Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-03-04

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2020-03-04
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-03-04

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 4

● Final36 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Feb 26Mar 4Mar 11 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

167 head

▲ 21 vs last sale 146▲ 167 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Slaughter Cattle receipts

185 head

▲ 15 vs last sale 170▲ 185 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Replacement Cattle receipts

255 head

▼ 1,530 vs last sale 1,785▲ 255 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly light to moderate for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly average and offered in small groups or as singles. Market activity this week was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers continue to purchase a large portion of the cow offering for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold generally steady. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week with large variations in fill and flesh. Packer buyers also competed with feeding buyers again this week as they put mostly high quality cows away on feed. Feeding cows sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold mostly 4.00-6.00 lower. Lighter demand from feeding buyers has caused prices to slide lower on all young age 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 $132.30/cwt on 66 head.

Average price

$132.30

66 head · 682 lb average

Value per head Derived

$903

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$195

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

$17.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−20.73

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1-2	504	143.00	721	4thin
Medium and Large 1	692	131.90	913	59
Medium and Large 1-2	727	126.00	916	3thin

One grade step is worth $17.00/cwt here — about −$195 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 sale66 hd

132.30

—

MT average3 barns · 788 hd

153.03

−20.73

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	1,983	80.85	1,603	17
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,654	60.89	1,007	6thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,473	57.20	842	47
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,214	53.39	648	86

Every lot

36 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 · Steers5 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	536	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	933	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	675	147.88/cwt	147.00–148.00	998	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	707	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	919	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	757	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	984	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	810	128.50/cwt	128.50–128.50	1,041	5
Feeder Cattle · Heifers8 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	407	169.00/cwt	169.00–169.00	688	3
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	504	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	721	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	571	151.86/cwt	150.00–153.00	867	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	607	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	886	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	650	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	891	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	711	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	939	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	727	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	916	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	803	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	915	25
Feeder Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	535	167.50/cwt	167.50–167.50	896	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	630	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	945	4
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,655	74.31/cwt	72.00–75.00	1,230	4
Bulls	—	—	2,009	80.14/cwt	76.00–86.00	1,610	9
Bulls	—	—	2,251	88.98/cwt	87.00–92.00	2,003	4
Slaughter Cattle · Cows10 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	918	52.37/cwt	47.00–55.00	481	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	930	34.00/cwt	34.00–34.00	316	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	970	56.50/cwt	56.50–56.50	548	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,132	43.63/cwt	43.00–45.00	494	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,202	52.72/cwt	47.00–55.00	634	54
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,318	57.49/cwt	55.50–60.00	758	23
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,464	54.38/cwt	52.00–56.00	796	16
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,477	58.66/cwt	57.00–61.50	866	31
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,594	63.84/cwt	62.50–64.50	1,018	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,775	55.00/cwt	55.00–55.00	976	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	718	97.50/cwt	97.50–97.50	700	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,025	95.44/cwt	80.00–106.50	978	75
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,183	56.71/cwt	55.00–59.00	671	8
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,191	56.63/cwt	56.00–57.00	674	5
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,337	66.83/cwt	62.00–90.00	894	66
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,374	56.00/cwt	56.00–56.00	769	5
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,524	62.09/cwt	58.00–64.00	946	36
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,619	57.44/cwt	56.50–58.00	930	18

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 Mar 4, 2020

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 167Last week 146Year ago 0

Slaughter CattleReceipts 185Last week 170Year ago 0

Replacement CattleReceipts 255Last week 1,785Year ago 0

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,594	62.50–64.50	63.84
2	—	1,775	55.00	55.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
54	—	1,202	47.00–55.00	52.72
23	—	1,318	55.50–60.00	57.49
4	—	1,132	43.00–45.00	43.63

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
31	—	1,477	57.00–61.50	58.66
16	—	1,464	52.00–56.00	54.38

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	930	34.00	34.00
1	—	970	56.50	56.50
3	—	918	47.00–55.00	52.37

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	2,009	76.00–86.00	80.14
4	—	2,251	87.00–92.00	88.98
4	—	1,655	72.00–75.00	74.31

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	5	—	1,191	56.00–57.00	56.63
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	5	—	1,374	56.00	56.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	8	—	1,183	55.00–59.00	56.71

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	75	—	1,025	80.00–106.50	95.44
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	36	—	1,524	58.00–64.00	62.09
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	18	—	1,619	56.50–58.00	57.44
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	66	—	1,337	62.00–90.00	66.83

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	2	—	718	97.50	97.50

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
25	—	803	114.00	114.00
8	—	571	150.00–153.00	151.86
4	—	650	137.00	137.00
3	—	407	169.00	169.00
11	—	607	146.00	146.00
8	—	711	132.00	132.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	727	126.00	126.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	504	143.00	143.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	757	130.00	130.00
9	—	707	130.00	130.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	675	147.00–148.00	147.88
5	—	810	128.50	128.50
5	—	536	174.00	174.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	630	150.00	150.00
2	—	535	167.50	167.50

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.