Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2022-05-04

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, May 4
● Final79 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
362 head
71 vs last sale 291 14 vs year ago 348 · +4.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
399 head
339 vs last sale 738 10 vs year ago 389 · +2.6%
Replacement Cattle receipts
615 head
431 vs last sale 184 472 vs year ago 143 · +330.1%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Quality this week was average to attractive for todays light offering. Demand for all feeders was good with most destined to run on grass for the summer. Rain continues to provide some optimism for ranchers as drought conditions have improved across much of the southern portion of the state. Market activity this week was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and offerings. Packers sat on their hands much of the sale as they wanted to buy cows lower. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00 lower on all classes. Feeding cows continue to sell with good demand and both packers and independent feeders both showed good demand for cows suitable to feed. These offerings sold steady to weak. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher. Bull quality this week was mostly attractive. Weigh up conditions were mostly in buyers favor as fresh green grass has cows slicked off and hollowed out. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Demand for cattle to rebreed continues to be good.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $176.68/cwt on 113 head.
Average price
$176.68
113 head · 544 lb average
Value per head Derived
$962
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$243
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$47.16/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+14.97
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1538180.1696999
Medium and Large 1-2607159.6996910thin
Medium and Large 2546133.007264thin
One grade step is worth $47.16/cwt here — about $243 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 sale113 hd
176.68
MT average3 barns · 2,025 hd
161.71
+14.97
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
BullsLow1,74695.651,67039
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,72978.371,35516
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,45273.191,063100
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,18469.1981973

Every lot, as filed

79 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 11,4451,175.00/cwt1,175.00–1,175.0016,9793
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,08073.55/cwt72.00–75.007942
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed81080.00/cwt80.00–80.006481
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2551,185.00/cwt1,185.00–1,185.0014,8725
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,2891,150.00/cwt1,150.00–1,150.0014,8248
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,299925.00/cwt925.00–925.0012,0169
Heifer PairsMedium 19651,750.00/cwt1,750.00–1,750.0016,88815
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,1981,050.00/cwt1,050.00–1,050.0012,57919
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Fancy1,5521,600.00/cwt1,600.00–1,600.0024,83216
HeifersMedium and Large 1431187.00/cwt187.00–187.008067
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2523165.00/cwt165.00–165.008632
HeifersMedium and Large 1536183.25/cwt181.00–184.0098228
BullsMedium and Large 1-2895113.00/cwt113.00–113.001,0111
BullsMedium and Large 1-2454192.50/cwt192.50–192.5087413
BullsMedium and Large 1599184.50/cwt184.50–184.501,10528
HeifersMedium and Large 1662155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,0263
HeifersMedium and Large 1295360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,0621
HeifersMedium and Large 1225375.00/cwt375.00–375.008441
SteersMedium and Large 1626191.41/cwt191.00–191.751,19822
HeifersMedium and Large 1356192.50/cwt192.50–192.506854
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2625159.30/cwt158.00–162.009963
HeifersMedium and Large 1463188.50/cwt188.50–188.5087321
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2577165.00/cwt165.00–165.009523
HeifersMedium and Large 2546133.00/cwt133.00–133.007264
HeifersMedium and Large 1150310.00/cwt310.00–310.004651
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2708147.00/cwt147.00–147.001,0412
HeifersMedium and Large 1614172.29/cwt165.50–176.501,05836
SteersMedium and Large 1-2426199.22/cwt199.00–200.0084913
SteersMedium and Large 1-2643171.33/cwt171.00–172.001,1026
SteersMedium and Large 1708175.50/cwt175.50–175.501,2433
SteersMedium and Large 1-2692165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,1425
SteersMedium and Large 1-2574185.00/cwt185.00–185.001,0629
SteersMedium and Large 1518207.50/cwt207.50–207.501,07511
BullsMedium and Large 1513202.50/cwt202.50–202.501,03922
BullsMedium and Large 1230310.00/cwt310.00–310.007131
BullsMedium and Large 1714161.00/cwt161.00–161.001,15010
BullsMedium and Large 1882124.00/cwt124.00–124.001,0943
BullsLarge 11,200105.00/cwt105.00–105.001,2601
BullsLarge 11,132107.00/cwt107.00–107.001,2113
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,45178.64/cwt73.00–82.001,14128
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,50770.70/cwt67.00–74.001,06513
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21977.02/cwt76.00–78.5093911
Bulls1,58588.00/cwt88.00–88.001,3951
CowsBoner 80-85%1,44274.50/cwt71.00–79.001,07416
Bulls1,67187.33/cwt83.00–90.501,4597
CowsLean 85-90%1,19873.23/cwt71.00–74.5087714
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,81372.00/cwt72.00–72.001,3052
CowsBoner 80-85%1,44867.00/cwt60.00–70.5097036
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,82276.17/cwt76.00–76.501,3883
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,61285.67/cwt85.00–86.501,3813
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,66579.21/cwt78.50–82.001,3197
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42982.51/cwt81.00–85.501,1793
CowsLean 85-90%1,15764.90/cwt57.00–69.0075127
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight97265.36/cwt62.50–67.006354
CowsBreaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,08570.00/cwt70.00–70.001,4601
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,24268.52/cwt66.00–72.0085117
Bulls2,06198.24/cwt92.00–104.002,0259
Bulls2,002108.79/cwt106.00–111.002,17811
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,38186.51/cwt84.00–87.501,1954
BullsReturn to Feed1,38384.25/cwt82.00–85.501,1654
BullsReturn to Feed1,32499.12/cwt95.50–101.001,3123
BullsLight Weight1,18579.00/cwt79.00–79.009364
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,3891,300.00/cwt1,300.00–1,300.0018,05721
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,3461,600.00/cwt1,600.00–1,600.0021,5365
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,1731,400.00/cwt1,400.00–1,400.0016,42213
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,2451,117.47/cwt1,050.00–1,175.0013,91310
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3781,150.00/cwt1,150.00–1,150.0015,8475
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4641,260.00/cwt1,260.00–1,260.0018,4467
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2381,358.66/cwt1,300.00–1,385.0016,82021
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,293910.00/cwt910.00–910.0011,7665
Heifer PairsMedium and Large 11,0762,034.58/cwt2,010.00–2,050.0021,89267
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1985105.52/cwt88.00–119.001,039113
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,3271,450.00/cwt1,450.00–1,450.0019,2423
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,3561,700.00/cwt1,700.00–1,700.0023,0526
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed93075.00/cwt75.00–75.006981
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-292684.98/cwt75.00–87.007876
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,439910.00/cwt910.00–910.0013,0958
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,08084.72/cwt75.00–100.0091524
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4481,050.00/cwt1,050.00–1,050.0015,2043

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.