Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2022-11-04

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Nov 4
● Final99 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776
Feeder Cattle receipts
2,797 head
▲ 851 vs last sale 1,946▼ 290 vs year ago 3,087 · −9.4%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
261 head
▲ 145 vs last sale 116▼ 120 vs year ago 381 · −31.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
101 head
▲ 40 vs last sale 61▼ 37 vs year ago 138 · −26.8%
Also sold hereRegular saleWed Sep 30, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 450 lbs traded mostly 10.00-15.00 higher in a narrow comparison, steer calves 450-499 lbs traded unevenly steady, steers over 500 lbs sold steady. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower, heifers over 450 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Demand was mostly moderate to good for moderate offerings. Quality today was average to very attractive. Several buyers were looking for very attractive heifers that could be developed into replacements, this pushed heavier heifers higher today as feeding buyers pushed to fill loads. Demand for light weight cattle to develop into yearlings remains very good, however more takers were seen for steer calves today than for heifers. Market activity this week was mostly active with good buyer participation noticed. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand and offerings. Packers continue to put most of the cow offering away on feed either for short term feed for the upcoming holiday or to feed to premium white. Slaughter cows sold generally steady on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were not tested last sale thus no trend is available. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher. Quality this week was slightly better than last week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop any market trend. Young age cows were not well compared. Demand for high quality offerings suitable to rebreed remains very good. Quality today was mostly plain to average.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $205.12/cwt on 1,164 head.
Average price
$205.12
1,164 head · 555 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,139
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$705
per head · Medium 1 over Large 1
$79.52/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−1.67
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1440210.61928125
Medium and Large 1-2505206.301,042170
Medium and Large 1564206.111,163842
Medium 1-2450200.009004thin
Large 11,245131.091,63223
One grade step is worth $79.52/cwt here — about −$705 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 sale1,164 hd
205.12
—
MT average5 barns · 4,591 hd
206.79
−1.67
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—Average1,64383.911,37827
CowsBreaker 75-80%Very Low1,63678.451,28411
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,39566.7893156
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,11954.77613108

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)1,079$1,4006
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,123$1,1888
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,362$1,13015
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,343$94220
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,151$9004thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,195$8503thin

Every lot, as filed

99 lots · USDA AMS · Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Fri)
Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned—250217.50/cwt217.50–217.505444
HeifersSmall and Medium 2Unweaned—348111.00/cwt111.00–111.0038614
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—471193.56/cwt187.00–198.50912180
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—523188.66/cwt182.50–190.50987139
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—322225.69/cwt212.50–232.5072710
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—674157.44/cwt156.00–159.501,06110
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—423204.81/cwt200.00–208.0086682
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned—536175.00/cwt175.00–175.009388
SteersMedium 1—270266.00/cwt266.00–266.0071817
SteersMedium 1—439206.00/cwt206.00–206.0090413
SteersLarge 1Fleshy—1,383121.00/cwt121.00–121.001,67319
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned—386194.97/cwt190.00–198.0075323
HeifersLarge 1Unweaned—592165.00/cwt165.00–165.0097728
HeifersLarge 1Unweaned—647156.00/cwt156.00–156.001,0095
SteersMedium 1—499190.25/cwt190.25–190.2594952
SteersMedium and Large 1—685180.50/cwt180.50–180.501,23613
SteersMedium and Large 1—536195.00/cwt195.00–195.001,0457
HeifersLarge 1Unweaned—523165.00/cwt165.00–165.008634
SteersMedium and Large 1-2—973155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,5085
SteersMedium and Large 1—612187.00/cwt187.00–187.001,1443
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned—430235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,0112
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned—290271.91/cwt267.50–275.0078915
SteersMedium 1Unweaned—661175.00/cwt175.00–175.001,15711
SteersMedium and Large 1Fancy—550210.50/cwt210.50–210.501,15811
SteersLarge 1Unweaned—590179.00/cwt179.00–179.001,0564
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—673175.41/cwt168.00–180.001,18171
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—344305.00/cwt305.00–305.001,0496
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned—385259.44/cwt249.00–269.0099926
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned—579179.42/cwt177.50–185.001,03947
SteersMedium 1—341234.00/cwt234.00–234.0079829
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned—487200.21/cwt195.00–205.0097552
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned—515191.51/cwt185.00–193.0098611
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—478222.04/cwt205.00–250.001,06198
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned—632171.02/cwt167.00–173.001,08112
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—578195.65/cwt187.50–202.001,131208
SteersMedium and Large 1—878174.00/cwt174.00–174.001,5282
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—423263.59/cwt249.00–272.001,11592
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—630188.69/cwt181.50–194.001,189130
SteersMedium 1Unweaned—548174.00/cwt174.00–174.009543
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—528205.82/cwt198.50–210.001,087116
SteersMedium 1-2Unweaned—450200.00/cwt200.00–200.009004
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—708177.30/cwt165.00–180.001,25566
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—365290.08/cwt285.00–295.001,05919
HeifersMedium 1—401183.00/cwt183.00–183.007346
HeifersLarge 1—1,015150.50/cwt150.50–150.501,5289
BullsLarge 1—1,107111.50/cwt111.50–111.501,23416
BullsLarge 1—1,005130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,3071
BullsMedium and Large 1Unweaned—338252.50/cwt252.50–252.508536
BullsMedium and Large 1Unweaned—490201.00/cwt201.00–201.009851
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight—86848.00/cwt48.00–48.004174
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed—1,17373.41/cwt73.00–74.008615
CowsLean 85-90%—1,15454.10/cwt49.00–59.0062412
CowsBreaker 75-80%—1,79059.50/cwt59.50–59.501,0651
CowsBreaker 75-80%—1,49581.20/cwt79.00–82.501,2147
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed—1,38374.29/cwt71.00–78.001,02711
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight—94057.00/cwt57.00–57.005361
CowsBoner 80-85%—1,44859.19/cwt54.00–65.0085715
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed—1,59582.00/cwt82.00–82.001,3081
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed—1,37267.83/cwt62.00–70.5093130
CowsLean 85-90%—1,12141.91/cwt36.00–47.0047016
CowsLean 85-90%—1,23662.18/cwt60.00–63.007697
CowsBreaker 75-80%Heavy Weight—2,07576.50/cwt76.50–76.501,5872
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight—83443.00/cwt43.00–43.0035917
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed—1,20264.86/cwt61.00–71.0078026
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed—1,23656.31/cwt52.00–60.0069620
Bulls——2,09593.50/cwt93.50–93.501,9591
Bulls——1,76982.96/cwt74.50–87.001,46819
Bulls—Return to Feed—1,24383.46/cwt83.00–86.001,0376
Bulls—Return to Feed—1,18595.00/cwt95.00–95.001,1261
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1—1,0791,400.00/head1,400.00–1,400.001,4006
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2—1,1831,000.00/head1,000.00–1,000.001,0002
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1—1,1031,250.00/head1,250.00–1,250.001,2506
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2—1,08084.00/cwt84.00–84.009073
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1—935101.82/cwt81.00–117.0095210
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2—451181.00/cwt181.00–181.0081612
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—573174.29/cwt168.00–182.50999162
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned—413188.50/cwt181.00–191.0077928
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned—342205.01/cwt201.00–208.5070125
HeifersMedium and Large 1Replacement—513198.50/cwt198.50–198.501,01834
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2—443180.00/cwt180.00–180.007973
HeifersMedium and Large 1Full—519180.50/cwt180.50–180.5093754
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned—248222.50/cwt222.50–222.505523
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—617173.21/cwt167.00–177.001,069132
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned—493174.00/cwt174.00–174.008586
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2—800155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,2402
HeifersMedium 2—372141.00/cwt141.00–141.0052516
HeifersLarge 1-2—1,069141.00/cwt141.00–141.001,5076
HeifersMedium and Large 1—565173.00/cwt173.00–173.0097714
HeifersMedium and Large 1—703173.50/cwt173.50–173.501,22020
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned—361212.86/cwt209.00–214.0076814
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fancy—510195.09/cwt193.50–196.0099547
HeifersMedium and Large 1Full—598158.50/cwt158.50–158.5094818
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS—1,279835.00/head835.00–835.008357
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth—1,3781,000.00/head1,000.00–1,000.001,00013
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1—1,151900.00/head900.00–900.009004
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1—1,3621,130.04/head1,125.00–1,135.001,13015
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1—1,195850.00/head850.00–850.008503
Stock CowsLarge 1—1,34082.00/cwt82.00–82.001,0992
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1—1,09678.59/cwt62.00–85.0086112

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.