Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-11-03

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-11-03
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-11-03

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Nov 3

● Final88 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776

← Oct 20Nov 3Nov 10 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

2,280 head

▼ 448 vs last sale 2,728▼ 517 vs year ago 2,797 · −18.5%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

77 head

▼ 33 vs last sale 110▼ 184 vs year ago 261 · −70.5%

Replacement Cattle receipts

27 head

▼ 42 vs last sale 69▼ 74 vs year ago 101 · −73.3%

Also sold hereRegular saleWed Oct 28, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: No sale was held last week do to a snowstorm and poor road conditions. All feeder comparisons are to two weeks ago. Steers under 500 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Steer calves over 500 lbs sold steady to firm. Heifer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on a poorer quality offering; heifers over 450 lbs sold steady to firm. All yearlings were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand was mostly moderate for light to moderate offerings. Most cattle were offered in small packages this sale. Only 5 packages of 30 head or more was seen this sale, forcing buyers to piece together loads. Quality was mixed from plain to attractive, however most cattle were plain to average with only a limited selection of attractive cattle seen. Large price spreads were seen today as buyers had a difficult time building loads of like weight and quality. Many frozen ears and tails were noticed today as many sets of calves were cutbacks off summer videos. While these cattle are not included in the report below, most of these offerings sold with a 12.00-18.00 discount to none frozen cattle. A moderate size buyer pool was seen today and market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for cows and bulls was mostly good as buyers pushed to fill loads for the week. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average today with many very full offerings noticed.

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 $283.26/cwt on 920 head.

Average price

$283.26

920 head · 542 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,537

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$156

per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium 1-2

$60.02/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−0.26

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	497	287.52	1,430	226
Medium 1	509	284.00	1,445	15thin
Medium and Large 1	559	283.28	1,583	625
Large 1	515	274.67	1,415	43
Medium 1-2	697	227.50	1,586	11thin

One grade step is worth $60.02/cwt here — about −$156 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 sale920 hd

283.26

—

MT average5 barns · 3,763 hd

283.53

−0.26

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	—	Low	1,734	94.31	1,635	4thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,418	91.42	1,296	21
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,835	86.00	1,578	1thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,195	82.66	988	50

Every lot, as filed

88 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 · Steers27 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	290	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	1,102	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	339	332.71/cwt	325.00–350.00	1,128	18
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	375	349.39/cwt	345.00–365.00	1,310	18
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	392	322.89/cwt	322.50–335.00	1,266	32
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	426	312.28/cwt	307.50–322.50	1,330	37
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	430	351.34/cwt	339.00–367.50	1,511	51
Steers	—	Large 1Unweaned	472	288.57/cwt	275.00–303.00	1,362	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	474	311.65/cwt	300.00–325.00	1,477	57
Steers	—	Medium 1	478	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,434	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	479	290.46/cwt	281.00–299.00	1,391	25
Steers	—	Large 1Unweaned	507	270.71/cwt	262.50–275.00	1,372	21
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	522	292.91/cwt	280.00–315.00	1,529	128
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	524	276.00/cwt	276.00–276.00	1,446	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	537	272.63/cwt	250.00–279.00	1,464	67
Steers	—	Large 1Unweaned	566	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,528	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	574	272.67/cwt	245.00–284.00	1,565	168
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	587	256.78/cwt	244.00–264.00	1,507	24
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	614	244.60/cwt	235.00–249.00	1,502	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	621	260.32/cwt	255.00–270.00	1,617	108
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	657	252.33/cwt	240.00–257.00	1,658	67
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	681	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,532	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	690	232.00/cwt	232.00–232.00	1,601	2
Steers	—	Medium 1-2	697	227.50/cwt	227.50–227.50	1,586	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	714	222.00/cwt	222.00–222.00	1,585	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	751	221.50/cwt	221.50–221.50	1,663	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	754	229.00/cwt	229.00–229.00	1,727	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	759	232.00/cwt	232.00–232.00	1,761	6
Feeder Cattle · Heifers40 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	275	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	894	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	309	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	881	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	328	302.44/cwt	300.00–305.00	992	2
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2Unweaned	336	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	857	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	343	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	1,063	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	358	281.71/cwt	260.00–290.00	1,009	27
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	374	301.66/cwt	293.00–320.00	1,128	22
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	390	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,131	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	430	292.24/cwt	280.00–310.00	1,257	47
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	431	256.06/cwt	247.00–277.50	1,104	40
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	469	252.50/cwt	252.50–252.50	1,184	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	475	273.69/cwt	260.00–285.00	1,300	84
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Full	475	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	1,057	10
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	485	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	1,079	1
Heifers	—	Large 1Unweaned	486	241.50/cwt	237.50–244.00	1,174	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	487	231.00/cwt	231.00–231.00	1,125	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	489	256.83/cwt	254.00–261.00	1,256	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	497	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,292	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	517	259.50/cwt	259.50–259.50	1,342	52
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	526	241.42/cwt	231.00–255.00	1,270	62
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	530	260.46/cwt	250.00–268.00	1,380	53
Heifers	—	Large 1Unweaned	530	217.16/cwt	214.00–225.00	1,151	21
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	538	246.00/cwt	246.00–246.00	1,323	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	550	269.00/cwt	269.00–269.00	1,480	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	564	252.13/cwt	244.00–264.00	1,422	91
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	564	234.81/cwt	224.00–240.00	1,324	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	580	205.39/cwt	202.50–207.50	1,191	7
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2Unweaned	596	211.00/cwt	211.00–211.00	1,258	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	602	233.00/cwt	233.00–233.00	1,403	7
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	607	227.00/cwt	227.00–227.00	1,378	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	613	244.24/cwt	239.00–247.00	1,497	52
Heifers	—	Large 1Unweaned	614	211.00/cwt	211.00–211.00	1,296	22
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Full	646	207.50/cwt	207.50–207.50	1,340	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	668	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	1,576	9
Heifers	—	Large 1Unweaned	668	218.21/cwt	205.00–231.50	1,458	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	682	223.00/cwt	223.00–223.00	1,521	31
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	717	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	1,506	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	725	219.00/cwt	219.00–219.00	1,588	29
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	739	211.00/cwt	211.00–211.00	1,559	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	815	218.71/cwt	218.00–219.50	1,782	21
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	390	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,326	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Full	497	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,292	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	535	267.50/cwt	267.50–267.50	1,431	2
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,708	94.75/cwt	91.00–98.00	1,618	3
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,810	93.00/cwt	93.00–93.00	1,683	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows12 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	995	68.00/cwt	68.00–68.00	677	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,060	80.00/cwt	80.00–80.00	848	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,154	102.00/cwt	102.00–102.00	1,177	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,164	79.06/cwt	75.00–84.00	920	13
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,209	70.72/cwt	59.00–74.00	855	10
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,254	89.00/cwt	89.00–89.00	1,116	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,269	87.24/cwt	85.00–91.00	1,107	13
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,372	84.53/cwt	77.00–94.00	1,160	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,405	86.37/cwt	80.00–89.50	1,213	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,433	101.42/cwt	101.00–103.00	1,453	6
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,473	92.08/cwt	90.00–94.00	1,356	5
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,835	86.00/cwt	86.00–86.00	1,578	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	854	166.27/cwt	132.50–182.00	1,420	7
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	908	126.30/cwt	110.00–132.50	1,147	4
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	928	127.69/cwt	122.50–142.50	1,185	8
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,135	92.50/cwt	92.50–92.50	1,050	1

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 Nov 3, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 2,280Last week 2,728Year ago 2,797

Slaughter CattleReceipts 77Last week 110Year ago 261

Replacement CattleReceipts 27Last week 69Year ago 101

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	754	229.00	229.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	714	222.00	222.00
4	—	681	225.00	225.00
8	—	751	221.50	221.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
37	—	426	307.50–322.50	312.28
18	—	339	325.00–350.00	332.71
67	—	537	250.00–279.00	272.63
25	—	479	281.00–299.00	290.46
2	—	690	232.00	232.00
9	—	614	235.00–249.00	244.60
32	—	392	322.50–335.00	322.89
24	—	587	244.00–264.00	256.78

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	697	227.50	227.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
128	—	522	280.00–315.00	292.91
6	—	759	232.00	232.00
51	—	430	339.00–367.50	351.34
18	—	375	345.00–365.00	349.39
3	—	290	380.00	380.00
67	—	657	240.00–257.00	252.33
57	—	474	300.00–325.00	311.65
108	—	621	255.00–270.00	260.32
168	—	574	245.00–284.00	272.67

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	524	276.00	276.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	478	300.00	300.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	566	270.00	270.00
21	—	507	262.50–275.00	270.71
10	—	472	275.00–303.00	288.57

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	530	214.00–225.00	217.16
10	—	668	205.00–231.50	218.21
22	—	614	211.00	211.00
5	—	486	237.50–244.00	241.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	343	310.00	310.00
1	—	275	325.00	325.00
22	—	374	293.00–320.00	301.66
9	—	668	236.00	236.00
84	—	475	260.00–285.00	273.69
47	—	430	280.00–310.00	292.24
53	—	530	250.00–268.00	260.46
52	—	613	239.00–247.00	244.24
91	—	564	244.00–264.00	252.13
3	—	717	210.00	210.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	580	202.50–207.50	205.39
5	—	487	231.00	231.00
4	—	309	285.00	285.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	489	254.00–261.00	256.83
40	—	431	247.00–277.50	256.06
11	—	564	224.00–240.00	234.81
2	—	328	300.00–305.00	302.44
27	—	358	260.00–290.00	281.71
62	—	526	231.00–255.00	241.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	596	211.00	211.00
4	—	336	255.00	255.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	497	260.00	260.00
29	—	725	219.00	219.00
21	—	815	218.00–219.50	218.71
31	—	682	223.00	223.00
52	—	517	259.50	259.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	550	269.00	269.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	538	246.00	246.00
5	—	739	211.00	211.00
10	—	469	252.50	252.50
7	—	602	233.00	233.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	607	227.00	227.00
1	—	485	222.50	222.50
1	—	390	290.00	290.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	646	207.50	207.50
10	—	475	222.50	222.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	497	260.00	260.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	390	340.00	340.00
2	—	535	267.50	267.50

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,060	80.00	80.00
6	—	1,154	102.00	102.00
4	—	1,254	89.00	89.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,209	59.00–74.00	70.72
13	—	1,164	75.00–84.00	79.06
13	—	1,269	85.00–91.00	87.24

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,473	90.00–94.00	92.08
3	—	1,405	80.00–89.50	86.37

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,835	86.00	86.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	995	68.00	68.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,372	77.00–94.00	84.53
6	—	1,433	101.00–103.00	101.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,708	91.00–98.00	94.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,810	93.00	93.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,135	92.50	92.50
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	908	110.00–132.50	126.30

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	8	—	928	122.50–142.50	127.69
(<2 yrs)	Open	7	—	854	132.50–182.00	166.27

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.