Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-04-08

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Apr 8
● Final31 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
175 head
143 vs last sale 318 95 vs year ago 270 · 35.2%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
45 head
73 vs last sale 118 183 vs year ago 228 · 80.3%
Replacement Cattle receipts
183 head
170 vs last sale 353 38 vs year ago 145 · +26.2%
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 an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly light on light offerings. Quality this week was very plain and buyers showed limited demand for cattle as a result. Cattle were mostly offered in small packages or as singles. CME positions continue to trade with lots of volatility. CME positions today were up 4.95 on the April, 5.575 in the May and 6.55 on the August as expanded limits were seen today after yesterdays limits were reached. Market activity this week was slow. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light demand for light offerings. Packers purchased cows for harvest on very light demand. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-6.00 lower. Feeding cows sold mostly 4.00-7.00 lower as packer buyers showed light demand for cows for feed or slaughter. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold generally steady. Demand from feeding buyers remains moderate as buyers opt to feed low cost animals.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $138.90/cwt on 52 head.
Average price
$138.90
52 head · 649 lb average
Value per head Derived
$902
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$22
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$18.92/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+5.76
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1642140.7290347
Medium and Large 1-2723121.808815thin
One grade step is worth $18.92/cwt here — about $22 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 sale52 hd
138.90
MT average3 barns · 1,436 hd
133.14
+5.76
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
BullsLow1,89372.141,36613
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,52945.5569610
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,75041.517262thin
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,12538.394329thin

Every lot, as filed

31 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 11,08093.00/cwt93.00–93.001,0042
BullsLarge 1-21,07592.00/cwt92.00–92.009891
BullsMedium and Large 1380165.00/cwt165.00–165.006272
BullsMedium and Large 1757102.00/cwt102.00–102.007723
BullsMedium and Large 196895.50/cwt94.00–97.009244
BullsMedium and Large 1-286289.99/cwt88.00–91.007763
SteersMedium and Large 1-2777115.00/cwt115.00–115.008943
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,31450.91/cwt44.00–58.0066930
Stock CowsMedium and Large 194583.30/cwt61.00–96.0078764
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,13862.40/cwt52.00–75.0071034
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,40248.08/cwt44.00–55.0067416
HeifersMedium and Large 1676126.50/cwt126.50–126.508557
SteersMedium and Large 1615145.00/cwt145.00–145.008922
SteersMedium and Large 1722124.50/cwt124.50–124.5089922
SteersMedium and Large 1567155.86/cwt151.00–158.0088423
SteersMedium and Large 1-2625132.00/cwt132.00–132.008251
SteersMedium and Large 1-2660132.00/cwt132.00–132.008711
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,75041.51/cwt41.00–42.007262
CowsLean 85-90%1,05547.00/cwt47.00–47.004961
HeifersMedium and Large 1556135.79/cwt135.00–143.0075510
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2505141.00/cwt141.00–141.007122
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2770114.00/cwt114.00–114.008782
HeifersMedium and Large 2540127.50/cwt127.50–127.506893
Bulls1,77563.80/cwt62.00–66.001,1323
Bulls1,89874.16/cwt69.00–76.001,4089
Bulls2,20079.00/cwt79.00–79.001,7381
CowsLean 85-90%1,18241.75/cwt41.00–43.504936
CowsBoner 80-85%1,48247.00/cwt47.00–47.006975
CowsBoner 80-85%1,57544.09/cwt43.00–46.006945
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,30541.70/cwt41.00–43.505443
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight99024.00/cwt24.00–24.002382

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.