Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-04-12

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-04-12
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-04-12

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Apr 12

● Final106 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Apr 5Apr 12Apr 19 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

3,195 head

▲ 2,821 vs last sale 374▼ 250 vs year ago 3,445 · −7.3%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

207 head

▼ 9 vs last sale 216▲ 81 vs year ago 126 · +64.3%

Replacement Cattle receipts

65 head

▼ 36 vs last sale 101▼ 245 vs year ago 310 · −79.0%

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 to develop an accurate market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed on all feeders on offer. Demand for feeders was mostly very good for moderate to heavy offerings. Demand was strong and strengthened throughout the sale which stretched late into the evening. Quality this week was mixed from plain to very attractive. Package sizes varied greatly, but buyers were able to piece together loads of like quality cattle as a heavy offering was seen. Demand for cattle suitable to run on grass, as well as replacement quality heifers, was very good. Ranchers and order buyers both competed over high quality heifer offerings pushing them sharply higher. Buyers purchased steers up to 775 lbs and heifers up to 725 lbs to go to grass this week. Lightweight offerings saw sharply higher prices as well as these offerings have benefited from higher deferred CME feeder cattle contract prices. Market activity was mostly active this sale with many buyers actively bidding both in the stands and on the internet. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to firm on all offerings. Quality this week was average to attractive. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Packer buyers opted to send a few set of cows to feed again this week. Feeding cows sold steady on an attractive offering. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good demand. Buyers showed the best demand for high quality cows which had lost calves. Young offerings sold 5.00-10.00 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 $220.73/cwt on 1,333 head.

Average price

$220.73

1,333 head · 650 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,434

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$291

per head · Medium 1 over Medium 2-3

$89.50/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−1.45

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	444	249.50	1,107	39
Medium and Large 1-2	563	228.30	1,285	220
Medium and Large 1	677	219.07	1,484	1,034
Large 1	641	213.15	1,367	18thin
Medium and Large 2	621	184.52	1,146	16thin
Medium 2-3	510	160.00	816	6thin

One grade step is worth $89.50/cwt here — about $291 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 sale1,333 hd

220.73

—

MT average3 barns · 1,703 hd

222.17

−1.45

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	1,799	118.00	2,123	15
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,625	95.88	1,558	19
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,423	95.68	1,362	58
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,171	90.96	1,065	68

Every lot

106 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 · Steers34 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium 1	352	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	933	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	397	312.50/cwt	312.50–312.50	1,241	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	430	299.20/cwt	292.50–303.00	1,287	32
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	433	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,212	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	460	291.12/cwt	282.00–295.00	1,339	27
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	461	274.05/cwt	272.00–280.00	1,263	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	501	212.50/cwt	212.50–212.50	1,065	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	525	278.95/cwt	272.50–289.00	1,464	113
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	526	266.30/cwt	257.50–269.00	1,401	29
Steers	—	Large 1	542	262.50/cwt	262.50–262.50	1,423	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	553	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,548	2
Steers	—	Large 1	575	226.00/cwt	226.00–226.00	1,300	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	576	262.99/cwt	254.00–266.50	1,515	74
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	581	252.50/cwt	252.50–252.50	1,467	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	582	248.60/cwt	246.00–252.50	1,447	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	631	251.66/cwt	246.00–255.50	1,588	169
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	631	238.03/cwt	232.00–245.00	1,502	21
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	656	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,640	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	673	229.06/cwt	221.00–238.00	1,542	230
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	688	212.56/cwt	200.00–220.00	1,462	31
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	688	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	1,273	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	721	186.00/cwt	186.00–186.00	1,341	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	726	217.19/cwt	212.00–224.00	1,577	121
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	748	201.00/cwt	201.00–201.00	1,503	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	766	224.00/cwt	224.00–224.00	1,716	80
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	774	196.87/cwt	196.00–208.00	1,524	27
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	818	190.74/cwt	187.00–195.00	1,560	24
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	822	183.00/cwt	183.00–183.00	1,504	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	872	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	1,535	16
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	902	178.76/cwt	178.50–179.00	1,612	21
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	933	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	1,614	3
Steers	—	Large 1	948	177.00/cwt	177.00–177.00	1,678	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	975	178.00/cwt	178.00–178.00	1,736	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,040	175.50/cwt	175.50–175.50	1,825	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers39 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium 1	337	265.54/cwt	260.00–272.50	895	16
Heifers	—	Medium 1	379	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	985	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	380	271.64/cwt	270.00–275.00	1,032	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	426	249.19/cwt	245.00–255.00	1,062	32
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	445	272.66/cwt	265.00–277.50	1,213	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	478	240.17/cwt	240.00–242.50	1,148	29
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	479	265.17/cwt	255.00–268.00	1,270	47
Heifers	—	Medium 2-3	510	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	816	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	512	255.81/cwt	250.00–267.00	1,310	79
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	524	233.87/cwt	217.50–245.00	1,225	30
Heifers	—	Medium 1	534	248.00/cwt	248.00–248.00	1,324	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	535	207.66/cwt	197.00–215.00	1,111	5
Heifers	—	Medium 1	560	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	1,176	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	572	186.00/cwt	186.00–186.00	1,064	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	580	247.50/cwt	240.00–256.00	1,436	102
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	581	232.36/cwt	217.00–238.00	1,350	82
Heifers	—	Large 1	583	227.22/cwt	219.00–230.00	1,325	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	621	230.79/cwt	220.00–239.00	1,433	194
Heifers	—	Large 1	638	209.00/cwt	209.00–209.00	1,333	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	662	216.36/cwt	209.00–222.00	1,432	71
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	670	201.24/cwt	194.50–206.50	1,348	33
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	693	169.50/cwt	169.50–169.50	1,175	8
Heifers	—	Medium 1	694	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,388	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	729	203.90/cwt	197.50–208.50	1,486	250
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	735	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	1,433	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	737	206.00/cwt	206.00–206.00	1,518	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	748	192.00/cwt	192.00–192.00	1,436	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	762	197.51/cwt	194.00–198.00	1,505	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	769	201.06/cwt	199.00–205.50	1,546	74
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	775	1,566.70/head	1,560.00–1,575.00	1,567	88
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	802	191.87/cwt	191.00–193.00	1,539	39
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	806	186.50/cwt	186.50–186.50	1,503	40
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	812	175.75/cwt	175.00–176.00	1,427	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	818	1,625.00/head	1,625.00–1,625.00	1,625	126
Heifers	—	Large 1	818	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	1,415	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	860	185.96/cwt	185.50–187.00	1,599	70
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	862	1,725.00/head	1,725.00–1,725.00	1,725	52
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	869	182.54/cwt	180.00–186.00	1,586	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	921	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,658	18
Feeder Cattle · Bulls10 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	490	250.36/cwt	245.00–252.50	1,227	7
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	500	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,150	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	543	257.50/cwt	257.50–257.50	1,398	6
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	561	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,318	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	643	219.00/cwt	219.00–219.00	1,408	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	645	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,387	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	688	194.50/cwt	194.00–195.00	1,338	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	920	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	1,380	4
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,149	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	1,724	4
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,315	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,749	4
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,375	94.00/cwt	94.00–94.00	1,293	1
Bulls	—	—	1,735	100.00/cwt	100.00–100.00	1,735	1
Bulls	—	—	1,768	115.39/cwt	109.00–121.00	2,040	9
Bulls	—	—	1,992	134.36/cwt	132.00–140.00	2,676	4
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	886	84.16/cwt	78.00–87.00	746	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,167	92.31/cwt	87.00–97.00	1,077	26
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,193	83.18/cwt	81.00–87.00	992	23
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,217	102.44/cwt	97.00–106.50	1,247	14
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,255	101.00/cwt	101.00–101.00	1,268	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,347	104.27/cwt	102.00–107.00	1,405	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,390	103.95/cwt	101.00–105.00	1,445	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,414	94.81/cwt	90.00–99.00	1,341	22
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,421	85.57/cwt	85.00–87.00	1,216	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,454	90.40/cwt	89.00–92.00	1,314	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,472	95.86/cwt	92.00–99.00	1,411	15
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,525	93.79/cwt	93.00–95.00	1,430	5
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,602	105.04/cwt	104.00–107.00	1,683	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,638	91.08/cwt	88.00–94.50	1,492	5
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,709	97.04/cwt	95.50–98.00	1,658	6
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	705	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	987	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	963	162.49/cwt	150.00–181.00	1,565	28
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	980	101.00/cwt	101.00–101.00	990	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,102	112.53/cwt	94.50–145.00	1,240	20

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 Apr 12, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 3,195Last week 374Year ago 3,445

Slaughter CattleReceipts 207Last week 216Year ago 126

Replacement CattleReceipts 65Last week 101Year ago 310

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	631	232.00–245.00	238.03
4	—	433	280.00	280.00
4	—	748	201.00	201.00
29	—	526	257.50–269.00	266.30
11	—	582	246.00–252.50	248.60
31	—	688	200.00–220.00	212.56
10	—	461	272.00–280.00	274.05

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
169	—	631	246.00–255.50	251.66
121	—	726	212.00–224.00	217.19
3	—	397	312.50	312.50
230	—	673	221.00–238.00	229.06
2	—	1,040	175.50	175.50
113	—	525	272.50–289.00	278.95
74	—	576	254.00–266.50	262.99
24	—	818	187.00–195.00	190.74
5	—	975	178.00	178.00
27	—	460	282.00–295.00	291.12
21	—	902	178.50–179.00	178.76
32	—	430	292.50–303.00	299.20
27	—	774	196.00–208.00	196.87

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	501	212.50	212.50
6	—	688	185.00	185.00
9	—	721	186.00	186.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	872	176.00	176.00
3	—	933	173.00	173.00
5	—	581	252.50	252.50
5	—	822	183.00	183.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	575	226.00	226.00
3	—	542	262.50	262.50
9	—	948	177.00	177.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	352	265.00	265.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	656	250.00	250.00
2	—	553	280.00	280.00
80	—	766	224.00	224.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	921	180.00	180.00
40	—	806	186.50	186.50
88	—	775	1,560.00–1,575.00	1,566.70
126	—	818	1,625.00	1,625.00
11	—	737	206.00	206.00
74	—	769	199.00–205.50	201.06
52	—	862	1,725.00	1,725.00
70	—	860	185.50–187.00	185.96

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	534	248.00	248.00
16	—	337	260.00–272.50	265.54
7	—	379	260.00	260.00
4	—	694	200.00	200.00
3	—	560	210.00	210.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	818	173.00	173.00
12	—	583	219.00–230.00	227.22
2	—	638	209.00	209.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
194	—	621	220.00–239.00	230.79
13	—	445	265.00–277.50	272.66
250	—	729	197.50–208.50	203.90
79	—	512	250.00–267.00	255.81
47	—	479	255.00–268.00	265.17
102	—	580	240.00–256.00	247.50
7	—	869	180.00–186.00	182.54
71	—	662	209.00–222.00	216.36
39	—	802	191.00–193.00	191.87
8	—	380	270.00–275.00	271.64
8	—	762	194.00–198.00	197.51

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	693	169.50	169.50
5	—	535	197.00–215.00	207.66
3	—	572	186.00	186.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	748	192.00	192.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	812	175.00–176.00	175.75
32	—	426	245.00–255.00	249.19
82	—	581	217.00–238.00	232.36
30	—	524	217.50–245.00	233.87
29	—	478	240.00–242.50	240.17
6	—	735	195.00	195.00
33	—	670	194.50–206.50	201.24

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	510	160.00	160.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	688	194.00–195.00	194.50
4	—	561	235.00	235.00
6	—	543	257.50	257.50
2	—	643	219.00	219.00
4	—	920	150.00	150.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,315	133.00	133.00
4	—	1,149	150.00	150.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	645	215.00	215.00
4	—	500	230.00	230.00
7	—	490	245.00–252.50	250.36

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,768	109.00–121.00	115.39
4	—	1,992	132.00–140.00	134.36
1	—	1,735	100.00	100.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,375	94.00	94.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,421	85.00–87.00	85.57
7	—	1,347	102.00–107.00	104.27
22	—	1,414	90.00–99.00	94.81

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,602	104.00–107.00	105.04
5	—	1,638	88.00–94.50	91.08
6	—	1,709	95.50–98.00	97.04

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
23	—	1,193	81.00–87.00	83.18
26	—	1,167	87.00–97.00	92.31
14	—	1,217	97.00–106.50	102.44

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	1,472	92.00–99.00	95.86
5	—	1,454	89.00–92.00	90.40
4	—	1,390	101.00–105.00	103.95

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	886	78.00–87.00	84.16

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,255	101.00	101.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,525	93.00–95.00	93.79

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
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	705	140.00	140.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	980	101.00	101.00

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	20	—	1,102	94.50–145.00	112.53
(<2 yrs)	Open	28	—	963	150.00–181.00	162.49

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.