Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-02-05

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Feb 5
● Final47 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
263 head
22 vs last sale 285 263 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
195 head
25 vs last sale 220 195 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
259 head
92 vs last sale 351 259 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 either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend for steers or heifers however, steady to higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and offered in small packages or as singles. Feeder cattle sold on mostly light to moderate demand for light offerings. Demand was stronger this week than last despite light offerings. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers started the sale purchasing cows on moderate demand, however as the sale progressed demand improved. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher on boning and lean cows, breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Feeding cows sold generally steady to firm. Cow quality this week was plain to average and generally lower than last week. Many of the best sets of feeding cows were late bred cows which packers opted to feed instead of send to harvest. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Quality was average.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $157.42/cwt on 92 head.
Average price
$157.42
92 head · 600 lb average
Value per head Derived
$945
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$299
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 1
$24.61/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+2.94
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2394176.9569719thin
Medium and Large 1654152.3499673
One grade step is worth $24.61/cwt here — about −$299 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 sale92 hd
157.42
MT average3 barns · 2,227 hd
154.48
+2.94
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
BullsLow1,84078.411,44316
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,73559.151,0266thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,41056.9180265
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,21953.2765085

Every lot, as filed

47 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
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned591139.50/cwt139.50–139.508248
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned629137.00/cwt137.00–137.008624
BullsMedium and Large 1Unweaned663134.00/cwt134.00–134.008883
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight87346.55/cwt45.00–48.004062
CowsBreaker 75-80%Heavy Weight1,97558.50/cwt58.50–58.501,1551
CowsBreaker 75-80%Heavy Weight1,91555.00/cwt55.00–55.001,0531
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,19556.01/cwt55.00–57.006692
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,27956.23/cwt55.00–56.507195
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,14952.23/cwt49.00–55.0060016
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,50066.50/cwt66.50–66.509981
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40256.27/cwt54.00–58.5078933
CowsBoner 80-85%1,36959.92/cwt59.00–62.0082022
CowsLean 85-90%1,20550.38/cwt43.00–52.0060734
CowsLean 85-90%1,28359.26/cwt59.00–59.507602
CowsLean 85-90%1,19535.00/cwt35.00–35.004181
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2480153.00/cwt153.00–153.007344
HeifersMedium and Large 1455159.00/cwt159.00–159.0072313
HeifersMedium and Large 1707129.00/cwt129.00–129.0091217
CowsBoner 80-85%1,52552.41/cwt49.00–53.5079910
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,67358.30/cwt55.00–60.009753
CowsLean 85-90%1,24355.83/cwt52.00–58.0069446
SteersMedium and Large 1543167.50/cwt167.50–167.5091011
SteersMedium and Large 1-2417182.00/cwt182.00–182.007599
SteersMedium and Large 1870133.00/cwt133.00–133.001,1572
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2345150.00/cwt150.00–150.005187
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2607135.00/cwt135.00–135.008193
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2595139.50/cwt139.50–139.508303
SteersMedium and Large 1812135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,09613
BullsMedium and Large 1Full783125.00/cwt125.00–125.009792
HeifersMedium and Large 1Full567138.00/cwt138.00–138.007823
BullsLarge 11,090103.00/cwt103.00–103.001,1231
BullsLarge 1-21,04097.00/cwt97.00–97.001,0091
BullsMedium and Large 1955115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,0982
Bulls1,80674.50/cwt74.00–75.001,3455
Bulls1,85680.18/cwt77.00–82.001,48811
BullsMedium and Large 1575145.00/cwt145.00–145.008343
SteersMedium and Large 1721140.14/cwt140.00–142.001,01014
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4001,100.00/cwt1,100.00–1,100.0015,4007
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2251,300.00/cwt1,300.00–1,300.0015,92510
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,05073.19/cwt58.00–88.0076867
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,33159.27/cwt55.00–63.0078961
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,37061.12/cwt57.00–65.0083719
SteersMedium and Large 1-2477178.00/cwt178.00–178.008493
SteersMedium and Large 1-2329170.00/cwt170.00–170.005597
SteersMedium and Large 1458184.00/cwt184.00–184.008439
SteersMedium and Large 1652148.00/cwt148.00–148.0096511
SteersMedium and Large 1622154.72/cwt152.00–158.0096213

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.