Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2019-12-18

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Dec 18
● Final60 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
425 head
425 vs last sale 0 425 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
254 head
214 vs last sale 40 254 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
1,001 head
6,299 vs last sale 7,300 1,001 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago: The blue ribbon sale was held last week so all comparisons are to two weeks ago. All feeder cattle were too lightly tested two weeks ago to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all feeders on offer. Quality this week was average to attractive and higher quality than two weeks ago. Cattle were offered in mostly small packages. Demand overall was mostly moderate for light offerings. Market activity was moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for light offerings. Quality this sale was average to attractive. Packers showed lighter demand for slaughter cows this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower on all classes. Feeding cow demand was lighter this week as well. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 lower on all ages of feeding cows. Packers have filled feedlots throughout the fall and most are near capacity. This further decreased cow demand as packers were mostly out of the feeding cow market. Slaughter bulls sold mostly unevenly steady from 1.00 lower to 1.00 higher on a lower quality offering overall. Young age cows suitable to re-breed sold mostly steady to 3.00 lower. Quality was mostly average.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $142.46/cwt on 132 head.
Average price
$142.46
132 head · 557 lb average
Value per head Derived
$793
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$807
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 1
$21.34/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.72
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2332150.004983thin
Medium and Large 1533143.77767107
Medium 1-2482139.5667313thin
Large 11,014128.661,3059thin
One grade step is worth $21.34/cwt here — about −$807 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 sale132 hd
142.46
MT average4 barns · 4,390 hd
141.74
+0.72
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
BullsHigh1,80874.531,34844
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,63560.529907thin
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,46348.5371079
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,20641.4349975

Every lot, as filed

60 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
SteersMedium and Large 1917139.50/cwt139.50–139.501,2793
SteersMedium and Large 1471171.50/cwt171.50–171.508085
SteersMedium and Large 1587150.50/cwt150.50–150.508837
SteersMedium and Large 1615146.50/cwt146.50–146.509018
SteersMedium and Large 1506170.00/cwt170.00–170.008609
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned414185.92/cwt180.00–192.007708
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned513169.17/cwt162.00–173.0086816
SteersMedium and Large 1-2675139.00/cwt139.00–139.009382
CowsLean 85-90%1,13233.16/cwt32.00–35.0037511
CowsLean 85-90%1,23042.39/cwt37.00–46.5052151
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight91833.56/cwt32.00–35.003082
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight97530.50/cwt30.00–31.002972
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1031,075.00/cwt1,075.00–1,075.0011,8573
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,6481,000.00/cwt1,000.00–1,000.0016,4809
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1801,200.00/cwt1,200.00–1,200.0014,16037
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,250735.00/cwt735.00–735.009,18815
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,17647.08/cwt42.00–55.0055415
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,29147.61/cwt44.50–52.506155
Bulls2,13088.08/cwt86.00–90.001,8762
Bulls1,91978.39/cwt74.00–84.001,50419
SteersMedium and Large 1420181.00/cwt181.00–181.007603
BullsLight Weight1,19072.00/cwt72.00–72.008573
CowsBoner 80-85%1,66261.01/cwt57.00–64.501,0143
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45246.01/cwt38.00–48.5066834
SteersMedium and Large 1-2883138.50/cwt138.50–138.501,2232
SteersMedium and Large 1-2478165.34/cwt165.00–167.507907
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned377185.00/cwt185.00–185.006973
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned603143.00/cwt143.00–143.008623
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,64256.50/cwt56.50–56.509288
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,362850.00/cwt850.00–850.0011,5777
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,21046.08/cwt44.00–50.0055814
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,26541.86/cwt36.50–44.0053052
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,39663.56/cwt63.00–65.008878
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,15166.57/cwt56.00–78.00766115
SteersMedium and Large 1715143.50/cwt143.50–143.501,0262
SteersLarge 1-21,040121.00/cwt121.00–121.001,2586
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2332150.00/cwt150.00–150.004983
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned553140.50/cwt140.50–140.507776
CowsLean 85-90%1,28948.60/cwt47.50–51.006267
HeifersMedium and Large 1690129.00/cwt129.00–129.0089010
HeifersMedium and Large 1643128.50/cwt128.50–128.508262
HeifersMedium and Large 1Full899125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,1244
HeifersMedium 1-2Unweaned482139.56/cwt139.00–140.0067313
HeifersLarge 11,014128.66/cwt128.00–129.501,3059
BullsMedium and Large 1565142.00/cwt142.00–142.008028
BullsMedium and Large 1643129.00/cwt129.00–129.008294
CowsLean 85-90%1,21356.00/cwt56.00–56.006792
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,68463.93/cwt62.00–68.001,0775
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,51352.00/cwt52.00–52.007872
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45849.68/cwt48.00–53.5072442
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned485142.00/cwt142.00–142.006892
HeifersMedium and Large 1524142.69/cwt140.00–144.5074850
HeifersMedium and Large 1463151.97/cwt145.00–157.0070419
HeifersMedium and Large 1429156.23/cwt155.50–157.0067014
Stock CowsMedium and Large 199174.60/cwt62.00–90.00739121
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,33655.37/cwt50.50–64.00740104
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,46051.95/cwt45.00–61.0075858
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 18981,244.38/cwt1,200.00–1,400.0011,17534
Bulls1,76469.88/cwt65.00–75.001,23320
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,0811,116.77/cwt1,050.00–1,225.0012,07243

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.