Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-03-24

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 24
● Final71 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
446 head
142 vs last sale 304 281 vs year ago 165 · +170.3%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
254 head
2 vs last sale 252 49 vs year ago 303 · 16.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
123 head
3 vs last sale 120 320 vs year ago 443 · 72.2%
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 and heifers sold with steady to weak undertones. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and overall not as attractive as last week. Demand was light to moderate for light offerings. Limited offerings caused limited demand as some buyers were not willing to start loads as this is the last sale in Billings for the week. CME positions traded higher today as packers paid higher money for fat cattle. Market activity was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand. Feeding buyers were aggressive as they bid against packers over offerings. Packers showed good demand for both slaughter and feeding cows this week. Muddy conditions and some flooding have been reported in locations that saw heavy snow last week. This continues to keep cow supplies tight. Slaughter cows sold 1.00-2.00 higher on breaking and boning cows lean cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher on all classes. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady firm. Quality was mostly average this week.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $145.76/cwt on 195 head.
Average price
$145.76
195 head · 609 lb average
Value per head Derived
$888
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$168
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 1
$3.71/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+1.17
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2503148.8274834
Medium and Large 1632145.11917161
One grade step is worth $3.71/cwt here — about −$168 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 sale195 hd
145.76
MT average3 barns · 603 hd
144.58
+1.17
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
BullsHigh1,89984.851,61233
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,42263.1289781
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,59362.6899921
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,19661.7073878

Every lot, as filed

71 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
Bulls2,05991.81/cwt89.00–96.001,8907
BullsHeavy Weight2,52592.50/cwt92.50–92.502,3361
BullsLight Weight1,37083.00/cwt83.00–83.001,1371
CowsBoner 80-85%1,35568.50/cwt68.50–68.509282
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,39964.49/cwt63.00–66.2590226
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,57067.00/cwt67.00–67.001,0521
HeifersMedium and Large 1660138.65/cwt136.00–139.009159
HeifersMedium and Large 1388167.50/cwt167.50–167.506504
SteersMedium and Large 1715143.99/cwt142.50–146.001,03029
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,22063.68/cwt63.00–66.0077729
Bulls1,89485.21/cwt82.00–88.501,61418
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,47963.75/cwt63.00–65.009437
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,57560.01/cwt59.00–61.009452
CowsBoner 80-85%1,38464.48/cwt63.50–66.5089216
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,15560.95/cwt53.00–63.0070419
CowsLean 85-90%1,25657.12/cwt54.00–62.0071711
Bulls1,79975.65/cwt72.00–78.001,3615
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight99055.00/cwt55.00–55.005451
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight99865.00/cwt65.00–65.006492
CowsLean 85-90%1,24864.46/cwt63.50–65.0080411
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,60564.69/cwt64.50–65.001,0386
BullsLarge 11,15095.00/cwt95.00–95.001,0931
CowsBoner 80-85%1,50060.96/cwt55.00–62.5091422
CowsLean 85-90%1,03851.49/cwt51.00–52.005342
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,72160.31/cwt57.00–62.001,0386
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,17868.68/cwt68.00–69.508092
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight97045.00/cwt45.00–45.004371
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,430975.00/cwt975.00–975.0013,9432
BullsLight Weight1,28570.00/cwt70.00–70.009001
SteersMedium 1495174.00/cwt174.00–174.008613
SteersLarge 11,104120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,3254
BullsLarge 11,054108.00/cwt108.00–108.001,1384
BullsLarge 11,14095.00/cwt95.00–95.001,0833
BullsMedium and Large 2373135.00/cwt135.00–135.005044
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,38261.36/cwt60.00–62.5084814
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1951,100.00/cwt1,100.00–1,100.0013,1452
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,06182.83/cwt78.00–84.008799
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1331,250.00/cwt1,250.00–1,250.0014,1634
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,02691.28/cwt80.00–110.0093735
BullsMedium and Large 1685138.00/cwt138.00–138.009451
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3961,228.22/cwt1,200.00–1,275.0017,14621
SteersMedium and Large 1-2532172.32/cwt169.00–173.0091712
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2457155.00/cwt155.00–155.007085
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2635136.00/cwt136.00–136.008642
BullsMedium and Large 1-2556141.00/cwt141.00–141.007846
SteersMedium and Large 1621162.07/cwt162.00–162.501,00615
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2427157.20/cwt155.00–161.0067119
BullsMedium and Large 1-2473155.00/cwt155.00–155.0073311
SteersMedium and Large 1-2560157.00/cwt157.00–157.008791
HeifersMedium and Large 1754131.43/cwt129.00–131.5099150
BullsMedium and Large 1617144.98/cwt143.00–147.008956
BullsMedium and Large 1445177.50/cwt177.50–177.507901
SteersMedium and Large 1-2472172.11/cwt168.00–175.0081228
SteersMedium and Large 1482178.33/cwt178.00–179.008603
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2679128.26/cwt128.00–129.008718
SteersMedium and Large 1680148.00/cwt148.00–148.001,0063
HeifersMedium and Large 1706132.50/cwt132.50–132.509357
HeifersMedium and Large 1628143.90/cwt139.00–147.0090445
SteersMedium and Large 1-2645149.00/cwt149.00–149.009615
SteersMedium and Large 1830131.00/cwt131.00–131.001,0875
HeifersMedium and Large 1580146.91/cwt146.50–149.008526
SteersMedium and Large 1442191.43/cwt190.00–195.0084612
SteersMedium and Large 1567164.72/cwt163.00–165.009347
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,17271.00/cwt71.00–71.008326
HeifersMedium and Large 1517163.15/cwt157.00–167.0084318
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,12873.05/cwt62.00–84.0082421
SteersMedium and Large 1928128.00/cwt128.00–128.001,1882
SteersMedium and Large 1883132.00/cwt132.00–132.001,1664
BullsMedium and Large 1369195.00/cwt195.00–195.007205
HeifersMedium and Large 1479166.02/cwt163.00–168.0079522
SteersMedium and Large 1519174.65/cwt174.00–176.0090627

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.