Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-10-29

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2021-10-29
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-10-29

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Oct 29

● Final89 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776

← Oct 22Oct 29Nov 5 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

1,990 head

▼ 3,314 vs last sale 5,304▼ 435 vs year ago 2,425 · −17.9%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

288 head

▲ 16 vs last sale 272▲ 74 vs year ago 214 · +34.6%

Replacement Cattle receipts

1,201 head

▲ 1,121 vs last sale 80▲ 1,161 vs year ago 40 · +2,902.5%

Also sold hereRegular saleWed Oct 28, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Friday: All yearlings were scarcely tested thus no trend is available. Steer and heifer calves all traded unevenly steady in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive, and overall quality was lower than last week. Calves were thinly tested this week as a large portion of todays sale was comprised of bred cows. Demand for calves was light to moderate. Most calves sold today in small lots or as singles. Only one load lot was seen on todays sale. Demand for calves was moderate to good for light to moderate offerings. Transportation continues to be the biggest factor limiting demand. Trucks remain very tight and most buyers refused to buy un-weaned calves that they didn't have transportation for. Large price spreads continue to be seen. Buyers continued buying calves the same way as 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. Heavy discounts continue to be seen on plain or average quality cattle. Market activity this sale was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for light offerings. Slaughter and feeding cows and bulls were not reported last feeder special as these offerings sold late into the evening. Weigh up conditions were average to below average this sale.

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 $146.85/cwt on 872 head.

Average price

$146.85

872 head · 533 lb average

Value per head Derived

$783

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$17

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$19.09/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−3.52

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	541	147.10	796	765
Medium and Large 1-2	398	146.25	582	74
Medium 1	669	145.40	973	27
Large 1	635	128.01	813	6thin

One grade step is worth $19.09/cwt here — about −$17 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 sale872 hd

146.85

—

MT average4 barns · 3,830 hd

150.36

−3.52

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	1,635	61.00	997	2thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,608	64.75	1,041	2thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,418	52.35	742	41
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,224	45.87	561	189

Every lot, as filed

89 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 · Steers17 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	324	197.51/cwt	195.00–200.00	640	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	373	184.87/cwt	184.00–190.00	690	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	415	176.45/cwt	176.00–177.00	732	7
Steers	—	Medium 1	423	152.50/cwt	152.50–152.50	645	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	427	185.42/cwt	176.00–192.50	792	66
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	440	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	726	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	483	164.35/cwt	164.00–165.00	794	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	484	174.34/cwt	167.00–189.00	844	52
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	491	160.81/cwt	140.00–165.00	790	46
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	513	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	775	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	523	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	654	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	536	159.75/cwt	156.00–161.00	856	26
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	578	160.78/cwt	152.00–165.50	929	297
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	625	153.00/cwt	152.00–153.75	956	41
Steers	—	Large 1Unweaned	662	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	947	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	670	152.62/cwt	145.00–158.50	1,023	39
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	708	153.50/cwt	153.50–153.50	1,087	7
Feeder Cattle · Heifers27 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	292	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	447	28
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	319	171.69/cwt	167.50–174.00	548	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	321	184.85/cwt	180.00–190.00	593	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	376	176.77/cwt	165.00–183.00	665	62
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	396	170.50/cwt	170.50–170.50	675	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	432	159.13/cwt	151.00–170.00	687	52
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	437	149.34/cwt	147.00–154.00	653	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	438	139.75/cwt	139.75–139.75	612	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	454	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	790	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	475	152.94/cwt	147.00–157.50	726	83
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	483	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	662	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	484	139.88/cwt	137.00–144.00	677	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	515	132.26/cwt	128.00–135.00	681	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	530	141.91/cwt	135.50–148.50	752	211
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	578	139.41/cwt	130.00–143.00	806	196
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	583	126.50/cwt	126.50–126.50	737	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	613	137.31/cwt	131.00–140.00	842	48
Heifers	—	Large 1Unweaned	635	128.01/cwt	125.00–131.00	813	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	637	135.83/cwt	131.00–137.00	865	5
Heifers	—	Medium 1	642	146.63/cwt	145.00–148.00	941	22
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	659	137.85/cwt	131.00–140.50	908	39
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	761	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	1,103	17
Heifers	—	Medium 1	788	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,103	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	821	138.40/cwt	138.00–139.00	1,136	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	891	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	1,238	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	929	135.55/cwt	135.00–137.00	1,259	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	955	130.50/cwt	130.50–130.50	1,246	3
Feeder Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	347	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	642	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	385	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	674	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	540	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	799	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	594	137.56/cwt	130.00–140.00	817	4
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,635	61.00/cwt	61.00–61.00	997	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows14 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,155	32.42/cwt	32.00–34.00	374	18
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,168	42.11/cwt	40.00–46.00	492	16
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,199	39.10/cwt	37.50–41.00	469	23
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,231	50.51/cwt	48.50–53.00	622	57
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,253	48.71/cwt	47.00–52.50	610	53
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,256	44.10/cwt	43.00–45.50	554	17
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,259	60.31/cwt	58.00–62.00	759	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,356	47.21/cwt	45.00–49.00	640	19
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,445	58.71/cwt	55.50–64.00	848	18
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,475	40.50/cwt	40.50–40.50	597	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,495	72.00/cwt	72.00–72.00	1,076	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,615	47.04/cwt	42.50–52.00	760	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,650	58.00/cwt	58.00–58.00	957	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,720	57.50/cwt	57.50–57.50	989	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows20 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,056	1,224.36/cwt	1,185.00–1,310.00	12,929	19
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,057	1,059.17/cwt	1,035.00–1,100.00	11,195	26
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,078	1,275.00/cwt	1,275.00–1,275.00	13,745	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,109	950.00/cwt	950.00–950.00	10,536	11
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,132	1,411.74/cwt	1,300.00–1,560.00	15,981	217
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,141	52.50/cwt	52.50–52.50	599	8
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,143	1,150.00/cwt	1,150.00–1,150.00	13,145	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,145	600.00/cwt	600.00–600.00	6,870	13
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,152	976.13/cwt	925.00–1,025.00	11,245	18
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,187	825.00/cwt	825.00–825.00	9,793	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,202	1,125.00/cwt	1,125.00–1,125.00	13,523	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,231	1,124.33/cwt	1,010.00–1,300.00	13,841	82
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,253	47.50/cwt	47.50–47.50	595	11
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,262	1,009.39/cwt	975.00–1,075.00	12,739	39
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,291	810.51/cwt	700.00–875.00	10,464	126
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,299	925.00/cwt	925.00–925.00	12,016	47
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,308	739.29/cwt	725.00–750.00	9,670	43
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,338	967.07/cwt	850.00–1,075.00	12,939	137
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,340	57.50/cwt	57.50–57.50	771	9
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,375	54.50/cwt	54.50–54.50	749	3
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	903	60.00/cwt	60.00–60.00	542	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,019	80.89/cwt	63.00–95.00	824	11
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,028	75.53/cwt	62.50–85.00	776	26
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers3 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium 1	814	1,004.39/cwt	900.00–1,025.00	8,176	27
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	914	1,439.74/cwt	1,425.00–1,460.00	13,159	105
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	936	1,110.00/cwt	1,110.00–1,110.00	10,390	19

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 29, 2021

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 1,990Last week 5,304Year ago 2,425

Slaughter CattleReceipts 288Last week 272Year ago 214

Replacement CattleReceipts 1,201Last week 80Year ago 40

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	788	140.00	140.00
22	—	642	145.00–148.00	146.63

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	821	138.00–139.00	138.40
10	—	891	139.00	139.00
10	—	396	170.50	170.50
5	—	637	131.00–137.00	135.83
17	—	761	145.00	145.00
3	—	955	130.50	130.50
7	—	929	135.00–137.00	135.55

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	635	125.00–131.00	128.01

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
52	—	432	151.00–170.00	159.13
211	—	530	135.50–148.50	141.91
48	—	613	131.00–140.00	137.31
83	—	475	147.00–157.50	152.94
13	—	321	180.00–190.00	184.85
62	—	376	165.00–183.00	176.77
196	—	578	130.00–143.00	139.41
39	—	659	131.00–140.50	137.85

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	483	137.00	137.00
11	—	438	139.75	139.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	583	126.50	126.50
28	—	292	153.00	153.00
5	—	515	128.00–135.00	132.26
12	—	437	147.00–154.00	149.34
7	—	484	137.00–144.00	139.88
3	—	319	167.50–174.00	171.69

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	454	174.00	174.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	423	152.50	152.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	440	165.00	165.00
5	—	513	151.00	151.00
46	—	491	140.00–165.00	160.81

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	662	143.00	143.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	324	195.00–200.00	197.51
41	—	625	152.00–153.75	153.00
7	—	373	184.00–190.00	184.87
26	—	536	156.00–161.00	159.75
52	—	484	167.00–189.00	174.34
39	—	670	145.00–158.50	152.62
297	—	578	152.00–165.50	160.78
66	—	427	176.00–192.50	185.42
7	—	708	153.50	153.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	415	176.00–177.00	176.45

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	523	125.00	125.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	483	164.00–165.00	164.35

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	385	175.00	175.00
5	—	347	185.00	185.00
4	—	594	130.00–140.00	137.56
5	—	540	148.00	148.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,495	72.00	72.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,650	58.00	58.00
1	—	1,475	40.50	40.50
19	—	1,356	45.00–49.00	47.21

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,615	42.50–52.00	47.04
18	—	1,445	55.50–64.00	58.71

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
53	—	1,253	47.00–52.50	48.71
18	—	1,155	32.00–34.00	32.42
16	—	1,168	40.00–46.00	42.11

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
23	—	1,199	37.50–41.00	39.10
57	—	1,231	48.50–53.00	50.51
17	—	1,256	43.00–45.50	44.10
5	—	1,259	58.00–62.00	60.31

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,720	57.50	57.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,635	61.00	61.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	3	—	1,078	1,275.00	1,275.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	26	—	1,057	1,035.00–1,100.00	1,059.17
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	3	—	1,202	1,125.00	1,125.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	137	—	1,338	850.00–1,075.00	967.07
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	217	—	1,132	1,300.00–1,560.00	1,411.74
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	18	—	1,152	925.00–1,025.00	976.13
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	82	—	1,231	1,010.00–1,300.00	1,124.33
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	9	—	1,340	57.50	57.50
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	3	—	1,143	1,150.00	1,150.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	47	—	1,299	925.00	925.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	39	—	1,262	975.00–1,075.00	1,009.39
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,187	825.00	825.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	126	—	1,291	700.00–875.00	810.51
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	43	—	1,308	725.00–750.00	739.29

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	3	—	1,375	54.50	54.50
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	8	—	1,141	52.50	52.50
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	13	—	1,145	600.00	600.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	19	—	1,056	1,185.00–1,310.00	1,224.36
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	11	—	1,253	47.50	47.50
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	11	—	1,109	950.00	950.00

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	26	—	1,028	62.50–85.00	75.53
(<2 yrs)	Open	11	—	1,019	63.00–95.00	80.89

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	3	—	903	60.00	60.00

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)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	105	—	914	1,425.00–1,460.00	1,439.74
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	19	—	936	1,110.00	1,110.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	27	—	814	900.00–1,025.00	1,004.39

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.