Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2025-06-04
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-06-04

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for feeders was good for light offerings. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. One very attractive set of beef on dairy cattle sold today and these offerings were met with very good demand. Most feeders were offered in small groups or as singles this sale. A few consignments of fall calves were seen and demand for limited offerings was mostly good. Market activity was moderate to active with a large buyer pool noticed for todays light offering. Weigh up cows and bulls comprised most of the sale today. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for moderate offerings. Packers showed light to moderate demand for slaughter cows this week and slightly lighter demand than last week. Fewer cows were purchased for immediate harvest this week as packers purchased most cows to feed. Many sets of cows which normally would sell to private feeders or as slaughter cows were purchased for short term feed as packers are starting to put cows away for the 4th of July holiday. Breaking and boning slaughter cows sold steady to 3.00 lower with last weeks sale in a narrow comparison. Lean cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower. Demand for feeding cows was good to very good with several buyers in the stands. High quality feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold generally steady. Thin feeding cows sold 2.00-4.00 lower on a poorer quality offering. A large buyer pool was noticed again this week for feeding cows. Cow quality was mostly average to very attractive today. Weigh up conditions were mixed from below average to above average. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to firm on a higher quality offering. Bull quality this week was average to very attractive, with many high yielding bulls on offer. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Demand for true wet bagged cows which lost calves remains very good as these offerings continue to push higher. Buyers were willing to buy cows older than 2 years old as long as they had had a calf this past year, for rebreeding or recip orders. Cows sold for similar money for 2 or 3 year olds which lost calves this sale. Feeding quality young cows sold generally steady. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $316.76/cwt on 22 head. That ranks 1 of 19 comparable sales and sits −104.78 against this barn's trailing median of $421.54.

Average price

$316.76

22 head · 542 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,717

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$574

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2

$123.52/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−13.23

vs MT average

−21.48 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	530	348.52	1,847	8thin
Medium and Large 1-2	546	339.00	1,851	7thin
Medium and Large 2	532	302.50	1,609	3thin
Medium 2	566	225.00	1,274	4thin

One grade step is worth $123.52/cwt here — about $574 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 500–600 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

19 sales

Heifers 500–600 lb: high $464.07, low $350.88, median $421.54 across 19 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 sale22 hd

316.76

—

MT average3 barns · 78 hd

329.99

−13.23

National average164 barns · 13,536 hd

338.24

−21.48

This barn, trailing median19 sales

421.54

−104.78

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	—	Average	1,905	184.51	3,516	85
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,413	155.75	2,201	214
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,203	148.15	1,782	122
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,660	148.02	2,457	33
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,703	142.50	2,427	2thin
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,374	127.63	1,753	9thin

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)	1,375	$2,790	8
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,584	$2,681	5
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,615	$2,550	1thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,575	$2,350	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,225	$2,150	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,200	$1,850	1thin

Every lot, as filed

82 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
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,369	162.75/cwt	160.00–169.00	2,228	53
Stock Cows	Medium 2	—	895	167.50/cwt	167.50–167.50	1,499	1
Stock Cows	Medium 1	—	795	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,908	4
Stock Cows	Medium 1	—	751	228.56/cwt	225.00–230.00	1,716	7
Beef/Dairy Steers	Large 1-2	900–950	924	277.50/cwt	277.50–277.50	2,564	46
Beef/Dairy Steers	Large 1-2	800–850	823	278.00/cwt	278.00–278.00	2,288	5
Beef/Dairy Heifers	Large 1-2	700–750	734	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,982	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	946	210.12/cwt	186.00–235.00	1,988	16
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,000	253.84/cwt	183.00–282.00	2,538	53
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,585	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	2,409	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,225	2,150.00/head	2,150.00–2,150.00	2,150	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,132	211.11/cwt	164.00–267.00	2,390	90
Heifers	Medium 2	550–600	566	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,274	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	925	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	2,498	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	487	402.50/cwt	402.50–402.50	1,960	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	880	256.00/cwt	256.00–256.00	2,253	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	500–550	532	302.50/cwt	302.50–302.50	1,609	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	546	339.00/cwt	339.00–339.00	1,851	7
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,575	2,350.00/head	2,350.00–2,350.00	2,350	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	550	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	2,008	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	430	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	1,720	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	618	344.94/cwt	342.50–352.50	2,132	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	670	282.50/cwt	282.50–282.50	1,893	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	595	321.00/cwt	321.00–321.00	1,910	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	530	372.38/cwt	365.00–380.00	1,974	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	464	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	1,763	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	715	313.08/cwt	309.00–321.00	2,239	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	530	348.52/cwt	340.00–357.50	1,847	8
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	515	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,828	4
Bulls	—	—	2,007	182.29/cwt	176.00–186.00	3,659	23
Bred Cows	Large 1	—	1,755	2,800.00/head	2,800.00–2,800.00	2,800	1
Bulls	Large 1	1250–1300	1,275	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	2,359	2
Beef/Dairy Heifers	Large 1-2	850–900	857	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	2,314	55
Heifers	Large 1-2	600–650	617	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,481	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,535	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	2,379	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,900	189.00/cwt	189.00–189.00	3,591	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,161	138.55/cwt	117.50–147.00	1,609	23
Bulls	—Heavy Weight	—	2,530	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	4,428	1
Bulls	—Heavy Weight	—	2,605	183.00/cwt	183.00–183.00	4,767	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	900	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,170	2
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,283	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	1,886	3
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,703	142.50/cwt	142.50–142.50	2,427	2
Bulls	—Natural	—	2,220	212.00/cwt	212.00–212.00	4,706	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,642	177.86/cwt	172.00–186.00	2,920	21
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,651	148.18/cwt	148.00–149.00	2,446	5
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,622	148.93/cwt	144.00–153.00	2,416	20
Bulls	—	—	2,303	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	4,491	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,404	135.30/cwt	130.00–139.00	1,900	6
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,483	143.05/cwt	136.00–148.00	2,121	13
Bulls	—	—	1,724	167.86/cwt	161.00–171.00	2,894	5
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,419	117.94/cwt	116.00–119.00	1,674	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,205	137.57/cwt	132.00–143.00	1,658	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,389	142.66/cwt	135.00–148.00	1,982	15
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,427	156.65/cwt	148.00–160.00	2,235	126
Bulls	—	—	2,097	199.55/cwt	189.00–213.00	4,185	23
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,555	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	2,208	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight	—	2,235	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	3,174	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,359	159.98/cwt	146.00–170.50	2,174	5
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,775	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	2,876	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	927	110.86/cwt	107.00–115.00	1,028	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,256	159.72/cwt	158.00–163.00	2,006	41
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,206	152.84/cwt	149.00–156.00	1,843	41
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,705	143.83/cwt	142.00–146.50	2,452	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,210	120.48/cwt	110.00–129.00	1,458	10
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,405	3,300.00/head	3,300.00–3,300.00	3,300	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,425	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	2,636	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	946	186.43/cwt	161.00–217.50	1,764	20
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,287	2,583.92/head	2,500.00–2,700.00	2,584	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,615	2,550.00/head	2,550.00–2,550.00	2,550	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	600–650	640	329.00/cwt	329.00–329.00	2,106	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	838	277.00/cwt	277.00–277.00	2,321	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	680	337.50/cwt	337.50–337.50	2,295	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,200	1,850.00/head	1,850.00–1,850.00	1,850	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 2	—	825	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	1,403	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	1200–1250	1,201	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	2,282	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	950–1000	980	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	2,205	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	420	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,512	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	883	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	2,119	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,584	2,681.40/head	2,650.00–2,700.00	2,681	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,430	171.59/cwt	167.50–176.00	2,454	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	403	395.00/cwt	395.00–395.00	1,592	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	730	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	2,008	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 →