cwt	223.00–229.00	4,637	11
Bulls	—	—Natural	2,255	229.50/cwt	229.50–229.50	5,175	3
Slaughter Cattle · Cows18 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	903	126.16/cwt	120.00–132.50	1,139	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,146	131.43/cwt	122.00–142.00	1,506	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,182	174.08/cwt	170.00–179.00	2,058	16
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,183	162.87/cwt	145.00–169.00	1,927	20
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,205	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	1,024	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,223	186.98/cwt	186.00–188.00	2,287	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,352	168.65/cwt	155.00–172.00	2,280	22
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,395	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	1,800	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,411	177.05/cwt	172.00–183.00	2,498	62
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,455	168.00/cwt	168.00–168.00	2,444	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,472	187.44/cwt	184.00–193.00	2,759	29
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,493	184.65/cwt	183.00–187.50	2,757	12
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,568	168.36/cwt	165.00–170.00	2,640	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,590	178.19/cwt	170.00–180.00	2,833	29
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,612	163.05/cwt	156.00–166.00	2,628	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,684	170.86/cwt	168.00–175.00	2,877	13
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,685	163.09/cwt	161.00–165.00	2,748	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,800	180.50/cwt	180.50–180.50	3,249	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows9 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1-2	775	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	1,724	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	832	332.16/cwt	320.00–347.50	2,764	13
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	952	294.84/cwt	250.00–327.50	2,807	10
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,034	306.37/cwt	226.00–361.00	3,168	65
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,057	243.60/cwt	181.00–287.50	2,575	17
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,110	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	2,997	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	1,220	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	2,288	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,234	230.73/cwt	194.00–332.50	2,847	54
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,367	189.50/cwt	185.00–194.00	2,590	6
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,140	3,920.78/head	3,800.00–4,000.00	3,921	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,332	4,180.23/head	4,150.00–4,250.00	4,180	6
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,355	3,400.00/head	3,400.00–3,400.00	3,400	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,480	3,200.00/head	3,200.00–3,200.00	3,200	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,587	3,250.00/head	3,250.00–3,250.00	3,250	3
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,437	3,900.00/head	3,900.00–3,900.00	3,900	6

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 Apr 8, 2026

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 192Last week 193Year ago 131

Slaughter CattleReceipts 303Last week 462Year ago 315

Replacement CattleReceipts 212Last week 289Year ago 158

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,367	185.00–194.00	189.50
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	54	—	1,234	194.00–332.50	230.73
(<2 yrs)	Open	65	—	1,034	226.00–361.00	306.37

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	775	222.50	222.50

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	17	—	1,057	181.00–287.50	243.60
(<2 yrs)	Open	10	—	952	250.00–327.50	294.84
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,110	270.00	270.00

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	13	—	832	320.00–347.50	332.16

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,220	187.50	187.50

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,355	3,400.00	3,400.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,480	3,200.00	3,200.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	6	—	1,332	4,150.00–4,250.00	4,180.23
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	3	—	1,140	3,800.00–4,000.00	3,920.78

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	3	—	1,587	3,250.00	3,250.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,437	3,900.00	3,900.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	300–350	323	510.00	510.00
19	500–550	530	435.00–460.00	447.38
9	550–600	573	428.00	428.00
7	600–650	642	385.00–397.50	395.80
4	650–700	673	355.00–365.00	358.68
2	700–750	710	360.00	360.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	350–400	395	530.00	530.00
30	450–500	486	492.50–510.00	499.22
10	500–550	528	457.50	457.50
2	600–650	600	410.00	410.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	450–500	483	385.00	385.00
3	650–700	672	345.00	345.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
3	800–850	807	340.00	340.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	600–650	619	430.00–432.50	431.66
3	900–950	925	327.50	327.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14	400–450	434	625.00–630.00	629.30
2	600–650	605	460.00	460.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	650–700	693	360.00–385.00	381.86

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
10	1050–1100	1,057	325.00	325.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
2	50–100	85	800.00–825.00	813.24
3	650–700	687	360.00	360.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
2	50–100	90	900.00	900.00
2	500–550	505	490.00	490.00
2	650–700	663	390.00	390.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	1100–1150	1,141	270.00	270.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	1,183	145.00–169.00	162.87
16	—	1,182	170.00–179.00	174.08
2	—	1,223	186.00–188.00	186.98

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,568	165.00–170.00	168.36
12	—	1,493	183.00–187.50	184.65
29	—	1,590	170.00–180.00	178.19

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,685	161.00–165.00	163.09
1	—	1,800	180.50	180.50
13	—	1,684	168.00–175.00	170.86

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,455	168.00	168.00
3	—	1,612	156.00–166.00	163.05
1	—	1,395	129.00	129.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	903	120.00–132.50	126.16

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	1,352	155.00–172.00	168.65
62	—	1,411	172.00–183.00	177.05
29	—	1,472	184.00–193.00	187.44

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,146	122.00–142.00	131.43
1	—	1,205	85.00	85.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,868	218.00–221.00	219.55
2	—	1,623	192.50–199.00	195.76
11	—	2,051	223.00–229.00	226.08

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	2,255	229.50	229.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,388	180.00–188.00	184.17

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	1,672	209.00–222.50	216.11
6	—	1,511	201.00–208.50	205.16
1	—	1,970	225.00	225.00

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.