Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-03-17

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 17
● Final55 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
304 head
5 vs last sale 299 169 vs year ago 135 · +125.2%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
252 head
28 vs last sale 224 140 vs year ago 112 · +125.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
120 head
19 vs last sale 101 85 vs year ago 35 · +242.9%
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 an accurate market trend, however steers under 550 lbs sold with lower undertones and steers over 550 lbs sold with higher undertones. All weights of heifers sold with higher undertones. Demand was moderate to good for light offerings. Rain and snow fell across much of the center portions of the country breathing new life into grass cattle demand. Most offerings under 700 lbs for steers and under 650 lbs for heifers were competitively bid on for grass programs. Canadian buyers were also competitive with grass cattle buyers over offerings. Market activity was mostly active today. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light offerings. Packers were the driving force in the market this week as they showed need for cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 higher. Feeding cows sold steady to weak on a lower quality offering. Packers opted to send a large portion of the cow offering to slaughter this week. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00-4.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to 5.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Quality was mostly average this week.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $148.27/cwt on 152 head.
Average price
$148.27
152 head · 574 lb average
Value per head Derived
$851
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$213
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium 1-2
$6.65/cwt at this weight
vs the market
2.34
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2506149.1575546
Medium and Large 1612148.10907102
Medium 1-2380142.505424thin
One grade step is worth $6.65/cwt here — about $213 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 sale152 hd
148.27
MT average3 barns · 3,276 hd
150.61
−2.34
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
BullsLow1,71978.211,34420
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,39362.5487166
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,59560.4896517
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,16959.21692134

Every lot, as filed

55 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
BullsReturn to Feed1,30477.50/cwt77.50–77.501,0115
CowsBoner 80-85%1,55372.00/cwt72.00–72.001,1182
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42163.44/cwt61.00–65.5090120
CowsLean 85-90%1,10547.00/cwt47.00–47.005191
HeifersMedium and Large 1574156.50/cwt156.50–156.5089815
SteersMedium and Large 1921127.23/cwt125.00–128.001,1724
HeifersMedium and Large 1820124.00/cwt124.00–124.001,0172
SteersMedium and Large 1471178.60/cwt177.00–180.008419
HeifersMedium and Large 1533157.27/cwt154.00–158.0083811
HeifersMedium and Large 1445164.50/cwt164.50–164.507329
HeifersMedium and Large 1763133.68/cwt133.00–134.001,02019
SteersMedium and Large 1664156.01/cwt149.00–160.001,03613
BullsMedium and Large 1902123.00/cwt123.00–123.001,10911
SteersMedium and Large 1581173.75/cwt170.00–181.001,00925
HeifersMedium and Large 1707135.50/cwt135.50–135.509583
SteersMedium and Large 1430189.00/cwt189.00–189.008133
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2727124.00/cwt124.00–124.009013
SteersMedium and Large 1-2526156.69/cwt156.00–162.508249
HeifersMedium and Large 1605147.00/cwt144.50–149.7588923
SteersMedium and Large 1-2467169.50/cwt169.50–169.5079211
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2567141.02/cwt135.00–147.008004
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2798123.00/cwt123.00–123.009823
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2530147.00/cwt147.00–147.007793
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed87762.27/cwt58.00–64.005464
SteersMedium and Large 1501176.00/cwt176.00–176.008828
HeifersMedium and Large 1470162.00/cwt162.00–162.007618
HeifersMedium and Large 1670139.75/cwt139.75–139.7593612
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2427157.60/cwt152.50–165.5067330
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2677129.00/cwt129.00–129.008733
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,23048.00/cwt48.00–48.005901
SteersMedium and Large 1-2559154.00/cwt154.00–154.008614
HeifersMedium 1-2380142.50/cwt142.50–142.505424
SteersMedium 1-2475145.00/cwt145.00–145.006895
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,18571.00/cwt71.00–71.008411
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,07470.74/cwt61.00–89.0076041
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,68563.00/cwt63.00–63.001,0621
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,02394.36/cwt80.50–106.5096545
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight96356.51/cwt56.00–57.005442
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,19962.06/cwt59.00–63.0074452
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight96254.45/cwt53.00–55.005249
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,56060.00/cwt60.00–60.009361
Bulls1,79276.70/cwt75.00–80.501,37411
BullsLarge 11,095105.00/cwt105.00–105.001,1501
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,57860.91/cwt60.50–61.5096111
CowsLean 85-90%1,18456.40/cwt55.00–58.5066834
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,34066.00/cwt66.00–66.008841
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,37962.44/cwt61.50–65.0086132
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,62858.80/cwt57.75–60.009574
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight94344.50/cwt44.50–44.504202
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40659.05/cwt57.00–60.008306
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,30759.34/cwt58.00–60.507765
CowsLean 85-90%1,12065.00/cwt65.00–65.007281
Bulls2,48587.00/cwt87.00–87.002,1621
CowsLean 85-90%1,19160.56/cwt58.00–64.0072132
Bulls1,88582.00/cwt82.00–82.001,5463

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.