Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-01-17

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jan 17
● Final29 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
46 head
52 vs last sale 98 2,932 vs year ago 2,978 · 98.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
162 head
573 vs last sale 735 206 vs year ago 368 · 56.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
58 head
744 vs last sale 802 130 vs year ago 188 · 69.1%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle offerings were limited today as extremely cold weather has slowed the volume of cattle being marketed. Temperatures have been mostly below 0 since last weeks sale with even colder Windchill's seen. Feeder cattle were scarcely tested as a result. Demand was mostly good for very light offerings. Market activity was moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of the market this week. Since last week much of the upper plains was waylaid with a blizzard that slowed the marking of all livestock. Packers returned to the market this week showing need for slaughter cows and bulls as they pushed all slaughter cows higher. All classes of slaughter cows sold 3.00-5.00 higher than last week in a narrow comparison. Private feeders remain active as they purchased cows to feed, despite having to pay higher prices for cows. High quality cows suitable to feed to premium white sold 3.00-5.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average with many full offerings noticed. Slaughter bulls were not well compared however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows sold mostly steady in a narrow comparison. Quality was mostly average today.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $203.60/cwt on 42 head.
Average price
$203.60
42 head · 836 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,703
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$109
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$11.00/cwt at this weight
vs the market
48.57
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1839207.001,73629
Medium and Large 1-2831196.001,62813thin
One grade step is worth $11.00/cwt here — about $109 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 sale42 hd
203.60
MT average2 barns · 1,534 hd
252.17
−48.57
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
BullsLow1,688110.451,86430
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,683100.021,6833thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,37797.591,34463
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,14090.001,02657

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 Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,537$1,6003thin

Every lot, as filed

29 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 1855203.00/cwt203.00–203.001,7361
HeifersMedium and Large 1904200.25/cwt200.25–200.251,81016
HeifersMedium and Large 1985195.00/cwt195.00–195.001,9213
HeifersMedium and Large 1701215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,5077
HeifersMedium and Large 1573253.00/cwt253.00–253.001,4502
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2821197.00/cwt197.00–197.001,61712
SteersMedium and Large 1-2570271.00/cwt271.00–271.001,5452
SteersMedium and Large 1756226.00/cwt226.00–226.001,7095
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2945184.00/cwt184.00–184.001,7391
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5371,600.00/head1,600.00–1,600.001,6003
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,113113.54/cwt105.50–116.001,26410
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1929135.15/cwt125.00–165.001,25640
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2893115.45/cwt110.00–121.001,0312
BullsLight Weight1,41098.93/cwt93.00–102.001,3953
Bulls2,073119.88/cwt115.00–121.002,4856
Bulls1,586106.31/cwt98.00–111.001,68613
Bulls1,668114.42/cwt112.00–121.001,9098
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,07592.43/cwt90.00–95.009944
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,153102.26/cwt98.00–106.001,17923
CowsBoner 80-85%1,51185.79/cwt79.00–89.001,2965
CowsBoner 80-85%1,49095.46/cwt91.00–102.501,42214
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,08185.93/cwt81.00–91.009297
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight91583.00/cwt83.00–83.007591
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,485104.00/cwt104.00–104.001,5443
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,31499.29/cwt94.50–102.501,30541
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,683100.02/cwt99.00–102.001,6833
CowsLean 85-90%1,20190.94/cwt87.00–95.001,0925
CowsLean 85-90%1,15879.75/cwt72.00–86.0092412
CowsLean 85-90%1,16062.45/cwt59.00–68.007245

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.