Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2025-12-03

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2025-12-03
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-12-03

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Dec 3

● Final68 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Nov 26Dec 3Jan 7 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

155 head

▼ 26 vs last sale 181▼ 471 vs year ago 626 · −75.2%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

714 head

▲ 253 vs last sale 461▼ 236 vs year ago 950 · −24.8%

Replacement Cattle receipts

285 head

▲ 8 vs last sale 277▼ 150 vs year ago 435 · −34.5%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to one week ago: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeder cattle offerings were light this week. Quality was mostly good and offered in small packages with many singles in the offering. Market activity was moderate to good. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Demand for feeding cows was mostly moderate with good demand seen at times. Slaughter cows sold steady on breaking cows, boning cows sold 11.00 to 15.00 higher and lean cows sold 8.00 to 15.00 lower. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive with lots of variation in quality noticed. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 5.00 lower. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 10.00-12.00 higher. Bred cows sold steady to 250.00 lower with plain to attractive quality.

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 $374.67/cwt on 15 head. That ranks 1 of 10 comparable sales and sits −80.25 against this barn's trailing median of $454.92.

Average price

$374.67

15 head · 565 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,117

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$250

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

$47.29/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−43.85

vs MT average

−54.48 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	553	395.63	2,189	8thin
Medium and Large 1-2	595	352.50	2,097	4thin
Medium and Large 2	557	348.33	1,939	3thin

One grade step is worth $47.29/cwt here — about $250 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 sale15 hd

374.67

—

MT average2 barns · 184 hd

418.51

−43.85

National average190 barns · 23,426 hd

429.15

−54.48

This barn, trailing median10 sales

454.92

−80.25

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	—	Average	1,672	163.54	2,735	35
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,449	161.46	2,340	174
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,258	157.58	1,982	240
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,154	122.95	1,419	95

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)	1,164	$3,371	14
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,123	$2,607	10
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,224	$2,533	16
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,370	$2,334	27
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,380	$1,949	5
Bred Heifers	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	(<2 yrs)	889	$2,550	11
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,023	$2,399	2thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,255	$3,300	1thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,627	$2,650	1thin

Every lot

68 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 · Steers19 lots · lightest first
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 2	316	420.00/cwt	420.00–420.00	1,327	4
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1	340	490.00/cwt	490.00–490.00	1,666	1
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 2	405	450.00/cwt	450.00–450.00	1,823	2
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	452	465.00/cwt	465.00–465.00	2,102	5
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 2	458	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	1,672	2
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	515	417.50/cwt	417.50–417.50	2,150	1
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Value Added	518	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	2,227	2
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 2	520	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,872	1
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	575	377.50/cwt	377.50–377.50	2,171	5
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 2	575	342.50/cwt	342.50–342.50	1,969	2
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	595	352.50/cwt	352.50–352.50	2,097	4
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	600	381.00/cwt	381.00–381.00	2,286	11
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	656	363.00/cwt	363.00–363.00	2,381	12
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	697	342.50/cwt	342.50–342.50	2,387	11
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	749	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	2,584	4
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 2	760	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	2,128	1
Steers	850–900	Medium and Large 1	890	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	2,537	1
Steers	900–950	Medium and Large 2	948	267.50/cwt	267.50–267.50	2,536	2
Steers	1050–1100	Medium and Large 1	1,060	277.50/cwt	277.50–277.50	2,942	1
Feeder Cattle · Heifers14 lots · lightest first
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 2	383	370.20/cwt	360.00–380.00	1,418	2
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 2	450	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,440	1
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	512	361.23/cwt	350.00–370.00	1,849	16
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 2	523	332.51/cwt	330.00–335.00	1,739	2
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	551	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	1,901	8
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 2	583	310.13/cwt	300.00–320.00	1,808	2
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 2	605	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,815	3
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	608	349.65/cwt	347.00–351.00	2,126	9
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Fancy	610	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	2,196	6
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 2	677	311.60/cwt	310.00–315.00	2,110	3
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	681	325.60/cwt	322.00–337.50	2,217	13
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 2	715	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	2,002	1
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	725	312.50/cwt	312.50–312.50	2,266	1
Heifers	1000–1050	Medium and Large 1	1,030	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	2,678	2
Feeder Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	750–800	Medium and Large 2	758	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	2,047	2
Bulls	900–950	Medium and Large 1	935	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	2,618	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,298	137.50/cwt	137.50–137.50	1,785	5
Bulls	—	—	1,628	171.06/cwt	165.00–175.00	2,785	12
Bulls	—	—	1,679	160.70/cwt	160.00–162.00	2,698	6
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,679	152.69/cwt	142.50–162.00	2,564	5
Bulls	—	—	2,005	179.42/cwt	179.00–181.00	3,597	7
Slaughter Cattle · Cows17 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,050	103.16/cwt	100.00–107.50	1,083	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,122	117.15/cwt	102.50–122.50	1,314	29
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,148	140.22/cwt	126.00–166.00	1,610	30
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,164	88.00/cwt	80.00–95.00	1,024	18
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,187	146.84/cwt	128.00–162.00	1,743	12
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,203	193.06/cwt	180.00–232.50	2,323	13
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,211	150.84/cwt	141.00–169.00	1,827	11
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,236	170.80/cwt	156.00–192.50	2,111	22
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,240	151.05/cwt	144.00–157.50	1,873	63
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,249	161.52/cwt	142.50–181.00	2,017	106
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,311	159.78/cwt	157.50–166.00	2,095	26
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,337	130.87/cwt	129.00–132.50	1,750	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,392	134.18/cwt	125.00–142.00	1,868	12
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,412	163.09/cwt	153.00–175.00	2,303	100
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,556	156.68/cwt	150.00–160.00	2,438	45
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,557	162.30/cwt	161.00–165.00	2,527	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,589	133.71/cwt	122.00–142.00	2,125	13
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,123	2,607.45/head	2,100.00–2,800.00	2,607	10
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,164	3,370.60/head	2,600.00–3,700.00	3,371	14
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,224	2,533.27/head	2,350.00–2,700.00	2,533	16
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,370	2,333.83/head	2,000.00–2,450.00	2,334	27
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,380	1,948.77/head	1,850.00–2,050.00	1,949	5
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers2 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	889	2,550.00/head	2,550.00–2,550.00	2,550	11
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,023	2,398.66/head	2,350.00–2,450.00	2,399	2
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs2 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,255	3,300.00/head	3,300.00–3,300.00	3,300	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,627	2,650.00/head	2,650.00–2,650.00	2,650	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows2 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	961	282.02/cwt	180.00–310.00	2,710	94
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,092	231.21/cwt	170.00–267.50	2,525	61

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 Dec 3, 2025

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 155Last week 181Year ago 626

Slaughter CattleReceipts 714Last week 461Year ago 950

Replacement CattleReceipts 285Last week 277Year ago 435

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	1,311	157.50–166.00	159.78
63	—	1,240	144.00–157.50	151.05
12	—	1,392	125.00–142.00	134.18

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
45	—	1,556	150.00–160.00	156.68
13	—	1,589	122.00–142.00	133.71
3	—	1,557	161.00–165.00	162.30

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,211	141.00–169.00	150.84
22	—	1,236	156.00–192.50	170.80
106	—	1,249	142.50–181.00	161.52

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,203	180.00–232.50	193.06
100	—	1,412	153.00–175.00	163.09

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,187	128.00–162.00	146.84
30	—	1,148	126.00–166.00	140.22
2	—	1,050	100.00–107.50	103.16

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,337	129.00–132.50	130.87
29	—	1,122	102.50–122.50	117.15
18	—	1,164	80.00–95.00	88.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,628	165.00–175.00	171.06
6	—	1,679	160.00–162.00	160.70
7	—	2,005	179.00–181.00	179.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,679	142.50–162.00	152.69
5	—	1,298	137.50	137.50

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
16	500–550	512	350.00–370.00	361.23
8	550–600	551	345.00	345.00
9	600–650	608	347.00–351.00	349.65
13	650–700	681	322.00–337.50	325.60
1	700–750	725	312.50	312.50
2	1000–1050	1,030	260.00	260.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	383	360.00–380.00	370.20
1	450–500	450	320.00	320.00
2	500–550	523	330.00–335.00	332.51
2	550–600	583	300.00–320.00	310.13
3	600–650	605	300.00	300.00
3	650–700	677	310.00–315.00	311.60
1	700–750	715	280.00	280.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
6	600–650	610	360.00	360.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	300–350	316	420.00	420.00
2	400–450	405	450.00	450.00
2	450–500	458	365.00	365.00
1	500–550	520	360.00	360.00
2	550–600	575	342.50	342.50
1	750–800	760	280.00	280.00
2	900–950	948	267.50	267.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Value Added$ per cwt · actual wt
2	500–550	518	430.00	430.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	340	490.00	490.00
5	450–500	452	465.00	465.00
1	500–550	515	417.50	417.50
5	550–600	575	377.50	377.50
11	600–650	600	381.00	381.00
12	650–700	656	363.00	363.00
4	700–750	749	345.00	345.00
1	850–900	890	285.00	285.00
1	1050–1100	1,060	277.50	277.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	550–600	595	352.50	352.50
11	650–700	697	342.50	342.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	750–800	758	270.00	270.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	900–950	935	280.00	280.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	16	—	1,224	2,350.00–2,700.00	2,533.27
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	5	—	1,380	1,850.00–2,050.00	1,948.77
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	10	—	1,123	2,100.00–2,800.00	2,607.45
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	14	—	1,164	2,600.00–3,700.00	3,370.60
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	27	—	1,370	2,000.00–2,450.00	2,333.83

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	—	1,023	2,350.00–2,450.00	2,398.66
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	11	—	889	2,550.00	2,550.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,255	3,300.00	3,300.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,627	2,650.00	2,650.00

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	61	—	1,092	170.00–267.50	231.21
(<2 yrs)	Open	94	—	961	180.00–310.00	282.02

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.