Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-01-24

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-01-24
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-01-24

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jan 24

● Final73 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Jan 17Jan 24Jan 31 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

204 head

▲ 158 vs last sale 46▼ 171 vs year ago 375 · −45.6%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

1,034 head

▲ 872 vs last sale 162▲ 815 vs year ago 219 · +372.1%

Replacement Cattle receipts

414 head

▲ 356 vs last sale 58▲ 359 vs year ago 55 · +652.7%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle offerings were limited today as todays sale featured bred cows and weigh ups. Quality was plain to average. Demand was light to moderate as quality hampered demand. Offerings were light. Market activity was slow. Weigh up cows comprised most of the sale this week. Packers remain short bought and were aggressive as they tried to buy cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher on breaking and boning cows; lean cows sold 3.00-5.00 higher. Packers showed good demand for high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white as they continue to put cows away on feed. Both private feeders and packers were very aggressive as they bid on very high quality cows. Cow quality today was mostly attractive to very attractive. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were average to above average in the morning as many sets of open cows were preg checked through the chute. Afternoon weigh conditions moderated slightly. Slaughter bulls were not well compared as last week saw very light volume, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows sold mostly steady in a narrow comparison. Quality was mostly average to attractive today. Bred cow quality was mostly average today. Demand for bred cows was moderate.

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 $243.32/cwt on 83 head.

Average price

$243.32

83 head · 756 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,839

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$328

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

$64.91/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−43.67

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	543	294.69	1,599	16thin
Medium 1	580	263.00	1,525	1thin
Large 1	650	235.00	1,528	10thin
Medium and Large 1	839	229.78	1,927	56

One grade step is worth $64.91/cwt here — about −$328 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 sale83 hd

243.32

—

MT average4 barns · 1,493 hd

286.99

−43.67

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	1,764	112.94	1,992	64
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	Low	1,621	102.48	1,661	25
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,544	102.01	1,575	84
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,397	98.02	1,369	257
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,169	92.12	1,077	380

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)	1,247	$2,000	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,428	$1,846	12
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,109	$1,741	22
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,442	$1,646	19
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,418	$1,487	20
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,310	$1,475	1thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	974	$1,348	11
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	583	$425	3thin

Every lot

73 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 · Steers8 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	442	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	1,437	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	536	297.00/cwt	297.00–297.00	1,592	7
Steers	—	Medium 1	580	263.00/cwt	263.00–263.00	1,525	1
Steers	—	Large 1	650	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,528	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	679	255.51/cwt	255.00–259.00	1,735	15
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	760	228.70/cwt	225.00–231.00	1,738	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	838	227.00/cwt	227.00–227.00	1,902	24
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	981	211.00/cwt	211.00–211.00	2,070	17
Feeder Cattle · Heifers10 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	484	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,283	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	523	272.50/cwt	272.50–272.50	1,425	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	569	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,536	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	584	260.80/cwt	260.00–261.00	1,523	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	665	249.00/cwt	249.00–249.00	1,656	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	667	226.00/cwt	226.00–226.00	1,507	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	764	219.00/cwt	219.00–219.00	1,673	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	900	209.00/cwt	209.00–209.00	1,881	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	996	189.50/cwt	189.50–189.50	1,887	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,032	185.66/cwt	185.00–186.00	1,916	6
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	640	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,568	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	738	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	1,513	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	938	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	1,829	2
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,140	92.00/cwt	92.00–92.00	1,049	1
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,375	102.76/cwt	101.50–106.00	1,413	6
Bulls	—	—	1,734	97.49/cwt	90.00–111.00	1,690	11
Bulls	—	—	1,809	114.84/cwt	111.00–120.00	2,077	19
Bulls	—	—	1,824	116.74/cwt	115.00–118.00	2,129	13
Bulls	—	—	1,861	125.62/cwt	122.00–129.00	2,338	12
Bulls	—	—	2,013	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	2,416	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows26 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	900	59.99/cwt	55.00–62.50	540	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	913	78.67/cwt	75.00–86.00	718	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	915	92.95/cwt	91.00–95.00	850	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Light Weight	940	97.00/cwt	97.00–97.00	912	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,051	90.15/cwt	87.50–91.00	947	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,127	72.29/cwt	65.00–78.00	815	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,138	86.74/cwt	80.00–90.50	987	90
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,165	92.85/cwt	90.00–97.00	1,082	141
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,206	103.14/cwt	100.00–106.00	1,244	23
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,218	102.04/cwt	101.00–103.00	1,243	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,231	95.72/cwt	92.00–99.50	1,178	100
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,385	97.61/cwt	94.50–102.50	1,352	52
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,386	98.38/cwt	93.50–103.00	1,364	129
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,404	92.63/cwt	92.50–93.00	1,301	8
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,417	91.49/cwt	85.00–93.50	1,296	30
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,443	103.89/cwt	103.50–104.50	1,499	27
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,454	103.73/cwt	103.00–105.00	1,508	10
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,502	106.20/cwt	104.50–107.50	1,595	17
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,504	103.76/cwt	103.50–104.00	1,561	13
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,536	105.86/cwt	104.50–106.00	1,626	17
Cows	—	Premium White 65-75%	1,537	103.50/cwt	103.50–103.50	1,591	13
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,543	95.26/cwt	94.00–100.00	1,470	12
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,575	92.92/cwt	88.00–96.50	1,463	7
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,579	101.44/cwt	99.00–103.00	1,602	17
Cows	—	Premium White 65-75%	1,712	101.37/cwt	100.00–101.50	1,735	12
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight	2,085	97.00/cwt	97.00–97.00	2,022	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Small 3	601	45.06/cwt	38.00–49.00	271	158
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	956	100.18/cwt	95.00–105.00	958	10
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,014	152.38/cwt	110.00–188.00	1,545	65
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,065	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	1,289	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,114	105.55/cwt	101.00–117.50	1,176	41
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows14 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Small 3	583	425.00/head	425.00–425.00	425	3
Bred Cows	—	Small 3Non-Legible BANGS	650	435.00/head	435.00–435.00	435	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium 1	971	1,375.00/head	1,375.00–1,375.00	1,375	7
Bred Cows	—	Medium 1-2	979	1,300.00/head	1,300.00–1,300.00	1,300	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,099	2,100.00/head	2,100.00–2,100.00	2,100	9
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,247	2,000.00/head	2,000.00–2,000.00	2,000	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,256	1,809.54/head	1,550.00–1,900.00	1,810	10
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,310	1,475.00/head	1,475.00–1,475.00	1,475	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,350	1,575.00/head	1,575.00–1,575.00	1,575	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,370	1,425.00/head	1,425.00–1,425.00	1,425	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,394	1,450.00/head	1,450.00–1,450.00	1,450	8
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,434	1,512.44/head	1,500.00–1,525.00	1,512	12
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,444	1,900.00/head	1,900.00–1,900.00	1,900	10
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,450	1,672.40/head	1,600.00–1,700.00	1,672	17

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 Jan 24, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 204Last week 46Year ago 375

Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,034Last week 162Year ago 219

Replacement CattleReceipts 414Last week 58Year ago 55

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
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	10	—	956	95.00–105.00	100.18
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,065	121.00	121.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	65	—	1,014	110.00–188.00	152.38
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	41	—	1,114	101.00–117.50	105.55

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Small 3$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	158	—	601	38.00–49.00	45.06

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	2	—	1,370	1,425.00	1,425.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	10	—	1,256	1,550.00–1,900.00	1,809.54
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	2	—	1,350	1,575.00	1,575.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	8	—	1,394	1,450.00	1,450.00

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)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	9	—	1,099	2,100.00	2,100.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	17	—	1,450	1,600.00–1,700.00	1,672.40
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,247	2,000.00	2,000.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	10	—	1,444	1,900.00	1,900.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Small 3$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	583	425.00	425.00

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)	1	—	1,310	1,475.00	1,475.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	12	—	1,434	1,500.00–1,525.00	1,512.44

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Small 3 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	3	—	650	435.00	435.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	7	—	971	1,375.00	1,375.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	4	—	979	1,300.00	1,300.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	523	272.50	272.50
6	—	1,032	185.00–186.00	185.66
15	—	584	260.00–261.00	260.80
7	—	996	189.50	189.50
3	—	667	226.00	226.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	665	249.00	249.00
6	—	569	270.00	270.00
2	—	900	209.00	209.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	484	265.00	265.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	764	219.00	219.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	442	325.00	325.00
3	—	760	225.00–231.00	228.70
7	—	536	297.00	297.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	650	235.00	235.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	679	255.00–259.00	255.51

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	981	211.00	211.00
24	—	838	227.00	227.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	580	263.00	263.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	738	205.00	205.00
2	—	938	195.00	195.00
1	—	640	245.00	245.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,543	94.00–100.00	95.26
13	—	1,504	103.50–104.00	103.76
17	—	1,536	104.50–106.00	105.86

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
52	—	1,385	94.50–102.50	97.61
10	—	1,454	103.00–105.00	103.73
30	—	1,417	85.00–93.50	91.49

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,712	100.00–101.50	101.37
13	—	1,537	103.50	103.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
90	—	1,138	80.00–90.50	86.74
4	—	1,218	101.00–103.00	102.04
141	—	1,165	90.00–97.00	92.85
5	—	1,127	65.00–78.00	72.29

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	1,443	103.50–104.50	103.89
8	—	1,404	92.50–93.00	92.63
129	—	1,386	93.50–103.00	98.38

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	915	91.00–95.00	92.95
3	—	900	55.00–62.50	59.99
5	—	913	75.00–86.00	78.67

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,085	97.00	97.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,575	88.00–96.50	92.92
17	—	1,502	104.50–107.50	106.20
17	—	1,579	99.00–103.00	101.44

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	940	97.00	97.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,051	87.50–91.00	90.15
23	—	1,206	100.00–106.00	103.14
100	—	1,231	92.00–99.50	95.72

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,824	115.00–118.00	116.74
12	—	1,861	122.00–129.00	125.62
19	—	1,809	111.00–120.00	114.84
11	—	1,734	90.00–111.00	97.49
2	—	2,013	120.00	120.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,375	101.50–106.00	102.76

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,140	92.00	92.00

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.