Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-04-07

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Apr 7
● Final52 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
298 head
81 vs last sale 217 123 vs year ago 175 · +70.3%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
374 head
28 vs last sale 402 329 vs year ago 45 · +731.1%
Replacement Cattle receipts
114 head
102 vs last sale 216 69 vs year ago 183 · 37.7%
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 undertones. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and lower than last week. Demand was mostly moderate for light offerings. Light supplies limited demand this week as buyers were hesitant on starting loads with such light offerings. CME positions moved higher today as cattle started to trade in the country. CME Feeder cattle futures traded up 1.15 on the April contract to settle at 147.625. The May closed at 152.675, 0.90 higher. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand again this week. Packers continue to be very aggressive as they push to obtain the majority of the market share. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher on breaking and boning cows, while lean cows showed the greatest advance selling 3.00-5.00 higher. Feeding buyers showed good demand for cows as well. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Cow weigh conditions were mixed this sale. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Demand was good for cows to feed or rebreed again this week. Quality was mostly average to attractive.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $163.64/cwt on 120 head.
Average price
$163.64
120 head · 499 lb average
Value per head Derived
$817
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$77
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$6.87/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+9.28
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1500163.87819116
Medium and Large 1-2473157.007434thin
One grade step is worth $6.87/cwt here — about $77 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 sale120 hd
163.64
MT average3 barns · 3,925 hd
154.36
+9.28
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
BullsAverage1,80987.561,58438
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,55072.491,12461
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,53671.691,10270
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,43068.3897891
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,16767.5678973

Every lot, as filed

52 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 Feed1,21388.74/cwt88.50–89.001,0762
BullsReturn to Feed1,27383.29/cwt82.00–86.001,0603
Bulls1,98990.87/cwt86.00–94.001,80714
Bulls2,14196.34/cwt95.00–97.002,0638
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,48973.04/cwt73.00–73.501,08851
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,14768.85/cwt68.00–71.0079020
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,41865.94/cwt61.00–68.5093513
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,48066.00/cwt66.00–66.009771
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight93857.49/cwt57.00–58.005392
CowsBoner 80-85%1,43765.89/cwt64.00–67.0094714
CowsBoner 80-85%1,44169.03/cwt68.00–71.0099531
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,68270.32/cwt69.00–72.501,18310
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,66465.54/cwt64.00–68.501,0918
CowsLean 85-90%1,24872.50/cwt71.00–74.009052
CowsLean 85-90%1,27264.65/cwt62.50–66.008227
CowsLean 85-90%1,20056.36/cwt55.00–57.006763
CowsLean 85-90%1,20769.34/cwt68.00–71.0083718
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,55372.51/cwt72.00–73.501,12660
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,13873.75/cwt72.00–75.008395
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,12466.04/cwt63.00–68.0074216
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,42469.61/cwt68.00–71.0099131
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,36573.00/cwt73.00–73.009961
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,38071.00/cwt71.00–71.009801
CowsBoner 80-85%1,37572.00/cwt72.00–72.009901
Bulls1,56977.72/cwt74.00–85.001,21910
Bulls1,82580.00/cwt80.00–80.001,4601
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,18675.92/cwt65.50–95.0090012
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,09587.00/cwt87.00–87.009532
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,06698.30/cwt83.50–111.501,04882
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed76590.00/cwt90.00–90.006891
SteersMedium and Large 1517180.77/cwt179.00–187.009359
SteersMedium and Large 1748140.00/cwt140.00–140.001,0472
HeifersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed332180.00/cwt180.00–180.0059823
HeifersMedium and Large 1715136.00/cwt136.00–136.009723
HeifersMedium and Large 1580154.00/cwt154.00–154.008934
HeifersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed426175.87/cwt175.75–177.0074939
SteersMedium and Large 1582168.61/cwt166.00–169.0098115
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned465180.00/cwt180.00–180.008372
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed421214.00/cwt214.00–214.0090135
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed374214.77/cwt211.00–215.5080319
HeifersMedium and Large 1607150.50/cwt150.50–150.5091418
HeifersMedium and Large 1797127.54/cwt127.50–128.001,01612
SteersMedium and Large 1-2355192.50/cwt192.50–192.506832
SteersMedium and Large 1-2313205.00/cwt205.00–205.0064222
HeifersMedium and Large 1685139.00/cwt139.00–139.009523
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2473157.00/cwt157.00–157.007434
HeifersMedium and Large 1519164.18/cwt160.00–167.008525
HeifersMedium and Large 1460167.56/cwt166.00–168.007719
BullsLarge 1805120.00/cwt120.00–120.009662
BullsLarge 11,155108.00/cwt108.00–108.001,2473
BullsLarge 11,128114.00/cwt114.00–114.001,2868
BullsMedium and Large 1843121.00/cwt121.00–121.001,0203

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.