Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2025-11-14

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Nov 14
● Final107 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,411 head
▼ 581 vs last sale 1,992▼ 605 vs year ago 2,016 · −30.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
321 head
▲ 241 vs last sale 80▲ 185 vs year ago 136 · +136.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
199 head
▲ 105 vs last sale 94▲ 111 vs year ago 88 · +126.1%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Steers calves under 500 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Steers 550-649 lbs steer sold generally steady. All other steer weights were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Heifer calves were all too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however unevenly steady undertones were noticed. Demand was light to moderate for mostly light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and hampered demand. Many cutback calves off summer video sales were seen. Most calves were offered in very small packages and buyers showed mostly light demand as they pieced together loads. Most attractive heifers over 550 lbs were purchased by replacement buyers this sale. The best demand was seen for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings. Many short weaned offerings were very full and buyers showed light demand for both fill and health concerns. Market activity was slow to moderate with a small crowd on hand. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for light offerings. Feeding cows sold 2.00-5.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Slaughter cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower to sharply lower undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly light to moderate demand. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Young age cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $407.63/cwt on 157 head. That ranks 1 of 6 comparable sales and sits −22.73 against this barn's trailing median of $430.35.
Average price
$407.63
157 head · 547 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,230
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$758
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2
$134.75/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−19.79
vs MT average
−17.24 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1564424.032,39279
Large 1520418.332,1756thin
Medium and Large 1-2527408.192,15356
Medium and Large 2522345.001,8019thin
Medium 2565289.291,6357thin
One grade step is worth $134.75/cwt here — about $758 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 300–400 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 sale157 hd
407.63
—
MT average5 barns · 1,469 hd
427.41
−19.79
National average177 barns · 31,012 hd
424.87
−17.24
This barn, trailing median6 sales
430.35
−22.73
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—Average1,999177.053,5405thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,682159.752,68612
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,338156.612,096117
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,158138.421,60372

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 Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,355$3,0001thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,091$2,8504thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,237$2,4404thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,330$2,0003thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,205$1,8501thin

Every lot, as filed

107 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 · Steers42 lots · lightest first
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned325603.54/cwt600.00–605.001,96216
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned328540.00/cwt540.00–540.001,7712
Steers300–350Medium and Large 2Unweaned346400.00/cwt400.00–400.001,3844
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2388461.95/cwt450.00–470.001,79225
Steers350–400Medium 2Unweaned390360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,4043
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2405485.00/cwt485.00–485.001,9641
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned417472.07/cwt450.00–477.501,96914
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned422523.59/cwt510.00–540.002,21040
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1424512.50/cwt512.50–512.502,17310
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2426435.00/cwt435.00–435.001,8534
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2Unweaned441422.50/cwt422.50–422.501,8639
Steers450–500Medium 1-2458385.00/cwt385.00–385.001,7634
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned463490.71/cwt475.00–502.502,27235
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned463420.00/cwt420.00–420.001,9458
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2472405.67/cwt400.00–417.501,91550
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2475417.00/cwt417.00–417.001,9812
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1483470.00/cwt470.00–470.002,2703
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2507355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,8007
Steers500–550Large 1Unweaned508430.00/cwt430.00–430.002,1845
Steers500–550Medium 2Unweaned513300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,5392
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned521411.55/cwt360.00–425.002,14446
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2523402.50/cwt402.50–402.502,1054
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned534433.74/cwt429.00–441.002,31617
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1565423.00/cwt423.00–423.002,3904
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned573421.26/cwt413.00–428.002,41458
Steers550–600Medium and Large 2Unweaned575310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,7832
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2580386.22/cwt380.00–392.502,2406
Steers550–600Large 1Unweaned580360.00/cwt360.00–360.002,0881
Steers550–600Medium 2586285.00/cwt285.00–285.001,6705
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1604410.47/cwt380.00–415.002,47916
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned614389.88/cwt367.50–405.002,39449
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Full615350.00/cwt350.00–350.002,1534
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned621350.00/cwt350.00–350.002,17413
Steers650–700Large 1Unweaned655390.00/cwt390.00–390.002,5552
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned678356.90/cwt352.00–368.002,42032
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Fleshy683345.00/cwt345.00–345.002,3562
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned695354.00/cwt354.00–354.002,4601
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1Unweaned705357.47/cwt355.00–359.002,52029
Steers700–750Large 1Unweaned730346.00/cwt346.00–346.002,52617
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned739326.31/cwt323.00–332.002,41120
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1Fleshy797309.00/cwt309.00–309.002,4633
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1Fleshy805305.00/cwt305.00–305.002,4553
Feeder Cattle · Heifers34 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned294550.00/cwt550.00–550.001,61710
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned295505.00/cwt505.00–505.001,4901
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned338490.00/cwt490.00–490.001,6562
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2349410.00/cwt410.00–410.001,43114
Heifers300–350Medium 2349310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,08212
Heifers350–400Medium 1373380.00/cwt380.00–380.001,4172
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned385435.96/cwt410.00–437.501,67833
Heifers350–400Large 1-2390425.00/cwt425.00–425.001,6587
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned423433.80/cwt420.00–445.001,83533
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned436400.87/cwt388.00–415.001,74817
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2436360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,5706
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2Unweaned437350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,5303
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2Unweaned458290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,3283
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned469411.55/cwt340.00–432.501,93041
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned485375.28/cwt337.50–384.001,82028
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2495345.00/cwt345.00–345.001,7082
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1504414.00/cwt414.00–414.002,0876
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned514401.83/cwt375.00–413.002,06568
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned523359.22/cwt345.00–364.001,87936
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Full523322.50/cwt322.50–322.501,6875
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2527351.86/cwt345.00–360.001,85411
Heifers500–550Large 1Unweaned533340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,8123
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1568387.91/cwt365.00–390.002,20312
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2571331.12/cwt321.00–336.001,8919
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned572339.18/cwt321.00–352.001,94024
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned581360.58/cwt350.00–370.002,09517
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Replacement609383.00/cwt383.00–383.002,3324
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned612348.64/cwt330.00–357.002,13422
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Fleshy627320.00/cwt320.00–320.002,0068
Heifers600–650Large 1Unweaned649315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,04412
Heifers650–700Large 1670290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,94310
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned676302.45/cwt302.00–304.002,0459
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned692285.00/cwt285.00–285.001,9723
Heifers700–750Large 1Unweaned743287.50/cwt287.50–287.502,1363
Feeder Cattle · Bulls10 lots · lightest first
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned355527.30/cwt480.00–560.001,8725
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned418380.00/cwt380.00–380.001,5883
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned465385.00/cwt385.00–385.001,7901
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2493300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,4795
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned551330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,81818
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2560355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,9883
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned583340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,9822
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned660310.00/cwt310.00–310.002,0461
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1Fleshy782281.00/cwt281.00–281.002,1976
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1810300.00/cwt300.00–300.002,4302
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,685162.00/cwt162.00–162.002,7301
Bulls——1,932179.75/cwt178.00–181.003,4733
Bulls——Heavy Weight2,515184.00/cwt184.00–184.004,6281
Slaughter Cattle · Cows10 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,10585.00/cwt85.00–85.009391
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,109157.92/cwt153.00–162.001,7518
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,155146.65/cwt130.00–158.001,69448
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,199105.25/cwt101.00–115.001,26215
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,331163.02/cwt157.00–166.002,17096
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,339137.25/cwt131.00–159.001,83813
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,416114.84/cwt107.50–121.001,6267
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,46585.00/cwt85.00–85.001,2451
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,618163.00/cwt163.00–163.002,6379
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,872150.00/cwt150.00–150.002,8083
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1946282.09/cwt220.00–307.002,6698
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,050234.97/cwt220.00–242.502,46727
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,220175.00/cwt175.00–175.002,1351
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,0912,850.00/head2,850.00–2,850.002,8504
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2051,850.00/head1,850.00–1,850.001,8501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2372,439.89/head2,250.00–2,500.002,4404
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3302,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3553,000.00/head3,000.00–3,000.003,0001

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.