Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-10-27

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Oct 27
● Final59 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
477 head
386 vs last sale 863 274 vs year ago 203 · +135.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
1,614 head
190 vs last sale 1,804 780 vs year ago 834 · +93.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
639 head
131 vs last sale 770 404 vs year ago 235 · +171.9%
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 any market trend. Feeder cattle today were of mostly plain to average quality this sale. Most cattle were offered in very small packages or as singles. Trucking remains very tight and most buyers passed on calves, waiting until tomorrow as Billings livestock commission's sale will feature feeder cattle. Light offerings sold on mostly light demand. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for heavy offerings. Todays sale was mostly comprised of weigh up and bred cows. The additional packer seen last week was not at the sale this week. Most cows returned to feed again this week. Feeding cows sold steady to 4.00 lower on all classes. Feeding buyers were more active in purchasing very thin cows this week as these offerings offered lots of compensatory gain and could be turned out on corn stalks for cheap gain. With less buying power seen this week packers were able to purchase cows lower as supplies are heavy. Cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill again this week. Many cows tanked up on fresh, clean water when they hit the yards. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 lower on all classes. Cow quality this week was average to attractive, however quality was not as attractive as last week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady to weak undertones were noticed. Young age cows sold mostly 3.00-4.00 higher. Most of these offerings are being purchased for southern fall breeding programs.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $143.44/cwt on 208 head.
Average price
$143.44
208 head · 540 lb average
Value per head Derived
$775
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$105
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2
$7.18/cwt at this weight
vs the market
9.07
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2393147.1857845
Medium and Large 1613142.66874143
Medium 1-2361141.0050912thin
Medium and Large 2338140.004738thin
One grade step is worth $7.18/cwt here — about $105 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 sale208 hd
143.44
MT average4 barns · 5,211 hd
152.51
−9.07
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
BullsAverage1,84777.571,43330
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,58464.241,01733
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,41255.15779207
CowsLean 85-90%High1,18745.14536495

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 1884131.00/cwt131.00–131.001,1585
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,54665.83/cwt63.00–68.001,01819
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,66771.00/cwt71.00–71.001,1843
BullsMedium and Large 1Unweaned725123.33/cwt120.00–130.008943
HeifersMedium and Large 1716146.00/cwt146.00–146.001,04524
HeifersMedium and Large 1957128.25/cwt128.25–128.251,22712
HeifersMedium and Large 1771144.50/cwt144.50–144.501,11418
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2828127.50/cwt127.50–127.501,0564
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned442149.00/cwt149.00–149.0065913
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned584131.31/cwt129.50–135.007676
SteersMedium 1-2373167.50/cwt167.50–167.5062521
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned586160.67/cwt154.00–161.0094220
HeifersMedium and Large 1474143.29/cwt141.00–144.5067921
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned324172.91/cwt167.50–180.0056022
HeifersMedium and Large 2338140.00/cwt140.00–140.004738
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2374147.50/cwt147.50–147.505529
HeifersMedium 1-2361141.00/cwt141.00–141.0050912
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned335149.35/cwt149.00–150.0050022
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned508141.68/cwt140.00–142.0072019
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned363150.00/cwt150.00–150.0054510
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,0631,118.51/cwt1,000.00–1,175.0011,89035
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,0981,089.67/cwt1,025.00–1,200.0011,96529
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed98344.00/cwt44.00–44.004332
Stock CowsMedium and Large 191397.08/cwt64.00–113.00886160
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed98348.20/cwt41.00–58.0047413
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed99047.00/cwt47.00–47.004651
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,03640.70/cwt38.00–45.0042212
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,39146.00/cwt46.00–46.006404
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,01477.78/cwt52.00–93.00789129
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,28851.25/cwt48.00–54.0066037
BullsReturn to Feed1,68081.00/cwt81.00–81.001,3615
BullsReturn to Feed1,73470.54/cwt64.00–73.501,2234
Bulls1,91883.54/cwt82.00–85.001,6029
Bulls2,04089.00/cwt89.00–89.001,8161
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned376190.00/cwt190.00–190.0071421
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned372175.15/cwt173.00–177.5065220
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned613144.00/cwt144.00–144.008836
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned457175.00/cwt175.00–175.008005
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned498144.40/cwt142.00–145.0071920
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned537156.16/cwt155.00–158.0083910
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned422151.35/cwt150.00–152.0063918
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,42348.37/cwt45.00–52.0068822
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,23062.50/cwt62.50–62.507691
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,11434.49/cwt32.00–38.5038414
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,17444.00/cwt38.00–46.50517206
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,37264.66/cwt64.00–68.5088755
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,41758.29/cwt52.00–62.0082665
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,56853.00/cwt53.00–53.008312
CowsLean 85-90%1,19341.97/cwt38.00–45.0050153
CowsLean 85-90%1,27248.12/cwt46.00–53.0061213
CowsLean 85-90%1,12334.53/cwt31.00–37.0038822
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,61858.24/cwt52.00–62.009425
CowsBoner 80-85%1,35653.30/cwt52.00–57.007234
CowsBoner 80-85%1,44345.80/cwt42.00–50.0066161
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight90028.15/cwt22.00–31.002534
CowsBreaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,03062.50/cwt62.50–62.501,2691
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,54565.50/cwt64.50–66.001,0123
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21349.52/cwt46.00–55.50601182
Bulls1,88972.64/cwt62.00–78.001,37211

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.