Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2022-08-10

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Aug 10
● Final40 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
195 head
50 vs last sale 145 884 vs year ago 1,079 · 81.9%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
277 head
68 vs last sale 345 823 vs year ago 1,100 · 74.8%
Replacement Cattle receipts
19 head
66 vs last sale 85 348 vs year ago 367 · 94.8%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (7-27-22): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested this sale and last sale to establish an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Quality this week was mostly average. Demand for all feeder cattle was good to very good. A good crowd was on hand for todays very light sale. Buyers were bidding both in person as well as over the internet. Market activity was mostly active. Weigh up cows and bulls comprised most of todays sale. Demand for slaughter cows was good to very good. Western packers continue to be very aggressive as they bid on slaughter cow offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher on all classes. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 10.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mixed today. Cow and bull quality was average to attractive this sale. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed saw some increased demand from feeding buyers this week. This class was too lightly tested to develop any market trend.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $168.01/cwt on 89 head.
Average price
$168.01
89 head · 827 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,390
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$691
per head · Medium 1 over Large 1
$31.50/cwt at this weight
vs the market
1.39
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1502185.0092910thin
Medium and Large 1852167.261,42470
Medium and Large 1-2810160.001,2962thin
Large 11,055153.501,6197thin
One grade step is worth $31.50/cwt here — about −$691 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 sale89 hd
168.01
MT average3 barns · 506 hd
169.40
−1.39
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
BullsAverage1,812104.051,886101
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,68792.491,56028
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,42591.221,30074
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,19182.2798027

Every lot, as filed

40 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 1870155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,3491
BullsMedium and Large 1834161.56/cwt159.00–166.001,3478
BullsMedium and Large 1935153.00/cwt153.00–153.001,4311
BullsLarge 11,195119.00/cwt117.00–121.001,4222
BullsLarge 11,208120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,4502
HeifersMedium and Large 1825169.00/cwt169.00–169.001,3941
SteersMedium and Large 1562205.00/cwt205.00–205.001,15216
SteersMedium and Large 1693193.00/cwt193.00–193.001,3379
SteersMedium and Large 1849179.00/cwt179.00–179.001,5208
HeifersMedium and Large 1955160.14/cwt157.00–163.001,52921
HeifersMedium 1502185.00/cwt185.00–185.0092910
HeifersLarge 11,055153.50/cwt153.50–153.501,6197
HeifersMedium and Large 1874167.12/cwt165.00–169.501,46126
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2810160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,2962
HeifersMedium and Large 1915164.67/cwt164.00–166.001,5076
HeifersMedium and Large 1615178.00/cwt178.00–178.001,09511
HeifersMedium and Large 1750177.00/cwt177.00–177.001,3285
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,36090.46/cwt87.00–93.501,2304
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,178118.42/cwt95.00–129.001,39512
BullsReturn to Feed1,428106.40/cwt103.00–111.001,5198
BullsReturn to Feed1,43995.32/cwt90.00–98.001,3724
BullsHeavy Weight2,505103.00/cwt103.00–103.002,5801
BullsLight Weight1,17385.91/cwt82.00–90.001,0083
Bulls2,175104.00/cwt104.00–104.002,2621
Bulls2,030112.86/cwt109.00–126.502,29119
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,61086.95/cwt85.00–89.001,4002
CowsBoner 80-85%1,46782.88/cwt79.00–85.001,2165
CowsBoner 80-85%1,43290.73/cwt86.00–95.001,29948
CowsLean 85-90%1,08564.00/cwt64.00–64.006941
CowsLean 85-90%1,31094.00/cwt94.00–94.001,2311
CowsLean 85-90%1,16878.53/cwt75.00–86.0091712
Bulls1,854104.22/cwt100.00–108.501,93255
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight92379.72/cwt76.00–83.007362
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,69799.10/cwt96.50–100.001,6826
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,37592.29/cwt91.00–93.001,26911
CowsBreaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,08582.00/cwt82.00–82.001,7101
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42696.58/cwt95.00–97.501,37710
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,67191.54/cwt88.50–96.501,53019
Bulls1,71193.52/cwt85.00–98.001,60010
CowsLean 85-90%1,26487.41/cwt86.00–93.001,10511

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.