Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-03-18

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 18
● Final27 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
135 head
270 vs last sale 405 135 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
112 head
7 vs last sale 105 112 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
35 head
118 vs last sale 153 35 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 plain to average. CME positions continue to slide lower with significant losses seen since last week. Market activity was mostly slow. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for light offerings. Packers continue to be aggressive as they purchased the majority of the cow offering for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 5.00-6.00 higher on all classes. Feeding cows were not tested this week as all middle age and aged cows were destined for slaughter. Slaughter bulls sold 3.00-4.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold generally steady. Quality was plain to average.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $144.59/cwt on 64 head.
Average price
$144.59
64 head · 445 lb average
Value per head Derived
$644
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$96
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2
$25.59/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+1.12
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2444146.5965159
Medium and Large 2459121.005555thin
One grade step is worth $25.59/cwt here — about $96 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 sale64 hd
144.59
MT average3 barns · 1,177 hd
143.47
+1.12
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
BullsHigh1,82686.141,57314
CowsPremium White 65-75%Low1,65166.111,0927thin
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,37263.3186942
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,80563.241,14211
CowsLean 85-90%High1,19460.3572032

Every lot, as filed

27 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
BullsLarge 11,02790.98/cwt90.00–93.009343
Bulls2,24092.36/cwt91.00–93.002,0693
Bulls1,71384.44/cwt80.00–89.001,44611
CowsBoner 80-85%1,31068.00/cwt68.00–68.008911
CowsBoner 80-85%1,37463.20/cwt60.00–66.0086841
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,13167.94/cwt60.00–76.007686
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2481145.56/cwt140.50–149.0070031
HeifersMedium and Large 2459121.00/cwt121.00–121.005555
SteersMedium and Large 1-2533153.00/cwt153.00–153.008152
SteersMedium and Large 1-2447162.00/cwt162.00–162.0072410
SteersMedium and Large 1-2377170.07/cwt169.00–171.0064116
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,00982.18/cwt77.00–92.508297
BullsLarge 11,11591.00/cwt91.00–91.001,0152
CowsLean 85-90%1,23068.00/cwt68.00–68.008361
CowsLean 85-90%1,18258.16/cwt52.00–61.0068712
CowsLean 85-90%1,23563.40/cwt62.00–64.0078316
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2345152.50/cwt152.50–152.505262
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2583134.00/cwt134.00–134.007814
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2376149.80/cwt145.00–153.0056322
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,78057.50/cwt57.50–57.501,0241
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,80863.81/cwt62.50–65.001,15410
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,59062.00/cwt62.00–62.009861
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,71069.50/cwt69.50–69.501,1881
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,65266.25/cwt66.25–66.251,0945
CowsLean 85-90%1,22549.00/cwt49.00–49.006001
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight94555.00/cwt55.00–55.005201
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight85547.00/cwt47.00–47.004021

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.