Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-03-31

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 31
● Final61 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
217 head
229 vs last sale 446 101 vs year ago 318 · 31.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
402 head
148 vs last sale 254 284 vs year ago 118 · +240.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
216 head
93 vs last sale 123 137 vs year ago 353 · 38.8%
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 higher undertones. Quality this week was mostly average and slightly better than last week. Demand was mostly moderate for light offerings. More buyers were on hand this sale compared to last week. CME feeder cattle positions sold off today on news of higher feed cost. All contracts traded with triple digit losses. The USDA prospective plantings report showed corn planting intentions just slightly higher than last year. Corn traded up the limit today to close at 564'2 on the May contract. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand again this week. Packers were very aggressive in bidding on slaughter cows for immediate harvest. Feeding buyers were also active in buying cows this week, which pushed all cow prices higher. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-4.00 higher. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher. Cow weigh conditions were average to below average this sale, and overall weigh up conditions were poorer than last week. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold sharply higher, with most sales 10.00-12.00 higher than last week. Demand increased for both cows to feed and rebreed quality cows. Quality was mostly average to attractive.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $141.98/cwt on 108 head.
Average price
$141.98
108 head · 618 lb average
Value per head Derived
$877
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$268
per head · Medium and Large 2 over Large 1
$16.95/cwt at this weight
vs the market
15.01
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 2439150.4566022
Medium and Large 1688139.9696358
Medium and Large 1-2606139.9484926
Large 1695133.509282thin
One grade step is worth $16.95/cwt here — about −$268 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 sale108 hd
141.98
MT average2 barns · 554 hd
156.98
−15.01
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
BullsAverage1,76386.141,51861
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,40265.58919118
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,61063.461,02235
CowsLean 85-90%High1,18763.01748123

Every lot, as filed

61 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
Bulls1,98888.86/cwt86.00–92.501,76718
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,17570.38/cwt70.00–71.008273
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,51261.98/cwt61.00–63.0093712
CowsBoner 80-85%1,43762.83/cwt57.00–64.0090330
CowsBoner 80-85%1,39265.97/cwt64.00–70.0091829
CowsLean 85-90%1,10051.22/cwt45.00–54.005633
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,35267.72/cwt64.00–69.7591643
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,41871.25/cwt71.00–71.501,0104
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,17265.32/cwt64.00–69.5076623
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight98054.49/cwt54.00–55.005342
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight99564.00/cwt64.00–64.006371
CowsLean 85-90%1,23061.31/cwt55.50–64.0075427
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,14061.54/cwt55.00–64.0070238
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,61067.04/cwt66.75–68.001,0796
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,62263.18/cwt58.00–66.501,02514
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,59361.88/cwt56.00–66.0098614
HeifersLarge 1695133.50/cwt133.50–133.509282
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,67068.00/cwt68.00–68.001,1361
BullsLarge 11,169109.30/cwt99.00–116.001,2787
BullsLarge 11,019120.47/cwt118.00–123.001,2284
BullsLarge 11,080120.50/cwt120.00–121.001,3012
BullsLarge 11,120117.00/cwt117.00–117.001,3101
SteersMedium and Large 1788136.00/cwt136.00–136.001,0725
CowsLean 85-90%1,25865.99/cwt64.00–68.0083026
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,02997.76/cwt78.00–120.001,006119
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,09782.26/cwt64.00–106.0090251
SteersMedium 1428188.00/cwt188.00–188.008055
SteersMedium 1580166.00/cwt166.00–166.009632
HeifersMedium and Large 2387153.00/cwt153.00–153.005928
SteersLarge 11,050124.00/cwt124.00–124.001,3022
SteersMedium and Large 2453160.00/cwt160.00–160.007254
HeifersMedium and Large 2468149.00/cwt149.00–149.0069714
HeifersMedium and Large 1666143.57/cwt137.00–148.0095610
SteersMedium and Large 1558175.58/cwt174.00–178.009805
HeifersMedium and Large 1750132.00/cwt132.00–132.0099026
BullsMedium and Large 1570162.00/cwt162.00–162.009231
SteersMedium and Large 1-2415187.50/cwt187.50–187.507782
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2574140.50/cwt140.50–140.508069
SteersMedium and Large 1-2571165.55/cwt165.50–166.0094520
SteersMedium and Large 1-2533178.67/cwt178.00–179.009523
SteersMedium and Large 1615160.00/cwt160.00–160.009843
SteersMedium and Large 2660137.00/cwt137.00–137.009041
BullsMedium and Large 1-2835128.00/cwt128.00–128.001,0693
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2676136.00/cwt136.00–136.009198
SteersMedium and Large 1503182.00/cwt182.00–182.009152
SteersMedium and Large 1-2482178.06/cwt176.50–184.0085814
BullsMedium and Large 1465178.00/cwt178.00–178.008282
SteersMedium and Large 1-2627149.00/cwt149.00–149.009345
SteersMedium and Large 1435192.00/cwt192.00–192.008352
HeifersMedium and Large 1521162.56/cwt161.00–165.008475
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fleshy769127.50/cwt127.50–127.509807
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2763128.00/cwt128.00–128.009774
BullsHeavy Weight2,64594.00/cwt94.00–94.002,4861
Bulls1,79495.12/cwt93.00–99.501,7069
Bulls1,63781.16/cwt76.50–85.001,32926
BullsReturn to Feed1,21086.43/cwt85.00–87.001,0464
BullsReturn to Feed1,45583.00/cwt83.00–83.001,2082
BullsHeavy Weight2,63583.00/cwt83.00–83.002,1871
HeifersMedium and Large 1576154.49/cwt150.00–155.0089010
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2428154.80/cwt145.00–161.006635
BullsMedium and Large 1938125.49/cwt121.00–130.001,1772

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.