Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2026-05-06

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2026-05-06
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-05-06

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, May 6

● Final65 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Apr 29May 6May 13 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

55 head

▼ 190 vs last sale 245▼ 3 vs year ago 58 · −5.2%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

308 head

▼ 113 vs last sale 421▼ 13 vs year ago 321 · −4.0%

Replacement Cattle receipts

822 head

▲ 442 vs last sale 380▲ 61 vs year ago 761 · +8.0%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week (4-29-26): Feeder cattle too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Most feeders were offered in small packages or as singles. Feeder quality this week was mostly plain to average. Market activity was mostly moderate to active, despite light 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 generally steady to firm on all classes. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Buyers continue to show very good demand for young and high yielding offerings. Young to middle age feeding cows continue to sell with the best demand as feeding and rebreed buyers both bid aggressively over cows that fit their orders. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average this week, however weigh conditions were not as attractive this week as they were last week. The volume of cows purchased for immediate harvest remains very low. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady to firm 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 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Bull quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Demand for young cows remains very good. Young age offerings sold mostly steady. Quality this week was average to attractive. A few pairs are starting to be marketed due to dryness. Demand for pairs was mostly moderate this sale. Demand has lightened as concern for drought is keeping ranchers from bidding on pairs. There was a large crowd of ranchers in the stands today, however most were just there to watch.

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 $422.50/cwt on 2 head, down $24.04 from the prior sale. That ranks 15 of 19 comparable sales and sits +27.05 against this barn's trailing median of $395.45.

Average price

$422.50

▼ 24.04 vs prior sale

2 head · 580 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,451

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

—

single grade reported

vs the market

−46.59

vs MT average

−5.40 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	580	422.50	2,451	2thin

Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale2 hd

422.50

—

MT average2 barns · 357 hd

469.09

−46.59

National average182 barns · 12,459 hd

427.90

−5.40

This barn, trailing median19 sales

395.45

+27.05

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	—	High	1,831	217.32	3,978	91
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,401	181.91	2,549	66
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,641	178.20	2,924	20
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,171	169.75	1,988	62

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)	1,297	$4,174	43
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,445	$3,700	4thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,343	$3,600	2thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,505	$3,491	8
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,610	$3,400	1thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,478	$3,385	9
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,230	$3,827	11
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,184	$4,562	36
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,475	$4,306	9
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,404	$4,224	21
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,539	$4,020	85
Heifer Pairs	Open	(<2 yrs)	1,094	$4,981	118

Every lot

65 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 · Steers1 lot · lightest first
Steers	50–100	Medium and Large 1-2	73	750.00/head	750.00–750.00	750	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers4 lots · lightest first
Heifers	100–150	Medium and Large 1	100	950.00/head	950.00–950.00	950	1
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	428	505.00/cwt	505.00–505.00	2,161	2
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	580	422.50/cwt	422.50–422.50	2,451	2
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	613	417.51/cwt	415.00–420.00	2,559	2
Feeder Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	585	415.00/cwt	415.00–415.00	2,428	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,550	168.54/cwt	165.00–172.50	2,612	2
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,598	218.02/cwt	215.00–223.00	3,484	34
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,663	205.73/cwt	194.00–212.00	3,421	9
Bulls	—	—	1,740	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	3,550	1
Bulls	—	—	1,934	217.10/cwt	208.00–221.00	4,199	19
Bulls	—	—	2,136	224.53/cwt	222.00–230.00	4,796	10
Bulls	—	—	2,146	225.02/cwt	223.00–227.00	4,829	16
Slaughter Cattle · Cows18 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	955	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	1,194	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	975	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	1,073	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,097	137.54/cwt	132.50–142.50	1,509	9
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,134	119.43/cwt	100.00–125.00	1,354	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,172	166.13/cwt	150.00–174.00	1,947	11
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,201	191.05/cwt	189.00–194.00	2,295	23
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,211	184.17/cwt	175.00–188.00	2,230	10
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,215	162.50/cwt	162.50–162.50	1,974	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,223	174.05/cwt	173.00–175.00	2,129	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,371	190.29/cwt	187.00–194.00	2,609	27
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,406	168.33/cwt	162.00–175.00	2,367	10
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,408	181.64/cwt	175.00–188.00	2,557	26
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,556	192.30/cwt	188.00–195.50	2,992	10
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,585	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	2,710	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,595	153.99/cwt	152.00–156.00	2,456	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,673	167.35/cwt	165.00–170.00	2,800	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,690	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	2,958	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,789	157.08/cwt	154.00–162.50	2,810	5
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows9 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,288	4,196.85/head	4,100.00–4,300.00	4,197	41
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,290	3,250.00/head	3,250.00–3,250.00	3,250	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	1,342	3,253.35/head	3,100.00–3,300.00	3,253	5
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,343	3,600.00/head	3,600.00–3,600.00	3,600	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,445	3,700.00/head	3,700.00–3,700.00	3,700	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,480	3,700.00/head	3,700.00–3,700.00	3,700	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,536	3,525.84/head	3,450.00–3,800.00	3,526	7
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,610	3,400.00/head	3,400.00–3,400.00	3,400	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,649	3,550.00/head	3,550.00–3,550.00	3,550	4
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers2 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,163	3,900.00/head	3,900.00–3,900.00	3,900	7
Bred Heifers	—	Large 1	1,347	3,700.00/head	3,700.00–3,700.00	3,700	4
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1-2	820	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,845	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1-2	828	270.31/cwt	255.00–280.00	2,238	4
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1	831	317.30/cwt	295.00–325.00	2,637	11
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	958	290.63/cwt	240.00–310.00	2,784	13
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,027	254.08/cwt	200.00–307.50	2,609	21
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,051	292.74/cwt	220.00–341.00	3,077	44
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,166	252.34/cwt	192.00–312.50	2,942	35
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,300	195.60/cwt	190.00–202.50	2,543	7
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs4 lots · lightest first
Heifer Pairs	—	Medium 1	961	4,452.62/head	4,200.00–4,600.00	4,453	25
Heifer Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,003	4,000.00/head	4,000.00–4,000.00	4,000	2
Heifer Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,080	5,070.60/head	4,550.00–5,300.00	5,071	64
Heifer Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,255	5,328.60/head	5,300.00–5,350.00	5,329	27
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs11 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2Non-Legible BANGS	997	4,200.00/head	4,200.00–4,200.00	4,200	12
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium 1	1,146	4,900.00/head	4,900.00–4,900.00	4,900	10
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,275	3,600.00/head	3,600.00–3,600.00	3,600	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,329	4,330.79/head	4,150.00–4,500.00	4,331	4
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,343	4,450.00/head	4,450.00–4,450.00	4,450	3
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,363	3,600.00/head	3,600.00–3,600.00	3,600	2
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,388	4,750.00/head	4,750.00–4,750.00	4,750	10
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,404	4,223.60/head	4,200.00–4,350.00	4,224	21
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	1,436	3,688.73/head	3,650.00–3,800.00	3,689	8
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,553	4,060.28/head	3,975.00–4,300.00	4,060	76
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,629	4,550.00/head	4,550.00–4,550.00	4,550	4

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 6, 2026

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 55Last week 245Year ago 58

Slaughter CattleReceipts 308Last week 421Year ago 321

Replacement CattleReceipts 822Last week 380Year ago 761

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,097	132.50–142.50	137.54
1	—	1,215	162.50	162.50
2	—	1,223	173.00–175.00	174.05
4	—	1,134	100.00–125.00	119.43

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,211	175.00–188.00	184.17
23	—	1,201	189.00–194.00	191.05
11	—	1,172	150.00–174.00	166.13

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	1,408	175.00–188.00	181.64
27	—	1,371	187.00–194.00	190.29
10	—	1,406	162.00–175.00	168.33

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,585	171.00	171.00
10	—	1,556	188.00–195.50	192.30
2	—	1,690	175.00	175.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,673	165.00–170.00	167.35
5	—	1,789	154.00–162.50	157.08

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,595	152.00–156.00	153.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	955	125.00	125.00
1	—	975	110.00	110.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	2,146	223.00–227.00	225.02
19	—	1,934	208.00–221.00	217.10
10	—	2,136	222.00–230.00	224.53
1	—	1,740	204.00	204.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,663	194.00–212.00	205.73
34	—	1,598	215.00–223.00	218.02

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,550	165.00–172.50	168.54

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,343	3,600.00	3,600.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	41	—	1,288	4,100.00–4,300.00	4,196.85
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	4	—	1,445	3,700.00	3,700.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	1	—	1,610	3,400.00	3,400.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	7	—	1,536	3,450.00–3,800.00	3,525.84

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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	4	—	1,649	3,550.00	3,550.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,480	3,700.00	3,700.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	1,290	3,250.00	3,250.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	5	—	1,342	3,100.00–3,300.00	3,253.35

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	7	—	1,163	3,900.00	3,900.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	4	—	1,347	3,700.00	3,700.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	13	—	958	240.00–310.00	290.63
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	21	—	1,027	200.00–307.50	254.08

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	7	—	1,300	190.00–202.50	195.60
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	35	—	1,166	192.00–312.50	252.34
(<2 yrs)	Open	44	—	1,051	220.00–341.00	292.74

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	—	820	225.00	225.00
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	828	255.00–280.00	270.31

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	11	—	831	295.00–325.00	317.30

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	27	—	1,255	5,300.00–5,350.00	5,328.60
(<2 yrs)	Open	64	—	1,080	4,550.00–5,300.00	5,070.60

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,003	4,000.00	4,000.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifer Pairs — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	25	—	961	4,200.00–4,600.00	4,452.62

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	10	—	1,388	4,750.00	4,750.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	21	—	1,404	4,200.00–4,350.00	4,223.60
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,629	4,550.00	4,550.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	8	—	1,436	3,650.00–3,800.00	3,688.73

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 (5-8 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,363	3,600.00	3,600.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,343	4,450.00	4,450.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,329	4,150.00–4,500.00	4,330.79

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	76	—	1,553	3,975.00–4,300.00	4,060.28

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	10	—	1,146	4,900.00	4,900.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,275	3,600.00	3,600.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	12	—	997	4,200.00	4,200.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	550–600	585	415.00	415.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	100–150	100	950.00	950.00
2	550–600	580	422.50	422.50
2	600–650	613	415.00–420.00	417.51

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	400–450	428	505.00	505.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
2	50–100	73	750.00	750.00

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.