Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2022-05-25

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, May 25
● Final52 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
227 head
1,764 vs last sale 1,991 37 vs year ago 190 · +19.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
497 head
31 vs last sale 528 205 vs year ago 702 · 29.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
162 head
539 vs last sale 701 237 vs year ago 399 · 59.4%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Quality this week was plain to average. Demand for feeders was mixed. A few buyers looking for heavyweight feeders showed moderate to good demand for limited offerings. Demand overall was mostly light to moderate for light offerings. Market activity this week was mostly moderate. Weigh up cattle comprised most of the offering this week. Slaughter cows sold unevenly steady from 1.00 lower to 1.00 higher. Demand was uneven today as packers tried to buy cows lower but, when pressed gave slightly higher money for high quality offerings with good weigh up conditions. Feeding cows steady to 1.00 lower. Weigh conditions were mixed, however overall weigh conditions were better for buyers this week compared to last. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Young age cows sold steady to 5.00 lower. Quality this week was not as attractive as last weeks offering. The volume of young cows that lost calves is starting to slow as most ranchers have already marketed the cows that lost calves in the April and May snow storms.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $147.60/cwt on 105 head.
Average price
$147.60
105 head · 690 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,019
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$186
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$18.08/cwt at this weight
vs the market
10.92
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1702151.081,06169
Medium and Large 1-2677143.0296825
Large 1-2624140.008745thin
Medium and Large 2658133.008756thin
One grade step is worth $18.08/cwt here — about $186 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 sale105 hd
147.60
MT average3 barns · 288 hd
158.51
−10.92
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
BullsLow1,78497.281,73653
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,70879.731,36221
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,42076.421,085140
CowsLean 85-90%High1,19873.78884200

Every lot, as filed

52 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 1677149.50/cwt148.00–158.001,01213
BullsLarge 11,155105.01/cwt104.00–108.001,2134
BullsMedium and Large 1941115.81/cwt113.00–123.001,0907
BullsLarge 11,130109.00/cwt109.00–109.001,2324
BullsMedium and Large 1548176.00/cwt176.00–176.009642
BullsMedium and Large 1874125.50/cwt125.50–125.501,0977
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2582159.00/cwt159.00–159.009253
HeifersMedium and Large 2658133.00/cwt133.00–133.008756
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2777136.47/cwt133.00–142.001,0605
SteersMedium and Large 1-2878139.26/cwt138.50–140.001,2236
SteersMedium and Large 1-2685167.50/cwt167.50–167.501,1473
SteersMedium and Large 2575157.50/cwt157.50–157.509061
HeifersMedium and Large 1589160.50/cwt160.50–160.509458
HeifersMedium and Large 1808144.00/cwt144.00–144.001,1643
HeifersMedium and Large 1666152.08/cwt152.00–153.001,01312
HeifersMedium and Large 1646157.49/cwt155.00–158.251,01721
HeifersMedium and Large 1779143.18/cwt143.00–144.001,11522
HeifersLarge 1-2624140.00/cwt140.00–140.008745
HeifersMedium and Large 1880141.99/cwt141.50–143.001,2503
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2664142.13/cwt140.00–149.0094417
Bred CowsMedium 11,1461,050.00/cwt1,050.00–1,050.0012,0335
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2111,231.23/cwt1,150.00–1,250.0014,91011
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,057105.30/cwt80.00–123.001,11364
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-294369.21/cwt66.00–72.006533
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,12086.39/cwt75.00–105.5096862
BullsReturn to Feed1,33983.68/cwt80.00–86.001,1206
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,70074.45/cwt72.50–78.001,2663
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,37288.00/cwt88.00–88.001,2073
Bulls2,125109.27/cwt105.50–116.002,32212
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,44477.82/cwt74.00–81.001,12441
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,23282.44/cwt81.00–85.001,0163
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,12074.00/cwt74.00–74.008293
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,43372.97/cwt71.50–75.001,04635
CowsBoner 80-85%1,43869.57/cwt64.50–74.501,00014
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,66983.33/cwt82.00–84.501,3914
Bulls2,353100.54/cwt98.00–103.002,3662
CowsLean 85-90%1,21681.76/cwt79.00–85.0099433
CowsLean 85-90%1,23575.53/cwt74.00–77.5093366
CowsLean 85-90%1,17869.26/cwt61.00–74.5081666
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,70080.00/cwt80.00–80.001,3601
CowsBoner 80-85%1,37776.91/cwt75.00–80.501,05933
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40084.87/cwt82.00–87.501,18814
CowsBreaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,00084.50/cwt84.50–84.501,6901
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,80976.57/cwt72.00–80.501,3859
CowsBoner 80-85%1,41784.46/cwt83.50–86.001,1973
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight95865.51/cwt61.00–70.006285
CowsLean 85-90%1,13359.00/cwt59.00–59.006682
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,18572.09/cwt65.00–74.0085422
Bulls1,74883.70/cwt75.00–89.001,4638
Bulls1,77798.37/cwt91.00–103.501,74819
BullsHeavy Weight2,54091.00/cwt91.00–91.002,3111
BullsReturn to Feed1,207102.34/cwt90.00–105.501,2355

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.