Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-06-21

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jun 21
● Final96 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
449 head
▲ 355 vs last sale 94▲ 2 vs year ago 447 · +0.4%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
636 head
▲ 287 vs last sale 349▼ 471 vs year ago 1,107 · −42.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
901 head
▲ 763 vs last sale 138▲ 349 vs year ago 552 · +63.2%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Demand for feeders was mostly moderate to good, however demand was not as strong as it was the last sale as CME feeder contracts have lost significant ground in the last week of trading. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to run on grass as order buyers and ranchers continue to compete over offerings. Quality today was mostly plain to average. Market activity remains active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to 1.00 lower on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Demand for feeding cows remains good to very good. Feeding cows sold steady to 3.00 lower on a poorer quality offering. Cow quality today was mostly plain to average. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average today as cool and rainy conditions were seen and many sets of cows were pushing fill. Slaughter bulls sold unevenly steady from 2.00 lower to 3.00 higher. Very attractive, high dressing bulls sold with very good demand this week as most high dressing bulls sold higher. However the bulk of the bulls seen were average and low yielding bulls and the bulk of these bulls sold lower. Bull quality was mixed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady to weak. A large portion of this class of cows are returning to the country to feed as many have already turned out cows and bulls for the season. Quality was average this week.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $206.35/cwt on 222 head.
Average price
$206.35
222 head · 685 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,413
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$322
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 1
$29.35/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−6.09
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2562223.351,25689
Medium and Large 2392205.008047thin
Medium 2457200.009149thin
Medium and Large 1813194.001,578117
One grade step is worth $29.35/cwt here — about −$322 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 0–100 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 0–100 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale222 hd
206.35
—
MT average2 barns · 287 hd
212.44
−6.09
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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Bulls—Low1,786116.932,089112
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,607101.801,63615
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,403100.191,406236
CowsLean 85-90%High1,20691.641,105121

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/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,423$1,4502thin
Bred Heifers1st Stage (1-3 mo)(<2 yrs)892$1,898251
BullsN/A(<2 yrs)1,071$2,27514
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,341$2,80014
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,327$2,74543
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,659$2,57511
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,377$2,32866
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,406$2,30013
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,341$2,2388
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,423$2,0859
Heifer PairsOpen(<2 yrs)1,071$2,57328

Every lot, as filed

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.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
SteersMedium and Large 2—655209.00/cwt209.00–209.001,3691
HeifersMedium and Large 1—550252.50/cwt252.50–252.501,3891
HeifersMedium and Large 2—384205.00/cwt205.00–205.007874
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2—884179.00/cwt179.00–179.001,5828
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2—518232.58/cwt222.50–242.501,20553
HeifersMedium and Large 1—540240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,2962
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2—427230.00/cwt230.00–230.009828
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2—748190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,4213
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2—655204.23/cwt201.00–215.001,3388
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2—567229.06/cwt220.00–237.501,2993
HeifersMedium 2—457200.00/cwt200.00–200.009149
HeifersMedium and Large 1—717206.59/cwt202.00–212.001,48133
HeifersMedium and Large 1—886184.78/cwt181.00–190.001,63758
BullsLarge 1—1,030191.00/cwt191.00–191.001,9671
HeifersMedium and Large 1—937182.00/cwt182.00–182.001,7053
HeifersMedium and Large 1—781194.23/cwt192.00–195.001,51719
HeifersMedium and Large 1—820194.00/cwt194.00–194.001,5911
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2—486231.41/cwt222.50–240.001,1256
HeifersMedium and Large 2—403205.00/cwt205.00–205.008263
BullsMedium and Large 1—1,0782,311.53/head2,100.00–2,700.002,31213
BullsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed—9751,800.00/head1,800.00–1,800.001,8001
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth—1,4232,085.00/head2,085.00–2,085.002,0859
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1—1,1952,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4007
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1—1,3692,893.94/head2,750.00–3,150.002,89430
SteersMedium and Large 2—616230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,4174
SteersMedium and Large 1-2—466273.23/cwt265.00–275.001,2736
SteersMedium and Large 1-2—635254.56/cwt240.00–262.501,6169
SteersLarge 1—1,025186.00/cwt186.00–186.001,9073
SteersMedium and Large 1—913194.50/cwt194.00–195.001,7762
SteersMedium and Large 1—895203.00/cwt203.00–203.001,81717
SteersMedium and Large 1-2—705232.50/cwt232.50–232.501,6393
SteersMedium and Large 1-2—843210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,7702
SteersMedium and Large 1-2—653247.50/cwt247.50–247.501,6162
SteersMedium and Large 1-2—765217.50/cwt217.50–217.501,6641
SteersMedium and Large 2—360255.00/cwt255.00–255.009181
SteersMedium and Large 1—608285.00/cwt285.00–285.001,7333
SteersLarge 2—1,012165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,6703
SteersMedium and Large 1—765224.90/cwt220.00–230.001,7202
SteersMedium 2—490210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,0291
SteersMedium and Large 1—663276.16/cwt262.50–281.001,83112
SteersMedium and Large 1—727246.79/cwt240.00–250.001,7943
SteersMedium and Large 2—560232.50/cwt232.50–232.501,3022
BullsMedium and Large 1—1,004171.00/cwt171.00–171.001,7179
BullsMedium and Large 1—438265.00/cwt265.00–265.001,1612
BullsMedium and Large 1-2—810187.50/cwt187.50–187.501,5191
BullsMedium and Large 1Unweaned—469251.00/cwt251.00–251.001,1775
BullsMedium and Large 1—838207.00/cwt207.00–207.001,7356
BullsMedium and Large 1—990180.00/cwt180.00–180.001,7821
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed—1,266102.64/cwt100.00–108.001,2996
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed—1,18693.94/cwt89.00–98.001,11437
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed—1,529102.50/cwt101.00–103.001,5674
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed—1,445113.00/cwt113.00–113.001,6331
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed—1,37298.44/cwt96.00–103.001,35191
Bulls——1,692107.62/cwt97.00–117.001,82122
CowsBoner 80-85%—1,40097.16/cwt94.00–100.001,36022
CowsBoner 80-85%—1,444104.17/cwt101.50–109.001,50414
CowsLean 85-90%—1,23283.45/cwt77.00–91.001,02822
CowsLean 85-90%—1,208101.02/cwt100.00–102.001,2202
CowsLean 85-90%—1,24193.66/cwt91.00–97.501,16243
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed—1,18586.78/cwt85.00–90.001,0285
CowsBreaker 75-80%—1,65499.32/cwt98.00–100.501,6438
CowsBreaker 75-80%—1,620104.00/cwt104.00–104.001,6851
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed—1,37493.86/cwt89.00–94.501,29019
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed—1,427106.10/cwt104.00–111.001,51476
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight—94682.99/cwt77.00–89.007856
CowsBoner 80-85%—1,48388.90/cwt86.00–93.001,31814
CowsBreaker 75-80%—1,695105.50/cwt105.50–105.501,7881
Bulls—Light Weight—1,314100.14/cwt89.00–106.001,3167
Bulls——1,862119.18/cwt114.00–127.002,21941
Bulls——2,415114.00/cwt114.00–114.002,7531
Bulls——2,026130.26/cwt124.00–140.002,63927
Bulls—Return to Feed—1,456106.62/cwt100.00–109.001,55213
Bulls—Return to Feed—1,260124.00/cwt124.00–124.001,5621
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,3402,200.00/head2,200.00–2,200.002,2004
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,2692,402.99/head2,350.00–2,500.002,4036
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,3501,900.00/head1,900.00–1,900.001,9001
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1—1,3412,275.00/head2,275.00–2,275.002,2754
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,5821,950.00/head1,950.00–1,950.001,9503
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1—1,6592,575.00/head2,575.00–2,575.002,57511
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1—1,400101.00/cwt101.00–101.001,4141
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1—1,225129.00/cwt129.00–129.001,5801
Heifer PairsMedium and Large 1-2—1,0712,572.68/head2,560.00–2,650.002,57328
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1—1,4062,300.00/head2,300.00–2,300.002,30013
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1—1,3412,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,80014
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1—1,8752,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,7001
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1—1,12892.47/cwt92.00–93.001,0432
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2—1,086103.47/cwt98.50–112.501,1246
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2—995141.66/cwt141.00–143.001,4103
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1—8921,897.86/head1,700.00–2,000.001,898251
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1—1,4231,450.00/head1,450.00–1,450.001,4502
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1—1,420116.00/cwt116.00–116.001,6471
Stock CowsLarge 1—1,068123.92/cwt113.00–135.001,3232
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1—998152.69/cwt131.00–187.501,52422
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1—1,133120.77/cwt100.00–149.001,36860
Stock CowsMedium 1—695165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,1473
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1—1,3592,347.94/head2,200.00–2,450.002,34861

How this sale compares

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.