Cattle Market Pulse

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, April 26, 2023

1,180 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction report →

heavy 7-weight M&L 1 steers $208.86/cwt +8.68 vs last sale · ≈ $1,646/hd at 788 lb · 34 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $271.53/cwt -0.97 vs last sale · ≈ $1,431/hd at 527 lb · 28 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $223.00/cwt -18.00 vs last sale · ≈ $1,271/hd at 570 lb · 18 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,180 1,253 1,213
Feeder cattle 258 410 291
Slaughter cattle 637 538 738
Replacement cattle 285 305 184

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested today to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on all feeders on offer. Demand for feeders was mostly very good for light offerings. Quality this sale was plain to average. Package sizes were mostly small with lots of singles on offer. Market activity was mostly active this sale as both ranchers and order-buyers competed over limited offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to 2.00 lower on breaking cows, boning cows sold generally steady, lean cows sold steady. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Packer buyers opted to send a few set of cows to feed again this week. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good demand. Buyers showed the best demand for high quality cows which had lost calves. Young offerings sold generally steady.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
445 445 2 250.00 $250.00 $1,112 -45.00
457 457 5 269.00 $269.00 $1,229 -18.03
505–544 527 28 250.00–276.00 $271.53 $1,431 -0.97
560–564 563 7 266.00–270.00 $268.86 $1,514 +8.74
625–635 628 3 242.00–247.00 $245.32 $1,541 -4.68
650–685 670 5 227.00–233.00 $228.57 $1,531 -0.79
704 704 4 222.00 $222.00 $1,563 +3.90
768–798 788 34 205.00–221.00 $208.86 $1,646 +8.68
810 810 3 187.00 $187.00 $1,515 —
875 875 2 184.00 $184.00 $1,610 —
930 930 3 174.00 $174.00 $1,618 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355–385 379 5 235.00 $235.00 $891 —
465–485 475 2 225.00–235.00 $229.89 $1,092 -32.61
520 520 1 220.00 $220.00 $1,144 -45.00
626–638 633 14 200.00–237.00 $215.69 $1,365 —
700–727 713 7 214.50–217.00 $215.86 $1,539 +7.86
763 763 4 214.00 $214.00 $1,633 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470 470 2 215.00 $215.00 $1,010 —
675 675 1 197.50 $197.50 $1,333 —
770 770 1 181.00 $181.00 $1,394 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
410–435 423 2 190.00 $190.00 $804 —
660 660 1 185.00 $185.00 $1,221 —
725 725 1 208.00 $208.00 $1,508 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
473–495 477 5 212.50–221.00 $214.26 $1,022 -52.20
503–515 505 5 223.00–225.00 $224.59 $1,134 -31.75
570 570 18 223.00 $223.00 $1,271 -18.00
633–635 633 7 213.00–223.00 $214.43 $1,357 —
665 665 1 194.00 $194.00 $1,290 -26.69
705 705 1 190.00 $190.00 $1,340 -20.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
365 365 1 140.00 $140.00 $511 —
415 415 1 130.00 $130.00 $540 -92.50
460 460 3 185.00 $185.00 $851 -20.00
510–525 518 2 170.00–175.00 $172.46 $893 —
565 565 1 217.50 $217.50 $1,229 —
635 635 1 207.00 $207.00 $1,314 —
660 660 2 196.00 $196.00 $1,294 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
470 470 1 155.00 $155.00 $728 —
515–533 529 5 211.00–217.50 $212.26 $1,123 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
490 490 1 195.00 $195.00 $956 -37.85
632 632 3 215.00 $215.00 $1,359 -4.89
660 660 2 204.00 $204.00 $1,346 —

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Feeder Bulls

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070 1070 2 137.00 $137.00 $1,466 —
1168 1168 10 139.00 $139.00 $1,624 ±0.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
495 495 3 225.00 $225.00 $1,114 —
508 508 3 245.00 $245.00 $1,245 —
955 955 1 176.00 $176.00 $1,681 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1011–1015 1012 5 157.00–166.50 $158.91 $1,608 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
930 930 1 167.00 $167.00 $1,553 —
1065 1065 1 147.00 $147.00 $1,566 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1060–1325 1213 80-85% 29 81.00–89.00 $85.53 $1,037 —
955–1375 1230 80-85% 35 89.00–98.00 $92.55 $1,138 —
1045–1383 1255 80-85% 18 83.00–88.50 $86.70 $1,088 —
1120–1460 1264 80-85% 20 97.00–105.50 $101.92 $1,288 —
953–1400 1271 80-85% 76 89.00–97.50 $93.58 $1,189 —
1195–1445 1311 80-85% 8 99.50–105.00 $101.22 $1,327 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235–1435 1335 75-80% 4 81.00–92.00 $87.55 $1,169 —
1265–1825 1476 75-80% 17 79.00–92.00 $88.43 $1,305 —
1305–1635 1493 75-80% 22 92.50–98.50 $96.05 $1,434 —
1308–2023 1513 75-80% 48 92.00–98.00 $94.82 $1,435 —
1260–1791 1523 75-80% 49 99.00–107.00 $101.93 $1,552 —
1250–1789 1533 75-80% 32 99.00–105.50 $101.59 $1,557 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
800–845 815 85-90% 3 100.00–101.00 $100.65 $820 —
850 850 85-90% 1 88.00 $88.00 $748 —
820–945 877 85-90% 3 78.00–81.00 $79.29 $695 —
885 885 85-90% 1 72.00 $72.00 $637 —
868–1080 953 85-90% 5 71.00–73.00 $71.91 $685 -15.09
930–1140 1000 85-90% 3 95.00–102.00 $99.34 $993 —
1053–1075 1064 85-90% 4 81.00–82.00 $81.51 $867 —
870–1420 1130 85-90% 43 75.00–82.50 $79.47 $898 -4.15
1040–1245 1143 85-90% 2 103.00–109.00 $106.27 $1,215 +22.65
950–1298 1157 85-90% 13 85.50–94.00 $90.60 $1,048 -5.89
995–1430 1196 85-90% 35 83.00–93.00 $88.24 $1,055 -0.93

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1188–1195 1191 13 139.00–146.00 $142.24 $1,694 —
1338 1338 2 116.00 $116.00 $1,552 —
1480 1480 1 107.00 $107.00 $1,584 —
1310–2365 1583 12 89.00–110.00 $103.26 $1,635 —
1200–2255 1786 41 109.00–124.50 $116.04 $2,072 -0.62
1080–2295 1791 18 124.00–143.00 $129.03 $2,311 +12.37

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
690–1170 908 (<2 yrs)Open 138 146.50–192.00 $173.53 $1,576
715–1215 1062 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 5 119.50–150.00 $128.15 $1,361
910–1304 1132 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 28 99.00–140.50 $124.75 $1,412
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
920–1250 1035 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 6 102.00–110.00 $104.63 $1,083
825–1208 1089 (<2 yrs)Open 26 119.00–154.50 $138.02 $1,503

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1113 1113 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 1,300.00 $1,300.00
1250 1250 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 3 2,000.00 $2,000.00
1185–1385 1285 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,350.00–1,900.00 $1,646.40

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
908–1055 967 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 5 1,200.00–1,350.00 $1,284.53
981–1130 1011 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,325.00 $1,325.00
1175 1175 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 1,700.00 $1,700.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
943–1630 1211 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 8 1,250.00–2,300.00 $1,706.50 —
Medium 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1465–1580 1542 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 2,000.00–2,250.00 $2,170.81 —

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Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle scores — common across the Southeast.

What is $/cwt?

Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at $450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per cwt but less per head.

Why are some prices per head?

Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a $/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News — federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the official USDA document at the top of the page.