Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-12-13

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-12-13
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-12-13

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Dec 13

● Final76 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Nov 29Dec 13Jan 10 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

383 head

▲ 38 vs last sale 345▼ 7 vs year ago 390 · −1.8%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

661 head

▼ 459 vs last sale 1,120▼ 345 vs year ago 1,006 · −34.3%

Replacement Cattle receipts

155 head

▼ 178 vs last sale 333▼ 111 vs year ago 266 · −41.7%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago: Last week Public auction yards held their annual Blue Ribbon sale so all comparisons are to two weeks ago as no feeders were offered last week. Feeder steer and heifer calves sold mostly steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Package sizes were small this week with lots of singles seen. Demand was mostly moderate to good with several buyers bidding aggressively as very few feeders were seen and several buyers had orders to fill. Market activity was moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of todays receipts. Demand for cows was moderate for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher on all classes. A large pool of feeding cow buyers was seen again this week and demand for feeding cows was mostly moderate to good. High quality feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold steady to 2.00 higher. Thin short term feeding cows or turn out cows sold steady to firm. Buyer participation was good this week. Quality this week was mostly average. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Slaughter bulls traded generally steady. Feeding bull buyers pushed packers throughout the sale as they fought to fill loads. Young age cows sold steady to firm following last sales sharply lower prices. Demand from rebreed buyers remains light and most cows were purchased to feed. Quality was mostly plain to average today.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $260.67/cwt on 150 head.

Average price

$260.67

150 head · 541 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,409

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$333

per head · Medium 1 over Medium 1-2

$91.58/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−18.29

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	422	291.58	1,231	19thin
Medium and Large 1	578	276.73	1,600	62
Medium and Large 1-2	521	266.54	1,388	17thin
Medium and Large 2	556	231.32	1,286	47
Medium 1-2	449	200.00	898	5thin

One grade step is worth $91.58/cwt here — about $333 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 sale150 hd

260.67

—

MT average5 barns · 3,326 hd

278.96

−18.29

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	1,806	108.29	1,955	38
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,635	95.67	1,564	51
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,419	88.87	1,261	243
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,195	77.35	925	211

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/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,257	$1,600	4thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,231	$1,539	7
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,388	$1,425	2thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,007	$1,250	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,223	$1,200	2thin

Every lot

76 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 · Steers20 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium 1Full	394	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	1,162	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	413	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	991	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	422	318.87/cwt	315.00–320.00	1,346	15
Steers	—	Medium 1Full	435	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,262	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	440	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,408	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	445	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,291	1
Steers	—	Medium 1-2	449	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	898	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	458	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	1,260	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	468	307.50/cwt	307.50–307.50	1,439	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	530	262.50/cwt	262.50–262.50	1,391	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	537	248.00/cwt	248.00–248.00	1,332	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	538	264.29/cwt	260.00–267.50	1,422	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	590	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,534	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	598	224.00/cwt	224.00–224.00	1,340	29
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	613	253.48/cwt	247.50–255.00	1,554	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	614	258.02/cwt	249.00–260.00	1,584	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	655	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,539	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	655	224.00/cwt	224.00–224.00	1,467	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	759	220.33/cwt	215.00–223.00	1,672	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,017	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	1,932	7
Feeder Cattle · Heifers17 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2Unweaned	338	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	676	3
Heifers	—	Medium 1	393	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,022	2
Heifers	—	Medium 2	401	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	742	4
Heifers	—	Medium 1	403	266.03/cwt	257.00–275.00	1,072	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	440	282.50/cwt	282.50–282.50	1,243	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	459	255.75/cwt	255.00–260.00	1,174	21
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	526	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,052	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	542	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,220	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	555	226.00/cwt	226.00–226.00	1,254	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	695	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	1,425	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	713	206.48/cwt	205.00–208.00	1,472	2
Heifers	—	Medium 1	742	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	1,447	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	863	183.30/cwt	183.00–184.00	1,582	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,003	178.00/cwt	178.00–178.00	1,785	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,063	184.48/cwt	181.00–188.00	1,961	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,126	173.50/cwt	173.50–173.50	1,954	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,169	174.90/cwt	170.50–176.00	2,045	10
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	547	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,422	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	548	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,260	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 2	953	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	1,430	6
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,355	82.00/cwt	82.00–82.00	1,111	1
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,465	92.00/cwt	92.00–92.00	1,348	1
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,635	111.69/cwt	111.00–112.00	1,826	3
Bulls	—	—	1,671	99.96/cwt	83.00–108.00	1,670	13
Bulls	—	—	1,876	113.08/cwt	109.00–118.00	2,121	14
Bulls	—	—	2,080	122.28/cwt	122.00–122.50	2,543	5
Bulls	—	—Heavy Weight	2,500	112.00/cwt	112.00–112.00	2,800	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows18 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	918	48.41/cwt	45.00–52.00	444	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	948	69.79/cwt	60.00–75.00	662	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,078	59.43/cwt	59.00–60.00	641	7
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,136	63.00/cwt	63.00–63.00	716	7
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,164	78.29/cwt	67.00–82.00	911	66
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,204	72.01/cwt	62.00–80.00	867	46
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,240	83.54/cwt	81.00–90.00	1,036	77
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,380	81.60/cwt	74.00–86.00	1,126	60
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,403	89.83/cwt	86.00–96.50	1,260	110
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,414	76.41/cwt	72.00–82.00	1,080	11
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,455	82.00/cwt	82.00–82.00	1,193	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,486	98.29/cwt	97.00–99.00	1,461	52
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,496	86.75/cwt	84.00–89.00	1,298	10
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,520	93.58/cwt	92.00–97.50	1,422	13
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,541	99.25/cwt	99.25–99.25	1,529	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,575	88.00/cwt	88.00–88.00	1,386	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,637	99.07/cwt	98.50–99.25	1,622	16
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,747	93.69/cwt	91.50–97.75	1,637	17
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows7 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,007	1,250.00/head	1,250.00–1,250.00	1,250	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,045	1,175.00/head	1,175.00–1,175.00	1,175	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,223	1,200.00/head	1,200.00–1,200.00	1,200	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,257	1,600.00/head	1,600.00–1,600.00	1,600	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,262	1,600.00/head	1,600.00–1,600.00	1,600	6
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,355	89.00/cwt	89.00–89.00	1,206	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,388	1,425.00/head	1,425.00–1,425.00	1,425	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	919	107.52/cwt	92.00–125.00	988	11
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	937	97.04/cwt	80.00–112.50	909	5
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	965	129.64/cwt	100.00–144.00	1,251	48
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,095	100.22/cwt	85.00–122.50	1,097	54

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 Dec 13, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 383Last week 345Year ago 390

Slaughter CattleReceipts 661Last week 1,120Year ago 1,006

Replacement CattleReceipts 155Last week 333Year ago 266

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	445	290.00	290.00
2	—	458	275.00	275.00
9	—	538	260.00–267.50	264.29

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	614	249.00–260.00	258.02
1	—	590	260.00	260.00
7	—	1,017	190.00	190.00
2	—	655	235.00	235.00
3	—	759	215.00–223.00	220.33
1	—	440	320.00	320.00
17	—	468	307.50	307.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	537	248.00	248.00
1	—	655	224.00	224.00
29	—	598	224.00	224.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	413	240.00	240.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	422	315.00–320.00	318.87
5	—	613	247.50–255.00	253.48

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	530	262.50	262.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	394	295.00	295.00
13	—	435	290.00	290.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	449	200.00	200.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	338	200.00	200.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	863	183.00–184.00	183.30
6	—	542	225.00	225.00
3	—	1,003	178.00	178.00
2	—	555	226.00	226.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	393	260.00	260.00
3	—	742	195.00	195.00
14	—	403	257.00–275.00	266.03

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	440	282.50	282.50
6	—	695	205.00	205.00
4	—	1,063	181.00–188.00	184.48
2	—	713	205.00–208.00	206.48
10	—	1,169	170.50–176.00	174.90
21	—	459	255.00–260.00	255.75
11	—	1,126	173.50	173.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	401	185.00	185.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	526	200.00	200.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	547	260.00	260.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	548	230.00	230.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	953	150.00	150.00

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)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	2	—	1,223	1,200.00	1,200.00

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)	1	—	1,045	1,175.00	1,175.00

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)	6	—	1,262	1,600.00	1,600.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	4	—	1,257	1,600.00	1,600.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	3	—	1,007	1,250.00	1,250.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	1,355	89.00	89.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	2	—	1,388	1,425.00	1,425.00

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	11	—	919	92.00–125.00	107.52
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	5	—	937	80.00–112.50	97.04

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	48	—	965	100.00–144.00	129.64
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	54	—	1,095	85.00–122.50	100.22

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,465	92.00	92.00
3	—	1,635	111.00–112.00	111.69

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,500	112.00	112.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,355	82.00	82.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	2,080	122.00–122.50	122.28
13	—	1,671	83.00–108.00	99.96
14	—	1,876	109.00–118.00	113.08

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
110	—	1,403	86.00–96.50	89.83
60	—	1,380	74.00–86.00	81.60
52	—	1,486	97.00–99.00	98.29

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	918	45.00–52.00	48.41
3	—	948	60.00–75.00	69.79

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,136	63.00	63.00
77	—	1,240	81.00–90.00	83.54
66	—	1,164	67.00–82.00	78.29

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,455	82.00	82.00
7	—	1,078	59.00–60.00	59.43
46	—	1,204	62.00–80.00	72.01

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,496	84.00–89.00	86.75
11	—	1,414	72.00–82.00	76.41

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	1,747	91.50–97.75	93.69
16	—	1,637	98.50–99.25	99.07

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,520	92.00–97.50	93.58
1	—	1,575	88.00	88.00
4	—	1,541	99.25	99.25

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.