Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2022-03-23

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 23
● Final65 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
355 head
310 vs last sale 45 91 vs year ago 446 · 20.4%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
486 head
151 vs last sale 335 232 vs year ago 254 · +91.3%
Replacement Cattle receipts
299 head
19 vs last sale 318 176 vs year ago 123 · +143.1%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder calves were scarcely tested this week, thus a full market trend isn't available, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and was a big drag on demand. Additionally most cattle were offered in small groups and many buyers were not willing to start loads due to light offerings and no other sales this week to fill out loads. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for moderate offerings. Packers were very aggressive as they bid on offerings for both immediate harvest and to feed. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to firm on all classes. Packers pushed to own as much of the cow offering as possible again this week. Packers continue to put high quality feeding cows away on feed. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this week. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Quality this week was average to attractive. Many sets of cattle are being purchased to feed as most are just not starting to turn 2 years old. Demand for young cows that lost calves continues to be good as well as order buyers ask to sort heifers from wet bagged cows.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $156.36/cwt on 148 head.
Average price
$156.36
148 head · 655 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,025
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$187
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 1
$24.26/cwt at this weight
vs the market
11.04
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2480179.008599thin
Medium 1-2351160.005624thin
Medium and Large 1676154.741,046135
One grade step is worth $24.26/cwt here — about −$187 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 sale148 hd
156.36
MT average2 barns · 710 hd
167.40
−11.04
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
BullsLow1,67397.561,632113
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,63886.171,41164
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,42780.381,147126
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,18974.2088270

Every lot, as filed

65 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 1105350.00/cwt350.00–350.003681
BullsMedium and Large 1808139.00/cwt139.00–139.001,1232
BullsLarge 1918111.00/cwt111.00–111.001,0193
HeifersMedium and Large 1736148.87/cwt146.00–154.001,09637
HeifersMedium 1-2351160.00/cwt160.00–160.005624
HeifersMedium and Large 1633162.28/cwt157.00–169.001,02727
HeifersMedium and Large 1426182.00/cwt182.00–182.007758
HeifersMedium and Large 1673153.14/cwt151.00–154.001,0317
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fleshy639154.00/cwt154.00–154.0098421
SteersMedium and Large 1-2673163.00/cwt163.00–163.001,0974
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fleshy547161.00/cwt161.00–161.008817
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy659160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,0544
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2480179.00/cwt179.00–179.008599
HeifersMedium and Large 1559172.00/cwt172.00–172.009614
HeifersMedium and Large 1527183.61/cwt178.00–185.009685
SteersMedium and Large 1417218.00/cwt218.00–218.009098
HeifersMedium and Large 1805143.50/cwt143.50–143.501,1552
SteersMedium and Large 1645179.78/cwt178.00–180.001,1609
SteersMedium and Large 1573187.65/cwt185.00–193.001,0756
SteersMedium and Large 1710165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,1724
SteersMedium and Large 1-2527193.43/cwt190.00–194.001,0199
SteersMedium and Large 1-2571181.00/cwt181.00–181.001,03412
SteersMedium and Large 1521202.84/cwt197.00–207.001,05725
SteersMedium and Large 1768163.00/cwt163.00–163.001,25213
SteersMedium and Large 1466208.00/cwt208.00–208.009694
SteersMedium and Large 1-2320195.00/cwt195.00–195.006242
BullsLarge 11,153110.00/cwt110.00–110.001,26813
BullsMedium and Large 11,180111.00/cwt111.00–111.001,3101
BullsMedium and Large 1466204.00/cwt204.00–204.009514
BullsLarge 11,019118.00/cwt118.00–118.001,2027
BullsMedium and Large 1637169.94/cwt168.00–175.001,08314
BullsMedium and Large 1586185.19/cwt178.00–187.001,0855
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42079.00/cwt76.50–83.501,12243
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,76887.52/cwt87.00–88.001,5472
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight92571.00/cwt71.00–71.006571
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,23981.00/cwt80.00–82.001,0044
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,13088.00/cwt88.00–88.009941
Bulls1,57891.41/cwt80.00–94.501,44228
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,58479.50/cwt78.50–80.501,2594
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight86057.50/cwt57.50–57.504951
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,68384.72/cwt83.50–86.001,4269
CowsLean 85-90%1,19471.83/cwt64.00–75.5085839
CowsLean 85-90%1,15382.70/cwt82.00–83.509542
CowsLean 85-90%1,20376.68/cwt75.00–81.0092222
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,48087.00/cwt87.00–87.001,2887
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,67079.53/cwt78.50–82.001,3287
CowsBoner 80-85%1,35973.83/cwt71.00–76.001,00314
CowsBoner 80-85%1,39785.47/cwt84.00–86.501,1943
CowsBreaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,02585.00/cwt85.00–85.001,7211
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,44481.90/cwt78.50–86.501,18359
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,51486.05/cwt85.00–87.001,30313
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,65789.25/cwt89.25–89.251,47928
Bulls2,111109.81/cwt108.50–112.002,31812
Bulls1,778101.19/cwt95.00–108.001,79931
BullsNatural1,42488.36/cwt84.00–95.001,25819
BullsNatural1,625101.35/cwt96.00–103.501,64723
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,026118.97/cwt100.00–135.001,221137
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-294178.49/cwt77.00–79.007394
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,00992.98/cwt75.00–105.0093860
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,085100.37/cwt99.00–103.001,0894
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2881,349.22/cwt1,325.00–1,450.0017,3789
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,21573.00/cwt73.00–73.008873
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fleshy888130.50/cwt130.50–130.501,15917
BullsMedium and Large 1432208.50/cwt208.50–208.509013
BullsMedium and Large 1900128.00/cwt128.00–128.001,1523

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.