Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-05-08

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, May 8
● Final42 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
12 head
103 vs last sale 115 1 vs year ago 11 · +9.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
233 head
62 vs last sale 295 291 vs year ago 524 · 55.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
401 head
163 vs last sale 564 1,012 vs year ago 1,413 · 71.6%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle offerings were scarcely tested today as todays sale featured pairs, bred cows and weigh up cows. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Packers showed very good demand for cows for immediate harvest with cows going to slaughter in several different states. Cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Several packer buyers were present today with some buying over the internet. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher on all classes of cows going to harvest. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher, in a narrow comparison. Cow quality was average to attractive today. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average as many cows have been out on grass and were empty at sale time. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00-5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Very good demand was seen for bulls for immediate slaughter. Young age cows sold mostly 5.00 higher. Cows which lost calves sold with the best demand this week. Feeding quality cows sold at a discount to cows suitable to rebreed. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. A light offering of bred cows and pairs was seen today. Quality was mostly average. Many pairs were in thin flesh and high very light calves at side. With rain seen over the last few days demand for pairs was mostly moderate as buyers seemed reluctant to bid on young, light weight calves.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 700–800 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
700–800 lb heifers averaged $237.29/cwt on 7 head. That ranks 1 of 14 comparable sales and sits 120.23 against this barn's trailing median of $357.52.
Average price
$237.29
7 head · 740 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,755
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
single grade reported
vs the market
9.23
vs MT average
+2.68 vs national

What quality paid 700–800 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2740237.291,7557thin
Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

This barn's trailing prices 700–800 lb

14 sales
392369347324median 357.5201/2103/1104/2906/0308/19
Heifers 700–800 lb: high $377.76, low $337.88, median $357.52 across 14 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 700–800 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale7 hd
237.29
MT average3 barns · 284 hd
246.52
−9.23
National average142 barns · 6,766 hd
234.61
+2.68
This barn, trailing median14 sales
357.52
−120.23
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
BullsHigh1,880150.292,82511
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,645141.012,31938
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,414133.481,88773
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,207121.361,46553
Dairy CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,895124.002,3501thin

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)1,265$2,60031
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,370$2,3879
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,447$2,3528
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,466$2,9504thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,358$2,69729
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,470$2,57654
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,258$2,5002thin
Heifer PairsOpen(<2 yrs)971$3,05033

Every lot, as filed

42 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
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,088133.19/cwt130.00–135.001,4493
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,044159.11/cwt144.00–173.001,6614
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2700–750715243.00/cwt243.00–243.001,7373
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,3452,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,70018
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,3232,425.00/head2,425.00–2,425.002,42510
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5232,674.40/head2,650.00–2,750.002,67438
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4472,351.81/head2,200.00–2,425.002,3528
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,077158.29/cwt135.00–184.001,70518
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2652,599.70/head2,450.00–2,650.002,60031
Heifer PairsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed9713,050.00/head3,050.00–3,050.003,05033
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,4662,950.00/head2,950.00–2,950.002,9504
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,3752,200.00/head2,200.00–2,200.002,2006
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed749189.84/cwt187.50–196.001,4224
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3702,386.74/head2,350.00–2,500.002,3879
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,3842,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,8009
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,557135.50/cwt135.50–135.502,1103
CowsLean 85-90%1,224105.79/cwt102.50–115.001,2958
BullsHeavy Weight2,525162.00/cwt162.00–162.004,0911
Bulls1,570133.47/cwt132.00–135.002,0952
Bulls2,030164.89/cwt159.00–169.003,3472
Bulls1,825149.08/cwt145.00–156.002,7216
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,3582,200.00/head2,200.00–2,200.002,2002
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,2582,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5002
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1977193.13/cwt168.50–219.001,88738
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,236120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,48311
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight800100.00/cwt100.00–100.008002
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight92089.00/cwt89.00–89.008191
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,428140.00/cwt140.00–140.001,9992
CowsBoner 80-85%1,421132.87/cwt125.00–139.501,88845
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2750–800758233.00/cwt233.00–233.001,7664
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,708138.41/cwt137.00–140.002,3643
CowsLean 85-90%1,233132.97/cwt132.00–134.001,6404
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,391134.69/cwt129.00–137.001,87418
CowsBoner 80-85%1,394120.57/cwt117.00–123.001,6814
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,600131.98/cwt130.00–134.002,1122
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,730127.46/cwt125.00–130.002,2053
CowsBoner 80-85%1,451144.51/cwt144.00–145.002,0974
Dairy CowsBreaker 75-80%1,895124.00/cwt124.00–124.002,3501
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,641144.08/cwt143.00–146.002,36427
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,263133.17/cwt132.00–135.001,6826
CowsLean 85-90%1,212125.80/cwt120.00–129.001,52515
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,228126.50/cwt124.00–130.001,5536

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.