Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-05-31

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, May 31
● Final65 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
22 head
120 vs last sale 142 133 vs year ago 155 · 85.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
421 head
228 vs last sale 649 14 vs year ago 407 · +3.4%
Replacement Cattle receipts
1,516 head
1,254 vs last sale 262 1,251 vs year ago 265 · +472.1%
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 any market trend. Todays sale featured mostly weigh up cows, pairs and breds, so not trend is available. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold 2.00-4.00 higher on all classes. The cow supply across much of the central US continues to tighten as rain has fallen across a wide swath of the country which has eased culling due to drought. Seasonal culling is starting to wrap up as ranchers wrap up spring brandings. Packers were very aggressive as they purchased cows both for immediate harvest and to feed. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher as packers purchased very attractive cows for this purpose. Quality this week was average to very attractive. Weigh up conditions were average to above average this week as most offerings have been out on grass. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 10.00 lower. Quality was average to attractive. Fewer takers were seen for this class of cows as many are starting to turn out bulls for summer breeding. Todays pair offering was average to very attractive in quality. Demand for pairs was good to very good with more buyer participation noted compared to the last pair special on 5-10-23. Many comparable sets of pairs sold $100-250 per pair higher than that sale.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $220.80/cwt on 10 head.
Average price
$220.80
10 head · 695 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,535
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
single grade reported
vs the market
11.29
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1695220.801,53510thin
Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

How it compared 0–100 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale10 hd
220.80
MT average3 barns · 704 hd
232.09
−11.29
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
BullsLow1,692124.202,10153
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,625106.761,73530
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,445104.451,510124
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,19198.381,171130

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)1,151$1,76020
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,332$1,5476
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,486$1,54715
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,262$1,3738
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,182$2,688148
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,527$2,612103
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,303$2,49137
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,602$2,34871
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,422$1,939136
Heifer PairsOpen(<2 yrs)1,253$3,152109

Every lot, as filed

65 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
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,6092,361.27/head2,125.00–2,485.002,36169
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,3402,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,50016
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,290106.00/cwt106.00–106.001,3671
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,288124.65/cwt123.00–129.001,6053
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,505108.00/cwt108.00–108.001,6251
Heifer PairsMedium and Large 11,2703,208.07/head2,700.00–3,350.003,208100
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3301,850.00/head1,850.00–1,850.001,85018
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,4572,305.90/head2,100.00–2,400.002,3065
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,388105.74/cwt100.00–110.001,4683
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2621,373.32/head1,300.00–1,450.001,3738
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4861,547.41/head1,435.00–1,610.001,54715
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1771,400.00/head1,400.00–1,400.001,4003
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,1192,600.00/head2,600.00–2,600.002,60032
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3321,547.48/head1,500.00–1,625.001,5476
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,305104.00/cwt104.00–104.001,3571
Stock CowsLarge 11,025116.00/cwt116.00–116.001,1891
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,120119.80/cwt106.00–142.001,34248
Stock CowsMedium 1800125.99/cwt120.00–130.001,0086
Heifer PairsMedium and Large 11,0662,534.19/head2,500.00–2,600.002,5349
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,016147.04/cwt122.00–171.001,49434
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1461,823.96/head1,700.00–1,850.001,82417
Stock CowsLarge 11,064117.00/cwt117.00–117.001,2454
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,4482,102.59/head1,600.00–2,350.002,10312
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3791,764.18/head1,725.00–1,800.001,76413
Cow-Calf PairsLarge 1Broken Mouth1,4071,775.00/head1,775.00–1,775.001,77515
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,2742,485.00/head2,485.00–2,485.002,48521
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,2322,650.00/head2,650.00–2,650.002,65022
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4492,008.97/head1,900.00–2,175.002,00990
HeifersMedium and Large 1723210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,5186
HeifersMedium and Large 1653237.00/cwt237.00–237.001,5484
BullsLarge 11,270131.00/cwt131.00–131.001,6641
BullsMedium and Large 1955161.00/cwt161.00–161.001,5381
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,04590.00/cwt90.00–90.009411
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,186106.61/cwt105.00–111.001,26415
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,14397.50/cwt95.00–102.001,11413
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,510108.00/cwt108.00–108.001,6311
Bulls1,611111.18/cwt108.00–114.001,7914
Bulls1,914132.78/cwt129.00–138.002,5414
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,766104.62/cwt103.50–106.501,8488
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,86097.00/cwt97.00–97.001,8041
CowsBoner 80-85%1,402100.64/cwt97.00–104.501,41122
BullsNatural1,413103.00/cwt103.00–103.001,4552
CowsLean 85-90%1,05071.00/cwt71.00–71.007462
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,417102.59/cwt97.50–106.001,45423
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight98593.00/cwt93.00–93.009161
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,570109.67/cwt108.50–110.501,72212
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,490107.81/cwt106.00–110.001,60650
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,537102.50/cwt102.50–102.501,5755
CowsLean 85-90%1,245106.52/cwt104.50–111.001,32624
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,572110.81/cwt110.00–112.001,7423
CowsBoner 80-85%1,43194.10/cwt92.00–96.001,3479
CowsLean 85-90%1,21897.20/cwt93.00–103.001,18461
CowsLean 85-90%1,13586.09/cwt80.00–91.0097710
CowsBoner 80-85%1,420107.02/cwt105.00–114.001,52020
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight82083.67/cwt82.00–85.006863
Bulls1,838124.55/cwt121.00–129.002,2899
BullsNatural1,863122.89/cwt117.00–128.002,2892
BullsLight Weight1,36099.00/cwt99.00–99.001,3461
BullsReturn to Feed1,963135.50/cwt135.50–135.502,6603
BullsReturn to Feed1,469121.47/cwt112.00–129.001,78418
BullsNatural1,879134.19/cwt133.00–135.002,52110
Cow-Calf PairsMedium 11,0032,550.00/head2,550.00–2,550.002,55025
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,5372,678.98/head2,400.00–2,900.002,67991
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,3501,875.00/head1,875.00–1,875.001,8752
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,2442,828.90/head2,700.00–3,000.002,82964

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.