Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2022-09-07

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Sep 7
● Final38 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
467 head
484 vs last sale 951 115 vs year ago 582 · 19.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
113 head
199 vs last sale 312 322 vs year ago 435 · 74.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
4 head
47 vs last sale 51 512 vs year ago 516 · 99.2%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale(8-24-22): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last sale and this sale to establish a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on steer and heifer calves, while yearling steers and heifers both sold with lower undertones. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Demand for all feeder cattle was moderate to good. Yearlings were offered mostly in small packages, while calves were offered in mostly moderate size packages. Corn contract prices have continued to since the last sale and yearling buyers have backed up prices slightly to reflect higher feeding costs. Calf buyers continue to show good demand for calves as they look to differed feeder cattle contracts for support. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for mostly light offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly good as Western packers continue to buy cows for immediate harvest. Feeding cow buyers were also more active this week as they purchased cows to feed. This helped push all cow prices higher. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher on boning cows. Breaking and lean cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Slaughter bulls sold 1.00-3.00 lower. Feeding bull buyers were not as active this week as last, which allowed bull prices to slip lower. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average today with most cows and bulls pushing moderate to heavy amounts of fill. Cow and bull quality was average to attractive this sale. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $190.82/cwt on 187 head.
Average price
$190.82
187 head · 630 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,202
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$506
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$29.25/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+17.46
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1628192.651,209158
Medium and Large 1-2559184.441,03124
Large 11,049163.401,7155thin
One grade step is worth $29.25/cwt here — about −$506 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 sale187 hd
190.82
MT average2 barns · 519 hd
173.36
+17.46
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
BullsAverage1,884102.821,93849
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,59590.501,4431thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,40188.351,23743
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,13582.7593915

Every lot, as filed

38 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
HeifersMedium and Large 1810166.50/cwt166.50–166.501,3494
HeifersMedium and Large 1903162.81/cwt162.75–163.001,47013
HeifersMedium and Large 1986163.83/cwt163.00–165.501,61532
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned472199.48/cwt198.50–202.009427
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2985151.50/cwt151.50–151.501,4922
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned520186.99/cwt185.00–188.0097212
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned504218.53/cwt205.00–224.501,10179
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned595190.21/cwt188.00–203.001,13213
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned465219.45/cwt217.00–225.001,02016
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned412212.92/cwt210.00–215.008775
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned383222.96/cwt220.00–230.0085424
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned395221.00/cwt221.00–221.0087320
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned446211.00/cwt206.00–214.0094161
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned356202.73/cwt200.00–205.0072211
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned422186.50/cwt186.50–186.507875
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned423230.00/cwt230.00–230.0097337
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned525202.00/cwt202.00–202.001,0612
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2904160.17/cwt159.50–160.501,4486
HeifersMedium and Large 1887164.78/cwt164.00–165.001,4629
HeifersLarge 1Replacement1,037164.00/cwt164.00–164.001,7013
HeifersLarge 1Replacement1,068162.50/cwt162.50–162.501,7362
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned457214.01/cwt208.00–216.009788
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,35195.02/cwt92.50–97.501,2844
BullsReturn to Feed1,405106.50/cwt106.50–106.501,4961
Bulls1,828102.98/cwt99.00–107.001,88221
Bulls1,76693.65/cwt87.00–97.001,65412
Bulls2,090109.70/cwt107.00–114.002,29315
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,12881.49/cwt78.00–83.009196
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,13784.91/cwt84.00–86.009655
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40188.75/cwt84.50–90.251,24320
CowsLean 85-90%1,22089.50/cwt89.50–89.501,0921
CowsLean 85-90%1,11779.42/cwt77.50–83.008873
CowsBoner 80-85%1,31390.25/cwt90.00–90.501,1854
CowsBoner 80-85%1,37082.00/cwt82.00–82.001,1231
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,57583.00/cwt83.00–83.001,3071
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,41587.53/cwt85.50–89.001,23915
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,39392.50/cwt92.50–92.501,2892
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,59590.50/cwt90.50–90.501,4431

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.