Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2025-10-31

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Oct 31
● Final84 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,858 head
▼ 1,542 vs last sale 3,400▼ 93 vs year ago 1,951 · −4.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
234 head
▲ 49 vs last sale 185▲ 167 vs year ago 67 · +249.3%
Replacement Cattle receipts
161 head
▲ 16 vs last sale 145▲ 151 vs year ago 10 · +1,510.0%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling cattle were scarcely traded no trend is available. Steer calves under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed, 400-549 lbs steers sold steady to 10.00 lower, steers over 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves under 400 lbs sold unevenly steady, heifers 400-549 lbs sold 15.00-20.00 lower, heifers over 550 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Demand was moderate to good for light to moderate offerings. Demand for offerings was noticeably stronger this week compared to last weeks sale. Demand for both steers and heifers over 550 lbs improved this week with more takers noted. Small packages of calves, particularly packages of 10 head or less, continue to sell with discounts to larger consignments. Packages overall this week were smaller than last weeks sale. Many blemished and cut back offerings continue to be seen. Several partial loads of short ears and short tails cattle were seen this sale and they sold 40.00-60.00 behind non blemished cattle. Market activity was moderate to active today and overall significantly better than last week. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for light offerings. Fewer buyers were in the stands compared to last week. Feeding cows sold mostly 5.00 lower. Slaughter cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on all classes of cows and bulls. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good demand. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Young age cows sold generally steady in a narrow comparison.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $430.97/cwt on 246 head. That ranks 4 of 6 comparable sales and sits +0.62 against this barn's trailing median of $430.35.
Average price
$430.97
246 head · 556 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,394
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$123
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2
$42.90/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+11.59
vs MT average
+1.25 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2518437.902,26814thin
Medium and Large 1561432.862,429199
Medium 1537423.552,27425
Medium and Large 2543395.002,1458thin
One grade step is worth $42.90/cwt here — about $123 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 600–700 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 sale246 hd
430.97
—
MT average5 barns · 1,908 hd
419.39
+11.59
National average179 barns · 33,800 hd
429.72
+1.25
This barn, trailing median6 sales
430.35
+0.62
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
518483449414median 430.3502/2710/0210/1610/2310/30
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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Bulls—Average1,850177.233,2799thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,417164.162,32699
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,644160.462,63820
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,215154.931,88377

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 $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,068$3,50537
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,092$3,32613
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,390$3,2001thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,160$3,1003thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,350$2,8502thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,227$2,78918
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,265$2,3627
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)(<2 yrs)1,012$3,3005
Bred Heifers1st Stage (1-3 mo)(<2 yrs)1,052$3,0003thin

Every lot, as filed

84 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.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Feeder Cattle · Steers24 lots · lightest first
Steers200–250Medium and Large 1Unweaned223750.00/cwt750.00–750.001,6732
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned253700.00/cwt700.00–700.001,7714
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned275720.00/cwt720.00–720.001,9801
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned325623.66/cwt600.00–630.002,0276
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned375560.73/cwt550.00–580.002,10314
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned391521.12/cwt515.00–530.002,03810
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned425552.10/cwt535.00–595.002,34654
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned475493.11/cwt479.00–500.002,34276
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned497464.00/cwt464.00–464.002,3066
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned518437.90/cwt430.00–445.002,26814
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned530451.73/cwt442.00–466.002,39475
Steers500–550Medium 1Unweaned537423.55/cwt420.00–433.002,27425
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2Unweaned543395.00/cwt395.00–395.002,1458
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1573420.00/cwt420.00–420.002,4073
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned580421.49/cwt404.00–432.502,445121
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned621400.13/cwt381.00–411.002,485208
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Full663354.00/cwt354.00–354.002,3473
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned666387.02/cwt379.00–392.002,578233
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned676367.06/cwt345.00–374.002,48112
Steers650–700Medium 1-2698307.50/cwt307.50–307.502,1467
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1Unweaned742374.00/cwt374.00–374.002,7756
Steers700–750Large 1Unweaned744344.00/cwt344.00–344.002,5598
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned753359.00/cwt359.00–359.002,70311
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1Unweaned766364.43/cwt364.00–364.502,79214
Feeder Cattle · Heifers24 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned282594.43/cwt590.00–605.001,6763
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned334503.19/cwt500.00–515.001,6819
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned336530.00/cwt530.00–530.001,78119
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned380535.25/cwt515.00–540.002,03429
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned392480.00/cwt480.00–480.001,8823
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned426453.67/cwt445.00–460.001,93367
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned427427.50/cwt427.50–427.501,8257
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned470406.61/cwt405.00–415.001,91125
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned473435.55/cwt402.00–452.002,060141
Heifers500–550Large 1Unweaned530350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,8553
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1531396.00/cwt396.00–396.002,1036
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Full534334.14/cwt332.50–335.001,7849
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned537394.60/cwt385.00–403.002,11931
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned566348.10/cwt336.00–354.001,9709
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned569372.79/cwt357.00–384.002,121109
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Full583331.00/cwt331.00–331.001,93010
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned628362.84/cwt355.00–365.002,27914
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Replacement629376.00/cwt376.00–376.002,3658
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned633335.93/cwt330.00–338.002,12611
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned670334.85/cwt334.00–337.002,2437
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned684328.00/cwt328.00–328.002,2447
Heifers650–700Medium 1-2696300.00/cwt300.00–300.002,08811
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1Unweaned700327.50/cwt327.50–327.502,2932
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2Full787287.50/cwt287.50–287.502,26330
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned450500.00/cwt500.00–500.002,2501
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 2Unweaned474387.50/cwt387.50–387.501,83729
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned642327.50/cwt327.50–327.502,1033
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,225180.00/cwt180.00–180.002,2051
Bulls——Return to Feed1,733170.00/cwt170.00–170.002,9463
Bulls——1,947181.02/cwt180.00–182.003,5243
Bulls——2,193181.00/cwt181.00–181.003,9692
Slaughter Cattle · Cows10 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,176112.14/cwt92.50–120.001,31912
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,184159.09/cwt125.00–163.001,88435
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,268167.19/cwt158.00–176.002,12030
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,367153.48/cwt125.00–164.002,09825
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,429169.54/cwt165.00–176.002,42371
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,508167.00/cwt166.00–168.002,5182
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,545134.39/cwt129.00–140.002,0762
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,545109.00/cwt109.00–109.001,6841
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,640165.00/cwt165.00–165.002,7061
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,660159.42/cwt151.00–164.502,64617
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows11 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium 19303,000.00/head3,000.00–3,000.003,0003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0683,504.66/head3,200.00–3,600.003,50537
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1403,424.34/head3,200.00–3,500.003,42410
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1603,100.00/head3,100.00–3,100.003,1003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,1671,910.45/head1,700.00–2,000.001,9103
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,2002,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,2192,850.00/head2,850.00–2,850.002,85016
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3392,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,7004
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3502,850.00/head2,850.00–2,850.002,8502
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3752,600.00/head2,600.00–2,600.002,6001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3903,200.00/head3,200.00–3,200.003,2001
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1Thin Fleshed755272.50/cwt272.50–272.502,0571
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,041295.12/cwt240.00–325.003,07221
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,079234.82/cwt185.00–281.002,53426
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,168167.50/cwt167.50–167.501,9562
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,170210.00/cwt210.00–210.002,4571
Stock Cows—Large 11,170207.50/cwt207.50–207.502,4281
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers2 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0123,300.00/head3,300.00–3,300.003,3005
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0523,000.00/head3,000.00–3,000.003,0003

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.