Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2026-06-24

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jun 24
● Final117 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
544 head
▲ 364 vs last sale 180▲ 305 vs year ago 239 · +127.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
656 head
▲ 135 vs last sale 521▲ 234 vs year ago 422 · +55.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
529 head
▲ 268 vs last sale 261▲ 277 vs year ago 252 · +109.9%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week (6-17-26): Feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive, with lots of variation noticed. Most offerings were in small to moderate size packages. Demand was mostly good to very good. CME positions pushed sharply higher again today with most contracts 2.00-5.00 higher. Demand for fall and lightweight spring calves was good to very good. Offerings were mixed for weaning status but all offerings sold on very good demand. Market activity was moderate to active with a moderate crowd on hand. Internet bidding was active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Feeding cows sold steady to firm on boning and lean cows. Breaking fleshed feeding cows sold 4.00-6.00 higher after two weeks of lower movement. Demand for grass fat cows was light to moderate, but stronger this week compared to last week and more offerings were purchased to feed compared to the last two weeks. Demand for feeding cows was very good this week with a large buyer pool noticed. Slaughter cows sold on good to very good demand as packers all showed need for cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold 2.00-4.00 higher on breaker cows, boning and lean cows sold steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold steady to firm. Feeding bulls sold steady to 5.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week, with lots of variation noticed. Cow quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Demand for young cows suitable to feed or rebreed was good this week, and similar to last week. Quality was mostly average to attractive. Young cows sold mostly steady to firm in a narrow comparison.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $494.25/cwt on 40 head, down $16.45 from the prior sale. That ranks 8 of 10 comparable sales and sits +39.33 against this barn's trailing median of $454.92.
Average price
$494.25
▼ 16.45 vs prior sale
40 head · 567 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,803
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$435
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$95.91/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−1.86
vs MT average
+25.79 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1568500.912,84533
Medium and Large 1-2557472.462,6326thin
Medium and Large 2595405.002,4101thin
One grade step is worth $95.91/cwt here — about $435 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 sale40 hd
494.25
—
MT average3 barns · 79 hd
496.10
−1.86
National average150 barns · 8,917 hd
468.46
+25.79
This barn, trailing median10 sales
454.92
+39.33
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

10 sales
525476427379median 454.9203/1804/1506/2409/3010/21
Steers 500–600 lb: high $510.69, low $392.59, median $454.92 across 10 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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Bulls—Low1,798216.633,896114
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,395183.102,553246
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,613173.132,79256
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,162169.341,96864
Dairy CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,900140.002,6601thin
Dairy CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,375137.501,8911thin
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Low1,155125.001,4441thin

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)1,334$3,91418
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,294$3,6385
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,530$3,1001thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,505$3,0001thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,350$2,8002thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,389$2,7645
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,648$2,6502thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,033$3,7004thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,572$4,58113
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,658$4,40954
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,501$4,23144
Heifer PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,418$4,6002thin

Every lot

117 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
Feeder Cattle · Steers22 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned277654.73/cwt640.00–665.001,8143
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned343640.00/cwt640.00–640.002,19514
Steers350–400Small and Medium 23681,850.00/head1,850.00–1,850.001,8506
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned485505.00/cwt505.00–505.002,4491
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2488527.22/cwt520.00–530.002,5737
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1534525.00/cwt525.00–525.002,80411
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2557472.46/cwt435.00–480.002,6326
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1585488.87/cwt480.00–496.002,86022
Steers550–600Medium and Large 2595405.00/cwt405.00–405.002,4101
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2645450.00/cwt450.00–450.002,9031
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1662445.36/cwt435.00–455.002,94865
Steers650–700Medium and Large 2673368.78/cwt357.50–382.502,4829
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2695417.50/cwt417.50–417.502,9023
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2700402.50/cwt402.50–402.502,8181
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2776385.46/cwt375.00–387.502,9916
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1785392.41/cwt390.00–394.003,08010
Steers750–800Large 1-2790350.00/cwt350.00–350.002,7652
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1806369.08/cwt367.00–372.502,9757
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2823347.00/cwt346.00–352.502,85620
Steers850–900Large 1-2870340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,9583
Steers850–900Medium and Large 2875332.50/cwt332.50–332.502,9091
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1881365.48/cwt356.00–367.003,22035
Feeder Cattle · Heifers20 lots · lightest first
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned323552.00/cwt552.00–552.001,7834
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned351530.00/cwt530.00–530.001,8604
Heifers400–450Medium 1-2448445.00/cwt445.00–445.001,9943
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned463470.00/cwt470.00–470.002,1763
Heifers500–550Medium 2-3519275.00/cwt275.00–275.001,4279
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2520421.51/cwt415.00–425.002,1923
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2580394.53/cwt385.00–410.002,2885
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1583419.86/cwt418.00–421.002,44815
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1619413.38/cwt401.00–417.002,55930
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2625390.00/cwt390.00–390.002,4381
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2670365.00/cwt365.00–365.002,4461
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2728361.51/cwt350.00–365.002,6329
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1737369.71/cwt367.50–370.502,72511
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2770344.94/cwt340.00–350.002,6562
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1793357.96/cwt356.00–370.002,83917
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2Full812301.00/cwt301.00–301.002,4443
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1860331.67/cwt330.00–334.002,85212
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1913329.00/cwt329.00–329.003,0043
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2920310.00/cwt310.00–310.002,8523
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1968308.00/cwt308.00–308.002,9819
Feeder Cattle · Bulls15 lots · lightest first
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned350565.00/cwt565.00–565.001,9783
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned510485.00/cwt485.00–485.002,4748
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2589410.04/cwt405.00–412.502,4159
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2604417.99/cwt410.00–420.002,52510
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1630432.50/cwt432.50–432.502,7252
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1-2654400.00/cwt400.00–400.002,6165
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1-2745370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,7573
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1867330.97/cwt325.00–332.502,87010
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 11,035295.00/cwt295.00–295.003,0531
Bulls1100–1150Large 1-21,100260.00/cwt260.00–260.002,8601
Bulls1100–1150Large 11,105278.00/cwt278.00–278.003,0722
Bulls1150–1200Large 11,175263.48/cwt252.50–271.003,0965
Bulls1200–1250Large 1-21,217230.00/cwt230.00–230.002,7993
Bulls1200–1250Large 11,231240.00/cwt240.00–240.002,9546
Bulls1250–1300Large 11,273237.50/cwt237.50–237.503,0232
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,393213.94/cwt207.00–224.002,98014
Bulls——Return to Feed1,512199.23/cwt180.00–210.003,01216
Bulls——1,587200.75/cwt187.00–210.503,18613
Bulls——1,901218.24/cwt209.00–225.004,14937
Bulls——2,056230.33/cwt224.00–251.004,73633
Bulls——Heavy Weight2,510228.00/cwt228.00–228.005,7231
Slaughter Cattle · Cows20 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight78090.00/cwt90.00–90.007021
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight850152.50/cwt152.50–152.501,2961
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,128162.22/cwt160.00–164.001,8302
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,160142.52/cwt130.00–147.001,6537
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,172181.09/cwt175.00–185.002,12221
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,175189.40/cwt187.00–199.002,2259
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,182163.73/cwt150.00–174.001,93523
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,340168.00/cwt168.00–168.002,2511
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,355137.00/cwt137.00–137.001,8561
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,379182.50/cwt176.00–187.002,51775
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,394188.72/cwt187.00–195.002,631130
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,413168.06/cwt155.00–176.002,37529
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,474164.18/cwt161.00–166.002,42010
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,551164.91/cwt161.00–174.002,55813
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,567186.00/cwt186.00–186.002,9158
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,590180.24/cwt175.00–183.502,86617
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,623164.31/cwt161.00–167.002,6678
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,735178.00/cwt178.00–178.003,0881
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,758170.52/cwt166.00–176.002,9988
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,805142.50/cwt142.50–142.502,5721
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows3 lots · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%1,155125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,4441
Dairy Cows—Boner 80-85%1,375137.50/cwt137.50–137.501,8911
Dairy Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,900140.00/cwt140.00–140.002,6601
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs12 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,0954,200.00/head4,200.00–4,200.004,2001
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,1354,100.00/head4,100.00–4,100.004,1001
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4244,100.00/head4,100.00–4,100.004,10012
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5124,261.85/head4,150.00–4,350.004,26229
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5674,044.36/head4,000.00–4,050.004,0449
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5774,388.36/head4,200.00–4,500.004,38827
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,6394,589.78/head4,500.00–4,600.004,59010
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,6784,400.00/head4,400.00–4,400.004,4003
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,7084,450.00/head4,450.00–4,450.004,4503
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,8004,600.00/head4,600.00–4,600.004,6005
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,8105,350.00/head5,350.00–5,350.005,3501
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,8834,700.00/head4,700.00–4,700.004,70010
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 11,4184,600.00/head4,600.00–4,600.004,6002
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows9 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1923,548.05/head3,500.00–3,700.003,5484
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,1952,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2943,638.10/head3,500.00–3,700.003,6385
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3744,018.97/head4,000.00–4,050.004,01914
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3892,764.44/head2,700.00–2,800.002,7645
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,5053,100.00/head3,100.00–3,100.003,1001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5053,000.00/head3,000.00–3,000.003,0001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,5303,100.00/head3,100.00–3,100.003,1001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,6482,650.00/head2,650.00–2,650.002,6502
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1822323.79/cwt320.00–327.502,6625
Stock Cows—Medium 1-2843245.00/cwt245.00–245.002,0652
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2958274.00/cwt245.00–312.502,6256
Stock Cows—Medium 1980202.50/cwt202.50–202.501,9851
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,027236.45/cwt189.00–287.502,42827
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,044282.41/cwt215.00–328.002,94860
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,161231.91/cwt190.00–305.002,69285
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,395187.38/cwt186.00–192.002,61414
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 1-21,0333,700.00/head3,700.00–3,700.003,7004

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.