Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-11-08

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-11-08
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-11-08

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Nov 8

● Final71 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776

← Nov 1Nov 8Nov 15 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

2,434 head

▲ 483 vs last sale 1,951▼ 1,528 vs year ago 3,962 · −38.6%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

14 head

▼ 53 vs last sale 67▼ 26 vs year ago 40 · −65.0%

Replacement Cattle receipts

30 head

▲ 20 vs last sale 10▲ 15 vs year ago 15 · +100.0%

Also sold hereRegular saleWed Oct 28, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steer calves under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed; 400-549 lbs steers sold mostly 5.00 to 10.00 lower; steers 550 lbs and heavier sold steady to 3.00 higher. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold mostly steady; heifer calves 500-599 lbs sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher, heifers over 600 lbs sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. All yearling cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Calf quality was mostly average to very attractive. Quality this week was similar to slightly better than last week. Demand for light weight calves under 500 lbs was mostly good, but lighter than last weeks sale. Demand for calves over 500 lbs was moderate. Package sizes were moderate this week and larger than last week. A few load lots of calves were seen this week and demand for these offerings was very good. Demand for packages under 5 head remains light. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. A larger buyer pool was seen this week compared to last weeks sale. Weigh up cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Most cows and bulls were very full this sale making comparisons difficult.

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 $297.75/cwt on 388 head. That ranks 1 of 6 comparable sales and sits −132.60 against this barn's trailing median of $430.35.

Average price

$297.75

388 head · 553 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,646

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$37

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1

$21.02/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−5.96

vs MT average

−4.10 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	552	298.52	1,649	372
Medium and Large 1-2	541	282.17	1,526	8thin
Medium 1	581	277.50	1,612	8thin

One grade step is worth $21.02/cwt here — about $37 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 sale388 hd

297.75

—

MT average5 barns · 1,776 hd

303.71

−5.96

National average187 barns · 26,509 hd

301.85

−4.10

This barn, trailing median6 sales

430.35

−132.60

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	2,028	137.29	2,785	3thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,573	126.50	1,990	2thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,390	102.73	1,428	4thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,019	97.34	992	7thin

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/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,085	$1,900	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,332	$1,610	5

Every lot, as filed

71 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 · Steers39 lots · lightest first
Steers	250–300	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250	460.00/cwt	460.00–460.00	1,150	3
Steers	250–300	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	286	419.21/cwt	415.00–425.00	1,199	7
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	312	434.76/cwt	425.00–455.00	1,356	14
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	345	398.00/cwt	398.00–398.00	1,373	18
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	375	385.97/cwt	370.00–405.00	1,447	46
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	393	382.50/cwt	382.50–382.50	1,503	16
Steers	400–450	Medium 1Unweaned	413	327.00/cwt	327.00–327.00	1,351	10
Steers	400–450	Medium 2Unweaned	419	257.16/cwt	250.00–295.00	1,078	13
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Full	424	331.24/cwt	325.00–342.50	1,404	19
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	428	327.00/cwt	327.00–327.00	1,400	11
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	431	325.81/cwt	325.00–327.50	1,404	23
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	432	354.19/cwt	340.00–372.00	1,530	109
Steers	450–500	Medium 2Unweaned	465	232.50/cwt	232.50–232.50	1,081	11
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	482	298.71/cwt	290.00–305.00	1,440	22
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	492	328.38/cwt	315.00–342.00	1,616	283
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Full	494	304.00/cwt	304.00–304.00	1,502	9
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	518	310.25/cwt	298.00–329.00	1,607	128
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	537	287.97/cwt	284.00–294.00	1,546	5
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	539	299.65/cwt	299.00–301.00	1,615	15
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Full	542	289.29/cwt	285.00–297.00	1,568	14
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	547	272.50/cwt	272.50–272.50	1,491	3
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	574	292.43/cwt	280.00–296.50	1,679	206
Steers	550–600	Medium 1Unweaned	581	277.50/cwt	277.50–277.50	1,612	8
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Full	582	281.00/cwt	281.00–281.00	1,635	3
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	587	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	1,673	6
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	618	278.05/cwt	261.00–284.25	1,718	123
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Full	624	258.00/cwt	258.00–258.00	1,610	4
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	625	270.48/cwt	270.00–271.00	1,691	33
Steers	650–700	Medium 1	653	239.00/cwt	239.00–239.00	1,561	9
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	664	266.32/cwt	264.00–270.00	1,768	31
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	673	263.46/cwt	258.00–269.50	1,773	125
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	713	252.37/cwt	246.00–255.00	1,799	7
Steers	700–750	Large 1Unweaned	721	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,658	5
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	728	256.72/cwt	253.00–259.00	1,869	9
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	803	241.00/cwt	241.00–241.00	1,935	2
Steers	850–900	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	877	223.00/cwt	223.00–223.00	1,956	3
Steers	900–950	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	913	224.00/cwt	224.00–224.00	2,045	5
Steers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	975	229.00/cwt	229.00–229.00	2,233	10
Steers	1000–1050	Medium and Large 1	1,015	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	2,233	4
Feeder Cattle · Heifers22 lots · lightest first
Heifers	300–350	Medium 1Unweaned	312	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,092	3
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	319	382.09/cwt	360.00–392.50	1,219	12
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	352	359.74/cwt	352.50–361.00	1,266	45
Heifers	350–400	Medium 2	375	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	863	11
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	410	300.43/cwt	300.00–302.00	1,232	5
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	415	327.35/cwt	314.00–337.25	1,359	73
Heifers	400–450	Medium 1Unweaned	422	287.00/cwt	287.00–287.00	1,211	3
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	446	322.00/cwt	322.00–322.00	1,436	4
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	465	310.90/cwt	292.00–324.25	1,446	244
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	491	300.41/cwt	300.00–302.50	1,475	12
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Full	496	269.00/cwt	269.00–269.00	1,334	11
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	515	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,262	6
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	533	286.50/cwt	277.00–297.00	1,527	133
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Full	541	261.93/cwt	260.00–263.00	1,417	14
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	563	255.71/cwt	254.00–259.00	1,440	12
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	580	261.12/cwt	252.00–270.00	1,514	83
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	588	244.00/cwt	244.00–244.00	1,435	13
Heifers	550–600	Large 1Unweaned	590	247.00/cwt	247.00–247.00	1,457	8
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	620	252.57/cwt	245.00–254.50	1,566	18
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Full	648	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	1,575	3
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	658	246.79/cwt	243.00–248.00	1,624	33
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	711	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,671	4
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,815	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	2,614	1
Bulls	—	—	2,135	133.94/cwt	125.00–143.00	2,860	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows6 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	114	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	130	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,169	98.47/cwt	91.00–105.00	1,151	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,175	75.00/cwt	75.00–75.00	881	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,385	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	1,690	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,392	96.31/cwt	94.00–98.00	1,341	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,573	126.50/cwt	126.50–126.50	1,990	2
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,085	1,900.00/head	1,900.00–1,900.00	1,900	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,332	1,610.00/head	1,610.00–1,610.00	1,610	5

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 Nov 8, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 2,434Last week 1,951Year ago 3,962

Slaughter CattleReceipts 14Last week 67Year ago 40

Replacement CattleReceipts 30Last week 10Year ago 15

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
12	300–350	319	360.00–392.50	382.09
45	350–400	352	352.50–361.00	359.74
73	400–450	415	314.00–337.25	327.35
244	450–500	465	292.00–324.25	310.90
133	500–550	533	277.00–297.00	286.50
83	550–600	580	252.00–270.00	261.12
18	600–650	620	245.00–254.50	252.57
33	650–700	658	243.00–248.00	246.79
4	700–750	711	235.00	235.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	400–450	446	322.00	322.00
12	450–500	491	300.00–302.50	300.41
12	550–600	563	254.00–259.00	255.71

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	400–450	410	300.00–302.00	300.43
13	550–600	588	244.00	244.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	500–550	515	245.00	245.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	550–600	590	247.00	247.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	300–350	312	350.00	350.00
3	400–450	422	287.00	287.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
11	350–400	375	230.00	230.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
11	450–500	496	269.00	269.00
14	500–550	541	260.00–263.00	261.93
3	600–650	648	243.00	243.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
19	400–450	424	325.00–342.50	331.24
9	450–500	494	304.00	304.00
14	500–550	542	285.00–297.00	289.29
3	550–600	582	281.00	281.00
4	600–650	624	258.00	258.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
15	500–550	539	299.00–301.00	299.65
6	550–600	587	285.00	285.00
33	600–650	625	270.00–271.00	270.48
31	650–700	664	264.00–270.00	266.32
9	700–750	728	253.00–259.00	256.72
10	950–1000	975	229.00	229.00
4	1000–1050	1,015	220.00	220.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	250–300	250	460.00	460.00
14	300–350	312	425.00–455.00	434.76
46	350–400	375	370.00–405.00	385.97
109	400–450	432	340.00–372.00	354.19
283	450–500	492	315.00–342.00	328.38
128	500–550	518	298.00–329.00	310.25
206	550–600	574	280.00–296.50	292.43
123	600–650	618	261.00–284.25	278.05
125	650–700	673	258.00–269.50	263.46
7	700–750	713	246.00–255.00	252.37
2	800–850	803	241.00	241.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	250–300	286	415.00–425.00	419.21
18	300–350	345	398.00	398.00
23	400–450	431	325.00–327.50	325.81
22	450–500	482	290.00–305.00	298.71
5	500–550	537	284.00–294.00	287.97

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
13	400–450	419	250.00–295.00	257.16
11	450–500	465	232.50	232.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	700–750	721	230.00	230.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	650–700	653	239.00	239.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
10	400–450	413	327.00	327.00
8	550–600	581	277.50	277.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	500–550	547	272.50	272.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
16	350–400	393	382.50	382.50
11	400–450	428	327.00	327.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
3	850–900	877	223.00	223.00
5	900–950	913	224.00	224.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	1	—	1,085	1,900.00	1,900.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	5	—	1,332	1,610.00	1,610.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,175	75.00	75.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,169	91.00–105.00	98.47
1	—	114	114.00	114.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,573	126.50	126.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,392	94.00–98.00	96.31
1	—	1,385	122.00	122.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	2,135	125.00–143.00	133.94
1	—	1,815	144.00	144.00

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.