Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-10-07

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2020-10-07
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-10-07

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Oct 7

● Final74 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Sep 30Oct 7Oct 14 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

564 head

▲ 124 vs last sale 440▼ 25 vs year ago 589 · −4.2%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

581 head

▲ 157 vs last sale 424▲ 196 vs year ago 385 · +50.9%

Replacement Cattle receipts

335 head

▲ 34 vs last sale 301▼ 15 vs year ago 350 · −4.3%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Unweaned calves were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings and calves was light to moderate on light offerings. Quality this week was plain to average on yearlings and calves. Yearlings and calves were both offered in mostly mostly small packages with no load lots seen this week. All feeders on offer were in light flesh. Limited offerings made it difficult for buyers to put together loads which hindered demand. Yearling weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mixed demand and light to moderate offerings. Packer buyers and feeding buyers both showed strong demand for boning and breaking flesh cows suitable to feed. Lean, thin cows sold on very light to light demand, creating a two tier market. Feeding cows sold 2.00-3.00 higher on medium and fleshy cows while thin cows sold mostly 3.00-4.00 lower. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher on breaking cows. Boning and lean cows sold 3.00-6.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 1.00 lower. Cow quality this week was mostly plain to average. Many cows were coming out of dry country and were very thin thin. Many cows had freshly weaned calves pulled off them and had heavy bags as a result. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week as many cows were very full. Young age 2-3 year old cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold 6.00-7.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive. Many of these cows had freshly weaned calves off them and were tested open. Demand was good to very good with several buyers competing over these offerings.

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 $131.69/cwt on 157 head.

Average price

$131.69

157 head · 740 lb average

Value per head Derived

$974

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$393

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$14.15/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−8.15

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	658	135.72	893	97
Medium and Large 1-2	670	130.25	872	20
Medium 1	375	130.00	488	5thin
Large 1	1,058	121.57	1,287	35

One grade step is worth $14.15/cwt here — about −$393 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 sale157 hd

131.69

—

MT average3 barns · 1,988 hd

139.84

−8.15

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	1,764	72.68	1,282	60
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,556	65.94	1,026	61
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,424	59.18	843	115
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,220	48.54	592	316

Every lot

74 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 · Steers17 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	369	178.65/cwt	178.00–179.00	659	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	383	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	640	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	408	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	755	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	465	160.28/cwt	160.00–160.50	745	21
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	514	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	776	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	570	146.58/cwt	145.50–147.50	836	15
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	597	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	794	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	609	142.92/cwt	139.00–144.00	870	31
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	669	142.87/cwt	142.50–146.00	956	29
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	670	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	1,018	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	715	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	987	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	772	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,081	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	873	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	1,218	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	875	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	1,199	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	916	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	1,237	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	957	132.50/cwt	132.50–132.50	1,268	3
Steers	—	Large 1Full	1,118	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	1,308	3
Feeder Cattle · Heifers19 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	336	153.60/cwt	150.00–162.50	516	26
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	355	162.50/cwt	162.50–162.50	577	1
Heifers	—	Medium 1	375	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	488	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	428	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	565	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	471	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	631	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	515	132.72/cwt	130.50–135.00	684	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	578	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	746	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	624	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	786	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	816	128.56/cwt	127.50–131.00	1,049	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	847	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	1,110	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	890	130.50/cwt	130.50–130.50	1,161	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	909	125.61/cwt	125.50–126.00	1,142	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	918	128.50/cwt	128.50–128.50	1,180	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	960	118.00/cwt	118.00–118.00	1,133	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	974	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	1,198	5
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,019	125.50/cwt	125.50–125.50	1,279	4
Heifers	—	Large 1Full	1,021	122.12/cwt	119.50–122.75	1,247	15
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,090	120.70/cwt	120.50–122.50	1,316	10
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,126	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	1,340	6
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	578	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	751	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	683	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	833	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	935	113.00/cwt	113.00–113.00	1,057	1
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,125	90.00/cwt	90.00–90.00	1,013	1
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,248	84.00/cwt	84.00–84.00	1,048	2
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,350	82.00/cwt	82.00–82.00	1,107	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,628	71.90/cwt	65.00–74.00	1,171	9
Bulls	—	—	1,679	69.61/cwt	60.00–73.50	1,169	29
Bulls	—	—	1,862	76.06/cwt	74.00–79.00	1,416	17
Bulls	—	—	2,068	82.44/cwt	80.50–86.00	1,705	4
Bulls	—	—Heavy Weight	2,545	72.00/cwt	72.00–72.00	1,832	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	930	42.00/cwt	42.00–42.00	391	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,127	42.79/cwt	41.00–43.50	482	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,144	37.05/cwt	31.00–44.00	424	31
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,193	62.00/cwt	62.00–62.00	740	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,225	51.01/cwt	49.00–58.00	625	124
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,234	48.74/cwt	47.00–55.00	601	125
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,236	47.29/cwt	45.00–49.00	585	20
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,247	63.50/cwt	63.50–63.50	792	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,253	49.91/cwt	49.00–51.00	625	6
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,393	50.82/cwt	48.00–52.00	708	6
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,397	51.01/cwt	49.50–52.00	713	12
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,418	61.40/cwt	52.75–63.50	871	46
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,430	67.04/cwt	64.00–69.00	959	32
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,456	48.36/cwt	45.00–49.00	704	19
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,507	68.31/cwt	66.00–69.50	1,029	34
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,580	52.50/cwt	52.50–52.50	830	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,597	61.44/cwt	58.00–63.00	981	11
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,626	65.32/cwt	64.00–68.00	1,062	13
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,830	70.00/cwt	70.00–70.00	1,281	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,125	1,000.00/cwt	1,000.00–1,000.00	11,250	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,213	1,060.00/cwt	1,060.00–1,060.00	12,858	5
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,274	49.00/cwt	49.00–49.00	624	12
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,368	835.00/cwt	835.00–835.00	11,423	3
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	965	92.19/cwt	68.50–103.00	890	161
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,069	74.68/cwt	56.00–92.00	798	95
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,070	67.00/cwt	67.00–67.00	717	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,125	53.96/cwt	53.00–55.00	607	2

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 Oct 7, 2020

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 564Last week 440Year ago 589

Slaughter CattleReceipts 581Last week 424Year ago 385

Replacement CattleReceipts 335Last week 301Year ago 350

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
29	—	669	142.50–146.00	142.87
3	—	408	185.00	185.00
3	—	715	138.00	138.00
15	—	570	145.50–147.50	146.58
31	—	609	139.00–144.00	142.92
6	—	369	178.00–179.00	178.65
21	—	465	160.00–160.50	160.28

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	772	140.00	140.00
3	—	875	137.00	137.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	670	152.00	152.00
6	—	873	139.50	139.50
9	—	916	135.00	135.00
3	—	957	132.50	132.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	514	151.00	151.00
3	—	383	167.00	167.00
5	—	597	133.00	133.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,118	117.00	117.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	515	130.50–135.00	132.72
1	—	355	162.50	162.50
9	—	578	129.00	129.00
26	—	336	150.00–162.50	153.60
4	—	624	126.00	126.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	918	128.50	128.50
15	—	890	130.50	130.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	375	130.00	130.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	428	132.00	132.00
7	—	471	134.00	134.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	847	131.00	131.00
3	—	960	118.00	118.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	1,021	119.50–122.75	122.12

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,019	125.50	125.50
6	—	1,126	119.00	119.00
10	—	1,090	120.50–122.50	120.70

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	974	123.00	123.00
9	—	909	125.50–126.00	125.61
10	—	816	127.50–131.00	128.56

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,125	90.00	90.00
1	—	1,350	82.00	82.00
2	—	1,248	84.00	84.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	935	113.00	113.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	683	122.00	122.00
2	—	578	130.00	130.00

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)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	5	—	1,213	1,060.00	1,060.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	3	—	1,125	1,000.00	1,000.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,368	835.00	835.00

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)	12	—	1,274	49.00	49.00

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	2	—	1,125	53.00–55.00	53.96

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	95	—	1,069	56.00–92.00	74.68
(<2 yrs)	Open	161	—	965	68.50–103.00	92.19

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	1	—	1,070	67.00	67.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
31	—	1,144	31.00–44.00	37.05
20	—	1,236	45.00–49.00	47.29
2	—	1,193	62.00	62.00
6	—	1,253	49.00–51.00	49.91

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,127	41.00–43.50	42.79
125	—	1,234	47.00–55.00	48.74
3	—	1,247	63.50	63.50
124	—	1,225	49.00–58.00	51.01

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	930	42.00	42.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	1,456	45.00–49.00	48.36
12	—	1,397	49.50–52.00	51.01

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,580	52.50	52.50
1	—	1,830	70.00	70.00
13	—	1,626	64.00–68.00	65.32

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,597	58.00–63.00	61.44
34	—	1,507	66.00–69.50	68.31

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,393	48.00–52.00	50.82
46	—	1,418	52.75–63.50	61.40
32	—	1,430	64.00–69.00	67.04

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,628	65.00–74.00	71.90

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
29	—	1,679	60.00–73.50	69.61
4	—	2,068	80.50–86.00	82.44
17	—	1,862	74.00–79.00	76.06

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,545	72.00	72.00

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.