Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2025-02-26

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2025-02-26
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-02-26

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Feb 26

● Final69 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Feb 19Feb 26Mar 5 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

251 head

▲ 96 vs last sale 155▲ 216 vs year ago 35 · +617.1%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

552 head

▲ 104 vs last sale 448▲ 404 vs year ago 148 · +273.0%

Replacement Cattle receipts

231 head

▲ 173 vs last sale 58▲ 91 vs year ago 140 · +65.0%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Demand for limited feeder cattle was mostly good. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Most feeders were offered in very small groups or as singles. Market activity was mostly moderate with a small crowd on hand bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows comprised most of todays offering. Packers showed similar demand for cows this week as last week, except cows were mostly purchased to feed instead of sending them to immediate harvest. Demand for fleshy cows was lighter this week driven by lighter demand from major and regional packers. Breaking slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower. Boning and lean cows purchased for slaughter sold steady to 5.00 lower. Several sets of cows were on offer today that had been on feed, however most were far from finished. All fed cows were purchased to return to the country to feed. Feeding cows sold on very good demand today. Feeding cows sold generally steady on all classes. Feeding cows sold on very good demand as private feeders and packer buyers both showed good demand for sound, high quality cows that will feed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand for slaughter bulls was mostly very good this sale. Several sets of fed bulls sold today, these offerings were met with mostly good demand. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average today and overall weigh conditions were not as good this week as last week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand from rebreed buyers was very good this sale. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive.

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 $278.35/cwt on 21 head. That ranks 1 of 19 comparable sales and sits −117.10 against this barn's trailing median of $395.45.

Average price

$278.35

21 head · 545 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,517

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$307

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

$82.50/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−41.87

vs MT average

−28.66 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	530	332.50	1,762	2thin
Medium and Large 2	534	280.74	1,499	14thin
Medium 2	582	250.00	1,455	5thin

One grade step is worth $82.50/cwt here — about $307 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.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale21 hd

278.35

—

MT average2 barns · 185 hd

320.22

−41.87

National average189 barns · 18,586 hd

307.01

−28.66

This barn, trailing median19 sales

395.45

−117.10

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	—	Average	1,746	162.85	2,843	163
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,356	145.88	1,978	197
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,693	141.14	2,389	86
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,144	133.52	1,528	82
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	Very Low	1,534	111.25	1,707	4thin
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,378	109.00	1,502	2thin

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/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,308	$2,400	2thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,201	$2,200	4thin

Every lot

69 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 · Steers8 lots · lightest first
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 2	455	335.00/cwt	335.00–335.00	1,524	2
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	481	377.50/cwt	377.50–377.50	1,816	4
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	519	368.11/cwt	367.50–370.00	1,910	4
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	582	328.75/cwt	327.50–330.00	1,913	4
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	632	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	2,086	14
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	654	322.40/cwt	322.00–323.00	2,108	10
Steers	850–900	Medium and Large 1-2	864	263.15/cwt	263.00–265.00	2,274	13
Steers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1-2	965	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	2,345	3
Feeder Cattle · Heifers11 lots · lightest first
Heifers	350–400	Medium 1-2	365	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	1,150	3
Heifers	400–450	Medium 1-2	415	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	1,287	3
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	481	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,587	4
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	530	332.50/cwt	332.50–332.50	1,762	2
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 2	534	280.74/cwt	275.00–295.00	1,499	14
Heifers	550–600	Medium 2	582	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,455	5
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	648	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,750	6
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	650	261.00/cwt	261.00–261.00	1,697	4
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	666	274.00/cwt	274.00–274.00	1,825	4
Heifers	700–750	Medium 1	749	234.00/cwt	234.00–234.00	1,753	15
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	766	240.50/cwt	240.50–240.50	1,842	11
Feeder Cattle · Bulls10 lots · lightest first
Bulls	350–400	Medium and Large 2	360	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,296	2
Bulls	650–700	Medium and Large 1	690	301.00/cwt	301.00–301.00	2,077	2
Bulls	750–800	Medium 1	753	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,807	6
Bulls	850–900	Medium and Large 1	877	233.00/cwt	233.00–233.00	2,043	10
Bulls	900–950	Medium and Large 1	930	222.00/cwt	222.00–222.00	2,065	2
Bulls	1000–1050	Medium and Large 1	1,040	212.00/cwt	212.00–212.00	2,205	2
Bulls	1050–1100	Medium and Large 1-2	1,050	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	2,205	1
Bulls	1050–1100	Medium and Large 1	1,055	212.50/cwt	212.50–212.50	2,242	1
Bulls	1150–1200	Large 1	1,183	199.16/cwt	197.50–199.50	2,356	6
Bulls	1200–1250	Large 1	1,218	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	2,119	2
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls10 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,156	141.58/cwt	137.50–142.00	1,637	11
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,390	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	2,252	1
Bulls	—	—Natural	1,476	150.50/cwt	145.00–154.00	2,221	59
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,517	150.26/cwt	137.00–156.00	2,279	3
Bulls	—	—	1,798	150.24/cwt	139.00–159.00	2,701	16
Bulls	—	—Natural	2,002	176.86/cwt	169.00–178.00	3,541	31
Bulls	—	—	2,022	165.17/cwt	160.00–170.00	3,340	5
Bulls	—	—	2,042	188.87/cwt	186.00–193.00	3,857	6
Bulls	—	—Natural	2,084	181.47/cwt	180.50–181.50	3,782	29
Bulls	—	—Heavy Weight	2,613	193.00/cwt	193.00–193.00	5,043	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	918	103.10/cwt	98.00–107.50	946	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,090	128.94/cwt	122.00–134.00	1,405	16
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,095	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	1,445	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,157	119.06/cwt	108.00–129.00	1,378	10
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,159	147.03/cwt	146.00–149.00	1,704	17
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,165	141.15/cwt	132.00–145.50	1,644	31
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,214	96.28/cwt	89.00–100.00	1,169	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,291	148.96/cwt	147.50–150.00	1,923	110
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,426	143.88/cwt	136.00–147.00	2,052	68
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,445	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	1,691	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,461	128.65/cwt	120.00–132.00	1,880	6
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,493	139.99/cwt	134.00–144.00	2,090	12
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,535	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	2,303	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,623	142.94/cwt	141.50–145.00	2,320	32
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,682	137.91/cwt	134.00–140.00	2,320	7
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,708	143.67/cwt	143.00–144.00	2,454	6
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,737	139.77/cwt	134.00–140.00	2,428	38
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight	2,015	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	2,720	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight	2,045	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	2,863	1
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows3 lots · lightest first
Dairy Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,378	109.00/cwt	109.00–109.00	1,502	2
Dairy Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,522	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	1,826	3
Dairy Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,570	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	1,335	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,201	2,200.00/head	2,200.00–2,200.00	2,200	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,308	2,400.00/head	2,400.00–2,400.00	2,400	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1	847	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,694	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	911	200.52/cwt	190.00–215.00	1,827	10
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,044	205.29/cwt	179.00–226.00	2,143	84
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,114	151.08/cwt	144.00–170.00	1,683	4
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,197	169.75/cwt	149.00–203.00	2,032	103
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,480	152.53/cwt	149.00–179.00	2,257	10

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 Feb 26, 2025

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 251Last week 155Year ago 35

Slaughter CattleReceipts 552Last week 448Year ago 148

Replacement CattleReceipts 231Last week 58Year ago 140

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	350–400	365	315.00	315.00
3	400–450	415	310.00	310.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	450–500	481	330.00	330.00
2	500–550	530	332.50	332.50
6	600–650	648	270.00	270.00
4	650–700	650	261.00	261.00
11	750–800	766	240.50	240.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	650–700	666	274.00	274.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	550–600	582	250.00	250.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
14	500–550	534	275.00–295.00	280.74

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
15	700–750	749	234.00	234.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	650–700	690	301.00	301.00
10	850–900	877	233.00	233.00
2	900–950	930	222.00	222.00
2	1000–1050	1,040	212.00	212.00
1	1050–1100	1,055	212.50	212.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1050–1100	1,050	210.00	210.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	360	360.00	360.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	1150–1200	1,183	197.50–199.50	199.16
2	1200–1250	1,218	174.00	174.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	750–800	753	240.00	240.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	450–500	481	377.50	377.50
4	500–550	519	367.50–370.00	368.11
4	550–600	582	327.50–330.00	328.75
14	600–650	632	330.00	330.00
10	650–700	654	322.00–323.00	322.40
13	850–900	864	263.00–265.00	263.15
3	950–1000	965	243.00	243.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	450–500	455	335.00	335.00

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/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	2	—	1,308	2,400.00	2,400.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	4	—	1,201	2,200.00	2,200.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	10	—	1,480	149.00–179.00	152.53
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	103	—	1,197	149.00–203.00	169.75
(<2 yrs)	Open	84	—	1,044	179.00–226.00	205.29

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,114	144.00–170.00	151.08
(<2 yrs)	Open	10	—	911	190.00–215.00	200.52

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	3	—	847	200.00	200.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,390	162.00	162.00
3	—	1,517	137.00–156.00	150.26

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,156	137.50–142.00	141.58

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
59	—	1,476	145.00–154.00	150.50
29	—	2,084	180.50–181.50	181.47
31	—	2,002	169.00–178.00	176.86

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	2,613	193.00	193.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	2,042	186.00–193.00	188.87
5	—	2,022	160.00–170.00	165.17
16	—	1,798	139.00–159.00	150.24

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,570	85.00	85.00
3	—	1,522	120.00	120.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,378	109.00	109.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
68	—	1,426	136.00–147.00	143.88
110	—	1,291	147.50–150.00	148.96
6	—	1,461	120.00–132.00	128.65

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,708	143.00–144.00	143.67
7	—	1,682	134.00–140.00	137.91

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
32	—	1,623	141.50–145.00	142.94
38	—	1,737	134.00–140.00	139.77
1	—	1,535	150.00	150.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,445	117.00	117.00
12	—	1,493	134.00–144.00	139.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,214	89.00–100.00	96.28
1	—	1,095	132.00	132.00
10	—	1,157	108.00–129.00	119.06

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	918	98.00–107.50	103.10

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
31	—	1,165	132.00–145.50	141.15
17	—	1,159	146.00–149.00	147.03
16	—	1,090	122.00–134.00	128.94

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,015	135.00	135.00
1	—	2,045	140.00	140.00

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.