Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2026-07-01

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jul 1
● Final68 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
112 head
▼ 432 vs last sale 544▲ 112 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
444 head
▼ 212 vs last sale 656▲ 444 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
190 head
▼ 339 vs last sale 529▲ 190 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week (6-24-26): Feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mixed from plain to average, with lots of variation noticed. Most offerings were in small packages or as singles. Demand was mostly moderate to good. Buyers were mostly on the sidelines this week as the upcoming 4th of July holiday has many buyers out of the market this week. Market activity was moderate to active with a small crowd of feeder buyers on hand. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 lower on a lower quality offering on all classes. Demand for feeding cows was good this week with a large buyer pool noticed. Canadian buyers were back in the market this week as they purchased cows to ship north to feed. Slaughter cows sold on good to very good demand as packers all showed need for cows for immediate harvest as this was their last opportunity to buy slaughter cows before the holiday break. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on boning and lean cows, while breaking cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower. Slaughter cow quality was mostly plain this week as most cows purchased for slaughter were too blemished to feed. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower. 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 plain to average and not as good as last week. Demand for young cows suitable to feed or rebreed was light to moderate this week. Many buyers were out of the market this week as they didn't take cattle this week due to the holiday. Quality was mostly average and not as attractive as last week. Young cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed, especially on young cows over 1150 lbs.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 600–700 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
600–700 lb heifers averaged $394.69/cwt on 16 head, down $16.45 from the prior sale. That ranks 17 of 19 comparable sales and sits +15.92 against this barn's trailing median of $378.77.
Average price
$394.69
▼ 16.45 vs prior sale
16 head · 634 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,504
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$263
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$68.76/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.00
vs MT average
+5.26 vs national

Price by quality 600–700 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1629413.762,6038thin
Medium and Large 1-2627385.822,4196thin
Medium and Large 2678345.002,3392thin
One grade step is worth $68.76/cwt here — about $263 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 600–700 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 600–700 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale16 hd
394.69
—
MT average1 barns · 16 hd
394.69
+0.00
National average34 barns · 2,555 hd
389.43
+5.26
This barn, trailing median19 sales
378.77
+15.92
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 600–700 lb

19 sales
425387349311median 378.7703/1104/0805/2709/0210/21
Heifers 600–700 lb: high $411.14, low $324.70, median $378.77 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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Bulls—Low1,879212.223,98978
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,407180.862,545171
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,614175.442,83253
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,193169.182,01872
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Low1,070138.001,4771thin

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)1,375$4,0413thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,255$3,2001thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,450$2,9001thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,090$4,4501thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,176$4,37812
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,504$4,32613

Every lot

68 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 · Steers3 lots · lightest first
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2718387.97/cwt385.00–391.002,7862
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2773371.00/cwt371.00–371.002,8682
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,015312.61/cwt306.00–316.003,1736
Feeder Cattle · Heifers8 lots · lightest first
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2438469.85/cwt465.00–480.002,0583
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2627385.82/cwt385.00–390.002,4196
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1629413.76/cwt405.00–415.002,6038
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2678345.00/cwt345.00–345.002,3392
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1712365.00/cwt365.00–365.002,5993
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 2725339.00/cwt339.00–339.002,4583
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1770362.76/cwt362.00–365.002,7934
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2790337.55/cwt332.50–340.002,6673
Feeder Cattle · Bulls9 lots · lightest first
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2428520.00/cwt520.00–520.002,2263
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1625400.00/cwt400.00–400.002,5002
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1-2720358.11/cwt345.00–365.002,5783
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1778357.50/cwt357.50–357.502,7812
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1-2835330.00/cwt330.00–330.002,7561
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,005280.00/cwt280.00–280.002,8141
Bulls1150–1200Large 11,193247.50/cwt247.50–247.502,9532
Bulls1250–1300Large 11,260241.00/cwt241.00–241.003,0371
Bulls1350–1400Large 11,390246.00/cwt246.00–246.003,4191
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Non-Traditional1,195185.00/cwt185.00–185.002,2111
Bulls——Return to Feed1,523208.56/cwt205.00–211.003,17618
Bulls——Return to Feed1,695205.00/cwt205.00–205.003,4751
Bulls——1,828198.44/cwt190.00–205.003,6278
Bulls——1,999213.56/cwt205.00–220.004,26931
Bulls——2,038224.14/cwt222.00–233.004,56816
Bulls——2,255190.00/cwt190.00–190.004,2851
Bulls——2,418212.51/cwt211.00–214.005,1382
Slaughter Cattle · Cows20 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight843126.35/cwt125.00–127.501,0652
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight905150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,3581
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,055166.00/cwt166.00–166.001,7511
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,150166.86/cwt160.00–174.001,91920
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,186161.47/cwt157.50–165.001,9156
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,204185.48/cwt185.00–187.502,2335
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,238178.58/cwt172.00–182.002,21131
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,261145.54/cwt140.00–153.001,8355
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,387180.73/cwt175.00–185.002,507112
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,405150.00/cwt150.00–150.002,1081
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,435159.00/cwt159.00–159.002,2821
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,435115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,6501
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,444187.51/cwt185.00–192.002,70842
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,448166.12/cwt153.00–174.002,40514
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,535175.50/cwt175.50–175.502,6941
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,550188.50/cwt188.50–188.502,9228
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,611176.81/cwt173.25–183.002,84833
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,618165.00/cwt162.50–169.002,6706
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,679158.93/cwt152.00–162.002,6684
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,790164.96/cwt164.00–166.002,9532
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%1,070138.00/cwt138.00–138.001,4771
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows11 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 2760225.00/cwt225.00–225.001,7101
Stock Cows—Medium 1865304.90/cwt302.50–310.002,6373
Stock Cows—Medium 1-2870240.00/cwt240.00–240.002,0881
Stock Cows—Medium 1-2875252.13/cwt235.00–285.002,2063
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,046232.80/cwt183.00–295.002,4358
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,073262.31/cwt245.00–282.502,8152
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,140249.80/cwt210.00–335.002,84837
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,228214.22/cwt188.00–270.002,63140
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,337204.88/cwt200.00–215.002,7393
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,355183.00/cwt183.00–183.002,4801
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,358189.28/cwt184.00–202.502,57010
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0904,450.00/head4,450.00–4,450.004,4501
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2553,200.00/head3,200.00–3,200.003,2001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3754,040.85/head3,900.00–4,100.004,0413
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4502,900.00/head2,900.00–2,900.002,9001
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs4 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium 11,1464,384.77/head4,350.00–4,400.004,38511
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5004,421.27/head4,300.00–4,450.004,42111
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,5104,300.00/head4,300.00–4,300.004,3001
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,5233,800.00/head3,800.00–3,800.003,8002

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.