Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-01-19

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Jan 19
● Final48 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,474 head
84 vs last sale 1,390 3,458 vs year ago 4,932 · 70.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
27 head
530 vs last sale 557 101 vs year ago 128 · 78.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
20 head
135 vs last sale 155 1 vs year ago 21 · 4.8%
Also sold hereRegular saleWed Aug 19, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale(1-5-24): Steers under 500 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Steer calves 500-749 lbs sold mostly 10.00 20.00 higher in a narrow comparison, steers over 750 lbs were not well compared, however higher undertones were noticed. Heifer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Heifers 450-649 lbs sold mostly 15.00-20.00 higher, heifers over 650 lbs were too lightly tested last sale to develop a full market trend, steady to higher undertones were noticed. Most of the offering was comprised of weaned calves this week. Most calves were weaned 45-90 days. Quality this week was mixed from average to very attractive. Demand was mostly good to very good for light to moderate offerings. Demand for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings was very good. All cattle on offer this week were in light, green flesh. This past weeks extreme cold snap thinned many cattle down. Consignments of cattle running out in large traps or on the hay meadows were particularly green and attractive to buyers. Market activity was mostly active with a large buyer pool on hand of both order-buyers and farmer feeders. Weigh up cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however sharply higher undertones were noticed as packers continue to push for offerings for immediate harvest. This past weeks extreme cold has lightened supplies available to the packer as most ranchers were unwilling or unable to market cattle. Demand was very good for very light offerings. Young age cows sold on light to moderate 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 $285.23/cwt on 760 head.
Average price
$285.23
760 head · 624 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,779
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$110
per head · Medium 1 over Medium 1-2
$53.66/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+1.36
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1427330.331,4117thin
Medium and Large 1636285.431,815664
Medium and Large 1-2577281.491,62565
Medium 1-2470276.671,30124
One grade step is worth $53.66/cwt here — about $110 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 sale760 hd
285.23
MT average3 barns · 789 hd
283.87
+1.36
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
BullsLow1,783107.111,91017
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,545104.861,6207thin
CowsLean 85-90%High93991.678603thin

Every lot, as filed

48 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
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fancy655253.00/cwt253.00–253.001,65770
HeifersMedium and Large 1-21,000184.50/cwt184.50–184.501,8453
HeifersMedium and Large 1571280.23/cwt274.00–287.001,60064
HeifersMedium and Large 1521297.41/cwt290.50–301.001,550114
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2393305.00/cwt305.00–305.001,1996
SteersMedium and Large 1-2685248.19/cwt244.00–249.501,70020
SteersMedium and Large 1538314.96/cwt309.00–330.001,69489
SteersMedium 1-2450290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,30516
SteersMedium and Large 1579299.31/cwt294.00–309.001,733133
SteersMedium and Large 1654283.07/cwt263.50–288.501,851165
SteersMedium and Large 1-2538300.28/cwt293.00–303.001,61611
SteersMedium and Large 1370361.64/cwt352.50–370.001,3383
BullsMedium and Large 1690228.00/cwt228.00–228.001,5736
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed650297.00/cwt297.00–297.001,93113
SteersMedium and Large 1-2621272.58/cwt267.00–274.001,69310
SteersMedium and Large 1-2323330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,0662
SteersMedium and Large 1-2563281.00/cwt281.00–281.001,5823
SteersMedium 1-2388310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,2032
SteersMedium and Large 1727254.58/cwt242.50–261.001,851107
SteersMedium 1-2551230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,2676
SteersMedium and Large 1613295.19/cwt282.00–299.001,81068
SteersMedium 1427330.33/cwt320.00–337.501,4117
SteersMedium and Large 1-2733225.00/cwt225.00–225.001,6493
SteersMedium and Large 1-2455320.77/cwt320.00–323.001,4608
CowsBoner 80-85%1,57596.00/cwt96.00–96.001,5121
CowsBoner 80-85%1,50597.00/cwt97.00–97.001,4601
CowsBoner 80-85%1,562107.00/cwt107.00–107.001,6713
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,170106.00/cwt106.00–106.001,2401
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,525110.00/cwt110.00–110.001,6782
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight82384.50/cwt84.50–84.506952
Bulls1,776103.61/cwt99.00–109.001,84012
Bulls1,800115.50/cwt115.50–115.502,0795
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,309106.71/cwt106.00–108.001,39713
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,105143.05/cwt130.00–182.501,5816
HeifersMedium and Large 1674238.90/cwt232.00–240.001,61043
HeifersMedium and Large 1483299.42/cwt291.00–307.001,44636
HeifersMedium and Large 1396310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,2287
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2565253.01/cwt252.00–256.001,4308
HeifersMedium and Large 1410307.00/cwt307.00–307.001,2594
HeifersMedium and Large 1710224.00/cwt224.00–224.001,5901
SteersMedium and Large 1820230.12/cwt230.00–231.501,88749
SteersMedium and Large 1468332.96/cwt326.00–338.001,55824
SteersMedium and Large 1772243.00/cwt243.00–243.001,87610
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2974188.00/cwt188.00–188.001,83123
HeifersMedium and Large 1613261.60/cwt253.00–265.501,604119
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2486282.00/cwt282.00–282.001,3714
SteersMedium and Large 1448341.00/cwt341.00–341.001,5283
SteersMedium and Large 1-2440320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,4088

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.