Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-03-20

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-03-20
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-03-20

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 20

● Final98 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Mar 13Mar 20Mar 27 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

2,440 head

▲ 2,107 vs last sale 333▲ 1,694 vs year ago 746 · +227.1%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

559 head

▲ 169 vs last sale 390▲ 103 vs year ago 456 · +22.6%

Replacement Cattle receipts

99 head

▼ 70 vs last sale 169▼ 149 vs year ago 248 · −60.1%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle sold mostly 5.00 to 10.00 higher. Demand for feeders was good. Quality today was mostly average. Most calves were offered in small packages or as singles. Demand for cattle suitable to run on grass was very good. Market activity today was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for moderate offerings. Cow quality was average to very attractive today. Packers showed good demand for all cows on offer this 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 3.00 to 7.00 higher on breaking and boning cows, and lean cows sold mostly steady. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average today. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00-7.00 higher with several very attractive high yielding bulls. 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

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $284.83/cwt on 170 head. That ranks 1 of 19 comparable sales and sits −110.63 against this barn's trailing median of $395.45.

Average price

$284.83

170 head · 561 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,599

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$330

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

$43.96/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−10.95

vs MT average

+7.61 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	567	293.50	1,665	92
Medium and Large 1-2	556	276.69	1,537	72
Medium and Large 2	535	249.53	1,335	6thin

One grade step is worth $43.96/cwt here — about $330 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 700–800 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 sale170 hd

284.83

—

MT average3 barns · 697 hd

295.78

−10.95

National average179 barns · 15,589 hd

277.22

+7.61

This barn, trailing median19 sales

395.45

−110.63

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

19 sales

Heifers 500–600 lb: high $464.07, low $347.53, median $395.45 across 19 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	—	Low	1,788	132.35	2,367	15
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,459	128.03	1,868	79
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,185	127.60	1,513	321
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,141	116.33	1,327	93
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,443	110.00	1,587	9thin

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)	1,148	$2,400	2thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,233	$1,988	9
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,098	$1,665	14
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,413	$2,398	6

Every lot

98 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 · Steers31 lots · lightest first
Steers	250–300	Medium and Large 1	295	395.00/cwt	395.00–395.00	1,165	1
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1	313	394.88/cwt	385.00–400.00	1,236	4
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 2	340	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,156	1
Steers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	345	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	1,294	1
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1	386	380.42/cwt	380.00–385.00	1,468	11
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	400	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,400	1
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 2	415	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	1,349	3
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	428	367.08/cwt	365.00–375.00	1,571	75
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 2	462	318.06/cwt	315.00–320.00	1,469	8
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	477	359.87/cwt	350.00–367.50	1,717	51
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	488	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,659	2
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	522	351.52/cwt	340.00–357.50	1,835	86
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	530	330.92/cwt	327.50–336.00	1,754	21
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 2	545	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	1,717	1
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	562	326.23/cwt	324.00–327.00	1,833	38
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	567	341.25/cwt	327.00–347.00	1,935	85
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 2	567	307.38/cwt	302.50–310.00	1,743	9
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 2	621	276.46/cwt	265.00–280.00	1,717	11
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	624	316.01/cwt	301.00–321.00	1,972	80
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	624	292.43/cwt	288.50–307.00	1,825	27
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	676	287.34/cwt	285.00–307.00	1,942	20
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 2	679	224.41/cwt	222.00–235.00	1,524	17
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	680	273.54/cwt	265.00–282.00	1,860	49
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	722	274.48/cwt	270.00–281.00	1,982	42
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	736	249.95/cwt	249.00–251.00	1,840	19
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	760	264.07/cwt	250.00–268.00	2,007	40
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 2	789	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	1,681	37
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 2	800	194.00/cwt	194.00–194.00	1,552	1
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	808	241.31/cwt	239.00–244.00	1,950	13
Steers	900–950	Medium and Large 1	917	231.36/cwt	222.50–236.00	2,122	3
Steers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	980	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	2,087	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers33 lots · lightest first
Heifers	250–300	Medium and Large 2	289	329.18/cwt	325.00–330.00	951	6
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 2	337	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	1,045	3
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1	379	325.22/cwt	315.00–328.00	1,233	17
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 2	388	293.39/cwt	290.00–300.00	1,138	3
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	426	320.88/cwt	315.00–330.00	1,367	20
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	428	305.12/cwt	292.50–312.50	1,306	13
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 2	473	272.50/cwt	272.50–272.50	1,289	9
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	476	318.97/cwt	310.00–322.50	1,518	41
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	489	303.25/cwt	295.00–306.00	1,483	31
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 2	527	250.44/cwt	240.00–255.00	1,320	5
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	528	295.67/cwt	288.00–310.00	1,561	24
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	534	287.06/cwt	267.50–292.00	1,533	25
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	567	271.18/cwt	251.00–278.00	1,538	47
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Fancy	568	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,818	3
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 2	575	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,409	1
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	582	291.47/cwt	280.00–294.00	1,696	65
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	621	263.62/cwt	246.00–269.00	1,637	37
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 2	622	229.41/cwt	223.00–240.00	1,427	7
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	627	280.49/cwt	270.00–285.50	1,759	76
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 2	672	219.85/cwt	205.00–227.50	1,477	3
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	674	260.64/cwt	255.00–273.00	1,757	119
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	674	245.63/cwt	235.00–250.00	1,656	24
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 2	711	197.41/cwt	196.00–210.00	1,404	10
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	724	249.38/cwt	241.00–258.00	1,806	36
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	736	237.26/cwt	232.00–238.00	1,746	72
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	767	236.77/cwt	236.00–241.00	1,816	23
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 2	781	196.89/cwt	185.00–200.00	1,538	7
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	785	223.49/cwt	215.00–229.00	1,754	5
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1-2	815	192.06/cwt	190.00–200.00	1,565	10
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	819	224.88/cwt	223.00–228.00	1,842	13
Heifers	850–900	Medium and Large 1	883	222.00/cwt	222.00–222.00	1,960	2
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 2	900	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	1,710	2
Heifers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	983	207.00/cwt	207.00–207.00	2,035	2
Feeder Cattle · Bulls9 lots · lightest first
Bulls	400–450	Medium and Large 1	411	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,480	6
Bulls	450–500	Medium and Large 1	450	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,440	1
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 1	525	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	1,654	1
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 2	525	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,391	1
Bulls	600–650	Medium and Large 1	612	288.53/cwt	287.00–290.00	1,766	4
Bulls	700–750	Medium and Large 2	720	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,548	1
Bulls	850–900	Medium and Large 1	892	221.00/cwt	221.00–221.00	1,971	6
Bulls	900–950	Medium and Large 1	934	217.84/cwt	213.00–221.00	2,035	5
Bulls	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	992	214.79/cwt	201.00–217.00	2,131	7
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,533	118.17/cwt	112.00–121.00	1,812	6
Bulls	—	—	1,918	143.92/cwt	140.00–149.00	2,760	7
Bulls	—	—	2,100	134.39/cwt	133.00–136.00	2,822	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,030	92.24/cwt	90.00–99.00	950	21
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,045	109.00/cwt	109.00–109.00	1,139	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,059	128.88/cwt	116.00–129.50	1,365	83
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,091	128.26/cwt	125.50–132.00	1,399	10
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,122	130.89/cwt	128.50–138.00	1,469	104
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,138	108.74/cwt	101.00–112.00	1,237	8
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,174	125.63/cwt	120.00–128.00	1,475	56
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,224	123.97/cwt	119.00–125.50	1,517	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,275	110.62/cwt	110.00–111.00	1,410	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,295	124.45/cwt	121.00–127.00	1,612	63
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,373	124.08/cwt	120.00–127.50	1,704	58
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,393	124.15/cwt	121.50–128.00	1,729	15
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,429	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	1,872	27
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,464	125.97/cwt	123.00–127.00	1,844	25
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,597	130.51/cwt	128.50–133.00	2,084	12
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,443	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	1,587	9
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,098	1,664.67/head	1,400.00–1,750.00	1,665	14
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,148	2,400.00/head	2,400.00–2,400.00	2,400	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,233	1,988.38/head	1,700.00–2,100.00	1,988	9
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,413	2,397.85/head	2,375.00–2,500.00	2,398	6
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows2 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	887	169.99/cwt	143.00–205.00	1,508	13
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,042	160.06/cwt	142.50–185.00	1,668	39

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 20, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 2,440Last week 333Year ago 746

Slaughter CattleReceipts 559Last week 390Year ago 456

Replacement CattleReceipts 99Last week 169Year ago 248

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
17	350–400	379	315.00–328.00	325.22
20	400–450	426	315.00–330.00	320.88
41	450–500	476	310.00–322.50	318.97
24	500–550	528	288.00–310.00	295.67
65	550–600	582	280.00–294.00	291.47
76	600–650	627	270.00–285.50	280.49
119	650–700	674	255.00–273.00	260.64
36	700–750	724	241.00–258.00	249.38
23	750–800	767	236.00–241.00	236.77
13	800–850	819	223.00–228.00	224.88
2	850–900	883	222.00	222.00
2	950–1000	983	207.00	207.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
13	400–450	428	292.50–312.50	305.12
31	450–500	489	295.00–306.00	303.25
25	500–550	534	267.50–292.00	287.06
47	550–600	567	251.00–278.00	271.18
37	600–650	621	246.00–269.00	263.62
24	650–700	674	235.00–250.00	245.63
72	700–750	736	232.00–238.00	237.26
5	750–800	785	215.00–229.00	223.49
10	800–850	815	190.00–200.00	192.06

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	250–300	289	325.00–330.00	329.18
3	300–350	337	310.00	310.00
3	350–400	388	290.00–300.00	293.39
9	450–500	473	272.50	272.50
5	500–550	527	240.00–255.00	250.44
1	550–600	575	245.00	245.00
7	600–650	622	223.00–240.00	229.41
3	650–700	672	205.00–227.50	219.85
10	700–750	711	196.00–210.00	197.41
7	750–800	781	185.00–200.00	196.89
2	900–950	900	190.00	190.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
3	550–600	568	320.00	320.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	345	375.00	375.00
1	400–450	400	350.00	350.00
2	450–500	488	340.00	340.00
21	500–550	530	327.50–336.00	330.92
38	550–600	562	324.00–327.00	326.23
27	600–650	624	288.50–307.00	292.43
49	650–700	680	265.00–282.00	273.54
19	700–750	736	249.00–251.00	249.95

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	300–350	340	340.00	340.00
3	400–450	415	325.00	325.00
8	450–500	462	315.00–320.00	318.06
1	500–550	545	315.00	315.00
9	550–600	567	302.50–310.00	307.38
11	600–650	621	265.00–280.00	276.46
17	650–700	679	222.00–235.00	224.41
37	750–800	789	213.00	213.00
1	800–850	800	194.00	194.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	250–300	295	395.00	395.00
4	300–350	313	385.00–400.00	394.88
11	350–400	386	380.00–385.00	380.42
75	400–450	428	365.00–375.00	367.08
51	450–500	477	350.00–367.50	359.87
86	500–550	522	340.00–357.50	351.52
85	550–600	567	327.00–347.00	341.25
80	600–650	624	301.00–321.00	316.01
20	650–700	676	285.00–307.00	287.34
42	700–750	722	270.00–281.00	274.48
40	750–800	760	250.00–268.00	264.07
13	800–850	808	239.00–244.00	241.31
3	900–950	917	222.50–236.00	231.36
2	950–1000	980	213.00	213.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	500–550	525	265.00	265.00
1	700–750	720	215.00	215.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	400–450	411	360.00	360.00
1	450–500	450	320.00	320.00
1	500–550	525	315.00	315.00
4	600–650	612	287.00–290.00	288.53
6	850–900	892	221.00	221.00
5	900–950	934	213.00–221.00	217.84
7	950–1000	992	201.00–217.00	214.79

Replacement Cattle

As reported

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)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	14	—	1,098	1,400.00–1,750.00	1,664.67
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	9	—	1,233	1,700.00–2,100.00	1,988.38
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,148	2,400.00	2,400.00

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 (5-8 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,413	2,375.00–2,500.00	2,397.85

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	39	—	1,042	142.50–185.00	160.06
(<2 yrs)	Open	13	—	887	143.00–205.00	169.99

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	1,429	131.00	131.00
15	—	1,393	121.50–128.00	124.15

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
63	—	1,295	121.00–127.00	124.45
83	—	1,059	116.00–129.50	128.88
10	—	1,091	125.50–132.00	128.26

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,275	110.00–111.00	110.62
104	—	1,122	128.50–138.00	130.89
58	—	1,373	120.00–127.50	124.08

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,138	101.00–112.00	108.74
7	—	1,224	119.00–125.50	123.97
21	—	1,030	90.00–99.00	92.24

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
56	—	1,174	120.00–128.00	125.63
1	—	1,045	109.00	109.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,597	128.50–133.00	130.51
25	—	1,464	123.00–127.00	125.97

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,443	110.00	110.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,533	112.00–121.00	118.17
7	—	1,918	140.00–149.00	143.92
2	—	2,100	133.00–136.00	134.39

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.