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

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Public Auction Yards

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 Nov 7, 2025
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

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 12 of 19 comparable sales and sits +2.08 against this barn's trailing median of $420.42.
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

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1580422.502,4512thin
Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

19 sales
478430382334median 420.4201/2803/1805/1306/1709/16
Heifers 500–600 lb: high $464.07, low $347.53, median $420.42 across 19 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

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
420.42
+2.08
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

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—High1,831217.323,97891
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,401181.912,54966
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,641178.202,92420
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,171169.751,98862

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)1,297$4,17443
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,445$3,7004thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,343$3,6002thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,505$3,4918
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,610$3,4001thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,478$3,3859
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,230$3,82711
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,184$4,56236
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,475$4,3069
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,404$4,22421
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,539$4,02085
Heifer PairsOpen(<2 yrs)1,094$4,981118

Every lot, as filed

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.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
CowsLean 85-90%—1,097137.54/cwt132.50–142.501,5099
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed—1,211184.17/cwt175.00–188.002,23010
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed—1,408181.64/cwt175.00–188.002,55726
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed—1,585171.00/cwt171.00–171.002,7101
CowsLean 85-90%—1,215162.50/cwt162.50–162.501,9741
CowsLean 85-90%—1,223174.05/cwt173.00–175.002,1292
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1—1,3433,600.00/head3,600.00–3,600.003,6002
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1—1,1633,900.00/head3,900.00–3,900.003,9007
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth—1,6493,550.00/head3,550.00–3,550.003,5504
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1—1,2884,196.85/head4,100.00–4,300.004,19741
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2—958290.63/cwt240.00–310.002,78413
Heifer PairsMedium and Large 1—1,2555,328.60/head5,300.00–5,350.005,32927
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1—1,3884,750.00/head4,750.00–4,750.004,75010
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth—1,4363,688.73/head3,650.00–3,800.003,6898
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,3633,600.00/head3,600.00–3,600.003,6002
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1—1,300195.60/cwt190.00–202.502,5437
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2—1,4803,700.00/head3,700.00–3,700.003,7002
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,3434,450.00/head4,450.00–4,450.004,4503
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,3294,330.79/head4,150.00–4,500.004,3314
Heifer PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,0034,000.00/head4,000.00–4,000.004,0002
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1—1,4044,223.60/head4,200.00–4,350.004,22421
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth—1,5534,060.28/head3,975.00–4,300.004,06076
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2—1,2903,250.00/head3,250.00–3,250.003,2501
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed—1,371190.29/cwt187.00–194.002,60927
CowsBreaker 75-80%—1,673167.35/cwt165.00–170.002,8002
CowsLean 85-90%—1,134119.43/cwt100.00–125.001,3544
CowsBoner 80-85%—1,595153.99/cwt152.00–156.002,4563
Bulls——2,146225.02/cwt223.00–227.004,82916
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed—1,201191.05/cwt189.00–194.002,29523
Bulls——1,934217.10/cwt208.00–221.004,19919
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed—1,172166.13/cwt150.00–174.001,94711
Bulls—Return to Feed—1,663205.73/cwt194.00–212.003,4219
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight—955125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,1941
Bulls——2,136224.53/cwt222.00–230.004,79610
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed—1,556192.30/cwt188.00–195.502,99210
Bulls——1,740204.00/cwt204.00–204.003,5501
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed—1,406168.33/cwt162.00–175.002,36710
Bulls—Return to Feed—1,598218.02/cwt215.00–223.003,48434
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight—975110.00/cwt110.00–110.001,0731
Bulls—Light Weight—1,550168.54/cwt165.00–172.502,6122
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed—1,690175.00/cwt175.00–175.002,9582
Heifer PairsMedium 1—9614,452.62/head4,200.00–4,600.004,45325
Stock CowsMedium 1-2—820225.00/cwt225.00–225.001,8451
Stock CowsMedium 1-2—828270.31/cwt255.00–280.002,2384
Stock CowsMedium 1—831317.30/cwt295.00–325.002,63711
Bred HeifersLarge 1—1,3473,700.00/head3,700.00–3,700.003,7004
CowsBreaker 75-80%—1,789157.08/cwt154.00–162.502,8105
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2—1,027254.08/cwt200.00–307.502,60921
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1—1,4453,700.00/head3,700.00–3,700.003,7004
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1—1,166252.34/cwt192.00–312.502,94235
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1—1,6103,400.00/head3,400.00–3,400.003,4001
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1—1,051292.74/cwt220.00–341.003,07744
Cow-Calf PairsMedium 1—1,1464,900.00/head4,900.00–4,900.004,90010
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed—1,2753,600.00/head3,600.00–3,600.003,6001
BullsMedium and Large 1-2550–600585415.00/cwt415.00–415.002,4281
HeifersMedium and Large 1550–600580422.50/cwt422.50–422.502,4512
HeifersMedium and Large 1100–150100950.00/head950.00–950.009501
HeifersMedium and Large 1600–650613417.51/cwt415.00–420.002,5592
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth—1,3423,253.35/head3,100.00–3,300.003,2535
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1—1,5363,525.84/head3,450.00–3,800.003,5267
SteersMedium and Large 1-250–10073750.00/head750.00–750.007502
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2400–450428505.00/cwt505.00–505.002,1612
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2Non-Legible BANGS—9974,200.00/head4,200.00–4,200.004,20012
Heifer PairsMedium and Large 1—1,0805,070.60/head4,550.00–5,300.005,07164
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1—1,6294,550.00/head4,550.00–4,550.004,5504

How this sale compares

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 →