Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-02-26

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Feb 26
● Final42 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
146 head
126 vs last sale 272 146 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
170 head
105 vs last sale 275 170 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
1,785 head
1,521 vs last sale 264 1,785 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on all cattle suitable to develop into yearlings. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate for light offerings. Quality this week was average to attractive however cattle were mostly offered in small groups or as singles. Market activity this week was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers showed mostly good demand again this week for slaughter cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week as many cows pushed fill. Poor weigh up conditions caused cows to cost more on a dressed basis compared to last week. Packer buyers also had to compete with feeding buyers who returned to the market this week. Feeding cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Feeding cows were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold mostly 4.00-5.00 lower. With calving underway more cows that lost calves were seen this week than over the past few weeks making comparisons difficult. A heavy offering of bred cows was seen this week as over 1,500 bred cows and heifers were on offer. The stands were full with a large crowd on hand to purchase bred offerings. Demand was mostly good, with very good demand seen for ranch dispersion's. Cattle were in mostly light to moderate flesh and set to calve in 20-50 day calving windows. Market activity for the bred portion of the sale was active with many bidders in the stands as well as on the internet actively bidding on offerings.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $152.71/cwt on 70 head.
Average price
$152.71
70 head · 515 lb average
Value per head Derived
$787
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$124
per head · Medium 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$32.65/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+2.84
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1404160.006464thin
Medium and Large 1564156.3988349
Medium 1-2288147.5042511thin
Medium and Large 1-2605127.357716thin
One grade step is worth $32.65/cwt here — about −$124 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 0–100 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 0–100 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale70 hd
152.71
MT average3 barns · 2,657 hd
149.87
+2.84
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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
BullsAverage1,77980.761,43720
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,57662.8199012
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,41358.1282123
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,18452.8462683

Every lot, as filed

42 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.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2501,603.05/cwt1,400.00–1,635.0020,03876
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1-29531,225.00/cwt1,225.00–1,225.0011,67436
Bred HeifersMedium 1-27521,100.00/cwt1,100.00–1,100.008,2723
SteersMedium and Large 1619160.14/cwt155.00–164.5099120
SteersMedium and Large 1-2553159.00/cwt159.00–159.008792
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,430956.64/cwt935.00–985.0013,68016
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,20858.00/cwt58.00–58.007016
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3101,342.36/cwt1,110.00–1,435.0017,585168
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3881,484.61/cwt1,400.00–1,610.0020,606151
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2558130.00/cwt130.00–130.007252
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2629126.02/cwt125.00–127.007934
HeifersMedium 1-2288147.50/cwt147.50–147.5042511
HeifersMedium and Large 1612144.00/cwt144.00–144.008812
HeifersMedium and Large 1532162.79/cwt162.50–163.0086619
SteersMedium and Large 1522175.00/cwt175.00–175.009143
CowsLean 85-90%1,15251.87/cwt45.00–56.0059858
CowsLean 85-90%1,21443.26/cwt42.00–44.005255
CowsBoner 80-85%1,31063.50/cwt63.50–63.508321
CowsBoner 80-85%1,41855.96/cwt54.00–56.507949
CowsBoner 80-85%1,41859.20/cwt57.50–61.5083913
HeifersMedium and Large 1583152.93/cwt148.00–154.0089228
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,124875.00/cwt875.00–875.009,83528
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,28955.48/cwt54.00–56.5071526
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,14054.93/cwt53.00–57.006262
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3231,054.20/cwt925.00–1,225.0013,947241
HeifersMedium 1Unweaned404160.00/cwt160.00–160.006464
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1611,432.98/cwt1,400.00–1,450.0016,63751
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1321,340.05/cwt1,285.00–1,460.0015,16914
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2841,564.42/cwt1,450.00–1,685.0020,087288
Stock CowsMedium and Large 197498.37/cwt86.00–112.5095824
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,29563.43/cwt59.00–66.0082141
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,33060.44/cwt57.00–66.5080478
Bred HeifersMedium 18471,325.00/cwt1,325.00–1,325.0011,22316
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 19951,275.00/cwt1,275.00–1,275.0012,6866
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,0731,507.34/cwt1,425.00–1,675.0016,174218
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,07475.35/cwt61.00–88.5080941
CowsLean 85-90%1,26958.03/cwt56.50–61.5073620
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,61063.75/cwt63.75–63.751,0269
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,47260.00/cwt60.00–60.008833
Bulls1,83382.05/cwt75.50–84.501,50414
Bulls1,50572.23/cwt70.50–75.001,0874
Bulls1,95088.76/cwt88.00–89.501,7312

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.