Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2019-09-25

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Sep 25
● Final42 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
339 head
134 vs last sale 473 339 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
165 head
57 vs last sale 222 165 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
306 head
221 vs last sale 85 306 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were all too lightly tested to trend, however higher undertones were noticed. The best test for yearling heifers was for 850-899 lbs which sold mostly 5.00-6.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Demand today was mostly moderate to good. Quality was mostly plain this sale with many small packages and singles. Buyers were reserved this sale as quality was significantly lower than last week. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand and light to moderate offerings. Packers were very aggressive while bidding against feeding buyers as they searched for cows for immediate harvest. Feeding buyers showed stronger demand for cows this week as well, showing mostly good demand. Fleshy cows continue to sell with the best demand as both packer and feeder buyers desired these offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 4.00-6.00 higher. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were average to below average. Many cows and bulls were coming straight off grass were pushing fill again this week. Young age cows suitable to re-breed sold on mostly moderate to good demand this week. A larger and higher quality supply of young cows were seen this week, however not enough to establish an accurate market trend. Higher undertones were noticed.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $136.40/cwt on 117 head.
Average price
$136.40
117 head · 828 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,129
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$168
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2
$11.57/cwt at this weight
vs the market
1.93
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1796141.311,12552
Medium and Large 1-2926134.901,24934
Medium and Large 2847130.001,10110thin
Medium 2737129.7495621
One grade step is worth $11.57/cwt here — about $168 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 sale117 hd
136.40
MT average3 barns · 917 hd
138.33
−1.93
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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
BullsLow1,76981.961,45043
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,68268.831,1583thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,45665.5195445
CowsLean 85-90%High1,22160.4973848

Every lot, as filed

42 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.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
BullsMedium and Large 1Fleshy441146.00/cwt146.00–146.006447
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fleshy547127.00/cwt127.00–127.0069511
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Full752139.00/cwt139.00–139.001,0453
BullsLarge 11,087105.00/cwt105.00–105.001,1413
BullsMedium and Large 11,09089.00/cwt89.00–89.009701
Bulls1,47473.83/cwt68.50–76.001,08811
Bulls2,00790.15/cwt86.50–97.501,80911
Bulls1,79981.93/cwt78.50–87.501,47421
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,57572.50/cwt72.50–72.501,1421
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,11574.15/cwt63.00–81.0082744
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4421,076.19/cwt950.00–1,125.0015,51918
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,24267.87/cwt66.50–69.0084313
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,49264.19/cwt59.75–69.0095845
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,42867.69/cwt63.00–70.0096716
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,19056.72/cwt56.50–57.006752
Stock CowsMedium and Large 197783.54/cwt74.00–96.0081647
SteersMedium and Large 1-2943134.50/cwt134.50–134.501,26831
SteersMedium and Large 2847130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,10110
SteersMedium 2789122.50/cwt122.50–122.509675
SteersMedium and Large 1839142.06/cwt141.50–143.501,19221
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2441,102.27/cwt1,075.00–1,110.0013,71226
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,385885.97/cwt850.00–900.0012,27117
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45266.10/cwt64.50–68.0096025
HeifersMedium 1-2665136.00/cwt136.00–136.009043
HeifersMedium and Large 1870131.04/cwt129.75–133.001,14036
SteersMedium 2721132.00/cwt132.00–132.0095216
SteersMedium and Large 1984130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,2797
SteersMedium and Large 1900138.75/cwt138.75–138.751,24912
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,73567.00/cwt67.00–67.001,1622
CowsLean 85-90%1,31568.00/cwt68.00–68.008941
CowsLean 85-90%1,30765.00/cwt65.00–65.0085011
CowsLean 85-90%1,22560.11/cwt55.00–63.0073631
CowsBoner 80-85%1,37270.00/cwt70.00–70.009603
CowsBoner 80-85%1,47663.86/cwt59.00–64.5094317
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,277756.59/cwt750.00–760.009,66232
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight98551.41/cwt49.00–53.005065
BullsMedium and Large 1Unweaned449162.00/cwt162.00–162.007275
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned432145.00/cwt145.00–145.006266
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned526139.00/cwt139.00–139.007316
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned457162.00/cwt162.00–162.007403
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned569137.00/cwt137.00–137.007807
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned362172.50/cwt172.50–172.506242

How this sale compares

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.