Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-12-08

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Dec 8
● Final57 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,087 head
734 vs last sale 1,821 611 vs year ago 1,698 · 36.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
20 head
41 vs last sale 61 120 vs year ago 140 · 85.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
25 head
4 vs last sale 29 37 vs year ago 62 · 59.7%
Also sold hereRegular saleWed Aug 19, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Steers under 500 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Steer calves over 500 lbs sold mostly steady to 8.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly 5.00 lower, heifer calves 450-649 lbs sold 6.00-12.00 lower in a narrow comparison; heifers over 650 lbs were not well compared. A large portion of the offering was comprised of weaned calves again this week. Most calves were weaned 45-60 days. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Demand was mostly light to moderate for light offerings. Several buyers were unwilling to start loads as limited offerings were seen. Demand weakened as the sale progressed. Package sizes were small to moderate today and overall smaller than last sale. No load lots were seen today. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate with a smaller buyer pool seen this week. Weigh up cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Demand was light to moderate for light offerings. Young age cows sold on light demand today. All young cows sold with steady undertones.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $259.83/cwt on 531 head.
Average price
$259.83
531 head · 582 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,512
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$445
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 1-2
$122.92/cwt at this weight
vs the market
15.38
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2481283.421,36396
Medium and Large 1590257.851,521416
Medium and Large 2469235.001,1026thin
Large 1-21,126160.501,80713thin
One grade step is worth $122.92/cwt here — about −$445 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 sale531 hd
259.83
MT average4 barns · 2,949 hd
275.21
−15.38
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
BullsAverage1,71299.731,7075thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,82087.501,5933thin
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,19671.1485112

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/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,555$1,3251thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,467$1,1503thin

Every lot, as filed

57 lots · USDA AMS · Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Fri)
Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
BullsMedium and Large 1460295.00/cwt295.00–295.001,3572
BullsMedium and Large 1-2635185.00/cwt185.00–185.001,1752
BullsMedium and Large 1-2598183.00/cwt183.00–183.001,0944
BullsMedium and Large 1685188.56/cwt186.00–194.001,29213
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2535231.58/cwt231.00–232.001,2397
HeifersMedium 1520200.00/cwt200.00–200.001,0405
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned715225.78/cwt219.00–228.001,61440
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned825191.00/cwt191.00–191.001,5766
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned772215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,6603
SteersMedium and Large 1-2519272.44/cwt270.00–276.001,41413
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned633236.00/cwt234.00–238.001,49431
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned508283.00/cwt283.00–283.001,4388
SteersMedium and Large 1-2671216.50/cwt216.50–216.501,45310
SteersMedium and Large 1-2565230.69/cwt227.00–251.001,30319
SteersMedium and Large 1558267.72/cwt256.00–271.001,494104
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned759190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,4425
SteersMedium and Large 1615240.60/cwt234.00–243.001,48081
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned667228.00/cwt228.00–228.001,52112
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned435310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,3493
SteersMedium and Large 1525280.39/cwt280.00–282.001,47251
SteersMedium and Large 1471303.36/cwt292.50–311.001,42932
HeifersMedium and Large 1565229.75/cwt226.50–233.501,29879
SteersMedium and Large 1416328.37/cwt322.00–345.001,36617
SteersLarge 1-21,126160.50/cwt160.50–160.501,80713
SteersMedium and Large 1-2426313.66/cwt312.00–315.001,33630
HeifersMedium 1Unweaned495243.00/cwt243.00–243.001,2033
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned697207.00/cwt207.00–207.001,4433
HeifersMedium 1435260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,13118
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,83084.50/cwt84.50–84.501,5461
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21278.00/cwt78.00–78.009453
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,14981.00/cwt81.00–81.009314
CowsLean 85-90%1,38062.00/cwt62.00–62.008561
CowsLean 85-90%1,18658.41/cwt47.00–62.006934
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,81589.00/cwt89.00–89.001,6152
Bulls1,800112.00/cwt112.00–112.002,0161
Bulls1,69096.66/cwt91.00–102.501,6344
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,23796.31/cwt86.00–102.501,1918
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1943139.41/cwt137.00–150.001,31511
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,5551,325.00/head1,325.00–1,325.001,3251
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,4671,150.00/head1,150.00–1,150.001,1503
HeifersMedium and Large 2515190.00/cwt190.00–190.009793
HeifersMedium and Large 1Full526230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,2104
HeifersMedium 1498232.00/cwt232.00–232.001,1554
HeifersMedium and Large 1469251.20/cwt250.00–262.001,17823
HeifersMedium and Large 1391277.16/cwt275.00–279.001,08415
HeifersMedium and Large 1430270.75/cwt269.00–276.001,16441
HeifersMedium and Large 1534235.26/cwt234.00–242.501,25627
HeifersMedium and Large 1639219.58/cwt218.00–227.001,40348
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned425269.00/cwt269.00–269.001,1433
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned538234.91/cwt232.50–236.001,26413
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned622218.32/cwt217.00–220.001,35813
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2664204.00/cwt204.00–204.001,3556
HeifersMedium 1-2386200.00/cwt200.00–200.007728
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2477251.40/cwt232.50–255.001,19922
SteersMedium and Large 1680232.42/cwt229.50–243.001,58031
SteersMedium and Large 1-2375322.80/cwt305.00–328.001,21121
SteersMedium and Large 2469235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,1026

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.