Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-03-25

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 25
● Final27 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
165 head
30 vs last sale 135 165 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
303 head
191 vs last sale 112 303 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
443 head
408 vs last sale 35 443 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 all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. CME positions have pushed sharply higher over the last few days giving buyers some confidence in the market. Market activity this week was moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for moderate offerings. Packers continue to show good to very good demand for cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher on all classes of cows. Packers showed the best demand for lean cows as they search for lean grinding materials to blend down fed cow trimmings. Packers were also active in purchasing high quality cows to put on feed. Feeding cows were not tested last week as most offerings were destined for harvest, thus no trend can be established. Demand for feeding cows was mostly good this week. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold 2.00-5.00 higher as improved feeding demand and higher fed cattle prices helped improve demand.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $143.85/cwt on 96 head.
Average price
$143.85
96 head · 603 lb average
Value per head Derived
$867
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$259
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 1
$9.55/cwt at this weight
vs the market
6.74
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2404153.006184thin
Medium and Large 1612143.4587792
One grade step is worth $9.55/cwt here — about −$259 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 sale96 hd
143.85
MT average3 barns · 402 hd
150.59
−6.74
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
BullsLow1,78183.941,49521
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,43767.19966101
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,60365.481,05010
CowsLean 85-90%High1,20964.13776122

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 11,003103.00/cwt103.00–103.001,0333
Bulls1,79677.20/cwt65.00–80.001,3878
Bulls1,66686.10/cwt82.00–90.001,43410
Bulls2,12394.72/cwt93.00–95.502,0113
CowsBoner 80-85%1,50570.50/cwt70.50–70.501,0612
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40763.69/cwt61.00–64.5089610
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4181,325.00/cwt1,325.00–1,325.0018,7899
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,1081,325.00/cwt1,325.00–1,325.0014,6812
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,33866.18/cwt64.75–70.5088572
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,33167.81/cwt63.00–73.0090391
Stock CowsMedium and Large 199287.89/cwt71.00–100.5087272
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,17369.20/cwt64.50–77.0081248
HeifersMedium and Large 1473163.00/cwt163.00–163.0077110
HeifersMedium and Large 1716125.50/cwt125.50–125.5089913
HeifersMedium and Large 1612144.00/cwt144.00–144.0088169
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2404153.00/cwt153.00–153.006184
SteersMedium and Large 1569167.00/cwt167.00–167.009506
SteersMedium and Large 1642152.50/cwt152.50–152.509797
CowsBoner 80-85%1,43967.51/cwt64.00–70.0097189
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,66564.00/cwt64.00–64.001,0664
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,56266.47/cwt65.50–67.001,0386
CowsLean 85-90%1,24570.50/cwt70.50–70.508781
CowsLean 85-90%1,25466.49/cwt65.00–68.5083458
CowsLean 85-90%1,17562.06/cwt53.00–64.5072961
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,05358.88/cwt58.50–59.0062026
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,12559.00/cwt59.00–59.006641
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight95355.49/cwt55.00–56.005292

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.