Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-03-15

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-03-15
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-03-15

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 15

● Final69 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Mar 8Mar 15Mar 22 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

395 head

▲ 175 vs last sale 220▲ 350 vs year ago 45 · +777.8%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

332 head

▼ 72 vs last sale 404▼ 3 vs year ago 335 · −0.9%

Replacement Cattle receipts

190 head

▲ 81 vs last sale 109▼ 128 vs year ago 318 · −40.3%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week due to develop an accurate market trend, steady undertones were noticed on steers and heifers. Demand for feeders was mostly good for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average, with a limited number of attractive consignments. CME positions sold off the last few trading secessions as outside equities weigh on the market. However, demand for feeder cattle remains strong despite buyers having to piece together loads. Market activity was mostly active again this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to firm on all offerings. Cows started off with a weak undertone but strengthened as the sale progressed. Packer buyers opted to send a few set of cows to feed again this week. Feeding cows sold steady to firm on an attractive offering. Cow quality was mostly average to attractive this week. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, higher undertones were noticed. Bull quality continues to see huge variation. Many bulls are thin and light. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good demand. Buyers showed the best demand for high quality cows suitable to rebreed. Young offerings sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $208.31/cwt on 127 head.

Average price

$208.31

127 head · 548 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,141

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$491

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

$39.92/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−4.70

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	558	209.92	1,171	110
Medium and Large 1-2	486	205.83	1,001	12thin
Medium 1	598	192.00	1,148	2thin
Medium and Large 2	400	170.00	680	3thin

One grade step is worth $39.92/cwt here — about $491 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 sale127 hd

208.31

—

MT average3 barns · 981 hd

213.01

−4.70

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	1,751	102.13	1,788	37
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,641	92.78	1,522	36
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,443	90.70	1,309	115
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,216	83.09	1,010	124

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	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,279	$1,600	4thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	978	$1,395	6
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,313	$1,350	2thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,379	$1,342	6
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	977	$1,325	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,355	$1,175	2thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,328	$1,104	5

Every lot

69 lots · USDA AMS · Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Wed)

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 · Steers14 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	343	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	960	2
Steers	—	Medium 1-2	359	252.50/cwt	252.50–252.50	906	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	419	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,173	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	423	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	1,163	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	457	267.50/cwt	267.50–267.50	1,222	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	466	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	1,282	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	519	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,401	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	580	253.00/cwt	253.00–253.00	1,467	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	583	242.92/cwt	242.00–245.00	1,416	31
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	625	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,469	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	627	220.88/cwt	220.00–222.50	1,385	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	816	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,469	19
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	851	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,489	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	996	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	1,614	17
Feeder Cattle · Heifers13 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	343	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	806	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	386	235.41/cwt	230.00–237.00	909	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400	217.50/cwt	217.50–217.50	870	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	400	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	680	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	476	227.50/cwt	227.50–227.50	1,083	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	500	223.00/cwt	223.00–223.00	1,115	16
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500	218.00/cwt	218.00–218.00	1,090	20
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	515	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,030	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550	209.00/cwt	209.00–209.00	1,150	33
Heifers	—	Medium 1	598	192.00/cwt	192.00–192.00	1,148	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	623	208.27/cwt	205.00–209.00	1,298	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	686	186.56/cwt	185.00–189.00	1,280	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	733	181.30/cwt	177.00–183.00	1,329	14
Feeder Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	383	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	1,053	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	465	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,093	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	515	242.50/cwt	242.50–242.50	1,249	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	567	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,219	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	721	187.43/cwt	185.00–192.50	1,351	6
Bulls	—	Large 1	775	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	1,279	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	876	168.50/cwt	168.50–168.50	1,476	11
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,003	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	1,484	5
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,262	83.60/cwt	83.00–85.00	1,055	3
Bulls	—	—	1,723	94.69/cwt	85.00–103.00	1,632	24
Bulls	—	—	1,861	118.72/cwt	118.00–119.00	2,209	4
Bulls	—	—	2,035	130.07/cwt	127.00–134.00	2,647	6
Slaughter Cattle · Cows18 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	860	65.00/cwt	65.00–65.00	559	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	975	81.00/cwt	81.00–81.00	790	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,129	78.40/cwt	71.00–86.00	885	24
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,188	86.60/cwt	85.00–88.00	1,029	9
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,225	94.75/cwt	93.00–97.00	1,161	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,235	80.55/cwt	74.00–85.50	995	45
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,267	87.13/cwt	84.00–92.50	1,104	39
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,430	91.30/cwt	86.50–95.50	1,306	72
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,433	85.58/cwt	81.00–88.00	1,226	6
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,443	92.85/cwt	90.00–94.00	1,340	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,473	96.50/cwt	96.50–96.50	1,421	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,473	84.68/cwt	80.00–87.50	1,247	18
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,484	97.64/cwt	96.00–103.00	1,449	10
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,559	93.86/cwt	91.00–96.00	1,463	12
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,580	87.00/cwt	87.00–87.00	1,375	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,605	97.00/cwt	97.00–97.00	1,557	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,640	90.49/cwt	85.00–92.50	1,484	10
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,731	93.74/cwt	92.00–96.00	1,623	12
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows8 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	977	1,325.00/head	1,325.00–1,325.00	1,325	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	978	1,394.58/head	1,325.00–1,410.00	1,395	6
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,245	1,325.00/head	1,325.00–1,325.00	1,325	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,279	1,600.00/head	1,600.00–1,600.00	1,600	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,313	1,350.00/head	1,350.00–1,350.00	1,350	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	1,328	1,104.40/head	1,075.00–1,125.00	1,104	5
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,355	1,175.00/head	1,175.00–1,175.00	1,175	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,446	1,350.00/head	1,350.00–1,350.00	1,350	4
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	865	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	1,133	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,006	86.43/cwt	82.00–87.00	869	10
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,104	99.70/cwt	86.00–120.00	1,101	94
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,119	130.59/cwt	113.00–141.50	1,461	35

This sale against other markets

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 (Wed)

Wed Mar 15, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 395Last week 220Year ago 45

Slaughter CattleReceipts 332Last week 404Year ago 335

Replacement CattleReceipts 190Last week 109Year ago 318

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	515	200.00	200.00
2	—	343	235.00	235.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	623	205.00–209.00	208.27
16	—	500	223.00	223.00
5	—	686	185.00–189.00	186.56
4	—	476	227.50	227.50
4	—	386	230.00–237.00	235.41
14	—	733	177.00–183.00	181.30

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	400	217.50	217.50
20	—	500	218.00	218.00
33	—	550	209.00	209.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	400	170.00	170.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	598	192.00	192.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	721	185.00–192.50	187.43
11	—	876	168.50	168.50
3	—	567	215.00	215.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	775	165.00	165.00
5	—	1,003	148.00	148.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	465	235.00	235.00
2	—	383	275.00	275.00
2	—	515	242.50	242.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	851	175.00	175.00
13	—	519	270.00	270.00
19	—	816	180.00	180.00
3	—	580	253.00	253.00
4	—	419	280.00	280.00
4	—	466	275.00	275.00
8	—	625	235.00	235.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	457	267.50	267.50
31	—	583	242.00–245.00	242.92

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	343	280.00	280.00
4	—	627	220.00–222.50	220.88
2	—	423	275.00	275.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	996	162.00	162.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	359	252.50	252.50

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,188	85.00–88.00	86.60
45	—	1,235	74.00–85.50	80.55

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,559	91.00–96.00	93.86
1	—	1,580	87.00	87.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,225	93.00–97.00	94.75
39	—	1,267	84.00–92.50	87.13
24	—	1,129	71.00–86.00	78.40

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,640	85.00–92.50	90.49
12	—	1,731	92.00–96.00	93.74
1	—	1,605	97.00	97.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,484	96.00–103.00	97.64
72	—	1,430	86.50–95.50	91.30
18	—	1,473	80.00–87.50	84.68

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	860	65.00	65.00
1	—	975	81.00	81.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,473	96.50	96.50
6	—	1,433	81.00–88.00	85.58
7	—	1,443	90.00–94.00	92.85

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	2,035	127.00–134.00	130.07
24	—	1,723	85.00–103.00	94.69
4	—	1,861	118.00–119.00	118.72

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,262	83.00–85.00	83.60

Replacement Cattle

As reported

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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	4	—	1,446	1,350.00	1,350.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	4	—	1,279	1,600.00	1,600.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	2	—	1,313	1,350.00	1,350.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	2	—	1,355	1,175.00	1,175.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	6	—	978	1,325.00–1,410.00	1,394.58
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,245	1,325.00	1,325.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	3	—	977	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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	5	—	1,328	1,075.00–1,125.00	1,104.40

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	94	—	1,104	86.00–120.00	99.70
(<2 yrs)	Open	35	—	1,119	113.00–141.50	130.59

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	865	131.00	131.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	10	—	1,006	82.00–87.00	86.43

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.