Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-11-17

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-11-17
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-11-17

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Nov 17

● Final78 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776

← Nov 10Nov 17Dec 1 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

1,405 head

▼ 2,557 vs last sale 3,962▼ 196 vs year ago 1,601 · −12.2%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

80 head

▲ 40 vs last sale 40▼ 19 vs year ago 99 · −19.2%

Replacement Cattle receipts

22 head

▲ 7 vs last sale 15▼ 54 vs year ago 76 · −71.1%

Also sold hereRegular saleWed Oct 28, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Steers under 500 lbs 15.00-25.00 lower in a narrow comparison; steer calves over 500 lbs sold mostly 5.00-20.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Heifer calves under 600 lbs generally steady in a narrow comparison, heifer calves over 600 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and overall not as attractive as last week. Demand was mostly light this week as offerings were limited. Many buyers were concerned about filling loads as consignments were light for todays sale. Some buyers finished loads from yesterdays sale and exited the market. Calves with only one round of vaccinations sold with large discounts to calves with both spring and fall shots. Package sizes were small to moderate today with many singles and lots of less than 5 head seen. Demand for small lots was very light this sale. No load lots were seen today. Todays buyer pool was noticeably smaller than last week. The monthly cattle on feed report was released today and it showed cattle on feed up 2% from November 2022, Placements were 4% higher than last year and marketings were 3% below last year. Weigh up cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. No cows and bulls were reported last week due to the federal holiday. Demand was moderate for light offerings. Packers showed stronger demand today as they pushed to fill loads from Wednesdays sale. Young age cows sold on light demand today. Most offerings sold to feeding buyers this 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 $268.85/cwt on 589 head.

Average price

$268.85

589 head · 542 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,457

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$113

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

$65.20/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−28.17

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	493	276.20	1,362	47
Medium and Large 1	543	271.51	1,475	481
Medium and Large 2	451	269.38	1,216	8thin
Medium 1	509	257.27	1,310	31
Medium 1-2	699	211.00	1,475	22

One grade step is worth $65.20/cwt here — about −$113 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 sale589 hd

268.85

—

MT average5 barns · 4,956 hd

297.02

−28.17

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	1,298	95.87	1,245	8thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,441	98.60	1,421	5thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,470	82.43	1,212	14
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,266	68.10	862	26

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.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,115	$1,600	1thin

Every lot, as filed

78 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 · Steers29 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	299	332.50/cwt	332.50–332.50	994	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	310	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	946	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	320	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,024	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	335	333.95/cwt	330.00–350.00	1,119	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	366	322.50/cwt	322.50–322.50	1,180	10
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	370	293.99/cwt	270.00–320.00	1,088	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	379	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,213	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	382	333.38/cwt	332.50–340.00	1,274	27
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	382	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,146	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	423	324.18/cwt	320.00–330.00	1,371	43
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	432	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,318	3
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	449	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,212	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	468	302.86/cwt	290.00–319.00	1,417	91
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	468	294.00/cwt	294.00–294.00	1,376	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	475	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,330	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	521	272.42/cwt	263.00–293.00	1,419	66
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	572	248.00/cwt	248.00–248.00	1,419	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	574	253.80/cwt	244.50–271.00	1,457	92
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	585	225.19/cwt	220.00–232.50	1,317	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	615	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,322	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	619	232.90/cwt	230.00–240.00	1,442	55
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	621	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	1,304	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	673	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,514	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	678	225.52/cwt	217.00–236.00	1,529	54
Steers	—	Medium 1	683	212.50/cwt	212.50–212.50	1,451	8
Steers	—	Medium 1-2	699	211.00/cwt	211.00–211.00	1,475	22
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	716	219.07/cwt	217.00–221.00	1,569	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	770	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,656	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	912	210.50/cwt	210.50–210.50	1,920	12
Feeder Cattle · Heifers28 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	320	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	800	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	347	293.00/cwt	293.00–293.00	1,017	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	350	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	875	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	385	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	1,097	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	389	282.50/cwt	282.50–282.50	1,099	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	411	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,110	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	435	282.68/cwt	278.00–287.00	1,230	36
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450	257.50/cwt	257.50–257.50	1,159	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	450	232.50/cwt	232.50–232.50	1,046	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	475	271.08/cwt	266.00–278.00	1,288	40
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	523	252.47/cwt	250.00–257.00	1,320	20
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	530	261.04/cwt	242.50–269.00	1,384	30
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	531	235.17/cwt	230.00–237.50	1,249	11
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	535	232.50/cwt	232.50–232.50	1,244	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	555	232.50/cwt	232.50–232.50	1,290	3
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	560	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,204	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	572	245.76/cwt	237.00–256.50	1,406	104
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	605	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	1,271	2
Heifers	—	Large 1Unweaned	608	224.00/cwt	224.00–224.00	1,362	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	610	229.00/cwt	224.00–235.00	1,397	13
Heifers	—	Large 1Unweaned	675	207.00/cwt	207.00–207.00	1,397	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	689	202.00/cwt	202.00–202.00	1,392	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	695	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	1,112	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	728	208.00/cwt	208.00–208.00	1,514	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	781	199.20/cwt	185.00–210.00	1,556	19
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	848	202.50/cwt	202.50–202.50	1,717	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	879	206.00/cwt	206.00–206.00	1,811	28
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,010	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	1,858	4
Feeder Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	546	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	1,201	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	773	207.50/cwt	207.50–207.50	1,604	3
Feeder Cattle · Dairy Steers1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Steers	—	Large 2-3	767	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	805	5
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,120	108.00/cwt	108.00–108.00	1,210	2
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,280	96.23/cwt	95.00–98.00	1,232	4
Bulls	—	—	1,513	83.02/cwt	80.00–86.00	1,256	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows11 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	915	60.00/cwt	60.00–60.00	549	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,175	82.50/cwt	82.50–82.50	969	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,211	77.31/cwt	60.00–100.00	936	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,306	66.27/cwt	64.00–72.00	865	15
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,319	56.69/cwt	55.00–60.00	748	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,335	103.00/cwt	103.00–103.00	1,375	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,389	90.36/cwt	87.00–94.50	1,255	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,400	78.63/cwt	72.00–84.00	1,101	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,530	78.00/cwt	78.00–78.00	1,193	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,580	80.00/cwt	80.00–80.00	1,264	5
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,600	92.00/cwt	92.00–92.00	1,472	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	968	122.00/cwt	120.00–122.50	1,181	8
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,033	80.00/cwt	80.00–80.00	826	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,082	130.31/cwt	107.00–150.00	1,410	7
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,115	1,600.00/head	1,600.00–1,600.00	1,600	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 17, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 1,405Last week 3,962Year ago 1,601

Slaughter CattleReceipts 80Last week 40Year ago 99

Replacement CattleReceipts 22Last week 15Year ago 76

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	320	250.00	250.00
3	—	560	215.00	215.00
2	—	535	232.50	232.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
36	—	435	278.00–287.00	282.68
104	—	572	237.00–256.50	245.76
2	—	385	285.00	285.00
30	—	530	242.50–269.00	261.04
13	—	610	224.00–235.00	229.00
40	—	475	266.00–278.00	271.08

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
28	—	879	206.00	206.00
20	—	523	250.00–257.00	252.47
9	—	347	293.00	293.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	689	202.00	202.00
2	—	450	232.50	232.50
4	—	1,010	184.00	184.00
12	—	728	208.00	208.00
6	—	350	250.00	250.00
5	—	848	202.50	202.50
19	—	781	185.00–210.00	199.20

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	605	210.00	210.00
2	—	450	257.50	257.50
11	—	531	230.00–237.50	235.17
3	—	555	232.50	232.50
5	—	389	282.50	282.50
11	—	411	270.00	270.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	695	160.00	160.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	608	224.00	224.00
2	—	675	207.00	207.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	912	210.50	210.50
10	—	572	248.00	248.00
5	—	468	294.00	294.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	382	300.00	300.00
2	—	310	305.00	305.00
3	—	615	215.00	215.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	320	320.00	320.00
4	—	379	320.00	320.00
3	—	475	280.00	280.00
11	—	673	225.00	225.00
2	—	770	215.00	215.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	432	305.00	305.00
10	—	366	322.50	322.50
7	—	585	220.00–232.50	225.19

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	699	211.00	211.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	683	212.50	212.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	382	332.50–340.00	333.38
12	—	716	217.00–221.00	219.07
92	—	574	244.50–271.00	253.80
43	—	423	320.00–330.00	324.18
54	—	678	217.00–236.00	225.52
14	—	335	330.00–350.00	333.95
91	—	468	290.00–319.00	302.86
55	—	619	230.00–240.00	232.90
66	—	521	263.00–293.00	272.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	449	270.00	270.00
7	—	299	332.50	332.50
7	—	621	210.00	210.00
2	—	370	270.00–320.00	293.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Steers — Large 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	767	105.00	105.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	546	220.00	220.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	773	207.50	207.50

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,530	78.00	78.00
4	—	1,400	72.00–84.00	78.63

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	915	60.00	60.00
1	—	1,175	82.50	82.50
6	—	1,211	60.00–100.00	77.31

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,335	103.00	103.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,580	80.00	80.00
4	—	1,389	87.00–94.50	90.36

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,600	92.00	92.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,319	55.00–60.00	56.69
15	—	1,306	64.00–72.00	66.27

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,513	80.00–86.00	83.02

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,120	108.00	108.00
4	—	1,280	95.00–98.00	96.23

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	3	—	1,033	80.00	80.00
(<2 yrs)	Open	8	—	968	120.00–122.50	122.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	7	—	1,082	107.00–150.00	130.31

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,115	1,600.00	1,600.00

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.