Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2022-01-19

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jan 19
● Final54 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
305 head
115 vs last sale 190 150 vs year ago 455 · 33.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
190 head
498 vs last sale 688 240 vs year ago 430 · 55.8%
Replacement Cattle receipts
182 head
495 vs last sale 677 77 vs year ago 105 · +73.3%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Most calves were offered as singles or small lots. Demand for feeders was mostly light to moderate. Fewer buyers were on hand this week compared to last. Market activity was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand light offerings. Cow quality this week was mostly plain to average with on a limited offering of high quality feeding cows on offer. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 higher on boning and lean cows, breaking cows sold generally steady in a very narrow comparison. Feeding cows sold generally steady. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Quality this week was mostly average.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $149.03/cwt on 96 head.
Average price
$149.03
96 head · 629 lb average
Value per head Derived
$937
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$494
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$32.55/cwt at this weight
vs the market
17.93
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1586155.0590868
Medium and Large 2462145.006703thin
Medium and Large 1-2692135.1793621
Large 11,145122.501,4034thin
One grade step is worth $32.55/cwt here — about −$494 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 sale96 hd
149.03
MT average4 barns · 3,543 hd
166.96
−17.93
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
BullsLow1,63081.421,32743
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,57361.6096917
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,40156.4179065
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,20852.5863553

Every lot, as filed

54 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
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,08871.34/cwt61.00–82.0077618
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,326750.00/cwt750.00–750.009,94513
HeifersLarge 11,145122.50/cwt122.50–122.501,4034
HeifersMedium and Large 1591155.48/cwt150.00–158.2591921
HeifersMedium and Large 1624154.00/cwt154.00–154.0096116
HeifersMedium and Large 1475164.59/cwt162.00–167.0078215
HeifersMedium and Large 1515161.00/cwt161.00–161.008291
BullsMedium and Large 1-2555136.00/cwt136.00–136.0075511
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2847130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,1013
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2692137.50/cwt137.50–137.509525
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2778127.00/cwt127.00–127.009882
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2635137.00/cwt137.00–137.0087011
HeifersMedium and Large 1653145.61/cwt144.00–148.0095115
HeifersMedium and Large 2462145.00/cwt145.00–145.006703
SteersMedium and Large 1-2624165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,03010
SteersMedium and Large 1-2741150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,1124
SteersMedium and Large 2693132.50/cwt132.50–132.509183
SteersMedium and Large 2748137.00/cwt137.00–137.001,0253
SteersMedium and Large 1-2533169.00/cwt169.00–169.0090117
SteersMedium and Large 1591185.50/cwt185.50–185.501,09610
SteersMedium and Large 1461205.00/cwt205.00–205.009456
SteersMedium and Large 1-2445205.00/cwt205.00–205.0091211
BullsMedium and Large 1-2608131.00/cwt131.00–131.007966
BullsMedium and Large 1603159.00/cwt159.00–159.009593
BullsLarge 11,182106.00/cwt106.00–106.001,2533
BullsMedium and Large 1548177.00/cwt177.00–177.009704
BullsMedium and Large 1680144.00/cwt144.00–144.009793
BullsMedium and Large 1592166.00/cwt166.00–166.009835
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,12051.83/cwt51.00–52.005805
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,13562.00/cwt62.00–62.007041
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,50057.00/cwt57.00–57.008552
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,56565.68/cwt65.00–66.001,0283
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,32354.00/cwt54.00–54.007142
Bulls1,80575.09/cwt71.00–82.001,3556
CowsBoner 80-85%1,37757.46/cwt54.00–63.5079115
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,51965.48/cwt65.00–66.009954
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,39156.51/cwt55.75–64.0078631
CowsLean 85-90%1,21150.14/cwt48.00–53.0060724
CowsLean 85-90%1,26042.50/cwt42.50–42.505361
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,26056.64/cwt54.00–58.007143
CowsLean 85-90%1,21955.24/cwt53.50–56.0067319
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,58761.34/cwt56.00–64.0097312
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42752.53/cwt49.00–54.0075013
BullsReturn to Feed1,34681.64/cwt80.50–89.001,09919
BullsReturn to Feed1,90881.00/cwt81.00–81.001,5452
Bulls1,99093.00/cwt93.00–93.001,8511
Bulls1,74584.42/cwt83.50–87.501,47313
BullsHeavy Weight2,68062.00/cwt62.00–62.001,6621
BullsHeavy Weight2,52585.00/cwt85.00–85.002,1461
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-293360.43/cwt60.00–62.505645
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,06365.00/cwt65.00–65.006913
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,01187.03/cwt75.00–99.0088051
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1751,100.00/cwt1,100.00–1,100.0012,9257
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3071,205.21/cwt1,150.00–1,225.0015,75215

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.