Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-10-30

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-10-30
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-10-30

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

● Final80 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Oct 23Oct 30Nov 6 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

542 head

▲ 96 vs last sale 446▼ 53 vs year ago 595 · −8.9%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

1,088 head

▲ 396 vs last sale 692▲ 301 vs year ago 787 · +38.2%

Replacement Cattle receipts

458 head

▲ 181 vs last sale 277▲ 196 vs year ago 262 · +74.8%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality was mostly plain to average today. Most feeders were offered in small packages or as singles. Demand was mostly light to moderate for light offerings. Fewer takers were seen for feeder cattle this sale as todays sale featured cows. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of todays sale. Demand for slaughter cows was light to moderate and slightly stronger than last week. Quality this week was mostly mixed from plain to very attractive. Many lame, low yielding cows were seen again this sale. Feeding buyers were more active this week with 12 slaughter and feeding cow buyers in the stands or online bidding on cows. Most cows were purchased to feed this week as buyers took more lame and blemished cows this week. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly light. Slaughter cows sold steady to weak on breaking and boning cows; lean cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Weigh conditions were mostly average to below average today, however weigh conditions were better this week compared to last week. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00 lower. Feeding bull sold generally steady. Quality today was mostly average for bulls. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher. Demand from rebreed buyers was mostly good. Quality was mostly average to attractive this week and more attractive than last weeks offering.

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 $280.99/cwt on 69 head. That ranks 1 of 10 comparable sales and sits −173.92 against this barn's trailing median of $454.92.

Average price

$280.99

69 head · 553 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,554

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$10

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

$25.44/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−21.12

vs MT average

−19.70 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	525	296.85	1,558	26
Medium and Large 1-2	570	271.41	1,548	43

One grade step is worth $25.44/cwt here — about $10 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 200–300 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 sale69 hd

280.99

—

MT average5 barns · 2,410 hd

302.12

−21.12

National average185 barns · 40,108 hd

300.69

−19.70

This barn, trailing median10 sales

454.92

−173.92

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

10 sales

Steers 500–600 lb: high $510.69, low $392.59, median $454.92 across 10 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	1,791	144.63	2,590	47
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,710	124.01	2,120	18
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,378	121.48	1,674	428
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,197	109.50	1,311	386

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	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,118	$2,330	22
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,126	$2,225	22
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,250	$2,075	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,478	$1,975	2thin

Every lot

80 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 · Steers21 lots · lightest first
Steers	200–250	Medium 2Unweaned	245	395.00/cwt	395.00–395.00	968	10
Steers	250–300	Medium 2Unweaned	260	335.00/cwt	335.00–335.00	871	6
Steers	250–300	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	288	450.00/cwt	450.00–450.00	1,296	5
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	1,290	1
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	357	371.64/cwt	367.50–372.50	1,327	6
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	360	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	1,386	1
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	417	337.36/cwt	330.00–342.50	1,407	18
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Full	450	297.50/cwt	297.50–297.50	1,339	4
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	472	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	1,487	3
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	516	299.57/cwt	289.00–305.00	1,546	23
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	530	269.93/cwt	261.00–283.00	1,431	12
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	586	271.98/cwt	269.00–273.00	1,594	31
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	592	276.00/cwt	276.00–276.00	1,634	3
Steers	600–650	Large 1Unweaned	603	262.00/cwt	262.00–262.00	1,580	2
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	629	276.00/cwt	276.00–276.00	1,736	12
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	634	254.46/cwt	254.00–255.00	1,613	11
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	675	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	1,640	2
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	682	261.48/cwt	259.00–263.00	1,783	49
Steers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	980	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	2,450	1
Steers	1050–1100	Medium and Large 1	1,098	223.00/cwt	223.00–223.00	2,449	5
Steers	1100–1150	Large 1	1,125	225.96/cwt	221.00–231.00	2,542	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers17 lots · lightest first
Heifers	250–300	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	290	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	1,102	4
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	355	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	1,118	2
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	428	267.50/cwt	267.50–267.50	1,145	16
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	487	283.00/cwt	283.00–283.00	1,378	5
Heifers	500–550	Large 1Unweaned	520	261.00/cwt	261.00–261.00	1,357	3
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	575	242.00/cwt	242.00–242.00	1,392	2
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	586	249.06/cwt	241.00–254.00	1,459	24
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	602	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,445	3
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Full	609	239.00/cwt	239.00–239.00	1,456	8
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	678	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	1,600	11
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1Full	690	234.00/cwt	234.00–234.00	1,615	3
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	718	219.00/cwt	219.00–219.00	1,572	2
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	780	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	1,736	2
Heifers	850–900	Medium and Large 1	858	233.00/cwt	233.00–233.00	1,999	36
Heifers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	954	217.00/cwt	217.00–217.00	2,070	5
Heifers	1000–1050	Medium and Large 1-2	1,049	208.00/cwt	208.00–208.00	2,182	4
Heifers	1050–1100	Large 1	1,085	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	2,311	15
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	1050–1100	Medium and Large 1	1,058	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	2,275	2
Bulls	1050–1100	Medium and Large 1-2	1,090	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	2,180	1
Bulls	1100–1150	Large 1	1,130	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	2,373	1
Bulls	1150–1200	Large 1-2	1,160	172.50/cwt	172.50–172.50	2,001	1
Bulls	1150–1200	Large 1	1,180	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	2,360	1
Bulls	1200–1250	Large 1	1,220	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	1,952	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,485	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	2,079	1
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,621	146.39/cwt	145.00–152.00	2,373	9
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,694	143.14/cwt	138.00–145.50	2,425	7
Bulls	—	—	1,835	139.43/cwt	127.50–144.00	2,559	15
Bulls	—	—	1,857	147.57/cwt	144.00–156.00	2,740	12
Bulls	—	—	2,142	158.68/cwt	158.00–160.00	3,399	3
Slaughter Cattle · Cows21 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	902	81.08/cwt	80.00–82.50	731	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	925	77.50/cwt	77.50–77.50	717	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,130	96.24/cwt	90.00–99.00	1,088	43
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,132	83.59/cwt	72.50–89.00	946	10
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,191	125.73/cwt	122.00–131.00	1,497	30
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,210	107.03/cwt	98.50–111.50	1,295	145
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,215	118.14/cwt	111.00–121.00	1,435	121
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,220	102.62/cwt	99.00–114.00	1,252	33
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,343	98.10/cwt	91.00–103.00	1,317	13
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,371	124.49/cwt	117.00–131.50	1,707	231
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,380	111.43/cwt	103.00–117.50	1,538	67
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,382	132.20/cwt	130.00–140.00	1,827	80
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,418	106.94/cwt	104.00–112.00	1,516	34
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,465	113.00/cwt	113.00–113.00	1,655	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,478	86.00/cwt	86.00–86.00	1,271	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,580	128.02/cwt	125.00–129.50	2,023	6
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,662	130.84/cwt	130.50–131.50	2,175	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,755	123.77/cwt	123.50–124.00	2,172	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,785	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	2,160	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,801	118.00/cwt	112.00–123.50	2,125	5
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight	2,010	113.00/cwt	113.00–113.00	2,271	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,065	2,100.00/head	2,100.00–2,100.00	2,100	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,121	2,341.18/head	2,200.00–2,400.00	2,341	21
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,126	2,224.91/head	2,100.00–2,300.00	2,225	22
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,250	2,075.00/head	2,075.00–2,075.00	2,075	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS	1,478	1,975.00/head	1,975.00–1,975.00	1,975	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	944	192.88/cwt	160.00–215.00	1,821	216
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	990	168.60/cwt	142.50–178.00	1,669	20
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,050	163.82/cwt	131.00–197.50	1,720	104
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,059	155.54/cwt	125.00–170.00	1,647	6

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 30, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 542Last week 446Year ago 595

Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,088Last week 692Year ago 787

Replacement CattleReceipts 458Last week 277Year ago 262

Replacement Cattle

As reported

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)	22	—	1,126	2,100.00–2,300.00	2,224.91
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	1	—	1,250	2,075.00	2,075.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	21	—	1,121	2,200.00–2,400.00	2,341.18

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,478	1,975.00	1,975.00

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)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,065	2,100.00	2,100.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	216	—	944	160.00–215.00	192.88
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	104	—	1,050	131.00–197.50	163.82

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	6	—	1,059	125.00–170.00	155.54
(<2 yrs)	Open	20	—	990	142.50–178.00	168.60

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	1050–1100	1,058	215.00	215.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1050–1100	1,090	200.00	200.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1150–1200	1,160	172.50	172.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1100–1150	1,130	210.00	210.00
1	1150–1200	1,180	200.00	200.00
1	1200–1250	1,220	160.00	160.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	250–300	288	450.00	450.00
6	350–400	357	367.50–372.50	371.64
18	400–450	417	330.00–342.50	337.36
3	450–500	472	315.00	315.00
12	500–550	530	261.00–283.00	269.93
31	550–600	586	269.00–273.00	271.98
11	600–650	634	254.00–255.00	254.46
2	650–700	675	243.00	243.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	300	430.00	430.00
1	350–400	360	385.00	385.00
23	500–550	516	289.00–305.00	299.57
3	550–600	592	276.00	276.00
12	600–650	629	276.00	276.00
49	650–700	682	259.00–263.00	261.48

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	950–1000	980	250.00	250.00
5	1050–1100	1,098	223.00	223.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
4	450–500	450	297.50	297.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	600–650	603	262.00	262.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
10	200–250	245	395.00	395.00
6	250–300	260	335.00	335.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	1100–1150	1,125	221.00–231.00	225.96

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
24	550–600	586	241.00–254.00	249.06
11	650–700	678	236.00	236.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	700–750	718	219.00	219.00
2	750–800	780	222.50	222.50
36	850–900	858	233.00	233.00
5	950–1000	954	217.00	217.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
8	600–650	609	239.00	239.00
3	650–700	690	234.00	234.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	1000–1050	1,049	208.00	208.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	250–300	290	380.00	380.00
2	350–400	355	315.00	315.00
16	400–450	428	267.50	267.50
5	450–500	487	283.00	283.00
2	550–600	575	242.00	242.00
3	600–650	602	240.00	240.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	500–550	520	261.00	261.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
15	1050–1100	1,085	213.00	213.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,343	91.00–103.00	98.10
1	—	1,465	113.00	113.00
2	—	1,478	86.00	86.00
34	—	1,418	104.00–112.00	106.94

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
231	—	1,371	117.00–131.50	124.49
80	—	1,382	130.00–140.00	132.20
67	—	1,380	103.00–117.50	111.43

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,010	113.00	113.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
30	—	1,191	122.00–131.00	125.73
145	—	1,210	98.50–111.50	107.03
121	—	1,215	111.00–121.00	118.14

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,785	121.00	121.00
2	—	1,755	123.50–124.00	123.77

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
33	—	1,220	99.00–114.00	102.62
10	—	1,132	72.50–89.00	83.59
43	—	1,130	90.00–99.00	96.24

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,580	125.00–129.50	128.02
3	—	1,662	130.50–131.50	130.84
5	—	1,801	112.00–123.50	118.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	902	80.00–82.50	81.08
1	—	925	77.50	77.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,485	140.00	140.00
12	—	1,857	144.00–156.00	147.57
3	—	2,142	158.00–160.00	158.68
15	—	1,835	127.50–144.00	139.43

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,621	145.00–152.00	146.39
7	—	1,694	138.00–145.50	143.14

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.