Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-11-27

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-11-27
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-11-27

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Nov 27

● Final76 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Nov 20Nov 27Dec 4 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

351 head

▼ 228 vs last sale 579▲ 6 vs year ago 345 · +1.7%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

273 head

▼ 734 vs last sale 1,007▼ 847 vs year ago 1,120 · −75.6%

Replacement Cattle receipts

201 head

▼ 484 vs last sale 685▼ 132 vs year ago 333 · −39.6%

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 an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly plain to average today. Most feeders were offered in small packages or as singles. Demand for limited feeders was good to very good. Market activity was mostly moderate to active today. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Buyers pushed to fill loads started earlier in the week. Cow quality this sale was mostly average. Slaughter cow demand was strong early in the sale but moderated slightly as buyers filled loads. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher on all classes. Feeding cow demand was very good as several buyers pushed to fill loads this sale. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Short term, thin feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. Very good demand was seen for this class of cows this sale. Weigh conditions were mostly average to below average today. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady. Demand for slaughter bulls was light to moderate. Several private buyers purchased bulls to feed this sale as several small packages of high quality bulls were seen. Quality today was mostly average to attractive for bulls. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Demand from rebreed buyers remains good to very good, especially for light weight offerings. Quality this week was average to attractive.

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 $266.00/cwt on 17 head. That ranks 1 of 19 comparable sales and sits −129.45 against this barn's trailing median of $395.45.

Average price

$266.00

17 head · 572 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,522

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$128

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

$2.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−21.30

vs MT average

−14.90 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	589	267.00	1,573	7thin
Medium and Large 1-2	576	265.61	1,530	5thin
Medium and Large 2	545	265.00	1,444	5thin

One grade step is worth $2.00/cwt here — about $128 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 sale17 hd

266.00

—

MT average4 barns · 824 hd

287.30

−21.30

National average40 barns · 6,153 hd

280.90

−14.90

This barn, trailing median19 sales

395.45

−129.45

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	—	Low	1,643	134.64	2,212	26
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,630	118.66	1,934	26
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,399	115.79	1,620	106
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,168	105.64	1,234	100

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/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,205	$2,275	2thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,192	$2,254	7
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,096	$2,167	6
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,330	$2,000	2thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,415	$2,000	1thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,478	$1,850	5
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	978	$1,825	2thin

Every lot

76 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 · Steers12 lots · lightest first
Steers	250–300	Medium and Large 1	273	500.00/cwt	500.00–500.00	1,365	23
Steers	250–300	Medium and Large 1-2	298	450.00/cwt	450.00–450.00	1,341	2
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1	315	450.00/cwt	450.00–450.00	1,418	17
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	398	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,313	2
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	418	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	1,526	2
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	445	379.00/cwt	379.00–379.00	1,687	11
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	452	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,537	5
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	515	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,494	1
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	523	329.00/cwt	329.00–329.00	1,721	3
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	553	282.50/cwt	282.50–282.50	1,562	5
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	639	284.00/cwt	284.00–284.00	1,815	7
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	663	261.00/cwt	261.00–261.00	1,730	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers16 lots · lightest first
Heifers	250–300	Medium and Large 1	283	480.00/cwt	480.00–480.00	1,358	30
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	338	425.00/cwt	425.00–425.00	1,437	3
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1	340	432.50/cwt	432.50–432.50	1,471	2
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	428	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,241	8
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	461	319.00/cwt	319.00–319.00	1,471	8
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	488	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,366	3
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	545	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,444	5
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	576	265.61/cwt	265.00–266.00	1,530	5
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	589	267.00/cwt	267.00–267.00	1,573	7
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	636	263.09/cwt	262.00–270.00	1,673	7
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	741	239.00/cwt	239.00–239.00	1,771	14
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	770	232.50/cwt	232.50–232.50	1,790	2
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	849	233.00/cwt	233.00–233.00	1,978	4
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1	920	229.50/cwt	229.50–229.50	2,111	7
Heifers	1000–1050	Medium and Large 1-2	1,018	202.00/cwt	202.00–202.00	2,056	9
Heifers	1050–1100	Large 1-2	1,069	201.55/cwt	200.00–202.00	2,155	13
Feeder Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	447	331.00/cwt	331.00–331.00	1,480	6
Bulls	450–500	Medium and Large 1	474	342.50/cwt	342.50–342.50	1,623	4
Bulls	450–500	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	497	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	1,466	3
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	520	311.00/cwt	311.00–311.00	1,617	1
Bulls	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	614	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,474	5
Bulls	700–750	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	720	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,620	1
Bulls	1300–1350	Large 1	1,300	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	2,275	4
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,305	131.60/cwt	130.00–134.00	1,717	4
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,376	142.70/cwt	140.00–144.00	1,964	4
Bulls	—	—	1,683	127.69/cwt	120.00–135.00	2,149	9
Bulls	—	—	1,819	140.33/cwt	139.50–142.50	2,553	7
Bulls	—	—	2,058	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	2,799	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	902	70.22/cwt	67.50–75.00	633	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	958	99.99/cwt	99.00–101.00	958	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,128	123.55/cwt	123.00–124.50	1,394	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,140	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	1,197	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,156	83.04/cwt	75.00–87.50	960	19
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,159	105.75/cwt	97.00–110.00	1,226	14
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,182	90.85/cwt	86.00–100.00	1,074	11
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,207	119.30/cwt	112.50–122.50	1,440	44
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,338	104.03/cwt	102.00–106.00	1,392	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,342	124.92/cwt	123.00–125.50	1,676	26
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,355	94.00/cwt	94.00–94.00	1,274	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,371	89.00/cwt	88.00–90.00	1,220	9
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,423	118.88/cwt	113.00–123.00	1,692	54
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,426	105.12/cwt	101.00–111.00	1,499	12
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,482	119.73/cwt	117.00–120.50	1,774	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,523	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	1,843	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,630	120.05/cwt	118.00–122.50	1,957	14
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,729	111.94/cwt	110.00–116.00	1,935	6
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,770	134.25/cwt	134.25–134.25	2,376	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1-2	665	197.50/cwt	197.50–197.50	1,313	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	835	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	1,127	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	915	200.14/cwt	153.00–225.00	1,831	96
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	955	150.42/cwt	127.50–172.50	1,437	10
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,020	129.69/cwt	122.50–140.00	1,323	11
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,126	136.37/cwt	121.00–176.00	1,536	31
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	1,364	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	2,319	4
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows10 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium 1	885	1,900.00/head	1,900.00–1,900.00	1,900	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium 1	903	1,950.00/head	1,950.00–1,950.00	1,950	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,053	2,138.48/head	2,125.00–2,150.00	2,138	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,070	1,750.00/head	1,750.00–1,750.00	1,750	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,193	2,275.00/head	2,275.00–2,275.00	2,275	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,205	2,275.00/head	2,275.00–2,275.00	2,275	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,247	2,300.00/head	2,300.00–2,300.00	2,300	5
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,330	2,000.00/head	2,000.00–2,000.00	2,000	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,415	2,000.00/head	2,000.00–2,000.00	2,000	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,478	1,850.00/head	1,850.00–1,850.00	1,850	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 Nov 27, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 351Last week 579Year ago 345

Slaughter CattleReceipts 273Last week 1,007Year ago 1,120

Replacement CattleReceipts 201Last week 685Year ago 333

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
30	250–300	283	480.00	480.00
2	300–350	340	432.50	432.50
7	550–600	589	267.00	267.00
4	800–850	849	233.00	233.00
7	900–950	920	229.50	229.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	400–450	428	290.00	290.00
14	700–750	741	239.00	239.00
2	750–800	770	232.50	232.50
9	1000–1050	1,018	202.00	202.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	450–500	461	319.00	319.00
7	600–650	636	262.00–270.00	263.09

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	300–350	338	425.00	425.00
5	550–600	576	265.00–266.00	265.61

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	450–500	488	280.00	280.00
5	500–550	545	265.00	265.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
13	1050–1100	1,069	200.00–202.00	201.55

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
23	250–300	273	500.00	500.00
17	300–350	315	450.00	450.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	400–450	418	365.00	365.00
5	450–500	452	340.00	340.00
3	500–550	523	329.00	329.00
7	600–650	639	284.00	284.00
2	650–700	663	261.00	261.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	398	330.00	330.00
1	500–550	515	290.00	290.00
5	550–600	553	282.50	282.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	250–300	298	450.00	450.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
11	400–450	445	379.00	379.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	400–450	447	331.00	331.00
1	500–550	520	311.00	311.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	1300–1350	1,300	175.00	175.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	450–500	497	295.00	295.00
1	700–750	720	225.00	225.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	450–500	474	342.50	342.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	600–650	614	240.00	240.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	835	135.00	135.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	96	—	915	153.00–225.00	200.14
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	31	—	1,126	121.00–176.00	136.37

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,364	170.00	170.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	10	—	955	127.50–172.50	150.42
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	11	—	1,020	122.50–140.00	129.69

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	665	197.50	197.50

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	5	—	1,478	1,850.00	1,850.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,205	2,275.00	2,275.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	5	—	1,247	2,300.00	2,300.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	4	—	1,193	2,275.00	2,275.00

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	—	1,053	2,125.00–2,150.00	2,138.48
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	1,070	1,750.00	1,750.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	2	—	1,330	2,000.00	2,000.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	1	—	1,415	2,000.00	2,000.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	903	1,950.00	1,950.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	885	1,900.00	1,900.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,355	94.00	94.00
2	—	1,338	102.00–106.00	104.03
9	—	1,371	88.00–90.00	89.00
2	—	1,523	121.00	121.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	1,342	123.00–125.50	124.92
54	—	1,423	113.00–123.00	118.88
12	—	1,426	101.00–111.00	105.12

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,140	105.00	105.00
11	—	1,182	86.00–100.00	90.85
19	—	1,156	75.00–87.50	83.04

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	958	99.00–101.00	99.99
3	—	902	67.50–75.00	70.22

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	1,159	97.00–110.00	105.75
6	—	1,128	123.00–124.50	123.55
44	—	1,207	112.50–122.50	119.30

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	1,630	118.00–122.50	120.05
1	—	1,770	134.25	134.25
6	—	1,729	110.00–116.00	111.94

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,482	117.00–120.50	119.73

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	2,058	136.00	136.00
7	—	1,819	139.50–142.50	140.33
9	—	1,683	120.00–135.00	127.69

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,376	140.00–144.00	142.70
4	—	1,305	130.00–134.00	131.60

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.