Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-05-19

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, May 19
● Final59 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
171 head
2,085 vs last sale 2,256 54 vs year ago 225 · 24.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
568 head
246 vs last sale 322 413 vs year ago 155 · +266.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
164 head
324 vs last sale 488 156 vs year ago 320 · 48.8%
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 to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on steers and generally steady undertones were noticed on heifers. Feeder cattle quality was mostly plain to average today. Demand was mostly light for light offerings. Lower CME contract prices for corn, beans and other feedstuffs has provided some support to the feeder cattle market. CME feeder cattle contract prices have seen a strong up tick in price since last week. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate today. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light demand for moderate offerings. Packers were much more reserved this week as they bid on cows. Drought areas in the Dakotas and Western Minnesota continue to cull cows and packers backed off prices this week due to heavier cow supplies. Slaughter cows sold steady to weak on breaking cows, while boning and lean cows sold 2.00-3.00 lower. Packers passed on several loads of thin cows this week as feeding buyers showed stronger demand for these offerings than packers. Feeding cows sold 1.00-3.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week with many full and thin cows on offer. Cow and bull quality were not as attractive as last week. Young age cows were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $141.21/cwt on 60 head.
Average price
$141.21
60 head · 561 lb average
Value per head Derived
$792
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$212
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$41.92/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+5.81
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1582146.9285530
Medium and Large 1-2485142.9469317thin
Medium 1-2431135.005829thin
Large 11,016105.001,0674thin
One grade step is worth $41.92/cwt here — about −$212 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 sale60 hd
141.21
MT average3 barns · 319 hd
135.40
+5.81
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
BullsLow1,93188.201,70336
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,60766.951,07616
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,40362.41876114
CowsLean 85-90%High1,18558.72696321

Every lot, as filed

59 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
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2398154.00/cwt154.00–154.006135
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,01490.16/cwt69.00–105.0091488
SteersMedium and Large 1550179.00/cwt179.00–179.009852
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2465147.00/cwt147.00–147.006842
SteersMedium and Large 2535157.50/cwt157.50–157.508432
SteersMedium and Large 1-2545174.00/cwt174.00–174.009482
HeifersMedium and Large 1621144.61/cwt142.00–146.0089812
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2719120.00/cwt120.00–120.008634
SteersMedium and Large 1822132.76/cwt126.00–136.001,0913
SteersMedium and Large 1-2787129.00/cwt129.00–129.001,0153
HeifersMedium and Large 1758120.50/cwt120.00–121.009132
SteersMedium and Large 1-2338185.00/cwt185.00–185.006253
HeifersMedium and Large 1200350.00/cwt350.00–350.007001
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2575142.99/cwt142.00–144.008222
BullsMedium and Large 1988105.00/cwt105.00–105.001,0372
SteersMedium and Large 1758138.00/cwt138.00–138.001,0462
HeifersMedium and Large 1508151.32/cwt150.00–152.007696
HeifersMedium and Large 1493153.00/cwt153.00–153.007544
HeifersMedium and Large 1578151.87/cwt147.00–157.008786
SteersMedium and Large 1385200.00/cwt200.00–200.007701
SteersMedium and Large 1704149.25/cwt147.00–150.001,0514
SteersMedium and Large 1515188.00/cwt188.00–188.0096811
SteersMedium and Large 1626165.02/cwt161.00–166.001,0335
CowsBoner 80-85%1,52272.68/cwt72.00–73.001,1063
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45461.43/cwt61.00–62.0089313
Bulls1,50877.73/cwt72.00–83.001,1722
BullsReturn to Feed1,75374.23/cwt72.00–74.501,3016
BullsHeavy Weight2,55082.00/cwt82.00–82.002,0911
Bulls2,05597.35/cwt93.00–100.002,00112
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,27568.00/cwt68.00–68.008673
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40558.12/cwt53.00–59.5081716
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight90559.00/cwt59.00–59.005341
Bulls1,91888.28/cwt84.00–92.001,69315
CowsBoner 80-85%1,37258.21/cwt51.00–61.0079926
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,66171.55/cwt71.00–73.501,1886
CowsLean 85-90%1,21260.95/cwt59.75–63.5073966
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,61062.99/cwt62.00–63.501,0143
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,34770.77/cwt69.00–76.0095315
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,52758.50/cwt58.50–58.508933
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,41763.26/cwt60.00–68.0089641
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,60868.70/cwt68.00–69.501,1052
BullsLarge 11,11896.00/cwt96.00–96.001,0739
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,15357.77/cwt52.00–60.0066663
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,22360.74/cwt60.00–63.5074390
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight84042.50/cwt42.50–42.503571
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight96355.96/cwt52.00–58.505395
CowsLean 85-90%1,16655.81/cwt51.00–59.0065192
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,00562.34/cwt57.00–68.006272
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,56070.00/cwt70.00–70.001,0922
HeifersMedium 1-2431135.00/cwt135.00–135.005829
SteersLarge 1-2581131.00/cwt131.00–131.007614
BullsLarge 11,09398.00/cwt98.00–98.001,0716
HeifersLarge 11,016105.00/cwt105.00–105.001,0674
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2324150.00/cwt150.00–150.004864
BullsLarge 11,20594.00/cwt94.00–94.001,1336
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,35561.00/cwt61.00–61.008272
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed79052.00/cwt52.00–52.004111
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-287772.00/cwt72.00–72.006313
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,15668.05/cwt55.00–84.0078741

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.