Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-03-29

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 29
● Final59 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
239 head
507 vs last sale 746 49 vs year ago 190 · +25.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
358 head
98 vs last sale 456 81 vs year ago 439 · 18.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
212 head
36 vs last sale 248 93 vs year ago 305 · 30.5%
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 and this week to develop an accurate market trend, steady undertones were noticed on all feeders on offer. Demand for feeders was mostly good for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and buyers were selective as they picked through offerings. Most cattle were sold in small packages or as singles. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold generally steady on all offerings. Demand improved as the sale progressed. Quality this week was average to attractive. Weigh up conditions were average to attractive to buyers, however weigh conditions were not as attractive to buyers this week as they were last week. Packer buyers opted to send a few set of cows to feed again this week. Feeding cows sold steady on an attractive offering. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Bull quality overall was not as attractive today as last sale. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good demand. Buyers showed the best demand for high quality cows which had lost calves. Young offerings sold generally steady.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $225.34/cwt on 126 head.
Average price
$225.34
126 head · 595 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,342
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$631
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Small and Medium 2-3
$118.50/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+5.35
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2504243.001,22610thin
Medium and Large 1615233.191,434106
Small and Medium 2-3478124.5059510thin
One grade step is worth $118.50/cwt here — about $631 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 sale126 hd
225.34
MT average2 barns · 351 hd
219.98
+5.35
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
BullsLow1,679103.801,74316
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,64193.741,53941
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,41892.261,308123
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,18884.951,009136

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 (2-4 yrs)1,247$1,63219
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,458$1,4504thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,430$1,3256
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)979$1,42512
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,052$2,0009

Every lot, as filed

59 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 11,1551,627.19/head1,400.00–1,675.001,62715
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4301,325.00/head1,325.00–1,325.001,3256
Cow-Calf PairsMedium 11,0522,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0009
SteersMedium and Large 1973168.00/cwt168.00–168.001,6353
HeifersMedium and Large 1671186.24/cwt184.00–187.001,2508
HeifersMedium 2515185.00/cwt185.00–185.009533
HeifersMedium and Large 1403252.50/cwt252.50–252.501,0186
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2438231.00/cwt231.00–231.001,0124
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2640200.00/cwt200.00–200.001,2802
SteersSmall and Medium 2-3378155.00/cwt155.00–155.005863
SteersMedium and Large 1587248.00/cwt248.00–248.001,45624
HeifersMedium and Large 1484230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,1138
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned411255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,0484
SteersMedium and Large 1457265.00/cwt265.00–265.001,21116
SteersMedium and Large 1679216.58/cwt211.00–221.001,47112
SteersMedium and Large 1-2576228.00/cwt228.00–228.001,3134
SteersMedium and Large 1-2548249.00/cwt249.00–249.001,3652
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2576205.82/cwt203.00–212.001,18613
SteersMedium and Large 1448275.00/cwt275.00–275.001,2322
SteersSmall and Medium 2-3459120.00/cwt120.00–120.005514
SteersSmall and Medium 2-3603100.00/cwt100.00–100.006033
SteersMedium and Large 1519253.22/cwt250.00–255.001,31426
SteersMedium and Large 1797186.48/cwt185.00–187.001,48623
HeifersMedium 1743167.00/cwt167.00–167.001,2414
HeifersMedium 1538206.00/cwt206.00–206.001,1083
BullsMedium and Large 1-2928147.00/cwt147.00–147.001,3642
BullsMedium and Large 1-2985140.00/cwt140.00–140.001,3791
BullsMedium and Large 1-2830162.50/cwt162.50–162.501,3491
BullsMedium and Large 1648209.00/cwt209.00–209.001,3548
CowsLean 85-90%1,23088.59/cwt85.00–94.001,09076
CowsLean 85-90%1,14867.74/cwt66.00–70.507783
CowsLean 85-90%1,15679.32/cwt72.00–84.0091744
CowsLean 85-90%1,24095.68/cwt95.00–97.001,1863
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,62094.87/cwt94.00–97.501,53729
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,14585.63/cwt85.00–87.009803
CowsBreaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,01092.00/cwt92.00–92.001,8492
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,61389.96/cwt88.00–90.501,4519
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,77598.50/cwt98.50–98.501,7481
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40092.29/cwt87.00–96.001,29255
CowsBoner 80-85%1,47698.62/cwt96.75–104.501,45613
Bulls1,60298.53/cwt87.00–105.001,57810
CowsBoner 80-85%1,41784.90/cwt81.00–87.001,2039
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,42391.88/cwt88.00–96.001,30746
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight89092.50/cwt92.50–92.508231
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight95681.84/cwt81.00–82.007826
Bulls2,065139.00/cwt139.00–139.002,8701
Bulls1,871112.88/cwt107.00–119.002,1124
BullsLight Weight1,29585.00/cwt85.00–85.001,1011
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1972140.90/cwt120.00–163.001,37055
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,132104.79/cwt90.00–124.001,18651
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2876126.67/cwt108.00–140.001,1109
Stock CowsMedium 1930139.00/cwt139.00–139.001,2933
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed795121.00/cwt121.00–121.009621
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Fancy1,435140.00/cwt140.00–140.002,0091
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,5911,650.00/head1,650.00–1,650.001,6504
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-293993.72/cwt84.00–106.008809
Bred HeifersMedium 19661,450.00/head1,450.00–1,450.001,4508
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Non-Legible BANGS1,0051,375.00/head1,375.00–1,375.001,3754
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4581,450.00/head1,450.00–1,450.001,4504

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.