Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-06-10

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jun 10
● Final35 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
102 head
69 vs last sale 171 102 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
112 head
6 vs last sale 118 112 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
429 head
77 vs last sale 506 429 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 all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however weak undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and offered in small packages or as singles. Buyers showed mostly light demand for very light offerings. Not enough feeder cattle were offered today to put together loads. Market activity was slow. Weigh up cows comprised the majority of the sale this week as ranchers are culling cows after branding. Cow quality today was mostly average to very attractive. The majority of the offering this week was purchased to feed as many feeding buyers were on hand actively bidding on offerings. Feeding cows sold steady to firm. Packer buyers tried to purchase cows steady, however demand from feeding buyers pushed slaughter cows slightly higher as both feeding and slaughter buyers competed over the same offerings. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 higher on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were not tested as the entire offering was destined to feed this week. Weigh up conditions were average. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Quality was mostly average to attractive. Demand from feeding cow buyers helped improve prices on large heifers and feeding quality cows over 1150 lbs.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $120.95/cwt on 64 head.
Average price
$120.95
64 head · 784 lb average
Value per head Derived
$948
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$90
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 1
$9.80/cwt at this weight
vs the market
8.21
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2678128.9287412thin
Medium and Large 1809119.1196352
One grade step is worth $9.80/cwt here — about −$90 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
120.95
MT average3 barns · 355 hd
129.16
−8.21
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
BullsLow1,90786.661,65338
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,40465.1191423
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,19759.9471744

Every lot, as filed

35 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
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fleshy936106.00/cwt106.00–106.0099217
BullsLarge 11,115106.00/cwt106.00–106.001,1822
BullsMedium and Large 1560154.00/cwt154.00–154.008622
BullsMedium and Large 1-2588138.00/cwt138.00–138.008114
Bulls1,73676.36/cwt72.00–80.001,3265
Bulls2,08695.49/cwt92.00–99.001,9929
Bulls1,87086.09/cwt81.00–90.001,61022
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,34765.97/cwt58.00–69.50889137
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,06186.36/cwt71.00–94.0091623
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,19372.49/cwt63.00–85.0086593
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-298064.00/cwt64.00–64.006271
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,30863.25/cwt59.00–66.0082784
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2980105.00/cwt105.00–105.001,0291
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2553138.00/cwt138.00–138.007632
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2713122.00/cwt122.00–122.008702
SteersMedium and Large 1854121.33/cwt120.00–122.001,0363
SteersMedium and Large 1-2665146.00/cwt146.00–146.009712
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,4741,350.00/cwt1,350.00–1,350.0019,8994
CowsLean 85-90%1,06544.37/cwt42.00–47.004732
HeifersMedium and Large 1606139.00/cwt139.00–139.008424
HeifersMedium and Large 1733125.00/cwt125.00–125.0091610
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2680130.00/cwt130.00–130.008843
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2645133.00/cwt133.00–133.008584
HeifersMedium and Large 1780123.14/cwt122.00–124.0096021
CowsLean 85-90%1,29867.79/cwt67.00–68.508807
CowsLean 85-90%1,20456.44/cwt51.00–59.0068016
CowsLean 85-90%1,20463.01/cwt59.50–64.5075917
CowsBoner 80-85%1,48558.00/cwt58.00–58.008612
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40466.61/cwt66.00–67.0093510
CowsBoner 80-85%1,38965.04/cwt64.00–65.5090311
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,22157.50/cwt51.00–61.0070224
BullsHeavy Weight2,61092.00/cwt92.00–92.002,4011
BullsLight Weight1,26066.00/cwt66.00–66.008321
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight77044.00/cwt44.00–44.003391
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight94556.00/cwt56.00–56.005291

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.