Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-10-25

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-10-25
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-10-25

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Oct 25

● Final75 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776

← Oct 18Oct 25Nov 1 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

3,285 head

▲ 1,686 vs last sale 1,599▲ 557 vs year ago 2,728 · +20.4%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

35 head

▼ 73 vs last sale 108▼ 75 vs year ago 110 · −68.2%

Replacement Cattle receipts

7 head

▼ 28 vs last sale 35▼ 62 vs year ago 69 · −89.9%

Also sold hereRegular saleWed Oct 28, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steer calves 350-549 lbs sold mostly 5.00-15.00 higher. Steers over 550 lbs sold steady to 3.00 lower. Heifer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. 450-549 lbs heifers sold steady to 5.00 higher, heifers over 550 lbs sold 2.00-4.00 lower. Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifer sold steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Yearling quality was mostly average today. Spring born calf quality was mixed from plain to attractive, but not as attractive as last weeks sale. Demand for calves was mostly light to moderate for calves over 500 lbs and moderate to good for calves under 500 lbs. Package sizes were small to moderate. 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 lower undertones were noticed on both slaughter and feeding cows and bulls.

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 $295.10/cwt on 854 head. That ranks 1 of 6 comparable sales and sits −135.25 against this barn's trailing median of $430.35.

Average price

$295.10

854 head · 554 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,636

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$121

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

$37.28/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−3.31

vs MT average

−3.94 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	553	296.87	1,642	789
Medium and Large 1-2	554	285.80	1,584	27
Large 1	579	274.71	1,590	14thin
Medium and Large 2	586	259.59	1,521	24

One grade step is worth $37.28/cwt here — about $121 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 sale854 hd

295.10

—

MT average5 barns · 2,211 hd

298.41

−3.31

National average191 barns · 36,605 hd

299.04

−3.94

This barn, trailing median6 sales

430.35

−135.25

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	—	Average	2,153	144.25	3,105	2thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,187	108.08	1,283	10
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,455	107.97	1,571	19

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 · Steers30 lots · lightest first
Steers	250–300	Medium 1Unweaned	279	435.00/cwt	435.00–435.00	1,214	4
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	334	416.51/cwt	415.00–420.00	1,391	8
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	341	373.01/cwt	365.00–375.00	1,272	27
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	370	388.98/cwt	387.50–392.00	1,439	42
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	380	360.68/cwt	358.00–372.50	1,371	41
Steers	400–450	Medium 2Unweaned	424	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	848	4
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	426	367.46/cwt	322.50–376.00	1,565	182
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	461	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,614	10
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	462	343.21/cwt	315.00–357.50	1,586	110
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	490	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,495	16
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	520	309.31/cwt	297.00–321.00	1,608	375
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	533	293.37/cwt	288.00–298.00	1,564	13
Steers	500–550	Large 1Unweaned	538	281.00/cwt	281.00–281.00	1,512	3
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	574	278.78/cwt	276.00–281.00	1,600	14
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	583	285.90/cwt	280.00–295.50	1,667	406
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Full	584	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,577	8
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	586	259.59/cwt	241.00–267.50	1,521	24
Steers	550–600	Large 1Unweaned	590	273.00/cwt	273.00–273.00	1,611	11
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	619	281.04/cwt	270.50–290.00	1,740	271
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	628	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	1,601	4
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	659	252.00/cwt	252.00–252.00	1,661	8
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	674	268.87/cwt	261.00–276.00	1,812	84
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	678	270.50/cwt	270.50–270.50	1,834	6
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Full	714	244.00/cwt	244.00–244.00	1,742	10
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	722	256.02/cwt	252.00–266.00	1,848	34
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	749	248.00/cwt	248.00–248.00	1,858	5
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	755	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	1,925	3
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1Full	799	253.50/cwt	253.50–253.50	2,025	10
Steers	800–850	Large 1Unweaned	832	226.00/cwt	226.00–226.00	1,880	3
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	838	229.00/cwt	229.00–229.00	1,919	19
Feeder Cattle · Heifers28 lots · lightest first
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	306	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	1,056	11
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	326	355.86/cwt	346.00–374.00	1,160	21
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	356	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,139	40
Heifers	350–400	Large 1Unweaned	379	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,213	9
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	380	331.06/cwt	328.50–334.00	1,258	13
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	398	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,214	5
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	414	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	1,139	7
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	425	314.68/cwt	310.00–325.00	1,337	54
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	443	301.00/cwt	301.00–301.00	1,333	11
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	461	284.51/cwt	280.00–286.00	1,312	12
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	469	295.77/cwt	287.00–308.00	1,387	177
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	510	287.00/cwt	287.00–287.00	1,464	22
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	510	260.91/cwt	250.00–263.00	1,331	19
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	527	287.60/cwt	265.00–295.00	1,516	168
Heifers	500–550	Medium 2Unweaned	535	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,257	7
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Full	555	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,388	5
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	573	261.30/cwt	250.00–267.00	1,497	234
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	630	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,512	3
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	634	255.63/cwt	249.00–259.50	1,621	75
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	658	251.00/cwt	251.00–251.00	1,652	7
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	703	234.54/cwt	233.00–241.50	1,649	11
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	725	241.00/cwt	237.00–243.50	1,747	28
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	733	224.00/cwt	224.00–224.00	1,642	3
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	755	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,699	3
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	811	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,946	40
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1	915	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	2,105	12
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	930	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	2,046	1
Heifers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	995	217.89/cwt	217.00–218.00	2,168	37
Feeder Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	423	310.78/cwt	302.50–320.00	1,315	6
Bulls	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	432	337.00/cwt	337.00–337.00	1,456	15
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	520	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,508	1
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	551	271.00/cwt	271.00–271.00	1,493	26
Bulls	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	666	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,432	4
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,845	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	2,657	1
Bulls	—	—	2,460	144.50/cwt	144.50–144.50	3,555	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows8 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,115	94.24/cwt	89.00–97.00	1,051	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,217	116.52/cwt	116.00–119.00	1,418	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,220	99.00/cwt	99.00–99.00	1,208	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,364	101.26/cwt	93.00–103.00	1,381	6
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,467	103.75/cwt	97.00–112.00	1,522	6
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,474	119.74/cwt	116.50–121.50	1,765	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,550	129.24/cwt	129.00–129.50	2,003	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,655	84.00/cwt	84.00–84.00	1,390	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows2 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	923	145.14/cwt	115.00–155.00	1,340	4
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,425	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	2,081	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 25, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 3,285Last week 1,599Year ago 2,728

Slaughter CattleReceipts 35Last week 108Year ago 110

Replacement CattleReceipts 7Last week 35Year ago 69

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
15	400–450	432	337.00	337.00
1	500–550	520	290.00	290.00
26	550–600	551	271.00	271.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	400–450	423	302.50–320.00	310.78
4	650–700	666	215.00	215.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
21	300–350	326	346.00–374.00	355.86
13	350–400	380	328.50–334.00	331.06
54	400–450	425	310.00–325.00	314.68
177	450–500	469	287.00–308.00	295.77
168	500–550	527	265.00–295.00	287.60
234	550–600	573	250.00–267.00	261.30
75	600–650	634	249.00–259.50	255.63
7	650–700	658	251.00	251.00
11	700–750	703	233.00–241.50	234.54
3	750–800	755	225.00	225.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
22	500–550	510	287.00	287.00
28	700–750	725	237.00–243.50	241.00
40	800–850	811	240.00	240.00
12	900–950	915	230.00	230.00
37	950–1000	995	217.00–218.00	217.89

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
11	300–350	306	345.00	345.00
40	350–400	356	320.00	320.00
11	400–450	443	301.00	301.00
12	450–500	461	280.00–286.00	284.51
19	500–550	510	250.00–263.00	260.91
3	600–650	630	240.00	240.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	350–400	398	305.00	305.00
7	400–450	414	275.00	275.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	900–950	930	220.00	220.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
9	350–400	379	320.00	320.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	500–550	535	235.00	235.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
5	550–600	555	250.00	250.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
3	700–750	733	224.00	224.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
10	450–500	461	350.00	350.00
6	650–700	678	270.50	270.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	300–350	334	415.00–420.00	416.51
42	350–400	370	387.50–392.00	388.98
182	400–450	426	322.50–376.00	367.46
110	450–500	462	315.00–357.50	343.21
375	500–550	520	297.00–321.00	309.31
406	550–600	583	280.00–295.50	285.90
271	600–650	619	270.50–290.00	281.04
84	650–700	674	261.00–276.00	268.87
34	700–750	722	252.00–266.00	256.02
3	750–800	755	255.00	255.00
19	800–850	838	229.00	229.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
27	300–350	341	365.00–375.00	373.01
41	350–400	380	358.00–372.50	360.68
16	450–500	490	305.00	305.00
13	500–550	533	288.00–298.00	293.37
14	550–600	574	276.00–281.00	278.78
4	600–650	628	255.00	255.00
8	650–700	659	252.00	252.00
5	700–750	749	248.00	248.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	500–550	538	281.00	281.00
11	550–600	590	273.00	273.00
3	800–850	832	226.00	226.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
24	550–600	586	241.00–267.50	259.59

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	250–300	279	435.00	435.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	400–450	424	200.00	200.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
8	550–600	584	270.00	270.00
10	700–750	714	244.00	244.00
10	750–800	799	253.50	253.50

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	4	—	923	115.00–155.00	145.14

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,425	146.00	146.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,460	144.50	144.50
1	—	1,845	144.00	144.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,115	89.00–97.00	94.24

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,550	129.00–129.50	129.24
4	—	1,474	116.50–121.50	119.74
6	—	1,467	97.00–112.00	103.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,217	116.00–119.00	116.52
1	—	1,220	99.00	99.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,655	84.00	84.00
6	—	1,364	93.00–103.00	101.26

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.