Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2025-11-07
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-11-07

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling cattle were scarcely traded no trend is available. Steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on a poorer quality offering, 450-599 lbs steers sold steady to firm, steers over 600 lbs sold mostly 10.00 lower. Heifer calves under 550 lbs sold generally steady to weak, feeding heifers over 550 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Most attractive heifers over 550 lbs were purchased by replacement buyers this sale. Demand was light to moderate for light to moderate offerings. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Load lots and very large packages sold with the best demand this sale. Small packages and singles sold with large discounts today. Many cut back cattle off summer video sales sold this week. Some weaned cattle are starting to be seen. Demand for weaned offerings was moderate with some packages selling with slight premiums. Many short weaned offerings were very full and buyers showed light demand for both fill and health concerns. Light weight calf quality was mostly plain this sale. Market activity was moderate with a small crowd on hand. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for light offerings. Feeding cows sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Slaughter cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. 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 were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $424.49/cwt on 366 head. That ranks 2 of 2 comparable sales and sits −26.29 against this barn's trailing median of $450.78.

Average price

$424.49

366 head · 559 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,372

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$674

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

$122.65/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−2.66

vs MT average

+5.39 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	561	427.65	2,397	322
Medium and Large 1-2	546	403.56	2,204	43
Medium and Large 2	565	305.00	1,723	1thin

One grade step is worth $122.65/cwt here — about $674 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 sale366 hd

424.49

—

MT average3 barns · 1,826 hd

427.15

−2.66

National average195 barns · 36,957 hd

419.10

+5.39

This barn, trailing median2 sales

450.78

−26.29

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	1,860	163.99	3,050	3thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,620	167.00	2,705	2thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,371	153.94	2,111	37
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,200	142.60	1,712	27

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)	1,085	$3,271	4thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,183	$3,263	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,387	$2,650	5
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,357	$2,457	5
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,332	$2,250	11
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,198	$2,100	2thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,203	$1,800	2thin
Bred Heifers	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,213	$3,000	3thin

Every lot, as filed

92 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 1-2	300–350	325	530.00/cwt	530.00–530.00	1,723	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Full	400–450	449	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	1,639	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	845	301.00/cwt	301.00–301.00	2,543	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	565	394.00/cwt	394.00–394.00	2,226	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	538	408.07/cwt	375.00–540.00	2,195	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	384	477.34/cwt	465.00–505.00	1,833	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	385	440.69/cwt	422.50–470.00	1,697	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	745	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	2,347	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	484	315.30/cwt	300.00–324.00	1,526	8
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	650–700	674	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,786	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	650–700	696	358.00/cwt	358.00–358.00	2,492	7
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	450–500	455	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,638	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	423	389.25/cwt	385.00–415.00	1,647	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	650–700	667	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	2,068	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	538	392.00/cwt	392.00–392.00	2,109	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	700–750	722	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	2,238	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	450–500	498	343.45/cwt	332.50–350.00	1,710	16
Steers	Medium and Large 2-3	300–350	346	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,038	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	550	395.00/cwt	395.00–395.00	2,173	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	640	321.00/cwt	321.00–321.00	2,054	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	472	373.58/cwt	350.00–405.00	1,763	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	348	510.00/cwt	510.00–510.00	1,775	7
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	400–450	424	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,526	4
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	300–350	315	500.00/cwt	500.00–500.00	1,575	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	300–350	332	435.00/cwt	435.00–435.00	1,444	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	586	331.10/cwt	317.50–339.00	1,940	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	422	464.31/cwt	440.00–495.00	1,959	30
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	620	387.00/cwt	387.00–387.00	2,399	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	967	268.13/cwt	178.00–296.00	2,593	39
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,357	2,457.03/head	2,400.00–2,500.00	2,457	5
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,213	3,000.00/head	3,000.00–3,000.00	3,000	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	753	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,995	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	470	467.00/cwt	467.00–467.00	2,195	11
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	550–600	565	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,723	1
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	550–600	581	352.50/cwt	352.50–352.50	2,048	17
Heifers	Medium 1	450–500	485	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,722	4
Steers	Medium 1	450–500	451	440.00/cwt	440.00–440.00	1,984	7
Heifers	Medium 1-2Unweaned	400–450	412	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	1,566	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,198	2,100.00/head	2,100.00–2,100.00	2,100	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 2	—	949	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	1,756	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,353	124.11/cwt	117.50–131.00	1,679	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,334	165.93/cwt	164.00–175.00	2,214	18
Bulls	—	—	1,860	163.99/cwt	150.00–174.00	3,050	3
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	550–600	583	342.00/cwt	342.00–342.00	1,994	2
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	700–750	710	352.00/cwt	352.00–352.00	2,499	3
Heifers	Medium 1	400–450	409	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	1,534	10
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,185	165.41/cwt	165.00–166.00	1,960	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,202	147.67/cwt	130.00–163.00	1,775	16
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,421	147.50/cwt	135.00–161.00	2,096	15
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,620	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	2,705	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,235	90.00/cwt	90.00–90.00	1,112	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,204	114.09/cwt	105.00–127.50	1,374	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,387	2,650.00/head	2,650.00–2,650.00	2,650	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,085	3,270.73/head	3,200.00–3,300.00	3,271	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	656	326.79/cwt	314.00–330.00	2,144	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	560	460.00/cwt	460.00–460.00	2,576	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	890	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,558	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	1,203	1,800.00/head	1,800.00–1,800.00	1,800	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	474	416.97/cwt	414.00–423.00	1,976	81
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,332	2,250.00/head	2,250.00–2,250.00	2,250	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	432	446.21/cwt	443.00–462.50	1,928	43
Steers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	500	469.00/cwt	469.00–469.00	2,345	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,183	3,262.54/head	3,200.00–3,400.00	3,263	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	600–650	637	369.00/cwt	369.00–369.00	2,351	29
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	550–600	581	394.10/cwt	381.00–405.00	2,290	103
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	500–550	504	432.00/cwt	432.00–432.00	2,177	90
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	469	425.58/cwt	404.00–447.00	1,996	95
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Full	550–600	560	395.00/cwt	395.00–395.00	2,212	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	617	395.52/cwt	390.00–403.00	2,440	54
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	613	390.18/cwt	364.00–406.00	2,392	40
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	656	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	2,460	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	600	337.00/cwt	337.00–337.00	2,022	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	536	368.00/cwt	368.00–368.00	1,972	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	665	344.92/cwt	341.00–359.00	2,294	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	507	464.67/cwt	457.50–470.00	2,356	39
Steers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	474	483.00/cwt	483.00–483.00	2,289	18
Cows	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	324	480.00/cwt	480.00–480.00	1,555	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	677	308.32/cwt	303.00–314.00	2,087	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	476	485.22/cwt	465.00–500.00	2,310	119
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	345	449.90/cwt	410.00–470.00	1,552	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Full	400–450	412	425.00/cwt	425.00–425.00	1,751	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	391	520.00/cwt	520.00–520.00	2,033	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	572	357.64/cwt	345.00–371.00	2,046	66
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	569	421.47/cwt	402.50–435.00	2,398	276
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	350–400	390	435.00/cwt	435.00–435.00	1,697	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	521	353.14/cwt	347.50–356.00	1,840	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	410	475.00/cwt	475.00–475.00	1,948	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	662	374.04/cwt	366.00–376.00	2,476	58
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	320	570.00/cwt	570.00–570.00	1,824	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	700–750	735	364.06/cwt	363.50–365.00	2,676	22
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	453	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	1,767	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	200–250	215	670.00/cwt	670.00–670.00	1,441	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 →