Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-08-16

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-08-16
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-08-16

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Aug 16

● Final69 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Aug 2Aug 16Aug 30 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

610 head

▲ 441 vs last sale 169▲ 415 vs year ago 195 · +212.8%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

330 head

▲ 53 vs last sale 277▲ 53 vs year ago 277 · +19.1%

Replacement Cattle receipts

69 head

▲ 21 vs last sale 48▲ 50 vs year ago 19 · +263.2%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Only two sales was held last week as auctions continue with summer sale schedules. Feeder steers were too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Demand was mostly good on light offerings. Quality this week was mostly average, with a limited offering of attractive cattle seen. Flesh conditions were mostly light as most offerings were coming off grass. The cattle on feed report was released this past Friday and it showed cattle On feed at 2% below one year ago, Placements 8% below one year ago and Marketings 5% below last year. Market activity this week was mostly active with a large crowd on hand to bid on limited offerings. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Packers opted to send the majority of cows to immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on boning and breaking cows. Lean cows sold 1.00-2.00 lower. Lean cow quality was mixed this week as cattle in eastern Montana offered buyers much poor yields due to poor pasture and range conditions as grasshoppers ate much of the available feed. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to firm. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 1.00 lower. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested this week and last to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Several buyers looking for rebreed and receipt cows were seen this week. Demand for this class of cows was very good.

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 $230.82/cwt on 337 head.

Average price

$230.82

337 head · 811 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,871

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$768

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1

$54.84/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+5.20

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	549	260.00	1,427	22
Medium 1-2	546	237.50	1,297	10thin
Medium and Large 1	829	231.78	1,921	242
Medium and Large 1-2	718	224.47	1,612	35
Large 1	1,070	205.16	2,195	28

One grade step is worth $54.84/cwt here — about −$768 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 sale337 hd

230.82

—

MT average2 barns · 497 hd

225.62

+5.20

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	1,849	117.81	2,179	88
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,581	112.99	1,786	39
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,402	109.94	1,542	75
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,200	96.27	1,155	98

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
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,783	$3,000	4thin

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 · Steers15 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	425	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,275	3
Steers	—	Medium 1	582	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,688	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	733	254.36/cwt	254.00–255.00	1,864	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	748	269.00/cwt	269.00–269.00	2,012	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	778	257.25/cwt	255.00–260.00	2,001	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	785	247.50/cwt	240.00–250.00	1,943	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	825	247.45/cwt	242.50–248.50	2,041	15
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	855	213.55/cwt	202.50–215.00	1,826	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	873	223.00/cwt	223.00–223.00	1,947	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	882	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	2,073	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	942	228.00/cwt	228.00–228.00	2,148	20
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	958	227.50/cwt	227.50–227.50	2,179	4
Steers	—	Large 1	1,024	211.22/cwt	210.00–214.00	2,163	14
Steers	—	Large 1	1,170	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	2,106	6
Steers	—	Large 1	1,280	172.00/cwt	172.00–172.00	2,202	4
Feeder Cattle · Heifers18 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	546	237.50/cwt	237.50–237.50	1,297	10
Heifers	—	Medium 1	549	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,427	22
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	619	238.04/cwt	225.00–242.00	1,473	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	636	250.92/cwt	250.00–251.00	1,596	35
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	671	244.06/cwt	242.00–249.00	1,638	17
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	714	219.00/cwt	219.00–219.00	1,564	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	742	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,781	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	754	235.80/cwt	235.75–236.00	1,778	28
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	770	217.00/cwt	217.00–217.00	1,671	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	831	229.31/cwt	227.00–232.50	1,906	21
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	838	216.00/cwt	216.00–216.00	1,810	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	861	230.27/cwt	226.00–231.00	1,983	49
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	893	211.00/cwt	211.00–211.00	1,884	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	903	227.50/cwt	227.50–227.50	2,054	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	938	222.92/cwt	213.00–228.00	2,091	56
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	986	214.19/cwt	214.00–214.50	2,112	19
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,056	209.43/cwt	192.50–212.50	2,212	20
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,105	194.50/cwt	194.50–194.50	2,149	8
Feeder Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	565	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,384	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	999	189.00/cwt	189.00–189.00	1,888	4
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,159	170.75/cwt	161.00–174.00	1,979	4
Bulls	—	Large 1-2	1,222	143.47/cwt	141.00–146.00	1,753	6
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,240	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	1,885	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,628	116.35/cwt	115.50–117.00	1,894	2
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,660	109.80/cwt	107.00–114.00	1,823	2
Bulls	—	—	1,702	111.74/cwt	103.00–115.00	1,902	25
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,805	126.50/cwt	126.50–126.50	2,283	1
Bulls	—	—	1,892	119.26/cwt	115.00–124.00	2,256	49
Bulls	—	—	2,123	127.89/cwt	123.50–135.00	2,715	9
Slaughter Cattle · Cows17 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	933	90.28/cwt	85.00–95.00	842	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,025	95.00/cwt	95.00–95.00	974	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,033	114.14/cwt	110.00–116.00	1,179	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,095	112.00/cwt	112.00–112.00	1,226	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,181	92.42/cwt	86.00–102.00	1,091	53
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,213	101.96/cwt	100.00–106.00	1,237	16
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,296	100.20/cwt	99.50–107.50	1,299	21
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,300	71.00/cwt	71.00–71.00	923	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,350	116.47/cwt	115.50–118.00	1,572	12
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,388	107.31/cwt	104.00–112.50	1,489	30
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,422	112.54/cwt	109.00–114.50	1,600	24
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,461	99.92/cwt	91.00–105.00	1,460	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,493	114.26/cwt	114.00–114.50	1,706	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,545	113.57/cwt	113.00–114.50	1,755	19
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,546	113.54/cwt	111.00–116.50	1,755	7
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,641	116.05/cwt	115.50–116.50	1,904	7
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,664	106.95/cwt	103.00–110.00	1,780	6
Replacement Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	1,185	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	2,074	3
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Large 1	885	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	1,292	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	893	101.00/cwt	101.00–101.00	902	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	918	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,193	2
Stock Cows	—	Large 1	945	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	1,125	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,045	177.90/cwt	131.00–212.00	1,859	18
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,091	125.90/cwt	118.00–172.50	1,374	18
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,783	3,000.00/head	3,000.00–3,000.00	3,000	4

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 Aug 16, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 610Last week 169Year ago 195

Slaughter CattleReceipts 330Last week 277Year ago 277

Replacement CattleReceipts 69Last week 48Year ago 19

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,805	126.50	126.50
2	—	1,628	115.50–117.00	116.35
2	—	1,660	107.00–114.00	109.80

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
25	—	1,702	103.00–115.00	111.74
49	—	1,892	115.00–124.00	119.26
9	—	2,123	123.50–135.00	127.89

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,350	115.50–118.00	116.47
24	—	1,422	109.00–114.50	112.54

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,300	71.00	71.00
16	—	1,213	100.00–106.00	101.96
53	—	1,181	86.00–102.00	92.42
1	—	1,095	112.00	112.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
30	—	1,388	104.00–112.50	107.31
7	—	1,461	91.00–105.00	99.92
2	—	1,493	114.00–114.50	114.26

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	933	85.00–95.00	90.28

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,033	110.00–116.00	114.14
1	—	1,025	95.00	95.00
21	—	1,296	99.50–107.50	100.20

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,546	111.00–116.50	113.54
6	—	1,664	103.00–110.00	106.95

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	1,545	113.00–114.50	113.57
7	—	1,641	115.50–116.50	116.05

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	831	227.00–232.50	229.31
17	—	671	242.00–249.00	244.06
56	—	938	213.00–228.00	222.92
35	—	636	250.00–251.00	250.92
3	—	742	240.00	240.00
28	—	754	235.75–236.00	235.80
49	—	861	226.00–231.00	230.27
19	—	986	214.00–214.50	214.19

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	714	219.00	219.00
13	—	619	225.00–242.00	238.04
6	—	893	211.00	211.00
1	—	770	217.00	217.00
2	—	838	216.00	216.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	549	260.00	260.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	903	227.50	227.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	1,056	192.50–212.50	209.43
8	—	1,105	194.50	194.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	546	237.50	237.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	999	189.00	189.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,240	152.00	152.00
4	—	1,159	161.00–174.00	170.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	565	245.00	245.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,222	141.00–146.00	143.47

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	733	254.00–255.00	254.36
4	—	785	240.00–250.00	247.50
3	—	873	223.00	223.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	825	242.50–248.50	247.45
4	—	958	227.50	227.50
6	—	748	269.00	269.00
3	—	882	235.00	235.00
12	—	778	255.00–260.00	257.25
20	—	942	228.00	228.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	855	202.50–215.00	213.55

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	425	300.00	300.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	1,024	210.00–214.00	211.22
6	—	1,170	180.00	180.00
4	—	1,280	172.00	172.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	582	290.00	290.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	N/A	3	—	1,185	175.00	175.00

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	2	—	918	130.00	130.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	3	—	893	101.00	101.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	885	146.00	146.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	945	119.00	119.00

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	18	—	1,091	118.00–172.50	125.90
(<2 yrs)	Open	18	—	1,045	131.00–212.00	177.90

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,783	3,000.00	3,000.00

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.