Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-02-03

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Feb 3
● Final56 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
222 head
117 vs last sale 105 41 vs year ago 263 · 15.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
309 head
79 vs last sale 388 114 vs year ago 195 · +58.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
123 head
52 vs last sale 71 136 vs year ago 259 · 52.5%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Demand was mostly moderate for very light offerings. Quality was mostly average. Despite light feeder cattle supplies, buyers were quick to bid on offerings as a good crowd of buyers was on hand actively bidding on offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison on all classes. The cutter cow cutout continues to push higher as seasonally light supplies have packers bidding up offerings in order to obtain supplies. Feeding buyers were active today as they pushed packer buyers to put together loads. Feeding cows sold steady to 3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Cow and bull quality this week was mostly average. Weigh up conditions were average to below average today, but better overall than last week. Young age cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand this sale. Quality was average. Young age cows sold steady to 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $121.64/cwt on 75 head.
Average price
$121.64
75 head · 784 lb average
Value per head Derived
$954
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$150
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 1-2
$34.70/cwt at this weight
vs the market
23.84
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2651127.7083117thin
Medium and Large 1736126.9193445
Large 11,24599.501,2395thin
Large 1-21,05593.009818thin
One grade step is worth $34.70/cwt here — about −$150 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 sale75 hd
121.64
MT average3 barns · 1,127 hd
145.49
−23.84
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
BullsLow1,70780.361,37223
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,58560.0495219
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,43158.5683867
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,16652.31610178

Every lot, as filed

56 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
Bulls1,63974.79/cwt70.00–80.001,22612
BullsReturn to Feed1,54583.98/cwt83.00–85.001,2972
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40464.90/cwt63.00–65.7591119
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,46856.75/cwt56.75–56.758333
HeifersMedium and Large 1724125.00/cwt125.00–125.0090512
SteersMedium and Large 1433182.45/cwt180.00–186.007904
BullsMedium and Large 1540153.00/cwt153.00–153.008261
BullsMedium and Large 1570148.00/cwt148.00–148.008441
SteersMedium and Large 1661145.00/cwt145.00–145.009584
SteersMedium and Large 1774132.90/cwt130.50–135.001,02913
HeifersMedium and Large 1926112.54/cwt110.00–115.501,04211
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2533138.67/cwt134.00–143.007394
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2600134.00/cwt134.00–134.008042
SteersMedium and Large 1848128.50/cwt128.50–128.501,0905
HeifersMedium and Large 1625137.00/cwt137.00–137.008565
SteersMedium and Large 1558163.54/cwt159.00–166.009137
SteersMedium and Large 1-2789127.50/cwt127.50–127.501,0064
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2723124.00/cwt124.00–124.008973
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,54956.00/cwt56.00–56.008677
Stock CowsMedium and Large 189594.00/cwt94.00–94.008411
HeifersMedium and Large 1594138.30/cwt137.00–142.0082210
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2826109.00/cwt109.00–109.009005
HeifersMedium and Large 1527151.00/cwt151.00–151.007963
HeifersMedium and Large 1896113.00/cwt113.00–113.001,0124
HeifersLarge 1-21,05593.00/cwt93.00–93.009818
Dairy HeifersLarge 1-2643128.00/cwt128.00–128.008239
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2479143.73/cwt141.00–149.006883
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned508165.00/cwt165.00–165.008382
Dairy HeifersLarge 1-2808121.00/cwt121.00–121.0097811
SteersMedium 1694138.00/cwt138.00–138.0095816
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,14351.80/cwt44.00–55.0059257
CowsLean 85-90%1,01039.45/cwt35.00–43.0039819
Stock CowsMedium and Large 197475.10/cwt57.00–86.0073177
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed94354.00/cwt54.00–54.005096
SteersLarge 11,028122.50/cwt122.50–122.501,2595
Dairy SteersLarge 1-2665133.00/cwt133.00–133.0088410
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,17357.53/cwt56.00–60.5067515
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,43654.03/cwt53.00–54.507766
HeifersLarge 11,24599.50/cwt99.50–99.501,2395
Dairy SteersLarge 1-2809127.50/cwt127.50–127.501,03116
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,62661.29/cwt59.50–62.5099713
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,70062.75/cwt62.75–62.751,0671
CowsLean 85-90%1,19353.38/cwt43.00–55.5063753
CowsLean 85-90%1,26956.54/cwt54.00–59.0071729
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40353.34/cwt52.00–55.0074821
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight91553.00/cwt53.00–53.004851
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,31559.00/cwt59.00–59.007761
CowsBoner 80-85%1,55958.49/cwt55.00–59.0091212
CowsBoner 80-85%1,30863.00/cwt63.00–63.008242
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight1,16538.00/cwt38.00–38.004431
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,55552.00/cwt52.00–52.008091
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,16062.00/cwt62.00–62.007193
Bulls1,84386.54/cwt85.00–90.001,5956
Bulls1,90892.75/cwt92.50–93.001,7702
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40359.72/cwt58.00–62.508387
BullsReturn to Feed1,64078.00/cwt78.00–78.001,2791

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.