Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-11-15

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-11-15
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-11-15

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Nov 15

● Final79 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Nov 8Nov 15Nov 22 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

692 head

▲ 446 vs last sale 246▼ 228 vs year ago 920 · −24.8%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

1,567 head

▼ 92 vs last sale 1,659▲ 583 vs year ago 984 · +59.2%

Replacement Cattle receipts

402 head

▼ 364 vs last sale 766▼ 1 vs year ago 403 · −0.2%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested this week or last to develop any market trend. Both steer and heifer calves were scarcely tested last week as that sale featured mostly bred heifers and cows. Feeder quality today was mixed from plain to average, with a limited offering of attractive cattle seen. Demand was mostly moderate to good for light to moderate offerings. Buyer participation was mostly active this sale with buyers both ringside and on the internet actively bidding on offerings. Market activity was mostly active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold 2.00-3.00 lower on all cows destined for immediate harvest. Demand for feeding cows was mostly moderate to good. Buyer participation was good again this week, as several buyers were active in buying cows to feed. Thin cows purchased to feed or turn out on corn stalks this winter sold 2.00-3.00 lower. High quality feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold 1.00-3.00 lower. Quality this week was average to very attractive with many long strings of reputation cows seen. Heavy supplies of cows continue to be seen a many ranchers are selling many open cows after preg. checking this fall. Some ranchers report astoundingly high open percentages as the breed up this year was very poor. Weigh up conditions were mixed today. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on a higher quality offering. Feeding buyers helped create competition which pushed slaughter bull prices higher. Young age cows sold mostly steady. Quality was mostly average to attractive this week. Demand for these offerings was stronger this week as feeding buyers and rebreed buyers competed over offerings.

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 $223.98/cwt on 204 head.

Average price

$223.98

204 head · 679 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,521

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$1,066

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2

$52.53/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−30.28

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	730	227.53	1,661	122
Medium and Large 1-2	614	227.21	1,395	63
Medium 1	455	215.00	978	1thin
Medium and Large 2	504	196.47	990	7thin
Large 1	954	195.60	1,866	5thin
Medium 2	340	175.00	595	6thin

One grade step is worth $52.53/cwt here — about $1,066 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 sale204 hd

223.98

—

MT average5 barns · 5,526 hd

254.26

−30.28

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	1,802	109.97	1,982	29
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,709	92.96	1,589	19
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,398	89.03	1,244	343
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,180	77.80	918	382

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)	1,149	$1,788	18
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,071	$1,723	23
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,328	$1,455	16
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,293	$1,425	11
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,316	$1,400	7
Bred Heifers	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,107	$1,975	5

Every lot

79 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 · Steers18 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	335	337.50/cwt	337.50–337.50	1,131	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	361	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,191	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	386	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,312	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	413	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	991	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	421	310.93/cwt	300.00–317.50	1,309	26
Steers	—	Medium 2Unweaned	431	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	668	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	436	334.26/cwt	330.00–337.50	1,457	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	466	307.93/cwt	305.00–315.00	1,435	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	472	294.96/cwt	285.00–300.00	1,392	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	511	302.25/cwt	290.00–315.00	1,544	36
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	522	274.00/cwt	274.00–274.00	1,430	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	571	266.96/cwt	254.00–273.00	1,524	23
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	584	244.00/cwt	244.00–244.00	1,425	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	593	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,186	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	602	254.00/cwt	254.00–254.00	1,529	30
Steers	—	Large 1Unweaned	620	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	1,380	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	638	227.00/cwt	227.00–227.00	1,448	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	742	214.00/cwt	214.00–214.00	1,588	14
Feeder Cattle · Heifers22 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium 2	340	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	595	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	372	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	986	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	439	258.03/cwt	245.00–272.50	1,133	15
Heifers	—	Medium 1	455	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	978	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	471	267.50/cwt	267.50–267.50	1,260	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	479	237.87/cwt	225.00–249.00	1,139	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	504	196.47/cwt	191.00–210.00	990	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	536	247.92/cwt	246.00–252.00	1,329	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	557	246.84/cwt	243.00–247.50	1,375	27
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	621	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,459	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	640	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	1,408	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	672	208.00/cwt	208.00–208.00	1,398	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	673	218.00/cwt	218.00–218.00	1,467	2
Heifers	—	Large 1Unweaned	708	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	1,487	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	810	218.00/cwt	218.00–218.00	1,766	35
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	836	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	1,630	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	858	202.00/cwt	202.00–202.00	1,733	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	899	208.00/cwt	208.00–208.00	1,870	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	923	202.50/cwt	202.50–202.50	1,869	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	972	202.41/cwt	198.50–204.00	1,967	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,068	191.59/cwt	188.00–194.50	2,046	9
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,118	186.00/cwt	186.00–186.00	2,079	3
Feeder Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	463	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,412	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	640	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	1,363	3
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,620	106.90/cwt	106.00–108.00	1,732	5
Bulls	—	—	1,747	104.02/cwt	93.00–107.00	1,817	13
Bulls	—	—	1,914	111.29/cwt	109.00–114.00	2,130	6
Bulls	—	—	1,995	126.94/cwt	120.00–130.00	2,532	5
Slaughter Cattle · Cows20 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	913	63.52/cwt	60.00–74.00	580	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	941	40.94/cwt	40.00–45.00	385	9
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	976	62.82/cwt	62.00–63.00	613	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	995	75.00/cwt	75.00–75.00	746	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,130	59.39/cwt	47.50–65.00	671	12
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,140	74.11/cwt	64.00–79.00	845	83
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,184	97.05/cwt	92.00–100.00	1,149	15
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,186	73.77/cwt	68.00–79.00	875	53
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,222	83.06/cwt	79.50–90.00	1,015	165
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,235	80.71/cwt	79.00–86.00	997	32
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,380	87.50/cwt	87.50–87.50	1,208	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,392	90.75/cwt	85.00–96.50	1,263	273
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,394	82.32/cwt	76.00–85.50	1,148	34
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,399	102.70/cwt	98.50–106.00	1,437	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,454	79.48/cwt	74.00–84.00	1,156	31
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,618	91.54/cwt	91.00–93.00	1,481	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,630	102.50/cwt	102.50–102.50	1,671	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,704	89.23/cwt	88.50–92.00	1,520	7
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,739	95.90/cwt	95.50–98.00	1,668	6
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight	2,005	97.50/cwt	97.50–97.50	1,955	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	923	161.44/cwt	112.50–172.00	1,490	129
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	955	127.80/cwt	112.50–140.00	1,220	18
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	967	100.00/cwt	100.00–100.00	967	8
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,017	122.29/cwt	89.00–152.50	1,244	60
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,107	1,975.00/head	1,975.00–1,975.00	1,975	5
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows8 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,018	1,545.33/head	1,450.00–1,650.00	1,545	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,067	1,418.83/head	1,400.00–1,500.00	1,419	10
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,074	1,956.89/head	1,875.00–2,050.00	1,957	13
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,187	1,857.35/head	1,725.00–1,975.00	1,857	14
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,293	1,425.00/head	1,425.00–1,425.00	1,425	11
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,316	1,400.00/head	1,400.00–1,400.00	1,400	7
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,328	1,454.67/head	1,350.00–1,500.00	1,455	16
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,483	97.00/cwt	97.00–97.00	1,439	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 Nov 15, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 692Last week 246Year ago 920

Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,567Last week 1,659Year ago 984

Replacement CattleReceipts 402Last week 766Year ago 403

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
23	—	571	254.00–273.00	266.96
30	—	602	254.00	254.00
36	—	511	290.00–315.00	302.25
14	—	436	330.00–337.50	334.26
10	—	466	305.00–315.00	307.93
7	—	386	340.00	340.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	421	300.00–317.50	310.93
3	—	638	227.00	227.00
5	—	361	330.00	330.00
4	—	584	244.00	244.00
4	—	335	337.50	337.50
14	—	742	214.00	214.00
3	—	472	285.00–300.00	294.96
3	—	522	274.00	274.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	620	222.50	222.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	431	155.00	155.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	593	200.00	200.00
5	—	413	240.00	240.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	372	265.00	265.00
15	—	439	245.00–272.50	258.03
7	—	672	208.00	208.00
15	—	479	225.00–249.00	237.87

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	340	175.00	175.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	972	198.50–204.00	202.41
15	—	899	208.00	208.00
9	—	1,068	188.00–194.50	191.59
35	—	810	218.00	218.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	858	202.00	202.00
11	—	836	195.00	195.00
3	—	640	220.00	220.00
4	—	923	202.50	202.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,118	186.00	186.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	504	191.00–210.00	196.47

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	471	267.50	267.50
2	—	673	218.00	218.00
27	—	557	243.00–247.50	246.84
5	—	621	235.00	235.00
15	—	536	246.00–252.00	247.92

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	455	215.00	215.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	708	210.00	210.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	640	213.00	213.00
3	—	463	305.00	305.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,399	98.50–106.00	102.70
34	—	1,394	76.00–85.50	82.32
273	—	1,392	85.00–96.50	90.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,704	88.50–92.00	89.23
1	—	1,630	102.50	102.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,380	87.50	87.50
31	—	1,454	74.00–84.00	79.48

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,130	47.50–65.00	59.39
53	—	1,186	68.00–79.00	73.77
32	—	1,235	79.00–86.00	80.71

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	913	60.00–74.00	63.52
9	—	941	40.00–45.00	40.94
1	—	995	75.00	75.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	976	62.00–63.00	62.82
83	—	1,140	64.00–79.00	74.11
15	—	1,184	92.00–100.00	97.05
165	—	1,222	79.50–90.00	83.06

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,618	91.00–93.00	91.54
6	—	1,739	95.50–98.00	95.90

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,005	97.50	97.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,995	120.00–130.00	126.94
6	—	1,914	109.00–114.00	111.29
13	—	1,747	93.00–107.00	104.02

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,620	106.00–108.00	106.90

Replacement Cattle

As reported

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	18	—	955	112.50–140.00	127.80
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	8	—	967	100.00	100.00

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	60	—	1,017	89.00–152.50	122.29
(<2 yrs)	Open	129	—	923	112.50–172.00	161.44

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	5	—	1,107	1,975.00	1,975.00

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 Stage (1-3 mo)	11	—	1,293	1,425.00	1,425.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	13	—	1,074	1,875.00–2,050.00	1,956.89
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	14	—	1,187	1,725.00–1,975.00	1,857.35
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	2	—	1,483	97.00	97.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	16	—	1,328	1,350.00–1,500.00	1,454.67

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)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	4	—	1,018	1,450.00–1,650.00	1,545.33
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	10	—	1,067	1,400.00–1,500.00	1,418.83

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)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	7	—	1,316	1,400.00	1,400.00

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.