Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-07-31

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-07-31
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-07-31

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jul 31

● Final58 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Jun 26Jul 31Aug 28 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

217 head

▲ 0 vs last sale 217▲ 48 vs year ago 169 · +28.4%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

356 head

▼ 191 vs last sale 547▲ 79 vs year ago 277 · +28.5%

Replacement Cattle receipts

74 head

▼ 224 vs last sale 298▲ 26 vs year ago 48 · +54.2%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Fridays sale: Yearlings all sold with steady undertones on like quality cattle, in a narrow comparison. Demand was mostly good for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly average and not as attractive as last week. Flesh conditions were mostly light to moderate with most consignments coming off grass. Market activity was mostly active with active bidding seen both ringside as well as over the internet. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Additional packer buyers were back in the market this week and they showed very good demand for cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold unevenly steady on boning cows from 5.00 lower to 10.00 higher. Breaking cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher. Lean cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Feeding demand remains good as both packer and private feeders both showed good demand for cows suitable to feed. Feeding cows sold generally 2.00-5.00 higher as competition from slaughter buyers forced feeding cows higher. Cow quality this sale was mostly average to attractive. Yielding conditions continue to deteriorate as competition with grasshoppers and dry conditions have led to lighter body condition scores. Additionally warm weather also caused many offerings to tank up on water. Weigh conditions overall were mostly average to below average. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower. Feeding demand caused bulls to sell unevenly as feeding bull buyers were mostly looking for lighter weight lower yielding bulls to put on feed and packer buyers showed strong demand for all bulls for immediate harvest. Quality today was mostly average to attractive. Feeding bulls sold 2.00-5.00 lower. Quality this week was not as attractive as last week and feeding bull buyers passed on plainer offerings. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for very high quality offering was mostly good.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $267.50/cwt on 6 head. That ranks 1 of 19 comparable sales and sits −127.95 against this barn's trailing median of $395.45.

Average price

$267.50

6 head · 554 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,481

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$73

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

$5.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+0.00

vs MT average

+9.04 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	562	270.00	1,517	3thin
Medium and Large 2	545	265.00	1,444	3thin

One grade step is worth $5.00/cwt here — about $73 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 500–600 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 sale6 hd

267.50

—

MT average1 barns · 6 hd

267.50

+0.00

National average139 barns · 7,218 hd

258.46

+9.04

This barn, trailing median19 sales

395.45

−127.95

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

19 sales

Heifers 500–600 lb: high $464.07, low $347.53, median $395.45 across 19 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	1,881	162.61	3,059	81
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,416	146.43	2,074	205
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,662	142.41	2,367	14
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,151	125.59	1,446	36
Dairy Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	2,027	134.00	2,716	3thin
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,225	104.00	1,274	3thin

Every lot

58 lots · USDA AMS · Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Wed)

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 · Steers11 lots · lightest first
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	498	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,519	2
Steers	500–550	Medium 2	546	267.50/cwt	267.50–267.50	1,461	5
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 2	567	287.31/cwt	287.00–287.50	1,629	8
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	723	277.00/cwt	277.00–277.00	2,003	3
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	778	268.51/cwt	266.00–271.00	2,089	2
Steers	850–900	Medium and Large 1	853	258.00/cwt	258.00–258.00	2,201	8
Steers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	967	237.00/cwt	237.00–237.00	2,292	7
Steers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1-2	990	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	2,228	2
Steers	1000–1050	Medium and Large 1	1,018	232.69/cwt	232.00–233.00	2,369	10
Steers	1000–1050	Medium and Large 1-2	1,032	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	2,322	8
Steers	1050–1100	Medium and Large 1	1,075	224.00/cwt	224.00–224.00	2,408	1
Feeder Cattle · Heifers10 lots · lightest first
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 2	545	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,444	3
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	562	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,517	3
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	700	247.50/cwt	247.50–247.50	1,733	2
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	826	235.62/cwt	234.00–239.00	1,946	9
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	920	224.00/cwt	224.00–224.00	2,061	1
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1	940	226.21/cwt	226.00–229.00	2,126	14
Heifers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	971	222.58/cwt	220.00–226.00	2,161	24
Heifers	1000–1050	Medium and Large 1	1,028	219.46/cwt	218.00–222.50	2,256	6
Heifers	1050–1100	Medium and Large 1	1,060	217.46/cwt	217.00–217.50	2,305	12
Heifers	1100–1150	Large 1	1,118	217.00/cwt	217.00–217.00	2,426	7
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	800–850	Medium and Large 1-2	805	227.50/cwt	227.50–227.50	1,831	1
Bulls	900–950	Medium and Large 2	935	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	1,823	2
Bulls	1000–1050	Large 1-2	1,000	226.00/cwt	226.00–226.00	2,260	1
Bulls	1000–1050	Large 1	1,015	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	2,284	1
Bulls	1100–1150	Large 1	1,114	209.00/cwt	202.00–212.50	2,328	3
Bulls	1200–1250	Large 1	1,245	192.00/cwt	192.00–192.00	2,390	1
Feeder Cattle · Beef/Dairy Steers1 lot · lightest first
Beef/Dairy Steers	700–750	Large 2-3	727	217.50/cwt	217.50–217.50	1,581	3
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,375	146.79/cwt	146.00–147.50	2,018	2
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,508	144.83/cwt	138.00–151.00	2,184	4
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,556	163.19/cwt	153.00–173.00	2,539	11
Bulls	—	—	1,651	147.69/cwt	141.00–152.00	2,438	11
Bulls	—	—	2,039	176.90/cwt	174.00–180.00	3,607	16
Bulls	—	—	2,045	163.48/cwt	155.00–172.00	3,343	37
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	860	111.45/cwt	110.00–113.00	958	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,069	132.24/cwt	127.00–135.00	1,414	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,138	143.45/cwt	142.00–145.00	1,632	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,165	113.00/cwt	107.00–122.00	1,316	14
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,199	133.37/cwt	125.00–139.00	1,599	12
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,200	144.42/cwt	142.00–147.00	1,733	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,384	143.99/cwt	134.00–152.00	1,993	44
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,387	144.99/cwt	139.50–152.00	2,011	26
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,387	121.29/cwt	112.00–133.00	1,682	16
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,394	133.60/cwt	126.00–137.00	1,862	10
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,439	153.03/cwt	153.00–154.00	2,202	74
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,449	151.78/cwt	150.50–154.50	2,199	35
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,592	142.74/cwt	140.00–146.00	2,272	7
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,635	152.50/cwt	152.50–152.50	2,493	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,734	136.02/cwt	132.00–138.00	2,359	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,775	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	2,645	2
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows3 lots · lightest first
Dairy Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,213	108.00/cwt	108.00–108.00	1,310	2
Dairy Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,250	96.00/cwt	96.00–96.00	1,200	1
Dairy Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	2,027	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	2,716	3
Replacement Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,060	227.50/cwt	227.50–227.50	2,412	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	945	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	1,465	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,047	171.19/cwt	160.00–197.00	1,792	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,197	154.77/cwt	153.50–156.25	1,853	46
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,331	151.79/cwt	151.00–152.00	2,020	9

This sale against other markets

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 (Wed)

Wed Jul 31, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 217Last week 217Year ago 169

Slaughter CattleReceipts 356Last week 547Year ago 277

Replacement CattleReceipts 74Last week 298Year ago 48

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1000–1050	1,015	225.00	225.00
3	1100–1150	1,114	202.00–212.50	209.00
1	1200–1250	1,245	192.00	192.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	900–950	935	195.00	195.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	800–850	805	227.50	227.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1000–1050	1,000	226.00	226.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	700–750	700	247.50	247.50
9	800–850	826	234.00–239.00	235.62
14	900–950	940	226.00–229.00	226.21
24	950–1000	971	220.00–226.00	222.58
6	1000–1050	1,028	218.00–222.50	219.46
12	1050–1100	1,060	217.00–217.50	217.46

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	550–600	562	270.00	270.00
1	900–950	920	224.00	224.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	1100–1150	1,118	217.00	217.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	500–550	545	265.00	265.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	700–750	723	277.00	277.00
2	750–800	778	266.00–271.00	268.51
8	850–900	853	258.00	258.00
7	950–1000	967	237.00	237.00
10	1000–1050	1,018	232.00–233.00	232.69
1	1050–1100	1,075	224.00	224.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	450–500	498	305.00	305.00
2	950–1000	990	225.00	225.00
8	1000–1050	1,032	225.00	225.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	550–600	567	287.00–287.50	287.31

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	500–550	546	267.50	267.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Beef/Dairy Steers — Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
3	700–750	727	217.50	217.50

Replacement Cattle

As reported

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	46	—	1,197	153.50–156.25	154.77
(<2 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,047	160.00–197.00	171.19
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	9	—	1,331	151.00–152.00	151.79

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	3	—	945	155.00	155.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	N/A	1	—	1,060	227.50	227.50

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,394	126.00–137.00	133.60
35	—	1,449	150.50–154.50	151.78
26	—	1,387	139.50–152.00	144.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,138	142.00–145.00	143.45
12	—	1,199	125.00–139.00	133.37

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,635	152.50	152.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	1,387	112.00–133.00	121.29
74	—	1,439	153.00–154.00	153.03
44	—	1,384	134.00–152.00	143.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,734	132.00–138.00	136.02
7	—	1,592	140.00–146.00	142.74
2	—	1,775	149.00	149.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,200	142.00–147.00	144.42
3	—	1,069	127.00–135.00	132.24
14	—	1,165	107.00–122.00	113.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	860	110.00–113.00	111.45

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	2,039	174.00–180.00	176.90
11	—	1,651	141.00–152.00	147.69
37	—	2,045	155.00–172.00	163.48

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,508	138.00–151.00	144.83
11	—	1,556	153.00–173.00	163.19

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,375	146.00–147.50	146.79

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,213	108.00	108.00
1	—	1,250	96.00	96.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	2,027	134.00	134.00

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.