Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2019-12-13

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2019-12-13
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-12-13

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Dec 13

● Final87 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776

← Dec 6Dec 13Jan 17 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

2,876 head

▲ 901 vs last sale 1,975▲ 2,876 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Slaughter Cattle receipts

98 head

▲ 70 vs last sale 28▲ 98 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Replacement Cattle receipts

292 head

▲ 195 vs last sale 97▲ 292 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Also sold hereRegular saleWed Oct 28, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Fridays sale: Yearling steers and heifers were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings was mostly moderate on a plain to average quality offering. Yearling offerings were light. Steer calves weighing less than 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; steers 600 lbs and heavier sold uneven from 2.00 lower to 4.00 higher, mostly 2.00 higher. Heifer calves of all weights sold unevenly steady from 2.00 lower to 2.00 higher. More weaned calves were on offer this week making comparisons narrow. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive, however quality overall was better this week than last. Demand was mostly moderate for moderate offerings. CME positions were all sharply higher today following the news of an initial U.S./China trade deal. Market activity this week was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and offerings. Packers opted to send only very poor cows to slaughter this sale. Packers purchased slaughter cows on mostly light demand. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower on boning and lean cows, breaking cows were too lightly tested to trend. Feeding cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand. Feeding buyers were more active this sale than packer buyers as they purchased most of the feeding quality cows away from packers. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 4.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower. All cows and bulls were very full this week as they sold late in the evening and cold rainy and snowy conditions were seen through much of the morning and late afternoon. Young age cows suitable to re-breed were too lightly tested to develop any market trend.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $159.96/cwt on 1,236 head.

Average price

$159.96

1,236 head · 565 lb average

Value per head Derived

$904

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$734

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1

$34.75/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+0.32

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	418	168.25	704	27
Medium and Large 2	417	162.50	678	5thin
Medium and Large 1	569	160.71	914	1,080
Medium and Large 1-2	503	156.64	788	94
Medium 1-2	492	137.50	677	13thin
Medium 2	557	134.00	746	3thin
Large 1	1,077	133.50	1,438	14thin

One grade step is worth $34.75/cwt here — about −$734 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 sale1,236 hd

159.96

—

MT average4 barns · 5,839 hd

159.64

+0.32

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	High	1,945	74.85	1,456	22
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Very Low	1,460	45.85	669	26
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,258	41.21	519	23

Every lot

87 lots · USDA AMS · Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Fri)

Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers38 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium 1	365	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	621	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	368	196.04/cwt	190.00–202.50	721	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	370	177.50/cwt	177.50–177.50	657	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	376	180.51/cwt	177.50–181.00	679	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	398	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	697	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	417	162.50/cwt	162.50–162.50	678	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	428	167.97/cwt	165.00–170.00	719	10
Steers	—	Medium 1	437	167.64/cwt	164.00–172.50	733	20
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	438	177.44/cwt	177.00–180.00	777	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	467	171.97/cwt	167.50–173.00	803	16
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	468	164.23/cwt	154.00–167.00	769	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	474	178.41/cwt	173.00–183.00	846	157
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	474	162.87/cwt	150.00–167.00	772	29
Steers	—	Medium 1-2	492	137.50/cwt	137.50–137.50	677	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	521	167.98/cwt	158.00–170.00	875	245
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	533	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	879	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	545	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	828	4
Steers	—	Medium 2Unweaned	557	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	746	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	561	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	741	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	570	159.87/cwt	155.50–163.75	911	238
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	570	156.36/cwt	153.00–157.50	891	51
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	575	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	805	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	593	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	854	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	621	150.79/cwt	144.00–154.75	936	157
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	621	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	807	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	634	144.43/cwt	144.00–145.00	916	41
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	655	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	878	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	673	148.47/cwt	142.00–150.00	999	51
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	675	140.51/cwt	139.00–145.00	948	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	681	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	906	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	713	144.50/cwt	144.50–144.50	1,030	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	716	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	916	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	723	141.65/cwt	139.00–144.00	1,024	34
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	763	144.50/cwt	144.50–144.50	1,103	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	782	135.06/cwt	132.00–141.00	1,056	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	855	138.50/cwt	138.50–138.50	1,184	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	933	141.50/cwt	141.50–141.50	1,320	3
Steers	—	Large 1	1,077	133.50/cwt	133.50–133.50	1,438	14
Feeder Cattle · Heifers31 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	317	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	412	7
Heifers	—	Medium 1	327	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	441	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	366	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	622	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	388	141.65/cwt	137.50–145.00	550	13
Heifers	—	Medium 1	413	134.11/cwt	131.00–139.00	554	36
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	418	154.50/cwt	148.00–160.50	646	37
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	435	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	626	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	443	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	642	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	460	154.29/cwt	150.50–156.00	710	56
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	480	147.43/cwt	146.50–150.00	708	35
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	480	139.38/cwt	136.00–142.00	669	27
Heifers	—	Medium 1	480	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	658	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	488	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	688	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	522	140.73/cwt	134.00–144.50	735	205
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	529	149.50/cwt	149.50–149.50	791	108
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	549	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	758	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	572	136.35/cwt	130.00–140.00	780	80
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	574	139.60/cwt	130.00–143.00	801	91
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	604	135.15/cwt	133.00–136.00	816	95
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	627	125.50/cwt	125.50–125.50	787	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	635	128.50/cwt	128.50–128.50	816	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	643	132.48/cwt	132.00–133.50	852	25
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	653	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	833	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	675	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	878	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	682	131.99/cwt	130.00–134.00	900	16
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	702	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	892	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	724	130.11/cwt	129.00–131.00	942	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	766	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	996	21
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	829	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,111	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	967	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,238	3
Heifers	—	Large 1-2	1,045	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	1,285	3
Feeder Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	643	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	829	4
Bulls	—	Large 1	668	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	822	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	688	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	956	3
Bulls	—	Large 1	710	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	923	6
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,860	65.30/cwt	59.00–71.00	1,215	6
Bulls	—	—	1,961	78.03/cwt	72.00–82.50	1,530	15
Bulls	—	—	2,205	84.50/cwt	84.50–84.50	1,863	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows5 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,220	33.69/cwt	32.00–37.00	411	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,272	43.87/cwt	38.00–46.00	558	17
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,447	53.48/cwt	52.00–56.00	774	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,456	44.75/cwt	44.00–47.50	652	21
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,520	46.00/cwt	46.00–46.00	699	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,048	66.71/cwt	64.00–69.50	699	6
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,245	47.32/cwt	46.00–50.00	589	6
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,305	56.37/cwt	50.00–61.00	736	19
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,313	45.85/cwt	43.50–48.50	602	34
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,433	60.91/cwt	52.00–63.50	873	7
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,374	1,000.00/cwt	1,000.00–1,000.00	13,740	5

This sale against other markets

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.

Montana feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Fri)

Fri Dec 13, 2019

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 2,876Last week 1,975Year ago 0

Slaughter CattleReceipts 98Last week 28Year ago 0

Replacement CattleReceipts 292Last week 97Year ago 0

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	668	123.00	123.00
6	—	710	130.00	130.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	688	139.00	139.00
4	—	643	129.00	129.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	593	144.00	144.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	855	138.50	138.50
7	—	681	133.00	133.00
4	—	575	140.00	140.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	368	190.00–202.50	196.04
51	—	570	153.00–157.50	156.36
41	—	634	144.00–145.00	144.43
8	—	533	165.00	165.00
12	—	675	139.00–145.00	140.51
9	—	782	132.00–141.00	135.06
16	—	467	167.50–173.00	171.97
34	—	723	139.00–144.00	141.65

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	557	134.00	134.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	398	175.00	175.00
17	—	468	154.00–167.00	164.23
1	—	655	134.00	134.00
9	—	716	128.00	128.00
8	—	621	130.00	130.00
5	—	561	132.00	132.00
4	—	545	152.00	152.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	417	162.50	162.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
238	—	570	155.50–163.75	159.87
7	—	376	177.50–181.00	180.51
157	—	621	144.00–154.75	150.79
157	—	474	173.00–183.00	178.41
51	—	673	142.00–150.00	148.47
245	—	521	158.00–170.00	167.98
6	—	763	144.50	144.50
13	—	438	177.00–180.00	177.44
6	—	713	144.50	144.50
3	—	933	141.50	141.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	437	164.00–172.50	167.64
7	—	365	170.00	170.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	428	165.00–170.00	167.97
4	—	370	177.50	177.50
29	—	474	150.00–167.00	162.87

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	492	137.50	137.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	1,077	133.50	133.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	675	130.00	130.00
4	—	635	128.50	128.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
108	—	529	149.50	149.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	480	136.00–142.00	139.38
6	—	627	125.50	125.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
56	—	460	150.50–156.00	154.29
25	—	643	132.00–133.50	132.48
14	—	366	170.00	170.00
4	—	653	127.50	127.50
4	—	549	138.00	138.00
4	—	443	145.00	145.00
80	—	572	130.00–140.00	136.35

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	488	141.00	141.00
3	—	702	127.00	127.00
6	—	829	134.00	134.00
13	—	388	137.50–145.00	141.65
6	—	435	144.00	144.00
3	—	967	128.00	128.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	766	130.00	130.00
91	—	574	130.00–143.00	139.60
37	—	418	148.00–160.50	154.50
11	—	724	129.00–131.00	130.11
205	—	522	134.00–144.50	140.73
35	—	480	146.50–150.00	147.43
95	—	604	133.00–136.00	135.15
16	—	682	130.00–134.00	131.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,045	123.00	123.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	327	135.00	135.00
3	—	480	137.00	137.00
36	—	413	131.00–139.00	134.11

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	317	130.00	130.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	34	—	1,313	43.50–48.50	45.85
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,245	46.00–50.00	47.32

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	19	—	1,305	50.00–61.00	56.37
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	7	—	1,433	52.00–63.50	60.91
(<2 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,048	64.00–69.50	66.71

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	5	—	1,374	1,000.00	1,000.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,520	46.00	46.00
21	—	1,456	44.00–47.50	44.75
3	—	1,447	52.00–56.00	53.48

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	1,272	38.00–46.00	43.87
6	—	1,220	32.00–37.00	33.69

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,205	84.50	84.50
6	—	1,860	59.00–71.00	65.30
15	—	1,961	72.00–82.50	78.03

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.