Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2026-10-21

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Oct 21
● Final110 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
541 head
▲ 463 vs last sale 78▼ 3 vs year ago 544 · −0.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
1,082 head
▲ 399 vs last sale 683▲ 5 vs year ago 1,077 · +0.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
616 head
▲ 172 vs last sale 444▲ 41 vs year ago 575 · +7.1%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week's sale, not enough feeder cattle for a true market test. Feeder Cattle defiantly showed a higher undertone with good buyer demand for fresh calves coming off grass. Slaughter Cows traded 2.00-3.00 higher, Cows returning to feed sold firm on a heavy run with good demand for young feeding cows.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $392.59/cwt on 34 head, down $17.36 from the prior sale. That ranks 1 of 11 comparable sales and sits −64.91 against this barn's trailing median of $457.50.
Average price
$392.59
▼ 17.36 vs prior sale
34 head · 545 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,141
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$735
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$116.00/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−38.77
vs MT average
−46.68 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1546396.002,16333
Medium and Large 2510280.001,4281thin
One grade step is worth $116.00/cwt here — about $735 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 600–700 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 sale34 hd
392.59
—
MT average5 barns · 2,338 hd
431.36
−38.77
National average183 barns · 33,329 hd
439.27
−46.68
This barn, trailing median11 sales
457.50
−64.91
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

11 sales
525476427379median 457.5002/2503/2505/1309/3010/21
Steers 500–600 lb: high $510.69, low $392.59, median $457.50 across 11 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

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
Bulls—Average1,655164.672,726113
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,468141.742,081203
CowsBoner 80-85%Very Low1,321140.651,858462
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,167110.421,288130

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 Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,213$3,38314
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,170$3,06825
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,349$2,71535
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,498$2,6782thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,312$2,45932
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,230$2,3753thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)920$2,4002thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,435$4,1001thin
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,633$3,6002thin

Every lot, as filed

110 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. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Feeder Cattle · Steers22 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned275637.05/cwt625.00–650.001,7522
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned314601.08/cwt590.00–625.001,8874
Steers350–400Medium and Large 2Unweaned350510.00/cwt510.00–510.001,7851
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned372538.45/cwt535.00–545.002,0036
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned418508.35/cwt460.00–535.002,12532
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2Unweaned443421.07/cwt405.00–435.001,8655
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned475475.17/cwt450.00–506.002,25767
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2Unweaned480465.00/cwt465.00–465.002,2322
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2Unweaned510280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,4281
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned525410.22/cwt375.00–435.002,15414
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned562385.52/cwt365.00–405.002,16719
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned615395.77/cwt390.00–396.002,43426
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1625381.50/cwt377.50–392.002,3846
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned664361.82/cwt355.00–370.002,40216
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1675355.00/cwt355.00–355.002,3962
Steers650–700Medium and Large 2685225.00/cwt225.00–225.001,5411
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1733342.21/cwt340.00–345.002,50811
Steers750–800Medium and Large 2770265.00/cwt265.00–265.002,0411
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1798327.50/cwt327.50–327.502,6132
Steers850–900Large 1860315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,7092
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 2950205.00/cwt205.00–205.001,9481
Steers1150–1200Large 11,197265.00/cwt265.00–265.003,1723
Feeder Cattle · Heifers25 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned275583.91/cwt570.00–600.001,6062
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned323514.92/cwt460.00–535.001,66314
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 2Unweaned328519.89/cwt505.00–535.001,7052
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 2Unweaned385449.00/cwt417.00–465.001,7293
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned389454.69/cwt400.00–515.001,76914
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned400427.50/cwt427.50–427.501,71011
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned411527.42/cwt365.00–560.002,16824
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2Unweaned433310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,3422
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1460405.00/cwt405.00–405.001,8631
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned470412.31/cwt345.00–445.001,93817
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2Unweaned490385.00/cwt385.00–385.001,8872
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2Unweaned528280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,4782
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned537366.45/cwt347.50–380.001,96814
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2Unweaned575260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,4951
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned576360.91/cwt325.00–406.002,07933
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1593355.00/cwt355.00–355.002,1054
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned617347.61/cwt280.00–355.002,14512
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned653339.37/cwt337.50–340.002,2168
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1654332.50/cwt332.50–332.502,1759
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1722262.50/cwt262.50–262.501,8953
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1765282.50/cwt282.50–282.502,1612
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1848300.00/cwt300.00–300.002,5442
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 2880240.00/cwt240.00–240.002,1121
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,018292.50/cwt292.50–292.502,9789
Heifers1050–1100Large 11,070270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,8891
Feeder Cattle · Bulls14 lots · lightest first
Bulls250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned293530.00/cwt530.00–530.001,5532
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned382530.00/cwt530.00–530.002,0253
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned478420.00/cwt420.00–420.002,0082
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned512420.00/cwt420.00–420.002,1505
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned574380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,1814
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned613355.00/cwt355.00–355.002,1762
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1620340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,1081
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1663312.47/cwt305.00–315.002,0724
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned674315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,1235
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1707315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,22714
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1762310.92/cwt305.00–315.002,3695
Bulls1000–1050Large 11,010265.00/cwt265.00–265.002,6771
Bulls1100–1150Large 11,100252.50/cwt252.50–252.502,7781
Bulls1200–1250Large 11,200232.50/cwt232.50–232.502,7901
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,253215.85/cwt205.00–232.502,7053
Bulls——Return to Feed1,534162.56/cwt148.00–178.002,49454
Bulls——1,737144.39/cwt127.50–152.502,50815
Bulls——1,815171.13/cwt155.00–182.003,10641
Slaughter Cattle · Cows25 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight75690.00/cwt90.00–90.006804
Cows—Boner 80-85%Light Weight980130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,2741
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight995117.50/cwt117.50–117.501,1691
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,15684.79/cwt82.50–90.009805
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,161148.47/cwt147.00–152.001,7244
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,164127.96/cwt112.50–138.001,48945
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,190110.96/cwt100.00–123.001,32029
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,19487.76/cwt75.00–92.501,04828
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,205129.03/cwt128.00–130.001,5552
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,20597.69/cwt96.00–101.001,1776
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21396.87/cwt92.50–107.501,1756
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,283154.82/cwt147.00–180.001,98628
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,295137.70/cwt112.50–147.501,78392
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,30091.34/cwt85.00–95.001,1874
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,320116.65/cwt105.00–126.001,54016
Cows—Boner 80-85%Heavy Weight1,330152.50/cwt145.00–154.002,0285
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,330146.92/cwt138.00–156.001,95439
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,332144.60/cwt124.00–168.001,926248
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,344112.54/cwt100.00–118.001,51329
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,345160.07/cwt150.00–170.002,1532
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,411148.38/cwt140.00–155.002,09474
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,418151.01/cwt147.00–157.002,14111
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,434140.92/cwt122.50–145.002,0218
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,475142.24/cwt127.50–150.002,09879
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,632118.87/cwt112.00–125.001,94029
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows8 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1383,159.40/head2,350.00–3,700.003,15922
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1893,644.70/head3,500.00–3,750.003,64511
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,2302,375.00/head2,375.00–2,375.002,3753
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 21,3002,425.00/head2,425.00–2,425.002,4253
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3122,458.77/head2,000.00–3,400.002,45932
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3492,715.31/head2,300.00–3,000.002,71535
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 21,4082,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4982,678.30/head2,500.00–2,900.002,6782
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,037278.33/cwt192.50–332.502,886296
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,134204.67/cwt178.00–235.002,32113
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,164207.06/cwt180.00–220.002,4105
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 21,210181.61/cwt145.00–205.002,19715
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,254146.50/cwt146.50–146.501,83712
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 21,450149.00/cwt149.00–149.002,1612
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,645111.00/cwt111.00–111.001,8261
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 19202,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4002
Replacement Cattle · Open Heifers2 lots · lightest first
Open Heifers—Medium and Large 11,077279.84/cwt242.50–335.003,01454
Open Heifers—Medium and Large 11,095277.82/cwt255.00–283.003,04216
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs2 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,4354,100.00/head4,100.00–4,100.004,1001
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,6333,600.00/head3,600.00–3,600.003,6002

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.