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

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-12-08
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-12-08

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Dec 8

● Final57 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776

← Dec 1Dec 8Jan 5 →

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 Oct 28, 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 — 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 $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 / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	481	283.42	1,363	96
Medium and Large 1	590	257.85	1,521	416
Medium and Large 2	469	235.00	1,102	6thin
Large 1-2	1,126	160.50	1,807	13thin

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Average	1,712	99.73	1,707	5thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,820	87.50	1,593	3thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,196	71.14	851	12

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/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,555	$1,325	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,467	$1,150	3thin

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. 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 · Steers20 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	375	322.80/cwt	305.00–328.00	1,211	21
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	416	328.37/cwt	322.00–345.00	1,366	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	426	313.66/cwt	312.00–315.00	1,336	30
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	435	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	1,349	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	469	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,102	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	471	303.36/cwt	292.50–311.00	1,429	32
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	508	283.00/cwt	283.00–283.00	1,438	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	519	272.44/cwt	270.00–276.00	1,414	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	525	280.39/cwt	280.00–282.00	1,472	51
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	558	267.72/cwt	256.00–271.00	1,494	104
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	565	230.69/cwt	227.00–251.00	1,303	19
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	615	240.60/cwt	234.00–243.00	1,480	81
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	633	236.00/cwt	234.00–238.00	1,494	31
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	667	228.00/cwt	228.00–228.00	1,521	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	671	216.50/cwt	216.50–216.50	1,453	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	680	232.42/cwt	229.50–243.00	1,580	31
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	715	225.78/cwt	219.00–228.00	1,614	40
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	772	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,660	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	825	191.00/cwt	191.00–191.00	1,576	6
Steers	—	Large 1-2	1,126	160.50/cwt	160.50–160.50	1,807	13
Feeder Cattle · Heifers21 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	386	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	772	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	391	277.16/cwt	275.00–279.00	1,084	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	425	269.00/cwt	269.00–269.00	1,143	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	430	270.75/cwt	269.00–276.00	1,164	41
Heifers	—	Medium 1	435	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,131	18
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	469	251.20/cwt	250.00–262.00	1,178	23
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	477	251.40/cwt	232.50–255.00	1,199	22
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	495	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	1,203	3
Heifers	—	Medium 1	498	232.00/cwt	232.00–232.00	1,155	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	515	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	979	3
Heifers	—	Medium 1	520	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,040	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	526	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,210	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	534	235.26/cwt	234.00–242.50	1,256	27
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	535	231.58/cwt	231.00–232.00	1,239	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	538	234.91/cwt	232.50–236.00	1,264	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	565	229.75/cwt	226.50–233.50	1,298	79
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	622	218.32/cwt	217.00–220.00	1,358	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	639	219.58/cwt	218.00–227.00	1,403	48
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	664	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	1,355	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	697	207.00/cwt	207.00–207.00	1,443	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	759	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	1,442	5
Feeder Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	460	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	1,357	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	598	183.00/cwt	183.00–183.00	1,094	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	635	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	1,175	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	685	188.56/cwt	186.00–194.00	1,292	13
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,690	96.66/cwt	91.00–102.50	1,634	4
Bulls	—	—	1,800	112.00/cwt	112.00–112.00	2,016	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows6 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,149	81.00/cwt	81.00–81.00	931	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,186	58.41/cwt	47.00–62.00	693	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,212	78.00/cwt	78.00–78.00	945	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,380	62.00/cwt	62.00–62.00	856	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,815	89.00/cwt	89.00–89.00	1,615	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,830	84.50/cwt	84.50–84.50	1,546	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows2 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	943	139.41/cwt	137.00–150.00	1,315	11
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,237	96.31/cwt	86.00–102.50	1,191	8
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	1,467	1,150.00/head	1,150.00–1,150.00	1,150	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,555	1,325.00/head	1,325.00–1,325.00	1,325	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 Dec 8, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 1,087Last week 1,821Year ago 1,698

Slaughter CattleReceipts 20Last week 61Year ago 140

Replacement CattleReceipts 25Last week 29Year ago 62

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	460	295.00	295.00
13	—	685	186.00–194.00	188.56

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	635	185.00	185.00
4	—	598	183.00	183.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	535	231.00–232.00	231.58
6	—	664	204.00	204.00
22	—	477	232.50–255.00	251.40

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	520	200.00	200.00
18	—	435	260.00	260.00
4	—	498	232.00	232.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	759	190.00	190.00
3	—	697	207.00	207.00
3	—	425	269.00	269.00
13	—	622	217.00–220.00	218.32

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
79	—	565	226.50–233.50	229.75
23	—	469	250.00–262.00	251.20
15	—	391	275.00–279.00	277.16
41	—	430	269.00–276.00	270.75
27	—	534	234.00–242.50	235.26
48	—	639	218.00–227.00	219.58

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	495	243.00	243.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	515	190.00	190.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	526	230.00	230.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	538	232.50–236.00	234.91

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	386	200.00	200.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
40	—	715	219.00–228.00	225.78
6	—	825	191.00	191.00
3	—	772	215.00	215.00
31	—	633	234.00–238.00	236.00
8	—	508	283.00	283.00
12	—	667	228.00	228.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	519	270.00–276.00	272.44
10	—	671	216.50	216.50
19	—	565	227.00–251.00	230.69
30	—	426	312.00–315.00	313.66
21	—	375	305.00–328.00	322.80

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
104	—	558	256.00–271.00	267.72
81	—	615	234.00–243.00	240.60
51	—	525	280.00–282.00	280.39
32	—	471	292.50–311.00	303.36
17	—	416	322.00–345.00	328.37
31	—	680	229.50–243.00	232.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	435	310.00	310.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,126	160.50	160.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	469	235.00	235.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,830	84.50	84.50
2	—	1,815	89.00	89.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,212	78.00	78.00
4	—	1,149	81.00	81.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,380	62.00	62.00
4	—	1,186	47.00–62.00	58.41

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,800	112.00	112.00
4	—	1,690	91.00–102.50	96.66

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	8	—	1,237	86.00–102.50	96.31
(<2 yrs)	Open	11	—	943	137.00–150.00	139.41

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	1	—	1,555	1,325.00	1,325.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	3	—	1,467	1,150.00	1,150.00

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.