Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-01-15

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2021-01-15
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-01-15

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Jan 15

● Final74 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776

← Dec 11Jan 15Jan 22 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

4,126 head

▲ 2,166 vs last sale 1,960▲ 1,566 vs year ago 2,560 · +61.2%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

45 head

▼ 288 vs last sale 333▲ 30 vs year ago 15 · +200.0%

Replacement Cattle receipts

7 head

▼ 103 vs last sale 110▼ 38 vs year ago 45 · −84.4%

Also sold hereRegular saleWed Oct 28, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale(December 11th): Yearling steers and heifers were not well compared. Steers under 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher, 600 lbs and heavier sold steady to 4.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Heifers weighing less than 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower, heifers over 550 lbs sold steady to 3.00 higher. Demand was mostly moderate for moderate to heavy offerings. Demand did diminish late in the afternoon as buyers filled loads. Quality today was average to very attractive. Cattle were mostly long weaned today with many sets weaned 60-90 days. Cattle were very clean and open haired. Despite mild winter weather most cattle were in light flesh. Buyers continue to buy cattle suitable to run on grass on good demand. Buyers purchased calves up to 600 lbs for steers and 575 lbs for heifers to run on grass and develop into yearlings. Market activity this sale was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light offerings. Not enough cows or bulls sold to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed as buyers fought over limited offerings to fill loads for the week.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $143.97/cwt on 1,887 head.

Average price

$143.97

1,887 head · 540 lb average

Value per head Derived

$777

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$78

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1

$18.41/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+1.30

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	477	146.85	701	66
Medium and Large 1	547	144.50	791	1,598
Medium and Large 1-2	474	142.41	674	174
Large 1	606	128.44	779	49

One grade step is worth $18.41/cwt here — about −$78 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 sale1,887 hd

143.97

—

MT average4 barns · 2,681 hd

142.68

+1.30

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	—	Average	2,046	82.71	1,692	9thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,355	57.50	779	1thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,442	54.78	790	3thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,223	49.61	606	27

Every lot

74 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 · Steers27 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	338	183.06/cwt	180.00–197.50	619	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	376	192.56/cwt	190.00–202.50	724	79
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	395	182.15/cwt	180.00–185.00	719	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	405	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	729	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	430	188.38/cwt	184.00–199.00	810	82
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	475	182.56/cwt	177.50–189.00	867	135
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	476	173.61/cwt	171.50–176.00	826	55
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	480	170.50/cwt	170.50–170.50	818	25
Steers	—	Medium 1	496	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	794	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	519	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	815	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	524	175.26/cwt	165.00–180.00	918	193
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	544	157.38/cwt	149.00–159.00	856	74
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	567	137.30/cwt	133.00–146.00	778	29
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	579	156.81/cwt	150.00–165.00	908	134
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	585	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	848	21
Steers	—	Medium 1	598	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	718	3
Steers	—	Large 1	609	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	816	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	612	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	973	93
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	622	147.56/cwt	140.00–153.50	918	214
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	676	139.94/cwt	138.00–140.50	946	47
Steers	—	Medium 1	703	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	879	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	724	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	963	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	727	138.35/cwt	133.00–139.50	1,006	146
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	770	129.09/cwt	128.00–130.00	994	67
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	812	129.32/cwt	127.00–131.00	1,050	55
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	848	112.50/cwt	112.50–112.50	954	12
Steers	—	Large 1	1,024	108.00/cwt	108.00–108.00	1,106	4
Feeder Cattle · Heifers30 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	341	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	515	20
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	343	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	556	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	358	160.25/cwt	160.00–162.00	574	55
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	393	157.50/cwt	157.50–157.50	619	16
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	393	153.46/cwt	150.00–154.00	603	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	397	142.50/cwt	142.50–142.50	566	28
Heifers	—	Medium 1	432	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	665	29
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	432	152.82/cwt	150.00–154.00	660	41
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	434	159.40/cwt	156.00–166.00	692	187
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	461	154.05/cwt	148.00–156.00	710	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	479	155.17/cwt	149.00–160.50	743	145
Heifers	—	Medium 1	485	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	698	31
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	492	143.31/cwt	142.00–145.00	705	16
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	515	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	819	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	519	146.50/cwt	146.50–146.50	760	42
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	527	148.55/cwt	139.50–154.50	783	344
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	541	135.50/cwt	135.50–135.50	733	4
Heifers	—	Large 1	569	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	740	37
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	573	141.13/cwt	135.00–144.00	809	298
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	594	129.22/cwt	122.00–131.50	768	22
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	615	133.69/cwt	128.50–138.75	822	287
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	618	127.33/cwt	122.00–130.00	787	26
Heifers	—	Medium 1	654	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	831	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	660	129.93/cwt	125.00–132.00	858	139
Heifers	—	Large 1	678	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	827	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	690	122.50/cwt	122.50–122.50	845	3
Heifers	—	Large 1	714	121.87/cwt	121.50–122.00	870	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	716	128.90/cwt	124.00–136.00	923	32
Heifers	—	Large 1	754	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	950	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	795	120.50/cwt	120.50–120.50	958	25
Feeder Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	471	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	730	8
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	546	144.50/cwt	144.50–144.50	789	7
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	589	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	707	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	825	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	982	11
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	873	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	1,004	2
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,792	76.00/cwt	76.00–76.00	1,362	3
Bulls	—	—	2,140	84.88/cwt	79.50–86.50	1,816	5
Bulls	—	—	2,335	92.00/cwt	92.00–92.00	2,148	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows8 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,177	44.49/cwt	42.50–45.50	524	8
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,220	47.00/cwt	47.00–47.00	573	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,232	53.08/cwt	52.50–55.50	654	9
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,262	49.46/cwt	49.00–51.00	624	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,288	60.00/cwt	60.00–60.00	773	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,355	57.50/cwt	57.50–57.50	779	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,398	52.92/cwt	49.50–55.50	740	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,530	58.50/cwt	58.50–58.50	895	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows1 lot · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,144	57.49/cwt	54.00–60.00	658	6

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 Jan 15, 2021

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 4,126Last week 1,960Year ago 2,560

Slaughter CattleReceipts 45Last week 333Year ago 15

Replacement CattleReceipts 7Last week 110Year ago 45

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	594	122.00–131.50	129.22
4	—	541	135.50	135.50
41	—	432	150.00–154.00	152.82
26	—	618	122.00–130.00	127.33
3	—	690	122.50	122.50
20	—	341	151.00	151.00
16	—	492	142.00–145.00	143.31
14	—	393	150.00–154.00	153.46

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
25	—	795	120.50	120.50
344	—	527	139.50–154.50	148.55
187	—	434	156.00–166.00	159.40
55	—	358	160.00–162.00	160.25
3	—	343	162.00	162.00
298	—	573	135.00–144.00	141.13
145	—	479	149.00–160.50	155.17
32	—	716	124.00–136.00	128.90
287	—	615	128.50–138.75	133.69
139	—	660	125.00–132.00	129.93

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
28	—	397	142.50	142.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
42	—	519	146.50	146.50
13	—	461	148.00–156.00	154.05
16	—	393	157.50	157.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	515	159.00	159.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	654	127.00	127.00
29	—	432	154.00	154.00
31	—	485	144.00	144.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	714	121.50–122.00	121.87
5	—	754	126.00	126.00
37	—	569	130.00	130.00
3	—	678	122.00	122.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
214	—	622	140.00–153.50	147.56
82	—	430	184.00–199.00	188.38
67	—	770	128.00–130.00	129.09
79	—	376	190.00–202.50	192.56
11	—	338	180.00–197.50	183.06
193	—	524	165.00–180.00	175.26
134	—	579	150.00–165.00	156.81
47	—	676	138.00–140.50	139.94
135	—	475	177.50–189.00	182.56
146	—	727	133.00–139.50	138.35
55	—	812	127.00–131.00	129.32

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
25	—	480	170.50	170.50
21	—	585	145.00	145.00
10	—	519	157.00	157.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	395	180.00–185.00	182.15
8	—	724	133.00	133.00
74	—	544	149.00–159.00	157.38
29	—	567	133.00–146.00	137.30
13	—	405	180.00	180.00
55	—	476	171.50–176.00	173.61

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	848	112.50	112.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	496	160.00	160.00
5	—	703	125.00	125.00
3	—	598	120.00	120.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
93	—	612	159.00	159.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,024	108.00	108.00
8	—	609	134.00	134.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	546	144.50	144.50
5	—	589	120.00	120.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	825	119.00	119.00
2	—	873	115.00	115.00
8	—	471	155.00	155.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,262	49.00–51.00	49.46
2	—	1,288	60.00	60.00
8	—	1,177	42.50–45.50	44.49

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,355	57.50	57.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,220	47.00	47.00
9	—	1,232	52.50–55.50	53.08

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,398	49.50–55.50	52.92
1	—	1,530	58.50	58.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	2,140	79.50–86.50	84.88
3	—	1,792	76.00	76.00
1	—	2,335	92.00	92.00

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	6	—	1,144	54.00–60.00	57.49

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.