Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-01-06

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jan 6
● Final43 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
408 head
451 vs last sale 859 247 vs year ago 655 · 37.7%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
659 head
194 vs last sale 853 499 vs year ago 160 · +311.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
211 head
13 vs last sale 224 910 vs year ago 1,121 · 81.2%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers sold with lower undertones in a narrow comparison. Steer and heifer calves were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steers and heifers under 500 lbs sold with higher undertones and steers and heifers over 500 lbs sold with lower undertones. Demand was mostly light to moderate for light offerings. Not enough cattle were on offer for buyers to dig in and start loads. Most cattle were weaned this sale. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to run on grass and develop into yearlings. CME contracts have been volatile over the last few days and buyers showed some caution this sale as they bid on offerings. Market activity was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for moderate offerings. Packer buyers were reserved this sale and let feeding buyers purchase the majority of the cows on offer. Slaughter cows sold 2.00-4.00 lower on breaking cows, and mostly 1.00 lower on boning and lean cows. Feeding cows sold generally steady to weak. Cow quality this week was average to attractive. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average for buyers as most cows were very full. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-3.00 lower. Young age cows sold on mostly light demand this sale. Quality was average to attractive. Demand for rebreed cows has diminished as it is getting too late in the season for fall breeding programs. Additionally, higher grain prices makes this class less appealing to feed. Young age cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $139.64/cwt on 217 head.
Average price
$139.64
217 head · 644 lb average
Value per head Derived
$899
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$265
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$36.59/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 1598144.09861187
Medium 1759119.009039thin
Medium and Large 1-2737117.008623thin
Large 11,048107.501,12718thin
One grade step is worth $36.59/cwt here — about −$265 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 sale217 hd
139.64
MT average2 barns · 641 hd
147.85
−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
BullsHigh1,83872.801,33835
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,58853.6585223
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,42751.46734210
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,20345.71550227

Every lot, as filed

43 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 1689136.50/cwt136.50–136.509405
SteersMedium and Large 1743130.09/cwt129.00–135.009679
HeifersMedium and Large 1569133.45/cwt131.00–137.007595
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned330170.00/cwt170.00–170.0056170
BullsMedium and Large 1704123.00/cwt123.00–123.008668
HeifersMedium and Large 1677130.36/cwt123.00–132.5088313
CowsLean 85-90%1,20643.00/cwt40.00–47.00519111
HeifersLarge 11,048107.50/cwt107.50–107.501,12718
CowsBoner 80-85%1,51054.33/cwt53.00–55.008205
CowsBoner 80-85%1,52539.50/cwt39.50–39.506022
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,22351.88/cwt47.50–55.0063462
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,71950.23/cwt46.00–54.008634
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,42454.04/cwt49.50–57.00770137
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,04466.91/cwt47.00–82.00699125
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,56552.17/cwt47.50–54.0081611
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,209975.00/cwt975.00–975.0011,7884
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1551,050.00/cwt1,050.00–1,050.0012,1283
HeifersMedium 1759119.00/cwt119.00–119.009039
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,62557.00/cwt57.00–57.009261
SteersMedium and Large 1472177.97/cwt176.00–180.0084018
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2737117.00/cwt117.00–117.008623
HeifersMedium and Large 1545137.00/cwt137.00–137.007473
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed96047.00/cwt47.00–47.004511
Stock CowsMedium and Large 194578.16/cwt75.50–90.0073935
SteersMedium and Large 1423189.00/cwt189.00–189.007994
SteersMedium and Large 1632141.09/cwt139.00–143.5089215
HeifersMedium and Large 1608128.00/cwt127.00–129.0077812
HeifersMedium and Large 1482152.00/cwt152.00–152.0073311
HeifersMedium and Large 1426154.00/cwt154.00–154.006566
SteersMedium and Large 1-2710125.00/cwt125.00–125.008882
HeifersMedium and Large 1867121.50/cwt121.50–121.501,05335
SteersMedium and Large 1529165.50/cwt165.50–165.508758
HeifersMedium and Large 1934121.50/cwt121.50–121.501,13532
Bulls1,86783.29/cwt83.00–83.501,5553
Bulls2,04477.48/cwt75.00–80.001,5845
CowsLean 85-90%1,14737.71/cwt33.00–39.0043312
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,42546.35/cwt44.00–48.0066043
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42446.04/cwt41.50–48.5065623
Bulls1,79770.77/cwt61.50–74.501,27227
CowsLean 85-90%1,19749.00/cwt49.00–49.005873
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,22059.00/cwt59.00–59.007201
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,54557.44/cwt57.00–58.508877
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,17945.45/cwt42.00–47.0053638

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.