Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-03-06

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 6
● Final77 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
25 head
▼ 10 vs last sale 35▼ 195 vs year ago 220 · −88.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
462 head
▲ 314 vs last sale 148▲ 58 vs year ago 404 · +14.4%
Replacement Cattle receipts
1,340 head
▲ 1,200 vs last sale 140▲ 1,231 vs year ago 109 · +1,129.4%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle offerings were were too lightly tested today to develop any market trend. Todays sale featured mostly bred cows, bred heifers and weigh ups. Feeder offerings were very light this sale. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for moderate offerings. Cow quality was average to very attractive today. Packers showed very good demand for all cows on offer as they tried to purchase as much of the offering as possible. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher on all classes in a narrow comparison. Feeding cows sold mostly 5.00-7.00 higher. Demand from private feeders was very good again this week as packers and feeding buyers were very aggressive especially over high quality, high yielding offerings. Weigh up conditions were mixed today. Most sets of pregnancy checked open cows which had been run through the chute offered buyers a weigh up in their favor. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. Young age cows were too lightly tested last week to develop a full market trend, higher undertones were noticed. Demand from feeding and rebreed cow buyers continues to be good. A heavy offering of bred cows was seen for todays calving time classic sale. Demand for bred cows was very good. Quality today was mixed from plain to attractive. Demand for Aged, broken mouth cows was very good as ranchers continue to push this class higher. The price spread between broken mouth cows and young cows was very small, partly due to the fact salvage values for broken mouth cows have improved drastically. Packers gave $1750-$2,000 per head for some weigh cows for slaughter.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 700–800 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
700–800 lb steers averaged $237.00/cwt on 2 head. That ranks 1 of 10 comparable sales and sits −148.68 against this barn's trailing median of $385.68.
Average price
$237.00
2 head · 735 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,742
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
—
single grade reported
vs the market
−22.25
vs MT average
−23.10 vs national

Price by quality 700–800 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 2735237.001,7422thin
Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

How it compared 700–800 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale2 hd
237.00
—
MT average2 barns · 28 hd
259.25
−22.25
National average150 barns · 15,903 hd
260.10
−23.10
This barn, trailing median10 sales
385.68
−148.68
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

This barn's trailing prices 700–800 lb

10 sales
420387354321median 385.6803/1804/2206/2409/1610/21
Steers 700–800 lb: high $406.45, low $334.59, median $385.68 across 10 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

Slaughter cattle

By class and quality grade · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Bulls—High1,688119.012,00921
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,494122.381,82993
CowsPremium White 65-75%Low1,640117.501,92714
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,352117.171,584117
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,157104.821,21381
Dairy CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,985109.002,1644thin
Dairy CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,324100.001,3244thin

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 $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,208$2,522120
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,374$2,5007
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,294$2,48563
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,315$2,47777
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,187$2,4683thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,350$2,4501thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,346$2,43828
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,446$2,389146
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,333$2,38315
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,104$2,3006
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,399$2,145185
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,343$1,97837
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,314$1,8254thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,087$2,780351
Bred Heifers2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,008$2,20810
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)(<2 yrs)837$1,75010
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,510$2,7501thin

Every lot

77 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.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Feeder Cattle · Steers3 lots · lightest first
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2385370.00/cwt370.00–370.001,4252
Steers700–750Medium and Large 2735237.00/cwt237.00–237.001,7422
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2985208.00/cwt208.00–208.002,0494
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1780239.00/cwt239.00–239.001,8641
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 11,023208.00/cwt208.00–208.002,1282
Bulls1200–1250Large 11,205155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,8681
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,10596.00/cwt96.00–96.001,0611
Bulls——1,573113.23/cwt104.00–118.001,7819
Bulls——1,792123.58/cwt120.00–131.002,2159
Bulls——2,033136.00/cwt136.00–136.002,7652
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight93692.38/cwt89.00–100.008659
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight950101.00/cwt101.00–101.009601
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,05087.04/cwt86.00–88.009142
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,158103.35/cwt99.50–106.001,1975
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,177119.42/cwt118.50–121.001,4066
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,179111.61/cwt107.00–116.001,31624
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,19899.55/cwt92.00–105.501,19326
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,246110.48/cwt107.00–114.001,3778
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,330116.37/cwt110.00–120.001,54874
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,363121.43/cwt119.00–124.501,65528
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,384105.70/cwt102.00–108.001,4634
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,440107.00/cwt107.00–107.001,5411
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,450113.31/cwt109.00–116.001,6435
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,455122.82/cwt119.00–126.001,78730
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,471120.27/cwt118.00–124.001,7695
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,504123.41/cwt122.25–124.501,85656
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,579109.64/cwt109.00–110.001,7315
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,608119.00/cwt119.00–119.001,9142
Cows—Premium White 65-75%1,640117.50/cwt114.00–120.001,92714
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows2 lots · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Boner 80-85%1,324100.00/cwt100.00–100.001,3244
Dairy Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,985109.00/cwt109.00–109.002,1644
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1739216.58/cwt216.00–225.001,60116
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed795155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,2322
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed882189.00/cwt189.00–189.001,66710
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1907196.14/cwt160.00–216.501,77955
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,037147.85/cwt130.00–182.501,5334
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,073145.56/cwt121.00–177.501,56222
Stock Cows—Medium 11,098145.00/cwt145.00–145.001,5922
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,254117.82/cwt117.50–120.001,47712
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows30 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium 11,0202,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4003
Bred Cows—Large 1Thin Fleshed1,0942,350.00/head2,350.00–2,350.002,35011
Bred Cows—Medium 11,1042,300.00/head2,300.00–2,300.002,3006
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1872,467.98/head2,400.00–2,500.002,4683
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1892,337.16/head2,225.00–2,425.002,33726
Bred Cows—Large 1Thin Fleshed1,2031,850.00/head1,850.00–1,850.001,8505
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2162,581.14/head2,500.00–2,800.002,58189
Bred Cows—Large 1Thin Fleshed1,2361,850.00/head1,850.00–1,850.001,8507
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2451,800.00/head1,800.00–1,800.001,8003
Bred Cows—Large 11,2482,463.70/head2,350.00–2,485.002,46428
Bred Cows—Large 11,2492,376.39/head2,350.00–2,400.002,37625
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2902,250.00/head2,250.00–2,250.002,2507
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,3042,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,10025
Bred Cows—Large 1Broken Mouth1,3201,947.50/head1,900.00–2,000.001,94826
Bred Cows—Large 1Broken Mouth1,3221,950.00/head1,950.00–1,950.001,9509
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3232,556.94/head2,400.00–2,650.002,55738
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3252,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1002
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3352,027.71/head1,900.00–2,100.002,02825
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3462,437.80/head2,200.00–2,475.002,43828
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3502,450.00/head2,450.00–2,450.002,4501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3712,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5008
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3742,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5007
Bred Cows—Large 11,3802,334.84/head2,250.00–2,425.002,33526
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3882,032.62/head1,850.00–2,100.002,03321
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS1,3932,450.00/head2,450.00–2,450.002,4502
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3962,179.12/head2,050.00–2,300.002,1796
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4352,588.93/head2,550.00–2,625.002,58932
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4632,405.84/head2,225.00–2,550.002,406118
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4672,246.97/head2,200.00–2,300.002,247104
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5201,900.00/head1,900.00–1,900.001,9001
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers7 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium 18371,750.00/head1,750.00–1,750.001,75010
Bred Heifers—Medium 18922,394.49/head2,250.00–2,600.002,39439
Bred Heifers—Medium 19552,125.00/head2,125.00–2,125.002,1257
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed9932,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0002
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 1-21,0682,368.53/head2,300.00–2,600.002,3695
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,1132,841.15/head2,675.00–2,985.002,841305
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,1322,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4003
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5102,750.00/head2,750.00–2,750.002,7501

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.