Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2026-04-22

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Apr 22
● Final99 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
663 head
▼ 2,325 vs last sale 2,988▼ 166 vs year ago 829 · −20.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
376 head
▲ 251 vs last sale 125▼ 55 vs year ago 431 · −12.8%
Replacement Cattle receipts
212 head
▲ 179 vs last sale 33▼ 80 vs year ago 292 · −27.4%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week (4-15-26): Feeder cattle too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Todays feeder special was smaller than last weeks and cattle were mostly offered in small packages, with no load lots seen. Several packages of backgrounded offerings sold on very good demand. Many of these offerings were in light flesh and developed to be sold as cattle to turn out on grass. Demand was mostly good for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and not as attractive as last weeks offering. A mix of order buyers and ranchers were in the stands this week bidding on offerings. Ranchers showed good demand for cattle suitable to turn out on summer pastures. Market activity was mostly active with rapid bidding seen on all offerings. 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 4.00 higher on breaking and boning fleshed cows. Lean feeding cows sold mostly 4.00-6.00 higher. Young and high yielding offerings sold with the best demand this week and sold with the largest price increase compared to last week. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average this week with many offerings emptied out from being on green grass. 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 was very low. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady 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 steady in a narrow comparison. Bull quality this week was mostly attractive. Demand for young cows remains very good. Young age offerings sold mostly steady. Quality this week was average to attractive.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $446.54/cwt on 82 head, down $17.53 from the prior sale. That ranks 18 of 19 comparable sales and sits +51.09 against this barn's trailing median of $395.45.
Average price
$446.54
▼ 17.53 vs prior sale
82 head · 545 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,434
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$327
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$66.88/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+6.06
vs MT average
+24.37 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1545456.882,49242
Medium and Large 1-2544439.402,39137
Medium and Large 2555390.002,1653thin
One grade step is worth $66.88/cwt here — about $327 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 sale82 hd
446.54
—
MT average3 barns · 272 hd
440.48
+6.06
National average167 barns · 11,519 hd
422.17
+24.37
This barn, trailing median19 sales
395.45
+51.09
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—Average1,736214.623,72550
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,407179.072,520147
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,641176.612,89845
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,146169.621,94377

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)1,383$4,18910
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,220$3,6313thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,740$3,4002thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,307$3,9173thin

Every lot

99 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
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1408600.00/cwt600.00–600.002,4482
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2476548.24/cwt545.00–555.002,6106
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2494507.89/cwt490.00–512.002,50927
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2526497.07/cwt480.00–505.002,61512
Steers600–650Medium and Large 2610401.73/cwt400.00–410.002,45118
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1638452.69/cwt451.00–460.002,8885
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2642435.00/cwt435.00–435.002,7933
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2660423.75/cwt420.00–427.502,7972
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1684430.00/cwt430.00–430.002,9417
Steers650–700Large 1698412.50/cwt412.50–412.502,8792
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1714409.83/cwt401.00–418.002,92621
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2Full748382.50/cwt382.50–382.502,8614
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1750394.00/cwt394.00–394.002,9552
Steers750–800Medium and Large 2760340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,5841
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2790372.00/cwt372.00–372.002,9395
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1Fleshy793359.00/cwt359.00–359.002,84716
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1838366.72/cwt360.00–372.003,07317
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2847359.00/cwt359.00–359.003,0413
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1-2Full852339.00/cwt339.00–339.002,8883
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1903338.80/cwt338.00–339.003,0595
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 1Full1,025312.50/cwt312.50–312.503,2032
Feeder Cattle · Heifers17 lots · lightest first
Heifers50–100Medium and Large 1851,000.00/head1,000.00–1,000.001,0002
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2362550.00/cwt550.00–550.001,9913
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 2395460.00/cwt460.00–460.001,8171
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2438474.07/cwt470.00–490.002,0765
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2439521.67/cwt515.00–525.002,2909
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2483494.67/cwt494.00–502.502,38962
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1515476.18/cwt470.00–480.002,45216
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2523460.35/cwt440.00–470.002,40824
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2555390.00/cwt390.00–390.002,1653
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1564445.00/cwt445.00–445.002,51026
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2583400.72/cwt392.50–430.002,33613
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1636400.00/cwt400.00–400.002,5447
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 2640370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,3683
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2677374.01/cwt365.00–382.502,53222
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 2773336.23/cwt335.00–337.502,5996
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2Full787332.50/cwt332.50–332.502,6173
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1809348.00/cwt348.00–348.002,81517
Feeder Cattle · Bulls12 lots · lightest first
Bulls50–100Medium and Large 1831,000.00/head1,000.00–1,000.001,0003
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1-2322627.53/cwt625.00–630.002,0214
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1411580.00/cwt580.00–580.002,3846
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2445555.00/cwt555.00–555.002,4705
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2485535.00/cwt535.00–535.002,5952
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1626427.50/cwt427.50–427.502,6766
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1658412.08/cwt410.00–412.502,7116
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1-2678387.91/cwt387.50–390.002,6306
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1-2865322.50/cwt322.50–322.502,7901
Bulls1050–1100Large 11,055285.00/cwt285.00–285.003,0072
Bulls1100–1150Large 1-21,135270.00/cwt270.00–270.003,0652
Bulls1250–1300Large 1-21,280230.00/cwt230.00–230.002,9442
Feeder Cattle · Beef/Dairy Heifers4 lots · lightest first
Beef/Dairy Heifers750–800Large 1-2752337.50/cwt337.50–337.502,5385
Beef/Dairy Heifers750–800Large 2778310.00/cwt310.00–310.002,4126
Beef/Dairy Heifers800–850Large 2808315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,5453
Beef/Dairy Heifers800–850Large 1-2839328.00/cwt328.00–328.002,75221
Feeder Cattle · Beef/Dairy Steers2 lots · lightest first
Beef/Dairy Steers750–800Large 1-2772337.50/cwt337.50–337.502,6065
Beef/Dairy Steers850–900Large 1-2895334.50/cwt334.50–334.502,99437
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,478204.98/cwt184.00–209.003,03010
Bulls——Return to Feed1,660212.74/cwt211.00–217.003,53122
Bulls——1,745185.00/cwt185.00–185.003,2281
Bulls——Return to Feed1,835233.00/cwt233.00–233.004,2761
Bulls——1,922219.11/cwt215.00–222.004,21110
Bulls——2,024233.21/cwt225.00–237.004,7205
Bulls——Heavy Weight2,570226.00/cwt226.00–226.005,8081
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight865133.11/cwt130.00–135.001,1513
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight890145.00/cwt145.00–145.001,2911
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,045112.50/cwt112.50–112.501,1761
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,118163.06/cwt150.00–170.001,82331
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,155179.27/cwt174.00–183.002,07114
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,175162.50/cwt162.50–162.501,9091
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,198131.21/cwt122.50–135.001,5724
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,222188.72/cwt185.00–195.002,30622
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,365188.85/cwt186.00–192.002,57845
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,375117.50/cwt117.50–117.501,6161
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,422166.65/cwt152.00–174.002,37033
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,426180.19/cwt176.00–185.002,57066
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,508157.91/cwt153.00–163.002,3812
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,553188.15/cwt186.00–191.002,9229
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,605180.00/cwt180.00–180.002,8891
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,633178.55/cwt175.00–184.002,91613
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,642176.41/cwt176.00–178.002,8979
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,686164.34/cwt155.00–168.002,7715
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,729167.95/cwt159.00–173.002,9048
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows12 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1843312.61/cwt310.00–315.002,6354
Stock Cows—Medium 1880320.00/cwt320.00–320.002,8162
Stock Cows—Medium 1-2892262.96/cwt255.00–265.002,3465
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,015190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,9291
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,017302.49/cwt230.00–345.003,07652
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,024259.15/cwt225.00–310.002,6547
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,089234.60/cwt200.00–302.002,55526
Stock Cows—Large 11,140210.00/cwt210.00–210.002,3943
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,158245.50/cwt180.00–320.002,84360
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,334196.25/cwt185.00–245.002,6188
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,380222.61/cwt211.00–235.003,0722
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,585176.00/cwt176.00–176.002,7901
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,3073,916.90/head3,900.00–3,950.003,9173
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2203,630.50/head3,500.00–3,850.003,6313
Bred Cows—Large 11,3203,850.00/head3,850.00–3,850.003,8501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3904,227.02/head4,050.00–4,300.004,2279
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,7403,400.00/head3,400.00–3,400.003,4002

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.