Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-10-25

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-10-25
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-10-25

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Oct 25

● Final69 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Oct 18Oct 25Nov 1 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

465 head

▲ 206 vs last sale 259▲ 60 vs year ago 405 · +14.8%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

615 head

▼ 276 vs last sale 891▼ 371 vs year ago 986 · −37.6%

Replacement Cattle receipts

202 head

▼ 590 vs last sale 792▼ 193 vs year ago 395 · −48.9%

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 to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on all offerings. The first snow storm of the season is underway with freezing rain falling late last night and snow starting this morning. Offerings were light as a result. Quality was mostly plain to average today and mostly offered in very small packages or as singles. With sharply colder temperatures seen today along with rain and snow, many sets of calves were showing signs of stress. Demand for feeders was mostly light. Not as many buyers were active in purchasing feeders this week. Market activity was mostly slow. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and offerings. Slaughter cows sold on light demand again this week. Packers continue to purchase the majority of the cow offering to put on feed and are only sending very poor or lame cows to immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00 to 3.00 lower on boning and lean cows; breaking cows sold mostly steady to frim. 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 1.00-2.00 lower. High quality feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold steady to weak. Weigh up conditions were average to below average this sale. With the change of weather many cows and bulls were pushing heavy amounts of fill. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Cow quality today was mostly average. Several packages of young age cows sold this week. Demand for these offerings was mostly light to moderate. Demand from feeding buyers lightened significantly this week as CME positions sold off sharply. Young age cows sold 5.00-8.00 lower.

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 $247.77/cwt on 156 head.

Average price

$247.77

156 head · 600 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,486

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$576

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$67.11/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−14.58

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	529	262.61	1,389	99
Medium and Large 1-2	696	224.55	1,562	52
Large 1	1,005	195.50	1,965	5thin

One grade step is worth $67.11/cwt here — about −$576 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

247.77

—

MT average5 barns · 3,794 hd

262.35

−14.58

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	—	Low	1,668	99.46	1,659	32
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,617	97.92	1,583	20
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,371	95.44	1,309	142
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,208	85.40	1,031	261

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 Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,173	$1,799	17
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,068	$1,772	4thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,235	$1,325	2thin

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 · Steers16 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	320	357.50/cwt	357.50–357.50	1,144	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	357	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	1,160	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	376	347.50/cwt	347.50–347.50	1,307	18
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	432	289.59/cwt	285.00–292.50	1,251	6
Steers	—	Medium 2Unweaned	458	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	687	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	473	286.00/cwt	286.00–286.00	1,353	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	476	290.50/cwt	290.50–290.50	1,383	25
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	515	277.00/cwt	277.00–277.00	1,427	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	534	256.01/cwt	252.50–262.50	1,367	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	553	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,383	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	590	238.00/cwt	238.00–238.00	1,404	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	623	221.00/cwt	221.00–221.00	1,377	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	701	238.50/cwt	238.50–238.50	1,672	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	811	219.00/cwt	219.00–219.00	1,776	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	931	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	1,899	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,040	207.50/cwt	207.50–207.50	2,158	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers15 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	349	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,047	20
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	373	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,044	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	419	282.08/cwt	270.00–283.00	1,182	39
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	470	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,246	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	483	256.00/cwt	256.00–256.00	1,236	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	515	251.00/cwt	251.00–251.00	1,293	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	519	236.83/cwt	230.00–240.00	1,229	19
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	566	225.02/cwt	221.00–230.00	1,274	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	715	228.00/cwt	228.00–228.00	1,630	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	860	216.00/cwt	216.00–216.00	1,858	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	914	212.00/cwt	212.00–212.00	1,938	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	927	201.33/cwt	200.00–204.00	1,866	12
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,005	195.50/cwt	195.50–195.50	1,965	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,030	189.00/cwt	189.00–189.00	1,947	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,108	183.00/cwt	183.00–183.00	2,028	8
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	465	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,232	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	563	221.00/cwt	221.00–221.00	1,244	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	620	198.00/cwt	198.00–198.00	1,228	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	648	219.00/cwt	219.00–219.00	1,419	12
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	975	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	1,277	3
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,020	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	1,632	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,300	84.98/cwt	80.00–90.00	1,105	2
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,513	94.32/cwt	86.00–102.00	1,427	16
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,713	108.00/cwt	108.00–108.00	1,850	2
Bulls	—	—	1,727	98.38/cwt	94.00–104.00	1,699	5
Bulls	—	—	2,023	108.86/cwt	106.00–115.00	2,202	4
Bulls	—	—	2,135	120.15/cwt	119.50–120.50	2,565	3
Slaughter Cattle · Cows17 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	880	63.00/cwt	63.00–63.00	554	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	895	56.00/cwt	56.00–56.00	501	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,131	64.07/cwt	50.00–73.00	725	9
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,173	98.94/cwt	97.50–103.50	1,161	26
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,183	88.49/cwt	88.00–89.00	1,047	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,217	90.14/cwt	84.50–96.50	1,097	104
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,217	82.42/cwt	75.00–85.00	1,003	65
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,221	77.61/cwt	71.00–84.00	948	53
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,346	98.77/cwt	94.00–104.50	1,329	84
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,354	92.72/cwt	92.00–93.00	1,255	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,385	87.59/cwt	80.00–92.00	1,213	29
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,390	81.03/cwt	72.50–91.00	1,126	12
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,494	105.57/cwt	105.00–109.00	1,577	13
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,538	94.94/cwt	94.50–95.00	1,460	9
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,638	109.00/cwt	109.00–109.00	1,785	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,696	92.19/cwt	87.00–95.00	1,564	5
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,698	105.31/cwt	104.00–106.00	1,788	3
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	720	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	900	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	725	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	1,124	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	860	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	903	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	915	164.89/cwt	120.50–177.50	1,509	89
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,027	126.87/cwt	102.00–155.00	1,303	78
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,075	93.08/cwt	90.00–95.50	1,001	2
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,068	1,772.14/head	1,700.00–1,800.00	1,772	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,173	1,798.53/head	1,750.00–1,850.00	1,799	17
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,235	1,325.00/head	1,325.00–1,325.00	1,325	2

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 25, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 465Last week 259Year ago 405

Slaughter CattleReceipts 615Last week 891Year ago 986

Replacement CattleReceipts 202Last week 792Year ago 395

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	975	131.00	131.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,020	160.00	160.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	648	219.00	219.00
4	—	563	221.00	221.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	465	265.00	265.00
3	—	620	198.00	198.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
25	—	476	290.50	290.50
4	—	515	277.00	277.00
12	—	553	250.00	250.00
7	—	320	357.50	357.50
18	—	376	347.50	347.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	534	252.50–262.50	256.01
6	—	432	285.00–292.50	289.59
4	—	623	221.00	221.00
6	—	357	325.00	325.00
12	—	590	238.00	238.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	811	219.00	219.00
5	—	931	204.00	204.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	458	150.00	150.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	473	286.00	286.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	701	238.50	238.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,040	207.50	207.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
39	—	419	270.00–283.00	282.08
5	—	373	280.00	280.00
11	—	566	221.00–230.00	225.02
4	—	515	251.00	251.00
20	—	349	300.00	300.00
2	—	470	265.00	265.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	715	228.00	228.00
5	—	1,030	189.00	189.00
12	—	927	200.00–204.00	201.33

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	483	256.00	256.00
19	—	519	230.00–240.00	236.83

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,108	183.00	183.00
9	—	914	212.00	212.00
1	—	860	216.00	216.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,005	195.50	195.50

Replacement Cattle

As reported

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	1	—	725	155.00	155.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	860	105.00	105.00

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	2	—	1,075	90.00–95.50	93.08
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	720	125.00	125.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	89	—	915	120.50–177.50	164.89
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	78	—	1,027	102.00–155.00	126.87

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 Stage (4-6 mo)	17	—	1,173	1,750.00–1,850.00	1,798.53
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	4	—	1,068	1,700.00–1,800.00	1,772.14
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,235	1,325.00	1,325.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	1,513	86.00–102.00	94.32
2	—	1,713	108.00	108.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	2,023	106.00–115.00	108.86
3	—	2,135	119.50–120.50	120.15
5	—	1,727	94.00–104.00	98.38

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,300	80.00–90.00	84.98

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
84	—	1,346	94.00–104.50	98.77
13	—	1,494	105.00–109.00	105.57
29	—	1,385	80.00–92.00	87.59

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,698	104.00–106.00	105.31
5	—	1,696	87.00–95.00	92.19

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,538	94.50–95.00	94.94
3	—	1,638	109.00	109.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	880	63.00	63.00
1	—	895	56.00	56.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
104	—	1,217	84.50–96.50	90.14
26	—	1,173	97.50–103.50	98.94
65	—	1,217	75.00–85.00	82.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,390	72.50–91.00	81.03
4	—	1,354	92.00–93.00	92.72

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
53	—	1,221	71.00–84.00	77.61
9	—	1,131	50.00–73.00	64.07
2	—	1,183	88.00–89.00	88.49

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.