Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-10-04

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-10-04
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-10-04

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Oct 4

● Final70 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Sep 27Oct 4Oct 11 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

374 head

▲ 198 vs last sale 176▼ 35 vs year ago 409 · −8.6%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

216 head

▼ 131 vs last sale 347▼ 186 vs year ago 402 · −46.3%

Replacement Cattle receipts

152 head

▲ 39 vs last sale 113▲ 51 vs year ago 101 · +50.5%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested either this sale or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Most offerings sold in small packages or as singles this sale. Demand for feeders was light to moderate as not enough feeder cattle were offered to put together loads. CME positions sold off sharply over the past few days and buyers showed slightly lighter demand for all feeder cattle on offer as a result. Market activity was mostly moderate this sale. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold on lighter demand this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Feeding cow demand was lighter this sale as quality limited demand for feeding offerings. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Packers are reluctant to put many wet bagged cows on feed. Most cows sold today still had wet bags, having freshly weaned calves. Slaughter bulls sold sold generally steady to 4.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average to start the sale but improved slightly later in the day. Cow quality today was mostly average today. Several packages of young age cows sold this week. Demand for these offerings was mostly good as feeding and rebreeding buyers competed over attractive offerings. Young age cows sold 5.00-10.00 higher as demand for this class of cow improved. Bred cow offerings were very attractive this week and sold on very good demand.

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 $239.87/cwt on 156 head.

Average price

$239.87

156 head · 695 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,667

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$556

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1

$49.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−10.31

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	679	250.50	1,701	6thin
Medium and Large 1	696	243.50	1,694	91
Medium 1-2	634	240.00	1,522	9thin
Medium and Large 1-2	627	238.14	1,493	38
Medium 2	730	227.50	1,661	5thin
Large 1	1,120	201.50	2,257	7thin

One grade step is worth $49.00/cwt here — about −$556 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 sale156 hd

239.87

—

MT average3 barns · 1,758 hd

250.18

−10.31

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	1,837	106.55	1,958	46
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,677	107.41	1,802	23
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,446	103.11	1,491	85
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,187	93.76	1,113	59

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	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,238	$2,653	15
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,510	$2,400	16
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,477	$1,750	7
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,083	$1,600	3thin
Bred Heifers	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,101	$2,500	5

Every lot

70 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 · Steers13 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	340	332.50/cwt	332.50–332.50	1,131	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	391	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,173	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	399	332.50/cwt	332.50–332.50	1,327	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	405	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	1,256	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	475	302.50/cwt	302.50–302.50	1,437	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	484	274.97/cwt	272.50–277.50	1,331	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	515	302.50/cwt	302.50–302.50	1,558	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	576	271.50/cwt	260.00–277.00	1,564	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	611	272.00/cwt	272.00–272.00	1,662	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	658	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	1,599	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	712	246.25/cwt	242.50–247.50	1,753	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	758	232.50/cwt	232.50–232.50	1,762	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	965	225.50/cwt	225.50–225.50	2,176	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers22 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	325	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	1,008	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	368	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	1,049	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	385	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	1,136	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	413	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	1,177	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	435	251.33/cwt	240.00–260.00	1,093	20
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	475	272.10/cwt	261.00–282.50	1,292	20
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	542	246.00/cwt	246.00–246.00	1,333	16
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	582	251.00/cwt	251.00–251.00	1,461	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	608	241.00/cwt	241.00–241.00	1,465	4
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	634	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,522	9
Heifers	—	Medium 1	679	250.50/cwt	250.50–250.50	1,701	6
Heifers	—	Medium 2	730	227.50/cwt	227.50–227.50	1,661	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	833	222.48/cwt	220.00–225.00	1,853	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	877	218.73/cwt	217.50–222.50	1,918	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	930	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	2,000	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	936	220.25/cwt	219.50–221.00	2,062	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	974	217.00/cwt	217.00–217.00	2,114	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	982	201.60/cwt	200.00–204.00	1,980	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,029	209.24/cwt	208.50–210.00	2,153	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,076	208.80/cwt	205.50–215.50	2,247	18
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,111	203.00/cwt	203.00–203.00	2,255	6
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,175	192.50/cwt	192.50–192.50	2,262	1
Feeder Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,020	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	1,887	1
Bulls	—	Large 1-2	1,110	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,943	2
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,170	172.50/cwt	172.50–172.50	2,018	1
Bulls	—	Large 1-2	1,185	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	1,955	3
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,275	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	1,862	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,425	110.28/cwt	107.00–116.00	1,571	3
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,564	96.09/cwt	92.00–104.00	1,503	8
Bulls	—	—	1,856	104.48/cwt	100.00–106.00	1,939	15
Bulls	—	—	1,953	123.77/cwt	122.50–125.00	2,417	2
Bulls	—	—	1,999	110.38/cwt	107.00–117.00	2,206	18
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,050	72.50/cwt	72.50–72.50	761	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,170	100.09/cwt	96.00–103.00	1,171	12
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,185	87.29/cwt	78.00–95.00	1,034	28
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,197	110.48/cwt	110.00–111.00	1,322	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,211	98.85/cwt	95.00–102.00	1,197	15
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,369	114.34/cwt	111.00–118.00	1,565	9
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,438	102.80/cwt	98.00–108.00	1,478	20
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,451	93.07/cwt	88.00–98.00	1,350	18
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,456	105.17/cwt	104.00–109.50	1,531	34
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,532	110.66/cwt	110.50–111.00	1,695	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,585	96.00/cwt	96.00–96.00	1,522	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,619	110.62/cwt	108.50–112.50	1,791	8
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,685	101.00/cwt	101.00–101.00	1,702	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,704	103.64/cwt	100.00–106.50	1,766	6
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,719	108.82/cwt	107.00–112.50	1,871	7
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,083	1,600.00/head	1,600.00–1,600.00	1,600	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,227	2,800.00/head	2,800.00–2,800.00	2,800	11
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS	1,270	2,250.00/head	2,250.00–2,250.00	2,250	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,477	1,750.00/head	1,750.00–1,750.00	1,750	7
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,510	2,400.00/head	2,400.00–2,400.00	2,400	16
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	828	136.97/cwt	120.00–150.00	1,134	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	978	105.89/cwt	93.00–110.00	1,036	6
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,016	163.20/cwt	129.00–188.50	1,658	70
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,104	124.54/cwt	110.00–159.00	1,375	17
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,101	2,500.00/head	2,500.00–2,500.00	2,500	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 Oct 4, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 374Last week 176Year ago 409

Slaughter CattleReceipts 216Last week 347Year ago 402

Replacement CattleReceipts 152Last week 113Year ago 101

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
28	—	1,185	78.00–95.00	87.29
15	—	1,211	95.00–102.00	98.85
1	—	1,050	72.50	72.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
34	—	1,456	104.00–109.50	105.17
1	—	1,585	96.00	96.00
9	—	1,369	111.00–118.00	114.34

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,170	96.00–103.00	100.09
3	—	1,197	110.00–111.00	110.48

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,719	107.00–112.50	108.82
6	—	1,704	100.00–106.50	103.64

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,532	110.50–111.00	110.66
20	—	1,438	98.00–108.00	102.80
18	—	1,451	88.00–98.00	93.07

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,619	108.50–112.50	110.62
2	—	1,685	101.00	101.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,953	122.50–125.00	123.77
18	—	1,999	107.00–117.00	110.38
15	—	1,856	100.00–106.00	104.48

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,564	92.00–104.00	96.09
3	—	1,425	107.00–116.00	110.28

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	7	—	1,477	1,750.00	1,750.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	4	—	1,270	2,250.00	2,250.00

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)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	11	—	1,227	2,800.00	2,800.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	16	—	1,510	2,400.00	2,400.00

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)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	3	—	1,083	1,600.00	1,600.00

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	17	—	1,104	110.00–159.00	124.54
(<2 yrs)	Open	70	—	1,016	129.00–188.50	163.20

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	3	—	828	120.00–150.00	136.97
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	6	—	978	93.00–110.00	105.89

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	5	—	1,101	2,500.00	2,500.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	1,076	205.50–215.50	208.80
6	—	936	219.50–221.00	220.25
4	—	974	217.00	217.00
4	—	1,029	208.50–210.00	209.24

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	634	240.00	240.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	413	285.00	285.00
1	—	325	310.00	310.00
12	—	582	251.00	251.00
4	—	608	241.00	241.00
2	—	368	285.00	285.00
20	—	475	261.00–282.50	272.10
16	—	542	246.00	246.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	435	240.00–260.00	251.33
2	—	385	295.00	295.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	982	200.00–204.00	201.60
1	—	930	215.00	215.00
4	—	877	217.50–222.50	218.73
6	—	833	220.00–225.00	222.48

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	679	250.50	250.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,111	203.00	203.00
1	—	1,175	192.50	192.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	730	227.50	227.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	965	225.50	225.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	391	300.00	300.00
8	—	405	310.00	310.00
2	—	658	243.00	243.00
4	—	484	272.50–277.50	274.97

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	576	260.00–277.00	271.50
6	—	340	332.50	332.50
11	—	611	272.00	272.00
4	—	515	302.50	302.50
5	—	399	332.50	332.50
4	—	475	302.50	302.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	712	242.50–247.50	246.25
2	—	758	232.50	232.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,185	165.00	165.00
2	—	1,110	175.00	175.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,020	185.00	185.00
1	—	1,275	146.00	146.00
1	—	1,170	172.50	172.50

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.