Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2025-05-14
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-05-14

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were scarcely tested last week as that sale featured bred cows, pairs and weigh up cattle thus no trend can be made. Demand was mostly good to very good for light to moderate offerings. Quality today was mixed from plain to very attractive. Demand was very good for all cattle suitable to go to grass. Demand for heifers was good to very good as order buyers buying for packers and order buyers buying for private feeders both bid aggressively over high quality offerings. No heifers were purchased for replacements this week as demand for heifers to feed was too strong. Many sets of cattle were out of backgrounding lots, however flesh conditions were mostly light to moderate as most cattle were developed specifically for grass. Many cutback cattle were seen today as producers clean out lots. Many sets of unreportable cattle were seen as they had some sort of blemish. Even slightly blemished cattle sold on moderate to good demand as buyers showed good demand for cattle to fill feedlots. Market activity was mostly active today with a good crowd on hand of order buyers, ranchers, and internet bidders actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light offerings. Packers showed moderate demand for slaughter cows this week. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however firm undertones were noticed, with a larger pool of slaughter buyers noticed this week. Demand for feeding cows remains good. Feeding cows sold steady to firm as packers and private feeders both showed good demand for cows to feed. Cow quality was mostly average today with a limited offering of attractive cows noticed. Weigh up conditions were mostly average today. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady in a narrow comparison. Bull quality this week was average to attractive. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested today to develop any market trend. Good demand was seen for limited offerings. Quality this week was mostly average.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $380.56/cwt on 74 head. That ranks 1 of 11 comparable sales and sits −110.89 against this barn's trailing median of $491.45.

Average price

$380.56

74 head · 557 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,119

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$412

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

$82.53/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+2.67

vs MT average

−4.04 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	556	399.84	2,224	46
Medium and Large 1-2	540	391.00	2,111	12thin
Medium and Large 2	571	317.31	1,812	16thin

One grade step is worth $82.53/cwt here — about $412 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.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

11 sales

Steers 500–600 lb: high $510.69, low $452.33, median $491.45 across 11 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale74 hd

380.56

—

MT average3 barns · 103 hd

377.90

+2.67

National average159 barns · 12,107 hd

384.60

−4.04

This barn, trailing median11 sales

491.45

−110.89

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	1,838	175.73	3,231	20
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,356	156.33	2,120	36
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,615	140.75	2,273	2thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,115	134.85	1,503	34
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,410	129.00	1,819	1thin

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)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,650	$2,800	1thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,390	$2,650	1thin

Every lot, as filed

97 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
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	648	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	2,300	42
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	684	326.41/cwt	323.00–329.00	2,233	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	540	391.00/cwt	391.00–391.00	2,111	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	639	322.32/cwt	302.50–323.50	2,060	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	488	331.87/cwt	325.00–332.50	1,620	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	830	307.25/cwt	307.00–310.00	2,550	47
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	519	336.14/cwt	330.00–337.50	1,745	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	734	279.81/cwt	275.00–287.00	2,054	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	350–400	358	445.00/cwt	445.00–445.00	1,593	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	683	299.91/cwt	297.50–305.00	2,048	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	721	314.31/cwt	302.00–320.00	2,266	46
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	809	283.15/cwt	280.00–284.00	2,291	39
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	1050–1100	1,068	244.00/cwt	244.00–244.00	2,606	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	778	272.00/cwt	272.00–272.00	2,116	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	559	395.62/cwt	392.00–406.00	2,212	40
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	724	326.07/cwt	324.00–332.00	2,361	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	918	286.36/cwt	280.00–292.00	2,629	47
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	903	258.43/cwt	258.00–259.00	2,334	23
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	815	260.75/cwt	252.50–269.00	2,125	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	783	318.86/cwt	312.50–329.00	2,497	156
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	721	299.44/cwt	290.00–309.00	2,159	42
Steers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	538	428.00/cwt	428.00–428.00	2,303	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	684	336.85/cwt	334.00–357.50	2,304	166
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	800–850	804	261.00/cwt	261.00–261.00	2,098	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	638	365.44/cwt	360.00–383.00	2,332	72
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	611	324.00/cwt	324.00–324.00	1,980	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	483	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,787	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	877	265.16/cwt	260.00–266.00	2,325	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	750–800	775	272.50/cwt	272.50–272.50	2,112	24
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	950–1000	992	264.00/cwt	264.00–264.00	2,619	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	953	273.00/cwt	273.00–273.00	2,602	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	515	369.17/cwt	360.00–370.00	1,901	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	690	311.22/cwt	305.00–322.50	2,147	181
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	580	332.75/cwt	330.00–334.00	1,930	13
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	600–650	600	357.50/cwt	357.50–357.50	2,145	1
Steers	Small 2	350–400	364	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	692	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	950–1000	991	261.00/cwt	261.00–261.00	2,587	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	850–900	861	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	2,368	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	1000–1050	1,021	261.00/cwt	261.00–261.00	2,665	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	750–800	783	299.96/cwt	299.00–304.00	2,349	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	956	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	2,438	21
Steers	Small 2	300–350	325	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	650	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,413	146.93/cwt	143.00–149.00	2,076	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,329	155.74/cwt	150.00–159.00	2,070	24
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,150	150.93/cwt	147.00–158.50	1,736	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	845	142.50/cwt	142.50–142.50	1,204	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,409	162.89/cwt	160.00–167.00	2,295	7
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,585	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	2,251	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,143	121.80/cwt	115.00–128.00	1,392	9
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,418	164.13/cwt	162.50–166.00	2,327	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,171	132.44/cwt	120.00–144.00	1,551	9
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,753	179.34/cwt	170.00–187.00	3,144	2
Bulls	—	—	2,045	194.60/cwt	187.00–207.50	3,980	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,355	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	2,005	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	837	116.23/cwt	112.00–120.00	973	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,470	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	2,367	1
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,410	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	1,819	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,229	160.59/cwt	159.00–164.00	1,974	3
Bulls	—	—	1,816	165.77/cwt	152.00–177.00	3,010	4
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,645	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	2,295	1
Steers	Large 1	750–800	783	291.00/cwt	291.00–291.00	2,279	2
Heifers	Large 1	800–850	806	266.00/cwt	266.00–266.00	2,144	17
Steers	Large 1	850–900	850	287.00/cwt	287.00–287.00	2,440	14
Heifers	Large 1	850–900	893	242.00/cwt	242.00–242.00	2,161	2
Heifers	Large 1	650–700	655	291.00/cwt	291.00–291.00	1,906	7
Bulls	—	—	1,892	175.64/cwt	171.00–179.00	3,323	9
Steers	Medium 1-2	400–450	426	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,512	5
Heifers	Medium 1-2Spayed	600–650	640	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	1,824	7
Steers	Medium 1	350–400	377	425.00/cwt	425.00–425.00	1,602	6
Bulls	Large 1-2	1250–1300	1,290	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	2,322	2
Steers	Large 1	700–750	704	301.83/cwt	298.00–323.00	2,125	26
Steers	Large 1	600–650	620	346.00/cwt	346.00–346.00	2,145	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,390	2,650.00/head	2,650.00–2,650.00	2,650	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,170	183.38/cwt	165.00–216.00	2,146	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,085	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,899	1
Heifers	Medium 2	550–600	587	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,644	4
Steers	Medium 2	600–650	636	257.00/cwt	257.00–257.00	1,635	17
Heifers	Medium 2	500–550	512	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,434	9
Steers	Medium and Large 2	550–600	571	317.31/cwt	300.00–335.00	1,812	16
Steers	Medium and Large 2	250–300	273	445.00/cwt	445.00–445.00	1,215	6
Steers	Medium and Large 2	450–500	495	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	1,931	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	953	225.62/cwt	210.00–245.00	2,150	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,007	242.58/cwt	226.00–261.00	2,443	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,650	2,800.00/head	2,800.00–2,800.00	2,800	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	447	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,520	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	600–650	608	312.50/cwt	312.50–312.50	1,900	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	700–750	738	271.00/cwt	271.00–271.00	2,000	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	600–650	641	271.00/cwt	271.00–271.00	1,737	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	500–550	526	300.89/cwt	295.00–302.00	1,583	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	550–600	581	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,772	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	576	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,843	6
Steers	Medium and Large 2	700–750	740	272.96/cwt	270.00–277.50	2,020	23
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Spayed	650–700	685	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	1,884	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Fleshy	750–800	774	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	1,881	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	477	409.14/cwt	407.50–412.50	1,952	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	793	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	2,339	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Spayed	800–850	815	258.00/cwt	258.00–258.00	2,103	5

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 →