Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-06-16

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jun 16
● Final50 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
143 head
101 vs last sale 244 155 vs year ago 298 · 52.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
501 head
535 vs last sale 1,036 317 vs year ago 184 · +172.3%
Replacement Cattle receipts
301 head
48 vs last sale 253 90 vs year ago 211 · +42.7%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand was mostly moderate for light offerings. Quality today was mostly plain to average. Market activity was moderate. Weigh up cows comprised the majority of the offering this week. Packers continue to show good demand for cows for immediate harvest. Breaking and boning cows sold fully steady, while lean cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 1.00 lower. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold with lower undertones in a narrow comparison. Demand for these offerings was light. Demand for cow calf pairs was light to moderate. Dry conditions continue to bring these offering to market and consequently also limited demand for these offerings.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $145.83/cwt on 63 head.
Average price
$145.83
63 head · 596 lb average
Value per head Derived
$868
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$201
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1
$11.26/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+4.98
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1613148.7691243
Medium and Large 1-2590141.1883311thin
Medium 1517137.507119thin
One grade step is worth $11.26/cwt here — about $201 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 sale63 hd
145.83
MT average3 barns · 725 hd
140.85
+4.98
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
BullsAverage1,91894.451,81233
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,39069.32964203
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,62269.041,12026
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,20962.71758144

Every lot, as filed

50 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
Bulls1,76489.57/cwt84.00–92.001,58013
CowsLean 85-90%1,21657.83/cwt54.00–60.0070320
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21864.48/cwt63.00–67.0078523
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,69462.17/cwt56.00–65.501,0536
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,77273.14/cwt72.50–74.501,2968
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,22969.16/cwt67.00–71.008506
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight87755.14/cwt52.00–59.004849
CowsBoner 80-85%1,38070.91/cwt67.00–73.509795
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45164.68/cwt62.00–66.0093941
BullsLarge 11,050113.00/cwt113.00–113.001,1872
BullsLarge 11,28599.00/cwt99.00–99.001,2721
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight97061.00/cwt61.00–61.005921
CowsBoner 80-85%1,51459.72/cwt57.00–62.0090411
CowsLean 85-90%1,24763.74/cwt61.00–66.0079576
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,12557.36/cwt56.00–58.006453
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,2011,429.01/cwt1,385.00–1,460.0017,16240
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,16363.00/cwt63.00–63.007332
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,63270.96/cwt66.00–73.001,1584
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,44059.00/cwt59.00–59.008501
BullsLarge 11,155107.00/cwt107.00–107.001,2362
BullsLarge 11,244101.50/cwt101.50–101.501,2636
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2710126.00/cwt126.00–126.008952
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2578145.00/cwt145.00–145.008385
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,38370.50/cwt70.50–70.509756
CowsLean 85-90%1,23267.03/cwt66.75–68.008266
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,4501,100.00/cwt1,100.00–1,100.0015,9504
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed90961.00/cwt61.00–61.005544
HeifersMedium 1517137.50/cwt137.50–137.507119
HeifersMedium and Large 1570155.81/cwt150.00–160.5088828
SteersMedium and Large 1-2718139.00/cwt139.00–139.009983
BullsMedium and Large 1898117.00/cwt117.00–117.001,0513
Heifer PairsMedium and Large 11,3161,525.00/cwt1,525.00–1,525.0020,06912
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2546144.00/cwt144.00–144.007864
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,14072.76/cwt62.50–90.0082966
HeifersMedium and Large 1523151.00/cwt151.00–151.007904
SteersMedium and Large 1883135.49/cwt134.00–137.001,1968
SteersMedium and Large 1705155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,09311
HeifersMedium and Large 1730131.68/cwt129.00–133.009619
HeifersMedium and Large 1235360.00/cwt360.00–360.008463
HeifersMedium and Large 1875122.50/cwt122.50–122.501,0722
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,1651,035.00/cwt1,035.00–1,035.0012,0587
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,02292.24/cwt73.00–103.0094370
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,50565.00/cwt65.00–65.009782
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,36272.94/cwt69.00–76.50993115
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,37165.40/cwt62.00–67.5089730
Bulls2,04798.45/cwt94.00–103.002,01519
Bulls1,47082.00/cwt82.00–82.001,2051
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,3501,175.00/cwt1,175.00–1,175.0015,86319
SteersMedium and Large 1848137.00/cwt137.00–137.001,1627
SteersMedium and Large 1781139.00/cwt139.00–139.001,0869

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.