Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-03-10

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 10
● Final47 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
299 head
214 vs last sale 85 106 vs year ago 405 · 26.2%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
224 head
323 vs last sale 547 119 vs year ago 105 · +113.3%
Replacement Cattle receipts
101 head
1,644 vs last sale 1,745 52 vs year ago 153 · 34.0%
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 both this week and last to develop any market trend. Demand was light to moderate for light offerings. Demand for all feeder feed cattle was lighter this week. CME positions continue to struggle on nearby months. Lower contract prices coupled with limited offerings led to lighter demand and lower prices. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Market activity was slow to moderate. Weigh up cow sold on moderate to good demand for light offerings. Feeding buyers were the driving force this week pushing cows mostly above where packers were willing to even buy feeding cows. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were average to below average this week and significantly poorer than last week. Some feeding buyers were searching for cows that could be bred within the weigh up cow offering. This created uneven demand at times. Slaughter cows sold steady to firm. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Two year old to young age cows sold generally steady in a narrow comparison.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $143.15/cwt on 103 head.
Average price
$143.15
103 head · 584 lb average
Value per head Derived
$837
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$33
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$4.60/cwt at this weight
vs the market
10.44
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1585143.6884091
Medium and Large 1-2581139.0880712thin
One grade step is worth $4.60/cwt here — about $33 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 sale103 hd
143.15
MT average3 barns · 1,946 hd
153.58
−10.44
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
BullsAverage1,91983.631,60524
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,41962.0988148
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,65560.3299812
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,15656.64654100

Every lot, as filed

47 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%1,06045.44/cwt45.00–46.004822
CowsLean 85-90%1,20156.23/cwt53.00–57.006757
CowsBoner 80-85%1,38860.99/cwt59.00–63.008472
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,44963.52/cwt61.00–66.0092031
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,26561.23/cwt58.00–64.0077517
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,15570.00/cwt70.00–70.008091
Bulls1,93486.14/cwt84.00–90.501,6667
Bulls2,03092.35/cwt91.50–93.001,8755
HeifersMedium and Large 1626134.50/cwt132.00–141.508429
BullsMedium and Large 1700124.00/cwt124.00–124.008682
BullsMedium and Large 1949118.00/cwt118.00–118.001,1204
SteersMedium and Large 1408190.50/cwt190.50–190.5077725
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2695123.00/cwt123.00–123.008552
BullsMedium and Large 1897117.00/cwt117.00–117.001,04910
BullsMedium and Large 1843117.95/cwt117.00–118.0099421
HeifersMedium and Large 1713124.00/cwt124.00–124.008845
SteersMedium and Large 1806127.50/cwt127.50–127.501,0287
SteersMedium and Large 1-2463179.00/cwt179.00–179.008292
HeifersMedium and Large 1528156.50/cwt156.50–156.508269
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2528142.00/cwt142.00–142.007502
SteersMedium and Large 1-2678138.50/cwt138.50–138.509396
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2565142.37/cwt142.00–143.508048
HeifersMedium and Large 1471159.70/cwt159.50–160.0075217
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,02568.00/cwt68.00–68.006971
SteersMedium and Large 1-2774127.50/cwt127.50–127.5098712
SteersMedium and Large 1552165.97/cwt165.50–167.0091616
HeifersMedium and Large 1572146.37/cwt145.00–152.0083730
SteersMedium and Large 1-2612144.83/cwt143.00–149.0088613
HeifersMedium and Large 1672130.00/cwt130.00–130.0087421
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,64259.32/cwt58.00–62.009745
SteersMedium and Large 1-2372187.50/cwt187.50–187.506983
BullsLarge 1Fancy1,060112.00/cwt112.00–112.001,1871
BullsLarge 11,020112.00/cwt112.00–112.001,1421
Stock CowsMedium and Large 198299.74/cwt85.00–113.5097915
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,08073.16/cwt58.00–90.0079047
Bulls1,86478.54/cwt74.50–83.501,46412
BullsMedium and Large 1480172.50/cwt172.50–172.508281
CowsBoner 80-85%1,33068.00/cwt68.00–68.009041
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight91557.50/cwt57.50–57.505261
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,36566.00/cwt66.00–66.009011
CowsLean 85-90%1,24958.55/cwt57.50–60.5073111
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,34558.90/cwt55.00–61.007929
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,68263.80/cwt62.00–65.001,0735
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight99554.00/cwt54.00–54.005371
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,11255.21/cwt53.00–57.0061460
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,62054.12/cwt52.00–56.008772
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40756.23/cwt51.00–59.007914

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.