Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2025-11-14
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-11-14

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Steers calves under 500 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Steers 550-649 lbs steer sold generally steady. All other steer weights were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Heifer calves were all too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however unevenly steady undertones were noticed. Demand was light to moderate for mostly light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and hampered demand. Many cutback calves off summer video sales were seen. Most calves were offered in very small packages and buyers showed mostly light demand as they pieced together loads. Most attractive heifers over 550 lbs were purchased by replacement buyers this sale. The best demand was seen for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings. Many short weaned offerings were very full and buyers showed light demand for both fill and health concerns. Market activity was slow to moderate with a small crowd on hand. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for light offerings. Feeding cows sold 2.00-5.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Slaughter cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower to sharply lower undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly light to moderate demand. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Young age cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $407.63/cwt on 157 head. That ranks 1 of 1 comparable sales and sits −96.26 against this barn's trailing median of $503.89.

Average price

$407.63

157 head · 547 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,230

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$758

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2

$134.75/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−19.79

vs MT average

−17.24 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	564	424.03	2,392	79
Large 1	520	418.33	2,175	6thin
Medium and Large 1-2	527	408.19	2,153	56
Medium and Large 2	522	345.00	1,801	9thin
Medium 2	565	289.29	1,635	7thin

One grade step is worth $134.75/cwt here — about $758 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 sale157 hd

407.63

—

MT average5 barns · 1,469 hd

427.41

−19.79

National average177 barns · 31,012 hd

424.87

−17.24

This barn, trailing median1 sales

503.89

−96.26

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	1,999	177.05	3,540	5thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,682	159.75	2,686	12
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,338	156.61	2,096	117
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,158	138.42	1,603	72

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	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,355	$3,000	1thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,091	$2,850	4thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,237	$2,440	4thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,330	$2,000	3thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,205	$1,850	1thin

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
Steers	Medium 1-2	450–500	458	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	1,763	4
Heifers	Medium 1	350–400	373	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	1,417	2
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	550–600	580	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	2,088	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	514	401.83/cwt	375.00–413.00	2,065	68
Heifers	Large 1-2	350–400	390	425.00/cwt	425.00–425.00	1,658	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	660	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	2,046	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	325	603.54/cwt	600.00–605.00	1,962	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	614	389.88/cwt	367.50–405.00	2,394	49
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	534	433.74/cwt	429.00–441.00	2,316	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	600–650	609	383.00/cwt	383.00–383.00	2,332	4
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	650–700	655	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	2,555	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	700–750	705	357.47/cwt	355.00–359.00	2,520	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	604	410.47/cwt	380.00–415.00	2,479	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	581	360.58/cwt	350.00–370.00	2,095	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	527	351.86/cwt	345.00–360.00	1,854	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Full	500–550	523	322.50/cwt	322.50–322.50	1,687	5
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	500–550	508	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	2,184	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	423	433.80/cwt	420.00–445.00	1,835	33
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	676	302.45/cwt	302.00–304.00	2,045	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	422	523.59/cwt	510.00–540.00	2,210	40
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	465	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	1,790	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	475	417.00/cwt	417.00–417.00	1,981	2
Steers	Medium 2Unweaned	350–400	390	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,404	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	650–700	695	354.00/cwt	354.00–354.00	2,460	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	300–350	349	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	1,431	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	350–400	388	461.95/cwt	450.00–470.00	1,792	25
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	463	490.71/cwt	475.00–502.50	2,272	35
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	523	359.22/cwt	345.00–364.00	1,879	36
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	493	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,479	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	580	386.22/cwt	380.00–392.50	2,240	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	571	331.12/cwt	321.00–336.00	1,891	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	485	375.28/cwt	337.50–384.00	1,820	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	612	348.64/cwt	330.00–357.00	2,134	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	424	512.50/cwt	512.50–512.50	2,173	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	295	505.00/cwt	505.00–505.00	1,490	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	469	411.55/cwt	340.00–432.50	1,930	41
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	338	490.00/cwt	490.00–490.00	1,656	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	483	470.00/cwt	470.00–470.00	2,270	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	583	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,982	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	678	356.90/cwt	352.00–368.00	2,420	32
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	568	387.91/cwt	365.00–390.00	2,203	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	504	414.00/cwt	414.00–414.00	2,087	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	600–650	615	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	2,153	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,050	234.97/cwt	220.00–242.50	2,467	27
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	573	421.26/cwt	413.00–428.00	2,414	58
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	565	423.00/cwt	423.00–423.00	2,390	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	750–800	797	309.00/cwt	309.00–309.00	2,463	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	650–700	683	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	2,356	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	355	527.30/cwt	480.00–560.00	1,872	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	800–850	810	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	2,430	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	750–800	782	281.00/cwt	281.00–281.00	2,197	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	600–650	627	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	2,006	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	800–850	805	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	2,455	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	946	282.09/cwt	220.00–307.00	2,669	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,109	157.92/cwt	153.00–162.00	1,751	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,199	105.25/cwt	101.00–115.00	1,262	15
Bulls	—	—	1,932	179.75/cwt	178.00–181.00	3,473	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,331	163.02/cwt	157.00–166.00	2,170	96
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,339	137.25/cwt	131.00–159.00	1,838	13
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,465	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	1,245	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,155	146.65/cwt	130.00–158.00	1,694	48
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,416	114.84/cwt	107.50–121.00	1,626	7
Bulls	—	—	1,685	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	2,730	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,105	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	939	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,618	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	2,637	9
Bulls	—Heavy Weight	—	2,515	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	4,628	1
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	700–750	743	287.50/cwt	287.50–287.50	2,136	3
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	700–750	730	346.00/cwt	346.00–346.00	2,526	17
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	600–650	649	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	2,044	12
Heifers	Large 1	650–700	670	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,943	10
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	500–550	533	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,812	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,872	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	2,808	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,205	1,850.00/head	1,850.00–1,850.00	1,850	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,220	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	2,135	1
Steers	Medium 2Unweaned	500–550	513	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,539	2
Heifers	Medium 2	300–350	349	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	1,082	12
Steers	Medium 2	550–600	586	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	1,670	5
Steers	Medium and Large 2	450–500	472	405.67/cwt	400.00–417.50	1,915	50
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	436	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,570	6
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,355	3,000.00/head	3,000.00–3,000.00	3,000	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	418	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	1,588	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	523	402.50/cwt	402.50–402.50	2,105	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	560	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,988	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	650–700	692	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	1,972	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	700–750	739	326.31/cwt	323.00–332.00	2,411	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	405	485.00/cwt	485.00–485.00	1,964	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	385	435.96/cwt	410.00–437.50	1,678	33
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	572	339.18/cwt	321.00–352.00	1,940	24
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	495	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	1,708	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	463	420.00/cwt	420.00–420.00	1,945	8
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	550–600	575	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	1,783	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	621	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	2,174	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	400–450	437	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,530	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	551	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,818	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	436	400.87/cwt	388.00–415.00	1,748	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	417	472.07/cwt	450.00–477.50	1,969	14
Steers	Medium and Large 2	500–550	507	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,800	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	328	540.00/cwt	540.00–540.00	1,771	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	521	411.55/cwt	360.00–425.00	2,144	46
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	250–300	294	550.00/cwt	550.00–550.00	1,617	10
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	400–450	441	422.50/cwt	422.50–422.50	1,863	9
Steers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	426	435.00/cwt	435.00–435.00	1,853	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	450–500	458	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,328	3
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	300–350	346	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	1,384	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,237	2,439.89/head	2,250.00–2,500.00	2,440	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,330	2,000.00/head	2,000.00–2,000.00	2,000	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,091	2,850.00/head	2,850.00–2,850.00	2,850	4

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 →