Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2025-05-21

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2025-05-21
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-05-21

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, May 21

● Final63 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← May 14May 21May 28 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

45 head

▼ 1,733 vs last sale 1,778▲ 15 vs year ago 30 · +50.0%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

351 head

▲ 241 vs last sale 110▲ 30 vs year ago 321 · +9.3%

Replacement Cattle receipts

1,226 head

▲ 1,196 vs last sale 30▼ 129 vs year ago 1,355 · −9.5%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were scarcely tested today as todays sale featured Cow/calf pairs, bred cows and weigh ups. No trend can be made for feeder cattle as a result. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers showed moderate demand for slaughter cows this week. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on all classes of cows destined for immediate harvest. Demand for feeding cows remains good and feeding cow buyers continue to show the strongest demand. Feeding cows sold generally steady to firm. A larger buyer pool was noticed this week. Cow quality was mostly average to attractive today. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average as many offerings were emptied out as they come off pastures and fresh green grass. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady in a narrow comparison. Bull quality this week was average to attractive. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold with steady undertones in a narrow comparison. Very few true wet bagged cows which lost calves are being seen as weather and calving conditions have been very good for ranchers. Many baron young cow offerings continue to be seen and many of these offerings are being purchased to feed. Quality this week was mostly average. A moderate offering of bred cows and pairs was seen for todays sale. Demand for high quality offerings was very good, however demand for average quality offerings was light to moderate. Quality was mixed from plain to attractive and had lots of variation for buys to select from.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Bulls · summary 800–900 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

800–900 lb bulls averaged $266.00/cwt on 12 head. That ranks 1 of 2 comparable sales and sits −63.58 against this barn's trailing median of $329.58.

Average price

$266.00

12 head · 878 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,335

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

—

single grade reported

vs the market

−0.95

vs MT average

Price by quality 800–900 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	878	266.00	2,335	12thin

Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

How it compared 800–900 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale12 hd

266.00

—

MT average2 barns · 23 hd

266.95

−0.95

This barn, trailing median2 sales

329.58

−63.58

A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

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	1,720	177.63	3,055	23
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,393	153.34	2,137	134
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,524	152.63	2,327	35
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,178	143.72	1,694	65
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,090	126.00	1,373	1thin

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 (5-8 yrs)	1,616	$2,985	5
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,286	$2,941	20
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,530	$2,840	17
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,526	$2,670	15
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,345	$2,652	18
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,477	$2,600	10
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,505	$2,200	4thin
Bulls	N/A	(<2 yrs)	1,150	$3,091	28
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,360	$4,077	125
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,542	$3,800	6
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,458	$3,240	18
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,530	$3,141	79
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,430	$2,872	100
Heifer Pairs	Open	(<2 yrs)	1,286	$4,284	53

Every lot

63 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 · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	850–900	Medium and Large 1	878	266.00/cwt	266.00–266.00	2,335	12
Bulls	950–1000	Large 1	972	252.00/cwt	252.00–252.00	2,449	3
Bulls	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	978	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	2,396	9
Bulls	1100–1150	Large 1-2	1,112	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	2,369	3
Bulls	1100–1150	Large 1	1,133	222.78/cwt	221.00–225.00	2,524	9
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,436	164.81/cwt	162.00–168.00	2,367	5
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,463	173.80/cwt	169.00–176.00	2,543	6
Bulls	—	—	1,868	178.98/cwt	172.50–183.00	3,343	4
Bulls	—	—	1,910	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	3,075	1
Bulls	—	—	2,031	191.69/cwt	187.00–202.00	3,893	7
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	888	105.51/cwt	104.00–107.00	937	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,109	117.42/cwt	108.00–125.00	1,302	10
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,127	135.92/cwt	129.00–144.00	1,532	11
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,174	134.87/cwt	131.00–137.50	1,583	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,200	160.18/cwt	158.00–165.00	1,922	15
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,245	153.01/cwt	146.00–155.00	1,905	23
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,279	162.46/cwt	161.00–170.00	2,078	13
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,300	130.34/cwt	129.00–131.00	1,694	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,393	155.93/cwt	149.00–159.00	2,172	84
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,419	144.99/cwt	140.00–148.00	2,057	21
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,457	143.73/cwt	141.00–147.00	2,094	9
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,488	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	2,321	25
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,569	152.03/cwt	149.00–153.00	2,385	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,599	143.04/cwt	133.00–145.50	2,287	7
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,652	146.97/cwt	146.00–149.00	2,428	3
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,090	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	1,373	1
Replacement Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	1,150	3,090.98/head	2,750.00–4,000.00	3,091	28
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs3 lots · lightest first
Heifer Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,151	4,000.00/head	4,000.00–4,000.00	4,000	5
Heifer Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,153	3,600.00/head	3,600.00–3,600.00	3,600	6
Heifer Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,321	4,415.43/head	4,225.00–4,450.00	4,415	42
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs16 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	1,266	2,650.00/head	2,650.00–2,650.00	2,650	4
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,283	2,775.00/head	2,775.00–2,775.00	2,775	13
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 2	1,327	2,050.00/head	2,050.00–2,050.00	2,050	6
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,337	3,620.62/head	3,575.00–3,800.00	3,621	24
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,337	2,875.00/head	2,875.00–2,875.00	2,875	11
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	1,340	2,345.28/head	2,200.00–2,375.00	2,345	8
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	1,353	2,500.00/head	2,500.00–2,500.00	2,500	3
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,357	4,223.76/head	3,925.00–4,400.00	4,224	97
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,395	2,975.00/head	2,975.00–2,975.00	2,975	13
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,443	3,225.00/head	3,225.00–3,225.00	3,225	7
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,468	3,250.00/head	3,250.00–3,250.00	3,250	11
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,495	3,055.70/head	2,650.00–3,200.00	3,056	14
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,505	2,994.12/head	2,900.00–3,300.00	2,994	61
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,542	3,800.00/head	3,800.00–3,800.00	3,800	6
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,561	3,260.00/head	3,260.00–3,260.00	3,260	4
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,605	3,356.76/head	3,200.00–3,475.00	3,357	46
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows10 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Large 1-2	1,078	2,250.00/head	2,250.00–2,250.00	2,250	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,330	2,760.53/head	2,675.00–2,800.00	2,761	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,340	3,195.46/head	2,950.00–3,500.00	3,195	13
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,345	2,652.23/head	2,500.00–2,700.00	2,652	18
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,398	2,650.00/head	2,650.00–2,650.00	2,650	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,477	2,600.00/head	2,600.00–2,600.00	2,600	10
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,505	2,200.00/head	2,200.00–2,200.00	2,200	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,526	2,670.25/head	2,650.00–2,900.00	2,670	15
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,570	2,897.91/head	2,700.00–3,000.00	2,898	13
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,616	2,985.00/head	2,985.00–2,985.00	2,985	5
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 2	865	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	1,817	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1-2	880	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,584	1
Stock Cows	—	Large 1	921	204.35/cwt	200.00–205.00	1,882	9
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	979	236.72/cwt	201.00–274.00	2,317	87
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,000	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	2,200	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,002	172.79/cwt	160.00–185.00	1,731	7
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,140	196.41/cwt	163.00–240.00	2,239	50

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 May 21, 2025

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 45Last week 1,778Year ago 30

Slaughter CattleReceipts 351Last week 110Year ago 321

Replacement CattleReceipts 1,226Last week 30Year ago 1,355

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,153	3,600.00	3,600.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	42	—	1,321	4,225.00–4,450.00	4,415.43
(<2 yrs)	Open	5	—	1,151	4,000.00	4,000.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	14	—	1,495	2,650.00–3,200.00	3,055.70
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	24	—	1,337	3,575.00–3,800.00	3,620.62
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	7	—	1,443	3,225.00	3,225.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,561	3,260.00	3,260.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	13	—	1,395	2,975.00	2,975.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,542	3,800.00	3,800.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	97	—	1,357	3,925.00–4,400.00	4,223.76
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	46	—	1,605	3,200.00–3,475.00	3,356.76
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	11	—	1,468	3,250.00	3,250.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	13	—	1,283	2,775.00	2,775.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	11	—	1,337	2,875.00	2,875.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	61	—	1,505	2,900.00–3,300.00	2,994.12

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,327	2,050.00	2,050.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,266	2,650.00	2,650.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,353	2,500.00	2,500.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	8	—	1,340	2,200.00–2,375.00	2,345.28

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)	13	—	1,340	2,950.00–3,500.00	3,195.46
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	13	—	1,570	2,700.00–3,000.00	2,897.91
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	5	—	1,616	2,985.00	2,985.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	10	—	1,477	2,600.00	2,600.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	18	—	1,345	2,500.00–2,700.00	2,652.23
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	4	—	1,505	2,200.00	2,200.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	15	—	1,526	2,650.00–2,900.00	2,670.25

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	4	—	1,078	2,250.00	2,250.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	4	—	1,398	2,650.00	2,650.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	3	—	1,330	2,675.00–2,800.00	2,760.53

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	87	—	979	201.00–274.00	236.72
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	50	—	1,140	163.00–240.00	196.41

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	7	—	1,002	160.00–185.00	172.79
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,000	220.00	220.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	9	—	921	200.00–205.00	204.35

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	880	180.00	180.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	865	210.00	210.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	N/A	28	—	1,150	2,750.00–4,000.00	3,090.98

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12	850–900	878	266.00	266.00
9	950–1000	978	245.00	245.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	950–1000	972	252.00	252.00
9	1100–1150	1,133	221.00–225.00	222.78

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	1100–1150	1,112	213.00	213.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	1,200	158.00–165.00	160.18
23	—	1,245	146.00–155.00	153.01
11	—	1,127	129.00–144.00	135.92

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	888	104.00–107.00	105.51

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,300	129.00–131.00	130.34
4	—	1,569	149.00–153.00	152.03
21	—	1,419	140.00–148.00	144.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
84	—	1,393	149.00–159.00	155.93
9	—	1,457	141.00–147.00	143.73
13	—	1,279	161.00–170.00	162.46

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,109	108.00–125.00	117.42
4	—	1,174	131.00–137.50	134.87

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,652	146.00–149.00	146.97
25	—	1,488	156.00	156.00
7	—	1,599	133.00–145.50	143.04

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,090	126.00	126.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,436	162.00–168.00	164.81
6	—	1,463	169.00–176.00	173.80

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	2,031	187.00–202.00	191.69
1	—	1,910	161.00	161.00
4	—	1,868	172.50–183.00	178.98

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.