Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-03-15

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 15
● Final69 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
395 head
175 vs last sale 220 350 vs year ago 45 · +777.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
332 head
72 vs last sale 404 3 vs year ago 335 · 0.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
190 head
81 vs last sale 109 128 vs year ago 318 · 40.3%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week due to develop an accurate market trend, steady undertones were noticed on steers and heifers. Demand for feeders was mostly good for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average, with a limited number of attractive consignments. CME positions sold off the last few trading secessions as outside equities weigh on the market. However, demand for feeder cattle remains strong despite buyers having to piece together loads. Market activity was mostly active again this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to firm on all offerings. Cows started off with a weak undertone but strengthened as the sale progressed. Packer buyers opted to send a few set of cows to feed again this week. Feeding cows sold steady to firm on an attractive offering. Cow quality was mostly average to attractive this week. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, higher undertones were noticed. Bull quality continues to see huge variation. Many bulls are thin and light. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good demand. Buyers showed the best demand for high quality cows suitable to rebreed. Young offerings sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $208.31/cwt on 127 head.
Average price
$208.31
127 head · 548 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,141
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$491
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$39.92/cwt at this weight
vs the market
4.70
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1558209.921,171110
Medium and Large 1-2486205.831,00112thin
Medium 1598192.001,1482thin
Medium and Large 2400170.006803thin
One grade step is worth $39.92/cwt here — about $491 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 sale127 hd
208.31
MT average3 barns · 981 hd
213.01
−4.70
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
BullsHigh1,751102.131,78837
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,64192.781,52236
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,44390.701,309115
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,21683.091,010124

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 Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,279$1,6004thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)978$1,3956
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,313$1,3502thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,379$1,3426
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)977$1,3253thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,355$1,1752thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,328$1,1045

Every lot, as filed

69 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 1-2515200.00/cwt200.00–200.001,03010
HeifersMedium and Large 1623208.27/cwt205.00–209.001,29811
HeifersMedium and Large 1500223.00/cwt223.00–223.001,11516
BullsMedium and Large 1721187.43/cwt185.00–192.501,3516
BullsLarge 1775165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,2792
SteersMedium and Large 1851175.00/cwt175.00–175.001,4894
HeifersMedium and Large 1686186.56/cwt185.00–189.001,2805
HeifersMedium and Large 1476227.50/cwt227.50–227.501,0834
HeifersMedium and Large 1386235.41/cwt230.00–237.009094
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned400217.50/cwt217.50–217.508703
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned500218.00/cwt218.00–218.001,09020
SteersMedium and Large 1519270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,40113
HeifersMedium and Large 2Unweaned400170.00/cwt170.00–170.006803
HeifersMedium 1598192.00/cwt192.00–192.001,1482
HeifersMedium and Large 1733181.30/cwt177.00–183.001,32914
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned457267.50/cwt267.50–267.501,2225
SteersMedium and Large 1816180.00/cwt180.00–180.001,46919
SteersMedium and Large 1-2343280.00/cwt280.00–280.009602
SteersMedium and Large 1580253.00/cwt253.00–253.001,4673
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy996162.00/cwt162.00–162.001,61417
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2343235.00/cwt235.00–235.008062
SteersMedium and Large 1419280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,1734
SteersMedium and Large 1-2627220.88/cwt220.00–222.501,3854
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned583242.92/cwt242.00–245.001,41631
SteersMedium and Large 1466275.00/cwt275.00–275.001,2824
SteersMedium and Large 1-2423275.00/cwt275.00–275.001,1632
SteersMedium 1-2359252.50/cwt252.50–252.509067
SteersMedium and Large 1625235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,4698
BullsMedium and Large 1876168.50/cwt168.50–168.501,47611
BullsMedium and Large 1Unweaned465235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,0932
BullsLarge 11,003148.00/cwt148.00–148.001,4845
BullsMedium and Large 1Unweaned383275.00/cwt275.00–275.001,0532
BullsMedium and Large 1Unweaned515242.50/cwt242.50–242.501,2492
BullsMedium and Large 1567215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,2193
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,18886.60/cwt85.00–88.001,0299
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,55993.86/cwt91.00–96.001,46312
CowsLean 85-90%1,22594.75/cwt93.00–97.001,1615
CowsLean 85-90%1,26787.13/cwt84.00–92.501,10439
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,64090.49/cwt85.00–92.501,48410
Bulls2,035130.07/cwt127.00–134.002,6476
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,73193.74/cwt92.00–96.001,62312
CowsBoner 80-85%1,48497.64/cwt96.00–103.001,44910
CowsBoner 80-85%1,43091.30/cwt86.50–95.501,30672
CowsLean 85-90%1,12978.40/cwt71.00–86.0088524
CowsBoner 80-85%1,47384.68/cwt80.00–87.501,24718
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,23580.55/cwt74.00–85.5099545
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight86065.00/cwt65.00–65.005591
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight97581.00/cwt81.00–81.007901
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,58087.00/cwt87.00–87.001,3751
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,60597.00/cwt97.00–97.001,5571
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,47396.50/cwt96.50–96.501,4212
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,43385.58/cwt81.00–88.001,2266
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,44392.85/cwt90.00–94.001,3407
Bulls1,72394.69/cwt85.00–103.001,63224
Bulls1,861118.72/cwt118.00–119.002,2094
BullsLight Weight1,26283.60/cwt83.00–85.001,0553
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4461,350.00/head1,350.00–1,350.001,3504
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2791,600.00/head1,600.00–1,600.001,6004
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-29781,394.58/head1,325.00–1,410.001,3956
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,10499.70/cwt86.00–120.001,10194
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2865131.00/cwt131.00–131.001,1331
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,00686.43/cwt82.00–87.0086910
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,119130.59/cwt113.00–141.501,46135
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3131,350.00/head1,350.00–1,350.001,3502
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,2451,325.00/head1,325.00–1,325.001,3252
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-29771,325.00/head1,325.00–1,325.001,3253
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3551,175.00/head1,175.00–1,175.001,1752
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3281,104.40/head1,075.00–1,125.001,1045
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned550209.00/cwt209.00–209.001,15033

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.