Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-12-05

Public Auction Yards

Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Tue, Dec 5
● Final47 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 2257
Receipts
6,839 head
3,406 vs last sale 3,433 336 vs year ago 7,175 · 4.7%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

The Public Auction Yards held their Annual Blue Ribbon Sale today and yesterday, with over 6500 bred cows on offer. Demand for cows was good to very good. Buyers filled the stands both days as a very large crowd was on hand both days for the annual special sale. Buyers bid both ringside as well as on the internet throughout the two day sale which stretched late into the evening both days. Many sets of cows stayed in the state as ranchers are beginning to restock herds. Offerings were heavy with over 6,500 head of bred cows and heifers on offer. Quality was mostly attractive to very attractive for this offering as buyers spent the last couple years thinning down their herds and improved the quality as a result. Feed costs are significantly lower than this sale last year which helped spur demand. Prices for cows were sharply higher than one year ago as many sets of cows sold $600-1,000 per head higher than this sale last year. Demand for AI bred heifers was very good, while pasture bred heifers were met with moderate demand. Market activity was mostly active throughout the two day sale. 3rd trimester is from now through Mid March, second trimester is mid March to early June, first trimester is after Early June.

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 $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,188$2,5802,039
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,280$2,51137
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,147$2,476160
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,350$2,29522
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,290$2,285468
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,414$2,02133
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,340$2,00011
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,114$1,95013
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,282$1,94930
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,052$1,925100
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,382$1,813622
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,388$1,72513
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,108$1,65010
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,355$1,61528
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,169$1,55031
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,304$1,479667
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,368$1,37510
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,386$1,25010
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,130$7756
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)991$2,392207
Bred Heifers2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)(<2 yrs)975$2,2291,340
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)(<2 yrs)880$1,97528
Bred Heifers1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)(<2 yrs)895$1,78266

Every lot, as filed

47 lots · USDA AMS · Public Auction Yards Replacement Cattle Special - Billings, MT (Seasonal)
Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1-21,0041,942.78/head1,900.00–1,975.001,94323
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3221,505.62/head1,350.00–1,700.001,506585
Bred HeifersMedium 18801,909.05/head1,700.00–2,000.001,909166
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,0421,873.08/head1,750.00–1,975.001,87331
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS1,1662,053.38/head1,950.00–2,300.002,05317
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Registered1,3552,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5002
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1Fancy1,1312,644.57/head2,635.00–2,650.002,64544
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,130775.00/head775.00–775.007756
Bred HeifersMedium 1Thin Fleshed7821,250.00/head1,250.00–1,250.001,25010
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,1771,289.82/head1,175.00–1,325.001,29082
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed9801,650.00/head1,650.00–1,650.001,6506
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,0882,250.98/head1,750.00–2,375.002,251108
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Registered1,1871,875.00/head1,875.00–1,875.001,8759
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3601,787.10/head1,525.00–1,875.001,78750
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3681,375.00/head1,375.00–1,375.001,37510
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2052,645.90/head2,400.00–3,200.002,6461,443
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3402,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,00011
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4102,035.00/head2,035.00–2,035.002,03531
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Registered1,4831,800.00/head1,800.00–1,800.001,8002
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2822,344.64/head1,900.00–2,650.002,345418
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,0961,476.85/head1,425.00–1,575.001,47721
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3821,812.93/head1,500.00–2,000.001,813622
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1342,421.62/head2,050.00–2,650.002,42261
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1141,950.00/head1,950.00–1,950.001,95013
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3881,725.00/head1,725.00–1,725.001,72513
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1691,550.00/head1,550.00–1,550.001,55031
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3492,275.00/head2,275.00–2,275.002,27520
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2242,325.00/head2,325.00–2,325.002,32519
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3551,614.65/head1,550.00–1,650.001,61528
Bred CowsMedium 11,0282,267.62/head2,100.00–2,400.002,26874
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2821,949.45/head1,825.00–2,225.001,94930
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1912,113.33/head1,800.00–2,350.002,113205
Bred CowsLarge 11,2752,417.59/head2,250.00–2,550.002,41877
Bred HeifersMedium 18801,975.00/head1,975.00–1,975.001,97528
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed8812,075.00/head2,075.00–2,075.002,07519
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Registered1,0852,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0005
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1Registered1,2083,100.00/head3,100.00–3,100.003,1005
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 19892,401.96/head2,325.00–2,450.002,402202
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 19761,936.83/head1,575.00–1,975.001,93731
Bred HeifersMedium 18411,802.28/head1,650.00–1,900.001,80225
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 19832,265.41/head2,000.00–2,575.002,2651,083
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Registered1,3392,707.53/head2,700.00–2,750.002,70818
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,3861,250.00/head1,250.00–1,250.001,25010
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,0402,043.77/head2,000.00–2,150.002,04479
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1081,650.00/head1,650.00–1,650.001,65010
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Fancy1,2072,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,80068
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Fancy1,1203,500.00/head3,500.00–3,500.003,500100

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.