Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2022-03-16

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 16
● Final34 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
45 head
6 vs last sale 51 259 vs year ago 304 · 85.2%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
335 head
166 vs last sale 169 83 vs year ago 252 · +32.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
318 head
226 vs last sale 92 198 vs year ago 120 · +165.0%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder calves were scarcely tested this week thus no trend on feed cattle is available. Demand for limited offerings was moderate to good. Quality was mostly plain and cattle were offered mostly as singles. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers were very aggressive as they bid on offerings for immediate harvest. Packers pushed to own as many of the cow offering as possible, pushing all offerings higher. Slaughter cows sold steady to 3.00 higher on all classes. Packers continue to put high quality feeding cows away on feed. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher as well as the whole cow complex rose on increased packer demand. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this week. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-4.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Packers showed very good demand for high dressing bulls this week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last week to develop a full market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed. Quality this week was average to attractive.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $176.68/cwt on 28 head.
Average price
$176.68
28 head · 657 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,161
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
single grade reported
vs the market
14.70
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1657176.681,16128
Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

How it compared 0–100 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale28 hd
176.68
MT average3 barns · 798 hd
191.38
−14.70
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
BullsAverage1,84199.771,83735
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,57087.001,3661thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,43981.501,17387
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,71078.921,34915
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,21374.36902111

Every lot, as filed

34 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
BullsMedium and Large 1-2891128.00/cwt128.00–128.001,1405
BullsMedium and Large 1-2917119.00/cwt119.00–119.001,0913
SteersMedium and Large 1564201.00/cwt201.00–201.001,1348
SteersMedium and Large 1739154.00/cwt154.00–154.001,13811
SteersMedium and Large 1760155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,1784
SteersMedium and Large 1543205.00/cwt205.00–205.001,1135
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2628149.00/cwt149.00–149.009362
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-291298.86/cwt94.00–107.509023
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,17587.00/cwt79.00–100.001,02240
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,09372.01/cwt70.00–77.507875
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1984120.84/cwt101.00–134.001,189234
Bulls1,900102.59/cwt97.00–109.001,94919
BullsReturn to Feed1,49586.00/cwt86.00–86.001,2861
BullsReturn to Feed1,595101.00/cwt101.00–101.001,6111
Bulls2,070114.76/cwt113.50–119.002,3764
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40582.11/cwt80.00–84.001,15419
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,68589.00/cwt89.00–89.001,5001
CowsBreaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,02577.00/cwt77.00–77.001,5591
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight92569.50/cwt69.00–70.006432
CowsLean 85-90%1,05059.16/cwt56.00–62.006215
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,42387.15/cwt85.00–89.501,24015
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,57087.00/cwt87.00–87.001,3661
Bulls1,71595.00/cwt95.00–95.001,6291
Bulls1,69689.06/cwt83.00–95.001,5109
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42874.06/cwt64.00–76.001,0587
CowsLean 85-90%1,20571.89/cwt66.00–75.5086637
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45880.40/cwt76.00–84.001,17245
CowsBoner 80-85%1,51587.00/cwt87.00–87.001,3181
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,33781.00/cwt81.00–81.001,0839
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,24769.00/cwt69.00–69.0086013
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,78672.00/cwt72.00–72.001,2864
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,46384.63/cwt83.50–86.501,2383
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,73479.31/cwt76.00–81.001,3756
CowsLean 85-90%1,21778.52/cwt75.00–83.0095645

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.