Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2026-07-29
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-07-29

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (7-01-26): 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, making it difficult for buyers to piece together loads. Demand was mostly moderate to good, despite light offerings. CME positions saw a slight rebound this week, following last weeks sharply lower movement. All contracts saw modest gains of over 1.50 on nearby contracts with November and later feeder contracts all pushing over 3.00 higher. Market activity was moderate to active with a small crowd of feeder buyers on hand. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand. The last test at Public auction yards was nearly one month ago; No market comparisons can be made as a result. Demand for feeding cows was moderate this week. Canadian buyers were back in the market this week as they purchased cows to ship north to feed. American packers actively tried to buy feeding cows lower as they bid lower on all classes of feeding cows. Cow quality was mostly plain to average this week and feeding cow selection was limited. Weigh up conditions were also average to below average as many cows and bulls were coming off grass very full. Some cow out of drought areas were coming off grass thin and full both as they filled up on hay once in the yards. Slaughter cow demand was mostly moderate to good this week. Demand for slaughter cows was stronger this week as southern packers showed good demand for cows for immediate harvest. The last test was both too light and to long ago to develop any market trend. Demand for slaughter bulls was mostly moderate. The last test was almost a month ago making comparisons difficult, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Many bulls were coming off grass and have been out breeding cows. Yielding conditions were significantly lower than earlier in the month as a result. Young age cows were all too lightly tested to develop any market comparison. Quality was mostly plain to average. Many young cows were fleshy coming off grass, especially if they have not calved.

Weight class

Steers · summary 600–700 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

600–700 lb steers averaged $380.00/cwt on 2 head, down $55.51 from the prior sale. That ranks 2 of 13 comparable sales and sits −46.89 against this barn's trailing median of $426.89.

Average price

$380.00

▼ 55.51 vs prior sale

2 head · 698 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,652

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

—

single grade reported

vs the market

+0.00

vs MT average

+8.06 vs national

What quality paid 600–700 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	698	380.00	2,652	2thin

Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

This barn's trailing prices 600–700 lb

13 sales

Steers 600–700 lb: high $435.51, low $370.59, median $426.89 across 13 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 600–700 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale2 hd

380.00

—

MT average1 barns · 2 hd

380.00

+0.00

National average139 barns · 3,856 hd

371.94

+8.06

This barn, trailing median13 sales

426.89

−46.89

A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

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	1,889	204.11	3,856	57
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,580	171.87	2,716	39
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,441	168.90	2,434	93
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,155	151.93	1,754	35
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,160	155.00	1,798	1thin

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	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,430	$3,000	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,457	$2,875	4thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,570	$2,750	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,235	$2,500	1thin
Bred Heifers	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	(<2 yrs)	940	$2,850	4thin
Bred Heifers	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,155	$2,700	1thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2,008	$4,800	2thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,764	$4,500	16

Every lot, as filed

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.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,396	157.44/cwt	150.00–164.00	2,198	15
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,126	137.61/cwt	125.00–145.00	1,549	13
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,165	151.70/cwt	149.00–155.00	1,767	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	880	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	1,276	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,457	176.66/cwt	171.00–180.00	2,574	47
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,414	184.86/cwt	182.00–188.00	2,614	4
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,764	4,500.00/head	4,500.00–4,500.00	4,500	16
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	2,008	4,800.00/head	4,800.00–4,800.00	4,800	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,223	159.09/cwt	152.50–163.00	1,946	10
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,075	183.00/cwt	183.00–183.00	1,967	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,240	177.08/cwt	174.00–179.00	2,196	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,437	163.72/cwt	153.00–169.00	2,353	14
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,020	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	1,632	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,565	162.92/cwt	161.00–165.00	2,550	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,709	161.31/cwt	154.00–165.50	2,757	4
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,617	179.00/cwt	179.00–179.00	2,894	3
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,160	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	1,798	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,429	142.74/cwt	135.00–148.00	2,040	7
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,472	168.69/cwt	165.00–171.00	2,483	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,545	173.85/cwt	168.00–179.00	2,686	25
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,840	204.63/cwt	200.00–211.00	3,765	10
Bulls	—	—	1,998	206.63/cwt	200.00–211.00	4,128	28
Bulls	—Non-Traditional	—	1,565	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	3,052	2
Bulls	—	—	1,519	171.15/cwt	160.00–180.00	2,600	4
Bulls	—	—	2,046	225.93/cwt	213.00–238.00	4,623	7
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,639	169.73/cwt	169.00–171.00	2,782	5
Steers	Large 1	1200–1250	1,205	262.50/cwt	262.50–262.50	3,163	2
Heifers	Large 1	1050–1100	1,062	278.00/cwt	278.00–278.00	2,952	6
Heifers	Large 1	1150–1200	1,170	251.00/cwt	251.00–251.00	2,937	2
Bulls	Large 1	1150–1200	1,155	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	3,003	1
Bulls	Large 1	1100–1150	1,140	257.50/cwt	257.50–257.50	2,936	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,636	191.01/cwt	187.00–197.00	3,125	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,190	232.52/cwt	222.50–237.50	2,767	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,028	227.70/cwt	215.00–240.00	2,341	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,143	193.16/cwt	181.00–210.00	2,208	8
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	—	1,300	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	2,340	2
Bulls	Medium 1-2	700–750	710	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	2,024	2
Steers	Medium 1	650–700	698	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	2,652	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	780	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	2,457	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	755	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	2,643	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	900–950	922	312.01/cwt	300.00–315.00	2,877	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	750–800	770	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	2,233	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,396	183.48/cwt	179.50–188.00	2,561	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	950–1000	986	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	2,859	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,047	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	3,246	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	920	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	3,036	15
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,235	2,500.00/head	2,500.00–2,500.00	2,500	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,457	2,874.89/head	2,850.00–2,900.00	2,875	4
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,155	2,700.00/head	2,700.00–2,700.00	2,700	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	825	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	2,929	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	855	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	2,950	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	310	560.00/cwt	560.00–560.00	1,736	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,303	183.76/cwt	180.00–190.00	2,394	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,143	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	2,457	2
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	940	2,850.00/head	2,850.00–2,850.00	2,850	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	302	510.00/cwt	510.00–510.00	1,540	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	377	523.41/cwt	512.50–535.00	1,973	10
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	835	302.00/cwt	302.00–302.00	2,522	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	866	328.43/cwt	327.50–330.00	2,844	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	715	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	2,717	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	400	500.00/cwt	500.00–500.00	2,000	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	881	322.59/cwt	321.00–325.00	2,842	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	950–1000	973	323.00/cwt	323.00–323.00	3,143	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	725	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	2,683	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	365	445.00/cwt	445.00–445.00	1,624	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	305	477.50/cwt	475.00–480.00	1,456	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	425	485.00/cwt	485.00–485.00	2,061	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,570	2,750.00/head	2,750.00–2,750.00	2,750	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,430	3,000.00/head	3,000.00–3,000.00	3,000	1

How this sale compares

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 →