Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2022-04-20

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Apr 20
● Final84 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,749 head
1,696 vs last sale 3,445 872 vs year ago 877 · +99.4%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
735 head
609 vs last sale 126 287 vs year ago 448 · +64.1%
Replacement Cattle receipts
290 head
20 vs last sale 310 12 vs year ago 278 · +4.3%
Also sold hereRegular saleFri Nov 7, 2025
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers sold mostly steady on all weights. Feeder heifers sold mostly steady to 4.00 higher on all heifers under 800 lbs, heifers over 800 lbs not well compared. Quality this week was mixed from plain to very attractive and similar to last weeks offering. Several load lots and multiple load lots were seen this sale. Demand was mostly good this week. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to run as yearlings. Buyers purchased cattle up to 750 lbs to run on grass. Flesh conditions were mostly light to moderate today, with very few fleshy offerings seen. Demand for replacement quality heifers was good to very good. Last weeks snow storm coupled with a rain forecast for this weekend gave ranchers some optimism as they bid on high quality replacement cattle. Market activity was mostly active with a good crowd of order buyers in the stands today actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Feeding and slaughter cows were lightly tested last week, thus all comparisons are narrow. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 1.00 lower. Feeding cows sold generally steady to weak. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this week, however weigh conditions were better in places than last week. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 lower. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady this week. Quality was average to attractive.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $167.23/cwt on 610 head.
Average price
$167.23
610 head · 626 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,046
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$157
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2
$34.08/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+6.22
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2527167.9488599
Medium and Large 1645167.921,083498
Large 1753138.001,0396thin
Medium and Large 2544133.867297thin
One grade step is worth $34.08/cwt here — about $157 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 sale610 hd
167.23
MT average3 barns · 888 hd
161.02
+6.22
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
BullsHigh1,75099.641,74448
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,69780.131,36021
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,44479.501,148183
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,20473.64886122

Every lot, as filed

84 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 2597131.00/cwt131.00–131.007823
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2369170.95/cwt165.00–174.506318
HeifersMedium and Large 1390192.50/cwt192.50–192.507514
HeifersMedium and Large 1709158.61/cwt151.00–162.001,12565
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2473177.45/cwt170.00–180.0083933
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned473181.00/cwt181.00–181.008563
HeifersMedium and Large 1863140.76/cwt137.00–141.001,21517
HeifersLarge 1753138.00/cwt138.00–138.001,0396
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2627159.22/cwt159.00–160.0099823
HeifersMedium and Large 1565180.59/cwt179.00–184.001,02056
HeifersMedium and Large 1476188.46/cwt182.00–191.5089730
SteersMedium and Large 1-2510185.74/cwt184.00–191.009478
SteersMedium and Large 1830151.41/cwt147.00–153.001,257109
SteersMedium and Large 1856147.00/cwt147.00–147.001,2584
SteersMedium and Large 1Fancy856155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,32710
HeifersMedium and Large 1757151.77/cwt143.00–154.001,14986
HeifersMedium and Large 1Replacement7781,246.30/cwt1,185.00–1,260.009,696163
SteersMedium and Large 1537211.48/cwt209.50–213.001,13663
SteersMedium and Large 1-2573183.50/cwt183.50–183.501,0515
SteersMedium and Large 1645183.97/cwt183.50–184.001,18741
SteersMedium and Large 1958143.24/cwt143.00–143.251,372171
SteersMedium and Large 1-2615176.00/cwt176.00–176.001,0823
SteersMedium and Large 1-2677161.30/cwt156.00–168.001,09219
SteersMedium and Large 1432219.31/cwt212.00–225.0094719
SteersMedium and Large 1748163.00/cwt163.00–163.001,2196
SteersMedium and Large 1918149.50/cwt149.50–149.501,3724
SteersMedium and Large 1759164.50/cwt164.50–164.501,24922
SteersMedium and Large 1682182.46/cwt182.00–184.001,24438
SteersMedium and Large 1-2779157.00/cwt157.00–157.001,22315
Dairy SteersLarge 2721138.00/cwt138.00–138.009959
Dairy HeifersLarge 2666129.00/cwt129.00–129.008594
Dairy HeifersLarge 2810123.00/cwt123.00–123.0099617
SteersMedium and Large 1588192.48/cwt189.00–209.001,13231
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed473231.00/cwt231.00–231.001,09315
SteersMedium and Large 1464219.00/cwt219.00–219.001,01611
Dairy SteersLarge 2858137.00/cwt137.00–137.001,17520
BullsMedium and Large 1923118.00/cwt118.00–118.001,0892
BullsLarge 11,236102.50/cwt102.00–104.001,2674
BullsLarge 11,166106.00/cwt106.00–106.001,2364
BullsLarge 11,066111.98/cwt109.00–113.001,1944
BullsLarge 11,008117.44/cwt112.00–118.001,18411
BullsMedium and Large 1689155.55/cwt153.00–165.001,07218
CowsLean 85-90%1,18064.43/cwt59.00–66.0076015
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,29084.00/cwt84.00–84.001,0841
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,24278.05/cwt77.00–82.0096918
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21372.83/cwt66.50–77.0088329
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,55485.58/cwt84.50–87.001,3305
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,42575.76/cwt70.50–78.001,08027
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,56585.00/cwt85.00–85.001,3301
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight93061.03/cwt58.00–64.005682
CowsLean 85-90%1,24978.72/cwt77.00–82.5098322
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,69485.00/cwt85.00–85.001,4404
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,75876.24/cwt71.00–83.001,34012
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45075.74/cwt73.00–77.001,09834
CowsLean 85-90%1,18273.12/cwt67.00–78.0086433
CowsBoner 80-85%1,51087.50/cwt87.50–87.501,3212
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45179.29/cwt77.50–84.501,15039
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight98575.00/cwt75.00–75.007392
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,44182.19/cwt77.50–85.001,18480
Bulls2,004111.36/cwt107.50–116.002,2329
Bulls1,52389.24/cwt80.00–95.001,3596
Bulls1,858101.88/cwt97.00–106.001,89325
BullsReturn to Feed1,28682.85/cwt78.00–91.001,0656
BullsReturn to Feed1,340100.47/cwt100.00–101.001,3462
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,035104.53/cwt90.00–120.501,082117
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,18085.38/cwt75.00–99.001,00760
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,20577.00/cwt77.00–77.009281
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,15975.97/cwt75.50–80.008808
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,46573.40/cwt73.00–76.001,0757
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3001,300.00/cwt1,300.00–1,300.0016,9002
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,4171,150.00/cwt1,150.00–1,150.0016,2963
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned503174.00/cwt174.00–174.0087512
HeifersMedium and Large 1524189.38/cwt184.00–189.5099257
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fleshy888132.03/cwt129.00–133.501,17213
BullsMedium and Large 1554185.00/cwt185.00–185.001,02511
BullsMedium and Large 1827132.00/cwt132.00–132.001,09215
BullsMedium and Large 1873125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,0913
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2540170.82/cwt168.00–176.0092211
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2429172.45/cwt170.00–177.007409
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2596167.00/cwt167.00–167.009958
HeifersMedium and Large 1680161.20/cwt158.00–163.001,09654
HeifersMedium and Large 2505136.00/cwt136.00–136.006874
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2664139.00/cwt139.00–139.009237
HeifersMedium and Large 1616173.11/cwt168.00–174.001,066101

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.