Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-11-29

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-11-29
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-11-29

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Nov 29

● Final60 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Nov 22Nov 29Dec 13 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

345 head

▲ 103 vs last sale 242▼ 139 vs year ago 484 · −28.7%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

1,120 head

▲ 415 vs last sale 705▲ 257 vs year ago 863 · +29.8%

Replacement Cattle receipts

333 head

▲ 145 vs last sale 188▲ 30 vs year ago 303 · +9.9%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle offerings were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mostly plain. Most calves were offered in small packages or as singles. Demand was light to moderate. Quality hampered demand as buyers had a limited selection of feeders to build loads from. Market activity was slow. Weigh up cows comprised most of todays receipts. Demand for cows was moderate for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to weak on all classes. A large pool of feeding cow buyers was seen this week and demand for feeding cows was mostly moderate to good. High quality feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold generally steady. Thin short term feeding cows or turn out cows sold steady to firm. Buyer participation was active this week. Quality this week was mostly average and not as attractive as last week. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average for buyers throughout the sale as most cows were carrying heavy amounts of fill. Slaughter bulls traded unevenly steady as lower dressing bulls sold steady to firm and high dressing bulls sold lower. Feeding bull buyers pushed packers throughout the sale as they fought to fill loads. Young age cows sold sharply lower. Demand from rebreed buyers was significantly lower this week as most young cows were purchased to feed. Quality was mostly plain to average today which also hampered 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 $213.58/cwt on 92 head.

Average price

$213.58

92 head · 694 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,482

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$291

per head · Medium and Large 2 over Medium 1-2

$52.50/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−34.12

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 2	389	240.00	934	10thin
Medium and Large 1-2	635	217.94	1,384	34
Medium and Large 1	824	207.98	1,713	41
Medium 1-2	653	187.50	1,224	7thin

One grade step is worth $52.50/cwt here — about −$291 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 sale92 hd

213.58

—

MT average3 barns · 986 hd

247.70

−34.12

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	1,717	106.53	1,829	56
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,659	92.52	1,535	54
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Very Low	1,434	86.48	1,240	314
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,187	80.05	950	404

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)	1,138	$1,830	9
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,355	$1,614	13
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,453	$1,600	6
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,156	$1,450	6
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,368	$1,396	26
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,268	$1,392	3thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,117	$1,175	6

Every lot

60 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 · Steers10 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	339	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,085	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	357	288.24/cwt	285.00–297.50	1,029	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	415	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,245	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	432	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,166	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	469	314.00/cwt	314.00–314.00	1,473	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	480	306.00/cwt	306.00–306.00	1,469	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	490	282.50/cwt	282.50–282.50	1,384	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	582	235.42/cwt	230.00–237.50	1,370	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	622	232.41/cwt	232.00–233.00	1,446	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	901	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,802	7
Feeder Cattle · Heifers14 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	389	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	934	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	428	246.01/cwt	231.00–260.00	1,053	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	441	281.00/cwt	281.00–281.00	1,239	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	599	228.00/cwt	228.00–228.00	1,366	5
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	653	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	1,224	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	705	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,410	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	777	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	1,632	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	847	188.00/cwt	188.00–188.00	1,592	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	851	203.00/cwt	203.00–203.00	1,728	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	880	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	1,716	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	939	192.81/cwt	192.00–200.00	1,810	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	988	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	1,877	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	1,019	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	1,630	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,030	188.00/cwt	188.00–188.00	1,936	2
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,529	92.61/cwt	83.00–108.00	1,416	12
Bulls	—	—	1,635	99.30/cwt	90.00–106.00	1,624	18
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,712	113.84/cwt	111.00–116.50	1,949	8
Bulls	—	—	1,896	118.74/cwt	114.00–121.00	2,251	15
Bulls	—	—	2,073	124.98/cwt	121.00–128.00	2,591	3
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	935	63.25/cwt	62.50–64.00	591	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	975	82.50/cwt	82.50–82.50	804	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,133	78.75/cwt	65.00–82.00	892	144
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,161	58.61/cwt	52.00–62.00	680	10
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,178	69.03/cwt	63.00–77.00	813	27
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,193	91.63/cwt	90.00–94.00	1,093	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,228	83.38/cwt	81.00–89.00	1,024	183
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,232	82.58/cwt	79.00–85.50	1,017	34
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,398	82.24/cwt	78.00–84.00	1,150	112
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,415	69.00/cwt	69.00–69.00	976	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,447	97.10/cwt	96.50–97.25	1,405	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,449	89.45/cwt	84.00–95.00	1,296	176
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,485	81.24/cwt	76.50–83.00	1,206	13
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,527	84.45/cwt	82.00–85.00	1,290	7
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,635	93.88/cwt	92.00–96.50	1,535	37
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,654	92.97/cwt	92.50–94.50	1,538	5
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,692	87.87/cwt	87.00–89.00	1,487	6
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,712	88.32/cwt	88.00–89.00	1,512	5
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight	2,125	89.00/cwt	89.00–89.00	1,891	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows9 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,115	1,275.00/head	1,275.00–1,275.00	1,275	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,117	1,175.00/head	1,175.00–1,175.00	1,175	6
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,138	1,830.38/head	1,800.00–1,850.00	1,830	9
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,156	1,450.00/head	1,450.00–1,450.00	1,450	6
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,250	1,288.27/head	1,150.00–1,350.00	1,288	11
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,345	1,450.00/head	1,450.00–1,450.00	1,450	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,355	1,613.91/head	1,600.00–1,700.00	1,614	13
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,453	1,600.00/head	1,600.00–1,600.00	1,600	6
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,454	1,475.00/head	1,475.00–1,475.00	1,475	15
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	908	113.89/cwt	102.50–120.00	1,034	5
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,024	122.27/cwt	97.50–147.50	1,252	114
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,120	94.31/cwt	85.00–120.00	1,056	70

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 29, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 345Last week 242Year ago 484

Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,120Last week 705Year ago 863

Replacement CattleReceipts 333Last week 188Year ago 303

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	847	188.00	188.00
4	—	1,019	160.00	160.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	777	210.00	210.00
4	—	880	195.00	195.00
12	—	705	200.00	200.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	389	240.00	240.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	653	187.50	187.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	599	228.00	228.00
10	—	428	231.00–260.00	246.01

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	988	190.00	190.00
10	—	939	192.00–200.00	192.81
2	—	1,030	188.00	188.00
8	—	441	281.00	281.00
9	—	851	203.00	203.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	415	300.00	300.00
9	—	582	230.00–237.50	235.42
4	—	490	282.50	282.50
5	—	622	232.00–233.00	232.41
4	—	339	320.00	320.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	480	306.00	306.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	357	285.00–297.50	288.24

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	432	270.00	270.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	469	314.00	314.00
7	—	901	200.00	200.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,115	1,275.00	1,275.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	6	—	1,117	1,175.00	1,175.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	11	—	1,250	1,150.00–1,350.00	1,288.27

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)	15	—	1,454	1,475.00	1,475.00

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)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,345	1,450.00	1,450.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	9	—	1,138	1,800.00–1,850.00	1,830.38
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	6	—	1,156	1,450.00	1,450.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	6	—	1,453	1,600.00	1,600.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	13	—	1,355	1,600.00–1,700.00	1,613.91

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	5	—	908	102.50–120.00	113.89

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	114	—	1,024	97.50–147.50	122.27
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	70	—	1,120	85.00–120.00	94.31

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,712	111.00–116.50	113.84
12	—	1,529	83.00–108.00	92.61

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	1,896	114.00–121.00	118.74
3	—	2,073	121.00–128.00	124.98
18	—	1,635	90.00–106.00	99.30

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	1,178	63.00–77.00	69.03
34	—	1,232	79.00–85.50	82.58
10	—	1,161	52.00–62.00	58.61

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,193	90.00–94.00	91.63
144	—	1,133	65.00–82.00	78.75
183	—	1,228	81.00–89.00	83.38

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
37	—	1,635	92.00–96.50	93.88
5	—	1,712	88.00–89.00	88.32

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,125	89.00	89.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	975	82.50	82.50
2	—	935	62.50–64.00	63.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,415	69.00	69.00
7	—	1,527	82.00–85.00	84.45
13	—	1,485	76.50–83.00	81.24

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,692	87.00–89.00	87.87
5	—	1,654	92.50–94.50	92.97

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
112	—	1,398	78.00–84.00	82.24
176	—	1,449	84.00–95.00	89.45
5	—	1,447	96.50–97.25	97.10

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.