Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-09-27

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Sep 27
● Final47 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
176 head
1,194 vs last sale 1,370 262 vs year ago 438 · 59.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
347 head
127 vs last sale 220 56 vs year ago 291 · +19.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
113 head
93 vs last sale 20 214 vs year ago 327 · 65.4%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Most offerings sold in small packages or as singles this sale. Demand for feeders was light to moderate as not enough feeder cattle were offered to put together loads. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. CME positions have sold off sharply over the past few days and buyers showed slightly lighter demand for all feeder cattle on offer. Market activity was mostly moderate this sale. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold on lighter demand this week as packers purchased most cows to feed. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Feeding cow demand was moderate to good this sale and most sound cows were purchased to feed. Feeding cows sold steady to weak. Slaughter bulls sold sold generally steady to weak in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this week as many cows and bulls were packing some fill. Cow quality today was mostly average today. Several packages of young age cows sold this week. Demand for these offerings was mostly good as feeding and rebreeding buyers competed over attractive offerings. Not enough young age cows were seen last week to develop any market trend.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $219.82/cwt on 49 head.
Average price
$219.82
49 head · 829 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,821
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$296
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$32.26/cwt at this weight
vs the market
26.48
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1853222.261,89539
Medium and Large 1-2942216.002,0353thin
Medium and Large 2443215.009525thin
Large 11,153190.002,1912thin
One grade step is worth $32.26/cwt here — about −$296 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
219.82
MT average3 barns · 680 hd
246.30
−26.48
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
BullsHigh1,685110.311,85950
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,740119.002,0711thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,582109.711,73621
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,411102.481,446132
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,18895.261,13191

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 Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,283$1,74310
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,103$1,71811
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,293$1,5002thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,365$1,45826
Bred Heifers1st Stage (1-3 mo)(<2 yrs)1,003$1,9502thin

Every lot, as filed

47 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
CowsLean 85-90%1,27298.56/cwt97.00–102.001,25421
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,84598.66/cwt94.00–103.001,8202
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,16795.08/cwt87.00–97.001,11011
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,200101.86/cwt98.00–105.001,22219
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,400109.00/cwt109.00–109.001,5263
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,560111.00/cwt111.00–111.001,73214
CowsBoner 80-85%1,355113.00/cwt113.00–113.001,5311
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight93890.53/cwt87.00–94.008492
Bulls1,957123.55/cwt122.00–130.002,4187
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,740119.00/cwt119.00–119.002,0711
CowsLean 85-90%1,13672.54/cwt68.00–78.008245
CowsLean 85-90%1,15793.15/cwt83.00–96.501,07833
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,42398.82/cwt98.00–101.001,4067
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,420105.54/cwt103.00–108.501,49946
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,748112.75/cwt111.50–114.001,9712
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40797.16/cwt93.50–101.001,36730
CowsBoner 80-85%1,390102.06/cwt100.00–108.001,41944
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,570115.60/cwt113.00–119.001,8154
Bulls1,788102.45/cwt95.00–110.001,8329
Bulls1,812114.98/cwt111.00–119.002,08311
BullsHeavy Weight2,520109.00/cwt109.00–109.002,7471
BullsReturn to Feed1,705112.00/cwt112.00–112.001,9102
BullsReturn to Feed1,430106.54/cwt105.00–110.001,52420
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,128146.22/cwt133.00–193.001,64945
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,279112.43/cwt106.00–116.501,4387
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2940135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,2691
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,0031,950.00/head1,950.00–1,950.001,9502
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2831,742.70/head1,700.00–1,775.001,74310
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2931,500.00/head1,500.00–1,500.001,5002
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3651,458.23/head1,350.00–1,500.001,45826
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1031,718.29/head1,675.00–1,750.001,71811
HeifersMedium and Large 1817224.00/cwt224.00–224.001,8306
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned466295.00/cwt295.00–295.001,3754
SteersMedium and Large 2Unweaned267250.00/cwt250.00–250.006685
SteersMedium and Large 11,050218.50/cwt218.50–218.502,2942
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned566246.71/cwt225.00–262.001,39610
HeifersMedium and Large 2Unweaned443215.00/cwt215.00–215.009525
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned608245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,4903
HeifersMedium and Large 11,093198.00/cwt198.00–198.002,1643
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned296355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,0514
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned587278.13/cwt270.00–280.001,63310
HeifersLarge 11,153190.00/cwt190.00–190.002,1912
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2918218.00/cwt218.00–218.002,0012
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2990212.00/cwt212.00–212.002,0991
HeifersMedium and Large 1941217.36/cwt217.00–218.002,04511
HeifersMedium and Large 11,007208.00/cwt208.00–208.002,0959
BullsMedium and Large 1873219.05/cwt217.00–221.001,9124

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.