Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2026-02-27
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-02-27

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

The last feeder cattle special was held 2/18/26. All feeder cattle comparisons are to that sale. Feeder steers under 550 lbs sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Steers 550-749 lbs sold steady to firm, steers over 750 lbs were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Feeder heifers under 500 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. 500-599 lbs heifers sold steady to 10.00 higher, 600-649 lbs heifers sold 10.00-20.00 higher, heifers over 650 lbs were too lightly tested last sale to make an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand was very good today for all offerings and strengthened throughout the sale. Demand for grass cattle was very good with several buyers looking for this class of cattle. Buyers looking for grass heifers dipped into the light end of replacement heifers in order to buy high quality cattle. This class of cattle showed the largest increase in value week over week. Quality today was average to very attractive with many sets of high quality cattle on offer. Cattle too big to go to grass were the soft part of the sale as lighter offerings made putting together loads of like quality cattle difficult. Additionally, CME positions sold off sharply today which put some pressure on this class of cattle. A large crowd was on hand for todays sale with active bidding seen from both order buyers and ranchers looking for grass cattle and replacement heifers. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for very light offerings. Too few cows were seen to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop any market trend.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $448.39/cwt on 607 head. That ranks 1 of 1 comparable sales and sits +0.00 against this barn's trailing median of $448.39.

Average price

$448.39

607 head · 563 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,523

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$104

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2

$28.06/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−2.47

vs MT average

+17.98 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	560	462.00	2,587	271
Medium 1	545	447.05	2,438	89
Medium and Large 1-2	572	433.94	2,483	247

One grade step is worth $28.06/cwt here — about $104 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 300–400 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 sale607 hd

448.39

—

MT average3 barns · 740 hd

450.86

−2.47

National average177 barns · 14,680 hd

430.41

+17.98

This barn, trailing median1 sales

448.39

+0.00

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	—	Low	1,850	188.00	3,478	4thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,650	170.50	2,813	2thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,378	162.66	2,241	12
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,147	139.23	1,597	13

Every lot, as filed

92 lots · USDA AMS · Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Fri)

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
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	600–650	637	437.51/cwt	410.00–446.00	2,787	206
Heifers	Medium 1	500–550	544	448.96/cwt	447.50–450.00	2,442	84
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	635	439.27/cwt	399.00–452.50	2,789	328
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	350–400	391	556.82/cwt	550.00–562.50	2,177	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	950–1000	967	328.00/cwt	328.00–328.00	3,172	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	700–750	710	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	2,663	5
Heifers	Medium 1	550–600	567	415.00/cwt	415.00–415.00	2,353	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	672	373.52/cwt	350.00–377.50	2,510	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	574	432.86/cwt	412.50–438.00	2,485	233
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	828	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	2,732	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	831	342.78/cwt	340.00–347.50	2,849	116
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	650–700	689	392.39/cwt	392.00–398.00	2,704	62
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	574	455.08/cwt	442.50–467.00	2,612	180
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	350–400	393	482.50/cwt	482.50–482.50	1,896	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	541	451.96/cwt	448.00–455.00	2,445	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	485	491.24/cwt	490.00–495.00	2,383	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	532	475.70/cwt	460.00–487.00	2,531	91
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	716	378.69/cwt	374.00–380.00	2,711	51
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	863	331.00/cwt	331.00–331.00	2,857	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	300–350	336	505.00/cwt	505.00–505.00	1,697	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	939	2,975.00/head	2,975.00–2,975.00	2,975	39
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	428	503.91/cwt	495.00–505.00	2,157	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	769	359.79/cwt	359.00–362.00	2,767	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	475	513.50/cwt	492.50–531.00	2,439	150
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	950–1000	955	312.00/cwt	312.00–312.00	2,980	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	700–750	743	349.56/cwt	341.00–351.00	2,597	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	750–800	785	343.00/cwt	343.00–343.00	2,693	11
Heifers	Large 1	600–650	616	405.00/cwt	405.00–405.00	2,495	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	666	387.64/cwt	379.00–398.00	2,582	265
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	743	356.00/cwt	356.00–356.00	2,645	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	432	535.00/cwt	535.00–535.00	2,311	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	980	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	2,695	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,077	210.55/cwt	167.50–277.50	2,268	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,258	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	2,705	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	905	312.50/cwt	312.50–312.50	2,828	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,525	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	2,593	1
Bulls	—	—	1,935	198.00/cwt	198.00–198.00	3,831	2
Bulls	—	—	2,005	186.00/cwt	186.00–186.00	3,729	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,210	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	1,948	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,545	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	2,688	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,755	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	2,931	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,156	140.79/cwt	135.00–155.00	1,628	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	855	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	941	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,346	150.17/cwt	146.00–159.00	2,021	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,400	171.58/cwt	170.00–175.00	2,402	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,195	125.85/cwt	122.00–130.00	1,504	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	500	490.00/cwt	490.00–490.00	2,450	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	500–550	510	540.00/cwt	540.00–540.00	2,754	1
Heifers	Medium 1	400–450	435	505.00/cwt	505.00–505.00	2,197	2
Heifers	Large 1	700–750	702	371.00/cwt	371.00–371.00	2,604	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	636	389.57/cwt	365.00–405.00	2,478	25
Heifers	Large 1-2	600–650	630	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	2,363	8
Steers	Large 1	900–950	926	335.26/cwt	333.00–338.00	3,105	24
Steers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	416	620.00/cwt	620.00–620.00	2,579	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	778	377.79/cwt	377.50–391.00	2,939	62
Steers	Large 1	700–750	708	395.00/cwt	395.00–395.00	2,797	24
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	650–700	666	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	2,864	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	585	468.80/cwt	452.00–477.50	2,742	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	545	500.31/cwt	495.00–505.00	2,727	48
Steers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	541	517.06/cwt	511.00–550.00	2,797	224
Steers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	828	363.41/cwt	359.50–369.00	3,009	54
Steers	Medium 1	550–600	590	473.00/cwt	473.00–473.00	2,791	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	474	574.00/cwt	559.00–615.00	2,721	66
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	418	589.20/cwt	584.00–596.00	2,463	30
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	732	373.72/cwt	370.50–390.00	2,736	26
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	795	360.50/cwt	360.50–360.50	2,866	64
Steers	Large 1	500–550	510	547.50/cwt	547.50–547.50	2,792	2
Steers	Large 1	750–800	775	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	2,906	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	613	465.17/cwt	445.00–487.50	2,851	135
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	850–900	886	336.00/cwt	336.00–336.00	2,977	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	495	552.50/cwt	552.50–552.50	2,735	2
Steers	Medium and Large 2	650–700	673	367.50/cwt	367.50–367.50	2,473	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	574	493.67/cwt	485.00–517.00	2,834	154
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	725	402.49/cwt	395.00–415.00	2,918	35
Steers	Medium and Large 2	550–600	585	415.00/cwt	415.00–415.00	2,428	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	650–700	663	382.50/cwt	382.50–382.50	2,536	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	850–900	886	348.00/cwt	348.00–348.00	3,083	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	672	417.22/cwt	402.50–422.00	2,804	35
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	672	425.83/cwt	413.50–434.00	2,862	197
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	300–350	317	629.37/cwt	620.00–640.00	1,995	9
Steers	Large 1	600–650	626	435.00/cwt	435.00–435.00	2,723	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	700–750	705	404.35/cwt	398.00–418.00	2,851	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	700–750	739	2,900.00/head	2,900.00–2,900.00	2,900	62
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	750–800	752	3,072.07/head	3,050.00–3,075.00	3,072	179
Steers	Medium and Large 2	350–400	380	565.00/cwt	565.00–565.00	2,147	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	898	344.00/cwt	344.00–344.00	3,089	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	800–850	829	342.92/cwt	340.50–345.00	2,843	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	850–900	852	2,950.00/head	2,950.00–2,950.00	2,950	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	427	539.37/cwt	532.50–542.00	2,303	18
Heifers	Large 1	650–700	677	382.75/cwt	364.00–386.00	2,591	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	621	438.00/cwt	438.00–438.00	2,720	4
Steers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	400	525.00/cwt	525.00–525.00	2,100	2

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 →