Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2022-04-06

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Apr 6
● Final56 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
216 head
26 vs last sale 190 82 vs year ago 298 · 27.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
284 head
155 vs last sale 439 90 vs year ago 374 · 24.1%
Replacement Cattle receipts
158 head
147 vs last sale 305 44 vs year ago 114 · +38.6%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder calves were too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain. Most offerings were sold in small packages or as singles. Demand for feeders was light to moderate. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of the sale again this week. Demand for weigh up cows was mostly good. Packers purchased both feeding and slaughter cows this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on boning and breaking cows; lean cows sold steady to weak. Feeding cows sold steady. Packers wanted to buy cows lower this week but strong demand from feeding buyers kept cow prices at or near steady. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week with many full cows in the offering. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 5.00-10.00 lower. Lighter feeding demand caused prices for heifers and lower quality cows to fall this week. Lower CME fat cattle contracts impacted this weight of cattle the hardest because these offerings require the shortest time on feed. Quality was mostly average to attractive this week.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $158.28/cwt on 98 head.
Average price
$158.28
98 head · 596 lb average
Value per head Derived
$944
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$208
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 1
$12.32/cwt at this weight
vs the market
7.61
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2487166.3780931
Medium 1353165.005823thin
Medium and Large 1661154.051,01864
One grade step is worth $12.32/cwt here — about −$208 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 sale98 hd
158.28
MT average3 barns · 2,403 hd
165.89
−7.61
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
BullsHigh1,30485.051,10943
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,80683.411,50616
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,45383.051,20654
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,18075.49891114

Every lot, as filed

56 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 1-2646170.00/cwt170.00–170.001,0988
SteersMedium and Large 1-2529192.35/cwt185.00–193.001,01815
HeifersMedium and Large 1523176.00/cwt176.00–176.009206
HeifersMedium and Large 1779140.50/cwt140.50–140.501,09430
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2313170.00/cwt170.00–170.005325
HeifersMedium 1353165.00/cwt165.00–165.005823
SteersLarge 1-2599165.00/cwt165.00–165.009888
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned398175.00/cwt175.00–175.006972
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2416172.50/cwt172.50–172.507185
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2630155.00/cwt155.00–155.009772
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2838132.00/cwt132.00–132.001,1062
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned405175.00/cwt175.00–175.007097
SteersMedium and Large 1-2599180.00/cwt180.00–180.001,0787
SteersMedium and Large 1-2411194.36/cwt187.50–201.007995
SteersMedium and Large 1-2348195.00/cwt195.00–195.006796
SteersMedium and Large 1-2681158.54/cwt154.00–164.001,08011
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2510167.00/cwt167.00–167.008529
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned560166.50/cwt166.50–166.5093210
SteersMedium and Large 2637151.00/cwt151.00–151.009625
SteersMedium and Large 2598164.00/cwt164.00–164.009814
SteersMedium and Large 1-2485194.00/cwt194.00–194.009412
SteersMedium and Large 1-2718156.00/cwt156.00–156.001,1203
HeifersMedium and Large 1667154.36/cwt154.00–156.001,03011
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2489171.00/cwt171.00–171.008368
BullsLarge 11,250103.50/cwt103.50–103.501,2942
BullsMedium 1740125.00/cwt125.00–125.009253
BullsMedium and Large 1-2765124.00/cwt124.00–124.009492
BullsMedium 1854118.00/cwt118.00–118.001,0087
CowsBoner 80-85%1,54886.00/cwt86.00–86.001,3312
CowsBoner 80-85%1,44182.39/cwt79.00–84.501,18718
Bulls2,045111.31/cwt110.00–112.502,2763
Bulls1,768104.34/cwt100.00–109.001,8459
Bulls1,48795.10/cwt89.00–99.501,4148
CowsLean 85-90%1,25378.85/cwt77.00–83.5098851
CowsLean 85-90%1,12761.57/cwt54.00–64.006944
CowsLean 85-90%1,15373.69/cwt69.00–76.0085039
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,62587.00/cwt87.00–87.001,4141
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,41377.00/cwt77.00–77.001,0882
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40188.00/cwt87.50–89.001,23311
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,49083.63/cwt81.00–86.001,24615
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,80886.32/cwt85.50–87.001,5619
CowsBoner 80-85%1,47075.52/cwt74.00–76.001,1106
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight82059.00/cwt59.00–59.004841
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight97668.04/cwt67.50–69.0066410
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,83378.45/cwt77.00–79.501,4386
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,30085.50/cwt85.50–85.501,1122
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,14179.19/cwt78.00–83.009047
BullsLight Weight75855.00/cwt55.00–55.0041714
BullsReturn to Feed1,33490.67/cwt84.00–94.001,2105
BullsReturn to Feed1,210100.00/cwt100.00–100.001,2104
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,051106.47/cwt98.00–111.001,11979
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed83570.00/cwt70.00–70.005851
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,15576.00/cwt76.00–76.008781
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,07991.94/cwt79.00–102.0099245
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,13278.42/cwt78.00–79.008888
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,02390.10/cwt85.00–97.009224

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.