Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2026-05-13
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-05-13

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week (5-06-26): Feeder cattle too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Most feeders were offered in moderate size packages with a few load lots noticed as well. Feeder quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Many sets of put together offerings from late fall and early spring were seen this sale as backgrounders marketed cattle. Home-raised offerings sold on very good demand this sale. Demand for cattle green enough to go to grass remains very good. Demand for replacement heifers was very good as quality was attractive. A moderate crowd was on hand for todays sale with ranchers and order buyers both in the stands and over the internet actively bidding on feeders. Market activity was active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand remains very good. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to weak on a lower quality and fuller offering. Weigh up conditions were not as attractive to buyers this sale as many cows were pushing some fill as temperatures reached 93 degrees by early afternoon. Packers showed need for cattle for immediate harvest as they showed stronger demand for cows to slaughter. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Fleshy cows sold with much stronger demand this sale and these offerings showed the largest advancement over last week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Feeding bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Bull quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Demand for young cows remains very good. Young age offerings sold with lower undertones on a lower quality offering. Quality this week was average, and not as attractive as last week. A few pairs are starting to be marketed due to drought. Demand for pairs was moderate as all ranchers are showing concerns over drought conditions.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $430.73/cwt on 157 head, down $15.81 from the prior sale. That ranks 13 of 19 comparable sales and sits +9.19 against this barn's trailing median of $421.54.

Average price

$430.73

▼ 15.81 vs prior sale

157 head · 554 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,387

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$576

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2

$101.60/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−3.57

vs MT average

+13.62 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	562	441.60	2,480	108
Medium and Large 1-2	533	426.25	2,273	22
Medium and Large 2	538	399.78	2,150	23
Medium 2	560	340.00	1,904	4thin

One grade step is worth $101.60/cwt here — about $576 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 500–600 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

19 sales

Heifers 500–600 lb: high $464.07, low $350.88, median $421.54 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 sale157 hd

430.73

—

MT average3 barns · 261 hd

434.30

−3.57

National average171 barns · 11,385 hd

417.11

+13.62

This barn, trailing median19 sales

421.54

+9.19

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Average	1,765	224.44	3,961	10
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,648	178.74	2,946	13
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,397	177.69	2,482	52
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,163	169.64	1,973	21

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)	1,363	$3,900	16
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,315	$3,800	3thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,365	$3,725	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,307	$3,550	5
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,523	$3,500	2thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,495	$3,000	2thin
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,220	$3,925	5
Bred Heifers	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,217	$3,500	4thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,480	$3,950	32
Heifer Pairs	Open	(<2 yrs)	1,154	$4,700	30

Every lot, as filed

97 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.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,243	187.00/cwt	187.00–187.00	2,324	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,596	172.00/cwt	172.00–172.00	2,745	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,025	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	1,307	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,210	172.44/cwt	170.00–175.00	2,087	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,393	169.74/cwt	162.00–171.00	2,364	15
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,780	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	3,133	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,459	169.85/cwt	168.00–171.50	2,478	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	905	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	1,312	1
Bulls	—	—	1,897	222.00/cwt	222.00–222.00	4,211	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,154	168.84/cwt	160.00–175.00	1,948	12
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,580	187.49/cwt	186.50–188.50	2,962	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,439	188.38/cwt	187.00–191.00	2,711	10
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,616	181.94/cwt	177.00–185.00	2,940	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,508	174.32/cwt	173.50–175.00	2,629	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	774	383.32/cwt	381.00–390.00	2,967	24
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	668	394.25/cwt	372.00–409.50	2,634	95
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	461	452.76/cwt	445.00–480.00	2,087	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	446	515.00/cwt	515.00–515.00	2,297	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	530	426.50/cwt	425.00–455.00	2,260	20
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	817	322.50/cwt	322.50–322.50	2,635	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	565	487.56/cwt	477.00–500.00	2,755	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	716	407.00/cwt	407.00–407.00	2,914	13
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	900–950	913	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	2,785	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	350–400	379	470.00/cwt	470.00–470.00	1,781	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	350–400	373	510.00/cwt	510.00–510.00	1,902	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	720	351.74/cwt	351.00–352.00	2,533	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	350–400	367	616.60/cwt	580.00–640.00	2,263	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	469	540.63/cwt	532.00–552.50	2,536	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	815	357.50/cwt	357.50–357.50	2,914	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	448	441.62/cwt	435.00–475.00	1,978	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	683	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	2,527	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	565	423.76/cwt	422.50–425.00	2,394	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	774	340.02/cwt	333.00–347.00	2,632	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	507	529.00/cwt	529.00–529.00	2,682	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Spayed	500–550	532	405.00/cwt	405.00–405.00	2,155	20
Steers	Medium and Large 2	600–650	604	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	2,295	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	550–600	577	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	2,106	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	748	388.00/cwt	388.00–388.00	2,902	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	439	584.96/cwt	550.00–602.50	2,568	56
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	600–650	612	353.65/cwt	340.00–365.00	2,164	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	650–700	685	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	2,329	19
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,307	3,550.00/head	3,550.00–3,550.00	3,550	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	—	1,140	241.93/cwt	222.50–260.00	2,758	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,363	3,900.00/head	3,900.00–3,900.00	3,900	16
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,220	3,925.00/head	3,925.00–3,925.00	3,925	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,295	220.21/cwt	212.50–224.00	2,852	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,163	234.88/cwt	195.00–310.00	2,732	23
Heifers	Medium 1Fleshy	700–750	718	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	2,190	6
Steers	Medium 1	500–550	509	527.50/cwt	527.50–527.50	2,685	7
Steers	Medium 1	700–750	718	381.00/cwt	381.00–381.00	2,736	4
Heifers	Medium 2	550–600	560	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,904	4
Bulls	Medium 2	500–550	525	405.00/cwt	405.00–405.00	2,126	4
Steers	Medium 2	450–500	475	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,663	4
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight	—	2,020	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	3,535	1
Steers	Large 1Fleshy	1150–1200	1,187	271.00/cwt	271.00–271.00	3,217	8
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,456	219.60/cwt	219.50–220.00	3,197	5
Bulls	—	—	2,338	240.19/cwt	234.00–246.00	5,616	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,247	181.66/cwt	180.00–184.00	2,265	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,346	181.16/cwt	174.00–186.00	2,438	19
Stock Cows	Medium 1	—	820	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	2,460	1
Stock Cows	Medium 1-2	—	895	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	2,148	1
Stock Cows	Medium 1	—	863	300.19/cwt	295.00–305.00	2,591	2
Bulls	Large 1	650–700	694	351.00/cwt	351.00–351.00	2,436	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,495	3,000.00/head	3,000.00–3,000.00	3,000	2
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,480	3,950.00/head	3,950.00–3,950.00	3,950	32
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 2Fleshy	—	1,011	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	2,528	27
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,315	3,800.00/head	3,800.00–3,800.00	3,800	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,392	194.17/cwt	188.00–217.50	2,703	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,013	276.06/cwt	252.50–305.00	2,796	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,040	239.31/cwt	215.00–270.00	2,489	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	578	429.84/cwt	428.00–447.50	2,484	79
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,365	3,725.00/head	3,725.00–3,725.00	3,725	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,523	3,500.00/head	3,500.00–3,500.00	3,500	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	987	294.01/cwt	230.00–330.00	2,902	14
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,217	3,500.00/head	3,500.00–3,500.00	3,500	4
Heifer Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,154	4,700.00/head	4,700.00–4,700.00	4,700	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	850–900	897	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	2,826	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	800–850	806	357.00/cwt	357.00–357.00	2,877	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	800–850	807	2,800.00/head	2,800.00–2,800.00	2,800	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	750–800	796	3,050.00/head	3,050.00–3,050.00	3,050	64
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,001	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	3,053	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	745	356.56/cwt	355.00–365.00	2,656	78
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	850–900	889	351.00/cwt	351.00–351.00	3,120	63
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	950–1000	951	332.00/cwt	332.00–332.00	3,157	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	860	335.00/cwt	335.00–335.00	2,881	42
Steers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	611	459.83/cwt	459.00–460.00	2,810	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	821	383.00/cwt	383.00–383.00	3,144	115
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	496	482.50/cwt	482.50–482.50	2,393	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	900–950	915	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	2,791	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	764	356.10/cwt	343.00–362.00	2,721	27
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	517	473.63/cwt	445.00–480.00	2,449	29
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	619	407.53/cwt	402.50–410.00	2,523	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	671	432.84/cwt	420.50–436.00	2,904	46
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	828	339.83/cwt	334.00–342.50	2,814	15
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	509	445.00/cwt	445.00–445.00	2,265	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	427	547.50/cwt	547.50–547.50	2,338	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	467	572.95/cwt	561.00–587.50	2,676	36

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 →