Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-10-20

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-10-20
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-10-20

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Oct 20

● Final87 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776

← Oct 13Oct 20Nov 3 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

2,728 head

▲ 1,866 vs last sale 862▲ 630 vs year ago 2,098 · +30.0%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

110 head

▲ 79 vs last sale 31▼ 113 vs year ago 223 · −50.7%

Replacement Cattle receipts

69 head

▲ 54 vs last sale 15▼ 49 vs year ago 118 · −41.5%

Also sold hereRegular saleWed Oct 28, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed on both steer and heifer calves. All yearlings were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand started the sale mostly good, however after the release of the cattle on feed report at 1pm demand slipped and most cattle sold lower. The monthly cattle on feed report showed feedlots with 1,000 or more head capacity totaled 11.6 million head or 1% above the October 1 2022. Placements totaled 2.21 million head or 6% over October 2022, marketings totaled 1.66 million head 6% below September 2022. Quality was mostly average to attractive on calves and plain to average on yearlings. A larger selection of cattle was seen this week compared to last which attracted a larger buyer pool. Most offerings were in small to moderate size packages again this week as no load lots were seen. Very light weight calves continue to sell with the best demand as buyers look for high quality calves suitable to develop into yearlings. Market activity was mostly moderate to active today. Weigh up cows and bulls sold on light to moderate demand for very light offerings. Not enough cows or bulls sold to develop an accurate market trend, steady undertones were noticed as buyers pushed to finish filling loads for the week.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $278.54/cwt on 1,252 head.

Average price

$278.54

1,252 head · 566 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,576

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$502

per head · Medium 2 over Medium and Large 1

$11.87/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−26.90

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 2	385	290.00	1,117	2thin
Medium and Large 2	452	281.33	1,272	12thin
Medium and Large 1-2	529	279.48	1,477	340
Medium and Large 1	582	278.13	1,618	898

One grade step is worth $11.87/cwt here — about −$502 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 sale1,252 hd

278.54

—

MT average5 barns · 4,547 hd

305.44

−26.90

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	High	1,750	106.97	1,872	18
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,492	107.07	1,597	12
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,393	97.91	1,363	37
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,165	82.13	957	27

Every lot, as filed

87 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. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers31 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	329	366.26/cwt	362.50–377.50	1,205	11
Steers	—	Medium 2Unweaned	385	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,117	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	387	339.18/cwt	335.00–347.50	1,313	50
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	388	376.23/cwt	375.00–377.50	1,460	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	432	339.98/cwt	337.50–345.00	1,469	15
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	433	282.00/cwt	282.00–282.00	1,221	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	434	321.39/cwt	310.00–335.00	1,395	29
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Full	459	271.00/cwt	271.00–271.00	1,244	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	465	323.51/cwt	300.00–329.50	1,504	113
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	490	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,372	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	491	289.99/cwt	275.00–293.00	1,424	35
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	522	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,514	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	529	289.00/cwt	279.00–298.00	1,529	133
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	534	270.56/cwt	260.00–276.00	1,445	111
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	548	276.00/cwt	276.00–276.00	1,512	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	563	249.00/cwt	249.00–249.00	1,402	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	579	271.86/cwt	263.00–287.00	1,574	213
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	582	253.88/cwt	244.50–263.00	1,478	32
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	601	276.00/cwt	276.00–276.00	1,659	20
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	616	249.22/cwt	239.00–251.00	1,535	46
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	625	260.81/cwt	251.00–270.00	1,630	135
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	626	248.00/cwt	248.00–248.00	1,552	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	636	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,781	28
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	652	246.00/cwt	246.00–246.00	1,604	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	661	237.31/cwt	231.00–247.00	1,569	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	670	254.88/cwt	246.00–259.75	1,708	90
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	682	249.81/cwt	249.50–250.50	1,704	28
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	721	249.13/cwt	245.00–253.00	1,796	59
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	727	232.00/cwt	232.00–232.00	1,687	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	732	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,757	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	985	214.00/cwt	214.00–214.00	2,108	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers32 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	295	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,003	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	324	333.19/cwt	325.00–352.50	1,080	25
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	351	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	983	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	361	293.17/cwt	290.00–295.00	1,058	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	373	316.94/cwt	311.00–334.00	1,182	63
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	413	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,074	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	416	290.54/cwt	280.00–313.00	1,209	87
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2Unweaned	418	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	941	6
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2Unweaned	453	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	906	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	478	272.34/cwt	265.00–285.00	1,302	91
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	481	258.17/cwt	257.00–265.00	1,242	42
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Full	503	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,157	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	526	262.20/cwt	258.00–266.00	1,379	118
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	541	252.18/cwt	251.00–258.00	1,364	18
Heifers	—	Medium 2Unweaned	549	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	988	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	555	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,304	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	568	254.99/cwt	249.00–263.00	1,448	98
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	572	253.00/cwt	253.00–253.00	1,447	7
Heifers	—	Large 1Unweaned	575	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	1,357	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	611	246.14/cwt	234.50–252.50	1,504	122
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Full	625	217.00/cwt	217.00–217.00	1,356	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	635	231.11/cwt	229.00–236.00	1,468	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	680	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	1,428	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	690	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	1,628	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	719	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,618	10
Heifers	—	Medium 1	732	212.00/cwt	212.00–212.00	1,552	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	798	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	1,756	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	813	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	1,732	18
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	833	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,916	43
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	870	215.18/cwt	215.00–216.00	1,872	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,009	197.00/cwt	197.00–197.00	1,988	4
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,130	191.00/cwt	191.00–191.00	2,158	1
Feeder Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	332	359.00/cwt	359.00–359.00	1,192	9
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	390	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,287	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	523	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,412	25
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	623	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,402	3
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,255	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	1,067	1
Bulls	—	—	1,640	107.00/cwt	107.00–107.00	1,755	1
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,705	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	1,790	1
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,730	110.15/cwt	109.00–114.00	1,906	8
Bulls	—	—	1,763	104.71/cwt	98.00–111.00	1,846	6
Bulls	—	—	2,485	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	2,957	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows11 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	977	82.00/cwt	82.00–82.00	801	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,155	72.50/cwt	72.50–72.50	837	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,184	82.16/cwt	77.00–86.00	973	18
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,212	84.00/cwt	84.00–84.00	1,018	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,253	110.95/cwt	110.50–114.00	1,390	9
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,405	97.00/cwt	97.00–97.00	1,363	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,421	98.16/cwt	96.00–105.00	1,395	17
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,468	85.37/cwt	80.50–87.50	1,253	9
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,470	108.22/cwt	108.00–110.00	1,591	10
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,475	90.00/cwt	90.00–90.00	1,328	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,600	101.33/cwt	99.00–103.50	1,621	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	901	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	1,352	8
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	989	166.65/cwt	150.00–170.00	1,648	43
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,125	107.26/cwt	104.00–145.00	1,207	10

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.

Montana feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Fri)

Fri Oct 20, 2023

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 2,728Last week 862Year ago 2,098

Slaughter CattleReceipts 110Last week 31Year ago 223

Replacement CattleReceipts 69Last week 15Year ago 118

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,212	84.00	84.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	1,184	77.00–86.00	82.16
1	—	1,155	72.50	72.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,405	97.00	97.00
9	—	1,468	80.50–87.50	85.37

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,600	99.00–103.50	101.33

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,253	110.50–114.00	110.95
17	—	1,421	96.00–105.00	98.16
1	—	1,475	90.00	90.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	977	82.00	82.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,470	108.00–110.00	108.22

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,485	119.00	119.00
1	—	1,640	107.00	107.00
6	—	1,763	98.00–111.00	104.71

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,255	85.00	85.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,705	105.00	105.00
8	—	1,730	109.00–114.00	110.15

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	453	200.00	200.00
6	—	418	225.00	225.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	680	210.00	210.00
13	—	413	260.00	260.00
42	—	481	257.00–265.00	258.17
10	—	555	235.00	235.00
8	—	361	290.00–295.00	293.17
10	—	635	229.00–236.00	231.11
18	—	541	251.00–258.00	252.18

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	351	280.00	280.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
122	—	611	234.50–252.50	246.14
43	—	833	230.00	230.00
7	—	295	340.00	340.00
118	—	526	258.00–266.00	262.20
63	—	373	311.00–334.00	316.94
12	—	690	236.00	236.00
91	—	478	265.00–285.00	272.34
98	—	568	249.00–263.00	254.99
87	—	416	280.00–313.00	290.54
25	—	324	325.00–352.50	333.19

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	625	217.00	217.00
11	—	503	230.00	230.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	719	225.00	225.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	549	180.00	180.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	813	213.00	213.00
11	—	870	215.00–216.00	215.18
4	—	1,009	197.00	197.00
7	—	572	253.00	253.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	732	212.00	212.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,130	191.00	191.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	798	220.00	220.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	575	236.00	236.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
28	—	636	280.00	280.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	388	375.00–377.50	376.23
113	—	465	300.00–329.50	323.51
90	—	670	246.00–259.75	254.88
59	—	721	245.00–253.00	249.13
15	—	432	337.50–345.00	339.98
135	—	625	251.00–270.00	260.81
213	—	579	263.00–287.00	271.86
133	—	529	279.00–298.00	289.00
11	—	329	362.50–377.50	366.26

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	985	214.00	214.00
7	—	652	246.00	246.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	459	271.00	271.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	433	282.00	282.00
4	—	490	280.00	280.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	732	240.00	240.00
11	—	626	248.00	248.00
4	—	548	276.00	276.00
12	—	563	249.00	249.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
46	—	616	239.00–251.00	249.22
111	—	534	260.00–276.00	270.56
32	—	582	244.50–263.00	253.88
50	—	387	335.00–347.50	339.18
11	—	727	232.00	232.00
10	—	661	231.00–247.00	237.31
29	—	434	310.00–335.00	321.39
35	—	491	275.00–293.00	289.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	601	276.00	276.00
13	—	522	290.00	290.00
28	—	682	249.50–250.50	249.81

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	385	290.00	290.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
25	—	523	270.00	270.00
9	—	332	359.00	359.00
2	—	390	330.00	330.00
3	—	623	225.00	225.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	10	—	1,125	104.00–145.00	107.26
(<2 yrs)	Open	43	—	989	150.00–170.00	166.65

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	8	—	901	150.00	150.00

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.