Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-05-24

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-05-24
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-05-24

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, May 24

● Final56 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← May 17May 24May 31 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

142 head

▼ 2,405 vs last sale 2,547▼ 85 vs year ago 227 · −37.4%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

649 head

▲ 509 vs last sale 140▲ 152 vs year ago 497 · +30.6%

Replacement Cattle receipts

262 head

▲ 63 vs last sale 199▲ 100 vs year ago 162 · +61.7%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. Quality today was mostly plain. Most offerings sold in small packages or as singles. Demand for feeders was very good despite light offerings. Market activity was active with all bidders rapidly bidding on limited offerings. Weigh up cows comprised the bulk of the sale this week. Slaughter cows sold 2.00-3.00 higher on all classes. Rainfall in the south coupled with the end of spring culling in the upper plains has tightened the cow supply across much of the central US. With Memorial day this weekend packers showed need for cows for immediate harvest. Demand for feeding type cows was very good as well, as packers purchased many high quality cows to put away on feed for summer needs. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly attractive. Weigh up conditions were mixed, however some offerings were out on grass and offered buyers above average weigh conditions. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to weak. Quality was average to attractive. Demand for young age cows slipped after buyers filled loads and exited the market.

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 $241.30/cwt on 49 head.

Average price

$241.30

49 head · 691 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,668

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$408

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

$24.73/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+0.76

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Large 1	495	255.00	1,262	2thin
Medium and Large 1	692	243.91	1,687	36
Medium and Large 1-2	725	230.27	1,670	11thin

One grade step is worth $24.73/cwt here — about −$408 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 sale49 hd

241.30

—

MT average2 barns · 66 hd

240.54

+0.76

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	1,795	115.34	2,070	78
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,655	100.55	1,664	13
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,416	99.44	1,408	255
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,189	93.93	1,117	219

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 (2-4 yrs)	1,147	$1,803	6
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,385	$1,600	2thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,126	$1,572	7
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,503	$1,500	2thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,280	$1,500	2thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,310	$2,250	5

Every lot

56 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 · Steers10 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Large 1Unweaned	495	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	1,262	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	525	293.19/cwt	290.00–295.00	1,539	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	612	266.06/cwt	262.50–272.50	1,628	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	647	256.00/cwt	253.00–257.00	1,656	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	688	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,720	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	697	239.00/cwt	239.00–239.00	1,666	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	720	233.30/cwt	231.00–236.00	1,680	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	775	224.00/cwt	224.00–224.00	1,736	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	805	207.73/cwt	205.00–208.00	1,672	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	825	198.00/cwt	198.00–198.00	1,634	4
Feeder Cattle · Heifers7 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium 1	343	227.00/cwt	227.00–227.00	779	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	463	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,065	2
Heifers	—	Large 1	663	189.00/cwt	189.00–189.00	1,253	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	715	223.76/cwt	213.00–224.50	1,600	16
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	765	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	1,331	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	770	204.03/cwt	198.00–208.00	1,571	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	850	181.50/cwt	181.50–181.50	1,543	2
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	505	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,212	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	575	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,610	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	800	188.00/cwt	188.00–188.00	1,504	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,307	96.46/cwt	92.00–105.00	1,261	3
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,375	113.00/cwt	113.00–113.00	1,554	1
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,423	109.72/cwt	106.50–113.00	1,561	2
Bulls	—	—	1,658	107.99/cwt	97.00–115.00	1,790	34
Bulls	—	—	1,915	120.54/cwt	116.00–126.00	2,308	26
Bulls	—	—	2,140	130.77/cwt	125.00–135.00	2,798	12
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	930	78.96/cwt	77.00–81.00	734	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	985	89.00/cwt	89.00–89.00	877	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,048	78.51/cwt	78.00–79.00	823	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,162	89.57/cwt	85.00–92.00	1,041	9
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,167	101.85/cwt	97.50–105.00	1,189	27
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,169	87.54/cwt	81.00–91.00	1,023	45
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,196	95.56/cwt	93.00–97.00	1,143	53
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,222	98.21/cwt	97.00–105.00	1,200	13
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,223	94.72/cwt	92.00–97.00	1,158	66
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,347	89.31/cwt	86.00–93.00	1,203	27
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,376	104.96/cwt	103.00–107.50	1,444	12
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,388	96.70/cwt	94.00–102.00	1,342	41
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,414	98.56/cwt	92.00–102.50	1,394	85
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,455	104.15/cwt	103.00–106.00	1,515	88
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,521	102.25/cwt	101.00–104.00	1,555	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,575	89.13/cwt	88.00–90.00	1,404	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,677	95.38/cwt	93.50–96.00	1,600	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,729	102.65/cwt	101.00–104.50	1,775	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,810	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	1,919	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,126	1,571.96/head	1,560.00–1,625.00	1,572	7
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,147	1,802.77/head	1,750.00–1,850.00	1,803	6
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,280	1,500.00/head	1,500.00–1,500.00	1,500	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,385	1,600.00/head	1,600.00–1,600.00	1,600	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,503	1,500.00/head	1,500.00–1,500.00	1,500	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	973	134.67/cwt	127.50–148.00	1,310	5
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	992	157.33/cwt	130.00–171.00	1,561	80
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,002	105.13/cwt	90.00–125.00	1,053	5
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,138	118.33/cwt	101.00–146.00	1,347	97
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,203	98.34/cwt	95.00–102.50	1,183	2
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,310	2,250.00/head	2,250.00–2,250.00	2,250	5

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 May 24, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 142Last week 2,547Year ago 227

Slaughter CattleReceipts 649Last week 140Year ago 497

Replacement CattleReceipts 262Last week 199Year ago 162

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
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	6	—	1,147	1,750.00–1,850.00	1,802.77
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,503	1,500.00	1,500.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,385	1,600.00	1,600.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	7	—	1,126	1,560.00–1,625.00	1,571.96
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,280	1,500.00	1,500.00

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	—	1,002	90.00–125.00	105.13
(<2 yrs)	Open	5	—	973	127.50–148.00	134.67

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	80	—	992	130.00–171.00	157.33
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,203	95.00–102.50	98.34
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	97	—	1,138	101.00–146.00	118.33

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	5	—	1,310	2,250.00	2,250.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	663	189.00	189.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	343	227.00	227.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	850	181.50	181.50
2	—	463	230.00	230.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	770	198.00–208.00	204.03
16	—	715	213.00–224.50	223.76

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	765	174.00	174.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	688	250.00	250.00
8	—	525	290.00–295.00	293.19
5	—	612	262.50–272.50	266.06
3	—	720	231.00–236.00	233.30
5	—	775	224.00	224.00
11	—	805	205.00–208.00	207.73

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	647	253.00–257.00	256.00
3	—	697	239.00	239.00
4	—	825	198.00	198.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	495	255.00	255.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	505	240.00	240.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	575	280.00	280.00
1	—	800	188.00	188.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,162	85.00–92.00	89.57
27	—	1,167	97.50–105.00	101.85
53	—	1,196	93.00–97.00	95.56

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	1,347	86.00–93.00	89.31
41	—	1,388	94.00–102.00	96.70
12	—	1,376	103.00–107.50	104.96

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,677	93.50–96.00	95.38
4	—	1,729	101.00–104.50	102.65
1	—	1,810	106.00	106.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
66	—	1,223	92.00–97.00	94.72
13	—	1,222	97.00–105.00	98.21
2	—	1,048	78.00–79.00	78.51
45	—	1,169	81.00–91.00	87.54

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,521	101.00–104.00	102.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
88	—	1,455	103.00–106.00	104.15
2	—	1,575	88.00–90.00	89.13
85	—	1,414	92.00–102.50	98.56

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	985	89.00	89.00
3	—	930	77.00–81.00	78.96

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	1,915	116.00–126.00	120.54
12	—	2,140	125.00–135.00	130.77
34	—	1,658	97.00–115.00	107.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,307	92.00–105.00	96.46
1	—	1,375	113.00	113.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,423	106.50–113.00	109.72

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.