Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-04-15

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Apr 15
● Final51 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,988 head
1,813 vs last sale 175 3,632 vs year ago 5,620 · 64.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
15 head
30 vs last sale 45 335 vs year ago 350 · 95.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
24 head
159 vs last sale 183 48 vs year ago 72 · 66.7%
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 last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on a significantly higher quality offering. Demand was mostly moderate for moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Many sets of cattle were strictly developed for grass and were in thin to light flesh. Many sets of cattle were one iron and home-raised. Additionally, many sets of cattle were offered as load lots. These cattle were met with the best demand. CME positions continue to trade with lots of volatility casting more uncertainty in the market. Market activity this week was mostly moderate to active with many buyers in the stands actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for very light offerings. Packers purchased cows sticky for harvest this week as a late season snow storm in the Midwest has lightened available supplies. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $127.29/cwt on 1,016 head.
Average price
$127.29
1,016 head · 685 lb average
Value per head Derived
$872
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$93
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$11.18/cwt at this weight
vs the market
1.21
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1686128.12879941
Medium and Large 1-2672116.9478675
One grade step is worth $11.18/cwt here — about $93 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 sale1,016 hd
127.29
MT average2 barns · 1,183 hd
128.51
−1.21
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
BullsAverage2,01677.601,5655thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,35552.007052thin
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,22451.946366thin

Every lot, as filed

51 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 1-2733118.95/cwt117.00–122.0087234
SteersMedium 2682113.50/cwt113.50–113.507747
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2791103.35/cwt101.50–104.0081738
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2680114.95/cwt113.00–116.0078215
HeifersMedium and Large 1623130.04/cwt125.25–137.0081063
HeifersMedium and Large 1490151.38/cwt149.00–152.0074248
HeifersMedium and Large 1755116.50/cwt116.50–116.5088044
HeifersMedium and Large 1877102.00/cwt102.00–102.0089523
HeifersMedium and Large 1849102.50/cwt102.50–102.5087018
SteersMedium and Large 1-2570147.00/cwt147.00–147.008382
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed664155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,02910
SteersMedium and Large 1631154.63/cwt142.00–157.50976170
SteersMedium and Large 1781124.39/cwt120.25–124.50971156
SteersMedium and Large 1802120.33/cwt119.50–120.5096587
HeifersMedium and Large 1543149.00/cwt149.00–149.00809123
HeifersMedium and Large 1680120.51/cwt119.25–121.2581991
HeifersMedium and Large 1572141.16/cwt138.50–145.5080775
SteersMedium 2760113.00/cwt113.00–113.0085910
HeifersMedium and Large 1745114.00/cwt114.00–114.0084911
HeifersMedium and Large 1Full774105.00/cwt105.00–105.0081310
BullsMedium and Large 180325.00/cwt275.00–350.002603
BullsMedium and Large 194898.00/cwt98.00–98.009293
BullsMedium 1-2463130.00/cwt130.00–130.006027
BullsMedium 1-2520127.50/cwt127.50–127.506633
BullsLarge 11,17381.00/cwt81.00–81.009502
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,46148.50/cwt48.50–48.507094
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,18050.00/cwt50.00–50.005901
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,17272.71/cwt54.00–75.0085213
SteersMedium and Large 1728125.32/cwt124.50–125.5091211
SteersMedium and Large 1541164.00/cwt164.00–164.0088714
SteersMedium and Large 1477167.07/cwt165.00–168.5079723
SteersMedium and Large 1866110.43/cwt109.50–111.5095634
SteersMedium and Large 1912110.30/cwt110.00–110.501,00647
SteersMedium and Large 1674134.10/cwt131.00–138.5090471
SteersMedium and Large 1572162.60/cwt158.00–168.0093077
SteersMedium and Large 1-2757119.00/cwt119.00–119.009013
SteersMedium and Large 1-2830107.50/cwt107.50–107.5089210
SteersMedium and Large 1-2641125.00/cwt125.00–125.0080113
HeifersMedium and Large 1Replacement740126.20/cwt124.00–129.00934255
HeifersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed768119.00/cwt119.00–119.00914180
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2617121.00/cwt121.00–121.007473
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2470143.32/cwt141.00–145.506746
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2422145.85/cwt143.50–147.0061513
Bulls2,05576.00/cwt76.00–76.001,5621
Bulls1,83073.50/cwt73.50–73.501,3452
Bulls2,18382.50/cwt82.50–82.501,8012
CowsBoner 80-85%1,15554.00/cwt54.00–54.006241
CowsBoner 80-85%1,55550.00/cwt50.00–50.007781
CowsLean 85-90%1,28356.50/cwt56.50–56.507252
CowsLean 85-90%1,27751.21/cwt48.00–53.006543
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight94545.00/cwt45.00–45.004251

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.