Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2025-10-22

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Oct 22
● Final91 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
544 head
▲ 302 vs last sale 242▲ 98 vs year ago 446 · +22.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
1,077 head
▲ 556 vs last sale 521▲ 385 vs year ago 692 · +55.6%
Replacement Cattle receipts
575 head
▲ 26 vs last sale 549▲ 298 vs year ago 277 · +107.6%
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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 last week to develop any market trend. Demand for calves and yearlings was moderate to good. Quality was mostly plain to average this week with many cut back cattle seen. Most feeder offerings were offered in small packages with many singles noticed. Demand for light weight calves suitable to develop into yearlings remains very good. Demand for offerings too heavy to develop into yearlings was mostly light to moderate. CME positions sold sharply lower today with all contracts moving limit lower with the exception of the nearby October contract which settles next week. Market activity was moderate to active despite a light offering. Weigh up cows sold on mostly very good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Small regional cow packers were in the market this week buying cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold sharply higher, with most sales 10.00-15.00 higher on boning and breaking cows as major packers and regional packers fought over offerings. Lean cows sold unevenly steady from 5.00 higher to 5.00 lower. Major packers opted to send most cows to feed. Major packers purchased both short term and long term cows to feed. Short term feeding cows were mostly slightly blemished cows that could be fed to hold or improve yield for harvest over the thanksgiving holiday week. No trend is available for short term feeding cows as most of these offerings were purchased for slaughter last week. Long term feeding cows sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher as regional packers battled major packers over high quality sound offerings. Weigh conditions were mixed this week. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 lower. Bulls suitable to feed sold steady on very good demand. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Demand for these offerings remains good to very good. Quality was mostly average to attractive. Bred cow offerings sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Prices for bred cows were mostly higher than last week.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $414.86/cwt on 61 head. That ranks 3 of 10 comparable sales and sits −40.06 against this barn's trailing median of $454.92.
Average price
$414.86
61 head · 566 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,350
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$144
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 1
$5.92/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−58.92
vs MT average
−43.28 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2530420.002,2258thin
Medium and Large 1572414.082,36953
One grade step is worth $5.92/cwt here — about −$144 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 sale61 hd
414.86
—
MT average5 barns · 2,474 hd
473.78
−58.92
National average182 barns · 38,495 hd
458.14
−43.28
This barn, trailing median10 sales
454.92
−40.06
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
525476427379median 454.9203/1804/1506/2409/3010/21
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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Bulls—Low1,833181.433,32654
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,546185.172,863101
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,360172.812,351334
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,200157.911,894213

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 Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,122$3,51121
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,227$3,5009
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,123$3,38647
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,291$3,36513
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,235$3,3001thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,347$3,13025
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,496$2,98510
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,308$2,95813
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,300$2,9163thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,169$2,8504thin

Every lot

91 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 · Steers19 lots · lightest first
Steers200–250Medium and Large 1Unweaned228870.00/cwt870.00–870.001,9842
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned262805.00/cwt805.00–805.002,1095
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned337670.00/cwt670.00–670.002,25817
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned342600.00/cwt600.00–600.002,05210
Steers350–400Small 2-3351265.00/cwt265.00–265.009307
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned364636.32/cwt625.00–670.002,31616
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned421543.84/cwt540.00–570.002,29023
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned423501.06/cwt460.00–507.502,11921
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned456433.52/cwt420.00–450.001,97711
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned466498.35/cwt497.50–505.002,32237
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2Unweaned477350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,6705
Steers450–500Large 1Unweaned478450.00/cwt450.00–450.002,1512
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned508435.00/cwt435.00–435.002,2106
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned572414.08/cwt412.50–417.502,36953
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned595375.00/cwt375.00–375.002,2312
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned611395.00/cwt395.00–395.002,4135
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned618408.46/cwt403.00–410.002,52419
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned678396.31/cwt390.00–397.002,68710
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2808355.00/cwt355.00–355.002,8688
Feeder Cattle · Heifers9 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned285630.00/cwt630.00–630.001,7963
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned447461.00/cwt461.00–461.002,06124
Heifers450–500Medium 1Unweaned453420.00/cwt420.00–420.001,9032
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned486430.00/cwt430.00–430.002,09011
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned581350.00/cwt350.00–350.002,0349
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned628351.00/cwt351.00–351.002,20410
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2838307.00/cwt307.00–307.002,57315
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2874303.00/cwt303.00–303.002,6488
Heifers1050–1100Large 1Fleshy1,091285.00/cwt285.00–285.003,1095
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned637370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,3575
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned681365.00/cwt365.00–365.002,4864
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1865325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,8111
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1980310.00/cwt310.00–310.003,0381
Bulls1100–1150Large 11,101260.00/cwt260.00–260.002,8636
Bulls1150–1200Large 11,175265.00/cwt265.00–265.003,1141
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,270140.00/cwt140.00–140.001,7782
Bulls——Return to Feed1,684176.93/cwt160.00–183.002,9809
Bulls——1,805166.40/cwt160.00–172.003,00412
Bulls——Return to Feed1,850192.22/cwt187.00–197.003,55615
Bulls——1,933196.09/cwt194.00–198.003,7908
Bulls——2,053184.52/cwt182.00–188.003,7888
Slaughter Cattle · Cows21 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight95585.00/cwt85.00–85.008122
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,11978.70/cwt60.00–90.008819
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,173115.35/cwt100.00–125.001,35336
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,182180.16/cwt180.00–181.002,12918
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,194166.77/cwt166.00–167.001,9914
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,206173.20/cwt165.00–178.002,08992
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,207148.68/cwt112.50–165.001,79515
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,248176.45/cwt175.50–179.002,20237
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,325112.00/cwt112.00–112.001,4843
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,331175.64/cwt168.00–181.002,338175
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,336123.51/cwt115.00–126.001,65014
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,356169.25/cwt154.00–177.002,29531
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,372185.43/cwt182.00–189.002,54446
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,428153.05/cwt132.50–167.002,18628
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,449185.23/cwt183.00–187.502,68437
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,453187.00/cwt187.00–187.002,7172
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,478187.84/cwt185.00–189.502,77658
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Non-Traditional1,490187.00/cwt187.00–187.002,7861
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,604174.31/cwt171.00–178.002,7964
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,641181.89/cwt180.00–185.002,98511
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,664181.92/cwt174.00–186.003,02725
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows10 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed710155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,1011
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed842316.30/cwt305.00–322.502,6639
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed980285.00/cwt285.00–285.002,7932
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1985308.38/cwt245.00–355.003,038132
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,031228.12/cwt203.00–295.002,3526
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,079192.28/cwt174.00–270.002,07528
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,131228.63/cwt182.50–305.002,586134
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,145231.68/cwt205.00–270.002,6532
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,284178.57/cwt175.00–181.002,2935
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,441189.98/cwt185.00–191.002,7386
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows20 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed9503,250.00/head3,250.00–3,250.003,2501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed9783,400.00/head3,400.00–3,400.003,4003
Bred Cows—Large 11,1012,850.00/head2,850.00–2,850.002,8505
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1303,454.75/head3,400.00–3,550.003,45541
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1363,576.87/head3,450.00–3,600.003,57716
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,1692,850.00/head2,850.00–2,850.002,8504
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2233,149.49/head3,100.00–3,200.003,1492
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2273,500.00/head3,500.00–3,500.003,5009
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2353,300.00/head3,300.00–3,300.003,3001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,236193.00/cwt193.00–193.002,38513
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2383,100.00/head3,100.00–3,100.003,1002
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3002,916.29/head2,850.00–2,950.002,9163
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3013,412.68/head3,300.00–3,475.003,41311
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3043,079.75/head3,050.00–3,100.003,08010
Bred Cows—Large 11,3222,550.00/head2,550.00–2,550.002,5503
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,337183.00/cwt183.00–183.002,4477
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3473,155.00/head3,000.00–3,250.003,15523
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3502,841.67/head2,700.00–2,950.002,8422
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,3702,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5002
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5283,106.15/head2,900.00–3,300.003,1068

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.