Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2026-10-16

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2026-10-16
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-10-16

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Oct 16

● Final76 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776

← Oct 9Oct 16Oct 23 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

2,142 head

▲ 49 vs last sale 2,093▲ 119 vs year ago 2,023 · +5.9%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

89 head

▲ 19 vs last sale 70▼ 156 vs year ago 245 · −63.7%

Replacement Cattle receipts

8 head

▼ 32 vs last sale 40▼ 64 vs year ago 72 · −88.9%

Also sold hereRegular saleWed Oct 28, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however sharply higher undertones were noticed. 450-599 lbs steers sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher, steer calves over 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower. Heifer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Heifers 450-549 lbs sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher, heifers over 550 lbs sold unevenly steady. Yearling cattle were scarcely traded this sale. No comparison is available. Calves sold on mixed demand for mostly moderate offerings. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Many buyers stated they had trouble finding trucks and exited the market after filling loads. This put downward pressure on offerings especially late in the day. Cooperate packers buyers this week but were limited on the volume of cattle they could take. This led to wide spreads, especially for calves over 600 lbs. Most offerings were offered in small to moderate size packages. Canadian buyers were not as active again this week due to tight trucking. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows and bulls sold on moderate demand for light offerings. Feeding cows, slaughter cows and slaughter bulls all sold with steady to lower undertones compared to Wednesdays sale.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $428.05/cwt on 440 head, down $1.19 from the prior sale. That ranks 1 of 5 comparable sales and sits −3.23 against this barn's trailing median of $431.29.

Average price

$428.05

▼ 1.19 vs prior sale

440 head · 554 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,373

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$260

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

$60.93/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−4.33

vs MT average

−4.24 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	552	434.68	2,401	354
Medium and Large 1-2	573	408.43	2,340	60
Medium 1	535	384.78	2,057	22
Medium and Large 2	573	373.75	2,141	4thin

One grade step is worth $60.93/cwt here — about $260 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 sale440 hd

428.05

—

MT average4 barns · 1,911 hd

432.38

−4.33

National average190 barns · 30,929 hd

432.29

−4.24

This barn, trailing median5 sales

431.29

−3.23

A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

5 sales

Steers 500–600 lb: high $503.89, low $428.05, median $431.29 across 5 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

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	1,891	167.72	3,172	9thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,607	141.68	2,277	33
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,393	122.41	1,705	20
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,152	100.12	1,153	27

Every lot, as filed

76 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. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers31 lots · lightest first
Steers	200–250	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	205	650.00/cwt	650.00–650.00	1,333	1
Steers	250–300	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	296	605.00/cwt	605.00–605.00	1,791	4
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	307	510.00/cwt	510.00–510.00	1,566	3
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	325	624.51/cwt	620.00–625.00	2,030	10
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	336	612.61/cwt	587.00–615.00	2,058	11
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	366	593.85/cwt	570.00–620.00	2,173	38
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	378	548.10/cwt	542.50–550.00	2,072	8
Steers	350–400	Medium 1Unweaned	387	550.00/cwt	550.00–550.00	2,129	6
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	411	546.18/cwt	520.00–562.50	2,245	72
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	436	506.52/cwt	500.00–530.00	2,208	44
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	467	497.57/cwt	480.00–520.00	2,324	63
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	482	445.43/cwt	440.00–447.50	2,147	7
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	491	466.77/cwt	464.00–485.00	2,292	37
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	500	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	2,000	1
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	524	455.66/cwt	432.50–470.00	2,388	109
Steers	500–550	Medium 1Unweaned	527	385.54/cwt	385.00–387.50	2,032	19
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	540	431.91/cwt	422.00–440.00	2,332	18
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	565	425.35/cwt	405.00–441.00	2,403	245
Steers	550–600	Medium 1Unweaned	583	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	2,215	3
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	587	398.36/cwt	387.00–405.00	2,338	42
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	597	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	2,179	3
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	623	394.71/cwt	380.00–410.00	2,459	97
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 2	637	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	2,357	3
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	646	372.00/cwt	372.00–372.00	2,403	45
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	663	383.14/cwt	369.00–389.50	2,540	106
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	674	363.69/cwt	361.00–370.00	2,451	31
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 2	696	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	2,366	11
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	710	358.15/cwt	351.00–369.00	2,543	35
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Fancy	715	385.50/cwt	385.00–387.00	2,756	4
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	753	360.92/cwt	344.00–366.00	2,718	43
Steers	750–800	Medium 1	779	335.00/cwt	335.00–335.00	2,610	6
Feeder Cattle · Heifers24 lots · lightest first
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	313	509.70/cwt	500.00–520.00	1,595	6
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	325	527.03/cwt	520.00–530.00	1,713	19
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	384	495.42/cwt	490.00–515.00	1,902	29
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	385	476.97/cwt	455.00–485.00	1,836	52
Heifers	350–400	Medium 1Unweaned	397	465.00/cwt	465.00–465.00	1,846	3
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	419	478.12/cwt	460.00–515.00	2,003	44
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	439	445.36/cwt	440.00–448.00	1,955	20
Heifers	400–450	Medium 1Unweaned	447	403.00/cwt	403.00–403.00	1,801	3
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	473	439.52/cwt	419.00–460.00	2,079	155
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	484	389.00/cwt	385.00–390.00	1,883	5
Heifers	500–550	Medium 1Unweaned	524	342.50/cwt	342.50–342.50	1,795	14
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	530	405.32/cwt	390.00–421.00	2,148	137
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	531	376.66/cwt	352.50–381.00	2,000	23
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	555	354.88/cwt	325.00–360.00	1,970	20
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	571	368.84/cwt	360.00–380.00	2,106	21
Heifers	550–600	Large 1Unweaned	589	347.50/cwt	347.50–347.50	2,047	5
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	633	366.70/cwt	357.50–373.00	2,321	29
Heifers	650–700	Medium 1	650	331.00/cwt	331.00–331.00	2,152	22
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	655	347.00/cwt	347.00–347.00	2,273	20
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Full	657	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	2,102	11
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	664	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	2,158	6
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	670	337.00/cwt	337.00–337.00	2,258	2
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	700	339.00/cwt	339.00–339.00	2,373	17
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	705	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	2,291	2
Feeder Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	507	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,825	3
Bulls	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	635	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	2,191	2
Bulls	700–750	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	720	324.00/cwt	324.00–324.00	2,333	3
Bulls	800–850	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	840	309.00/cwt	309.00–309.00	2,596	3
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,345	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	2,287	1
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,413	149.88/cwt	145.00–155.00	2,118	2
Bulls	—	—	2,005	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	3,709	1
Bulls	—	—	2,110	163.82/cwt	161.00–165.00	3,457	3
Bulls	—	—	2,258	181.61/cwt	180.00–183.00	4,101	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows10 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	830	70.00/cwt	70.00–70.00	581	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,115	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	1,728	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,164	103.94/cwt	90.00–114.00	1,210	18
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,171	86.75/cwt	80.00–89.00	1,016	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,346	147.08/cwt	137.50–150.00	1,980	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,365	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	1,624	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,409	105.17/cwt	95.00–113.00	1,482	10
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,493	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	1,851	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,585	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	2,378	24
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,667	119.50/cwt	114.00–123.00	1,992	9
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows2 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,030	227.50/cwt	225.00–230.00	2,343	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,310	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	2,293	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 →

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Fri)

Fri Oct 16, 2026

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 2,142Last week 2,093Year ago 2,023

Slaughter CattleReceipts 89Last week 70Year ago 245

Replacement CattleReceipts 8Last week 40Year ago 72

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
19	300–350	325	520.00–530.00	527.03
29	350–400	384	490.00–515.00	495.42
44	400–450	419	460.00–515.00	478.12
155	450–500	473	419.00–460.00	439.52
137	500–550	530	390.00–421.00	405.32
21	550–600	571	360.00–380.00	368.84
29	600–650	633	357.50–373.00	366.70
20	650–700	655	347.00	347.00
17	700–750	700	339.00	339.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
6	650–700	664	325.00	325.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
11	650–700	657	320.00	320.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	350–400	397	465.00	465.00
3	400–450	447	403.00	403.00
14	500–550	524	342.50	342.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
22	650–700	650	331.00	331.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	550–600	589	347.50	347.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	300–350	313	500.00–520.00	509.70
52	350–400	385	455.00–485.00	476.97
20	400–450	439	440.00–448.00	445.36
5	450–500	484	385.00–390.00	389.00
23	500–550	531	352.50–381.00	376.66
20	550–600	555	325.00–360.00	354.88
2	650–700	670	337.00	337.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	700–750	705	325.00	325.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
10	300–350	325	620.00–625.00	624.51
38	350–400	366	570.00–620.00	593.85
72	400–450	411	520.00–562.50	546.18
63	450–500	467	480.00–520.00	497.57
109	500–550	524	432.50–470.00	455.66
245	550–600	565	405.00–441.00	425.35
97	600–650	623	380.00–410.00	394.71
106	650–700	663	369.00–389.50	383.14
35	700–750	710	351.00–369.00	358.15
43	750–800	753	344.00–366.00	360.92

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
4	700–750	715	385.00–387.00	385.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	300–350	307	510.00	510.00
7	450–500	482	440.00–447.50	445.43
1	500–550	500	400.00	400.00
3	550–600	597	365.00	365.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	600–650	637	370.00	370.00
11	650–700	696	340.00	340.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1	200–250	205	650.00	650.00
4	250–300	296	605.00	605.00
11	300–350	336	587.00–615.00	612.61
8	350–400	378	542.50–550.00	548.10
44	400–450	436	500.00–530.00	506.52
37	450–500	491	464.00–485.00	466.77
18	500–550	540	422.00–440.00	431.91
42	550–600	587	387.00–405.00	398.36
45	600–650	646	372.00	372.00
31	650–700	674	361.00–370.00	363.69

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	350–400	387	550.00	550.00
19	500–550	527	385.00–387.50	385.54
3	550–600	583	380.00	380.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	750–800	779	335.00	335.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	600–650	635	345.00	345.00
3	700–750	720	324.00	324.00
3	800–850	840	309.00	309.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	500–550	507	360.00	360.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	2,258	180.00–183.00	181.61
3	—	2,110	161.00–165.00	163.82
1	—	2,005	185.00	185.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,413	145.00–155.00	149.88

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,345	170.00	170.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,346	137.50–150.00	147.08
2	—	1,493	124.00	124.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,667	114.00–123.00	119.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,171	80.00–89.00	86.75
18	—	1,164	90.00–114.00	103.94

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,115	155.00	155.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	830	70.00	70.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,365	119.00	119.00
10	—	1,409	95.00–113.00	105.17

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
24	—	1,585	150.00	150.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,030	225.00–230.00	227.50

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,310	175.00	175.00

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.