Cattle Market Pulse

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, April 24, 2024

1,661 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $319.20/cwt +9.20 vs last sale · ≈ $1,503/hd at 471 lb · 56 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $283.99/cwt -12.93 vs last sale · ≈ $1,624/hd at 572 lb · 50 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $239.23/cwt +3.25 vs last sale · ≈ $1,883/hd at 787 lb · 35 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,661 4,133 1,180
Feeder cattle 1,004 4,060 258
Slaughter cattle 332 73 637
Replacement cattle 325 — 285

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle offerings were were too lightly tested today to develop a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Demand for feeders was mostly good for light to moderate offerings. Quality today was plain to average, with a limited offering of attractive feeders seen. Most calves were offered in small packages this week. Market activity today was mostly active, with small to average size crowd on hand, internet bidding was active throughout the sale. Weigh up cows sold on mostly mixed demand with slaughter cows selling on light to moderate demand and feeding quality cows selling on moderate to good demand. Packers showed lighter demand for all slaughter cows on offer. Slaughter cows sold mostly generally steady to weak on breaking cow, boning cows sold 5.00-7.00 lower, lean cows were not well compared. Cows suitable to feed sold generally steady. Several private feeders and packer buyers all big aggressively on high quality cows suitable to feed. Despite lighter demand from packer buyers, private feeders continue to show very good demand for cows. Cow quality was average to attractive today. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last sale to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Young age cows were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Demand from feeding and rebreed cow buyers was good to very good. Young cow offerings were heavy as they comprised a large part of the cow offering.

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
394 394 18 391.00 $391.00 $1,541 +13.50
415–446 437 11 360.00–372.50 $364.17 $1,591 —
460 460 3 310.00 $310.00 $1,426 -53.47
494 494 7 356.00 $356.00 $1,759 -7.47
515–549 534 32 330.00–340.00 $335.05 $1,789 -4.64
550 550 3 310.00 $310.00 $1,705 -22.62
585 585 6 330.00–331.00 $330.33 $1,932 -2.29
606–637 632 24 305.50–312.00 $306.60 $1,938 +0.28
690 690 4 276.00 $276.00 $1,904 -5.85
741 741 5 273.00 $273.00 $2,023 +5.30
755–775 770 4 259.00–262.00 $259.74 $2,000 +4.92
833 833 5 244.50 $244.50 $2,037 -2.25
1070 1070 3 207.00 $207.00 $2,215 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415–425 421 7 320.00–350.00 $332.68 $1,401 -14.78
508–515 512 7 311.00–325.00 $316.82 $1,622 -3.18
553–576 566 7 316.00–328.00 $321.02 $1,817 +14.03
608 608 2 275.00 $275.00 $1,672 —
677–695 682 4 270.00–271.00 $270.75 $1,847 +2.82
763 763 3 259.50 $259.50 $1,980 +5.07
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015 1015 8 207.00 $207.00 $2,101 —
1068 1068 3 202.50 $202.50 $2,163 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
638 638 6 281.00 $281.00 $1,793 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
378 378 5 320.00 $320.00 $1,210 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
440 440 3 320.00 $320.00 $1,408 +23.20
463–491 471 56 312.00–322.00 $319.20 $1,503 +9.20
506–519 511 27 309.50 $309.50 $1,582 +14.84
543 543 3 280.00 $280.00 $1,520 -14.66
560–574 572 50 282.00–290.00 $283.99 $1,624 -6.93
603–617 615 33 273.00–278.50 $277.85 $1,709 -1.28
654–695 670 31 252.00–266.00 $260.31 $1,744 -12.04
728–744 734 23 245.00–251.00 $248.71 $1,826 -3.35
779–789 787 35 235.00–241.00 $239.23 $1,883 +3.25
800–838 825 6 223.00–235.00 $227.22 $1,875 +3.84
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
380–397 394 20 311.00–316.00 $311.72 $1,228 —
468–487 479 16 302.00–306.00 $303.71 $1,455 +11.00
507–535 521 34 280.00–295.00 $290.39 $1,513 +17.92
560–573 568 24 257.50–276.00 $271.77 $1,544 +11.00
595 595 7 245.00 $245.00 $1,458 -15.77
620–643 640 23 257.00–264.00 $261.84 $1,676 +5.32
688 688 2 232.00 $232.00 $1,596 -18.85
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 385 20 310.00 $310.00 $1,194 —
588 588 4 256.00 $256.00 $1,505 —
635–638 637 8 240.00–252.50 $243.11 $1,549 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
408–448 421 6 280.00–300.00 $292.91 $1,233 —
485–495 490 2 280.00 $280.00 $1,372 +39.06
524–536 531 9 240.00–265.00 $250.97 $1,333 +6.31
568 568 2 255.00 $255.00 $1,448 +20.69
800 800 5 205.00 $205.00 $1,640 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
418 418 5 282.50 $282.50 $1,181 —
476 476 7 247.50 $247.50 $1,178 —
631 631 4 215.00 $215.00 $1,357 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
963 963 2 172.50 $172.50 $1,661 —
1007–1020 1013 11 161.00–170.00 $165.12 $1,673 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 6 260.00 $260.00 $1,196 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
355 355 2 370.00 $370.00 $1,314 —
603 603 2 280.00 $280.00 $1,688 -18.00
668 668 2 252.00 $252.00 $1,683 -3.00
720 720 4 252.00 $252.00 $1,814 —
760 760 8 241.00 $241.00 $1,832 —
829 829 4 217.00 $217.00 $1,799 —
955 955 3 216.00 $216.00 $2,063 —
1053–1056 1055 7 210.00–212.50 $211.43 $2,231 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
554 554 7 280.00 $280.00 $1,551 —
623 623 3 245.00 $245.00 $1,526 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
70–74 72 6 650.00–675.00 $662.85 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1068 1068 2 211.00 $211.00 $2,253 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320–1433 1371 80-85% 9 117.00–130.00 $121.60 $1,667 -7.61
1195–1655 1407 80-85% 55 120.00–135.00 $126.96 $1,786 —
1308–1680 1408 80-85% 14 107.00–121.00 $118.31 $1,666 —
1385–1500 1435 80-85% 3 139.00–142.00 $140.86 $2,021 —
1305–1683 1509 80-85% 25 101.00–116.00 $112.19 $1,693 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840–905 873 85-90% 2 82.00–83.00 $82.52 $720 —
930–990 968 85-90% 4 100.00–103.00 $101.51 $983 —
993 993 85-90% 2 112.00 $112.00 $1,112 —
1005–1110 1058 85-90% 3 112.50–113.00 $112.67 $1,192 -3.44
1113–1145 1124 85-90% 3 80.00–91.00 $87.26 $981 —
1000–1303 1186 85-90% 16 101.00–112.00 $107.68 $1,277 —
1050–1255 1197 85-90% 12 125.00–131.00 $127.60 $1,527 —
1068–1290 1224 85-90% 46 117.00–123.00 $120.38 $1,473 —
1155–1275 1227 85-90% 3 114.00–116.00 $114.97 $1,411 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1445–1765 1525 75-80% 11 134.00–140.00 $135.77 $2,070 -3.96
1545–1710 1631 75-80% 5 140.00–143.00 $140.59 $2,293 —
1480–1845 1684 75-80% 5 136.00–139.00 $137.07 $2,308 —
1675–1898 1774 75-80% 6 117.00–124.00 $121.51 $2,156 —
1790 1790 75-80% 1 119.00 $119.00 $2,130 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2068 2068 65-75% 3 132.00 $132.00 $2,730 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1375 1375 1 112.00 $112.00 $1,540 —
1280–1565 1377 3 130.00–132.50 $131.15 $1,806 —
1385 1385 2 134.00 $134.00 $1,856 —
1500–1770 1587 4 125.00–130.00 $127.85 $2,029 —
1520–2390 1811 15 133.00–145.00 $137.75 $2,495 —
1965–2260 2065 3 150.00–153.00 $151.41 $3,127 +4.14
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2370 2370 1 134.00 $134.00 $3,176 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
825–1260 953 (<2 yrs)Open 97 160.00–207.00 $185.88 $1,771
845–1345 1041 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 91 126.00–186.00 $159.19 $1,657
1370–1469 1453 (<2 yrs)Open 6 144.50–146.00 $144.74 $2,103
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
865–990 907 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 130.00–172.50 $157.03 $1,424
765–1244 942 (<2 yrs)Open 21 163.50–194.00 $176.63 $1,664
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
753–793 768 (<2 yrs)Open 8 194.00–197.50 $195.36 $1,500
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1078–1248 1127 (<2 yrs)Open 7 129.00–171.00 $157.71 $1,777

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1340–1360 1345 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 2,450.00 $2,450.00
1248–1595 1372 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 2,825.00–2,950.00 $2,871.44

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1467 1467 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 7 2,425.00 $2,425.00 —

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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.