Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2025-12-19

Public Auction Yards

Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Dec 19
● Final55 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2257
Receipts
6,332 head
1,839 vs last sale 8,171 1,939 vs year ago 4,393 · +44.1%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Today and yesterday, Public Auction Yards hosted the Annual Northland bred cow and heifer sale. Historically this sale is held at Billings Livestock Commission, however again this year Public auction yards hosted this consignment only sale. Over 6,300 head of cows were pregnancy checked for the two day sale. Demand was mostly moderate to good on a heavy offering of bred cows. A moderate size crowd was in the stands and active internet bidding was seen both days. Internet buyers were active as they purchased cows to ship all over the western U.S. from New Mexico to Idaho to both Dakotas. Order buyers purchased many cows this sale as they filled orders to ship all over the region as well. A smaller crowd of ranchers were seen this sale which led to slightly sluggish prices compared to the last bred cow special last week. Consignments of cows were smaller this sale, with many sets comprised of less than 20 head, and many of them sorted down further by age. Buyers were forced to piece loads of like quality cows together as a result which limited demand at times. Quality was mixed from plain to attractive. Package sizes varied greatly throughout the day. The best demand was seen for large consignments of home raised cows and heifers. Small packages of cows and heifers, mostly under 15 head, sold with significantly lighter demand compared to larger packages of cows and heifers leading to wide price spreads at time. Many April and later calving cows were seen this sale. Market activity was moderate to active throughout the two day sale.

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/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,180$3,760436
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,163$3,709417
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,207$3,686490
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,238$3,61480
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,396$3,5508
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,311$3,482197
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,322$3,45020
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,392$3,445214
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,402$3,36094
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,638$3,2006
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,197$3,0509
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,068$3,02384
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,296$3,011183
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,389$2,896118
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,341$2,875103
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,313$2,725616
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,316$2,628366
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,363$2,607306
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,199$2,4509
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,291$2,21010
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,359$2,15010
Bred Heifers2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,043$3,689713
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)(<2 yrs)1,006$3,555117
Bred Heifers1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)(<2 yrs)929$3,429184
Bred Heifers1st Stage (1-3 mo)(<2 yrs)958$2,61314
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,561$3,9504thin

Every lot, as filed

55 lots · USDA AMS · Public Auction Yards Replacement Cattle Special - Billings, MT (Seasonal)
Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,5613,950.00/head3,950.00–3,950.003,9504
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Fancy1,3304,500.00/head4,500.00–4,500.004,5006
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Fleshy1,3283,050.00/head3,050.00–3,050.003,0506
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Fleshy1,5532,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,70029
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Fleshy1,4653,150.00/head3,150.00–3,150.003,1505
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2872,168.30/head2,150.00–2,175.002,16824
Bred HeifersMedium 19643,375.38/head2,850.00–3,475.003,37567
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,2182,381.00/head2,100.00–2,450.002,38161
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,0033,587.28/head3,400.00–3,725.003,58755
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,0222,795.79/head2,700.00–2,850.002,7966
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,0513,721.54/head3,500.00–3,900.003,722646
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,0073,556.65/head3,500.00–3,725.003,557114
Bred HeifersMedium 19833,500.00/head3,500.00–3,500.003,5003
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3972,941.91/head2,700.00–3,100.002,942104
Bred HeifersMedium 18983,362.11/head2,650.00–3,500.003,362129
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2502,439.27/head2,000.00–2,510.002,43984
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3272,788.31/head2,550.00–3,100.002,788520
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2472,404.09/head2,200.00–2,500.002,40464
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4152,726.67/head2,200.00–3,000.002,727218
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1683,733.20/head3,450.00–3,985.003,733393
Bred HeifersMedium 19102,476.30/head2,400.00–2,500.002,4768
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS1,2133,125.00/head3,125.00–3,125.003,1259
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS1,2723,293.41/head3,100.00–3,400.003,29310
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS1,1962,925.00/head2,925.00–2,925.002,9259
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3142,300.00/head2,300.00–2,300.002,3007
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3093,522.68/head3,100.00–3,950.003,523178
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3402,714.15/head2,550.00–2,950.002,714268
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1773,785.60/head3,300.00–3,960.003,786420
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3412,875.00/head2,875.00–2,875.002,875103
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3743,206.63/head2,975.00–3,350.003,20734
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3223,450.00/head3,450.00–3,450.003,45020
Bred CowsMedium 19113,500.00/head3,500.00–3,500.003,50023
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,4202,876.10/head2,650.00–2,950.002,87622
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,0593,057.91/head2,850.00–3,225.003,05877
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-29382,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,7002
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3313,096.73/head2,700.00–3,350.003,09719
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2063,733.09/head3,400.00–4,300.003,733417
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3292,554.22/head2,450.00–2,600.002,55414
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3693,697.07/head2,800.00–3,725.003,697154
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3963,550.00/head3,550.00–3,550.003,5508
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1722,636.24/head2,500.00–2,700.002,6367
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3002,440.68/head2,350.00–2,500.002,44110
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2963,044.22/head2,775.00–3,175.003,044173
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4132,300.00/head2,300.00–2,300.002,3005
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1973,050.00/head3,050.00–3,050.003,0509
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,1152,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0003
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2383,613.56/head3,400.00–3,800.003,61480
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,2252,330.86/head2,200.00–2,400.002,33132
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed9953,400.00/head3,400.00–3,400.003,40018
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,2552,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,10014
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,1992,450.00/head2,450.00–2,450.002,4509
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,6383,200.00/head3,200.00–3,200.003,2006
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4023,360.34/head3,000.00–3,550.003,36094
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3042,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0005
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2372,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0003

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.