Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-03-04

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 4
● Final36 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
167 head
21 vs last sale 146 167 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
185 head
15 vs last sale 170 185 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
255 head
1,530 vs last sale 1,785 255 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 and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly light to moderate for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly average and offered in small groups or as singles. Market activity this week was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers continue to purchase a large portion of the cow offering for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold generally steady. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week with large variations in fill and flesh. Packer buyers also competed with feeding buyers again this week as they put mostly high quality cows away on feed. Feeding cows sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold mostly 4.00-6.00 lower. Lighter demand from feeding buyers has caused prices to slide lower on all young age cows.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $132.30/cwt on 66 head.
Average price
$132.30
66 head · 682 lb average
Value per head Derived
$903
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$195
per head · Medium 1-2 over Medium and Large 1-2
$17.00/cwt at this weight
vs the market
20.73
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1-2504143.007214thin
Medium and Large 1692131.9091359
Medium and Large 1-2727126.009163thin
One grade step is worth $17.00/cwt here — about −$195 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 sale66 hd
132.30
MT average3 barns · 788 hd
153.03
−20.73
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
BullsAverage1,98380.851,60317
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,65460.891,0076thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,47357.2084247
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,21453.3964886

Every lot, as filed

36 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
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,59463.84/cwt62.50–64.501,0184
CowsLean 85-90%1,20252.72/cwt47.00–55.0063454
CowsLean 85-90%1,31857.49/cwt55.50–60.0075823
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,77555.00/cwt55.00–55.009762
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,19156.63/cwt56.00–57.006745
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,37456.00/cwt56.00–56.007695
CowsLean 85-90%1,13243.63/cwt43.00–45.004944
CowsBoner 80-85%1,47758.66/cwt57.00–61.5086631
HeifersMedium and Large 1803114.00/cwt114.00–114.0091525
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2727126.00/cwt126.00–126.009163
HeifersMedium and Large 1571151.86/cwt150.00–153.008678
HeifersMedium and Large 1650137.00/cwt137.00–137.008914
HeifersMedium and Large 1407169.00/cwt169.00–169.006883
HeifersMedium 1-2504143.00/cwt143.00–143.007214
SteersMedium and Large 1-2757130.00/cwt130.00–130.009846
SteersMedium and Large 1675147.88/cwt147.00–148.009988
SteersMedium and Large 1810128.50/cwt128.50–128.501,0415
SteersMedium and Large 1536174.00/cwt174.00–174.009335
HeifersMedium and Large 1607146.00/cwt146.00–146.0088611
HeifersMedium and Large 1711132.00/cwt132.00–132.009398
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,02595.44/cwt80.00–106.5097875
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,52462.09/cwt58.00–64.0094636
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,61957.44/cwt56.50–58.0093018
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-271897.50/cwt97.50–97.507002
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,33766.83/cwt62.00–90.0089466
SteersMedium and Large 1-2707130.00/cwt130.00–130.009199
CowsBoner 80-85%1,46454.38/cwt52.00–56.0079616
Bulls2,00980.14/cwt76.00–86.001,6109
Bulls2,25188.98/cwt87.00–92.002,0034
Bulls1,65574.31/cwt72.00–75.001,2304
BullsMedium and Large 1630150.00/cwt150.00–150.009454
BullsMedium and Large 1535167.50/cwt167.50–167.508962
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,18356.71/cwt55.00–59.006718
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight93034.00/cwt34.00–34.003161
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight97056.50/cwt56.50–56.505481
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight91852.37/cwt47.00–55.004813

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.