Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2026-09-16

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2026-09-16
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-09-16

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Sep 16

● Final97 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Sep 9Sep 16Sep 23 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

610 head

▲ 488 vs last sale 122▼ 226 vs year ago 836 · −27.0%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

428 head

▲ 7 vs last sale 421▲ 248 vs year ago 180 · +137.8%

Replacement Cattle receipts

131 head

▲ 98 vs last sale 33▲ 7 vs year ago 124 · +5.6%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (9-9-26): Feeder steer and heifer calves were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on all offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Most calf offerings were in small packages or as singles, while most yearling offerings were in small to moderate size package. Demand was mostly moderate to good for both yearlings and calves. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for moderate offerings. Breaking cows sold steady to 1.00 higher, while boning and lean cows sold 3.00 to 8.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold 4.00 to 7.00 lower. Feeding cow quality was mostly plain to average this week. Feeding cows overall sold steady to 4.00 lower. Young age offerings were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however a higher undertone was noted. Demand was mostly good. Quality was mostly plain to average.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $347.53/cwt on 18 head, down $24.79 from the prior sale. That ranks 1 of 19 comparable sales and sits −47.92 against this barn's trailing median of $395.45.

Average price

$347.53

▼ 24.79 vs prior sale

18 head · 551 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,913

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$115

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2

$28.51/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−4.33

vs MT average

−6.78 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	546	358.62	1,957	11thin
Medium and Large 1-2	558	330.11	1,842	7thin

One grade step is worth $28.51/cwt here — about $115 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 200–300 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale18 hd

347.53

—

MT average2 barns · 80 hd

351.86

−4.33

National average171 barns · 9,246 hd

354.31

−6.78

This barn, trailing median19 sales

395.45

−47.92

A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

19 sales

Heifers 500–600 lb: high $464.07, low $347.53, median $395.45 across 19 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

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	—	Low	1,687	180.42	3,045	66
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,522	147.20	2,241	48
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,340	145.51	1,950	184
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,131	135.13	1,528	88

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	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,110	$3,030	21
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,120	$2,802	2thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	939	$2,553	4thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,419	$2,192	14
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,463	$3,800	3thin

Every lot

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. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers22 lots · lightest first
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	328	505.00/cwt	505.00–505.00	1,656	2
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	368	487.55/cwt	485.00–490.00	1,794	2
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	413	470.00/cwt	470.00–470.00	1,941	13
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	417	490.00/cwt	490.00–490.00	2,043	13
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	486	449.84/cwt	425.00–465.00	2,186	63
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	509	425.00/cwt	425.00–425.00	2,163	5
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	535	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	2,060	1
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	560	393.00/cwt	393.00–393.00	2,201	1
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	565	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	2,062	1
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	622	377.34/cwt	375.00–384.00	2,347	16
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	623	366.26/cwt	365.00–367.50	2,282	4
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	695	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	2,572	2
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	720	336.34/cwt	330.00–342.50	2,422	2
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	771	347.50/cwt	347.50–347.50	2,679	4
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	776	353.93/cwt	352.50–355.00	2,746	7
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	813	355.31/cwt	353.00–359.00	2,889	6
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1-2	833	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	2,749	3
Steers	850–900	Medium and Large 1-2	875	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	2,800	1
Steers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	940	312.50/cwt	312.50–312.50	2,938	1
Steers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	977	317.96/cwt	317.00–318.00	3,106	45
Steers	1000–1050	Large 1-2	1,027	289.00/cwt	289.00–289.00	2,968	3
Steers	1050–1100	Large 1-2	1,052	272.50/cwt	272.50–272.50	2,867	3
Feeder Cattle · Heifers28 lots · lightest first
Heifers	200–250	Medium and Large 1-2	240	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	984	1
Heifers	250–300	Medium and Large 1	265	540.00/cwt	540.00–540.00	1,431	1
Heifers	250–300	Medium and Large 1-2	283	417.43/cwt	415.00–420.00	1,181	2
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	340	441.16/cwt	440.00–445.00	1,500	4
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1	362	453.87/cwt	445.00–465.00	1,643	10
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	393	432.00/cwt	432.00–432.00	1,698	9
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	408	458.73/cwt	450.00–465.00	1,872	4
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	422	424.10/cwt	420.00–430.00	1,790	24
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	484	403.72/cwt	395.00–415.00	1,954	50
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	528	359.20/cwt	350.00–370.00	1,897	6
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	558	330.11/cwt	325.00–331.00	1,842	7
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	567	357.92/cwt	348.00–362.50	2,029	5
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	689	341.94/cwt	341.00–342.50	2,356	8
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	737	350.94/cwt	347.00–355.00	2,586	4
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	822	336.99/cwt	335.00–345.00	2,770	5
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1-2	830	321.00/cwt	319.00–326.00	2,664	8
Heifers	850–900	Medium and Large 1	890	317.50/cwt	317.50–317.50	2,826	1
Heifers	850–900	Medium and Large 1-2	895	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	2,596	1
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	910	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	2,548	1
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1	920	307.25/cwt	304.00–313.00	2,827	12
Heifers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1-2	964	270.57/cwt	260.00–285.00	2,608	4
Heifers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	971	300.79/cwt	293.00–305.00	2,921	37
Heifers	1000–1050	Large 1	1,029	292.14/cwt	282.00–296.00	3,006	34
Heifers	1000–1050	Large 1-2	1,033	274.33/cwt	274.00–275.00	2,834	3
Heifers	1050–1100	Large 1-2	1,095	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	2,957	1
Heifers	1050–1100	Large 1	1,098	289.00/cwt	287.00–290.00	3,173	18
Heifers	1100–1150	Large 1-2	1,109	272.00/cwt	272.00–272.00	3,016	4
Heifers	1100–1150	Large 1	1,119	288.50/cwt	288.50–288.50	3,228	19
Feeder Cattle · Bulls12 lots · lightest first
Bulls	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	320	490.00/cwt	490.00–490.00	1,568	1
Bulls	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	360	420.00/cwt	420.00–420.00	1,512	1
Bulls	400–450	Medium and Large 1	420	489.94/cwt	485.00–495.00	2,058	2
Bulls	450–500	Medium and Large 1	452	447.50/cwt	447.50–447.50	2,023	18
Bulls	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	468	435.58/cwt	400.00–440.00	2,039	9
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 1	516	404.11/cwt	395.00–417.00	2,085	15
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1	568	373.77/cwt	370.00–377.50	2,123	2
Bulls	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	659	327.55/cwt	322.50–332.50	2,159	6
Bulls	650–700	Medium and Large 1	678	350.05/cwt	345.00–360.00	2,373	3
Bulls	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	703	319.36/cwt	310.00–322.50	2,245	4
Bulls	1150–1200	Large 1-2	1,165	234.63/cwt	232.00–235.00	2,733	8
Bulls	1200–1250	Large 1-2	1,218	226.35/cwt	226.00–230.00	2,757	23
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,197	211.21/cwt	205.00–215.00	2,528	8
Bulls	—	—	1,401	165.23/cwt	164.00–167.50	2,315	5
Bulls	—	—	1,425	192.81/cwt	188.00–195.00	2,748	4
Bulls	—	—	1,684	173.88/cwt	169.00–180.00	2,928	24
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,884	184.41/cwt	181.00–188.00	3,474	10
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,989	173.58/cwt	170.00–177.00	3,453	15
Slaughter Cattle · Cows17 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,000	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	1,650	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,020	153.94/cwt	152.00–155.00	1,570	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,079	113.21/cwt	111.00–117.50	1,222	11
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,127	123.65/cwt	119.00–127.50	1,394	9
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,132	142.54/cwt	137.50–146.00	1,614	20
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,153	135.49/cwt	130.00–142.50	1,562	37
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,159	148.99/cwt	146.00–150.00	1,727	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,275	166.00/cwt	166.00–166.00	2,117	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,322	152.88/cwt	150.00–162.50	2,021	66
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,346	146.54/cwt	144.00–148.00	1,972	23
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,348	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	2,062	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,351	141.20/cwt	137.00–149.00	1,908	69
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,354	134.71/cwt	132.00–137.00	1,824	23
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,476	134.13/cwt	131.00–137.00	1,980	7
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,505	154.35/cwt	148.00–157.00	2,323	22
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,549	144.90/cwt	143.00–146.00	2,245	9
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,569	142.71/cwt	135.00–146.00	2,239	10
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	939	2,553.13/head	2,400.00–2,800.00	2,553	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,015	3,210.51/head	3,200.00–3,250.00	3,211	12
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,120	2,801.79/head	2,700.00–2,900.00	2,802	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,236	2,788.27/head	2,700.00–2,900.00	2,788	9
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,419	2,191.65/head	2,100.00–2,325.00	2,192	14
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	985	234.20/cwt	222.50–245.00	2,307	17
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,061	206.41/cwt	200.00–210.00	2,190	7
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,127	256.83/cwt	250.00–261.00	2,894	27
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,139	184.77/cwt	180.00–187.50	2,105	8
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,144	230.35/cwt	222.50–235.00	2,635	10
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,215	202.38/cwt	195.00–212.50	2,459	10
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,463	3,800.00/head	3,800.00–3,800.00	3,800	3

This sale against other markets

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 →

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Wed)

Wed Sep 16, 2026

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 610Last week 122Year ago 836

Slaughter CattleReceipts 428Last week 421Year ago 180

Replacement CattleReceipts 131Last week 33Year ago 124

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	265	540.00	540.00
10	350–400	362	445.00–465.00	453.87
4	400–450	408	450.00–465.00	458.73
50	450–500	484	395.00–415.00	403.72
6	500–550	528	350.00–370.00	359.20
5	550–600	567	348.00–362.50	357.92
8	650–700	689	341.00–342.50	341.94
4	700–750	737	347.00–355.00	350.94
5	800–850	822	335.00–345.00	336.99
1	850–900	890	317.50	317.50
12	900–950	920	304.00–313.00	307.25
37	950–1000	971	293.00–305.00	300.79

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	200–250	240	410.00	410.00
2	250–300	283	415.00–420.00	417.43
4	300–350	340	440.00–445.00	441.16
9	350–400	393	432.00	432.00
24	400–450	422	420.00–430.00	424.10
7	550–600	558	325.00–331.00	330.11
8	800–850	830	319.00–326.00	321.00
1	850–900	895	290.00	290.00
1	900–950	910	280.00	280.00
4	950–1000	964	260.00–285.00	270.57

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
34	1000–1050	1,029	282.00–296.00	292.14
18	1050–1100	1,098	287.00–290.00	289.00
19	1100–1150	1,119	288.50	288.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	1000–1050	1,033	274.00–275.00	274.33
1	1050–1100	1,095	270.00	270.00
4	1100–1150	1,109	272.00	272.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	300–350	328	505.00	505.00
2	350–400	368	485.00–490.00	487.55
13	400–450	413	470.00	470.00
1	500–550	535	385.00	385.00
1	550–600	565	365.00	365.00
4	600–650	623	365.00–367.50	366.26
2	650–700	695	370.00	370.00
2	700–750	720	330.00–342.50	336.34
4	750–800	771	347.50	347.50
3	800–850	833	330.00	330.00
1	850–900	875	320.00	320.00
1	900–950	940	312.50	312.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
13	400–450	417	490.00	490.00
63	450–500	486	425.00–465.00	449.84
5	500–550	509	425.00	425.00
1	550–600	560	393.00	393.00
16	600–650	622	375.00–384.00	377.34
7	750–800	776	352.50–355.00	353.93
6	800–850	813	353.00–359.00	355.31
45	950–1000	977	317.00–318.00	317.96

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	1000–1050	1,027	289.00	289.00
3	1050–1100	1,052	272.50	272.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	400–450	420	485.00–495.00	489.94
18	450–500	452	447.50	447.50
15	500–550	516	395.00–417.00	404.11
2	550–600	568	370.00–377.50	373.77
3	650–700	678	345.00–360.00	350.05

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	320	490.00	490.00
1	350–400	360	420.00	420.00
9	450–500	468	400.00–440.00	435.58
6	650–700	659	322.50–332.50	327.55
4	700–750	703	310.00–322.50	319.36

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	1150–1200	1,165	232.00–235.00	234.63
23	1200–1250	1,218	226.00–230.00	226.35

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	12	—	1,015	3,200.00–3,250.00	3,210.51

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	9	—	1,236	2,700.00–2,900.00	2,788.27
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,120	2,700.00–2,900.00	2,801.79
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	14	—	1,419	2,100.00–2,325.00	2,191.65
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	4	—	939	2,400.00–2,800.00	2,553.13

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	27	—	1,127	250.00–261.00	256.83
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	10	—	1,215	195.00–212.50	202.38
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	10	—	1,144	222.50–235.00	230.35

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	8	—	1,139	180.00–187.50	184.77
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	7	—	1,061	200.00–210.00	206.41
(<2 yrs)	Open	17	—	985	222.50–245.00	234.20

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,463	3,800.00	3,800.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,275	166.00	166.00
66	—	1,322	150.00–162.50	152.88
23	—	1,346	144.00–148.00	146.54

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,000	165.00	165.00
3	—	1,020	152.00–155.00	153.94
20	—	1,132	137.50–146.00	142.54

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,079	111.00–117.50	113.21
37	—	1,153	130.00–142.50	135.49
9	—	1,127	119.00–127.50	123.65
7	—	1,159	146.00–150.00	148.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,476	131.00–137.00	134.13
9	—	1,549	143.00–146.00	144.90

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,348	153.00	153.00
69	—	1,351	137.00–149.00	141.20
23	—	1,354	132.00–137.00	134.71

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	1,505	148.00–157.00	154.35
10	—	1,569	135.00–146.00	142.71

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,401	164.00–167.50	165.23
4	—	1,425	188.00–195.00	192.81
24	—	1,684	169.00–180.00	173.88

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	1,989	170.00–177.00	173.58
8	—	1,197	205.00–215.00	211.21
10	—	1,884	181.00–188.00	184.41

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.