Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2025-04-09

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2025-04-09
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-04-09

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Apr 9

● Final59 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Apr 2Apr 9Apr 16 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

131 head

▼ 98 vs last sale 229▼ 199 vs year ago 330 · −60.3%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

315 head

▼ 209 vs last sale 524▲ 147 vs year ago 168 · +87.5%

Replacement Cattle receipts

158 head

▼ 51 vs last sale 209▲ 73 vs year ago 85 · +85.9%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality was mostly plain to average today. Feeders were mostly offered in small groups or as singles. Both quality and package size limited demand today. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate to good as buyers continue to show need for feeders. Todays buyer pool was small as offerings were limited. Market activity was mostly moderate with good participation seen from buyers both ringside and over the internet. Weigh up cows comprised most of the sale today. All weigh up cows sold on mostly very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Regional packers and major packers continue to show very good demand for cows. Regional packers purchased cows to slaughter and major packers mostly purchased cows mostly to feed. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to 1.00 higher on breaking and boning cows. Lean cows sold firm. Demand for feeding cows was the main driver of the market this week with a large crowd of private feeding cow buyers on hand actively bidding on offerings. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-5.00 higher, with poorer quality cows showing the largest uptick in price. Demand for thin fleshed cows was very good as feeding buyers showed very good demand for cows with lots of compensatory gain. Canadian buyers were back in the market this week buying cows to go to feed north of the border. Cow quality was mixed today from plain to very attractive. Weigh up conditions were mostly average. The quality of cows going to feed continues to vary 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 pasture until cow supplies tighten later in the spring and early summer. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-5.00 higher. Bull quality this week was average to attractive. Several high yielding bulls were seen this week and these offerings were met with very good demand. A portion of the bulls were purchased to feed this week as buyers purchased light weight bulls, mostly under 1800 lbs for this purpose. Feeding bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady on like quality offerings. However, quality this week was not as attractive overall compared to last week. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Demand from rebreed and receipt buyers remains very good. Very little price difference was seen between high quality coming 2 and coming 3 year olds as buyers search for cows to rebreed.

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 $349.09/cwt on 20 head. That ranks 1 of 10 comparable sales and sits −105.83 against this barn's trailing median of $454.92.

Average price

$349.09

20 head · 528 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,841

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$248

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

$50.48/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−26.04

vs MT average

−5.21 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	529	370.48	1,960	10thin
Medium and Large 1	570	346.00	1,972	2thin
Medium 2	503	325.00	1,635	5thin
Medium and Large 2	535	320.00	1,712	3thin

One grade step is worth $50.48/cwt here — about $248 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 sale20 hd

349.09

—

MT average3 barns · 388 hd

375.13

−26.04

National average175 barns · 9,187 hd

354.30

−5.21

This barn, trailing median10 sales

454.92

−105.83

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	—	Low	1,781	175.52	3,126	57
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,392	156.52	2,178	118
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,679	150.55	2,528	20
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,147	144.35	1,655	78
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,921	149.00	2,862	4thin
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,345	127.15	1,710	7thin

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)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,418	$3,000	2thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,537	$2,450	3thin
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,058	$2,400	2thin
Heifer Pairs	Open	(<2 yrs)	1,287	$4,275	15

Every lot

59 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 · Steers8 lots · lightest first
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	480	405.00/cwt	405.00–405.00	1,944	2
Steers	500–550	Medium 2	503	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	1,635	5
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	529	370.48/cwt	365.00–375.00	1,960	10
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 2	535	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,712	3
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	570	346.00/cwt	346.00–346.00	1,972	2
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	690	305.33/cwt	305.00–306.00	2,107	3
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	720	290.53/cwt	288.00–293.00	2,092	2
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	745	299.00/cwt	299.00–299.00	2,228	4
Feeder Cattle · Heifers7 lots · lightest first
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	496	331.00/cwt	331.00–331.00	1,642	4
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	520	317.13/cwt	310.00–324.00	1,649	2
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	525	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,785	1
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	580	327.00/cwt	327.00–327.00	1,897	1
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	632	286.26/cwt	282.50–290.00	1,809	4
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	665	282.67/cwt	280.00–284.00	1,880	3
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	801	259.00/cwt	259.00–259.00	2,075	4
Feeder Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 1	501	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,779	5
Bulls	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	778	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	2,217	2
Bulls	750–800	Medium and Large 2	778	248.00/cwt	248.00–248.00	1,929	2
Bulls	900–950	Medium and Large 2	920	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	2,162	1
Bulls	1000–1050	Large 1	1,020	237.00/cwt	237.00–237.00	2,417	1
Bulls	1050–1100	Large 1	1,068	228.81/cwt	227.00–236.00	2,444	5
Bulls	1100–1150	Large 1	1,124	226.35/cwt	222.50–231.00	2,544	9
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,476	154.04/cwt	140.00–158.00	2,274	6
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,597	170.51/cwt	162.00–180.00	2,723	24
Bulls	—	—	1,835	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	3,211	1
Bulls	—	—	1,886	178.51/cwt	172.00–182.00	3,367	13
Bulls	—	—	2,093	194.09/cwt	187.00–201.00	4,062	8
Bulls	—	—	2,249	188.00/cwt	188.00–188.00	4,228	5
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	800	92.50/cwt	92.50–92.50	740	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	905	142.50/cwt	142.50–142.50	1,290	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	975	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	1,073	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,097	136.20/cwt	117.50–143.00	1,494	17
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,098	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	1,153	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,125	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	1,710	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,166	152.67/cwt	145.00–156.00	1,780	32
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,200	120.63/cwt	112.50–131.00	1,448	8
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,202	160.17/cwt	158.00–166.00	1,925	13
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,273	142.84/cwt	138.00–147.00	1,818	10
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,377	165.36/cwt	162.00–168.00	2,277	32
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,395	156.68/cwt	144.00–161.00	2,186	65
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,511	146.23/cwt	143.00–150.00	2,210	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,522	136.51/cwt	131.00–140.00	2,078	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,575	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	2,378	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,584	154.02/cwt	150.00–157.00	2,440	7
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,688	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	2,414	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,726	154.73/cwt	152.00–157.50	2,671	5
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,749	145.53/cwt	142.00–147.50	2,545	6
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows2 lots · lightest first
Dairy Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,345	127.15/cwt	125.00–137.00	1,710	7
Dairy Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,921	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	2,862	4
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	798	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,955	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,038	195.65/cwt	170.00–215.00	2,031	6
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,059	221.60/cwt	185.00–262.50	2,347	72
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,095	167.63/cwt	160.00–180.00	1,836	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	1,105	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,934	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,189	180.85/cwt	160.00–220.00	2,150	27
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,418	3,000.00/head	3,000.00–3,000.00	3,000	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,537	2,450.00/head	2,450.00–2,450.00	2,450	3
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Heifer Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,287	4,275.00/head	4,275.00–4,275.00	4,275	15
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,058	2,400.00/head	2,400.00–2,400.00	2,400	2

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 Apr 9, 2025

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 131Last week 229Year ago 330

Slaughter CattleReceipts 315Last week 524Year ago 168

Replacement CattleReceipts 158Last week 209Year ago 85

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	500–550	525	340.00	340.00
1	550–600	580	327.00	327.00
4	800–850	801	259.00	259.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	450–500	496	331.00	331.00
2	500–550	520	310.00–324.00	317.13
4	600–650	632	282.50–290.00	286.26
3	650–700	665	280.00–284.00	282.67

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	550–600	570	346.00	346.00
4	700–750	745	299.00	299.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	450–500	480	405.00	405.00
10	500–550	529	365.00–375.00	370.48
3	650–700	690	305.00–306.00	305.33
2	700–750	720	288.00–293.00	290.53

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	500–550	535	320.00	320.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	500–550	503	325.00	325.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	500–550	501	355.00	355.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	750–800	778	285.00	285.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1000–1050	1,020	237.00	237.00
5	1050–1100	1,068	227.00–236.00	228.81
9	1100–1150	1,124	222.50–231.00	226.35

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	750–800	778	248.00	248.00
1	900–950	920	235.00	235.00

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	72	—	1,059	185.00–262.50	221.60
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	27	—	1,189	160.00–220.00	180.85

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	798	245.00	245.00

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	1	—	1,105	175.00	175.00

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	—	1,095	160.00–180.00	167.63
(<2 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,038	170.00–215.00	195.65

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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,418	3,000.00	3,000.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	3	—	1,537	2,450.00	2,450.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	15	—	1,287	4,275.00	4,275.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,058	2,400.00	2,400.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	975	110.00	110.00
1	—	800	92.50	92.50
1	—	905	142.50	142.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,522	131.00–140.00	136.51
1	—	1,575	151.00	151.00
5	—	1,511	143.00–150.00	146.23

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,584	150.00–157.00	154.02
2	—	1,688	143.00	143.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,273	138.00–147.00	142.84
65	—	1,395	144.00–161.00	156.68
32	—	1,377	162.00–168.00	165.36

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	1,097	117.50–143.00	136.20
32	—	1,166	145.00–156.00	152.67
13	—	1,202	158.00–166.00	160.17

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,749	142.00–147.50	145.53
5	—	1,726	152.00–157.50	154.73

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,200	112.50–131.00	120.63
3	—	1,125	152.00	152.00
2	—	1,098	105.00	105.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,476	140.00–158.00	154.04
24	—	1,597	162.00–180.00	170.51

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,835	175.00	175.00
5	—	2,249	188.00	188.00
13	—	1,886	172.00–182.00	178.51
8	—	2,093	187.00–201.00	194.09

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,345	125.00–137.00	127.15

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,921	149.00	149.00

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.