Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-10-15

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2021-10-15
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-10-15

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

● Final80 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776

← Oct 8Oct 15Oct 22 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

3,162 head

▼ 464 vs last sale 3,626▲ 120 vs year ago 3,042 · +3.9%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

298 head

▼ 74 vs last sale 372▼ 13 vs year ago 311 · −4.2%

Replacement Cattle receipts

110 head

▲ 9 vs last sale 101▲ 110 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 Friday: All yearlings were not well compared as different weights and classes sold this week. No trend is available. Most yearlings were out of a grow lot this week and demand was light to moderate. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold steady in a narrow comparison, steer calves 450-549 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower, steer calves over 550 lbs sold unevenly steady from weak to firm. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher, heifer calves 450-549 lbs sold steady weak, heifers over 550 lbs sold steady to firm. Demand for calves remains slightly uneven as transportation remains the biggest factor limiting demand. Buyers focused on buying front end calves, especially ones with two rounds of vaccinations and passed or discounted average quality calves or calves with only spring shots. This led to wide price spreads throughout the sale. Calf quality this sale was mostly average to very attractive. Many high quality calves were seen this week. Most of these calves usually weigh in well over 600 lbs, however with drought conditions seen this summer, calves were weighing around 100 lbs lighter than last years averages. Demand for light weight calves suitable to develop into yearlings was good to very good. Market activity this week was moderate. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold steady to firm with last weeks prices as buyers tried to finish loads for the week. Feeding cows sold steady to 5.00 higher after last weeks big decline in price. Again most increase in price was caused by buyers trying to square loads. Weight up conditions were mostly below average this sale as cows sold late in the afternoon. Many cows tanked up off fresh clean water and good feed. Young age cows sold sharply lower on very light demand. Very few buyers were bidding on this class of cows.

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 $153.96/cwt on 1,551 head.

Average price

$153.96

1,551 head · 540 lb average

Value per head Derived

$831

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$147

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

$33.81/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−2.46

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	539	154.81	834	1,422
Medium and Large 1-2	474	150.92	715	56
Medium 1	591	145.70	861	47
Medium and Large 2	444	138.96	617	12thin
Medium 1-2	811	121.00	981	14thin

One grade step is worth $33.81/cwt here — about −$147 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 sale1,551 hd

153.96

—

MT average5 barns · 4,767 hd

156.43

−2.46

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	1,723	77.35	1,332	12
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,706	68.42	1,167	7thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,400	57.86	810	84
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,165	42.10	490	130

Every lot, as filed

80 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 · Steers24 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	285	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	670	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	320	210.20/cwt	210.00–211.00	673	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	328	217.00/cwt	217.00–217.00	712	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	365	192.82/cwt	182.50–211.00	704	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	377	219.86/cwt	219.00–224.00	829	19
Steers	—	Large 1Unweaned	395	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	790	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	420	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	714	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	432	195.08/cwt	185.00–209.00	843	93
Steers	—	Medium 1	449	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	813	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	472	183.13/cwt	176.00–191.00	864	146
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	476	167.84/cwt	158.00–175.00	799	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	497	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	830	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	497	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	820	15
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	505	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	783	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	522	167.62/cwt	161.00–176.00	875	300
Steers	—	Large 1Unweaned	532	159.27/cwt	159.00–159.50	847	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	533	160.88/cwt	159.50–163.00	857	15
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	568	162.63/cwt	153.50–168.50	924	226
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	581	144.67/cwt	144.00–147.00	841	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	627	160.74/cwt	156.00–163.00	1,008	52
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	654	162.16/cwt	152.00–164.50	1,061	48
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	728	141.50/cwt	141.50–141.50	1,030	28
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	732	158.18/cwt	158.00–158.50	1,158	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	822	146.75/cwt	146.75–146.75	1,206	9
Feeder Cattle · Heifers28 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	284	179.14/cwt	175.00–180.00	509	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	311	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	482	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	329	178.54/cwt	175.00–181.00	587	32
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	363	179.79/cwt	174.00–186.00	653	92
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	376	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	602	6
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	397	166.00/cwt	166.00–166.00	659	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	419	172.60/cwt	160.00–182.00	723	189
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	419	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	641	19
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	469	153.06/cwt	149.00–157.50	718	49
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	473	157.07/cwt	149.50–165.50	743	239
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	485	147.50/cwt	147.50–147.50	715	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	499	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	724	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	520	151.64/cwt	144.00–156.75	789	482
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	532	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	745	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	539	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	687	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	560	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	767	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	573	145.81/cwt	140.00–150.25	835	104
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	616	140.50/cwt	140.50–140.50	865	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	675	144.64/cwt	142.50–146.00	976	15
Heifers	—	Medium 1	733	135.50/cwt	135.50–135.50	993	24
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	787	130.50/cwt	130.50–130.50	1,027	25
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	799	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	967	9
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2Fleshy	811	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	981	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	812	139.94/cwt	139.50–140.00	1,136	40
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	878	135.50/cwt	135.50–135.50	1,190	87
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	892	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	1,244	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	911	137.25/cwt	137.25–137.25	1,250	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	1,032	124.75/cwt	124.75–124.75	1,287	25
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	657	14
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	498	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	772	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	768	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	876	2
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,098	100.00/cwt	100.00–100.00	1,098	2
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,108	98.00/cwt	98.00–98.00	1,086	2
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,188	95.00/cwt	95.00–95.00	1,129	11
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,720	74.00/cwt	72.00–75.00	1,273	6
Bulls	—	—	1,725	80.70/cwt	78.00–85.00	1,392	6
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	883	30.18/cwt	25.00–33.00	266	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	925	35.00/cwt	35.00–35.00	324	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,118	41.14/cwt	39.00–45.00	460	37
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,162	33.39/cwt	31.00–36.50	388	28
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,195	55.50/cwt	55.50–55.50	663	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,198	47.49/cwt	45.00–51.50	569	53
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,295	44.50/cwt	44.50–44.50	576	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,332	45.83/cwt	45.00–46.00	610	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,356	68.67/cwt	66.00–69.00	931	18
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,378	53.60/cwt	46.00–55.25	739	18
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,411	43.84/cwt	40.50–48.00	619	14
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,430	60.17/cwt	56.50–63.00	860	34
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,632	73.00/cwt	73.00–73.00	1,191	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,760	58.98/cwt	54.50–64.00	1,038	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,763	71.00/cwt	71.00–71.00	1,252	2
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	855	985.00/cwt	985.00–985.00	8,422	11
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	937	86.52/cwt	71.00–95.00	811	48
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,088	65.35/cwt	60.00–77.00	711	22
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,111	52.12/cwt	52.00–53.00	579	8
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,253	60.47/cwt	55.00–61.50	758	12

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.

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

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

Fri Oct 15, 2021

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 3,162Last week 3,626Year ago 3,042

Slaughter CattleReceipts 298Last week 372Year ago 311

Replacement CattleReceipts 110Last week 101Year ago 0

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	616	140.50	140.50
104	—	573	140.00–150.25	145.81
482	—	520	144.00–156.75	151.64
15	—	675	142.50–146.00	144.64
189	—	419	160.00–182.00	172.60
32	—	329	175.00–181.00	178.54
239	—	473	149.50–165.50	157.07
92	—	363	174.00–186.00	179.79

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	311	155.00	155.00
7	—	539	127.50	127.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	284	175.00–180.00	179.14
6	—	532	140.00	140.00
6	—	376	160.00	160.00
19	—	419	153.00	153.00
5	—	560	137.00	137.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	397	166.00	166.00
12	—	485	147.50	147.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
25	—	1,032	124.75	124.75
25	—	787	130.50	130.50
87	—	878	135.50	135.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
49	—	469	149.00–157.50	153.06
15	—	911	137.25	137.25
10	—	892	139.50	139.50
40	—	812	139.50–140.00	139.94

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	499	145.00	145.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
24	—	733	135.50	135.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	799	121.00	121.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	811	121.00	121.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	497	165.00	165.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	449	181.00	181.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
52	—	627	156.00–163.00	160.74
7	—	328	217.00	217.00
300	—	522	161.00–176.00	167.62
1	—	285	235.00	235.00
93	—	432	185.00–209.00	195.08
48	—	654	152.00–164.50	162.16
19	—	377	219.00–224.00	219.86
226	—	568	153.50–168.50	162.63
146	—	472	176.00–191.00	183.13
17	—	732	158.00–158.50	158.18

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	822	146.75	146.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	581	144.00–147.00	144.67
15	—	533	159.50–163.00	160.88
5	—	320	210.00–211.00	210.20
17	—	476	158.00–175.00	167.84
8	—	365	182.50–211.00	192.82
2	—	420	170.00	170.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
28	—	728	141.50	141.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	505	155.00	155.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	497	167.00	167.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	532	159.00–159.50	159.27
2	—	395	200.00	200.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,188	95.00	95.00
2	—	1,108	98.00	98.00
2	—	1,098	100.00	100.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	768	114.00	114.00
14	—	450	146.00	146.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	498	155.00	155.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,760	54.50–64.00	58.98
2	—	1,763	71.00	71.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,632	73.00	73.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	1,378	46.00–55.25	53.60
18	—	1,356	66.00–69.00	68.67
34	—	1,430	56.50–63.00	60.17

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
53	—	1,198	45.00–51.50	47.49
2	—	1,295	44.50	44.50
1	—	1,195	55.50	55.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,332	45.00–46.00	45.83
37	—	1,118	39.00–45.00	41.14
28	—	1,162	31.00–36.50	33.39

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	1,411	40.50–48.00	43.84

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	883	25.00–33.00	30.18
1	—	925	35.00	35.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,725	78.00–85.00	80.70
6	—	1,720	72.00–75.00	74.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	11	—	855	985.00	985.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	12	—	1,253	55.00–61.50	60.47
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	22	—	1,088	60.00–77.00	65.35
(<2 yrs)	Open	48	—	937	71.00–95.00	86.52

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	8	—	1,111	52.00–53.00	52.12

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.