Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2025-10-31
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-10-31

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling cattle were scarcely traded no trend is available. Steer calves under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed, 400-549 lbs steers sold steady to 10.00 lower, steers over 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves under 400 lbs sold unevenly steady, heifers 400-549 lbs sold 15.00-20.00 lower, heifers over 550 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Demand was moderate to good for light to moderate offerings. Demand for offerings was noticeably stronger this week compared to last weeks sale. Demand for both steers and heifers over 550 lbs improved this week with more takers noted. Small packages of calves, particularly packages of 10 head or less, continue to sell with discounts to larger consignments. Packages overall this week were smaller than last weeks sale. Many blemished and cut back offerings continue to be seen. Several partial loads of short ears and short tails cattle were seen this sale and they sold 40.00-60.00 behind non blemished cattle. Market activity was moderate to active today and overall significantly better than last week. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for light offerings. Fewer buyers were in the stands compared to last week. Feeding cows sold mostly 5.00 lower. Slaughter cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on all classes of cows and bulls. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good demand. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Young age cows sold generally steady in a narrow comparison.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $430.97/cwt on 246 head. That ranks 1 of 1 comparable sales and sits −72.92 against this barn's trailing median of $503.89.

Average price

$430.97

246 head · 556 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,394

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$123

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

$42.90/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+11.59

vs MT average

+1.25 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	518	437.90	2,268	14thin
Medium and Large 1	561	432.86	2,429	199
Medium 1	537	423.55	2,274	25
Medium and Large 2	543	395.00	2,145	8thin

One grade step is worth $42.90/cwt here — about $123 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 sale246 hd

430.97

—

MT average5 barns · 1,908 hd

419.39

+11.59

National average179 barns · 33,800 hd

429.72

+1.25

This barn, trailing median1 sales

503.89

−72.92

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	1,850	177.23	3,279	9thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,417	164.16	2,326	99
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,644	160.46	2,638	20
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,215	154.93	1,883	77

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	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,068	$3,505	37
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,092	$3,326	13
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,390	$3,200	1thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,160	$3,100	3thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,350	$2,850	2thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,227	$2,789	18
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,265	$2,362	7
Bred Heifers	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,012	$3,300	5
Bred Heifers	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,052	$3,000	3thin

Every lot, as filed

84 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
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	475	493.11/cwt	479.00–500.00	2,342	76
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	666	387.02/cwt	379.00–392.00	2,578	233
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	580	421.49/cwt	404.00–432.50	2,445	121
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	700–750	742	374.00/cwt	374.00–374.00	2,775	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	325	623.66/cwt	600.00–630.00	2,027	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	621	400.13/cwt	381.00–411.00	2,485	208
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	700–750	700	327.50/cwt	327.50–327.50	2,293	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	530	451.73/cwt	442.00–466.00	2,394	75
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	282	594.43/cwt	590.00–605.00	1,676	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	537	394.60/cwt	385.00–403.00	2,119	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	670	334.85/cwt	334.00–337.00	2,243	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	642	327.50/cwt	327.50–327.50	2,103	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	375	560.73/cwt	550.00–580.00	2,103	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	473	435.55/cwt	402.00–452.00	2,060	141
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	573	420.00/cwt	420.00–420.00	2,407	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	450	500.00/cwt	500.00–500.00	2,250	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	336	530.00/cwt	530.00–530.00	1,781	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	569	372.79/cwt	357.00–384.00	2,121	109
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	426	453.67/cwt	445.00–460.00	1,933	67
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	425	552.10/cwt	535.00–595.00	2,346	54
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	750–800	766	364.43/cwt	364.00–364.50	2,792	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	531	396.00/cwt	396.00–396.00	2,103	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	600–650	629	376.00/cwt	376.00–376.00	2,365	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	500–550	534	334.14/cwt	332.50–335.00	1,784	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	550–600	583	331.00/cwt	331.00–331.00	1,930	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	650–700	663	354.00/cwt	354.00–354.00	2,347	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,375	2,600.00/head	2,600.00–2,600.00	2,600	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,160	3,100.00/head	3,100.00–3,100.00	3,100	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,219	2,850.00/head	2,850.00–2,850.00	2,850	16
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,140	3,424.34/head	3,200.00–3,500.00	3,424	10
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,068	3,504.66/head	3,200.00–3,600.00	3,505	37
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,339	2,700.00/head	2,700.00–2,700.00	2,700	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	1,167	1,910.45/head	1,700.00–2,000.00	1,910	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	1,200	2,000.00/head	2,000.00–2,000.00	2,000	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,170	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	2,457	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,168	167.50/cwt	167.50–167.50	1,956	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,545	109.00/cwt	109.00–109.00	1,684	1
Bulls	—	—	2,193	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	3,969	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,184	159.09/cwt	125.00–163.00	1,884	35
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,268	167.19/cwt	158.00–176.00	2,120	30
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,176	112.14/cwt	92.50–120.00	1,319	12
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,508	167.00/cwt	166.00–168.00	2,518	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,660	159.42/cwt	151.00–164.50	2,646	17
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,367	153.48/cwt	125.00–164.00	2,098	25
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,429	169.54/cwt	165.00–176.00	2,423	71
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,545	134.39/cwt	129.00–140.00	2,076	2
Bulls	—	—	1,947	181.02/cwt	180.00–182.00	3,524	3
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,225	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	2,205	1
Stock Cows	Medium 1Thin Fleshed	—	755	272.50/cwt	272.50–272.50	2,057	1
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	700–750	744	344.00/cwt	344.00–344.00	2,559	8
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	500–550	530	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,855	3
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	1,170	207.50/cwt	207.50–207.50	2,428	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,733	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	2,946	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,640	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	2,706	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,079	234.82/cwt	185.00–281.00	2,534	26
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,052	3,000.00/head	3,000.00–3,000.00	3,000	3
Heifers	Medium 1-2	650–700	696	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	2,088	11
Steers	Medium 1-2	650–700	698	307.50/cwt	307.50–307.50	2,146	7
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	500–550	537	423.55/cwt	420.00–433.00	2,274	25
Bred Cows	Medium 1	—	930	3,000.00/head	3,000.00–3,000.00	3,000	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	391	521.12/cwt	515.00–530.00	2,038	10
Bulls	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	450–500	474	387.50/cwt	387.50–387.50	1,837	29
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,041	295.12/cwt	240.00–325.00	3,072	21
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,012	3,300.00/head	3,300.00–3,300.00	3,300	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,390	3,200.00/head	3,200.00–3,200.00	3,200	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,350	2,850.00/head	2,850.00–2,850.00	2,850	2
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	500–550	543	395.00/cwt	395.00–395.00	2,145	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	633	335.93/cwt	330.00–338.00	2,126	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	650–700	676	367.06/cwt	345.00–374.00	2,481	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	518	437.90/cwt	430.00–445.00	2,268	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	250–300	253	700.00/cwt	700.00–700.00	1,771	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	470	406.61/cwt	405.00–415.00	1,911	25
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	650–700	684	328.00/cwt	328.00–328.00	2,244	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	750–800	753	359.00/cwt	359.00–359.00	2,703	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	334	503.19/cwt	500.00–515.00	1,681	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	380	535.25/cwt	515.00–540.00	2,034	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	497	464.00/cwt	464.00–464.00	2,306	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	427	427.50/cwt	427.50–427.50	1,825	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	392	480.00/cwt	480.00–480.00	1,882	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	566	348.10/cwt	336.00–354.00	1,970	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	628	362.84/cwt	355.00–365.00	2,279	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Full	750–800	787	287.50/cwt	287.50–287.50	2,263	30
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	275	720.00/cwt	720.00–720.00	1,980	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	200–250	223	750.00/cwt	750.00–750.00	1,673	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 →