Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2025-06-25

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jun 25
● Final96 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
239 head
▼ 85 vs last sale 324▲ 22 vs year ago 217 · +10.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
422 head
▼ 162 vs last sale 584▼ 125 vs year ago 547 · −22.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
252 head
▲ 75 vs last sale 177▼ 46 vs year ago 298 · −15.4%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for feeders was good for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Demand for cutting bulls remains very good as several buyers continue to purchase bulls to cut and make steers. Market activity was active with buyers all bidding rapidly. Weigh up cows and bulls comprised most of the sale today. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand as this is the last opportunity for buyers to buy cows and bulls before the 4th of July holiday. Very few cows were purchased for immediate slaughter as demand for feeding cows remains very good and kept prices mostly above slaughter cow purchase orders. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher on breaking cows in a narrow comparison. Boning and lean cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Feeding cows sold on mostly good to very good demand. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Cow quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher, with the largest price increase seen for average to below average yielding bulls. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady to firm in a narrow comparison. The calendar continues to work against the young cow market as many buyers want to have cows out with bulls by this time of year. Demand for fleshy young cows which will finish quickly was mostly good as buyers hope to blend these fleshy offerings onto market ready loads. Quality this week was mostly average.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $330.72/cwt on 19 head. That ranks 1 of 19 comparable sales and sits −64.74 against this barn's trailing median of $395.45.
Average price
$330.72
19 head · 566 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,871
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$54
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$10.77/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−6.95
vs MT average
−5.19 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1565334.121,88813thin
Medium and Large 1-2567323.351,8336thin
One grade step is worth $10.77/cwt here — about $54 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 600–700 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 sale19 hd
330.72
—
MT average2 barns · 25 hd
337.66
−6.95
National average145 barns · 7,340 hd
335.91
−5.19
This barn, trailing median19 sales
395.45
−64.74
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
478430382334median 395.4503/1104/1506/0309/0210/21
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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Bulls—Low1,811183.753,32775
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,379160.532,214191
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,736157.782,73917
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,136150.521,71174
Dairy CowsBreaker 75-80%Average2,110149.003,1442thin
Dairy CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,598139.002,2213thin
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Low1,260105.001,3231thin

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 $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,461$3,07014
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,388$2,9504thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,443$2,8638
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,168$2,7605
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,223$2,3782thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,435$2,3502thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,292$2,1509
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,645$3,5003thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,633$3,4492thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,409$3,39715
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,619$3,3666
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,572$3,25015
Heifer PairsOpen(<2 yrs)1,283$3,6003thin

Every lot

96 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.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Feeder Cattle · Steers10 lots · lightest first
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned333430.00/cwt430.00–430.001,4322
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2435385.00/cwt385.00–385.001,6754
Steers500–550Medium 1-2523310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,6212
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2583357.50/cwt357.50–357.502,0842
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2642345.00/cwt345.00–345.002,2153
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2673335.00/cwt335.00–335.002,2552
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2753316.50/cwt316.50–316.502,3839
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2839292.39/cwt291.00–296.002,4537
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1917272.83/cwt271.00–280.002,5025
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1-2923270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,4924
Feeder Cattle · Heifers16 lots · lightest first
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2404345.00/cwt345.00–345.001,3944
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2493332.50/cwt332.50–332.501,6392
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1557337.50/cwt337.50–337.501,8805
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2567323.35/cwt320.00–330.001,8336
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned570332.00/cwt332.00–332.001,8928
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1622330.00/cwt330.00–330.002,0536
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2650275.00/cwt275.00–275.001,7881
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1678319.51/cwt319.00–320.002,1664
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1709323.28/cwt316.00–327.002,2927
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2748305.00/cwt305.00–305.002,2812
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1760312.52/cwt305.00–313.502,37551
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2760280.00/cwt280.00–280.002,1281
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1826283.00/cwt283.00–283.002,3384
Heifers800–850Large 1Fleshy840238.00/cwt238.00–238.001,9994
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 2Fleshy920200.00/cwt200.00–200.001,8403
Heifers900–950Large 1Fleshy925220.00/cwt220.00–220.002,0354
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1-2865247.50/cwt247.50–247.502,1412
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 2935235.00/cwt235.00–235.002,1972
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 11,018251.00/cwt251.00–251.002,5552
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,035243.00/cwt243.00–243.002,5151
Bulls1100–1150Large 11,129240.04/cwt239.00–245.002,71017
Bulls1200–1250Large 1-21,205189.00/cwt189.00–189.002,2771
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,243156.09/cwt152.50–160.001,9402
Bulls——Return to Feed1,397170.77/cwt165.00–174.002,3866
Bulls——Return to Feed1,506179.92/cwt172.00–185.002,71015
Bulls——1,703163.21/cwt151.00–171.002,7795
Bulls——1,894183.60/cwt176.00–196.003,47724
Bulls——2,065199.45/cwt190.00–213.004,11921
Bulls——2,510167.30/cwt165.00–169.504,1992
Slaughter Cattle · Cows22 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight790122.52/cwt117.50–130.009682
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight932134.34/cwt132.00–136.001,2523
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight990150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,4851
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,050141.00/cwt141.00–141.001,4811
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,108138.28/cwt128.00–149.001,5329
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,133156.88/cwt155.00–158.001,7773
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,138126.04/cwt112.50–132.001,4348
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,173156.54/cwt150.00–165.001,83629
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,177163.13/cwt161.50–166.001,92018
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,298143.18/cwt132.00–150.001,8583
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,369165.02/cwt162.00–168.002,25990
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,382158.05/cwt151.00–162.002,18486
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,388147.91/cwt146.00–149.002,0533
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,392130.22/cwt124.00–135.001,8133
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,515158.76/cwt158.00–163.002,4056
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,555161.00/cwt161.00–161.002,5041
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,607164.01/cwt162.00–165.002,6363
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,697162.87/cwt160.00–166.002,7645
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,773157.57/cwt155.00–160.002,7945
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,870131.00/cwt131.00–131.002,4501
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,885140.00/cwt140.00–140.002,6391
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,030156.00/cwt156.00–156.003,1671
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows3 lots · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%1,260105.00/cwt105.00–105.001,3231
Dairy Cows—Boner 80-85%1,598139.00/cwt139.00–139.002,2213
Dairy Cows—Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,110149.00/cwt149.00–149.003,1442
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs10 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Small and Medium 29842,850.00/head2,850.00–2,850.002,8505
Cow-Calf Pairs—Large 1-21,3403,000.00/head3,000.00–3,000.003,0002
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,4873,399.78/head3,200.00–3,500.003,4003
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,5493,200.00/head3,200.00–3,200.003,2008
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5733,350.00/head3,350.00–3,350.003,3505
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,6193,366.44/head3,200.00–3,400.003,3666
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,6333,449.16/head3,400.00–3,500.003,4492
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,6453,500.00/head3,500.00–3,500.003,5003
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,6633,200.00/head3,200.00–3,200.003,2002
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,8144,100.00/head4,100.00–4,100.004,1005
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows13 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1202,550.00/head2,550.00–2,550.002,5502
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2002,900.00/head2,900.00–2,900.002,9003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2232,377.91/head2,350.00–2,400.002,3782
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2922,150.00/head2,150.00–2,150.002,1509
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3302,450.00/head2,450.00–2,450.002,4502
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3352,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS1,3432,900.00/head2,900.00–2,900.002,9002
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3552,350.00/head2,350.00–2,350.002,3501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3882,950.00/head2,950.00–2,950.002,9504
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4803,000.00/head3,000.00–3,000.003,0006
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4923,166.90/head3,000.00–3,400.003,16711
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,495178.00/cwt178.00–178.002,6611
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5352,600.00/head2,600.00–2,600.002,6001
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1-2783216.36/cwt205.00–227.501,6944
Stock Cows—Medium 2920160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,4721
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1936238.71/cwt213.00–270.002,2349
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2955160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,5281
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,003197.80/cwt172.50–225.001,9844
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,075205.30/cwt182.00–222.502,2073
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,153195.75/cwt166.00–230.002,25765
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,200169.00/cwt169.00–169.002,0282
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 11,2833,600.00/head3,600.00–3,600.003,6003

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.