Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-03-11

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 11
● Final47 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
405 head
238 vs last sale 167 405 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
105 head
80 vs last sale 185 105 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
153 head
102 vs last sale 255 153 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 an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on all offerings. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly light for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly average and offered in small groups or as singles. CME positions continue to slide lower as COVID-19 virus worry grips financial and commodity markets. CME prices sold sharply lower with most differed contracts down the limit as of today's close. Market activity was mostly slow. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers were more aggressive as they purchased the majority of the cow offering. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed on boning and lean cows, breaking cows sold with lower undertones. 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 6.00-12.00 lower. Lighter demand from feeding buyers due to sharply lower live cattle contracts continues to push the market young cows lower.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $148.27/cwt on 207 head.
Average price
$148.27
207 head · 533 lb average
Value per head Derived
$791
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$23
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2
$19.20/cwt at this weight
vs the market
1.67
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2443154.066829thin
Medium and Large 1550151.44833157
Medium and Large 2489134.8565941
One grade step is worth $19.20/cwt here — about $23 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 sale207 hd
148.27
MT average3 barns · 691 hd
149.94
−1.67
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
BullsHigh1,91880.011,53522
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,58357.4390937
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,49055.5482710
CowsLean 85-90%High1,19552.0062124

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
SteersMedium and Large 1-2615144.18/cwt140.00–148.508874
SteersMedium and Large 1-2589146.32/cwt146.00–148.5086224
HeifersMedium and Large 1842116.00/cwt116.00–116.009775
HeifersMedium and Large 2524134.00/cwt134.00–134.0070227
HeifersMedium and Large 1479161.53/cwt160.00–164.0077433
HeifersMedium and Large 1526158.97/cwt154.00–163.0083660
SteersMedium and Large 1637150.50/cwt150.50–150.509593
SteersMedium and Large 1673150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,0103
HeifersMedium and Large 2382136.00/cwt136.00–136.005207
HeifersMedium and Large 2459137.00/cwt137.00–137.006297
HeifersMedium and Large 1435161.20/cwt161.00–161.5070120
HeifersMedium and Large 1574142.50/cwt142.50–142.508188
HeifersMedium and Large 1625135.99/cwt134.00–138.0085015
HeifersMedium and Large 1760120.19/cwt120.00–120.2591316
CowsBoner 80-85%1,51756.45/cwt55.00–59.008563
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,55055.20/cwt54.50–56.508569
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42453.84/cwt53.50–54.507676
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2640130.50/cwt130.50–130.508351
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2380165.00/cwt165.00–165.006274
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2456149.00/cwt149.00–149.006794
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,59358.15/cwt57.00–59.5092628
CowsLean 85-90%1,33560.00/cwt60.00–60.008011
CowsLean 85-90%1,24257.48/cwt56.50–58.007143
CowsLean 85-90%1,24543.34/cwt42.00–44.005403
CowsLean 85-90%1,19952.48/cwt48.00–54.5062915
CowsBoner 80-85%1,80063.00/cwt63.00–63.001,1341
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,15856.09/cwt53.00–58.006507
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight95049.12/cwt45.00–53.504672
SteersMedium and Large 1528170.50/cwt170.50–170.5090025
SteersMedium and Large 1831129.00/cwt129.00–129.001,07210
SteersMedium and Large 1424181.42/cwt180.00–183.007696
SteersMedium and Large 1762133.00/cwt133.00–133.001,0133
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,33359.47/cwt56.00–63.0079321
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,29858.11/cwt55.00–59.507547
Stock CowsMedium 167491.42/cwt90.00–92.006167
SteersMedium and Large 1-2505163.00/cwt163.00–163.008234
SteersMedium and Large 1-2798122.00/cwt122.00–122.009742
SteersMedium and Large 2495151.00/cwt151.00–151.0074713
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,20264.38/cwt56.00–72.5077432
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-286372.85/cwt64.00–79.506292
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,04484.01/cwt73.00–95.0087731
BullsLarge 11,09096.50/cwt96.50–96.501,0523
BullsMedium and Large 1-2473159.50/cwt159.50–159.507543
BullsMedium and Large 1893119.00/cwt119.00–119.001,0636
Bulls2,07287.50/cwt86.00–90.501,8133
Bulls1,94681.37/cwt76.00–84.501,58314
Bulls1,74971.72/cwt64.00–76.001,2545

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.