Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2026-03-04

Public Auction Yards

Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 4
● Final73 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Slaughter Cattle receipts
520 head
222 vs last sale 298 163 vs year ago 683 · 23.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
1,984 head
1,832 vs last sale 152 280 vs year ago 1,704 · +16.4%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week (2-25-26): Feeder cattle were not tested this week as this sale featured bred cows and weigh ups. Demand for weigh up cows was very good. Almost every cow purchased today was purchased to feed in some capacity. Feeding cows sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher on all classes. Quality this week was average to very attractive with many long strings of reputation cows on offer. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average today as most offerings were worked through the chute before the sale and offered buyers very good weigh conditions. Demand for feeding cows was very good with a large number of local ranchers and order buyers in the stands. Canadian buyers were back in the market this week and showed very good demand for cows to ship north and feed. Cows with blemishes were also heavily purchased to feed this week as buyers pushed cow prices well over packer buyers orders for slaughter cows. Over 500 open cows and bulls were on offer today and less than 50 head were purchased for immediate harvest! Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Several sets of very attractive, reputation young cows sold this sale. Demand for young cows suitable to rebreed was very good. Young age offerings sold mostly 10.00-15.00 higher on a very attractive offering. A large offering of bred cows was on hand for todays sale. Demand was good to very good with a very large crowd of buyers in the stands. Ranchers were very active in buying bred cows this week and pushed bred cow offerings higher than the last bred cow special last month. Most young to middle age bred cows sold $200-350/head higher than the last bred cow special January 14th. Aged, broken mouth cows saw the largest price increase with many sets advancing $400-800/head or more on a few very attractive offerings.

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
BullsHigh1,967203.574,00420
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,525185.112,823173
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,374181.892,499170
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,664174.282,90016
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,193165.261,97170

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)1,240$4,631113
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,219$4,562177
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,360$4,45129
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,363$4,37976
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,299$4,32927
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,430$4,096126
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,480$3,972170
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,312$3,84213
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,164$3,82532
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,367$3,557427
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,344$3,53838
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,203$3,2506
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,307$3,0006
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,072$2,9638
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,355$2,82466
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,289$2,58219
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,085$4,19841
Bred Heifers2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,099$3,90014
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,478$4,5006
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,386$3,9008
Heifer PairsOpen(<2 yrs)1,278$5,70013

Every lot, as filed

73 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 1-21,0552,914.69/head2,900.00–3,000.002,9157
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1903,300.00/head3,300.00–3,300.003,3001
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2414,671.47/head4,300.00–5,000.004,671106
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS1,1564,000.00/head4,000.00–4,000.004,0005
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2994,329.28/head4,150.00–4,375.004,32927
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4403,762.19/head3,750.00–3,800.003,7624
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3883,700.00/head3,700.00–3,700.003,7004
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3604,450.95/head4,300.00–4,550.004,45129
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,2793,600.00/head3,600.00–3,600.003,6004
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,0854,197.62/head4,050.00–4,300.004,19841
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1383,701.21/head3,600.00–3,900.003,70111
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1874,006.01/head3,900.00–4,300.004,00615
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3273,950.00/head3,950.00–3,950.003,9509
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3853,750.00/head3,750.00–3,750.003,75014
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4203,968.88/head3,700.00–4,300.003,969231
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2970285.00/cwt285.00–285.002,7652
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,4683,613.01/head3,550.00–3,800.003,61311
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3454,508.21/head4,300.00–4,800.004,50865
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,3253,486.67/head3,400.00–3,600.003,48730
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,1533,600.00/head3,600.00–3,600.003,6006
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,0993,900.00/head3,900.00–3,900.003,90014
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1948306.54/cwt275.00–317.502,90615
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,2402,713.79/head2,650.00–2,725.002,71442
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,2943,059.21/head3,000.00–3,125.003,05993
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2632,625.00/head2,625.00–2,625.002,6258
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3643,338.68/head2,900.00–3,450.003,33961
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,329196.16/cwt187.00–209.002,60720
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,095227.39/cwt196.00–285.002,49010
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,105280.61/cwt200.00–322.503,101198
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Fleshy1,177207.50/cwt207.50–207.502,4423
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,4283,280.21/head3,200.00–3,350.003,28024
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2294,623.73/head4,200.00–4,800.004,624168
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,4784,500.00/head4,500.00–4,500.004,5006
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3863,900.00/head3,900.00–3,900.003,9008
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,2372,550.00/head2,550.00–2,550.002,55010
Heifer PairsMedium and Large 11,2785,700.00/head5,700.00–5,700.005,70013
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,406190.44/cwt185.00–200.002,67872
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,165159.77/cwt130.00–165.001,86114
Bulls2,230216.00/cwt216.00–216.004,8171
Bulls1,822204.34/cwt200.50–207.003,7233
CowsLean 85-90%1,129129.48/cwt125.00–135.001,4626
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,505189.50/cwt182.00–191.252,852136
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,532158.57/cwt155.00–161.002,4293
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,671172.50/cwt172.50–172.502,88215
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,227174.52/cwt167.50–178.502,14136
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,569167.06/cwt162.50–168.502,62120
CowsBreaker 75-80%Non-Traditional1,480189.00/cwt189.00–189.002,7971
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,624174.09/cwt172.00–180.002,8279
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight1,010150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,5151
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,186181.18/cwt178.00–184.002,1496
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,555201.00/cwt201.00–201.003,1261
CowsLean 85-90%1,180165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,9471
CowsLean 85-90%1,155145.00/cwt140.00–158.001,6756
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,773168.64/cwt165.00–172.002,9903
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,725173.00/cwt173.00–173.002,9841
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,357178.64/cwt170.00–185.002,42477
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,326164.47/cwt152.50–171.002,18121
Bulls2,208208.05/cwt204.50–209.004,5945
Bulls2,020187.00/cwt187.00–187.003,7771
Bulls2,117216.07/cwt214.00–217.004,5743
BullsHeavy Weight2,620204.00/cwt204.00–204.005,3451
BullsReturn to Feed1,250186.34/cwt185.00–187.502,3292
BullsReturn to Feed1,778197.54/cwt192.50–201.003,5124
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2033,250.00/head3,250.00–3,250.003,2506
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3774,050.00/head4,050.00–4,050.004,0502
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3902,450.00/head2,450.00–2,450.002,4503
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3262,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,7006
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4894,085.15/head3,700.00–4,300.004,085146
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4222,997.67/head2,800.00–3,200.002,99841
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,0333,405.79/head3,250.00–3,950.003,4069
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,2362,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,50017
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4364,139.72/head3,700.00–4,550.004,140112
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3073,000.00/head3,000.00–3,000.003,0006

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.