Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2025-04-30
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-04-30

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested today to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly plain to average today. Demand for all feeders was good despite a light and plain quality offering. Feeders were mostly offered in very small groups or as singles. Demand for feeder cattle suitable to go to grass remains very good. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows comprised most of todays sale. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Regional packers and major packers continue to show good demand for high quality cows. Regional packers purchased cows to slaughter and major packers mostly purchased cows mostly to feed. Slaughter cows sold on lighter demand this week compared to last week as packers all showed lighter demand for cows to send to immediate slaughter. Slaughter cows sold 2.00-5.00 lower on breaking and boning cows, lean cows sold generally steady. Cow packing plants are operating in the red. Many cows which sold through the auction are binging 275.00-305.00 on a dressed basis prior to freighting them to the plant. This shows most cows going to immediate harvest are being purchased at a loss as the cutter cow cutout as of today was 290.89, 0.33 lower than yesterdays value. Demand for feeding cows remains good but buyers showed slightly lighter demand this week compared to last week. A large crowd of private feeding cow buyers was seen again this week. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-4.00 lower as all buyers tried to buy cows lower this week. Feeding cow prices did improve as the sale progressed. Thin feeding cows continue to sell with the best demand as these cows offered buyers the most compensatory gain. Thin feeding cows sold steady to 4.00 lower. Cow quality was mostly average to attractive today. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average as many cows have been turned out. The quality of cows going to feed continues to vary greatly from buyer to buyer as several buyers were willing to take cows which were lame or slightly blemished and put them on feed or run them on pasture until cow supplies tighten later in the spring and early summer. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Bull quality this week was average to attractive, with a few very attractive high dressing bulls noticed. A portion of the bulls were purchased to feed again this week as buyers purchased light weight bulls, mostly under 1800 lbs for this purpose. Feeding bulls sold fully steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive. Demand from rebreed and receipt buyers remains very good.

Weight class

Bulls · summary 600–700 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

600–700 lb bulls averaged $295.00/cwt on 3 head. That ranks 1 of 6 comparable sales and sits −103.09 against this barn's trailing median of $398.09.

Average price

$295.00

3 head · 640 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,888

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

—

single grade reported

vs the market

+0.00

vs MT average

What quality paid 600–700 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	640	295.00	1,888	3thin

Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

This barn's trailing prices 600–700 lb

6 sales

Bulls 600–700 lb: high $414.41, low $376.80, median $398.09 across 6 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 600–700 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale3 hd

295.00

—

MT average1 barns · 3 hd

295.00

+0.00

This barn, trailing median6 sales

398.09

−103.09

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	—	High	1,750	171.84	3,007	84
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,416	157.68	2,233	213
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,626	156.36	2,543	41
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,194	152.21	1,817	115
Dairy Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,800	146.00	2,628	1thin
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,560	137.86	2,151	8thin

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.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,316	$3,430	7
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,338	$3,000	2thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,532	$2,988	8
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,472	$2,842	5
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,300	$2,731	2thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,340	$2,550	1thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,160	$2,400	1thin
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	973	$2,900	3thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,355	$3,850	3thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,676	$3,600	4thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,523	$3,510	5
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,525	$3,450	2thin

Every lot, as filed

78 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.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,105	200.11/cwt	160.00–235.00	2,211	131
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,027	239.48/cwt	200.00–279.00	2,459	110
Stock Cows	Medium 2	—	727	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	836	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	450–500	491	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	1,596	4
Steers	Medium and Large 2	700–750	720	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	2,088	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	579	311.77/cwt	311.00–314.00	1,805	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	630	299.00/cwt	299.00–299.00	1,884	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	684	299.44/cwt	297.50–302.50	2,048	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,028	182.76/cwt	163.00–210.00	1,879	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	489	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,809	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	408	337.50/cwt	337.50–337.50	1,377	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	526	369.69/cwt	360.00–385.00	1,945	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	1000–1050	1,018	221.34/cwt	216.00–227.00	2,253	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	640	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	1,888	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	950–1000	965	233.00/cwt	233.00–233.00	2,248	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	700–750	724	297.00/cwt	297.00–297.00	2,150	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	570	370.09/cwt	360.00–380.00	2,110	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	50–100	95	450.00/head	450.00–450.00	450	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	100–150	105	500.00/head	500.00–500.00	500	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	706	293.00/cwt	293.00–293.00	2,069	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	1000–1050	1,015	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	2,466	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,202	164.02/cwt	161.50–166.00	1,972	7
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,653	3,450.00/head	3,450.00–3,450.00	3,450	3
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,676	3,600.00/head	3,600.00–3,600.00	3,600	4
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,328	3,600.00/head	3,600.00–3,600.00	3,600	2
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,525	3,450.00/head	3,450.00–3,450.00	3,450	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,338	3,000.00/head	3,000.00–3,000.00	3,000	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,472	2,841.52/head	2,800.00–2,900.00	2,842	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,340	2,550.00/head	2,550.00–2,550.00	2,550	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,532	2,987.53/head	2,950.00–3,000.00	2,988	8
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,265	2,700.00/head	2,700.00–2,700.00	2,700	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	919	223.90/cwt	210.00–242.50	2,058	20
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	805	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,449	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,609	157.79/cwt	152.00–159.00	2,539	27
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,720	147.01/cwt	143.00–149.00	2,529	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,407	158.78/cwt	151.00–161.00	2,234	108
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,390	140.27/cwt	135.00–145.00	1,950	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,377	162.75/cwt	162.00–168.00	2,241	47
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,715	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	2,281	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,162	124.25/cwt	110.00–132.00	1,444	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,139	161.02/cwt	159.00–164.00	1,834	17
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,232	153.70/cwt	145.00–157.00	1,894	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,598	153.75/cwt	152.00–157.00	2,457	4
Dairy Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,800	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	2,628	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,647	160.08/cwt	159.00–162.50	2,637	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,263	161.39/cwt	161.00–166.00	2,038	31
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,108	136.48/cwt	127.50–141.00	1,512	11
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,235	157.56/cwt	152.00–160.50	1,946	36
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	810	107.50/cwt	107.50–107.50	871	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	920	113.95/cwt	105.00–123.00	1,048	2
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,589	127.46/cwt	118.00–131.00	2,025	4
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,348	163.50/cwt	163.50–163.50	2,204	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,492	161.35/cwt	159.50–167.00	2,407	32
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,430	148.23/cwt	141.00–152.50	2,120	12
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,685	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	1,938	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,422	131.86/cwt	120.50–140.00	1,875	11
Bulls	—	—	2,333	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	4,106	2
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,664	173.23/cwt	168.00–180.00	2,883	14
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,460	158.08/cwt	146.50–167.50	2,308	22
Bulls	—Heavy Weight	—	2,565	179.50/cwt	179.50–179.50	4,604	1
Bulls	—	—	2,138	194.01/cwt	185.00–207.00	4,148	13
Bulls	—	—	1,799	176.99/cwt	169.00–183.00	3,184	24
Bulls	—	—	1,671	153.80/cwt	145.00–164.00	2,570	8
Bulls	Large 1	1100–1150	1,126	225.50/cwt	225.50–225.50	2,539	7
Steers	Large 1	600–650	600	327.50/cwt	327.50–327.50	1,965	2
Bulls	Large 1	1150–1200	1,183	212.78/cwt	209.00–224.00	2,517	6
Bulls	Large 1	1050–1100	1,065	228.00/cwt	228.00–228.00	2,428	2
Cow-Calf Pairs	Large 1	—	1,355	3,850.00/head	3,850.00–3,850.00	3,850	3
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	1,000	202.50/cwt	202.50–202.50	2,025	1
Stock Cows	Medium 1	—	752	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,730	3
Stock Cows	Medium 1-2	—	798	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	1,636	2
Bred Heifers	Medium 1	—	973	2,900.00/head	2,900.00–2,900.00	2,900	3
Bulls	Large 1-2	1150–1200	1,183	202.60/cwt	202.00–205.00	2,397	5
Bulls	Large 1	1250–1300	1,255	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	2,510	1
Bulls	Large 1	1300–1350	1,340	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	2,466	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,300	2,731.06/head	2,500.00–2,950.00	2,731	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,324	3,551.38/head	3,500.00–3,600.00	3,551	6
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,160	2,400.00/head	2,400.00–2,400.00	2,400	1

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 →