Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-02-12

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Feb 12
● Final38 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
182 head
81 vs last sale 263 182 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
185 head
10 vs last sale 195 185 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
158 head
101 vs last sale 259 158 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 average and offered in small packages or as singles. Demand for cattle to run on grass continues to be good despite lower CME positions over the last week. Most cattle were in light flesh and purchased to enter a grass or yearling program. Market activity this week was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Several sets of fed cow were seen today. Most of these offerings were purchased for harvest. Weigh up conditions were average to below average with most cows pushing some fill. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 higher on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. The majority of the cow offering was purchased for harvest this week. Feeding cows sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold generally steady 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 $163.32/cwt on 94 head.
Average price
$163.32
94 head · 581 lb average
Value per head Derived
$948
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$11
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$25.96/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+6.04
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1563168.0194777
Medium and Large 1-2658142.0693517thin
One grade step is worth $25.96/cwt here — about $11 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 sale94 hd
163.32
MT average3 barns · 1,713 hd
157.28
+6.04
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
BullsLow2,02480.901,63716
CowsPremium White 65-75%High1,59959.4295081
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,55858.2290724
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,48457.3885128
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,16452.1660723

Every lot, as filed

38 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 1823132.00/cwt132.00–132.001,0862
Bulls1,72273.83/cwt72.50–75.001,2714
Bulls2,14586.00/cwt86.00–86.001,8454
Bulls2,11481.89/cwt81.00–82.501,7318
CowsBoner 80-85%1,79064.50/cwt64.50–64.501,1551
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45152.93/cwt51.50–53.507687
SteersMedium and Large 1-2513165.47/cwt160.00–171.008492
SteersMedium and Large 1-2593151.00/cwt151.00–151.008952
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,55159.93/cwt57.50–60.2593025
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,44360.97/cwt58.50–63.0088021
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,130105.63/cwt99.00–115.001,19429
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,10172.04/cwt59.50–82.2579314
SteersMedium and Large 1428189.00/cwt189.00–189.008092
SteersMedium and Large 1737140.50/cwt140.50–140.501,0355
SteersMedium and Large 1664147.61/cwt147.00–150.0098010
SteersMedium and Large 1611158.36/cwt151.00–160.0096811
SteersMedium and Large 1470184.50/cwt184.50–184.5086719
SteersMedium and Large 1553170.72/cwt169.00–171.0094429
HeifersMedium and Large 1598146.75/cwt146.75–146.7587849
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2375158.00/cwt158.00–158.005933
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2640133.50/cwt133.50–133.508543
SteersMedium and Large 1-2673139.50/cwt139.50–139.509396
SteersMedium and Large 1-2706135.00/cwt135.00–135.009537
SteersMedium and Large 1510182.00/cwt182.00–182.009281
CowsLean 85-90%1,21956.42/cwt54.50–58.006886
CowsLean 85-90%1,16351.38/cwt47.50–54.0059815
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,49567.50/cwt67.50–67.501,0092
HeifersMedium and Large 1493165.00/cwt165.00–165.008132
HeifersMedium and Large 1623137.00/cwt137.00–137.008543
HeifersMedium and Large 1521161.00/cwt161.00–161.008397
CowsBoner 80-85%1,48058.58/cwt55.50–61.2586720
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,50456.50/cwt56.50–56.5085016
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,62659.90/cwt58.50–60.5097463
CowsLean 85-90%1,02037.50/cwt37.50–37.503831
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,56456.30/cwt50.00–57.508819
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,55459.37/cwt58.50–62.5092315
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,07057.00/cwt57.00–57.006101
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight99553.00/cwt53.00–53.005271

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.