Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-12-16

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Dec 16
● Final77 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
859 head
459 vs last sale 400 434 vs year ago 425 · +102.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
853 head
102 vs last sale 955 599 vs year ago 254 · +235.8%
Replacement Cattle receipts
224 head
175 vs last sale 399 777 vs year ago 1,001 · 77.6%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Steer calves were too lightly tested either this week or 2 weeks ago to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Heifer calves sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and mostly offered in small to moderate size packages. Many odd and end cattle sold today as ranchers cleaned up supplies as this was the last sale of the year. Demand was moderate for mostly light to moderate offerings. Heifer demand was stronger than steer demand as buyers have started to purchase heifers to spay and run on grass. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Packer buyers were much more active in purchasing cows for immediate harvest this week. Packers showed the best demand for boning and breaking cows this week. Packers also pressured feeding buyers as they purchased high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Feeding cows sold generally steady. Cow quality this week was mostly average. Cows and bulls offered buyers mostly average to below average weigh up conditions this sale. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher. Two year old to young age cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand this sale. Quality was average. This class of cows sold sold generally steady to 3.00 higher.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $155.70/cwt on 366 head.
Average price
$155.70
366 head · 552 lb average
Value per head Derived
$860
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$145
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium 1
$19.84/cwt at this weight
vs the market
10.37
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2492157.3477472
Medium and Large 1578156.65905273
Medium and Large 2425137.7858618thin
Medium 1457137.506283thin
One grade step is worth $19.84/cwt here — about $145 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 sale366 hd
155.70
MT average4 barns · 4,195 hd
166.07
−10.37
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
BullsAverage1,81174.071,34139
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,60957.6692825
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,40452.27734247
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,19546.03550195

Every lot, as filed

77 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
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,502850.00/cwt850.00–850.0012,7673
BullsReturn to Feed1,25579.00/cwt79.00–79.009911
BullsReturn to Feed1,50168.64/cwt65.00–74.001,0305
Bulls2,11581.31/cwt79.50–83.001,7205
Bulls2,13684.91/cwt82.00–86.001,8145
CowsLean 85-90%1,15435.06/cwt30.00–38.5040523
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,38353.67/cwt50.50–61.00742110
HeifersMedium and Large 1435159.78/cwt159.50–160.0069530
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned346167.50/cwt167.50–167.505807
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned486152.42/cwt152.00–153.007417
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned315192.00/cwt190.00–197.506054
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned579136.91/cwt135.00–137.0079321
HeifersMedium and Large 1894127.00/cwt127.00–127.001,1354
SteersMedium and Large 1502172.12/cwt167.00–173.0086414
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned546160.00/cwt160.00–160.0087455
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned711124.00/cwt124.00–124.008826
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned471175.05/cwt171.00–175.5082421
HeifersMedium and Large 1518147.32/cwt144.50–148.0076331
SteersMedium and Large 1681140.86/cwt140.00–141.0095921
SteersMedium and Large 1953123.00/cwt123.00–123.001,17211
HeifersMedium and Large 1323170.49/cwt165.00–176.5055112
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned521149.00/cwt149.00–149.007767
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned420177.50/cwt177.50–177.507461
SteersMedium and Large 1610149.87/cwt148.00–152.0091415
HeifersMedium and Large 1463159.00/cwt159.00–159.007367
HeifersMedium and Large 1553140.00/cwt140.00–140.0077413
HeifersMedium and Large 1630133.38/cwt132.00–135.5084036
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned639142.46/cwt142.00–143.0091013
CowsLean 85-90%1,28050.09/cwt49.50–54.0064115
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,60254.18/cwt52.00–58.008683
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,31648.44/cwt43.00–49.0063736
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,60856.05/cwt48.00–58.5090115
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,17445.73/cwt39.00–48.5053772
Bulls1,76671.10/cwt61.00–77.001,25623
CowsBoner 80-85%1,49353.54/cwt50.00–59.0079939
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight97740.61/cwt39.00–44.003973
CowsLean 85-90%1,21743.90/cwt38.00–47.0053437
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,59562.49/cwt61.00–63.009974
CowsLean 85-90%1,25059.00/cwt59.00–59.007381
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,45362.25/cwt62.00–62.509044
SteersMedium 1457137.50/cwt137.50–137.506283
CowsBoner 80-85%1,49760.70/cwt60.00–60.7590913
BullsLarge 11,07099.02/cwt94.00–104.001,0604
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,64262.78/cwt61.00–64.001,0313
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,23251.48/cwt48.50–55.0063437
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,14659.50/cwt59.50–59.506827
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,531900.00/cwt900.00–900.0013,7794
CowsBoner 80-85%1,41747.50/cwt42.00–48.5067345
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,04269.28/cwt55.00–78.0072220
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed80172.50/cwt63.00–77.505814
Stock CowsMedium and Large 198879.88/cwt64.00–90.00789103
BullsMedium and Large 1-2593130.50/cwt130.50–130.5077410
HeifersMedium 1417139.00/cwt139.00–139.0058013
SteersMedium and Large 1-2693135.00/cwt135.00–135.009364
SteersMedium and Large 1-2418169.87/cwt162.50–177.507102
SteersMedium and Large 2Unweaned388140.00/cwt140.00–140.0054313
SteersMedium and Large 2522132.00/cwt132.00–132.006895
SteersMedium and Large 1486169.00/cwt169.00–169.008218
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,12565.57/cwt52.00–69.507386
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2477136.00/cwt136.00–136.006498
SteersMedium and Large 1-2338167.50/cwt167.50–167.505664
SteersMedium and Large 1-2607139.00/cwt139.00–139.008443
SteersMedium and Large 1-2372165.00/cwt165.00–165.006145
SteersMedium and Large 1410179.00/cwt179.00–179.0073420
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2388146.00/cwt146.00–146.005664
HeifersMedium and Large 1382163.00/cwt163.00–163.0062327
SteersMedium and Large 1-2519151.46/cwt145.00–156.007867
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned489159.69/cwt159.00–166.0078138
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned400178.00/cwt178.00–178.007123
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned718131.00/cwt131.00–131.009413
SteersMedium and Large 1-2559145.66/cwt141.00–148.008146
SteersMedium and Large 1566156.41/cwt149.00–160.5088561
BullsMedium and Large 1-2532134.00/cwt134.00–134.007136
BullsMedium and Large 1-297897.00/cwt97.00–97.009495
SteersMedium and Large 1347190.00/cwt190.00–190.006593
SteersMedium and Large 1740134.17/cwt134.00–136.0099323
BullsMedium and Large 1-2490144.00/cwt144.00–144.007065

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.