Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-10-11
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-10-11

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. 450-549 lbs steers sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher; 550-649 lbs steers sold mostly 5.00-15.00 higher. Steers over 650 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Heifer calves sold generally steady with the exception of 550-599 lbs heifers sold mostly 5.00 higher. All yearling cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling quality was mostly plain today. Many sets of blemished yearlings sold as ranchers sold the cuts off summer video and county sales. Spring born calf quality was average to very attractive. Many sets of front end, home raised calves were seen today. Demand was light to moderate for yearlings as quality hampered demand. Demand for calves was mostly moderate to good. Offerings were moderate. The best demand continues to be for light weight calves suitable to develop into yearlings. Package sizes were mostly small to moderate today, with no load lots seen. Market activity was mostly active with lots of buyers both in the stands as well as over the internet. Weigh up cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand was mostly light for very light offerings.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $297.08/cwt on 486 head. That ranks 1 of 1 comparable sales and sits −206.81 against this barn's trailing median of $503.89.

Average price

$297.08

486 head · 545 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,620

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$390

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2

$77.13/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−1.01

vs MT average

+2.77 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	542	302.13	1,638	373
Medium and Large 1-2	555	282.78	1,570	107
Large 1	571	245.00	1,399	4thin
Medium 2	555	225.00	1,249	2thin

One grade step is worth $77.13/cwt here — about $390 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.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale486 hd

297.08

—

MT average4 barns · 1,143 hd

298.09

−1.01

National average177 barns · 23,944 hd

294.31

+2.77

This barn, trailing median1 sales

503.89

−206.81

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	1,632	134.65	2,197	8thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,715	125.39	2,150	8thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,361	120.09	1,634	27
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,172	106.40	1,247	10

Every lot, as filed

107 lots · USDA AMS · Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Fri)

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
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	401	303.85/cwt	302.00–310.00	1,218	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	331	327.47/cwt	284.00–370.00	1,084	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	250–300	298	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,043	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	626	249.00/cwt	249.00–249.00	1,559	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	557	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,560	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	517	283.63/cwt	275.00–293.00	1,466	149
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	431	311.04/cwt	307.00–319.00	1,341	81
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	771	237.81/cwt	237.50–239.00	1,834	33
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	700–750	716	263.09/cwt	260.00–265.00	1,884	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Full	900–950	903	209.00/cwt	209.00–209.00	1,887	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	379	333.25/cwt	320.00–348.00	1,263	151
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	276	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	1,063	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	334	345.29/cwt	341.00–355.00	1,153	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,010	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,313	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,090	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	1,472	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	468	296.07/cwt	290.00–306.00	1,386	72
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	530	303.78/cwt	295.00–319.00	1,610	271
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	665	275.16/cwt	263.00–285.00	1,830	42
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	487	319.61/cwt	313.00–331.00	1,557	155
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	575	272.95/cwt	269.00–279.00	1,569	94
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	634	252.50/cwt	252.50–252.50	1,601	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	575	297.74/cwt	286.00–305.00	1,712	102
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	200–250	220	460.00/cwt	460.00–460.00	1,012	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	427	343.02/cwt	330.00–351.00	1,465	144
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	623	290.75/cwt	282.00–297.00	1,811	145
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	800–850	804	248.00/cwt	248.00–248.00	1,994	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	813	249.50/cwt	249.50–249.50	2,028	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	668	268.00/cwt	268.00–268.00	1,790	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	900–950	937	216.46/cwt	213.00–218.50	2,028	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	865	233.00/cwt	233.00–233.00	2,015	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	433	326.38/cwt	310.00–336.00	1,413	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	721	244.00/cwt	231.00–247.00	1,759	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	883	227.00/cwt	227.00–227.00	2,004	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	581	275.38/cwt	270.00–284.00	1,600	47
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	498	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	1,469	16
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	405	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,337	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	326	330.97/cwt	315.00–340.00	1,079	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	822	225.67/cwt	225.00–227.00	1,855	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	571	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,428	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	518	256.79/cwt	243.00–268.00	1,330	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	483	298.58/cwt	282.00–310.00	1,442	31
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	200–250	248	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	1,017	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	529	290.94/cwt	276.00–302.00	1,539	47
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	650–700	664	259.15/cwt	246.00–261.00	1,721	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	610	271.00/cwt	271.00–271.00	1,653	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	250–300	268	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	1,099	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	386	346.05/cwt	342.50–355.00	1,336	13
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,950	125.54/cwt	123.00–128.00	2,448	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,608	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	1,978	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,420	100.91/cwt	97.50–104.00	1,433	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,398	111.00/cwt	111.00–111.00	1,552	3
Bulls	—	—	1,708	148.96/cwt	148.00–150.00	2,544	2
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,365	126.40/cwt	121.00–129.00	1,725	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,341	123.19/cwt	121.00–131.00	1,652	19
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,180	99.00/cwt	99.00–99.00	1,168	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,403	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,866	2
Bulls	—	—	1,847	133.35/cwt	126.00–137.00	2,463	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,225	105.91/cwt	100.00–114.00	1,297	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,693	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	2,201	2
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	750–800	760	233.50/cwt	233.50–233.50	1,775	10
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	600–650	646	238.00/cwt	238.00–238.00	1,537	4
Steers	Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	644	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	1,433	4
Heifers	Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	546	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	1,215	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,120	111.00/cwt	111.00–111.00	1,243	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	950	107.50/cwt	107.50–107.50	1,021	1
Heifers	Medium 1-2	750–800	788	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	1,734	3
Heifers	Medium 1-2	700–750	747	224.00/cwt	224.00–224.00	1,673	3
Steers	Medium 2Unweaned	550–600	555	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,249	2
Heifers	Large 1	1100–1150	1,107	197.00/cwt	197.00–197.00	2,181	6
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	700–750	743	230.13/cwt	223.00–242.00	1,710	8
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	550–600	571	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,399	4
Steers	Medium 1	750–800	792	253.00/cwt	253.00–253.00	2,004	3
Heifers	Medium 1	750–800	783	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,801	3
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	400–450	402	337.50/cwt	337.50–337.50	1,357	8
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	400–450	444	302.00/cwt	302.00–302.00	1,341	16
Heifers	Medium 1-2Unweaned	450–500	495	254.00/cwt	254.00–254.00	1,257	20
Steers	Medium 1-2	650–700	681	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,703	11
Steers	Medium and Large 2	850–900	886	231.00/cwt	231.00–231.00	2,047	5
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	300–350	335	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,022	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	450–500	473	253.00/cwt	253.00–253.00	1,197	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	513	302.00/cwt	302.00–302.00	1,549	11
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	200–250	230	465.00/cwt	465.00–465.00	1,070	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	380	385.61/cwt	365.00–414.00	1,465	77
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	758	247.70/cwt	247.00–249.00	1,878	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	750–800	755	254.00/cwt	254.00–254.00	1,918	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	331	414.33/cwt	410.00–415.00	1,371	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	710	269.00/cwt	269.00–269.00	1,910	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	843	238.37/cwt	236.00–239.50	2,009	47
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	700–750	713	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,783	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	440	327.50/cwt	327.50–327.50	1,441	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,020	207.50/cwt	207.50–207.50	2,117	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	278	440.00/cwt	440.00–440.00	1,223	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,001	227.00/cwt	227.00–227.00	2,272	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	956	218.50/cwt	218.50–218.50	2,089	42
Steers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	940	238.62/cwt	238.00–243.00	2,243	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	888	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	2,087	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	900–950	941	217.00/cwt	217.00–217.00	2,042	26
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	465	326.00/cwt	326.00–326.00	1,516	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	477	280.81/cwt	275.00–287.00	1,339	49
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	396	317.89/cwt	317.00–318.00	1,259	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	950–1000	986	208.98/cwt	206.00–211.00	2,061	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	700–750	727	259.00/cwt	259.00–259.00	1,883	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	750–800	765	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,989	11
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,133	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,586	3
Heifers	Medium 1	650–700	682	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,671	3
Steers	Medium 1	650–700	650	266.00/cwt	266.00–266.00	1,729	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	300–350	342	302.50/cwt	302.50–302.50	1,035	3

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 →