Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2022-02-02

Public Auction Yards

Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Feb 2
● Final40 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Slaughter Cattle receipts
356 head
34 vs last sale 322 47 vs year ago 309 · +15.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
486 head
297 vs last sale 189 363 vs year ago 123 · +295.1%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder calves were not tested this week, thus no trend is available. Todays sell featured bred cows and the weigh ups off the blue ribbon II special from yesterday. Weigh up cows sold on very good demand as packers were very aggressive as they purchased cows for immediate needs. Packers pushed all classes of slaughter cows sharply higher, with most sales 7.00-10.00 higher and instances of higher sales noted at times. Cows on a carcass basis today cost from 148.00-160.00. Many cows that packers were buying were blemished bred or late bred cows that they could buy away from ranchers. Feeding cows were not well tested this sale, however higher undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Bred cows sold on moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Quality today was mostly average. A good crowd was on hand actively bidding on todays bred cow offering. Market activity was moderate to active.

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
BullsAverage1,77085.941,52111
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,64072.941,1968thin
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,41571.031,00590
CowsLean 85-90%High1,20666.87806209

Every lot, as filed

40 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
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2771,000.00/cwt1,000.00–1,000.0012,77016
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,052850.00/cwt850.00–850.008,9426
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3621,001.03/cwt950.00–1,035.0013,63490
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed9871,285.00/cwt1,285.00–1,285.0012,68313
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,1091,075.00/cwt1,075.00–1,075.0011,92214
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2641,193.88/cwt1,100.00–1,375.0015,09110
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,27866.50/cwt66.50–66.5085013
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,0301,150.00/cwt1,150.00–1,150.0011,8453
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,01890.05/cwt72.00–97.0091711
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,08478.81/cwt65.00–86.0085454
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2691,045.98/cwt1,000.00–1,100.0013,27352
Bulls2,09588.00/cwt88.00–88.001,8441
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,201865.68/cwt825.00–875.0010,39723
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,0961,250.00/cwt1,250.00–1,250.0013,70036
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,0311,000.00/cwt1,000.00–1,000.0010,31025
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,234900.00/cwt900.00–900.0011,1068
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS1,4181,250.00/cwt1,250.00–1,250.0017,7256
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3561,299.76/cwt1,110.00–1,400.0017,62523
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2471,500.00/cwt1,500.00–1,500.0018,7053
BullsReturn to Feed1,48383.49/cwt72.00–86.001,2385
Bulls1,98885.34/cwt80.00–88.001,6974
Bulls2,00598.50/cwt98.50–98.501,9751
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,54570.50/cwt70.50–70.501,0892
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,29574.50/cwt74.50–74.509653
CowsLean 85-90%1,17262.14/cwt56.00–66.0072872
CowsLean 85-90%1,12151.03/cwt44.00–54.005729
CowsBoner 80-85%1,47475.70/cwt75.50–76.501,11625
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,69274.76/cwt74.50–75.001,2654
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,50076.50/cwt76.50–76.501,1481
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,43772.34/cwt72.00–73.001,0403
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,28564.00/cwt64.00–64.008223
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,22370.00/cwt70.00–70.008562
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,66077.50/cwt77.50–77.501,2871
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,60066.00/cwt66.00–66.001,0561
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight98563.00/cwt63.00–63.006211
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight99568.00/cwt68.00–68.006773
CowsLean 85-90%1,23670.72/cwt67.00–73.00874110
CowsLean 85-90%1,24773.42/cwt73.00–73.509166
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40870.13/cwt67.50–74.5098744
CowsBoner 80-85%1,33565.96/cwt62.50–67.0088117

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.