Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-02-21

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-02-21
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-02-21

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Feb 21

● Final58 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Feb 14Feb 21Feb 28 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

315 head

▲ 121 vs last sale 194▲ 282 vs year ago 33 · +854.5%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

580 head

▲ 127 vs last sale 453▲ 366 vs year ago 214 · +171.0%

Replacement Cattle receipts

274 head

▲ 150 vs last sale 124▲ 225 vs year ago 49 · +459.2%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle offerings were were too lightly tested both this week and last to develop any market trend. Quality today was mostly plain to average. Most cattle were offered in small packages or as singles. Demand was mostly moderate despite a light, plain offering. Market activity today was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of the sale this week. Demand was mostly good to very good for light to moderate offerings. Packers continue to buy both feeding and slaughter cows. Packers showed good demand for both feeding and slaughter cows this week as they pushed to own as much of the offering as possible. Quality today was average to very attractive with several sets of high quality cows off reputation ranchers on offer. Slaughter cows sold 5.00-9.00 higher on all classes. Slaughter cow prices around the country spiked this week as supplies of cows available are very tight. Both packers and feeding buyers showed very good demand for cows to feed as the heaviest demand months for ground beef are yet to come. Feeding cows sold mostly 4.00-9.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mixed today but better than last week. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 4.00-7.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, steady to higher undertones were noticed. Demand from feeding and rebreed cow buyers continues to be good.

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 $284.82/cwt on 107 head.

Average price

$284.82

107 head · 658 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,874

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$104

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

$130.02/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−18.03

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	570	311.02	1,773	45
Large 1	525	300.00	1,575	3thin
Medium and Large 1-2	704	271.76	1,912	54
Medium and Large 2	1,037	181.00	1,877	5thin

One grade step is worth $130.02/cwt here — about −$104 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 sale107 hd

284.82

—

MT average3 barns · 1,470 hd

302.85

−18.03

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	1,845	122.15	2,254	64
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,539	114.20	1,757	65
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,378	110.29	1,519	228
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,159	102.32	1,186	207

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	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,355	$2,225	2thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,357	$2,025	11
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,411	$1,913	26
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,428	$2,250	9

Every lot

58 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 · Steers14 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	379	356.15/cwt	350.00–365.00	1,350	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	400	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,480	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	467	354.72/cwt	351.00–355.00	1,657	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	473	335.75/cwt	332.50–337.50	1,588	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	521	320.49/cwt	320.00–322.50	1,670	5
Steers	—	Large 1	525	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,575	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	573	314.00/cwt	314.00–314.00	1,799	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	609	290.41/cwt	285.00–294.00	1,769	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	673	266.00/cwt	266.00–266.00	1,790	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	675	263.00/cwt	263.00–263.00	1,775	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	720	253.97/cwt	252.00–256.00	1,829	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	979	205.78/cwt	197.50–208.00	2,015	15
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,022	191.88/cwt	190.50–194.00	1,961	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	1,037	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	1,877	5
Feeder Cattle · Heifers4 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	516	297.34/cwt	292.00–301.00	1,534	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	535	273.21/cwt	270.00–280.00	1,462	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	573	269.00/cwt	269.00–269.00	1,541	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	659	236.44/cwt	230.00–243.00	1,558	4
Feeder Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	415	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,473	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	475	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,520	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	1,086	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	2,172	7
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,158	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	2,096	4
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,155	103.00/cwt	103.00–103.00	1,190	1
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,283	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	1,591	2
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,290	101.52/cwt	97.50–106.00	1,310	2
Bulls	—	—	1,625	110.35/cwt	104.00–116.00	1,793	13
Bulls	—	—	1,888	122.79/cwt	117.00–128.50	2,318	27
Bulls	—	—	2,030	132.28/cwt	129.00–139.00	2,685	17
Bulls	—	—Heavy Weight	2,500	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	3,600	1
Bulls	—	—Heavy Weight	2,695	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	3,261	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	954	101.00/cwt	101.00–101.00	964	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,115	83.60/cwt	75.00–88.00	932	12
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,116	99.47/cwt	90.00–104.00	1,110	58
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,160	106.08/cwt	104.00–109.00	1,231	11
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,170	107.41/cwt	105.00–110.00	1,257	55
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,193	97.08/cwt	92.50–104.00	1,158	39
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,235	112.66/cwt	111.00–116.00	1,391	27
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,300	113.73/cwt	113.25–114.50	1,478	49
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,365	112.79/cwt	109.00–115.00	1,540	6
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,384	100.69/cwt	92.00–104.00	1,394	9
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,388	102.26/cwt	95.00–106.00	1,419	14
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,393	110.44/cwt	107.00–113.00	1,538	92
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,417	110.31/cwt	106.00–111.00	1,563	58
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,503	113.40/cwt	110.00–114.50	1,704	35
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,513	116.11/cwt	115.00–117.50	1,757	12
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,551	112.18/cwt	111.00–114.00	1,740	9
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,654	117.52/cwt	115.50–118.00	1,944	7
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,685	107.00/cwt	107.00–107.00	1,803	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight	2,040	121.50/cwt	121.50–121.50	2,479	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	957	157.37/cwt	114.00–175.00	1,506	9
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	958	118.95/cwt	115.50–122.50	1,140	8
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	985	180.63/cwt	151.00–217.50	1,779	69
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,024	142.58/cwt	110.00–175.00	1,460	72
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,355	2,225.00/head	2,225.00–2,225.00	2,225	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,357	2,025.00/head	2,025.00–2,025.00	2,025	11
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,392	1,926.91/head	1,925.00–1,950.00	1,927	13
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS	1,430	1,900.00/head	1,900.00–1,900.00	1,900	13
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,428	2,250.00/head	2,250.00–2,250.00	2,250	9

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 Feb 21, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 315Last week 194Year ago 33

Slaughter CattleReceipts 580Last week 453Year ago 214

Replacement CattleReceipts 274Last week 124Year ago 49

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	9	—	957	114.00–175.00	157.37
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	8	—	958	115.50–122.50	118.95

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	69	—	985	151.00–217.50	180.63
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	72	—	1,024	110.00–175.00	142.58

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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	11	—	1,357	2,025.00	2,025.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,355	2,225.00	2,225.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	13	—	1,430	1,900.00	1,900.00

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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	13	—	1,392	1,925.00–1,950.00	1,926.91

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	9	—	1,428	2,250.00	2,250.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	979	197.50–208.00	205.78
12	—	609	285.00–294.00	290.41
5	—	1,022	190.50–194.00	191.88
2	—	675	263.00	263.00
7	—	379	350.00–365.00	356.15
2	—	720	252.00–256.00	253.97
5	—	521	320.00–322.50	320.49
6	—	473	332.50–337.50	335.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	400	370.00	370.00
12	—	573	314.00	314.00
17	—	673	266.00	266.00
14	—	467	351.00–355.00	354.72

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	525	300.00	300.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,037	181.00	181.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	573	269.00	269.00
4	—	659	230.00–243.00	236.44
6	—	535	270.00–280.00	273.21

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	516	292.00–301.00	297.34

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	475	320.00	320.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,086	200.00	200.00
1	—	415	355.00	355.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,158	181.00	181.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	1,888	117.00–128.50	122.79
17	—	2,030	129.00–139.00	132.28
13	—	1,625	104.00–116.00	110.35

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,290	97.50–106.00	101.52

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,695	121.00	121.00
1	—	2,500	144.00	144.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,155	103.00	103.00
2	—	1,283	124.00	124.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
49	—	1,300	113.25–114.50	113.73
92	—	1,393	107.00–113.00	110.44
14	—	1,388	95.00–106.00	102.26

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
55	—	1,170	105.00–110.00	107.41
58	—	1,116	90.00–104.00	99.47
27	—	1,235	111.00–116.00	112.66

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
35	—	1,503	110.00–114.50	113.40
12	—	1,513	115.00–117.50	116.11

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,365	109.00–115.00	112.79
58	—	1,417	106.00–111.00	110.31
9	—	1,384	92.00–104.00	100.69

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,115	75.00–88.00	83.60
11	—	1,160	104.00–109.00	106.08
39	—	1,193	92.50–104.00	97.08

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,551	111.00–114.00	112.18
7	—	1,654	115.50–118.00	117.52
1	—	1,685	107.00	107.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	954	101.00	101.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,040	121.50	121.50

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.