Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-10-02

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-10-02
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-10-02

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Oct 2

● Final71 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Sep 25Oct 2Oct 9 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

251 head

▼ 93 vs last sale 344▼ 123 vs year ago 374 · −32.9%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

297 head

▼ 139 vs last sale 436▲ 81 vs year ago 216 · +37.5%

Replacement Cattle receipts

61 head

▼ 54 vs last sale 115▼ 91 vs year ago 152 · −59.9%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder calves and yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly plain to average today. Most feeders were offered in small packages or as singles. CME feeder contract positions posted strong triple digit gains today. Demand was moderate to good for light offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate today. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers showed light demand for slaughter cows but moderate to good demand for feeding cows. Private feeding buyers showed good demand for all cows suitable to feed. Very few cows were purchased for immediate harvest this sale. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher on breaking and boning cows, lean cows sold mostly 1.00-5.00 higher with the biggest price increase seen for low dressing cows. Feeding cows sold with the best demand again this week. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. Bidding was very active for high quality feeding cows. Cow quality was mostly average to attractive and overall more attractive than last week. Weigh conditions were average to below average with many very full cows noticed. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady. Feeding bull demand was light again this sale as packer buyers were the only buyers to purchase bulls to feed. Quality today was mostly average to attractive for bulls and similar to last weeks offering. Feeding bulls were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed as demand from rebreed buyers 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 $218.18/cwt on 11 head. That ranks 1 of 19 comparable sales and sits −177.27 against this barn's trailing median of $395.45.

Average price

$218.18

11 head · 588 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,284

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$54

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

$15.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−24.42

vs MT average

−28.60 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	581	225.00	1,307	6thin
Small and Medium 2	597	210.00	1,254	5thin

One grade step is worth $15.00/cwt here — about $54 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 sale11 hd

218.18

—

MT average2 barns · 90 hd

242.61

−24.42

National average172 barns · 12,740 hd

246.78

−28.60

This barn, trailing median19 sales

395.45

−177.27

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	—	Average	1,707	143.32	2,446	40
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,438	126.42	1,818	85
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,644	124.96	2,054	25
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,205	118.99	1,433	112
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	897	90.33	810	3thin

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	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,221	$1,850	7

Every lot

71 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 · Steers14 lots · lightest first
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	382	312.50/cwt	312.50–312.50	1,194	6
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	406	332.50/cwt	332.50–332.50	1,350	8
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	455	301.00/cwt	301.00–301.00	1,370	1
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	495	307.00/cwt	307.00–307.00	1,520	3
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	508	276.00/cwt	276.00–276.00	1,402	3
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	521	299.00/cwt	299.00–299.00	1,558	6
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	575	291.00/cwt	291.00–291.00	1,673	5
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	575	271.87/cwt	270.00–280.00	1,563	9
Steers	600–650	Medium 2	634	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,522	5
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	664	254.00/cwt	254.00–254.00	1,687	4
Steers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	901	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	2,027	5
Steers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	950	229.00/cwt	229.00–229.00	2,176	1
Steers	1100–1150	Large 1	1,140	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	2,428	1
Steers	1150–1200	Large 1	1,183	207.00/cwt	207.00–207.00	2,449	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers15 lots · lightest first
Heifers	200–250	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	235	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	846	1
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	303	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	818	2
Heifers	350–400	Large 1Unweaned	365	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	986	2
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	380	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	931	4
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	470	287.00/cwt	287.00–287.00	1,349	5
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	475	257.50/cwt	257.50–257.50	1,223	1
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Full	581	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,307	6
Heifers	550–600	Small and Medium 2	597	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	1,254	5
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	601	249.00/cwt	249.00–249.00	1,496	4
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	713	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,640	2
Heifers	850–900	Medium and Large 1	850	229.00/cwt	229.00–229.00	1,947	2
Heifers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	971	216.55/cwt	212.00–219.50	2,103	19
Heifers	1050–1100	Large 1	1,063	208.72/cwt	204.00–210.00	2,219	24
Heifers	1100–1150	Large 1	1,110	197.50/cwt	197.50–197.50	2,192	1
Heifers	1200–1250	Large 1	1,208	194.00/cwt	194.00–194.00	2,344	3
Feeder Cattle · Bulls11 lots · lightest first
Bulls	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	363	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,198	4
Bulls	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	422	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	1,308	3
Bulls	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	454	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,317	4
Bulls	450–500	Large 1Unweaned	457	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,051	3
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	515	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,391	1
Bulls	500–550	Large 1Unweaned	540	242.50/cwt	242.50–242.50	1,310	3
Bulls	750–800	Medium and Large 2	790	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	1,683	1
Bulls	950–1000	Medium and Large 1-2	960	214.00/cwt	214.00–214.00	2,054	2
Bulls	1100–1150	Large 1-2	1,130	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	2,204	1
Bulls	1100–1150	Large 1	1,149	207.00/cwt	207.00–207.00	2,378	4
Bulls	1150–1200	Large 1	1,180	201.00/cwt	201.00–201.00	2,372	2
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,340	147.39/cwt	146.00–155.00	1,975	6
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,365	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	1,706	1
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,556	140.66/cwt	140.00–143.00	2,189	5
Bulls	—	—	1,752	137.14/cwt	131.00–145.00	2,403	18
Bulls	—	—	1,917	151.64/cwt	149.00–156.00	2,907	7
Bulls	—	—	2,045	163.45/cwt	160.00–170.00	3,343	3
Slaughter Cattle · Cows17 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	940	107.50/cwt	107.50–107.50	1,011	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,081	91.27/cwt	89.00–93.00	987	9
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,211	129.83/cwt	127.00–134.00	1,572	14
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,213	122.00/cwt	116.00–125.00	1,480	72
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,240	113.54/cwt	112.00–115.00	1,408	12
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,268	108.39/cwt	105.00–111.00	1,374	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,322	114.43/cwt	114.00–115.00	1,513	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,370	113.29/cwt	111.00–115.00	1,552	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,375	135.43/cwt	132.50–139.00	1,862	12
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,381	112.30/cwt	111.00–114.00	1,551	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,451	126.82/cwt	120.00–132.00	1,840	60
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,525	117.60/cwt	115.00–120.00	1,793	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,560	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	2,168	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,567	132.50/cwt	132.50–132.50	2,076	6
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,608	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	2,010	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,690	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	1,977	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,768	124.48/cwt	123.50–129.50	2,201	12
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows2 lots · lightest first
Dairy Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	775	75.00/cwt	75.00–75.00	581	1
Dairy Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	958	98.00/cwt	98.00–98.00	939	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	795	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,431	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,026	182.35/cwt	143.00–194.00	1,871	16
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,035	152.50/cwt	152.50–152.50	1,578	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,152	146.60/cwt	125.50–175.00	1,689	27
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,148	1,475.00/head	1,475.00–1,475.00	1,475	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,250	2,000.00/head	2,000.00–2,000.00	2,000	5

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 Oct 2, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 251Last week 344Year ago 374

Slaughter CattleReceipts 297Last week 436Year ago 216

Replacement CattleReceipts 61Last week 115Year ago 152

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
6	550–600	581	225.00	225.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	850–900	850	229.00	229.00
19	950–1000	971	212.00–219.50	216.55

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1	200–250	235	360.00	360.00
5	450–500	470	287.00	287.00
4	600–650	601	249.00	249.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	700–750	713	230.00	230.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Small and Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	550–600	597	210.00	210.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1	450–500	475	257.50	257.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	365	270.00	270.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
24	1050–1100	1,063	204.00–210.00	208.72
1	1100–1150	1,110	197.50	197.50
3	1200–1250	1,208	194.00	194.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	300–350	303	270.00	270.00
4	350–400	380	245.00	245.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	400–450	406	332.50	332.50
3	450–500	495	307.00	307.00
6	500–550	521	299.00	299.00
9	550–600	575	270.00–280.00	271.87
4	650–700	664	254.00	254.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	350–400	382	312.50	312.50
1	450–500	455	301.00	301.00
3	500–550	508	276.00	276.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	550–600	575	291.00	291.00
1	950–1000	950	229.00	229.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	900–950	901	225.00	225.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1100–1150	1,140	213.00	213.00
2	1150–1200	1,183	207.00	207.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	600–650	634	240.00	240.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	350–400	363	330.00	330.00
3	400–450	422	310.00	310.00
4	450–500	454	290.00	290.00
1	500–550	515	270.00	270.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	950–1000	960	214.00	214.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1100–1150	1,130	195.00	195.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	1100–1150	1,149	207.00	207.00
2	1150–1200	1,180	201.00	201.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	450–500	457	230.00	230.00
3	500–550	540	242.50	242.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	750–800	790	213.00	213.00

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
(<2 yrs)	Open	16	—	1,026	143.00–194.00	182.35
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	27	—	1,152	125.50–175.00	146.60

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	—	1,035	152.50	152.50
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	795	180.00	180.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	5	—	1,250	2,000.00	2,000.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	2	—	1,148	1,475.00	1,475.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
60	—	1,451	120.00–132.00	126.82
12	—	1,375	132.50–139.00	135.43
4	—	1,370	111.00–115.00	113.29

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	1,211	127.00–134.00	129.83
12	—	1,240	112.00–115.00	113.54
72	—	1,213	116.00–125.00	122.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,567	132.50	132.50
12	—	1,768	123.50–129.50	124.48
3	—	1,322	114.00–115.00	114.43

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,381	111.00–114.00	112.30
4	—	1,525	115.00–120.00	117.60
1	—	1,560	139.00	139.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,268	105.00–111.00	108.39
9	—	1,081	89.00–93.00	91.27

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	940	107.50	107.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,690	117.00	117.00
3	—	1,608	125.00	125.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,340	146.00–155.00	147.39
5	—	1,556	140.00–143.00	140.66

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,365	125.00	125.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	2,045	160.00–170.00	163.45
7	—	1,917	149.00–156.00	151.64
18	—	1,752	131.00–145.00	137.14

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	775	75.00	75.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	958	98.00	98.00

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.