Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-11-25

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2020-11-25
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-11-25

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Nov 25

● Final55 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Nov 18Nov 25Dec 2 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

519 head

▲ 17 vs last sale 502▲ 519 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Slaughter Cattle receipts

1,008 head

▼ 980 vs last sale 1,988▲ 1,008 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Replacement Cattle receipts

282 head

▼ 390 vs last sale 672▲ 282 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: Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed; Yearling steers not well compared. Unweaned steer and heifer calves were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend however lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Limited calf offerings impeded demand this sale as this was the last sale of the week and buyers showed little interest in purchasing calves before the holiday. Demand was mostly light for light offerings. Market activity was slow. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand and offerings. Both packer and feeding buyers both showed stronger demand for cows this week compared to last. Thin fleshed, short term feeding cows sold with the best demand this week as both packers and farmer feeders showed interest in this class of cow. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold generally steady. Packers showed mostly light demand for slaughter cows, however competition between feeding buyers and packer buyers kept this class of cows near steady. Buyers looking for bred cows being sold as weigh ups also helped support the market this sale. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. A portion of the bull offering continues to go to feed. Two year old to young age cows sold on mostly moderate demand this sale. Quality was average and not as attractive as last week. This class of cows sold sold 5.00-10.00 lower. No load lots were seen this week.

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 $127.46/cwt on 240 head.

Average price

$127.46

240 head · 639 lb average

Value per head Derived

$814

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$16

per head · Medium 1 over Small 2

$66.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−13.26

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	321	147.00	472	5thin
Medium and Large 1	624	136.40	851	170
Medium and Large 1-2	755	126.71	957	27
Large 1	1,105	105.00	1,160	7thin
Small 2	563	81.00	456	31

One grade step is worth $66.00/cwt here — about $16 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 sale240 hd

127.46

—

MT average5 barns · 4,069 hd

140.71

−13.26

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	1,717	76.36	1,311	43
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,508	65.82	993	19
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,385	55.41	767	126
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,171	48.27	565	558

Every lot

55 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 · Steers9 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	324	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	518	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	376	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	602	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	416	165.20/cwt	155.00–171.00	687	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	428	179.01/cwt	177.00–183.00	766	26
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	470	154.20/cwt	154.00–155.00	725	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	516	155.54/cwt	155.00–157.00	803	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	551	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	793	4
Steers	—	Large 1Unweaned	618	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	816	2
Steers	—	Large 1	1,052	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	1,199	3
Feeder Cattle · Heifers17 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	313	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	501	3
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	321	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	472	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	376	156.48/cwt	155.00–159.00	588	20
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	412	141.68/cwt	140.00–145.00	584	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	446	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	656	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	464	141.42/cwt	134.00–151.50	656	47
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	543	133.52/cwt	131.00–134.50	725	14
Heifers	—	Small 2	563	81.00/cwt	81.00–81.00	456	31
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	729	128.86/cwt	128.00–130.00	939	21
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	795	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	994	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	807	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	1,017	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	830	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,079	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	876	124.81/cwt	123.00–127.00	1,093	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	899	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	1,088	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	926	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	1,130	28
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	985	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	1,123	3
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,105	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	1,160	7
Feeder Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium 1Unweaned	537	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	671	3
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,617	68.72/cwt	64.00–72.50	1,111	9
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,620	77.86/cwt	76.00–79.50	1,261	16
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,669	73.36/cwt	67.00–75.00	1,224	4
Bulls	—	—	1,890	78.74/cwt	76.00–81.00	1,488	10
Bulls	—	—	1,944	84.63/cwt	81.50–86.00	1,645	4
Slaughter Cattle · Cows17 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	932	34.98/cwt	32.00–37.00	326	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,107	40.41/cwt	38.75–47.50	447	135
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,152	45.75/cwt	39.00–50.00	527	47
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,188	38.00/cwt	38.00–38.00	451	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,193	52.78/cwt	49.50–54.00	630	310
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,202	61.94/cwt	59.00–63.00	745	13
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,234	49.43/cwt	47.00–52.00	610	20
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,241	35.35/cwt	30.00–38.50	439	27
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,297	44.66/cwt	44.00–46.00	579	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,363	65.78/cwt	61.00–67.50	897	41
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,390	49.11/cwt	48.00–53.00	683	28
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,393	52.92/cwt	49.50–58.50	737	44
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,449	45.71/cwt	43.00–48.00	662	9
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,455	36.00/cwt	36.00–36.00	524	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,486	65.88/cwt	64.00–67.50	979	16
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,520	69.50/cwt	69.50–69.50	1,056	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,840	57.50/cwt	57.50–57.50	1,058	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	887	55.30/cwt	53.00–57.00	491	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	941	77.87/cwt	60.00–88.00	733	151
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	981	68.71/cwt	56.00–80.00	674	61
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,094	1,025.00/cwt	1,025.00–1,025.00	11,214	10
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	1,235	50.00/cwt	50.00–50.00	618	13
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,336	52.00/cwt	52.00–52.00	695	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 25, 2020

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 519Last week 502Year ago 0

Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,008Last week 1,988Year ago 0

Replacement CattleReceipts 282Last week 672Year ago 0

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,617	64.00–72.50	68.72
10	—	1,890	76.00–81.00	78.74
4	—	1,944	81.50–86.00	84.63

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	1,620	76.00–79.50	77.86
4	—	1,669	67.00–75.00	73.36

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
41	—	1,363	61.00–67.50	65.78
44	—	1,393	49.50–58.50	52.92
1	—	1,455	36.00	36.00
3	—	1,297	44.00–46.00	44.66

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	1,241	30.00–38.50	35.35
135	—	1,107	38.75–47.50	40.41
20	—	1,234	47.00–52.00	49.43

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	1,486	64.00–67.50	65.88
1	—	1,840	57.50	57.50
2	—	1,520	69.50	69.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,188	38.00	38.00
13	—	1,202	59.00–63.00	61.94
47	—	1,152	39.00–50.00	45.75
310	—	1,193	49.50–54.00	52.78

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	932	32.00–37.00	34.98

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
28	—	1,390	48.00–53.00	49.11
9	—	1,449	43.00–48.00	45.71

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	446	147.00	147.00
14	—	543	131.00–134.50	133.52
20	—	376	155.00–159.00	156.48
47	—	464	134.00–151.50	141.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	985	114.00	114.00
9	—	795	125.00	125.00
3	—	807	126.00	126.00
6	—	899	121.00	121.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	729	128.00–130.00	128.86
3	—	313	160.00	160.00
28	—	926	122.00	122.00
15	—	830	130.00	130.00
11	—	876	123.00–127.00	124.81

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,105	105.00	105.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	412	140.00–145.00	141.68

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	321	147.00	147.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Small 2$ per cwt · actual wt
31	—	563	81.00	81.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	551	144.00	144.00
11	—	516	155.00–157.00	155.54
26	—	428	177.00–183.00	179.01

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	470	154.00–155.00	154.20
7	—	376	160.00	160.00
17	—	416	155.00–171.00	165.20

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	324	160.00	160.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,052	114.00	114.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	618	132.00	132.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	537	125.00	125.00

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
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	61	—	981	56.00–80.00	68.71
(<2 yrs)	Open	151	—	941	60.00–88.00	77.87

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	3	—	887	53.00–57.00	55.30

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)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	10	—	1,094	1,025.00	1,025.00

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)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	13	—	1,235	50.00	50.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	5	—	1,336	52.00	52.00

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.