Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-01-22

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jan 22
● Final50 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
467 head
316 vs last sale 151 467 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
189 head
170 vs last sale 19 189 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
269 head
70 vs last sale 199 269 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: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend for steers or heifers. Quality this week was mostly average, however, higher than last weeks limited offering. Feeder cattle sold on mostly moderate demand for light offerings. Calves were offered in small packages or as singles again this week. Market activity was moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers showed significantly better demand for cows this week as they purchased most of the offering for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold sharply higher in a narrow comparison. Feeding buyers also showed stronger demand for cows. Feeding cows sold 3.00-5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to re-breed sold steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Quality was average.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $150.37/cwt on 204 head.
Average price
$150.37
204 head · 586 lb average
Value per head Derived
$881
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$701
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 1
$42.63/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+2.87
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2385160.6361916thin
Medium 1319158.005044thin
Medium and Large 1601149.83900181
Large 11,118118.001,3193thin
One grade step is worth $42.63/cwt here — about −$701 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 sale204 hd
150.37
MT average4 barns · 1,341 hd
147.50
+2.87
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
BullsHigh1,91181.061,54921
CowsPremium White 65-75%Low1,71566.611,14327
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,61263.221,0197thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,44656.8382238
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,19553.5264068

Every lot, as filed

50 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 1571165.04/cwt163.00–170.0094221
SteersMedium and Large 1758144.00/cwt144.00–144.001,0926
SteersMedium and Large 1-2344193.00/cwt193.00–193.006644
SteersMedium and Large 1-2657143.98/cwt141.00–147.009464
HeifersMedium and Large 1387165.69/cwt165.00–168.0064112
SteersMedium and Large 1386193.37/cwt190.00–194.0074612
SteersMedium and Large 1729145.27/cwt145.00–146.001,05911
SteersMedium and Large 1871134.50/cwt134.50–134.501,1718
SteersMedium and Large 1456182.15/cwt182.00–182.508317
SteersMedium and Large 1-2595158.00/cwt158.00–158.009403
SteersMedium and Large 1433188.00/cwt188.00–188.008144
SteersMedium and Large 1803138.50/cwt138.50–138.501,1123
SteersMedium and Large 1500172.50/cwt172.50–172.508633
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,57964.97/cwt59.50–68.501,02619
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,36561.32/cwt56.00–64.2583786
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,10473.29/cwt62.00–92.0080971
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1785122.50/cwt122.50–122.509621
Bulls2,24791.55/cwt90.00–96.002,0577
Bulls1,84281.43/cwt79.00–89.001,5005
Bulls1,68872.70/cwt64.00–77.501,2279
BullsMedium and Large 1578144.00/cwt144.00–144.008324
BullsMedium and Large 1825130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,0732
BullsMedium and Large 1605138.00/cwt138.00–138.008351
HeifersMedium and Large 1712134.00/cwt134.00–134.009546
HeifersMedium and Large 1789127.00/cwt127.00–127.001,0029
HeifersMedium and Large 1439166.85/cwt165.00–167.0073226
HeifersMedium and Large 1852129.00/cwt129.00–129.001,09926
SteersMedium and Large 1650155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,0082
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2434155.40/cwt155.00–156.006745
HeifersLarge 11,118118.00/cwt118.00–118.001,3193
HeifersMedium 1319158.00/cwt158.00–158.005044
HeifersMedium and Large 1475164.00/cwt164.00–164.007794
HeifersMedium and Large 1964125.25/cwt125.25–125.251,2079
HeifersMedium and Large 1581144.18/cwt143.00–145.0083811
CowsBoner 80-85%1,44954.76/cwt52.50–57.5079322
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,61263.22/cwt63.00–64.501,0197
CowsLean 85-90%1,21242.64/cwt41.00–44.005175
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2363163.00/cwt163.00–163.0059211
HeifersMedium and Large 1630138.18/cwt137.00–139.5087115
HeifersMedium and Large 1519159.53/cwt154.00–163.5082863
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40543.00/cwt43.00–43.006041
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,66063.50/cwt63.50–63.501,0546
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,73167.50/cwt67.50–67.501,16821
CowsLean 85-90%1,25659.22/cwt57.00–62.0074413
CowsLean 85-90%1,18753.48/cwt47.00–56.5063548
CowsBoner 80-85%1,44560.79/cwt59.00–64.5087815
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,16953.48/cwt49.00–56.0062529
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight97045.00/cwt45.00–45.004371
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight92544.00/cwt44.00–44.004071
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,15456.50/cwt56.50–56.506524

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.