Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-10-18

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-10-18
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-10-18

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Oct 18

● Final64 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Oct 11Oct 18Oct 25 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

259 head

▼ 340 vs last sale 599▼ 426 vs year ago 685 · −62.2%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

891 head

▲ 100 vs last sale 791▼ 284 vs year ago 1,175 · −24.2%

Replacement Cattle receipts

792 head

▲ 542 vs last sale 250▼ 218 vs year ago 1,010 · −21.6%

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 higher undertones were noticed on all steers calves on offer; heifer calves sold with steady undertones; yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeders were limited as todays sale mostly featured bred cows and weigh ups. Quality was mostly average to attractive and better overall compared to last week. Demand for feeders was mostly moderate to good. Most calves were offered in small packages or as singles again this week. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this sale with more buyer participation seen. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold on light demand again this week, however the majority of the cow offering was purchased to feed. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00 to 3.00 lower on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold mostly 4.00 to 7.00 lower. Feeding cow demand was moderate this sale. Several buyers were active in buying thin cows to feed or turn out on corn stalks this winter. These cows sold 3.00-5.00 lower. High quality feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold 2.00-3.00 lower on a lower quality offering. Cows overall were not as attractive as last week. Packers joined private feeders in buying thin cows this week as they purchased cows to put away for the upcoming holidays. Most of these cows were very thin and low or very low dressing. Notably, packers have opted to start buying holiday cows unseasonably early(2-3 weeks), as concerns of beef cow supplies weigh on buying decisions. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Cow quality today was mostly plain to 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 3.00-5.00 higher on an attractive quality offering. A heavy offering of bred cows sold today. Demand was mostly good with several local ranchers and order buyers active in bidding on offerings. Quality was average to very attractive.

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 $235.25/cwt on 89 head.

Average price

$235.25

89 head · 762 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,792

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$536

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$57.62/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−27.32

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	648	250.06	1,620	63
Medium and Large 1-2	879	212.47	1,868	9thin
Large 1	1,121	192.44	2,157	17thin

One grade step is worth $57.62/cwt here — about −$536 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 sale89 hd

235.25

—

MT average5 barns · 1,789 hd

262.58

−27.32

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	1,743	105.79	1,844	37
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,650	103.72	1,712	30
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,423	94.53	1,345	248
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,207	86.06	1,039	321

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)	1,101	$2,298	92
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,413	$2,051	22
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,188	$2,001	37
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,374	$1,824	44
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,073	$1,800	4thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,557	$1,700	6
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,349	$1,320	13
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,266	$1,310	15
Bred Heifers	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	(<2 yrs)	878	$2,302	94
Bred Heifers	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	(<2 yrs)	841	$1,632	12

Every lot

64 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 · Steers4 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	340	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	1,394	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	419	382.50/cwt	382.50–382.50	1,603	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	516	288.24/cwt	285.00–295.00	1,487	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	687	253.34/cwt	251.50–255.00	1,740	32
Feeder Cattle · Heifers11 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	315	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	977	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	389	293.56/cwt	290.00–310.00	1,142	21
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	520	257.00/cwt	257.00–257.00	1,336	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	595	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,458	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	629	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	1,528	18
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	862	214.89/cwt	212.00–217.00	1,852	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	928	210.53/cwt	210.00–212.00	1,954	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	940	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	1,918	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	996	207.50/cwt	207.50–207.50	2,067	6
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,118	194.50/cwt	194.50–194.50	2,175	12
Heifers	—	Large 1Full	1,127	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	2,113	5
Feeder Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	495	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,436	2
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,155	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	1,906	2
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,160	89.00/cwt	89.00–89.00	1,032	1
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,431	102.62/cwt	95.00–106.50	1,468	8
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,465	111.17/cwt	107.00–118.00	1,629	5
Bulls	—	—	1,903	100.07/cwt	91.00–105.00	1,904	12
Bulls	—	—	1,940	121.38/cwt	117.00–125.00	2,355	3
Bulls	—	—	1,989	110.45/cwt	107.00–113.50	2,197	8
Slaughter Cattle · Cows20 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	943	50.00/cwt	50.00–50.00	472	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,147	75.02/cwt	74.00–76.00	860	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,155	88.91/cwt	88.00–90.00	1,027	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,178	70.22/cwt	62.00–76.00	827	29
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,207	84.10/cwt	78.00–88.00	1,015	129
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,217	81.80/cwt	77.00–86.00	996	16
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,221	91.27/cwt	89.00–98.00	1,114	104
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,231	99.57/cwt	99.00–102.50	1,226	33
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,395	86.30/cwt	83.00–92.00	1,204	77
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,416	98.69/cwt	94.00–104.50	1,397	126
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,420	111.00/cwt	111.00–111.00	1,576	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,448	93.67/cwt	93.50–94.00	1,356	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,474	85.20/cwt	80.00–91.50	1,256	19
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,492	107.44/cwt	105.00–108.00	1,603	20
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,602	107.50/cwt	107.50–107.50	1,722	5
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,633	102.00/cwt	102.00–102.00	1,666	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,635	104.65/cwt	103.50–105.50	1,711	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,656	107.22/cwt	105.50–110.00	1,776	7
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,662	99.34/cwt	96.00–103.00	1,651	13
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,980	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	2,277	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows13 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	886	2,175.00/head	2,175.00–2,175.00	2,175	24
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,073	1,800.00/head	1,800.00–1,800.00	1,800	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,168	2,366.93/head	2,100.00–2,500.00	2,367	65
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,170	2,077.25/head	1,800.00–2,200.00	2,077	33
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,191	92.12/cwt	91.00–94.00	1,097	6
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,215	107.00/cwt	107.00–107.00	1,300	26
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,266	1,310.00/head	1,310.00–1,310.00	1,310	15
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,333	1,375.00/head	1,375.00–1,375.00	1,375	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,349	1,319.52/head	1,300.00–1,350.00	1,320	13
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,374	1,823.68/head	1,400.00–1,925.00	1,824	44
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,377	1,800.00/head	1,800.00–1,800.00	1,800	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,413	2,051.39/head	2,000.00–2,225.00	2,051	22
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,557	1,700.00/head	1,700.00–1,700.00	1,700	6
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	768	164.14/cwt	140.00–170.00	1,261	13
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	960	167.97/cwt	130.00–187.00	1,613	227
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	989	111.98/cwt	102.50–117.50	1,107	6
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,046	138.17/cwt	104.00–175.00	1,445	118
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,210	102.50/cwt	102.50–102.50	1,240	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,245	92.00/cwt	92.00–92.00	1,145	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers2 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	841	1,631.63/head	1,375.00–1,800.00	1,632	12
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	878	2,302.27/head	1,975.00–2,425.00	2,302	94

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 18, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 259Last week 599Year ago 685

Slaughter CattleReceipts 891Last week 791Year ago 1,175

Replacement CattleReceipts 792Last week 250Year ago 1,010

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,118	194.50	194.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	389	290.00–310.00	293.56
1	—	595	245.00	245.00
18	—	629	243.00	243.00
1	—	520	257.00	257.00
1	—	315	310.00	310.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	940	204.00	204.00
7	—	862	212.00–217.00	214.89

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,127	187.50	187.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	996	207.50	207.50
15	—	928	210.00–212.00	210.53

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	495	290.00	290.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,155	165.00	165.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	419	382.50	382.50
32	—	687	251.50–255.00	253.34
6	—	340	410.00	410.00
9	—	516	285.00–295.00	288.24

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	26	—	1,215	107.00	107.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	15	—	1,266	1,310.00	1,310.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	6	—	1,557	1,700.00	1,700.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	44	—	1,374	1,400.00–1,925.00	1,823.68
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	13	—	1,349	1,300.00–1,350.00	1,319.52
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	4	—	1,073	1,800.00	1,800.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	33	—	1,170	1,800.00–2,200.00	2,077.25
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	65	—	1,168	2,100.00–2,500.00	2,366.93
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	6	—	1,191	91.00–94.00	92.12
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	22	—	1,413	2,000.00–2,225.00	2,051.39

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	24	—	886	2,175.00	2,175.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	4	—	1,333	1,375.00	1,375.00

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/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	3	—	1,377	1,800.00	1,800.00

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	118	—	1,046	104.00–175.00	138.17
(<2 yrs)	Open	227	—	960	130.00–187.00	167.97

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	13	—	768	140.00–170.00	164.14
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,245	92.00	92.00

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	1	—	1,210	102.50	102.50
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	6	—	989	102.50–117.50	111.98

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	12	—	841	1,375.00–1,800.00	1,631.63

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)	94	—	878	1,975.00–2,425.00	2,302.27

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,465	107.00–118.00	111.17
8	—	1,431	95.00–106.50	102.62

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,160	89.00	89.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,989	107.00–113.50	110.45
3	—	1,940	117.00–125.00	121.38
12	—	1,903	91.00–105.00	100.07

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
129	—	1,207	78.00–88.00	84.10
3	—	1,147	74.00–76.00	75.02
104	—	1,221	89.00–98.00	91.27
33	—	1,231	99.00–102.50	99.57

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,602	107.50	107.50
3	—	1,633	102.00	102.00
1	—	1,420	111.00	111.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
77	—	1,395	83.00–92.00	86.30
126	—	1,416	94.00–104.50	98.69
20	—	1,492	105.00–108.00	107.44

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	943	50.00	50.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,448	93.50–94.00	93.67
3	—	1,635	103.50–105.50	104.65
19	—	1,474	80.00–91.50	85.20

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,155	88.00–90.00	88.91
16	—	1,217	77.00–86.00	81.80
29	—	1,178	62.00–76.00	70.22

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,656	105.50–110.00	107.22
1	—	1,980	115.00	115.00
13	—	1,662	96.00–103.00	99.34

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.