Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-11-11

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2020-11-11
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-11-11

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Nov 11

● Final70 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Nov 4Nov 11Nov 18 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

569 head

▼ 420 vs last sale 989▼ 299 vs year ago 868 · −34.4%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

1,553 head

▼ 64 vs last sale 1,617▲ 1,028 vs year ago 525 · +195.8%

Replacement Cattle receipts

422 head

▼ 623 vs last sale 1,045▼ 1,138 vs year ago 1,560 · −72.9%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings was mostly moderate to good, and stronger than recent weeks. Unweaned steer calves sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher. Unweaned heifer calves sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Demand for calves was mostly moderate for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly average. Calves were offered in small packages this week. A good crowd was on hand this week. Market activity was moderate. Weigh up cows comprised the majority of the sale this week. Demand for cows was moderate for heavy offerings. Packers continue to purchase cows for the upcoming holidays. Most of these cows were purchased at the same money as slaughter cows this week. Quality today was average to attractive. A heavy offering of exposed cows was seen today and over the last few sales. Many sets are tested in the country and not retested at the yards and are just sold as weigh ups. Packers and feeding buyers both showed good demand for these cows. Some will get calved out while on feed. While others will be slaughter before calving just depending on the packer or feeder program. Slaughter cows sold 1.00-3.00 higher. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold steady on both feeding and slaughter bulls. Young age 2-3 year olds sold generally steady. Quality was mixed from plain to attractive.

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 $137.71/cwt on 169 head.

Average price

$137.71

169 head · 584 lb average

Value per head Derived

$804

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$433

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$28.64/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−6.21

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	541	141.10	763	136
Medium and Large 1-2	588	130.17	766	21
Large 1	1,063	112.46	1,196	12thin

One grade step is worth $28.64/cwt here — about −$433 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 sale169 hd

137.71

—

MT average5 barns · 4,010 hd

143.92

−6.21

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	1,806	76.54	1,382	25
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,563	61.01	954	32
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,395	53.75	750	383
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,190	47.20	562	465

Every lot

70 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 · Steers15 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	310	179.87/cwt	179.00–181.00	558	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	376	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	681	28
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	428	166.69/cwt	166.00–168.00	713	27
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	438	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	714	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	531	152.50/cwt	152.50–152.50	810	16
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	534	147.85/cwt	147.00–153.00	790	21
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	560	145.85/cwt	144.00–146.50	817	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	630	137.33/cwt	137.00–138.00	865	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	655	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	910	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	660	136.64/cwt	134.00–137.50	902	18
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	695	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	931	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	821	136.50/cwt	136.50–136.50	1,121	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	855	137.50/cwt	137.50–137.50	1,176	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	950	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	1,197	3
Steers	—	Large 1-2	1,028	118.00/cwt	118.00–118.00	1,213	4
Feeder Cattle · Heifers16 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	288	158.84/cwt	155.00–161.00	457	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	365	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	551	48
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	420	144.86/cwt	144.00–145.50	608	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	420	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	601	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	497	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	691	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	510	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	689	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	515	131.68/cwt	130.50–132.00	678	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	570	133.87/cwt	132.00–135.00	763	17
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	812	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,056	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	843	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	1,003	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	872	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	1,064	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	971	121.78/cwt	119.50–123.00	1,182	23
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,007	115.67/cwt	115.50–116.00	1,165	3
Heifers	—	Large 1Fleshy	1,045	113.00/cwt	113.00–113.00	1,181	4
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,074	111.83/cwt	110.50–114.50	1,201	3
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,168	107.50/cwt	107.50–107.50	1,256	2
Feeder Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	479	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	580	16
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	523	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	669	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	631	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	846	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	666	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	879	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	766	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	942	5
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,078	91.50/cwt	91.50–91.50	986	7
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,121	91.00/cwt	91.00–91.00	1,020	8
Feeder Cattle · Dairy Steers1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Steers	—	Large 4	645	42.00/cwt	42.00–42.00	271	8
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,595	72.00/cwt	72.00–72.00	1,148	3
Bulls	—	—	1,627	69.97/cwt	64.00–73.00	1,138	5
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,841	79.33/cwt	75.50–82.50	1,460	10
Bulls	—	—	1,963	77.37/cwt	75.00–81.00	1,519	5
Bulls	—	—	2,003	83.74/cwt	83.50–84.00	1,677	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	990	34.50/cwt	34.50–34.50	342	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,137	43.03/cwt	39.00–46.00	489	62
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,144	32.38/cwt	28.50–37.00	370	27
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,153	44.84/cwt	40.50–48.00	517	124
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,187	58.88/cwt	57.00–64.00	699	14
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,225	50.68/cwt	47.00–56.00	621	222
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,281	49.20/cwt	47.00–50.50	630	15
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,330	47.61/cwt	43.00–50.00	633	38
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,371	61.42/cwt	60.00–64.25	842	70
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,377	50.80/cwt	49.00–55.00	700	29
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,410	45.15/cwt	41.00–47.00	637	47
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,414	54.68/cwt	50.00–60.00	773	199
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,520	62.49/cwt	61.00–63.00	950	19
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,522	51.00/cwt	51.00–51.00	776	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,639	66.76/cwt	66.25–67.00	1,094	5
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,678	55.67/cwt	55.00–57.00	934	5
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows6 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,106	1,059.05/cwt	1,000.00–1,110.00	11,713	26
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,206	900.00/cwt	900.00–900.00	10,854	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,210	656.69/cwt	650.00–685.00	7,946	40
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,317	958.16/cwt	935.00–1,010.00	12,619	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,335	885.00/cwt	885.00–885.00	11,815	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,393	735.00/cwt	735.00–735.00	10,239	3
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	765	62.50/cwt	62.50–62.50	478	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	997	76.63/cwt	64.00–85.50	764	105
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,082	64.40/cwt	55.00–75.00	697	62
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,101	53.00/cwt	51.00–55.00	584	5

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 Nov 11, 2020

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 569Last week 989Year ago 868

Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,553Last week 1,617Year ago 525

Replacement CattleReceipts 422Last week 1,045Year ago 1,560

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
38	—	1,330	43.00–50.00	47.61
199	—	1,414	50.00–60.00	54.68
70	—	1,371	60.00–64.25	61.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
124	—	1,153	40.50–48.00	44.84
14	—	1,187	57.00–64.00	58.88
222	—	1,225	47.00–56.00	50.68

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	1,144	28.50–37.00	32.38
15	—	1,281	47.00–50.50	49.20
62	—	1,137	39.00–46.00	43.03

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,522	51.00	51.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,678	55.00–57.00	55.67
19	—	1,520	61.00–63.00	62.49
5	—	1,639	66.25–67.00	66.76

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
47	—	1,410	41.00–47.00	45.15
29	—	1,377	49.00–55.00	50.80

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	990	34.50	34.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,595	72.00	72.00
10	—	1,841	75.50–82.50	79.33

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,627	64.00–73.00	69.97
2	—	2,003	83.50–84.00	83.74
5	—	1,963	75.00–81.00	77.37

Replacement Cattle

As reported

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)	40	—	1,210	650.00–685.00	656.69

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	4	—	1,206	900.00	900.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,317	935.00–1,010.00	958.16
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,393	735.00	735.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	26	—	1,106	1,000.00–1,110.00	1,059.05
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	1	—	1,335	885.00	885.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	765	62.50	62.50
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	5	—	1,101	51.00–55.00	53.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	105	—	997	64.00–85.50	76.63
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	62	—	1,082	55.00–75.00	64.40

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,045	113.00	113.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,007	115.50–116.00	115.67
2	—	1,168	107.50	107.50
3	—	1,074	110.50–114.50	111.83

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	510	135.00	135.00
48	—	365	151.00	151.00
17	—	570	132.00–135.00	133.87
10	—	497	139.00	139.00
11	—	288	155.00–161.00	158.84
14	—	420	144.00–145.50	144.86

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
23	—	971	119.50–123.00	121.78
11	—	812	130.00	130.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	872	122.00	122.00
2	—	843	119.00	119.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	515	130.50–132.00	131.68
2	—	420	143.00	143.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,078	91.50	91.50
8	—	1,121	91.00	91.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	631	134.00	134.00
5	—	666	132.00	132.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	766	123.00	123.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	523	128.00	128.00
16	—	479	121.00	121.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	950	126.00	126.00
7	—	855	137.50	137.50
16	—	531	152.50	152.50
3	—	655	139.00	139.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
28	—	376	181.00	181.00
18	—	660	134.00–137.50	136.64
3	—	630	137.00–138.00	137.33
14	—	310	179.00–181.00	179.87
8	—	560	144.00–146.50	145.85
21	—	534	147.00–153.00	147.85
27	—	428	166.00–168.00	166.69

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,028	118.00	118.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	438	163.00	163.00
3	—	695	134.00	134.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	821	136.50	136.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Steers — Large 4$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	645	42.00	42.00

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.