Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-04-19

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-04-19
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-04-19

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Apr 19

● Final84 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Apr 12Apr 19Apr 26 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

410 head

▼ 2,785 vs last sale 3,195▼ 1,339 vs year ago 1,749 · −76.6%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

538 head

▲ 331 vs last sale 207▼ 197 vs year ago 735 · −26.8%

Replacement Cattle receipts

305 head

▲ 240 vs last sale 65▲ 15 vs year ago 290 · +5.2%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested today to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed on all feeders on offer. Demand for feeders was mostly very good for light offerings. Quality this sale was plain to average and not as attractive as last weeks feeder special. However, demand remains strong as CME feeder cattle prices continue to creep higher. Package sizes were mostly small with lots of singles on offer. Market activity was mostly active this sale as both ranchers and order-buyers competed over limited offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to firm on breaking cows, boning cows sold generally steady, lean cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Quality this week was mixed from plain 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. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00-5.00 higher. 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 generally steady.

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 $228.85/cwt on 168 head.

Average price

$228.85

168 head · 576 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,318

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$22

per head · Medium 1 over Medium and Large 2

$39.50/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+5.56

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	427	240.00	1,025	3thin
Medium and Large 1	589	234.01	1,378	111
Medium and Large 1-2	561	219.39	1,231	49
Medium and Large 2	522	200.50	1,047	5thin

One grade step is worth $39.50/cwt here — about −$22 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 sale168 hd

228.85

—

MT average3 barns · 330 hd

223.30

+5.56

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	1,687	117.46	1,981	57
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,653	97.08	1,605	57
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,402	93.66	1,313	133
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,174	87.97	1,033	162

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)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,355	$1,750	3thin

Every lot

84 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 · Steers16 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	345	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	897	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	439	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	1,295	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	444	273.26/cwt	270.00–280.00	1,213	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	457	287.03/cwt	275.00–295.00	1,312	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	480	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,152	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	498	262.50/cwt	262.50–262.50	1,307	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	510	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,352	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	513	272.50/cwt	272.50–272.50	1,398	6
Steers	—	Large 1-2	558	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,283	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	573	260.12/cwt	257.00–265.00	1,490	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	591	251.00/cwt	251.00–251.00	1,483	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	645	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,613	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	683	229.36/cwt	224.00–242.00	1,567	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	713	218.10/cwt	215.00–223.00	1,555	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	730	208.00/cwt	208.00–208.00	1,518	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	774	200.18/cwt	193.00–207.50	1,549	12
Feeder Cattle · Heifers21 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	376	257.16/cwt	255.00–267.50	967	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	386	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	946	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	415	249.94/cwt	240.00–252.50	1,037	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	419	269.10/cwt	257.50–275.00	1,128	21
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	425	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	946	1
Heifers	—	Medium 1	427	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,025	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	462	232.85/cwt	230.00–235.00	1,076	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	491	266.46/cwt	255.00–267.50	1,308	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	495	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	1,015	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	503	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,132	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	522	256.34/cwt	255.00–257.00	1,338	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	563	241.00/cwt	241.00–241.00	1,357	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	570	217.94/cwt	210.00–229.00	1,242	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	635	219.89/cwt	207.50–226.00	1,396	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	673	220.69/cwt	215.00–227.00	1,485	29
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	678	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,187	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	699	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	1,433	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	700	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	1,155	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	722	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	1,516	22
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	755	169.00/cwt	169.00–169.00	1,276	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	781	161.74/cwt	160.00–163.00	1,263	7
Feeder Cattle · Bulls12 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	409	240.60/cwt	235.00–242.50	984	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	480	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,152	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 2	533	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,146	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	760	196.00/cwt	196.00–196.00	1,490	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	817	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	1,438	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	905	169.00/cwt	169.00–169.00	1,529	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	995	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	1,552	1
Bulls	—	Large 1-2	1,105	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,414	1
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,110	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	1,543	1
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,178	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	1,637	2
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,222	131.84/cwt	131.00–133.50	1,611	3
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,252	129.50/cwt	129.50–129.50	1,621	3
Feeder Cattle · Dairy Steers2 lots · lightest first
Dairy Steers	—	Large 1-2	683	199.00/cwt	199.00–199.00	1,359	24
Dairy Steers	—	Large 1-2	850	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,530	20
Feeder Cattle · Dairy Heifers2 lots · lightest first
Dairy Heifers	—	Large 1-2	679	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	1,134	12
Dairy Heifers	—	Large 1-2	779	168.50/cwt	168.50–168.50	1,313	11
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,427	116.96/cwt	109.00–125.00	1,669	9
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,439	109.15/cwt	103.00–112.00	1,571	10
Bulls	—	—	1,616	104.64/cwt	92.00–111.00	1,691	7
Bulls	—	—	1,793	116.66/cwt	111.00–127.00	2,092	20
Bulls	—	—	1,919	135.65/cwt	127.00–146.00	2,603	10
Bulls	—	—Heavy Weight	2,555	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	3,296	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	937	78.81/cwt	74.00–85.00	738	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	955	87.00/cwt	87.00–87.00	831	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	970	73.00/cwt	73.00–73.00	708	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,148	83.62/cwt	76.00–86.50	960	33
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,180	96.49/cwt	96.00–97.00	1,139	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,185	100.72/cwt	100.00–102.00	1,194	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,193	89.17/cwt	86.50–95.00	1,064	72
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,203	89.43/cwt	85.00–95.00	1,076	44
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,373	87.23/cwt	84.00–89.00	1,198	15
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,400	93.31/cwt	89.00–100.50	1,306	61
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,401	94.19/cwt	91.00–100.00	1,320	45
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,440	104.72/cwt	102.00–110.00	1,508	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,445	89.50/cwt	89.50–89.50	1,293	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,459	103.00/cwt	103.00–103.00	1,503	5
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,577	98.90/cwt	96.00–100.50	1,560	6
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,615	103.73/cwt	101.50–108.00	1,675	11
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,648	97.27/cwt	94.00–100.50	1,603	25
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,656	93.40/cwt	93.00–93.50	1,547	5
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,753	90.06/cwt	87.00–93.50	1,579	10
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1	685	152.50/cwt	152.50–152.50	1,045	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	924	99.01/cwt	93.00–104.00	915	5
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,004	160.75/cwt	125.00–197.00	1,614	163
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,071	128.46/cwt	120.00–151.00	1,376	6
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,125	114.36/cwt	90.00–146.00	1,287	84
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,355	1,750.00/head	1,750.00–1,750.00	1,750	3

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 19, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 410Last week 3,195Year ago 1,749

Slaughter CattleReceipts 538Last week 207Year ago 735

Replacement CattleReceipts 305Last week 65Year ago 290

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	678	175.00	175.00
7	—	755	169.00	169.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	722	210.00	210.00
6	—	376	255.00–267.50	257.16
3	—	563	241.00	241.00
29	—	673	215.00–227.00	220.69
9	—	522	255.00–257.00	256.34
21	—	419	257.50–275.00	269.10
12	—	491	255.00–267.50	266.46

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	700	165.00	165.00
3	—	495	205.00	205.00
1	—	425	222.50	222.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	570	210.00–229.00	217.94
7	—	462	230.00–235.00	232.85
11	—	635	207.50–226.00	219.89
8	—	386	245.00	245.00
5	—	415	240.00–252.50	249.94
7	—	781	160.00–163.00	161.74
4	—	699	205.00	205.00
2	—	503	225.00	225.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	427	240.00	240.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	345	260.00	260.00
1	—	510	265.00	265.00
6	—	444	270.00–280.00	273.26
4	—	591	251.00	251.00
2	—	498	262.50	262.50
1	—	730	208.00	208.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	774	193.00–207.50	200.18
11	—	439	295.00	295.00
5	—	457	275.00–295.00	287.03
1	—	645	250.00	250.00
9	—	713	215.00–223.00	218.10
13	—	683	224.00–242.00	229.36
5	—	573	257.00–265.00	260.12
6	—	513	272.50	272.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	558	230.00	230.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	480	240.00	240.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
24	—	683	199.00	199.00
20	—	850	180.00	180.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	779	168.50	168.50
12	—	679	167.00	167.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	760	196.00	196.00
1	—	905	169.00	169.00
3	—	817	176.00	176.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	533	215.00	215.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,110	139.00	139.00
3	—	1,252	129.50	129.50
3	—	1,222	131.00–133.50	131.84
2	—	1,178	139.00	139.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,105	128.00	128.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	480	240.00	240.00
4	—	409	235.00–242.50	240.60
1	—	995	156.00	156.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,180	96.00–97.00	96.49
44	—	1,203	85.00–95.00	89.43

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,656	93.00–93.50	93.40
6	—	1,577	96.00–100.50	98.90

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
45	—	1,401	91.00–100.00	94.19
2	—	1,445	89.50	89.50
5	—	1,459	103.00	103.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,185	100.00–102.00	100.72
72	—	1,193	86.50–95.00	89.17
33	—	1,148	76.00–86.50	83.62

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,753	87.00–93.50	90.06
11	—	1,615	101.50–108.00	103.73
25	—	1,648	94.00–100.50	97.27

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,440	102.00–110.00	104.72
61	—	1,400	89.00–100.50	93.31
15	—	1,373	84.00–89.00	87.23

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	970	73.00	73.00
5	—	937	74.00–85.00	78.81
2	—	955	87.00	87.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	1,793	111.00–127.00	116.66
7	—	1,616	92.00–111.00	104.64
10	—	1,919	127.00–146.00	135.65

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,555	129.00	129.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,439	103.00–112.00	109.15
9	—	1,427	109.00–125.00	116.96

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	5	—	924	93.00–104.00	99.01
(<2 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,071	120.00–151.00	128.46

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	84	—	1,125	90.00–146.00	114.36
(<2 yrs)	Open	163	—	1,004	125.00–197.00	160.75

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	685	152.50	152.50

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/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	3	—	1,355	1,750.00	1,750.00

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.