Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-02-08

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Feb 8
● Final50 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
326 head
170 vs last sale 156 90 vs year ago 236 · +38.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
385 head
336 vs last sale 49 39 vs year ago 424 · 9.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
59 head
37 vs last sale 22 29 vs year ago 88 · 33.0%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Last weeks sale had very light receipts due to extremely cold weather. Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested either this week or last to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive, and quality was better this week compared to last. Demand was mostly moderate. Market activity was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Packer buyers showed moderate to good demand for slaughter cows this sale. Very light receipts were seen last week thus no trend can be established. Steady to higher undertones were noticed on breaking and boing cows, lean cows sold with steady to lower undertones after last weeks sharply higher move. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, steady undertones were noticed. Slaughter buyers continue to keep this class of cows inflated as they buy some young offerings to fill feeding and slaughter orders.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $192.88/cwt on 112 head.
Average price
$192.88
112 head · 704 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,358
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$161
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 1
$40.28/cwt at this weight
vs the market
19.43
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2507210.681,06910thin
Medium and Large 1746194.171,44885
Medium and Large 2450183.918287thin
Large 1722170.401,23010thin
One grade step is worth $40.28/cwt here — about −$161 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 sale112 hd
192.88
MT average3 barns · 1,128 hd
212.31
−19.43
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
BullsHigh1,67897.541,63620
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,40182.921,162128
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,63381.771,33542
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,20278.10938166

Every lot, as filed

50 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 2447140.00/cwt140.00–140.006265
HeifersMedium and Large 1657180.80/cwt175.00–185.001,18812
HeifersMedium and Large 1643186.58/cwt181.00–187.001,20014
BullsMedium and Large 1595192.50/cwt192.50–192.501,1451
SteersLarge 1867162.00/cwt162.00–162.001,4053
SteersMedium and Large 1-2581197.96/cwt196.00–200.001,1504
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2483172.50/cwt172.50–172.508335
HeifersMedium and Large 1511197.68/cwt194.00–203.001,01011
HeifersMedium and Large 1484207.50/cwt207.50–207.501,0045
HeifersMedium and Large 1420210.00/cwt210.00–210.0088215
SteersMedium and Large 2483187.44/cwt185.00–190.009052
SteersMedium and Large 1588214.12/cwt213.00–215.001,2599
HeifersMedium and Large 2558130.00/cwt130.00–130.007254
HeifersMedium and Large 2448160.00/cwt160.00–160.007176
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2524189.47/cwt185.00–192.0099315
HeifersMedium 1344207.50/cwt207.50–207.507146
SteersMedium and Large 1-2495220.00/cwt220.00–220.001,0894
SteersMedium and Large 2437182.50/cwt182.50–182.507985
SteersMedium and Large 1755177.50/cwt177.50–177.501,34015
SteersMedium and Large 1675189.61/cwt187.00–195.001,2809
SteersMedium and Large 1612212.96/cwt199.00–216.001,30326
SteersMedium and Large 1475234.00/cwt234.00–234.001,1121
SteersLarge 1660174.00/cwt174.00–174.001,1487
SteersMedium and Large 1973177.50/cwt177.50–177.501,72725
HeifersMedium and Large 1885149.00/cwt149.00–149.001,3193
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight95071.00/cwt71.00–71.006751
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,22674.89/cwt72.50–77.0091842
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,19381.13/cwt77.00–85.7596853
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,20688.42/cwt87.50–91.001,0664
CowsLean 85-90%1,19088.00/cwt88.00–88.001,0471
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,35991.06/cwt89.00–93.001,23810
CowsLean 85-90%1,20879.21/cwt77.50–84.0095740
CowsLean 85-90%1,17975.29/cwt69.00–77.5088822
CowsLean 85-90%1,17260.79/cwt59.00–64.007123
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,63980.72/cwt80.00–83.001,32331
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,61684.72/cwt83.00–86.001,36911
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40279.36/cwt76.00–80.501,11324
CowsBoner 80-85%1,41683.95/cwt81.00–88.001,18934
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45889.94/cwt89.00–90.501,3114
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40560.00/cwt60.00–60.008431
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42276.82/cwt73.00–80.001,09215
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,38684.31/cwt80.50–88.501,16940
Bulls1,835109.00/cwt109.00–109.002,0001
Bulls1,826102.29/cwt96.00–107.001,86811
Bulls1,49992.12/cwt91.00–95.001,3815
BullsLight Weight1,39077.00/cwt77.00–77.001,0701
BullsReturn to Feed1,37389.50/cwt89.50–89.501,2292
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,04290.95/cwt76.00–109.0094847
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,265127.00/cwt127.00–127.001,6071
SteersMedium and Large 1-2385217.50/cwt217.50–217.508372

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.