Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-10-18

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-10-18
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-10-18

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Oct 18

● Final75 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776

← Oct 11Oct 18Oct 25 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

1,599 head

▼ 1,394 vs last sale 2,993▼ 1,129 vs year ago 2,728 · −41.4%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

108 head

▲ 44 vs last sale 64▼ 2 vs year ago 110 · −1.8%

Replacement Cattle receipts

35 head

▲ 30 vs last sale 5▼ 34 vs year ago 69 · −49.3%

Also sold hereRegular saleWed Oct 28, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steer calves all sold generally steady to weak. Heifer calves sold mostly steady to 5.00 lower. All yearling cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling quality was mostly plain to average today. Spring born calf quality was average to attractive, but not as attractive as last weeks sale. Demand for calves was mostly moderate for light to moderate offerings. Package sizes were smaller this week and demand for packages under 5 head was considerably lighter than demand for moderate size packages. The best demand continues to be for light weight calves suitable to develop into yearlings. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. A smaller buyer pool was seen this week compared to last weeks sale. Weigh up cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on all slaughter cows and higher undertones were noticed on all feeding cows. Demand was mostly moderate to good as buyers attempted to fill loads for the week.

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 $294.61/cwt on 359 head. That ranks 1 of 6 comparable sales and sits −135.74 against this barn's trailing median of $430.35.

Average price

$294.61

359 head · 552 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,625

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$155

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

$20.46/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−3.91

vs MT average

−4.72 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	552	295.63	1,633	341
Medium and Large 1-2	537	275.17	1,478	18thin

One grade step is worth $20.46/cwt here — about $155 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 400–500 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 sale359 hd

294.61

—

MT average5 barns · 2,048 hd

298.52

−3.91

National average188 barns · 32,793 hd

299.33

−4.72

This barn, trailing median6 sales

430.35

−135.74

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

6 sales

Steers 500–600 lb: high $503.89, low $428.05, median $430.35 across 6 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	—	Low	1,641	132.45	2,174	5thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,610	131.00	2,109	1thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,397	129.71	1,812	52
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,160	108.37	1,257	34

Every lot, as filed

75 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 · Steers29 lots · lightest first
Steers	250–300	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	296	405.00/cwt	405.00–405.00	1,199	5
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300	425.00/cwt	425.00–425.00	1,275	1
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	322	392.50/cwt	392.50–392.50	1,264	3
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	391	355.34/cwt	355.00–360.00	1,389	14
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	399	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	1,516	6
Steers	400–450	Large 1Unweaned	422	307.50/cwt	307.50–307.50	1,298	3
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	429	345.77/cwt	335.00–365.00	1,483	57
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	444	317.50/cwt	317.50–317.50	1,410	8
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	481	313.00/cwt	313.00–313.00	1,506	9
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	484	316.70/cwt	309.00–323.00	1,533	69
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	488	302.00/cwt	302.00–302.00	1,474	7
Steers	450–500	Medium 2Unweaned	496	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,116	5
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	523	302.41/cwt	293.00–319.00	1,582	172
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Full	523	286.00/cwt	286.00–286.00	1,496	8
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	527	274.01/cwt	272.00–279.00	1,444	11
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	536	282.50/cwt	282.50–282.50	1,514	5
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	553	277.00/cwt	277.00–277.00	1,532	7
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	587	289.08/cwt	282.00–296.00	1,697	156
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	615	284.85/cwt	275.00–286.50	1,752	49
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Full	623	271.00/cwt	271.00–271.00	1,688	11
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	637	266.39/cwt	265.00–270.00	1,697	7
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	651	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,823	31
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	678	271.40/cwt	268.00–278.50	1,840	75
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	687	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,718	3
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	728	267.90/cwt	265.00–274.00	1,950	42
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	741	257.00/cwt	257.00–257.00	1,904	9
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	790	254.00/cwt	254.00–254.00	2,007	3
Steers	750–800	Large 1Unweaned	794	238.00/cwt	238.00–238.00	1,890	5
Steers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	945	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	1,985	1
Feeder Cattle · Heifers25 lots · lightest first
Heifers	250–300	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	284	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	994	18
Heifers	250–300	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	293	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	1,128	2
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	333	353.57/cwt	352.50–355.00	1,177	7
Heifers	300–350	Medium 1-2Unweaned	340	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	1,071	31
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	380	324.94/cwt	321.00–340.00	1,235	25
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	397	317.05/cwt	305.00–322.00	1,259	17
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	403	326.62/cwt	316.00–330.00	1,316	54
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	430	314.75/cwt	313.00–316.00	1,353	22
Heifers	400–450	Medium 1Unweaned	447	297.50/cwt	297.50–297.50	1,330	8
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	470	291.00/cwt	286.00–307.00	1,368	47
Heifers	450–500	Large 1Unweaned	475	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,235	3
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	483	283.50/cwt	283.50–283.50	1,369	22
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	496	273.00/cwt	273.00–273.00	1,354	5
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	527	275.34/cwt	264.00–283.50	1,451	69
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	573	263.06/cwt	258.00–270.00	1,507	45
Heifers	600–650	Medium 1-2	627	241.00/cwt	241.00–241.00	1,511	3
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	628	258.00/cwt	255.00–260.00	1,620	49
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	661	232.00/cwt	232.00–232.00	1,534	9
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	669	248.68/cwt	246.00–251.00	1,664	16
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	777	237.00/cwt	237.00–237.00	1,841	9
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	783	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,840	6
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	828	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	1,954	8
Heifers	850–900	Medium and Large 1-2	876	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	1,927	4
Heifers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	993	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	2,115	10
Heifers	1100–1150	Large 1	1,125	199.00/cwt	199.00–199.00	2,239	12
Feeder Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	350–400	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	383	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,341	11
Bulls	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	409	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,391	5
Bulls	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	603	227.50/cwt	227.50–227.50	1,372	2
Bulls	1100–1150	Large 1-2	1,115	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	2,174	6
Bulls	1100–1150	Large 1	1,130	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	2,407	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,508	136.19/cwt	132.00–140.00	2,054	2
Bulls	—	—	1,730	129.96/cwt	128.00–131.00	2,248	3
Slaughter Cattle · Cows11 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	970	97.50/cwt	97.50–97.50	946	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,112	88.00/cwt	85.00–90.00	979	7
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,148	121.53/cwt	117.00–125.00	1,395	9
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,176	113.10/cwt	110.00–114.00	1,330	12
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,215	108.00/cwt	108.00–108.00	1,312	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,260	102.99/cwt	102.00–104.00	1,298	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,334	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	1,854	11
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,339	107.00/cwt	107.00–107.00	1,433	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,415	133.43/cwt	123.00–135.00	1,888	32
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,468	103.63/cwt	97.00–109.00	1,521	5
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,610	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	2,109	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	952	190.96/cwt	171.00–195.00	1,818	14
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	952	171.90/cwt	134.00–189.00	1,636	15
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,035	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,387	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 →

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

Fri Oct 18, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 1,599Last week 2,993Year ago 2,728

Slaughter CattleReceipts 108Last week 64Year ago 110

Replacement CattleReceipts 35Last week 5Year ago 69

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
5	500–550	536	282.50	282.50
9	700–750	741	257.00	257.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	300	425.00	425.00
6	350–400	399	380.00	380.00
57	400–450	429	335.00–365.00	345.77
69	450–500	484	309.00–323.00	316.70
172	500–550	523	293.00–319.00	302.41
156	550–600	587	282.00–296.00	289.08
49	600–650	615	275.00–286.50	284.85
75	650–700	678	268.00–278.50	271.40
42	700–750	728	265.00–274.00	267.90
3	750–800	790	254.00	254.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	450–500	481	313.00	313.00
31	650–700	651	280.00	280.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
8	500–550	523	286.00	286.00
11	600–650	623	271.00	271.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	250–300	296	405.00	405.00
3	300–350	322	392.50	392.50
14	350–400	391	355.00–360.00	355.34
8	400–450	444	317.50	317.50
11	500–550	527	272.00–279.00	274.01
7	600–650	637	265.00–270.00	266.39
3	650–700	687	250.00	250.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	450–500	488	302.00	302.00
7	550–600	553	277.00	277.00
1	900–950	945	210.00	210.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	450–500	496	225.00	225.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	400–450	422	307.50	307.50
5	750–800	794	238.00	238.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	250–300	293	385.00	385.00
7	300–350	333	352.50–355.00	353.57
25	350–400	380	321.00–340.00	324.94
54	400–450	403	316.00–330.00	326.62
47	450–500	470	286.00–307.00	291.00
69	500–550	527	264.00–283.50	275.34
45	550–600	573	258.00–270.00	263.06
49	600–650	628	255.00–260.00	258.00
16	650–700	669	246.00–251.00	248.68

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
5	450–500	496	273.00	273.00
9	750–800	777	237.00	237.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
22	400–450	430	313.00–316.00	314.75
6	750–800	783	235.00	235.00
8	800–850	828	236.00	236.00
10	950–1000	993	213.00	213.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
18	250–300	284	350.00	350.00
17	350–400	397	305.00–322.00	317.05
22	450–500	483	283.50	283.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	650–700	661	232.00	232.00
4	850–900	876	220.00	220.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	600–650	627	241.00	241.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
31	300–350	340	315.00	315.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	400–450	447	297.50	297.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	450–500	475	260.00	260.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12	1100–1150	1,125	199.00	199.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
11	350–400	383	350.00	350.00
5	400–450	409	340.00	340.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1100–1150	1,130	213.00	213.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	1100–1150	1,115	195.00	195.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	600–650	603	227.50	227.50

Replacement Cattle

As reported

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	15	—	952	134.00–189.00	171.90
(<2 yrs)	Open	14	—	952	171.00–195.00	190.96

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	1	—	1,035	134.00	134.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,112	85.00–90.00	88.00
1	—	1,215	108.00	108.00
4	—	1,260	102.00–104.00	102.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,339	107.00	107.00
11	—	1,334	139.00	139.00
32	—	1,415	123.00–135.00	133.43

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,468	97.00–109.00	103.63

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,610	131.00	131.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	970	97.50	97.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,176	110.00–114.00	113.10
9	—	1,148	117.00–125.00	121.53

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,508	132.00–140.00	136.19

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,730	128.00–131.00	129.96

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.