Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2026-01-14

Public Auction Yards

Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jan 14
● Final71 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Slaughter Cattle receipts
693 head
▼ 395 vs last sale 1,088▲ 330 vs year ago 363 · +90.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
1,272 head
▲ 954 vs last sale 318▲ 443 vs year ago 829 · +53.4%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week (1-07-26): Feeder cattle were not tested today as todays sale featured bred cows and weigh ups. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Demand for feeding cows was good to very good with a large buyer pool noticed. Feeding cows sold generally steady to firm with firm prices mostly coming from lower quality or slightly blemished cows. Slaughter cows sold on moderate to good demand. Breaking cows sold generally steady to firm. Boning and lean cows sold steady to 3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00-4.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Cow Quality this week was average to attractive with many long strings off reputation ranches. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on good demand for light to moderate offerings. Young age offerings sold generally steady. Quality was average to attractive. A large portion of todays offering was comprised of bred cows. Demand was good to very good with a large crowd of ranchers and order buyers in the stands actively bidding on offerings. A large portion of the bred offering was comprised of aged cow offerings. These offerings sold on very good demand as many ranchers and order buyers both showed good demand for cows they could get one more calf out of and still have salvage value this fall.

Slaughter cattle

By class and quality grade · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Bulls—Low2,040181.253,69730
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,642164.552,702142
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,345159.382,143219
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,119147.341,649218

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 $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,350$4,49129
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,139$3,98436
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,556$3,89638
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,585$3,82518
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,297$3,78410
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)975$3,2008
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,110$3,15221
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,306$3,13218
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,215$3,0565
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,447$3,03056
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,497$3,03050
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,367$3,0003thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,337$2,702173
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,393$2,66510
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,280$2,618170
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,231$2,4504thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,319$2,3505
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,092$2,2007
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,088$4,0506
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)(<2 yrs)1,081$3,6757
Bred Heifers1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)(<2 yrs)1,153$3,3003thin
Bred Heifers2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)(<2 yrs)944$3,29213

Every lot

71 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.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,633166.20/cwt159.00–173.002,7142
Bulls——1,935164.74/cwt159.00–168.003,1885
Bulls——1,965186.00/cwt186.00–186.003,6553
Bulls——2,018188.69/cwt187.00–194.003,8088
Bulls——2,126184.00/cwt184.00–184.003,91210
Bulls——Heavy Weight2,440196.00/cwt196.00–196.004,7821
Bulls——Heavy Weight2,510178.00/cwt178.00–178.004,4681
Slaughter Cattle · Cows21 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight933122.59/cwt120.00–125.001,1443
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight97592.50/cwt92.50–92.509021
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,082143.95/cwt120.00–154.001,55835
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,122162.78/cwt154.00–166.001,826120
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,135130.64/cwt123.00–136.501,4839
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,148117.21/cwt100.00–122.501,34638
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,150169.93/cwt169.00–172.501,9545
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,15586.92/cwt75.00–95.001,0047
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,313164.22/cwt156.00–170.002,156132
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,352171.28/cwt170.00–177.502,31643
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,404140.62/cwt127.50–152.001,97413
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,419121.96/cwt120.00–125.001,7317
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,449131.91/cwt125.00–140.001,91123
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,515146.00/cwt146.00–146.002,2121
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,523171.80/cwt170.00–172.002,61743
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,575125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,9691
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,687163.36/cwt158.00–164.002,75618
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,689138.75/cwt132.00–151.002,3438
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,690164.77/cwt157.00–169.502,78563
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,695152.02/cwt151.00–155.002,5776
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,865170.00/cwt170.00–170.003,1713
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows33 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium 18372,900.00/head2,900.00–2,900.002,9003
Bred Cows—Medium 19753,200.00/head3,200.00–3,200.003,2008
Bred Cows—Medium 29932,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,8002
Bred Cows—Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,0922,200.00/head2,200.00–2,200.002,2007
Bred Cows—Large 1-21,1182,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5003
Bred Cows—Large 1-21,1382,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1484,053.74/head3,500.00–4,150.004,05434
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1543,317.12/head3,200.00–3,625.003,31710
Bred Cows—Large 11,1833,362.50/head3,000.00–3,450.003,3635
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2002,307.30/head2,150.00–2,425.002,30720
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2153,055.56/head3,000.00–3,100.003,0565
Bred Cows—Large 11,2152,600.00/head2,600.00–2,600.002,60042
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2312,450.00/head2,450.00–2,450.002,4504
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,2462,250.00/head2,250.00–2,250.002,2505
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2973,783.97/head3,500.00–4,000.003,78410
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3002,397.32/head2,200.00–2,550.002,39728
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,3032,542.42/head2,400.00–2,600.002,54214
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3142,965.64/head2,950.00–3,000.002,9666
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3192,350.00/head2,350.00–2,350.002,3505
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3232,704.17/head2,450.00–2,950.002,704103
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3392,734.34/head2,550.00–2,825.002,73411
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3482,783.96/head2,550.00–3,000.002,784131
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3504,491.30/head4,250.00–4,625.004,49129
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3563,487.44/head3,350.00–3,550.003,4879
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3673,000.00/head3,000.00–3,000.003,0003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3842,650.00/head2,650.00–2,650.002,6507
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,4083,325.00/head3,325.00–3,325.003,3258
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4152,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,7003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4743,102.28/head2,700.00–3,400.003,10245
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4862,912.87/head2,750.00–3,000.002,91338
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Fancy1,5313,400.00/head3,400.00–3,400.003,40012
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5853,825.00/head3,825.00–3,825.003,82518
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5964,048.77/head3,600.00–4,150.004,04930
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers5 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium 28772,600.00/head2,600.00–2,600.002,6003
Bred Heifers—Medium 19643,500.00/head3,500.00–3,500.003,50010
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0813,674.69/head3,500.00–3,900.003,6757
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0884,050.00/head4,050.00–4,050.004,0506
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,1533,300.00/head3,300.00–3,300.003,3003
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed842202.47/cwt187.50–210.001,7053
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,009266.24/cwt178.00–320.002,68691
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,009217.83/cwt177.50–275.002,19829
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,251181.23/cwt180.00–185.002,2674
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,442196.25/cwt194.00–197.002,83015

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.