Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2019-04-17

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2019-04-17
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-04-17

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Apr 17

● Final90 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Apr 10Apr 17Apr 24 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

5,620 head

▲ 5,350 vs last sale 270▲ 5,620 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Slaughter Cattle receipts

350 head

▲ 122 vs last sale 228▲ 350 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Replacement Cattle receipts

72 head

▼ 73 vs last sale 145▲ 72 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Quality this week was mostly attractive to very attractive. Cattle were in mostly very light to moderate flesh. Buyers gave strong premiums for thin fleshed cattle this sale as grass buyers were very aggressive in bidding on these offerings. CME contracts finished the day mixed, however with with stronger CME contract prices seen since the last feeder special buyers bid with confidence as they searched for cattle to fill summer pasture and grass leases. Demand was consistent throughout the sale which stretched late into the evening. The stands were full for today's sale with many ranchers and farmer feeders in the seats, as well as traditional order buyers. A strong offering of replacement quality heifers were seen this sale. These offerings sold on good to very good demand as quality ran deep. Market activity was active to very active with many willing market participants for all classes of feeder and replacement cattle. Weigh up cows and bulls sold on moderate to good demand for light offerings. Quality this sale was plain to average and much lower than last week. Slaughter and feeding cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls were scarcely tested. Young age 2-3 year olds suitable to re-breed sold with lower undertones on a much lower quality offering.

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 $149.08/cwt on 2,616 head.

Average price

$149.08

2,616 head · 670 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,000

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$40

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

$15.18/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−0.58

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	576	152.95	881	250
Medium and Large 1	683	149.17	1,019	2,260
Large 1	654	140.12	917	17thin
Medium and Large 2	610	137.77	841	89

One grade step is worth $15.18/cwt here — about $40 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 sale2,616 hd

149.08

—

MT average3 barns · 2,761 hd

149.66

−0.58

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	1,698	79.38	1,347	4thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,485	61.97	920	4thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,489	60.13	895	4thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,146	56.02	642	41

Every lot

90 lots · USDA AMS · Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Wed)

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 · Steers25 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	422	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	844	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	470	190.00/cwt	188.00–193.00	893	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	488	196.05/cwt	194.00–198.00	957	101
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	528	190.98/cwt	185.00–196.00	1,008	61
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	534	183.20/cwt	183.00–184.00	978	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	537	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	832	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	575	173.42/cwt	172.50–174.50	997	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	576	180.04/cwt	178.00–183.00	1,037	41
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	602	166.00/cwt	166.00–166.00	999	33
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	629	175.73/cwt	171.50–180.00	1,105	240
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	636	162.23/cwt	154.00–171.00	1,032	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	663	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	975	68
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	674	167.75/cwt	163.00–172.50	1,131	276
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	675	157.03/cwt	155.00–162.00	1,060	22
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	719	161.16/cwt	155.50–166.00	1,159	136
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	736	151.57/cwt	147.00–153.00	1,116	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	762	142.50/cwt	142.50–142.50	1,086	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	766	153.20/cwt	148.00–155.50	1,174	170
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	768	145.59/cwt	144.00–149.00	1,118	21
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	809	143.52/cwt	141.00–146.00	1,161	70
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	846	132.50/cwt	132.50–132.50	1,121	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	854	134.25/cwt	134.25–134.25	1,146	15
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	870	138.82/cwt	137.50–139.50	1,208	24
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	910	129.87/cwt	129.00–130.00	1,182	16
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	982	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	1,252	7
Feeder Cattle · Heifers33 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	416	163.87/cwt	162.00–165.00	682	26
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	463	174.13/cwt	167.00–177.50	806	41
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	481	164.13/cwt	162.50–166.00	789	40
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	513	162.05/cwt	158.00–163.00	831	38
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	524	165.88/cwt	164.50–169.00	869	120
Heifers	—	Large 1	534	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	828	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	540	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	783	18
Heifers	—	Large 1	565	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	819	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	576	163.32/cwt	159.75–166.50	941	162
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	588	153.10/cwt	147.00–158.00	900	55
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	615	165.07/cwt	163.00–165.75	1,015	72
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	627	158.24/cwt	150.00–162.50	992	394
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	628	135.94/cwt	135.00–136.00	854	71
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	631	144.63/cwt	140.00–147.00	913	18
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	640	147.61/cwt	147.00–149.00	945	47
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	658	157.50/cwt	157.50–157.50	1,036	47
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	658	145.00/cwt	142.00–148.00	954	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	681	148.56/cwt	144.00–152.00	1,012	399
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	687	138.34/cwt	137.00–139.50	950	54
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	705	145.52/cwt	140.00–148.00	1,026	394
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	717	132.47/cwt	130.00–138.00	950	28
Heifers	—	Large 1	723	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	1,005	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	736	1,122.17/cwt	1,057.50–1,160.00	8,259	322
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	755	1,148.45/cwt	1,100.00–1,150.00	8,671	131
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	760	138.49/cwt	134.00–140.00	1,053	279
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	774	127.52/cwt	126.00–128.00	987	16
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	795	131.60/cwt	131.00–132.00	1,046	10
Heifers	—	Large 1	805	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	982	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	814	133.42/cwt	131.00–135.00	1,086	94
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	820	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,066	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	827	1,191.40/cwt	1,185.00–1,200.00	9,853	130
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	867	130.19/cwt	130.00–130.25	1,129	147
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	931	127.15/cwt	126.00–127.50	1,184	17
Feeder Cattle · Bulls11 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	424	189.29/cwt	188.00–190.00	803	19
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	547	177.00/cwt	177.00–177.00	968	20
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	550	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	891	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	640	166.86/cwt	166.00–169.00	1,068	15
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	651	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	1,048	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	693	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	1,053	8
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	797	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,068	12
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	908	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,180	35
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,035	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	1,139	1
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,078	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	1,186	3
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,133	101.00/cwt	101.00–101.00	1,144	4
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,505	77.00/cwt	77.00–77.00	1,159	1
Bulls	—	—	1,670	76.50/cwt	76.50–76.50	1,278	2
Bulls	—	—	1,945	87.50/cwt	87.50–87.50	1,702	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows9 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	916	53.49/cwt	51.00–55.00	490	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,134	55.11/cwt	50.50–60.00	625	28
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,274	62.36/cwt	61.50–64.00	794	8
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,325	57.00/cwt	57.00–57.00	755	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,370	41.00/cwt	41.00–41.00	562	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,455	68.00/cwt	68.00–68.00	989	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,490	62.69/cwt	61.50–64.00	934	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,505	54.50/cwt	54.50–54.50	820	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,980	69.50/cwt	69.50–69.50	1,376	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	967	82.00/cwt	82.00–82.00	793	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,033	98.07/cwt	89.00–109.00	1,013	42
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,148	56.50/cwt	56.50–56.50	649	10
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,205	74.85/cwt	62.00–87.00	902	24
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,272	60.23/cwt	57.00–64.50	766	37
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,379	64.93/cwt	63.00–67.00	895	17
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,379	64.38/cwt	61.00–65.50	888	23
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,068	1,500.00/cwt	1,500.00–1,500.00	16,020	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	1,175	810.00/cwt	810.00–810.00	9,518	16

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 (Wed)

Wed Apr 17, 2019

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 5,620Last week 270Year ago 0

Slaughter CattleReceipts 350Last week 228Year ago 0

Replacement CattleReceipts 72Last week 145Year ago 0

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
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	23	—	1,379	61.00–65.50	64.38
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	37	—	1,272	57.00–64.50	60.23
(<2 yrs)	Open	42	—	1,033	89.00–109.00	98.07
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	24	—	1,205	62.00–87.00	74.85
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	17	—	1,379	63.00–67.00	64.93

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	10	—	1,148	56.50	56.50
(<2 yrs)	Open	3	—	967	82.00	82.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	16	—	1,175	810.00	810.00

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	—	1,068	1,500.00	1,500.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
61	—	528	185.00–196.00	190.98
101	—	488	194.00–198.00	196.05
136	—	719	155.50–166.00	161.16
170	—	766	148.00–155.50	153.20
240	—	629	171.50–180.00	175.73
276	—	674	163.00–172.50	167.75
70	—	809	141.00–146.00	143.52
3	—	422	200.00	200.00
7	—	982	127.50	127.50
16	—	910	129.00–130.00	129.87
24	—	870	137.50–139.50	138.82
41	—	576	178.00–183.00	180.04

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	575	172.50–174.50	173.42
14	—	636	154.00–171.00	162.23
15	—	854	134.25	134.25
21	—	768	144.00–149.00	145.59
22	—	675	155.00–162.00	157.03
4	—	736	147.00–153.00	151.57
9	—	470	188.00–193.00	190.00
10	—	534	183.00–184.00	183.20

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	537	155.00	155.00
68	—	663	147.00	147.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	846	132.50	132.50
14	—	762	142.50	142.50
33	—	602	166.00	166.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
28	—	717	130.00–138.00	132.47
6	—	658	142.00–148.00	145.00
10	—	795	131.00–132.00	131.60
26	—	416	162.00–165.00	163.87
38	—	513	158.00–163.00	162.05
40	—	481	162.50–166.00	164.13
47	—	640	147.00–149.00	147.61
55	—	588	147.00–158.00	153.10

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
120	—	524	164.50–169.00	165.88
147	—	867	130.00–130.25	130.19
162	—	576	159.75–166.50	163.32
279	—	760	134.00–140.00	138.49
394	—	627	150.00–162.50	158.24
394	—	705	140.00–148.00	145.52
399	—	681	144.00–152.00	148.56
17	—	931	126.00–127.50	127.15
41	—	463	167.00–177.50	174.13
94	—	814	131.00–135.00	133.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	723	139.00	139.00
4	—	565	145.00	145.00
5	—	805	122.00	122.00
5	—	534	155.00	155.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
130	—	827	1,185.00–1,200.00	1,191.40
131	—	755	1,100.00–1,150.00	1,148.45
322	—	736	1,057.50–1,160.00	1,122.17

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	820	130.00	130.00
16	—	774	126.00–128.00	127.52
18	—	631	140.00–147.00	144.63
54	—	687	137.00–139.50	138.34

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
47	—	658	157.50	157.50
72	—	615	163.00–165.75	165.07

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	540	145.00	145.00
71	—	628	135.00–136.00	135.94

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	424	188.00–190.00	189.29
20	—	547	177.00	177.00
35	—	908	130.00	130.00
5	—	651	161.00	161.00
12	—	797	134.00	134.00
15	—	640	166.00–169.00	166.86

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	550	162.00	162.00
8	—	693	152.00	152.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,035	110.00	110.00
3	—	1,078	110.00	110.00
4	—	1,133	101.00	101.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,274	61.50–64.00	62.36
28	—	1,134	50.50–60.00	55.11
1	—	1,370	41.00	41.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	916	51.00–55.00	53.49

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,455	68.00	68.00
1	—	1,505	54.50	54.50
2	—	1,490	61.50–64.00	62.69

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,980	69.50	69.50
3	—	1,325	57.00	57.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,505	77.00	77.00
2	—	1,670	76.50	76.50
1	—	1,945	87.50	87.50

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.