Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-12-13

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-12-13
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-12-13

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Dec 13

● Final75 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776

← Nov 22Dec 13Jan 17 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

1,465 head

▼ 639 vs last sale 2,104▲ 378 vs year ago 1,087 · +34.8%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

92 head

▲ 22 vs last sale 70▲ 72 vs year ago 20 · +360.0%

Replacement Cattle receipts

22 head

▼ 10 vs last sale 32▼ 3 vs year ago 25 · −12.0%

Also sold hereRegular saleWed Oct 28, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (11-22-24): The last Friday feeder special was the Friday before Thanksgiving and market conditions have improved constantly since then. Feeder steer calves under 550 lbs sold 5.00-15.00 higher; steers 550-599 lbs sold generally steady to firm; Steers 600 lbs and heavier sold mostly 5.00 to 10.00 higher. Heifer calves all sold 10.00-15.00 higher. All yearling cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for limited yearlings was good. Calf quality was mostly average to attractive. Quality overall was more attractive than last sale. Demand for all calves to go to grass remains good to very good. Most calves were weaned this sale, many for 45-75 days. Package sizes were small to moderate today, however buyers showed good demand for all calves on offer as buyers pieced together loads. Singles and packages of 5 head or less continue to sell with a discount to large packages or partial load lots. Market activity was mostly active today. Weigh up cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand was mostly moderate for light offerings. Cow quality today was mostly average to attractive. Weigh up conditions were mixed with some empty and some full cows noticed. Slaughter bulls sold on mostly good demand as quality was attractive.

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 $324.42/cwt on 240 head. That ranks 1 of 6 comparable sales and sits −105.93 against this barn's trailing median of $430.35.

Average price

$324.42

240 head · 570 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,849

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$93

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1

$18.96/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−7.49

vs MT average

+0.07 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	571	326.46	1,864	213
Medium and Large 1-2	555	308.69	1,713	20
Medium 1	576	307.50	1,771	7thin

One grade step is worth $18.96/cwt here — about $93 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 sale240 hd

324.42

—

MT average4 barns · 1,073 hd

331.91

−7.49

National average185 barns · 29,268 hd

324.35

+0.07

This barn, trailing median6 sales

430.35

−105.93

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	2,026	140.56	2,847	6thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,366	112.70	1,539	20
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,179	111.18	1,311	56

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/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,175	$1,700	9
Bred Heifers	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,008	$2,500	2thin

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	285	525.00/cwt	525.00–525.00	1,496	1
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	305	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	1,312	1
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1	355	462.50/cwt	462.50–462.50	1,642	44
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	408	411.53/cwt	410.00–422.50	1,679	8
Steers	400–450	Medium 1-2	408	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,224	6
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	434	374.91/cwt	372.50–395.00	1,627	18
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	453	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,495	2
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	486	375.65/cwt	360.00–391.00	1,826	85
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	508	336.37/cwt	335.00–343.00	1,709	6
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	523	361.00/cwt	361.00–361.00	1,888	7
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	537	346.74/cwt	338.00–371.00	1,862	44
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	575	296.82/cwt	293.00–309.00	1,707	14
Steers	550–600	Medium 1	576	307.50/cwt	307.50–307.50	1,771	7
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	582	319.35/cwt	314.00–340.00	1,859	136
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	585	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,872	26
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	612	309.54/cwt	300.00–314.00	1,894	80
Steers	600–650	Large 1	625	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	1,781	4
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	632	294.00/cwt	294.00–294.00	1,858	28
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	662	299.52/cwt	291.00–301.00	1,983	65
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	698	302.00/cwt	302.00–302.00	2,108	9
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	707	297.83/cwt	295.00–299.50	2,106	9
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	724	268.58/cwt	254.00–277.00	1,945	11
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	736	269.00/cwt	269.00–269.00	1,980	8
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	761	273.54/cwt	258.00–278.00	2,082	9
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	776	259.00/cwt	259.00–259.00	2,010	5
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	784	254.18/cwt	254.00–255.00	1,993	11
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1-2	808	248.00/cwt	248.00–248.00	2,004	11
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	822	255.51/cwt	253.00–256.00	2,100	6
Steers	850–900	Medium and Large 1	860	254.00/cwt	254.00–254.00	2,184	8
Feeder Cattle · Heifers30 lots · lightest first
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1	319	376.02/cwt	375.00–400.00	1,200	25
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	336	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,243	6
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	367	327.53/cwt	320.00–350.00	1,202	8
Heifers	350–400	Medium 1-2	387	277.50/cwt	277.50–277.50	1,074	7
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	391	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,408	7
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1	392	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	1,529	12
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	400	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,420	1
Heifers	400–450	Medium 1	422	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,393	6
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	433	344.00/cwt	344.00–344.00	1,490	3
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	443	325.47/cwt	315.00–329.00	1,442	40
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	468	318.85/cwt	317.00–320.00	1,492	8
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	473	327.93/cwt	323.00–334.00	1,551	40
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	489	334.00/cwt	334.00–334.00	1,633	4
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	523	275.12/cwt	262.50–283.00	1,439	19
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	524	319.01/cwt	312.00–330.00	1,672	136
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	538	314.05/cwt	314.00–315.00	1,690	19
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	561	299.00/cwt	299.00–299.00	1,677	9
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	579	268.72/cwt	261.00–279.00	1,556	7
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	582	291.77/cwt	285.00–306.00	1,698	127
Heifers	550–600	Large 1	595	264.00/cwt	264.00–264.00	1,571	6
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600	276.00/cwt	276.00–276.00	1,656	6
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	627	277.00/cwt	277.00–277.00	1,737	30
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	635	254.47/cwt	248.00–263.00	1,616	8
Heifers	600–650	Large 1	638	262.00/cwt	262.00–262.00	1,672	2
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	666	256.06/cwt	251.00–263.00	1,705	7
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Replacement	704	255.75/cwt	255.75–255.75	1,800	30
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	722	243.82/cwt	241.50–251.00	1,760	8
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	726	239.00/cwt	239.00–239.00	1,735	6
Heifers	850–900	Medium and Large 1-2	853	222.00/cwt	222.00–222.00	1,894	2
Heifers	1000–1050	Medium and Large 1	1,024	218.01/cwt	215.00–219.50	2,232	6
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,789	131.80/cwt	129.00–133.00	2,358	3
Bulls	—	—	2,262	149.31/cwt	149.00–150.00	3,377	3
Slaughter Cattle · Cows9 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,119	105.69/cwt	93.00–112.00	1,183	23
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,148	76.49/cwt	70.00–83.00	878	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,165	104.00/cwt	104.00–104.00	1,212	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,233	123.90/cwt	119.00–124.50	1,528	25
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,242	96.00/cwt	92.00–98.00	1,192	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,300	110.03/cwt	106.00–112.00	1,430	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,337	115.59/cwt	113.00–120.00	1,545	13
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,390	94.00/cwt	94.00–94.00	1,307	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,549	109.08/cwt	107.00–110.00	1,690	3
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	980	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	1,250	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,062	144.75/cwt	130.00–155.00	1,537	6
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,105	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	1,713	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,175	1,700.00/head	1,700.00–1,700.00	1,700	9
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,008	2,500.00/head	2,500.00–2,500.00	2,500	2

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 Dec 13, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 1,465Last week 2,104Year ago 1,087

Slaughter CattleReceipts 92Last week 70Year ago 20

Replacement CattleReceipts 22Last week 32Year ago 25

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,148	70.00–83.00	76.49
1	—	1,165	104.00	104.00
3	—	1,242	92.00–98.00	96.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
23	—	1,119	93.00–112.00	105.69
25	—	1,233	119.00–124.50	123.90

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,549	107.00–110.00	109.08
1	—	1,390	94.00	94.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,300	106.00–112.00	110.03
13	—	1,337	113.00–120.00	115.59

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	2,262	149.00–150.00	149.31
3	—	1,789	129.00–133.00	131.80

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	300–350	336	370.00	370.00
8	350–400	367	320.00–350.00	327.53
40	400–450	443	315.00–329.00	325.47
8	450–500	468	317.00–320.00	318.85
19	500–550	523	262.50–283.00	275.12
7	550–600	579	261.00–279.00	268.72
8	600–650	635	248.00–263.00	254.47
6	700–750	726	239.00	239.00
2	850–900	853	222.00	222.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
30	700–750	704	255.75	255.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	350–400	391	360.00	360.00
3	400–450	433	344.00	344.00
4	450–500	489	334.00	334.00
19	500–550	538	314.00–315.00	314.05
9	550–600	561	299.00	299.00
6	600–650	600	276.00	276.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
25	300–350	319	375.00–400.00	376.02
12	350–400	392	390.00	390.00
1	400–450	400	355.00	355.00
40	450–500	473	323.00–334.00	327.93
136	500–550	524	312.00–330.00	319.01
127	550–600	582	285.00–306.00	291.77
30	600–650	627	277.00	277.00
7	650–700	666	251.00–263.00	256.06
8	700–750	722	241.50–251.00	243.82
6	1000–1050	1,024	215.00–219.50	218.01

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	400–450	422	330.00	330.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	350–400	387	277.50	277.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	550–600	595	264.00	264.00
2	600–650	638	262.00	262.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	305	430.00	430.00
18	400–450	434	372.50–395.00	374.91
2	450–500	453	330.00	330.00
6	500–550	508	335.00–343.00	336.37
14	550–600	575	293.00–309.00	296.82
11	700–750	724	254.00–277.00	268.58
11	750–800	784	254.00–255.00	254.18
11	800–850	808	248.00	248.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	500–550	523	361.00	361.00
26	550–600	585	320.00	320.00
28	600–650	632	294.00	294.00
9	650–700	698	302.00	302.00
8	700–750	736	269.00	269.00
5	750–800	776	259.00	259.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	285	525.00	525.00
44	350–400	355	462.50	462.50
8	400–450	408	410.00–422.50	411.53
85	450–500	486	360.00–391.00	375.65
44	500–550	537	338.00–371.00	346.74
136	550–600	582	314.00–340.00	319.35
80	600–650	612	300.00–314.00	309.54
65	650–700	662	291.00–301.00	299.52
9	700–750	707	295.00–299.50	297.83
9	750–800	761	258.00–278.00	273.54
6	800–850	822	253.00–256.00	255.51
8	850–900	860	254.00	254.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	600–650	625	285.00	285.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	550–600	576	307.50	307.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	400–450	408	300.00	300.00

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	1	—	980	127.50	127.50

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	6	—	1,062	130.00–155.00	144.75
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,105	155.00	155.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	9	—	1,175	1,700.00	1,700.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	2	—	1,008	2,500.00	2,500.00

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.