Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-01-15

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jan 15
● Final26 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
151 head
504 vs last sale 655 151 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
19 head
141 vs last sale 160 19 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
199 head
922 vs last sale 1,121 199 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 last week: Extremely cold temperatures and windchill's gripped the state over the last few days. Receipts were very light as a result. All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Cattle were offered in mostly small packages or as singles. Demand overall was light to moderate for very light offerings. Market activity was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for light offerings. Quality this sale was average. Packers showed mixed demand for slaughter cows as some purchased cows on moderate demand, while others showed very light demand. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeding cows sold on light to moderate demand this week. Feeding cows sold steady to weak in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Young age cows suitable to re-breed sold mostly 2.00-5.00 lower. Quality was mostly average.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $141.86/cwt on 37 head.
Average price
$141.86
37 head · 622 lb average
Value per head Derived
$882
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$298
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1-2
$29.03/cwt at this weight
vs the market
12.62
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1649146.5395119thin
Medium and Large 1-2534139.3874416thin
Large 1-21,063117.501,2492thin
One grade step is worth $29.03/cwt here — about −$298 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 sale37 hd
141.86
MT average3 barns · 3,085 hd
154.48
−12.62
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
BullsLow1,91575.581,4473thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,58358.009184thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,60547.007541thin
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,08842.744655thin

Every lot, as filed

26 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
Bulls1,81564.00/cwt64.00–64.001,1621
Bulls1,96581.37/cwt78.50–84.001,5992
CowsBoner 80-85%1,60547.00/cwt47.00–47.007541
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,58358.00/cwt58.00–58.009184
CowsLean 85-90%1,14044.67/cwt43.00–46.005094
HeifersLarge 1-21,063117.50/cwt117.50–117.501,2492
SteersMedium and Large 1551170.00/cwt170.00–170.0093711
SteersMedium and Large 1-2408184.00/cwt184.00–184.007513
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,44460.02/cwt54.00–65.0086727
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,03972.96/cwt58.00–85.0075885
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,42758.25/cwt50.00–62.0083116
SteersMedium and Large 1-2384187.50/cwt187.50–187.507204
SteersMedium and Large 1-2928134.00/cwt134.00–134.001,2445
SteersMedium and Large 2625134.00/cwt134.00–134.008382
SteersMedium and Large 1-2502166.00/cwt166.00–166.008333
SteersMedium and Large 1-2720144.00/cwt144.00–144.001,0373
SteersMedium 1575162.00/cwt162.00–162.009323
HeifersMedium and Large 1655135.00/cwt135.00–135.008841
HeifersMedium and Large 1950132.00/cwt132.00–132.001,2545
HeifersMedium and Large 1533153.00/cwt153.00–153.0081513
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2420151.00/cwt151.00–151.006343
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2386154.00/cwt154.00–154.005944
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2637129.00/cwt129.00–129.008229
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,20147.50/cwt42.00–49.5057028
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,27048.72/cwt47.00–50.006195
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight88035.00/cwt35.00–35.003081

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.