Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-04-03

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Apr 3
● Final34 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
150 head
79 vs last sale 71 224 vs year ago 374 · 59.9%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
216 head
83 vs last sale 133 0 vs year ago 216 · +0.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
234 head
159 vs last sale 75 133 vs year ago 101 · +131.7%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle offerings were were too lightly tested today to develop any market trend. Demand for feeders was mostly moderate to good for very light offerings. Quality today was plain to average. Most calves were offered in small packages or as singles. Market activity today was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand. Cow quality was average to attractive today. Packers showed good demand for all cows on offer this week. Most of the high quality offerings were purchased to feed this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher on all offerings. Feeding cows sold mostly steady. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Private feeding cow buyers showed good demand for high quality cows again this week as they competed with packer buyers over limited offerings. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00-4.00 higher. Demand from feeding and rebreed cow buyers continues to be good. Limited bred and replacement cows continue to sell on very good demand.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $332.54/cwt on 8 head. That ranks 1 of 11 comparable sales and sits 158.91 against this barn's trailing median of $491.45.
Average price
$332.54
8 head · 509 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,693
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
single grade reported
vs the market
+10.60
vs MT average
+21.78 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1509332.541,6938thin
Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

11 sales
525496467438median 491.4501/0701/2803/1804/2206/24
Steers 500–600 lb: high $510.69, low $452.33, median $491.45 across 11 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 sale8 hd
332.54
MT average3 barns · 84 hd
321.94
+10.60
National average173 barns · 11,586 hd
310.76
+21.78
This barn, trailing median11 sales
491.45
−158.91
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
BullsLow1,889137.992,60622
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,527135.052,06229
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,357134.761,82946
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,216119.391,45218

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 Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,260$1,9573thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,125$1,9501thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,385$1,8501thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,225$1,7751thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,260$1,6001thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)960$1,4001thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,107$2,2933thin

Every lot, as filed

34 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
Bulls1,662122.58/cwt116.00–130.002,0375
Bulls2,146155.23/cwt150.00–157.003,3315
CowsBoner 80-85%1,348134.73/cwt127.00–139.001,81627
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,475119.20/cwt117.00–125.001,7584
CowsLean 85-90%1,290123.06/cwt115.00–129.001,58710
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,043114.96/cwt114.00–116.001,1992
SteersMedium and Large 1-2750–800789242.93/cwt237.00–249.001,9172
HeifersMedium and Large 1650–700660255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,6834
SteersMedium and Large 1450–500478344.97/cwt341.00–365.001,64912
SteersMedium and Large 1500–550509332.54/cwt325.00–340.001,6938
CowsBoner 80-85%1,313145.73/cwt141.00–150.001,9135
Bulls1,876137.23/cwt131.00–142.002,57412
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2450–500458317.18/cwt315.00–317.501,4538
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2600–650603262.87/cwt260.00–270.001,5857
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-29601,400.00/head1,400.00–1,400.001,4001
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,057167.44/cwt145.00–181.001,77020
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2500–550512297.00/cwt297.00–297.001,5219
SteersMedium and Large 1-2700–750745254.50/cwt254.50–254.501,8964
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,2251,775.00/head1,775.00–1,775.001,7751
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2650–700667243.24/cwt237.50–246.001,6223
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3851,850.00/head1,850.00–1,850.001,8501
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2859191.82/cwt177.50–210.001,64821
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,2601,956.86/head1,910.00–1,975.001,9573
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,1072,293.37/head2,050.00–2,450.002,2933
SteersMedium and Large 1-2650–700666267.90/cwt250.00–279.001,7848
SteersMedium and Large 1-2600–650633268.83/cwt260.00–280.001,7028
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,2601,600.00/head1,600.00–1,600.001,6001
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1251,950.00/head1,950.00–1,950.001,9501
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,488133.49/cwt125.00–139.001,98611
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,572140.80/cwt136.00–142.002,21314
CowsBoner 80-85%1,385122.84/cwt115.00–129.001,7017
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,395138.95/cwt134.00–145.001,9387
CowsLean 85-90%1,046110.13/cwt106.00–114.001,1524
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,363123.95/cwt123.00–125.001,6892

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.