Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-02-19

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Feb 19
● Final50 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
272 head
90 vs last sale 182 272 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
275 head
90 vs last sale 185 275 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
264 head
106 vs last sale 158 264 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 steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend; Heifers heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Feeder cattle were of mostly plain to average quality this sale. Demand was mostly light to moderate for light offerings. Market activity this week was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers were very active in purchasing cows both for harvest and to feed, however the largest portion of the cow offering was destined for harvest. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 higher this week. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average this week for buyers. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold steady to 4.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was average to attractive.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $146.78/cwt on 87 head.
Average price
$146.78
87 head · 562 lb average
Value per head Derived
$825
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$249
per head · Medium 1 over Medium and Large 1
$18.57/cwt at this weight
vs the market
4.43
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1394161.0063415thin
Medium 1-2337155.005225thin
Medium and Large 1-2527155.008173thin
Medium and Large 1620142.4388364
One grade step is worth $18.57/cwt here — about −$249 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 sale87 hd
146.78
MT average3 barns · 1,241 hd
151.21
−4.43
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
BullsLow1,69876.381,29724
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,66262.041,03134
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,38160.6283762
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,59860.509674thin
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,16756.67662125

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
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight95050.22/cwt49.00–53.004775
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight93556.31/cwt55.00–57.005263
CowsBreaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,10565.50/cwt65.50–65.501,3791
CowsBreaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,13061.00/cwt61.00–61.001,2991
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,10458.25/cwt55.00–61.0064311
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,13655.12/cwt53.50–56.0062612
CowsBoner 80-85%1,41555.70/cwt55.50–56.007885
BullsMedium and Large 1-2512148.31/cwt142.50–154.007596
BullsMedium and Large 175300.00/cwt300.00–300.002251
Bulls1,60971.23/cwt64.50–75.501,14610
Bulls2,11586.50/cwt86.50–86.501,8291
Bulls1,73579.57/cwt75.50–82.001,38113
CowsLean 85-90%1,19958.61/cwt56.50–63.5070379
CowsLean 85-90%1,27565.50/cwt65.50–65.508352
CowsLean 85-90%1,03541.00/cwt41.00–41.004241
CowsLean 85-90%1,14453.20/cwt47.00–56.0060935
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,59861.75/cwt61.75–61.759872
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,59859.25/cwt59.25–59.259472
HeifersMedium 1-2337155.00/cwt155.00–155.005225
HeifersMedium 1394161.00/cwt161.00–161.0063415
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,63162.40/cwt60.50–64.751,01830
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,67855.50/cwt55.50–55.509312
CowsBoner 80-85%1,37359.71/cwt57.00–62.5082040
CowsBoner 80-85%1,38964.19/cwt63.50–66.5089217
HeifersMedium and Large 1618140.65/cwt137.00–142.0086918
HeifersMedium and Large 1590147.24/cwt145.00–155.5086915
HeifersMedium and Large 1657135.00/cwt135.00–135.0088710
HeifersMedium and Large 1781122.66/cwt122.00–123.009589
HeifersMedium and Large 1544158.00/cwt158.00–158.008607
HeifersMedium and Large 1463163.00/cwt163.00–163.007555
SteersMedium 1-2348157.50/cwt157.50–157.505486
SteersMedium and Large 1-2610159.00/cwt159.00–159.009702
SteersMedium and Large 1402189.00/cwt189.00–189.0076010
SteersMedium and Large 1526171.00/cwt171.00–171.008997
SteersMedium and Large 1655156.67/cwt155.00–157.001,0266
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2527155.00/cwt155.00–155.008173
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,35563.70/cwt58.00–66.0086327
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,25460.11/cwt57.00–62.0075449
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-299375.24/cwt73.00–77.007475
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-279598.00/cwt98.00–98.007793
SteersMedium and Large 1710143.50/cwt143.50–143.501,0195
SteersMedium and Large 1593165.50/cwt165.50–165.509815
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,03975.62/cwt60.00–98.00786133
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,022106.79/cwt90.00–117.001,09121
BullsMedium and Large 1721136.99/cwt134.00–137.509887
BullsMedium and Large 1980123.01/cwt122.00–125.001,2053
BullsMedium and Large 1608153.00/cwt153.00–153.009302
BullsMedium and Large 1890130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,1571
BullsLarge 11,100116.00/cwt116.00–116.001,2761
BullsLarge 11,045120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,2541

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.