Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-11-20

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2020-11-20
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-11-20

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Nov 20

● Final85 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776

← Nov 13Nov 20Dec 4 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

2,918 head

▼ 427 vs last sale 3,345▲ 81 vs year ago 2,837 · +2.9%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

202 head

▲ 71 vs last sale 131▲ 81 vs year ago 121 · +66.9%

Replacement Cattle receipts

79 head

▲ 44 vs last sale 35▼ 13 vs year ago 92 · −14.1%

Also sold hereRegular saleWed Oct 28, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Friday: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Unweaned steers under 400 lbs sold sharply lower with most sales 20.00 lower; 400 lbs and heavier steers sold mostly 3.00-6.00 lower. Unweaned heifer calves under 400 lbs not well compared; heifers over 400 lbs sold 4.00-7.00 lower. Quality this week was plain to average and significantly lower than last week. Many calves were dirty this sale. Many sets were short weaned and buyers discounted these calves, as most were very dirty, full and not eye appealing. Demand was mostly light to moderate for moderate to heavy offerings. CME positions were lower throughout much of the week and were sharply lower this morning before closing down 0.95 on the January and down 0.575 on the March. The cattle on feed report was released this afternoon and it showed on feed 1% higher than last year, placements 11% lower than last year and marketings slightly lower than last year. Market activity was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light offerings. Offerings were too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend. Feeding buyers showed good demand for all cows this week as buyers tried to finish loads for the week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to trend. Most bulls sold to feeding buyers this sale. 2-3 year olds were too lightly tested to trend. Demand was moderate. Quality was plain to average.

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 $149.53/cwt on 1,172 head.

Average price

$149.53

1,172 head · 576 lb average

Value per head Derived

$861

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$499

per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 1

$36.23/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−11.26

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	484	153.78	744	192
Medium and Large 1	570	150.31	856	932
Large 1	1,057	117.54	1,243	48

One grade step is worth $36.23/cwt here — about −$499 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 sale1,172 hd

149.53

—

MT average5 barns · 7,494 hd

160.79

−11.26

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	—	Low	1,746	70.34	1,228	5thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,573	59.00	928	2thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,381	54.50	753	68
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,135	47.90	543	118

Every lot

85 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 · Steers28 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	347	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	632	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	348	177.50/cwt	177.50–177.50	618	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	351	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	562	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	376	180.02/cwt	178.00–183.00	677	25
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	418	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	757	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	424	161.81/cwt	156.00–164.00	686	45
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	433	174.96/cwt	172.00–178.00	758	71
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	454	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	726	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	467	166.75/cwt	162.00–174.00	779	50
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	516	150.42/cwt	136.00–155.00	776	113
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	532	154.13/cwt	152.50–160.00	820	18
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	532	153.14/cwt	148.75–164.00	815	188
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	549	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	791	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	555	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	788	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	566	147.78/cwt	144.00–151.00	836	199
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	587	146.77/cwt	145.50–147.00	862	25
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	613	143.32/cwt	135.50–146.50	879	78
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	617	141.72/cwt	133.50–145.25	874	174
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	635	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	851	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	658	137.40/cwt	132.00–143.50	904	20
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	673	135.22/cwt	133.00–139.00	910	22
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	685	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	870	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	719	129.51/cwt	128.00–132.00	931	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	733	133.15/cwt	132.50–133.50	976	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	819	135.50/cwt	135.50–135.50	1,110	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	934	129.23/cwt	126.00–129.50	1,207	25
Steers	—	Large 1Fancy	1,019	122.50/cwt	122.50–122.50	1,248	31
Steers	—	Large 1	1,127	108.50/cwt	108.50–108.50	1,223	17
Feeder Cattle · Heifers34 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	318	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	525	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	330	144.48/cwt	142.50–148.00	477	31
Heifers	—	Medium 1	371	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	538	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	374	137.50/cwt	137.50–137.50	514	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	392	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	615	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	413	131.92/cwt	130.00–137.00	545	31
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	416	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	612	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	425	150.35/cwt	148.00–154.00	639	158
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	432	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	626	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	436	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	632	8
Heifers	—	Large 1Unweaned	439	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	619	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	443	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	669	2
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	463	131.60/cwt	131.00–132.00	609	18
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	470	143.19/cwt	140.00–151.00	673	102
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	472	142.89/cwt	142.00–143.00	674	37
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	486	136.50/cwt	136.50–136.50	663	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	489	137.24/cwt	128.00–139.00	671	47
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	497	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	666	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	497	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	621	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	511	135.94/cwt	134.50–146.00	695	49
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	531	139.91/cwt	135.50–142.50	743	218
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	531	129.41/cwt	127.00–131.00	687	20
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	539	137.56/cwt	136.50–138.00	741	27
Heifers	—	Large 1Unweaned	548	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	723	29
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	563	134.31/cwt	128.00–137.00	756	21
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	569	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	734	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	573	131.35/cwt	128.00–135.50	753	79
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	589	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	760	17
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	614	127.56/cwt	124.50–132.50	783	60
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	634	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	824	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	668	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	848	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	770	125.18/cwt	122.50–128.00	964	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	915	121.50/cwt	121.50–121.50	1,112	15
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,023	115.22/cwt	115.00–115.50	1,179	16
Feeder Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	480	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	424	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	632	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	465	146.47/cwt	144.00–152.00	681	10
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	518	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	684	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	556	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	767	11
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,453	62.11/cwt	57.00–66.00	902	2
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,770	83.50/cwt	83.50–83.50	1,478	1
Bulls	—	—	2,028	72.00/cwt	72.00–72.00	1,460	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows11 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,060	38.00/cwt	38.00–38.00	403	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,116	47.31/cwt	43.00–51.50	528	75
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,117	37.76/cwt	37.00–40.00	422	8
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,177	51.32/cwt	49.50–53.00	604	28
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,204	54.50/cwt	54.50–54.50	656	6
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,285	50.00/cwt	50.00–50.00	643	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,363	51.00/cwt	51.00–51.00	695	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,384	55.38/cwt	51.00–61.00	766	56
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,392	47.92/cwt	47.00–50.00	667	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,505	62.00/cwt	62.00–62.00	933	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,573	59.00/cwt	59.00–59.00	928	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows2 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	941	81.01/cwt	66.00–95.00	762	21
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,051	63.29/cwt	54.00–77.00	665	40
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,106	985.00/cwt	985.00–985.00	10,894	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,165	1,037.55/cwt	1,025.00–1,050.00	12,087	4

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 Nov 20, 2020

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 2,918Last week 3,345Year ago 2,837

Slaughter CattleReceipts 202Last week 131Year ago 121

Replacement CattleReceipts 79Last week 35Year ago 92

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
78	—	613	135.50–146.50	143.32
7	—	418	181.00	181.00
25	—	934	126.00–129.50	129.23
18	—	532	152.50–160.00	154.13
25	—	587	145.50–147.00	146.77
5	—	819	135.50	135.50
14	—	733	132.50–133.50	133.15
20	—	658	132.00–143.50	137.40

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
188	—	532	148.75–164.00	153.14
174	—	617	133.50–145.25	141.72
8	—	719	128.00–132.00	129.51
50	—	467	162.00–174.00	166.75
22	—	673	133.00–139.00	135.22
199	—	566	144.00–151.00	147.78
25	—	376	178.00–183.00	180.02
3	—	347	182.00	182.00
71	—	433	172.00–178.00	174.96

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
45	—	424	156.00–164.00	161.81
2	—	635	134.00	134.00
2	—	685	127.00	127.00
1	—	555	142.00	142.00
113	—	516	136.00–155.00	150.42
5	—	454	160.00	160.00
12	—	351	160.00	160.00
4	—	348	177.50	177.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	549	144.00	144.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	1,127	108.50	108.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
31	—	1,019	122.50	122.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	318	165.00	165.00
3	—	392	157.00	157.00
158	—	425	148.00–154.00	150.35
218	—	531	135.50–142.50	139.91
102	—	470	140.00–151.00	143.19
79	—	573	128.00–135.50	131.35
6	—	668	127.00	127.00
60	—	614	124.50–132.50	127.56

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
37	—	472	142.00–143.00	142.89
27	—	539	136.50–138.00	137.56
2	—	443	151.00	151.00
4	—	634	130.00	130.00
15	—	915	121.50	121.50
21	—	563	128.00–137.00	134.31

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	497	134.00	134.00
20	—	531	127.00–131.00	129.41
17	—	589	129.00	129.00
6	—	770	122.50–128.00	125.18
7	—	416	147.00	147.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	463	131.00–132.00	131.60
15	—	432	145.00	145.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
29	—	548	132.00	132.00
15	—	439	141.00	141.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	1,023	115.00–115.50	115.22

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
31	—	330	142.50–148.00	144.48
49	—	511	134.50–146.00	135.94
47	—	489	128.00–139.00	137.24
7	—	569	129.00	129.00
8	—	436	145.00	145.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	486	136.50	136.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	371	145.00	145.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
31	—	413	130.00–137.00	131.92
7	—	374	137.50	137.50
8	—	497	125.00	125.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	465	144.00–152.00	146.47
1	—	300	160.00	160.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	518	132.00	132.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	424	149.00	149.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	556	138.00	138.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	2,028	72.00	72.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,453	57.00–66.00	62.11
1	—	1,770	83.50	83.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,392	47.00–50.00	47.92
1	—	1,505	62.00	62.00
56	—	1,384	51.00–61.00	55.38

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,573	59.00	59.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
75	—	1,116	43.00–51.50	47.31
1	—	1,060	38.00	38.00
28	—	1,177	49.50–53.00	51.32

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,204	54.50	54.50
8	—	1,117	37.00–40.00	37.76

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,363	51.00	51.00
3	—	1,285	50.00	50.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	40	—	1,051	54.00–77.00	63.29
(<2 yrs)	Open	21	—	941	66.00–95.00	81.01

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	4	—	1,165	1,025.00–1,050.00	1,037.55
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	4	—	1,106	985.00	985.00

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.