Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2026-10-30

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2026-10-30
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-10-30

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Oct 30

● Final74 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776

← Oct 23Oct 30latest

Feeder Cattle receipts

1,629 head

▼ 972 vs last sale 2,601▼ 229 vs year ago 1,858 · −12.3%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

52 head

▼ 111 vs last sale 163▼ 182 vs year ago 234 · −77.8%

Replacement Cattle receipts

10 head

▼ 138 vs last sale 148▼ 151 vs year ago 161 · −93.8%

Also sold hereRegular saleWed Oct 28, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week steer calves under 500 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. 500-599 lbs steers sold mostly steady, steer calves over 600 lbs steady to 10.00 lower. Heifer calves under 500 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Heifers 500-599 lbs sold generally steady; heifers over 600 lbs sold with steady to lower undertones. Yearling cattle were scarcely traded this sale. No comparison is available. Quality this week was mostly plain to average, with a limited offering of attractive cattle noticed. Quality today limited demand as the bulk of todays sale was comprised of plain or cut back cattle off summer video sales. Additionally downward pressure was seen over the last two days for CME contracts. Today CME feeder cattle positions traded mostly 9.00 or more lower. Cattle feeders took lower money for finished cattle over the last 2 days which put pressure on feeder cattle contracts. Despite lower CME positions, high quality cattle of all weights sold close to steady with last weeks sale. Demand for feeder cattle was light to moderate for mostly light offerings. Additionally, many cattle arrived late in the day. Some arrived after buyers filled orders and left. This led to wide price spreads. Canadian buyers were off the market this week. Light sales receipts make building loads difficult and cattle have to leave prior to noon to be able to make it across the border. This was not faceable with paperwork and tagging so Canadian buyers refused to start loads to leave them in the yards for the weekend. Rain and or snow is forecasted to fall most of the weekend as well. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate with a small to moderate size crowd on hand. Weigh up cows and bulls sold on moderate demand for light offerings. Feeding cows, slaughter cows and slaughter bulls all sold with steady to lower undertones compared to Wednesdays sale.

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 $429.42/cwt on 326 head, down $3.77 from the prior sale. That ranks 3 of 6 comparable sales and sits −0.93 against this barn's trailing median of $430.35.

Average price

$429.42

▼ 3.77 vs prior sale

326 head · 559 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,402

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$112

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

$6.68/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−11.38

vs MT average

−5.73 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	561	430.20	2,415	288
Medium and Large 1-2	544	423.51	2,303	38

One grade step is worth $6.68/cwt here — about $112 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 sale326 hd

429.42

—

MT average4 barns · 1,989 hd

440.80

−11.38

National average163 barns · 26,594 hd

435.15

−5.73

This barn, trailing median6 sales

430.35

−0.93

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	—	High	2,080	181.00	3,765	1thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,465	127.23	1,864	29
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,655	116.33	1,926	9thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,093	84.49	923	8thin

Every lot, as filed

74 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	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	334	607.71/cwt	590.00–625.00	2,030	4
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	388	517.50/cwt	517.50–517.50	2,008	2
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	396	537.50/cwt	537.50–537.50	2,129	16
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	413	545.00/cwt	545.00–545.00	2,251	12
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	427	495.64/cwt	480.00–510.00	2,116	37
Steers	400–450	Medium 1Unweaned	430	505.00/cwt	505.00–505.00	2,172	2
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	446	465.00/cwt	465.00–465.00	2,074	4
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	455	517.50/cwt	517.50–517.50	2,355	16
Steers	450–500	Medium 1Unweaned	471	445.51/cwt	445.00–446.00	2,098	33
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	477	456.16/cwt	440.00–460.00	2,176	30
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	490	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	2,107	2
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	510	470.00/cwt	470.00–470.00	2,397	13
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	513	454.06/cwt	436.00–471.00	2,329	60
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	530	429.77/cwt	412.50–437.50	2,278	28
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	578	421.13/cwt	407.00–440.00	2,434	215
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	582	406.00/cwt	406.00–406.00	2,363	10
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	625	390.79/cwt	377.00–408.00	2,442	123
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	630	379.07/cwt	365.00–387.00	2,388	29
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	633	389.00/cwt	389.00–389.00	2,462	3
Steers	650–700	Large 1Unweaned	670	372.50/cwt	372.50–372.50	2,496	2
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	679	380.39/cwt	371.50–383.50	2,583	145
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	682	363.36/cwt	354.00–371.00	2,478	14
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Fancy	701	389.00/cwt	389.00–389.00	2,727	6
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	708	376.00/cwt	376.00–376.00	2,662	2
Steers	700–750	Large 1Unweaned	713	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	2,567	2
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	765	356.02/cwt	350.50–360.00	2,724	31
Steers	800–850	Large 1Unweaned	827	326.45/cwt	324.00–331.00	2,700	28
Steers	850–900	Medium and Large 1	885	327.00/cwt	327.00–327.00	2,894	13
Steers	900–950	Medium and Large 1	947	319.00/cwt	319.00–319.00	3,021	13
Feeder Cattle · Heifers24 lots · lightest first
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	373	425.00/cwt	425.00–425.00	1,585	3
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	390	460.00/cwt	460.00–460.00	1,794	6
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	418	456.32/cwt	455.00–462.50	1,907	22
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	422	429.15/cwt	420.00–452.50	1,811	16
Heifers	400–450	Medium 1Unweaned	433	417.50/cwt	417.50–417.50	1,808	4
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	477	434.36/cwt	427.00–470.00	2,072	22
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	481	398.41/cwt	375.00–415.00	1,916	48
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	522	399.35/cwt	385.00–419.00	2,085	109
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	523	382.57/cwt	355.00–395.00	2,001	17
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	559	359.00/cwt	359.00–359.00	2,007	7
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	573	366.35/cwt	357.00–388.00	2,099	22
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	580	344.99/cwt	340.00–350.00	2,001	29
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	610	341.96/cwt	338.00–348.00	2,086	15
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	615	349.19/cwt	340.50–355.00	2,148	33
Heifers	650–700	Medium 1	650	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	2,145	3
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	660	344.74/cwt	340.00–350.00	2,275	13
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	678	337.00/cwt	337.00–337.00	2,285	12
Heifers	650–700	Large 1Unweaned	689	336.00/cwt	336.00–336.00	2,315	4
Heifers	700–750	Medium 1	706	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	2,330	4
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	719	338.00/cwt	338.00–338.00	2,430	20
Heifers	750–800	Medium 1	775	319.38/cwt	319.00–320.00	2,475	18
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	810	304.00/cwt	304.00–304.00	2,462	4
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	933	299.00/cwt	299.00–299.00	2,790	3
Heifers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	967	301.00/cwt	301.00–301.00	2,911	5
Feeder Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	359	535.00/cwt	535.00–535.00	1,921	4
Bulls	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	498	420.00/cwt	412.50–425.00	2,092	5
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550	415.00/cwt	415.00–415.00	2,283	1
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	587	367.50/cwt	367.50–367.50	2,157	3
Bulls	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	603	379.00/cwt	379.00–379.00	2,285	2
Bulls	650–700	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	658	336.65/cwt	335.00–340.00	2,215	6
Bulls	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	685	322.50/cwt	322.50–322.50	2,209	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	2,080	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	3,765	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows10 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	915	75.00/cwt	75.00–75.00	686	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,199	90.18/cwt	90.00–91.00	1,081	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,430	126.52/cwt	114.00–133.00	1,809	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,461	110.09/cwt	107.00–116.00	1,608	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,481	144.41/cwt	139.00–149.00	2,139	12
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,490	100.19/cwt	94.00–105.00	1,493	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,618	112.00/cwt	112.00–112.00	1,812	6
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,620	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	1,993	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,745	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	2,111	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,825	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	2,391	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows2 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 2	985	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	1,576	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,211	150.77/cwt	149.00–152.00	1,826	5
Replacement Cattle · Open Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Open Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,128	251.00/cwt	251.00–251.00	2,831	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 Oct 30, 2026

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 1,629Last week 2,601Year ago 1,858

Slaughter CattleReceipts 52Last week 163Year ago 234

Replacement CattleReceipts 10Last week 148Year ago 161

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,490	94.00–105.00	100.19
7	—	1,461	107.00–116.00	110.09

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,745	121.00	121.00
1	—	1,825	131.00	131.00
6	—	1,618	112.00	112.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,199	90.00–91.00	90.18

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	915	75.00	75.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,430	114.00–133.00	126.52
12	—	1,481	139.00–149.00	144.41

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,620	123.00	123.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,080	181.00	181.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	350–400	359	535.00	535.00
5	450–500	498	412.50–425.00	420.00
3	550–600	587	367.50	367.50
1	650–700	685	322.50	322.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1	550–600	550	415.00	415.00
2	600–650	603	379.00	379.00
6	650–700	658	335.00–340.00	336.65

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	550–600	582	406.00	406.00
3	600–650	633	389.00	389.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	300–350	334	590.00–625.00	607.71
2	350–400	388	517.50	517.50
37	400–450	427	480.00–510.00	495.64
30	450–500	477	440.00–460.00	456.16
28	500–550	530	412.50–437.50	429.77
29	600–650	630	365.00–387.00	379.07
14	650–700	682	354.00–371.00	363.36

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	400–450	446	465.00	465.00
2	450–500	490	430.00	430.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
16	350–400	396	537.50	537.50
12	400–450	413	545.00	545.00
16	450–500	455	517.50	517.50
60	500–550	513	436.00–471.00	454.06
215	550–600	578	407.00–440.00	421.13
123	600–650	625	377.00–408.00	390.79
145	650–700	679	371.50–383.50	380.39
2	700–750	708	376.00	376.00
31	750–800	765	350.50–360.00	356.02

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	400–450	430	505.00	505.00
33	450–500	471	445.00–446.00	445.51

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	650–700	670	372.50	372.50
2	700–750	713	360.00	360.00
28	800–850	827	324.00–331.00	326.45

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
13	500–550	510	470.00	470.00
13	850–900	885	327.00	327.00
13	900–950	947	319.00	319.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
6	700–750	701	389.00	389.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	900–950	933	299.00	299.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	350–400	373	425.00	425.00
16	400–450	422	420.00–452.50	429.15
48	450–500	481	375.00–415.00	398.41
17	500–550	523	355.00–395.00	382.57
29	550–600	580	340.00–350.00	344.99
15	600–650	610	338.00–348.00	341.96
4	800–850	810	304.00	304.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	350–400	390	460.00	460.00
22	400–450	418	455.00–462.50	456.32
22	450–500	477	427.00–470.00	434.36
109	500–550	522	385.00–419.00	399.35
22	550–600	573	357.00–388.00	366.35
33	600–650	615	340.50–355.00	349.19
13	650–700	660	340.00–350.00	344.74
20	700–750	719	338.00	338.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	550–600	559	359.00	359.00
5	950–1000	967	301.00	301.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	650–700	689	336.00	336.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	650–700	650	330.00	330.00
4	700–750	706	330.00	330.00
18	750–800	775	319.00–320.00	319.38

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	400–450	433	417.50	417.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
12	650–700	678	337.00	337.00

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	5	—	1,211	149.00–152.00	150.77

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	985	160.00	160.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Open Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	N/A	2	—	1,128	251.00	251.00

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.