Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-02-01

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Feb 1
● Final33 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
156 head
219 vs last sale 375 156 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
49 head
170 vs last sale 219 307 vs year ago 356 · 86.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
22 head
33 vs last sale 55 464 vs year ago 486 · 95.5%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Todays sale was very light on reciepts due to extremely cold weather over the last few days. Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Several consignments of corriente cross cattle were seen today. Feeder cattle quality was mostly plain. Demand was light to moderate. Market activity was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light offerings. Packer buyers showed significanly stronger demand for slaughter cows this sale as they bid on very limited offerings. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, higher undertones were noticed as slaughter buyers pushed all offerings higher.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $98.09/cwt on 87 head.
Average price
$98.09
87 head · 666 lb average
Value per head Derived
$653
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$609
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Small and Medium 2-3
$150.64/cwt at this weight
vs the market
95.34
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1497221.491,10112thin
Medium and Large 2753148.001,1143thin
Medium 2635137.008705thin
Small and Medium 2-369470.8549267
One grade step is worth $150.64/cwt here — about $609 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 sale87 hd
98.09
MT average2 barns · 1,450 hd
193.43
−95.34
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
BullsLow1,72495.471,6467thin
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,87382.811,5518thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,43380.031,14713
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,18879.9094914
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,69779.581,3505thin

Every lot, as filed

33 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
SteersMedium and Large 2753148.00/cwt148.00–148.001,1143
SteersSmall and Medium 2-366170.47/cwt70.00–71.0046619
SteersMedium 2635137.00/cwt137.00–137.008705
SteersSmall and Medium 2-374771.00/cwt71.00–71.0053031
SteersSmall and Medium 2-363671.00/cwt71.00–71.0045217
HeifersMedium 1379185.00/cwt185.00–185.007017
HeifersMedium 1467174.00/cwt174.00–174.008139
HeifersMedium and Large 2772109.00/cwt109.00–109.008415
BullsMedium and Large 1905117.00/cwt117.00–117.001,0593
BullsLarge 11,227109.00/cwt109.00–109.001,3373
HeifersMedium and Large 1514198.82/cwt190.00–201.001,0225
HeifersSmall and Medium 2-373460.00/cwt60.00–60.004404
HeifersSmall and Medium 2-358150.00/cwt50.00–50.002918
SteersMedium and Large 1443240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,0634
SteersMedium and Large 1524212.24/cwt212.00–214.001,1128
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1832147.00/cwt147.00–147.001,2238
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,13292.44/cwt85.50–106.001,0465
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-277780.00/cwt80.00–80.006223
BullsReturn to Feed1,20387.97/cwt85.00–91.001,0582
BullsLight Weight1,32572.00/cwt72.00–72.009541
Bulls2,084105.09/cwt98.00–110.002,1904
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21381.33/cwt81.00–83.009876
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,78382.00/cwt82.00–82.001,4622
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,63977.96/cwt75.00–79.501,2783
CowsLean 85-90%1,21575.49/cwt75.00–76.009172
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,76084.50/cwt84.50–84.501,4871
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,86883.50/cwt83.50–83.501,5606
CowsLean 85-90%1,26184.92/cwt83.00–85.501,0714
CowsBoner 80-85%1,44481.93/cwt80.00–84.001,1839
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40875.75/cwt75.00–76.001,0674
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed93567.00/cwt67.00–67.006261
CowsPremium White 65-75%Heavy Weight2,01577.00/cwt77.00–77.001,5521
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight94573.00/cwt73.00–73.006901

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.