Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2026-04-15

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Apr 15
● Final117 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
2,988 head
▲ 2,796 vs last sale 192▼ 2,632 vs year ago 5,620 · −46.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
125 head
▼ 178 vs last sale 303▼ 33 vs year ago 158 · −20.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
33 head
▼ 179 vs last sale 212▼ 29 vs year ago 62 · −46.8%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Today was the Annual April Fest Feeder and Replacement Special. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly good to very good, especially for several loads of attractive quality replacement heifers. Feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend. Feeders were mostly offered in moderate size packages this week, with a few load lots on offer as well. Feeding cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop a market trend, however higher undertones were noted. Slaughter cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop a market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noted. Buyer demand overall was good to very good.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $464.07/cwt on 143 head, up $18.62 from the prior sale. That ranks 19 of 19 comparable sales and sits +68.62 against this barn's trailing median of $395.45.
Average price
$464.07
▲ 18.62 vs prior sale
143 head · 544 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,523
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$463
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$97.82/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−1.61
vs MT average
+36.68 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1543477.822,595101
Medium and Large 1-2543437.902,37737
Medium and Large 2561380.002,1325thin
One grade step is worth $97.82/cwt here — about $463 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 300–400 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 sale143 hd
464.07
—
MT average3 barns · 330 hd
465.68
−1.61
National average182 barns · 12,591 hd
427.39
+36.68
This barn, trailing median19 sales
395.45
+68.62
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—High1,841215.733,97122
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,279180.902,31429
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,537173.722,66931
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,067152.591,62830

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
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,333$3,4552thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,683$2,4002thin

Every lot

117 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 · Steers35 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1263701.94/cwt700.00–710.001,8465
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1345665.14/cwt650.00–670.002,2954
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1353654.28/cwt652.50–680.002,31026
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2385605.00/cwt605.00–605.002,3291
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2418507.51/cwt485.00–520.002,1215
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1430625.17/cwt600.00–631.002,68869
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2435564.91/cwt540.00–585.002,45720
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1478573.09/cwt555.00–590.002,73958
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2482505.48/cwt500.00–517.502,43631
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1535528.56/cwt522.50–552.502,82839
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2543480.92/cwt470.00–482.502,61119
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1579499.49/cwt482.50–526.002,89281
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2580438.87/cwt427.00–465.002,54513
Steers550–600Medium and Large 2580399.87/cwt395.00–405.002,3192
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2616422.62/cwt400.00–445.002,60361
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1621460.07/cwt451.00–487.502,857100
Steers650–700Medium and Large 2675324.56/cwt310.00–340.002,1912
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1676428.66/cwt419.00–450.002,89870
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2685382.03/cwt375.00–395.002,61726
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Fleshy688381.00/cwt381.00–381.002,6219
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1722413.76/cwt399.00–425.002,98774
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2737377.45/cwt355.00–387.502,78226
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1753401.80/cwt385.00–408.003,026105
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2767363.52/cwt350.00–377.502,7889
Steers750–800Medium and Large 2771326.14/cwt325.00–340.002,51518
Steers800–850Medium and Large 2800305.00/cwt305.00–305.002,4401
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2811348.71/cwt330.00–355.002,8286
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1823361.22/cwt355.00–375.002,97335
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1858359.53/cwt353.00–361.003,08582
Steers850–900Large 1-2867335.00/cwt335.00–335.002,90419
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1-2870330.33/cwt326.00–337.502,8743
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1-2922316.63/cwt315.00–320.002,9193
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1927334.48/cwt333.00–345.003,10111
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1957341.00/cwt341.00–341.003,2633
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2964311.38/cwt307.00–318.003,0025
Feeder Cattle · Heifers45 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1-2288559.74/cwt550.00–570.001,6122
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1313605.00/cwt605.00–605.001,89419
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2373519.90/cwt505.00–525.001,9398
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 2384444.88/cwt440.00–450.001,7084
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2420419.64/cwt405.00–450.001,7623
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1421600.55/cwt596.00–615.002,52886
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2430510.42/cwt475.00–530.002,19522
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2478475.80/cwt440.00–495.002,27410
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1486515.66/cwt505.00–560.002,50664
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2493415.00/cwt415.00–415.002,0462
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1525502.43/cwt480.00–505.002,63854
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2528450.69/cwt445.00–465.002,38028
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2561380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,1325
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1564449.55/cwt420.00–475.002,53547
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Replacement5842,671.81/head2,600.00–2,725.002,67223
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2589398.12/cwt390.00–402.502,3459
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 2613357.00/cwt357.00–357.002,18819
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2625377.18/cwt370.00–383.002,35719
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1628410.56/cwt390.00–431.002,578138
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2665364.68/cwt361.00–385.002,42521
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1668395.99/cwt373.00–414.002,645158
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2683327.53/cwt325.00–330.002,2372
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Replacement697408.00/cwt408.00–408.002,84456
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 2715300.00/cwt300.00–300.002,1451
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1Replacement716398.32/cwt390.00–401.002,85242
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1719384.89/cwt360.00–415.002,767232
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1Replacement7362,887.39/head2,885.00–2,900.002,88738
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2737341.72/cwt320.00–358.002,51829
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1Replacement759375.57/cwt361.00–384.002,851108
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1779351.95/cwt325.00–366.002,74220
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1Replacement7852,900.00/head2,900.00–2,900.002,9008
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 2789285.96/cwt250.00–310.002,2567
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2805316.69/cwt315.00–320.002,5493
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1814345.29/cwt328.00–350.502,81122
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1Replacement825342.00/cwt342.00–342.002,82215
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1Replacement8393,179.76/head3,050.00–3,200.003,180192
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1854340.41/cwt325.00–347.002,90714
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1Replacement8643,154.25/head2,925.00–3,250.003,154178
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1Replacement9093,335.00/head3,335.00–3,335.003,335114
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2Replacement910290.00/cwt290.00–290.002,6394
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1Replacement913346.49/cwt339.00–353.503,16364
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1917326.88/cwt320.00–330.002,99714
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2932309.19/cwt307.50–310.002,8823
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1Replacement9613,107.16/head3,100.00–3,150.003,10714
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1965317.50/cwt317.50–317.503,0641
Feeder Cattle · Bulls11 lots · lightest first
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2470447.74/cwt425.00–470.002,1042
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1506506.31/cwt495.00–517.502,5624
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2512450.26/cwt410.00–470.002,3053
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1550460.00/cwt460.00–460.002,5301
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2575430.00/cwt430.00–430.002,4731
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1647400.56/cwt400.00–425.002,59243
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1675400.00/cwt400.00–400.002,7001
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1760355.00/cwt355.00–355.002,6981
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1800330.00/cwt330.00–330.002,6401
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1935327.50/cwt327.50–327.503,0621
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1975315.00/cwt315.00–315.003,0711
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,378181.13/cwt180.00–182.002,4962
Bulls——1,681213.63/cwt212.00–218.503,5917
Bulls——Return to Feed1,793238.38/cwt232.00–250.004,2743
Bulls——Return to Feed2,013215.72/cwt214.50–216.004,3428
Bulls——Return to Feed2,243223.74/cwt221.00–226.005,0182
Slaughter Cattle · Cows14 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%998172.16/cwt167.50–177.501,7182
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,026135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,3857
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,035155.81/cwt150.00–161.001,6139
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,098104.50/cwt95.00–115.001,1473
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,107163.73/cwt160.00–165.001,8125
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,169188.50/cwt188.50–188.502,2044
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,257187.83/cwt187.00–188.502,3613
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,267182.80/cwt175.00–185.002,31623
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,395159.36/cwt156.00–161.002,2233
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,421180.24/cwt175.00–183.002,5616
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,500187.00/cwt186.00–188.002,8058
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,515160.94/cwt157.00–163.002,4386
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,612166.86/cwt163.00–172.002,6907
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,684168.52/cwt165.00–171.002,8384
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs2 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,3333,454.78/head3,000.00–3,800.003,4552
Cow-Calf Pairs—Large 1-21,6832,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4002
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1935283.69/cwt267.50–298.002,6535
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2946250.34/cwt227.50–257.502,3688
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,112198.06/cwt192.00–205.002,2023
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,141226.53/cwt217.50–235.002,5857
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,213251.94/cwt240.00–260.003,0565

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.