Cattle Market Pulse

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Wednesday, April 1, 2026

944 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 4-weight S 3-4 heifers $220.00/cwt ≈ $911/hd at 414 lb · 16 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 944 1,021 962
Feeder cattle 193 498 229
Slaughter cattle 462 299 524
Replacement cattle 289 224 209

Compared to last week (3-25-26): Feeder cattle too lightly tested to develop an market trend. Demand was mostly moderate for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain and offered in small packages or as singles. A large portion of todays sale was offered as singles making putting together loads difficult for buyers. Many blemished calves or cutback calves were seen again this week. A small crowd of feeder buyers on hand for todays sale. Market activity was mostly moderate. 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 1.00-3.00 higher on all classes. Quality this week was mostly average. A few sets of cows which had be started on feed sold again this week, these cows were met with moistly good demand. Weigh up conditions were average to above average. Cows which have been turned out on grass offered mostly above average weigh conditions as green grass has started growing and cows were empty as a result. Weigh up conditions today were more reflective of May or June rather than the first of April. Cows with blemishes were also heavily purchased to feed this week as buyers pushed cow prices well over packer buyers orders for slaughter cows. Very few cows were purchased for immediate harvest as a result. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher on all offerings in a very narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher 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 5.00 higher. Demand for young cows remains very good. Young age offerings sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive, and similar to last weeks offering. Demand for average quality offerings saw strong demand this week. These offerings saw the largest price increase this week.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
517 517 3 520.00 $520.00 $2,688 -5.00
851 851 7 341.00 $341.00 $2,902
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
711 711 5 390.00 $390.00 $2,773
750–783 773 4 368.00–375.00 $370.85 $2,867
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
363 363 3 500.00 $500.00 $1,815 -25.00
435 435 2 475.00 $475.00 $2,066 -20.00
605–643 630 3 380.00–405.00 $388.00 $2,444

↑ Back to top

Small 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
414 414 16 220.00 $220.00 $911
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
453 453 3 520.00 $520.00 $2,356
630 630 1 400.00 $400.00 $2,520 -3.83
654 654 7 375.00 $375.00 $2,452 -9.42
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
535 535 1 455.00 $455.00 $2,434 +41.79
575–588 583 5 392.50–400.00 $397.04 $2,315 -8.93
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
657 657 3 349.00 $349.00 $2,293
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415 415 2 470.00 $470.00 $1,950 +44.42

↑ Back to top

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
543 543 2 465.00 $465.00 $2,525 +15.00
621 621 4 370.00 $370.00 $2,298
725–743 740 6 350.00–355.00 $351.65 $2,602
993 993 2 287.50 $287.50 $2,855 -12.50
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1057–1070 1060 4 292.50–300.00 $294.39 $3,121
1140 1140 1 270.00 $270.00 $3,078 +10.00
1260 1260 2 235.00 $235.00 $2,961
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
896 896 4 325.00 $325.00 $2,912
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
425 425 3 535.00 $535.00 $2,274

↑ Back to top

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230–1565 1331 80-85% 94 173.00–183.50 $181.02 $2,409 +44.82
1205–1563 1370 80-85% 40 150.00–170.50 $166.04 $2,275 -17.69
1070–1570 1405 80-85% 45 184.00–189.00 $185.88 $2,612 +23.25
1385–1615 1500 80-85% 2 154.00–166.50 $160.73 $2,411
1495–1770 1603 80-85% 4 162.00–181.00 $170.36 $2,731
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895 895 85-90% 1 105.00 $105.00 $940
845–995 914 85-90% 4 125.00–135.00 $129.02 $1,179 -3.48
890–970 918 85-90% 4 145.00–165.00 $156.19 $1,434 +23.69
900–1285 1118 85-90% 66 149.00–170.00 $159.11 $1,779 -13.59
1020–1275 1149 85-90% 10 117.50–135.00 $124.65 $1,432 -48.05
1060–1225 1154 85-90% 9 155.00–160.00 $158.64 $1,831 -21.78
1115–1290 1160 85-90% 33 172.00–181.00 $173.82 $2,016 -6.60
1170 1170 85-90% 1 162.50 $162.50 $1,901 +13.48
1175 1175 85-90% 1 112.50 $112.50 $1,322 -36.52
1100–1343 1248 85-90% 10 179.00–184.00 $182.77 $2,281
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1389–1535 1453 75-80% 26 182.00–185.50 $183.71 $2,669
1535 1535 75-80% 1 169.00 $169.00 $2,594 -13.00
1500–1625 1561 75-80% 9 180.00–183.00 $181.66 $2,836 +4.39
1652–1653 1652 75-80% 5 176.50–177.00 $176.80 $2,921 +10.63
1740–1800 1763 75-80% 3 167.00–176.00 $170.62 $3,008
1800–1925 1863 75-80% 2 164.00–165.00 $164.48 $3,064

↑ Back to top

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1160 1160 1 165.00 $165.00 $1,914
1363 1363 2 220.00 $220.00 $2,999
1250–1800 1491 18 188.00–207.00 $200.20 $2,985 +22.70
1290–1760 1527 14 207.00–215.50 $211.58 $3,231
1810–1895 1853 2 193.00 $193.00 $3,576
1515–2385 1927 19 198.00–218.50 $213.44 $4,113
1980–2142 2054 8 220.00–224.00 $221.78 $4,555 +5.29
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2348 2348 2 218.50 $218.50 $5,130

↑ Back to top

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
790 thin fleshed 790 (<2 yrs)Open 1 330.00 $330.00 $2,607
845–1305 1043 (<2 yrs)Open 70 245.00–327.50 $291.70 $3,042
993–1345 1174 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 63 217.00–318.00 $251.96 $2,958
1155–1337 1297 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 8 188.00–215.00 $200.02 $2,594
1370 1370 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 1 185.00 $185.00 $2,534
1505 1505 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 185.00 $185.00 $2,784
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
801–1140 901 (<2 yrs)Open 16 210.00–310.00 $286.36 $2,580
975–1250 1073 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 34 190.00–305.00 $242.20 $2,599
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
815–850 833 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 275.00–280.00 $277.55 $2,312
773–895 853 (<2 yrs)Open 6 260.00–290.00 $278.31 $2,374
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
838–990 914 (<2 yrs)Open 4 245.00–285.00 $263.34 $2,407
925–980 943 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 210.00–240.00 $230.19 $2,171
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
720 thin fleshed 720 (<2 yrs)Open 1 295.00 $295.00 $2,124
795 795 (<2 yrs)Open 2 320.00 $320.00 $2,544
820–840 830 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 325.00 $325.00 $2,698

↑ Back to top

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1332 1332 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 3,350.00 $3,350.00
1422–1475 1435 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 3,800.00–3,950.00 $3,838.54
1525 1525 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 3,800.00 $3,800.00
1543 1543 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 3,250.00 $3,250.00
1705 1705 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 3,375.00 $3,375.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1415 1415 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,950.00 $2,950.00
1508 1508 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 2 3,200.00 $3,200.00
1565 1565 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 3,150.00 $3,150.00

↑ Back to top

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1153–1328 1211 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 9 3,900.00 $3,900.00
1332 1332 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 3,350.00 $3,350.00
1363 1363 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 3,400.00 $3,400.00
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
778 778 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 13 3,000.00 $3,000.00

↑ Back to top

N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1145 1145 85-90% 1 147.50 $147.50 $1,689

↑ Back to top

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.