Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2025-10-15

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Oct 15
● Final106 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
242 head
▼ 237 vs last sale 479▼ 338 vs year ago 580 · −58.3%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
521 head
▼ 74 vs last sale 595▼ 389 vs year ago 910 · −42.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
549 head
▲ 281 vs last sale 268▼ 50 vs year ago 599 · −8.3%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. All calves were too lightly tested to develop any market trend, as this week featured bred cows, pairs and weigh ups. Demand for calves and yearlings was moderate to good. Quality was mostly average this week. Most feeder offerings were offered in small packages with many singles noticed. A small crowd was on hand for todays feeder offering, however internet bidding was very active this sale. Market activity was active despite a light offering. Weigh up cows sold on mostly very good demand for moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Slaughter cows were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on lean and boning cows. Breaking slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00 higher. Very few offerings were purchased for slaughter again this week as feeding cow buyers and replacement buyers absorbed most of the offerings. Only extremely blemished cows, not suitable to feed, were purchased for immediate harvest this week. Feeding cows sold 2.00-5.00 higher with the largest price increase seen for high quality feeding cows. Weigh conditions were mixed this week. Slaughter bulls sold unevenly as feeding bull buyers pushed to buy bulls away from packers. Bulls suitable to feed sold steady to firm on very good demand. Slaughter bulls too big to feed or unsound sold 3.00-5.00 lower in a very narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 5.00-10.00 higher. Demand for these offerings was very good with a large buyer pool bidding on offerings. Quality was mostly average to attractive. Demand was similar for both coming 3 and coming 4 year old cows. Demand for bred cows was mostly good for light offerings. Bred cow quality was average to attractive.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $383.11/cwt on 19 head. That ranks 8 of 19 comparable sales and sits −12.35 against this barn's trailing median of $395.45.
Average price
$383.11
19 head · 561 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,149
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$12
per head · Medium 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$10.18/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−49.30
vs MT average
−14.75 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1523390.002,0402thin
Medium and Large 1583384.032,23910thin
Medium and Large 1-2540379.822,0527thin
One grade step is worth $10.18/cwt here — about −$12 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 300–400 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
383.11
—
MT average4 barns · 1,118 hd
432.41
−49.30
National average180 barns · 19,448 hd
397.86
−14.75
This barn, trailing median19 sales
395.45
−12.35
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—Average1,833186.783,42441
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,381172.922,389206
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,681171.852,88837
CowsPremium White 65-75%Low1,701166.682,83550
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,201163.771,967129
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Low1,170132.001,5441thin

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)1,374$3,9007
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,182$3,89650
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,325$3,8504thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,262$3,5898
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,235$3,5503thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,413$3,37411
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,205$3,3502thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,447$3,12512
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,408$3,0754thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,441$2,93632
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,593$2,9255
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,331$2,86320
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,465$2,8501thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,204$2,42029
Bred Heifers1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)(<2 yrs)1,012$4,04222
BullsN/A(<2 yrs)1,058$3,7389
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,739$5,1005
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,251$4,69319
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,896$4,46916

Every lot

106 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 · Steers12 lots · lightest first
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned338630.00/cwt630.00–630.002,1295
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned375610.00/cwt610.00–610.002,2881
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned417506.76/cwt490.00–510.002,1136
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned442540.00/cwt540.00–540.002,3876
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned453510.00/cwt510.00–510.002,3103
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned526450.44/cwt447.50–470.002,36916
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned608395.00/cwt395.00–395.002,4028
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned661398.91/cwt392.00–406.002,63710
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned680387.50/cwt387.50–387.502,6352
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1Unweaned730383.00/cwt383.00–383.002,79610
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,003336.00/cwt336.00–336.003,3702
Steers1200–1250Large 11,213281.00/cwt281.00–281.003,4094
Feeder Cattle · Heifers14 lots · lightest first
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned330580.00/cwt580.00–580.001,9145
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned349525.00/cwt525.00–525.001,8326
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned386465.00/cwt465.00–465.001,7957
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned425470.00/cwt470.00–470.001,9983
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned475411.80/cwt410.00–425.001,9568
Heifers500–550Medium 1Unweaned523390.00/cwt390.00–390.002,0402
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned531383.96/cwt380.00–405.002,0396
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned583384.03/cwt382.00–387.002,23910
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned595355.00/cwt355.00–355.002,1121
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned693339.00/cwt339.00–339.002,34913
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2738343.00/cwt343.00–343.002,5313
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1Replacement913335.00/cwt335.00–335.003,05912
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1998304.00/cwt304.00–304.003,0342
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,020299.06/cwt296.00–302.003,0508
Feeder Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls200–250Medium and Large 1Unweaned220790.00/cwt790.00–790.001,7381
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned353635.00/cwt635.00–635.002,2427
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned508475.00/cwt475.00–475.002,4133
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned635355.00/cwt355.00–355.002,2542
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1888340.00/cwt340.00–340.003,0192
Bulls1050–1100Large 11,080288.00/cwt288.00–288.003,1103
Bulls1100–1150Large 11,138265.00/cwt265.00–265.003,0162
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,730194.41/cwt184.00–201.503,36319
Bulls——1,812168.95/cwt160.00–174.003,0619
Bulls——Return to Feed1,835198.00/cwt198.00–198.003,6331
Bulls——1,868184.99/cwt181.00–193.003,4567
Bulls——Return to Feed1,893181.91/cwt181.00–183.003,4442
Bulls——2,175186.00/cwt186.00–186.004,0461
Bulls——2,260201.00/cwt201.00–201.004,5431
Bulls——Heavy Weight2,840200.00/cwt200.00–200.005,6801
Slaughter Cattle · Cows23 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight820120.00/cwt120.00–120.009841
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight95585.00/cwt85.00–85.008121
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,05597.50/cwt97.50–97.501,0291
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,155125.00/cwt120.00–127.001,4444
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,157154.37/cwt142.50–166.001,78624
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,19093.71/cwt85.00–100.001,1155
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,204182.27/cwt177.50–185.002,1956
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,220163.00/cwt163.00–163.001,9891
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,223172.31/cwt168.00–176.002,10787
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,308158.21/cwt156.00–162.002,0693
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,353172.53/cwt166.00–179.002,334116
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,393134.19/cwt133.00–135.001,8695
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,411156.95/cwt145.00–165.002,21513
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,429183.56/cwt181.00–185.502,62364
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,469144.43/cwt141.00–153.002,1224
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,561183.57/cwt182.50–184.002,8666
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,611170.66/cwt167.00–175.002,74915
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Non-Traditional1,625187.00/cwt187.00–187.003,0391
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,664159.98/cwt154.00–163.002,6624
Cows—Premium White 65-75%1,701166.68/cwt166.00–167.502,83550
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,793169.28/cwt165.00–172.503,0358
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,003173.50/cwt173.50–173.503,4752
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,020169.00/cwt169.00–169.003,4141
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%1,170132.00/cwt132.00–132.001,5441
Replacement Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Registered1,0583,737.95/head3,200.00–4,100.003,7389
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs4 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,1874,200.00/head4,200.00–4,200.004,20012
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Registered1,3625,538.41/head5,450.00–5,750.005,5387
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Registered1,7395,100.00/head5,100.00–5,100.005,1005
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Registered1,8964,469.39/head4,000.00–5,000.004,46916
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows11 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Large 1910300.00/cwt300.00–300.002,7301
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2946288.76/cwt235.00–325.002,73214
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1983311.89/cwt227.50–365.003,06678
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 2988232.64/cwt217.50–250.002,2982
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 2992197.37/cwt182.00–220.001,9585
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,050205.00/cwt205.00–205.002,1533
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,086250.54/cwt186.00–315.002,72180
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,230265.00/cwt265.00–265.003,2601
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,278202.50/cwt202.50–202.502,5882
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,286186.33/cwt180.00–189.002,3967
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy1,323185.00/cwt185.00–185.002,4482
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows24 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,0133,383.99/head3,100.00–3,650.003,3847
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,159300.00/cwt300.00–300.003,4774
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,1692,472.06/head2,375.00–2,550.002,47215
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,178173.00/cwt173.00–173.002,0384
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,1802,325.00/head2,325.00–2,325.002,32512
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2053,350.00/head3,350.00–3,350.003,3502
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2103,979.34/head3,600.00–4,200.003,97943
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,229210.00/cwt210.00–210.002,58110
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2353,550.00/head3,550.00–3,550.003,5503
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2623,588.71/head3,500.00–3,600.003,5898
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,268172.50/cwt172.50–172.502,1873
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,293220.00/cwt220.00–220.002,8452
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3253,850.00/head3,850.00–3,850.003,8504
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3262,932.53/head2,800.00–2,975.002,93317
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3552,525.00/head2,525.00–2,525.002,5252
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3622,470.75/head2,300.00–2,550.002,4713
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3743,900.00/head3,900.00–3,900.003,9007
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4083,075.00/head3,075.00–3,075.003,0754
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4133,374.12/head3,200.00–3,500.003,37411
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4473,125.00/head3,125.00–3,125.003,12512
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4472,963.63/head2,800.00–3,300.002,96430
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4652,850.00/head2,850.00–2,850.002,8501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5932,925.00/head2,925.00–2,925.002,9255
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,6132,600.00/head2,600.00–2,600.002,6002
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0124,042.48/head3,400.00–4,250.004,04222

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.