Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-01-20

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jan 20
● Final54 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
455 head
56 vs last sale 399 12 vs year ago 467 · 2.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
430 head
201 vs last sale 631 241 vs year ago 189 · +127.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
105 head
171 vs last sale 276 164 vs year ago 269 · 61.0%
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 steady to higher undertones were noticed. Quality this sale was mostly plain to average in small packages, with many singles in the mix. Demand was mostly moderate on an active market. Most cattle were weaned this sale. CME feeder cattle positions have inched higher over the past week as grain prices slid slightly lower. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packer buyers showed stronger demand for slaughter classes this week. The cutter cow cutout has inched higher in recent days and packer demand for cows has followed. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher on all classes. Feeding cows sold steady on a lower quality offering. Packers opted to send most cows to immediate slaughter this week. Cow quality this week was mostly plain to average and lower than last week. Weigh up conditions were below average this week with many full offerings seen throughout the day. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher as feeding buyers and packer buyers competed over offerings. Young age cows sold on mostly light demand this sale. Quality was mostly average. Young age cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 lower.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $136.15/cwt on 245 head.
Average price
$136.15
245 head · 607 lb average
Value per head Derived
$826
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$331
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$42.97/cwt at this weight
vs the market
8.65
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1594137.98819216
Medium and Large 1-2515132.9268421
Large 11,21095.011,1508thin
One grade step is worth $42.97/cwt here — about −$331 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 sale245 hd
136.15
MT average4 barns · 2,890 hd
144.80
−8.65
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
BullsHigh1,95084.001,63825
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,73957.901,00721
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,53855.3585115
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,42851.3673499
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,19747.85573166

Every lot, as filed

54 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
CowsLean 85-90%1,23451.10/cwt51.00–52.0063141
BullsHeavy Weight2,49586.29/cwt84.00–90.002,1533
Bulls2,05993.57/cwt90.50–98.001,9274
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight94344.64/cwt35.00–48.504217
CowsBoner 80-85%1,32559.00/cwt59.00–59.007821
CowsBoner 80-85%1,49052.04/cwt51.00–52.507754
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,20749.29/cwt44.00–50.2559510
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,52354.66/cwt54.50–55.508326
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,47655.67/cwt55.00–57.008225
BullsReturn to Feed1,88084.75/cwt83.25–89.501,5935
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,19252.18/cwt51.00–54.0062221
Bulls1,57375.93/cwt73.00–78.501,1942
Bulls1,88483.94/cwt80.00–88.001,5818
BullsReturn to Feed1,60873.92/cwt71.00–78.001,1892
Bulls2,20572.00/cwt72.00–72.001,5881
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40848.64/cwt46.50–51.0068521
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,43452.78/cwt51.00–57.0075754
HeifersMedium and Large 1980104.50/cwt103.50–106.001,02410
HeifersMedium and Large 1640130.58/cwt128.00–131.0083670
HeifersMedium and Large 1414155.00/cwt155.00–155.0064222
SteersMedium and Large 1457180.00/cwt180.00–180.0082318
SteersMedium and Large 1526161.60/cwt160.00–165.0085027
BullsMedium and Large 1842122.00/cwt122.00–122.001,0273
SteersMedium and Large 1663140.11/cwt136.00–143.0092916
HeifersMedium and Large 1878109.00/cwt109.00–109.0095711
HeifersMedium and Large 1460160.00/cwt160.00–160.0073618
SteersMedium and Large 1412184.00/cwt184.00–184.0075817
SteersMedium and Large 1555159.50/cwt159.00–161.008854
HeifersMedium and Large 1675124.50/cwt124.50–124.508404
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2558119.00/cwt119.00–119.006646
SteersMedium and Large 1-2460165.00/cwt165.00–165.007593
SteersMedium and Large 1343185.00/cwt185.00–185.006354
HeifersMedium and Large 1524150.20/cwt146.00–151.5078748
SteersMedium and Large 1-2653137.00/cwt137.00–137.008952
SteersMedium and Large 1-2570151.00/cwt151.00–151.008612
BullsMedium and Large 1542146.00/cwt146.00–146.007913
SteersMedium and Large 1391182.00/cwt182.00–182.007124
SteersMedium and Large 2810113.00/cwt113.00–113.009153
HeifersMedium and Large 1567134.00/cwt134.00–134.0076033
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2445143.24/cwt140.00–151.0063710
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2602129.00/cwt129.00–129.007775
SteersLarge 1-21,012114.00/cwt114.00–114.001,1543
HeifersLarge 11,21095.01/cwt94.00–98.001,1508
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,09493.73/cwt92.00–94.001,0257
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed79365.00/cwt65.00–65.005156
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,02264.79/cwt52.00–72.0066261
SteersMedium and Large 1603155.00/cwt155.00–155.009357
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,73957.90/cwt57.75–60.501,00721
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,53559.00/cwt59.00–59.009062
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,42749.79/cwt47.00–51.0071119
CowsLean 85-90%1,11235.03/cwt33.00–42.0039015
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,73853.00/cwt53.00–53.009212
BullsLarge 11,19692.50/cwt92.50–92.501,1064
CowsLean 85-90%1,21847.52/cwt43.00–50.5057972

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.