Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2025-03-12

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2025-03-12
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-03-12

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 12

● Final75 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Mar 5Mar 12Mar 19 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

506 head

▲ 506 vs last sale 0▲ 173 vs year ago 333 · +52.0%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

322 head

▼ 361 vs last sale 683▼ 68 vs year ago 390 · −17.4%

Replacement Cattle receipts

161 head

▼ 1,543 vs last sale 1,704▼ 8 vs year ago 169 · −4.7%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were not tested last week as that sale featured bred cows, bred heifers and weigh ups. Feeder cattle sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Quality was mostly plain to average today with a limited offering of attractive cattle seen. Many cutback cattle were seen off spring video sales for todays sale. Most cattle were offered in small packages with many singles on offer. Many sets of cattle had been in grow lots and many offerings were in moderate plus to fleshy condition. A large crowd was on hand for todays sale despite a light offering. Buyers bid actively both ringside as well as over the internet as they pushed to fill orders. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Regional packers and major packers both showed very good demand for high quality cows this week. Regional packers purchased cows to slaughter while major packer purchased cattle to feed. The best demand was seen for heavy boning and breaking cows this week. Breaking and boning slaughter cows sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher. Lean cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Feeding cows sold on good to very good demand with both major packers and private feeders actively buying cows to feed. High quality feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher. Thin feeding cows sold mostly steady to 4.00 higher. Cow quality was mixed this week from plain to very attractive. Weigh up conditions were mixed as well, with both empty and full cows noticed. The quality of cows going to feed continues to vairy greatly from buyer to buyer as several buyers were willing to take cows which were lame or slightly blemished and put them on feed or run them on wheat pasture until cow supplies tighten later in the spring and early summer. A large pool of cow buyers was on hand for todays sale and market activity was mostly active as a result. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 lower, however bull quality was not as attractive this week as it has been the last couple weeks. Several sets of fed bulls were seen again this week. Fed bull quality was not as attractive as the last two weeks. Demand for slaughter bulls was good this sale. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 5.00 lower, however quality this week was not as attractive as the open cows off of last weeks bred cow sale. Demand from rebreed buyers was mostly good this sale. Quality this week was mostly 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 $321.36/cwt on 69 head. That ranks 1 of 19 comparable sales and sits −74.10 against this barn's trailing median of $395.45.

Average price

$321.36

69 head · 561 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,803

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$64

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

$20.39/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−4.08

vs MT average

+6.40 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	551	334.36	1,843	25
Medium and Large 1-2	567	313.97	1,779	44

One grade step is worth $20.39/cwt here — about $64 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 sale69 hd

321.36

—

MT average3 barns · 342 hd

325.44

−4.08

National average179 barns · 17,787 hd

314.96

+6.40

This barn, trailing median19 sales

395.45

−74.10

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	1,907	167.97	3,204	52
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,604	153.25	2,458	23
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,470	151.71	2,231	187
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,205	125.28	1,509	49
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,208	114.23	1,380	2thin

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	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,184	$2,750	4thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,245	$2,700	1thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,287	$2,200	3thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,200	$1,750	2thin
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,165	$2,700	1thin
Bred Heifers	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,048	$2,100	2thin

Every lot

75 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 · Steers18 lots · lightest first
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	310	455.00/cwt	455.00–455.00	1,411	1
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 2	392	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	1,529	3
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 2	420	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	1,533	1
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	532	351.93/cwt	345.00–365.00	1,872	5
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 2	563	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,633	4
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	592	321.28/cwt	320.00–340.00	1,902	15
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	635	329.00/cwt	329.00–329.00	2,089	2
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	636	324.34/cwt	322.00–329.00	2,063	11
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	655	298.00/cwt	298.00–298.00	1,952	1
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	708	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	2,018	6
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	739	305.81/cwt	305.00–306.00	2,260	16
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	775	292.51/cwt	292.00–293.00	2,267	6
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	832	272.00/cwt	272.00–272.00	2,263	6
Steers	850–900	Large 1	851	249.00/cwt	249.00–249.00	2,119	14
Steers	850–900	Medium and Large 1	855	273.00/cwt	273.00–273.00	2,334	2
Steers	900–950	Medium and Large 1	935	268.00/cwt	268.00–268.00	2,506	3
Steers	1100–1150	Large 2	1,136	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,988	4
Steers	1200–1250	Large 1-2Fleshy	1,222	186.96/cwt	180.00–199.00	2,285	11
Feeder Cattle · Heifers15 lots · lightest first
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	420	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,512	5
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	457	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	1,668	17
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	488	341.00/cwt	341.00–341.00	1,664	11
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	547	319.22/cwt	318.00–333.00	1,746	12
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	548	337.00/cwt	337.00–337.00	1,847	23
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	574	312.00/cwt	310.00–313.00	1,791	32
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	588	304.00/cwt	304.00–304.00	1,788	2
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	689	279.00/cwt	279.00–279.00	1,922	6
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	714	262.85/cwt	260.00–265.00	1,877	7
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	732	259.38/cwt	259.00–261.00	1,899	35
Heifers	700–750	Large 1	745	261.00/cwt	261.00–261.00	1,944	3
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	782	254.00/cwt	254.00–254.00	1,986	3
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	804	262.00/cwt	262.00–262.00	2,106	11
Heifers	1000–1050	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	1,035	210.50/cwt	210.50–210.50	2,179	18
Heifers	1100–1150	Large 1-2Fleshy	1,134	197.00/cwt	197.00–197.00	2,234	11
Feeder Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls	300–350	Medium and Large 1	345	435.00/cwt	435.00–435.00	1,501	7
Bulls	350–400	Medium and Large 1	383	415.00/cwt	415.00–415.00	1,589	14
Bulls	400–450	Medium and Large 1	448	405.00/cwt	405.00–405.00	1,814	3
Bulls	850–900	Medium and Large 1	875	238.00/cwt	238.00–238.00	2,083	1
Bulls	1150–1200	Large 1	1,153	226.00/cwt	226.00–226.00	2,606	2
Bulls	1200–1250	Large 1	1,240	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	2,604	1
Bulls	1250–1300	Large 1	1,255	212.00/cwt	212.00–212.00	2,661	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Natural	1,745	156.92/cwt	146.50–165.00	2,738	3
Bulls	—	—	1,837	153.96/cwt	144.00–159.00	2,828	9
Bulls	—	—	1,877	167.86/cwt	162.50–179.00	3,151	19
Bulls	—	—Natural	1,916	173.86/cwt	165.00–182.00	3,331	16
Bulls	—	—Natural	1,980	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	3,663	1
Bulls	—	—	2,023	177.46/cwt	175.00–180.00	3,590	2
Bulls	—	—Heavy Weight	2,533	183.51/cwt	182.00–185.00	4,648	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,170	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,568	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,198	110.54/cwt	103.00–131.00	1,324	17
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,201	147.64/cwt	146.00–150.50	1,773	7
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,205	123.22/cwt	122.00–130.00	1,485	15
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,219	143.59/cwt	141.00–146.00	1,750	8
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,255	95.00/cwt	95.00–95.00	1,192	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,370	146.87/cwt	140.00–150.00	2,012	28
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,380	146.34/cwt	137.00–149.50	2,019	14
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,383	129.67/cwt	126.00–135.00	1,793	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,436	128.77/cwt	122.00–135.00	1,849	18
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,489	153.40/cwt	149.00–154.00	2,284	10
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,505	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	2,258	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,514	149.75/cwt	149.00–153.50	2,267	11
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,517	158.62/cwt	150.00–160.50	2,406	110
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,703	157.05/cwt	154.00–159.50	2,675	11
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,208	114.23/cwt	111.00–117.00	1,380	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	955	162.04/cwt	146.00–195.00	1,547	8
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	975	209.63/cwt	205.00–212.00	2,044	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	994	214.16/cwt	173.00–230.00	2,129	24
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,150	174.01/cwt	149.00–215.00	2,001	75
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,252	147.17/cwt	145.00–148.50	1,843	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	1,465	162.64/cwt	157.00–183.00	2,383	6
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,184	2,750.00/head	2,750.00–2,750.00	2,750	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	1,200	1,750.00/head	1,750.00–1,750.00	1,750	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,245	2,700.00/head	2,700.00–2,700.00	2,700	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,287	2,200.00/head	2,200.00–2,200.00	2,200	3
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers2 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,048	2,100.00/head	2,100.00–2,100.00	2,100	2
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,165	2,700.00/head	2,700.00–2,700.00	2,700	1

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 Mar 12, 2025

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 506Last week 0Year ago 333

Slaughter CattleReceipts 322Last week 683Year ago 390

Replacement CattleReceipts 161Last week 1,704Year ago 169

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	600–650	635	329.00	329.00
16	700–750	739	305.00–306.00	305.81
6	750–800	775	292.00–293.00	292.51
2	850–900	855	273.00	273.00
3	900–950	935	268.00	268.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
6	800–850	832	272.00	272.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	310	455.00	455.00
5	500–550	532	345.00–365.00	351.93
15	550–600	592	320.00–340.00	321.28
11	600–650	636	322.00–329.00	324.34
1	650–700	655	298.00	298.00
6	700–750	708	285.00	285.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	350–400	392	390.00	390.00
1	400–450	420	365.00	365.00
4	550–600	563	290.00	290.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	1100–1150	1,136	175.00	175.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14	850–900	851	249.00	249.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
11	1200–1250	1,222	180.00–199.00	186.96

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
17	450–500	457	365.00	365.00
23	500–550	548	337.00	337.00
6	650–700	689	279.00	279.00
11	800–850	804	262.00	262.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
18	1000–1050	1,035	210.50	210.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	400–450	420	360.00	360.00
11	450–500	488	341.00	341.00
12	500–550	547	318.00–333.00	319.22
32	550–600	574	310.00–313.00	312.00
7	700–750	714	260.00–265.00	262.85
3	750–800	782	254.00	254.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
11	1100–1150	1,134	197.00	197.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	700–750	745	261.00	261.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
2	550–600	588	304.00	304.00
35	700–750	732	259.00–261.00	259.38

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	300–350	345	435.00	435.00
14	350–400	383	415.00	415.00
3	400–450	448	405.00	405.00
1	850–900	875	238.00	238.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	1150–1200	1,153	226.00	226.00
1	1200–1250	1,240	210.00	210.00
1	1250–1300	1,255	212.00	212.00

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
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,252	145.00–148.50	147.17
(<2 yrs)	Open	24	—	994	173.00–230.00	214.16
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	75	—	1,150	149.00–215.00	174.01

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,465	157.00–183.00	162.64

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	3	—	975	205.00–212.00	209.63
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	8	—	955	146.00–195.00	162.04

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)	3	—	1,287	2,200.00	2,200.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	1,245	2,700.00	2,700.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	4	—	1,184	2,750.00	2,750.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,200	1,750.00	1,750.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	2	—	1,048	2,100.00	2,100.00
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	1,165	2,700.00	2,700.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,219	141.00–146.00	143.59
15	—	1,205	122.00–130.00	123.22
7	—	1,201	146.00–150.50	147.64

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	1,436	122.00–135.00	128.77
10	—	1,489	149.00–154.00	153.40
28	—	1,370	140.00–150.00	146.87

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	1,198	103.00–131.00	110.54
1	—	1,255	95.00	95.00
1	—	1,170	134.00	134.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,505	150.00	150.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
110	—	1,517	150.00–160.50	158.62
14	—	1,380	137.00–149.50	146.34
7	—	1,383	126.00–135.00	129.67

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,703	154.00–159.50	157.05
11	—	1,514	149.00–153.50	149.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	1,916	165.00–182.00	173.86
3	—	1,745	146.50–165.00	156.92
1	—	1,980	185.00	185.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	2,023	175.00–180.00	177.46
19	—	1,877	162.50–179.00	167.86
9	—	1,837	144.00–159.00	153.96

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	2,533	182.00–185.00	183.51

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,208	111.00–117.00	114.23

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.