Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2026-09-02

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Sep 2
● Final94 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,140 head
▲ 536 vs last sale 604▲ 1,140 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
234 head
▼ 170 vs last sale 404▲ 234 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
49 head
▼ 10 vs last sale 59▲ 49 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (8-19-26): 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 yearling offerings were in small packages or as singles, while most calf offerings were in small to moderate size package. Demand was mostly moderate to good for both yearlings and calves. Demand for calves improved this week as several large packages of high quality calves were noticed. Calf quality was mostly attractive this week. Demand for lightweight calves suitable to develop into yearlings remains very good despite lower CME positions. Demand for calves over 450 lbs was mostly moderate to good. Demand did improve as additional buyers started loads. Yearling demand suffered as the volume of offerings limited demand. Yearling quality was mostly average today. Market activity was mostly active, with a large crowd of buyers in the stands and over the internet bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light demand and light offerings. Heavier cow offerings have started to be marketed and packers have lowered bids on both cows and bulls as a result. Feeding cow quality was mostly plain to average this week. The last sale was 2 weeks ago so all comparisons are to that sale. Feeding cows sold mostly sold mostly 6.00-10.00 lower. Slaughter cows sold sharply lower on breaking flesh cows, with most sales 15.00-20.00 lower than two weeks ago. Boning and lean cows sold mostly 10.00-15.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 18.00-20.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mixed this sale with both full and empty offerings noticed. Young age offerings were too lightly tested both last sale and today to develop an accurate market trend. Demand for limited offerings was mostly good. Quality was mostly plain to average. Many young cows were fleshy coming off grass, especially if they have not calved.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $372.32/cwt on 76 head, up $21.44 from the prior sale (only 17 head in that comparison). That ranks 4 of 19 comparable sales and sits −23.13 against this barn's trailing median of $395.45.
Average price
$372.32
▲ 21.44 vs prior sale
76 head · 547 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,037
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$98
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$37.53/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+2.00
vs MT average
+40.80 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1539382.692,06155
Medium and Large 1-2569345.171,96421
One grade step is worth $37.53/cwt here — about $98 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 sale76 hd
372.32
—
MT average2 barns · 82 hd
370.32
+2.00
National average157 barns · 5,611 hd
331.52
+40.80
This barn, trailing median19 sales
395.45
−23.13
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
478430382334median 395.4503/1104/1506/0309/0210/21
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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Bulls—Average1,747173.133,02448
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,413155.842,20284
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,662150.852,50744
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,196141.671,69443
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Low1,298125.001,6232thin

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 Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,518$2,3007

Every lot

94 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 · Steers19 lots · lightest first
Steers200–250Medium and Large 1Unweaned206690.00/cwt690.00–690.001,4218
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned275580.00/cwt580.00–580.001,5951
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned283565.00/cwt565.00–565.001,5994
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned342527.42/cwt522.50–570.001,80434
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned378505.00/cwt505.00–505.001,9092
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned433470.00/cwt470.00–470.002,0355
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned435486.93/cwt474.00–527.502,11863
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned468443.97/cwt420.00–447.502,0788
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned477459.06/cwt454.00–477.502,19086
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2Unweaned498370.00/cwt370.00–370.001,8434
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned523445.06/cwt415.00–454.502,32894
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned530394.11/cwt390.00–405.002,08911
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned568392.32/cwt380.00–399.002,22820
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned573377.00/cwt377.00–377.002,1608
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned627368.34/cwt361.00–381.002,30938
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1796356.00/cwt356.00–356.002,8347
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1886325.49/cwt324.00–327.002,8846
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,006293.57/cwt287.50–296.002,95314
Steers1050–1100Large 1-21,098270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,9655
Feeder Cattle · Heifers30 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned258550.00/cwt550.00–550.001,4193
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned278500.00/cwt500.00–500.001,3903
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned371481.83/cwt472.50–495.001,7887
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned413439.01/cwt427.50–455.001,81384
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned421405.00/cwt405.00–405.001,70513
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned473422.23/cwt405.00–430.001,997103
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned515394.07/cwt377.50–422.502,02929
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned530340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,8022
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned565370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,09126
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned573345.71/cwt342.00–350.001,98119
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned615353.00/cwt353.00–353.002,1713
Heifers650–700Medium 1-2655337.50/cwt337.50–337.502,2113
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned675330.00/cwt330.00–330.002,2284
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2775331.00/cwt331.00–331.002,5651
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1822332.00/cwt332.00–332.002,7296
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2840320.00/cwt320.00–320.002,6882
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1880316.54/cwt312.00–318.002,78611
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1934307.36/cwt307.00–307.502,8717
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1962296.77/cwt294.00–303.002,85514
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2998294.00/cwt294.00–294.002,9343
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2Full999270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,6974
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,006270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,7165
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,011288.78/cwt280.00–294.002,92050
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 1Full1,018279.00/cwt279.00–279.002,8405
Heifers1050–1100Large 1-21,060267.50/cwt267.50–267.502,8361
Heifers1050–1100Large 1Full1,097270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,9623
Heifers1100–1150Large 11,112271.00/cwt271.00–271.003,01410
Heifers1100–1150Large 1-21,118259.24/cwt257.50–261.002,8984
Heifers1150–1200Large 1-21,160249.00/cwt249.00–249.002,8881
Heifers1150–1200Large 1Fleshy1,176250.00/cwt250.00–250.002,9404
Feeder Cattle · Bulls11 lots · lightest first
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned313545.00/cwt545.00–545.001,7063
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned368515.00/cwt515.00–515.001,8953
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned420485.00/cwt485.00–485.002,0373
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned495405.00/cwt405.00–405.002,0052
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned518414.90/cwt405.00–422.502,14928
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned558387.08/cwt385.00–387.502,1606
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned616340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,0945
Bulls1100–1150Large 11,105262.00/cwt262.00–262.002,8951
Bulls1100–1150Large 1-21,110237.50/cwt237.50–237.502,6361
Bulls1150–1200Large 11,190240.00/cwt240.00–240.002,8561
Bulls1200–1250Large 1-21,235210.00/cwt210.00–210.002,5941
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,325160.00/cwt160.00–160.002,1201
Bulls——Return to Feed1,510167.73/cwt159.00–176.002,53314
Bulls——Return to Feed1,600177.00/cwt177.00–177.002,8321
Bulls——1,755168.45/cwt155.00–172.502,95614
Bulls——1,869181.65/cwt178.00–186.003,39514
Bulls——2,068192.48/cwt192.00–193.003,9802
Bulls——2,395175.50/cwt175.50–175.504,2031
Bulls——Heavy Weight2,510163.00/cwt163.00–163.004,0911
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight850109.76/cwt105.00–115.009332
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,080108.70/cwt107.50–110.001,1742
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,084142.00/cwt142.00–142.001,5394
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,194127.47/cwt115.00–139.001,52214
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,200164.00/cwt164.00–164.001,9681
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,253163.51/cwt158.00–165.002,04912
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,283147.00/cwt147.00–147.001,8868
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,323133.44/cwt122.50–139.501,7657
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,370158.00/cwt158.00–158.002,1651
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,397163.23/cwt157.00–167.002,28047
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,410120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,6921
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,414147.83/cwt145.00–158.002,09013
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,448171.50/cwt171.50–171.502,4835
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,538142.78/cwt140.00–146.502,19610
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,614158.47/cwt155.00–163.002,55819
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,622143.13/cwt137.00–150.002,3229
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,649150.50/cwt150.00–151.002,4826
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,791144.18/cwt142.00–146.002,5828
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,818141.02/cwt140.00–142.002,5642
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%1,298125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,6232
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,007226.85/cwt220.00–241.002,2843
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,043250.06/cwt235.00–257.002,60825
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,083212.50/cwt212.50–212.502,3014
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,160186.00/cwt186.00–186.002,1581
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,365196.00/cwt196.00–196.002,6751
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5182,300.00/head2,300.00–2,300.002,3007

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.