Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-01-04

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jan 4
● Final60 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
333 head
57 vs last sale 390 131 vs year ago 202 · +64.9%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
517 head
489 vs last sale 1,006 98 vs year ago 419 · +23.4%
Replacement Cattle receipts
167 head
99 vs last sale 266 39 vs year ago 206 · 18.9%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale(12-14-22): Feeder cattle were too lightly tested either this sale or last to develop any market trend, steady to higher undertones were noticed. Feeder cattle quality was mostly plain to average this sale. Most calves were offered in small groups or as singles. Demand was mostly light to moderate for light offerings. Market activity was slow to moderate. A good buyer pool was on hand for todays light sale. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand and moderate offerings. Packers showed mostly good demand for slaughter cows this week as snowy conditions in the upper plains has limited the available supplies of cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 4.00-5.00 higher on breaking and boning cows. Lean cows saw the largest advancement selling 7.00-9.00 higher. Feeding cows sold 2.00-3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 7.00-9.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this sale. Bulls were particularly full today. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $158.12/cwt on 114 head.
Average price
$158.12
114 head · 562 lb average
Value per head Derived
$889
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$419
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2
$66.59/cwt at this weight
vs the market
15.67
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1552173.2595643
Medium and Large 1-2550164.0190239
Medium 1734148.001,08611thin
Medium 1-2531135.0071711thin
Medium 2503106.6653610thin
One grade step is worth $66.59/cwt here — about $419 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 sale114 hd
158.12
MT average2 barns · 224 hd
173.79
−15.67
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
BullsLow1,81294.631,71463
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,75272.331,26715
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,40068.05953172
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,17960.32711210

Replacement cattle Per head

By class, stage and age
Bred stock and pairs are reported per head, not per hundredweight — these prices are never mixed with the $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,182$1,2505
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,222$1,1005
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,214$9006

Every lot, as filed

60 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 11,1821,250.00/head1,250.00–1,250.001,2505
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2221,100.00/head1,100.00–1,100.001,1005
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,214900.00/head900.00–900.009006
HeifersMedium 2515105.82/cwt100.00–115.005458
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2578164.57/cwt155.00–166.0095122
HeifersMedium and Large 1359190.00/cwt190.00–190.006828
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2358186.00/cwt186.00–186.006664
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2445174.00/cwt174.00–174.007742
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2503154.00/cwt154.00–154.007756
HeifersMedium 1-2531135.00/cwt135.00–135.0071711
HeifersMedium and Large 1469177.50/cwt177.50–177.508328
HeifersMedium 2455110.00/cwt110.00–110.005012
HeifersMedium 1734148.00/cwt148.00–148.001,08611
HeifersMedium and Large 1657164.97/cwt162.00–169.001,0847
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2677152.00/cwt152.00–152.001,0295
SteersMedium and Large 1401245.00/cwt245.00–245.0098210
SteersMedium and Large 1-2764165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,2617
SteersMedium and Large 1-2673169.00/cwt169.00–169.001,1372
SteersMedium and Large 1-2337225.00/cwt225.00–225.007583
SteersMedium and Large 1-2710165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,1722
SteersMedium and Large 1368257.00/cwt257.00–257.009466
SteersMedium and Large 1-2386230.00/cwt230.00–230.008884
SteersMedium and Large 1-2618174.00/cwt174.00–174.001,0752
SteersMedium and Large 1463230.85/cwt220.00–234.001,06923
HeifersMedium and Large 1580175.00/cwt175.00–175.001,0151
HeifersMedium and Large 1627167.36/cwt165.00–171.001,04919
BullsMedium and Large 1628163.44/cwt160.00–167.001,0264
BullsMedium and Large 1758149.00/cwt149.00–149.001,1292
BullsMedium and Large 2465172.00/cwt172.00–172.008003
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Full613152.00/cwt152.00–152.009322
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed92086.00/cwt86.00–86.007911
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed88264.39/cwt57.00–80.005683
Stock CowsMedium and Large 193699.35/cwt86.00–107.0093076
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-289580.00/cwt80.00–80.007162
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,14469.12/cwt61.50–86.0079139
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,04557.00/cwt57.00–57.005961
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,07459.00/cwt59.00–59.006347
BullsNatural1,80090.33/cwt85.00–94.001,6267
BullsLight Weight1,24576.00/cwt76.00–76.009461
BullsNatural1,90197.75/cwt95.00–101.001,85821
Bulls1,83696.52/cwt92.00–101.001,77217
Bulls1,973103.75/cwt103.00–104.502,0475
Bulls1,60886.77/cwt82.00–91.001,39512
CowsBoner 80-85%1,46170.92/cwt67.00–74.001,03622
CowsBoner 80-85%1,56078.69/cwt77.00–79.501,2283
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42563.13/cwt59.00–66.0090012
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,75771.45/cwt68.00–73.501,25512
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,71575.30/cwt74.00–76.501,2912
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,76577.00/cwt77.00–77.001,3591
CowsLean 85-90%1,20563.16/cwt62.00–65.5076169
CowsLean 85-90%1,19071.00/cwt71.00–71.008451
CowsLean 85-90%1,20360.10/cwt52.00–62.0072375
CowsLean 85-90%1,17941.89/cwt41.00–44.004943
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight99054.99/cwt53.00–57.005442
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,39365.22/cwt62.00–67.0090923
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,38368.31/cwt67.25–76.00945112
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,23866.07/cwt63.00–68.0081819
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,10859.05/cwt54.00–61.0065425
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,19771.00/cwt71.00–71.008503
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight97142.26/cwt37.50–48.0041013

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.