Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-03-13

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-03-13
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-03-13

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

● Final83 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Mar 6Mar 13Mar 20 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

333 head

▲ 308 vs last sale 25▼ 62 vs year ago 395 · −15.7%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

390 head

▼ 72 vs last sale 462▲ 58 vs year ago 332 · +17.5%

Replacement Cattle receipts

169 head

▼ 1,171 vs last sale 1,340▼ 21 vs year ago 190 · −11.1%

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 last week to develop any market trend. Demand for feeders was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. Quality today was plain to average. Most calves were offered in small packages or as singles. Demand for light weight calves was mostly good as many on these offerings can be purchased and fed to fit a differed contract. Demand for cattle suitable to run on grass was very good. Market activity today was mostly active despite a small buyer pool. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Cow quality was average to very attractive today. Packers showed good demand for all cows on offer this week, however demand for cows was lighter than last week. Packers passed on several sets of feeding cows as they sold to private feeders this week. Demand from feeding buyers was very good. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold mostly 1.00 to 3.00 higher. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average today. Several sets of cows were sold late in the sale straight off the truck and these offered buyer very good weigh conditions. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00-3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Several very attractive high yielding bulls were seen this sale. Young age cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady 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 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $336.94/cwt on 12 head. That ranks 1 of 10 comparable sales and sits −117.98 against this barn's trailing median of $454.92.

Average price

$336.94

12 head · 529 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,782

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$84

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

$23.93/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−3.42

vs MT average

+20.87 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	527	340.93	1,796	10thin
Medium and Large 1-2	540	317.00	1,712	2thin

One grade step is worth $23.93/cwt here — about $84 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 600–700 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale12 hd

336.94

—

MT average3 barns · 370 hd

340.37

−3.42

National average167 barns · 13,796 hd

316.07

+20.87

This barn, trailing median10 sales

454.92

−117.98

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 500–600 lb

10 sales

Steers 500–600 lb: high $510.69, low $392.59, median $454.92 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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	High	1,865	123.40	2,301	22
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,625	122.57	1,992	30
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,403	120.24	1,686	88
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,126	113.66	1,280	217

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)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,455	$2,435	19
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,490	$2,300	14
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,230	$1,878	17
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,266	$1,819	19
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,568	$2,450	3thin

Every lot

83 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	350–400	Medium and Large 1	373	379.00/cwt	379.00–379.00	1,414	2
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	381	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	1,391	7
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	422	340.59/cwt	337.50–362.50	1,437	16
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	423	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	1,586	2
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	485	354.00/cwt	354.00–354.00	1,717	4
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	488	337.50/cwt	337.50–337.50	1,647	5
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	511	345.17/cwt	340.00–350.00	1,764	8
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	540	317.00/cwt	317.00–317.00	1,712	2
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	590	323.97/cwt	320.00–328.00	1,911	2
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	628	311.33/cwt	305.00–319.00	1,955	12
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 2	631	253.00/cwt	253.00–253.00	1,596	4
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	658	277.00/cwt	277.00–277.00	1,823	2
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 2	665	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,629	1
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	689	284.45/cwt	281.00–310.00	1,960	8
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 2	745	244.00/cwt	244.00–244.00	1,818	2
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	758	259.00/cwt	259.00–259.00	1,963	9
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	788	242.00/cwt	240.00–243.00	1,907	3
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	813	240.82/cwt	240.00–249.00	1,958	22
Steers	900–950	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	905	219.00/cwt	219.00–219.00	1,982	15
Steers	1050–1100	Medium and Large 1	1,053	209.00/cwt	209.00–209.00	2,201	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers14 lots · lightest first
Heifers	250–300	Medium 1-2	294	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	970	5
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 2	366	282.00/cwt	282.00–282.00	1,032	4
Heifers	350–400	Medium 1	398	302.50/cwt	302.50–302.50	1,204	5
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	410	312.00/cwt	312.00–312.00	1,279	8
Heifers	400–450	Medium 1-2	413	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,094	2
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 2	418	297.00/cwt	297.00–297.00	1,241	9
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	477	317.29/cwt	310.00–319.00	1,513	13
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	495	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,510	1
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	516	300.13/cwt	300.00–300.50	1,549	4
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	535	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	1,578	3
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	567	269.91/cwt	267.50–272.00	1,530	12
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	578	277.00/cwt	277.00–277.00	1,601	3
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	625	267.14/cwt	265.00–272.50	1,670	7
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	675	259.90/cwt	251.00–266.00	1,754	17
Feeder Cattle · Bulls13 lots · lightest first
Bulls	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	317	361.58/cwt	360.00–365.00	1,146	6
Bulls	400–450	Medium and Large 1	418	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,484	6
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	502	297.50/cwt	297.50–297.50	1,493	3
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	575	277.50/cwt	277.50–277.50	1,596	2
Bulls	650–700	Medium and Large 1	690	274.00/cwt	274.00–274.00	1,891	2
Bulls	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	692	257.00/cwt	257.00–257.00	1,778	3
Bulls	700–750	Medium and Large 1	718	258.00/cwt	258.00–258.00	1,852	2
Bulls	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	763	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,717	2
Bulls	750–800	Medium and Large 1	767	242.87/cwt	240.00–245.00	1,863	14
Bulls	800–850	Medium and Large 1-2	835	223.00/cwt	223.00–223.00	1,862	1
Bulls	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	988	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	2,075	2
Bulls	1100–1150	Large 1	1,100	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	2,255	2
Bulls	1200–1250	Large 1	1,223	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	2,152	3
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	880	107.50/cwt	107.50–107.50	946	1
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,705	108.15/cwt	105.00–118.00	1,844	3
Bulls	—	—	1,739	117.99/cwt	110.00–122.00	2,052	6
Bulls	—	—	1,809	126.99/cwt	123.00–131.00	2,297	8
Bulls	—	—	2,360	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	3,351	1
Bulls	—	—Heavy Weight	2,587	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	3,596	3
Slaughter Cattle · Cows20 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	895	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	1,029	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	964	99.26/cwt	90.00–105.00	957	13
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,064	98.03/cwt	90.00–105.50	1,043	25
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,070	101.81/cwt	98.00–106.00	1,089	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,098	73.95/cwt	70.00–78.00	812	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,130	116.16/cwt	111.50–118.50	1,313	102
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,160	118.51/cwt	118.00–119.00	1,375	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,169	120.67/cwt	119.00–128.00	1,411	59
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,224	113.80/cwt	112.00–115.00	1,393	11
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,390	118.80/cwt	114.50–119.50	1,651	11
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,391	123.84/cwt	123.00–126.00	1,723	12
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,395	106.97/cwt	106.00–108.00	1,492	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,399	120.23/cwt	116.00–122.50	1,682	58
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,468	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	1,835	6
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,474	123.84/cwt	123.00–124.00	1,825	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,529	123.60/cwt	122.00–125.00	1,890	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,736	118.75/cwt	117.00–122.00	2,062	7
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,741	124.50/cwt	124.50–124.50	2,168	8
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,760	116.00/cwt	116.00–116.00	2,042	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,780	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	2,083	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	877	171.90/cwt	170.00–172.50	1,508	4
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	940	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,260	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,035	180.61/cwt	171.00–185.00	1,869	17
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,126	147.24/cwt	123.00–180.00	1,658	34
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS	1,568	2,450.00/head	2,450.00–2,450.00	2,450	3
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,152	1,750.00/head	1,750.00–1,750.00	1,750	8
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,266	1,818.75/head	1,775.00–2,025.00	1,819	19
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,300	1,992.10/head	1,900.00–2,100.00	1,992	9
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,455	2,435.00/head	2,435.00–2,435.00	2,435	19
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,490	2,300.00/head	2,300.00–2,300.00	2,300	14

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 Mar 13, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 333Last week 25Year ago 395

Slaughter CattleReceipts 390Last week 462Year ago 332

Replacement CattleReceipts 169Last week 1,340Year ago 190

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,741	124.50	124.50
7	—	1,736	117.00–122.00	118.75
1	—	1,760	116.00	116.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,224	112.00–115.00	113.80
2	—	1,098	70.00–78.00	73.95
25	—	1,064	90.00–105.50	98.03
2	—	1,160	118.00–119.00	118.51

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
102	—	1,130	111.50–118.50	116.16
2	—	1,070	98.00–106.00	101.81
59	—	1,169	119.00–128.00	120.67

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,468	125.00	125.00
7	—	1,474	123.00–124.00	123.84
1	—	1,780	117.00	117.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,391	123.00–126.00	123.84
58	—	1,399	116.00–122.50	120.23

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	964	90.00–105.00	99.26
1	—	895	115.00	115.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,395	106.00–108.00	106.97
4	—	1,529	122.00–125.00	123.60
11	—	1,390	114.50–119.50	118.80

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	2,587	139.00	139.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,739	110.00–122.00	117.99
1	—	2,360	142.00	142.00
8	—	1,809	123.00–131.00	126.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,705	105.00–118.00	108.15

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	880	107.50	107.50

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
13	450–500	477	310.00–319.00	317.29
4	500–550	516	300.00–300.50	300.13
3	550–600	578	277.00	277.00
7	600–650	625	265.00–272.50	267.14
17	650–700	675	251.00–266.00	259.90

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	400–450	410	312.00	312.00
1	450–500	495	305.00	305.00
3	500–550	535	295.00	295.00
12	550–600	567	267.50–272.00	269.91

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	250–300	294	330.00	330.00
2	400–450	413	265.00	265.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	350–400	366	282.00	282.00
9	400–450	418	297.00	297.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	350–400	398	302.50	302.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	373	379.00	379.00
2	400–450	423	375.00	375.00
4	450–500	485	354.00	354.00
8	500–550	511	340.00–350.00	345.17
2	550–600	590	320.00–328.00	323.97
12	600–650	628	305.00–319.00	311.33
8	650–700	689	281.00–310.00	284.45
9	750–800	758	259.00	259.00
22	800–850	813	240.00–249.00	240.82
2	1050–1100	1,053	209.00	209.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	350–400	381	365.00	365.00
16	400–450	422	337.50–362.50	340.59
5	450–500	488	337.50	337.50
2	500–550	540	317.00	317.00
2	650–700	658	277.00	277.00
3	750–800	788	240.00–243.00	242.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	600–650	631	253.00	253.00
1	650–700	665	245.00	245.00
2	700–750	745	244.00	244.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
15	900–950	905	219.00	219.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	400–450	418	355.00	355.00
2	650–700	690	274.00	274.00
2	700–750	718	258.00	258.00
14	750–800	767	240.00–245.00	242.87
2	950–1000	988	210.00	210.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	300–350	317	360.00–365.00	361.58
3	500–550	502	297.50	297.50
2	550–600	575	277.50	277.50
3	650–700	692	257.00	257.00
2	750–800	763	225.00	225.00
1	800–850	835	223.00	223.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	1100–1150	1,100	205.00	205.00
3	1200–1250	1,223	176.00	176.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	17	—	1,035	171.00–185.00	180.61
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	34	—	1,126	123.00–180.00	147.24

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	4	—	877	170.00–172.50	171.90

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	940	134.00	134.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,568	2,450.00	2,450.00

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/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	19	—	1,266	1,775.00–2,025.00	1,818.75
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	9	—	1,300	1,900.00–2,100.00	1,992.10

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	8	—	1,152	1,750.00	1,750.00

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/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	19	—	1,455	2,435.00	2,435.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	14	—	1,490	2,300.00	2,300.00

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.