Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-03-27

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 27
● Final39 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
71 head
2,369 vs last sale 2,440 168 vs year ago 239 · 70.3%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
133 head
426 vs last sale 559 225 vs year ago 358 · 62.8%
Replacement Cattle receipts
75 head
24 vs last sale 99 137 vs year ago 212 · 64.6%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle offerings were were too lightly tested today to develop any market trend. Demand for feeders was mostly moderate to good for very light offerings. Quality today was plain to average. Most calves were offered in small packages or as singles. Market activity today was mostly moderate to active despite a small offering. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light offerings. Cow quality was average to attractive today. Packers showed good demand for all cows on offer this week. Packers pushed to own as many offerings as possible as cow supplies remain short. Most of the high quality offerings were purchased to feed this week and most lame or blemished cows sold as slaughter cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher on all offerings. Feeding cows sold sharply higher with most sales 6.00-12.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Private feeding cow buyers showed good demand for high quality cows again this week as they competed with packer buyers over limited offerings. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00-4.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Demand from feeding and rebreed cow buyers continues to be good. Limited bred and replacement cows continue to sell on very good demand.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $287.39/cwt on 8 head. That ranks 1 of 19 comparable sales and sits 134.15 against this barn's trailing median of $421.54.
Average price
$287.39
8 head · 558 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,605
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$50
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 1
$2.22/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.00
vs MT average
+20.52 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2550288.221,5865thin
Medium and Large 1572286.001,6363thin
One grade step is worth $2.22/cwt here — about −$50 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 500–600 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

19 sales
478431384337median 421.5401/0702/2504/1506/0308/19
Heifers 500–600 lb: high $464.07, low $350.88, median $421.54 across 19 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale8 hd
287.39
MT average1 barns · 8 hd
287.39
+0.00
National average161 barns · 9,489 hd
266.87
+20.52
This barn, trailing median19 sales
421.54
−134.15
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
BullsHigh1,717129.012,21411
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,685141.002,3763thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,712133.302,28221
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,445126.391,82661
CowsLean 85-90%High1,134112.761,27927

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)1,305$2,6001thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,642$2,5003thin

Every lot, as filed

39 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
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,406116.08/cwt114.00–119.001,6324
Bulls2,090153.00/cwt153.00–153.003,1981
BullsReturn to Feed1,218122.77/cwt122.50–123.001,4952
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,460129.51/cwt123.00–134.001,89123
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,840140.00/cwt140.00–140.002,5761
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,150131.16/cwt130.00–132.501,5082
Bulls1,860133.46/cwt132.00–138.002,4824
HeifersMedium and Large 1550–600572286.00/cwt286.00–286.001,6363
HeifersMedium and Large 1450–500474317.43/cwt315.00–320.001,5054
HeifersMedium and Large 1600–650637273.53/cwt273.00–274.001,74213
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3052,600.00/head2,600.00–2,600.002,6001
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,080145.50/cwt125.00–170.001,57121
BullsMedium and Large 1700–750713267.50/cwt267.50–267.501,9072
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2550–600585282.50/cwt282.50–282.501,6532
SteersMedium and Large 1-2550–600584311.49/cwt310.00–317.501,8195
SteersMedium and Large 1-2700–750717261.51/cwt255.00–275.001,8753
SteersMedium and Large 1-2600–650620308.00/cwt308.00–308.001,9102
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2500–550527292.03/cwt290.00–293.001,5393
SteersMedium and Large 1-2450–500470342.37/cwt335.00–345.001,6094
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,6422,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5003
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,042185.99/cwt145.00–217.501,93836
BullsMedium and Large 1-2550–600569307.35/cwt292.50–315.001,7493
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,154119.57/cwt116.00–125.001,3807
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,500137.27/cwt135.00–138.502,0599
CowsBoner 80-85%1,385125.18/cwt121.00–130.001,73414
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,654140.71/cwt140.00–141.502,3274
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight940100.00/cwt100.00–100.009401
Stock CowsLarge 11,230123.00/cwt123.00–123.001,5132
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,658137.51/cwt133.00–139.002,2804
CowsLean 85-90%1,163115.54/cwt115.00–116.001,3446
CowsBoner 80-85%1,459116.23/cwt107.00–119.001,69611
Bulls1,729121.68/cwt119.00–124.002,1044
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,717123.18/cwt122.00–124.002,1155
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,075110.00/cwt110.00–110.001,1831
CowsLean 85-90%1,152106.42/cwt103.00–111.001,2267
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,685141.00/cwt141.00–141.002,3763
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight980112.50/cwt112.50–112.501,1031
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,755132.93/cwt129.00–136.002,3337
CowsLean 85-90%1,10392.31/cwt90.00–95.001,0182

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.