Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-05-24

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, May 24
● Final56 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
142 head
2,405 vs last sale 2,547 85 vs year ago 227 · 37.4%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
649 head
509 vs last sale 140 152 vs year ago 497 · +30.6%
Replacement Cattle receipts
262 head
63 vs last sale 199 100 vs year ago 162 · +61.7%
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 to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. Quality today was mostly plain. Most offerings sold in small packages or as singles. Demand for feeders was very good despite light offerings. Market activity was active with all bidders rapidly bidding on limited offerings. Weigh up cows comprised the bulk of the sale this week. Slaughter cows sold 2.00-3.00 higher on all classes. Rainfall in the south coupled with the end of spring culling in the upper plains has tightened the cow supply across much of the central US. With Memorial day this weekend packers showed need for cows for immediate harvest. Demand for feeding type cows was very good as well, as packers purchased many high quality cows to put away on feed for summer needs. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly attractive. Weigh up conditions were mixed, however some offerings were out on grass and offered buyers above average weigh conditions. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to weak. Quality was average to attractive. Demand for young age cows slipped after buyers filled loads and exited the market.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $241.30/cwt on 49 head.
Average price
$241.30
49 head · 691 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,668
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$408
per head · Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$24.73/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.76
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Large 1495255.001,2622thin
Medium and Large 1692243.911,68736
Medium and Large 1-2725230.271,67011thin
One grade step is worth $24.73/cwt here — about −$408 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 sale49 hd
241.30
MT average2 barns · 66 hd
240.54
+0.76
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
BullsAverage1,795115.342,07078
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,655100.551,66413
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,41699.441,408255
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,18993.931,117219

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)1,147$1,8036
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,385$1,6002thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,126$1,5727
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,503$1,5002thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,280$1,5002thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,310$2,2505

Every lot, as filed

56 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 11,1471,802.77/head1,750.00–1,850.001,8036
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,002105.13/cwt90.00–125.001,0535
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1992157.33/cwt130.00–171.001,56180
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,3102,250.00/head2,250.00–2,250.002,2505
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,20398.34/cwt95.00–102.501,1832
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,138118.33/cwt101.00–146.001,34797
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,5031,500.00/head1,500.00–1,500.001,5002
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3851,600.00/head1,600.00–1,600.001,6002
HeifersLarge 1663189.00/cwt189.00–189.001,2532
HeifersMedium 1343227.00/cwt227.00–227.007794
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2850181.50/cwt181.50–181.501,5432
SteersMedium and Large 1688250.00/cwt250.00–250.001,7204
SteersMedium and Large 1-2647256.00/cwt253.00–257.001,6564
SteersMedium and Large 1525293.19/cwt290.00–295.001,5398
SteersMedium and Large 1612266.06/cwt262.50–272.501,6285
SteersMedium and Large 1720233.30/cwt231.00–236.001,6803
SteersLarge 1Unweaned495255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,2622
SteersMedium and Large 1775224.00/cwt224.00–224.001,7365
SteersMedium and Large 1805207.73/cwt205.00–208.001,67211
HeifersMedium and Large 1770204.03/cwt198.00–208.001,57111
SteersMedium and Large 1-2697239.00/cwt239.00–239.001,6663
SteersMedium and Large 1-2825198.00/cwt198.00–198.001,6344
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2463230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,0652
HeifersMedium and Large 1715223.76/cwt213.00–224.501,60016
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy765174.00/cwt174.00–174.001,3312
BullsMedium and Large 1-2505240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,2122
BullsMedium and Large 1575280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,6102
BullsMedium and Large 1800188.00/cwt188.00–188.001,5041
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,16289.57/cwt85.00–92.001,0419
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,167101.85/cwt97.50–105.001,18927
Bulls1,915120.54/cwt116.00–126.002,30826
Bulls2,140130.77/cwt125.00–135.002,79812
Bulls1,658107.99/cwt97.00–115.001,79034
CowsBoner 80-85%1,34789.31/cwt86.00–93.001,20327
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,67795.38/cwt93.50–96.001,6004
CowsLean 85-90%1,22394.72/cwt92.00–97.001,15866
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,521102.25/cwt101.00–104.001,5554
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,455104.15/cwt103.00–106.001,51588
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,57589.13/cwt88.00–90.001,4042
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight98589.00/cwt89.00–89.008771
CowsLean 85-90%1,22298.21/cwt97.00–105.001,20013
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,729102.65/cwt101.00–104.501,7754
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight93078.96/cwt77.00–81.007343
CowsLean 85-90%1,04878.51/cwt78.00–79.008232
CowsLean 85-90%1,16987.54/cwt81.00–91.001,02345
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,810106.00/cwt106.00–106.001,9191
CowsBoner 80-85%1,38896.70/cwt94.00–102.001,34241
CowsBoner 80-85%1,376104.96/cwt103.00–107.501,44412
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,41498.56/cwt92.00–102.501,39485
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,19695.56/cwt93.00–97.001,14353
BullsLight Weight1,30796.46/cwt92.00–105.001,2613
BullsLight Weight1,375113.00/cwt113.00–113.001,5541
BullsReturn to Feed1,423109.72/cwt106.50–113.001,5612
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2973134.67/cwt127.50–148.001,3105
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1261,571.96/head1,560.00–1,625.001,5727
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2801,500.00/head1,500.00–1,500.001,5002

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.