Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-03-03

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2021-03-03
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-03-03

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Mar 3

● Final61 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Feb 24Mar 3Mar 10 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

85 head

▼ 190 vs last sale 275▼ 82 vs year ago 167 · −49.1%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

547 head

▲ 19 vs last sale 528▲ 362 vs year ago 185 · +195.7%

Replacement Cattle receipts

1,745 head

▲ 1,480 vs last sale 265▲ 1,490 vs year ago 255 · +584.3%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand was moderate for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly average. Market activity was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Packers were aggressive as they purchased cows to feed this week. Many sets of tested open cows were seen this week off the bred offerings and quality was mostly attractive. Packers and feeding buyers battled all sale over high quality offerings. Packers showed slightly stronger demand for slaughter cows this week as well. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 1.00 higher. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher on a higher quality offering. Slaughter bulls sold steady to firm. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average this week and buyers offered premiums for high dressing cows as a result. Two year old to young age cows were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Several sets of open coming 3 and coming 4 year old cows sold as load lots this week. These offerings were very attractive and all one iron home raised cows. These offerings were met with very good demand. The annual calving time bred cow special was held today and the stands were full of ranchers and order buyers throughout the afternoon buying cows that were right on calving. Demand for bred cows was mostly moderate to good.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $154.61/cwt on 33 head.

Average price

$154.61

33 head · 581 lb average

Value per head Derived

$898

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$286

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2

$26.85/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−9.68

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	596	158.85	946	26
Medium and Large 2	546	144.00	786	4thin
Medium 2	500	132.00	660	3thin

One grade step is worth $26.85/cwt here — about $286 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 sale33 hd

154.61

—

MT average3 barns · 2,539 hd

164.29

−9.68

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	—	High	1,922	87.54	1,683	22
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,396	63.64	888	167
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,557	60.71	945	102
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,192	57.90	690	177

Every lot

61 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	423	193.00/cwt	193.00–193.00	816	2
Steers	—	Medium 2	500	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	660	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	546	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	786	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	570	159.50/cwt	159.50–159.50	909	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	616	155.50/cwt	155.50–155.50	958	21
Feeder Cattle · Heifers3 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	364	179.00/cwt	179.00–179.00	652	18
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	566	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	798	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	658	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	882	4
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	470	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	738	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	510	157.50/cwt	157.50–157.50	803	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	611	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	831	5
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,734	80.70/cwt	77.00–83.00	1,399	5
Bulls	—	—	1,844	87.86/cwt	85.00–90.50	1,620	10
Bulls	—	—	2,169	91.97/cwt	91.00–94.00	1,995	7
Slaughter Cattle · Cows21 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	895	44.00/cwt	44.00–44.00	394	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	954	52.19/cwt	51.00–53.00	498	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,150	46.73/cwt	46.00–47.50	537	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,170	53.23/cwt	49.00–58.00	623	59
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,203	59.89/cwt	58.00–63.00	720	52
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,239	63.09/cwt	58.00–64.50	782	53
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,250	65.00/cwt	65.00–65.00	813	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,280	57.00/cwt	57.00–57.00	730	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,364	66.89/cwt	65.00–68.00	912	95
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,370	55.71/cwt	52.00–58.50	763	30
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,400	43.00/cwt	43.00–43.00	602	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,461	63.12/cwt	58.00–65.50	922	25
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,468	60.78/cwt	59.50–65.00	892	55
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,498	66.57/cwt	66.00–67.00	997	11
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,528	61.39/cwt	59.00–64.25	938	14
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,585	49.50/cwt	49.50–49.50	785	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,678	66.26/cwt	66.00–66.50	1,112	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,693	57.24/cwt	54.00–60.00	969	21
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,732	61.34/cwt	60.50–62.50	1,062	9
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,795	65.00/cwt	65.00–65.00	1,167	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,833	60.50/cwt	60.50–60.50	1,109	3
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows17 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,209	1,545.75/cwt	1,350.00–1,675.00	18,688	231
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,243	1,351.35/cwt	1,200.00–1,385.00	16,797	27
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,247	797.22/cwt	700.00–835.00	9,941	34
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,251	1,291.06/cwt	1,275.00–1,300.00	16,151	23
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,297	57.07/cwt	56.50–59.50	740	9
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,298	917.79/cwt	860.00–1,025.00	11,913	112
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,313	1,458.48/cwt	1,300.00–1,575.00	19,150	71
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,318	1,392.40/cwt	1,350.00–1,425.00	18,352	16
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,335	1,212.25/cwt	1,025.00–1,350.00	16,184	110
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,343	775.00/cwt	775.00–775.00	10,408	5
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,346	735.00/cwt	735.00–735.00	9,893	6
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,353	1,031.61/cwt	985.00–1,060.00	13,958	81
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,354	989.18/cwt	910.00–1,075.00	13,393	31
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	1,394	1,350.00/cwt	1,350.00–1,350.00	18,819	100
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,398	1,350.00/cwt	1,350.00–1,350.00	18,873	3
Bred Cows	—	Large 1	1,572	1,275.00/cwt	1,275.00–1,275.00	20,043	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,763	59.50/cwt	59.50–59.50	1,049	11
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers3 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium 1	857	1,185.00/cwt	1,185.00–1,185.00	10,155	12
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	874	1,288.95/cwt	1,260.00–1,300.00	11,265	76
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,045	1,466.63/cwt	1,335.00–1,600.00	15,326	182
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	770	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	655	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,023	57.10/cwt	55.00–58.00	584	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,030	95.66/cwt	90.00–109.00	985	46
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,060	85.58/cwt	61.00–104.75	907	194
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,251	65.00/cwt	65.00–65.00	813	18
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,295	1,700.00/cwt	1,700.00–1,700.00	22,015	6

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 3, 2021

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 85Last week 275Year ago 167

Slaughter CattleReceipts 547Last week 528Year ago 185

Replacement CattleReceipts 1,745Last week 265Year ago 255

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	2,169	91.00–94.00	91.97
10	—	1,844	85.00–90.50	87.86
5	—	1,734	77.00–83.00	80.70

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,498	66.00–67.00	66.57
55	—	1,468	59.50–65.00	60.78
3	—	1,833	60.50	60.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,732	60.50–62.50	61.34
1	—	1,585	49.50	49.50
21	—	1,693	54.00–60.00	57.24
2	—	1,678	66.00–66.50	66.26

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
53	—	1,239	58.00–64.50	63.09
1	—	1,250	65.00	65.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	954	51.00–53.00	52.19
1	—	895	44.00	44.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
25	—	1,461	58.00–65.50	63.12
95	—	1,364	65.00–68.00	66.89
1	—	1,280	57.00	57.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,400	43.00	43.00
1	—	1,795	65.00	65.00
30	—	1,370	52.00–58.50	55.71
14	—	1,528	59.00–64.25	61.39

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
52	—	1,203	58.00–63.00	59.89
6	—	1,150	46.00–47.50	46.73
59	—	1,170	49.00–58.00	53.23

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/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	27	—	1,243	1,200.00–1,385.00	1,351.35
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	110	—	1,335	1,025.00–1,350.00	1,212.25
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	3	—	1,398	1,350.00	1,350.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	31	—	1,354	910.00–1,075.00	989.18
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	71	—	1,313	1,300.00–1,575.00	1,458.48
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	16	—	1,318	1,350.00–1,425.00	1,392.40
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	231	—	1,209	1,350.00–1,675.00	1,545.75

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	23	—	1,251	1,275.00–1,300.00	1,291.06
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	5	—	1,343	775.00	775.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	34	—	1,247	700.00–835.00	797.22
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	6	—	1,346	735.00	735.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	3	—	1,572	1,275.00	1,275.00

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/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	81	—	1,353	985.00–1,060.00	1,031.61
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	11	—	1,763	59.50	59.50
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	9	—	1,297	56.50–59.50	57.07
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	112	—	1,298	860.00–1,025.00	917.79

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	100	—	1,394	1,350.00	1,350.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	12	—	857	1,185.00	1,185.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	76	—	874	1,260.00–1,300.00	1,288.95

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	182	—	1,045	1,335.00–1,600.00	1,466.63

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	46	—	1,030	90.00–109.00	95.66
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	18	—	1,251	65.00	65.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	194	—	1,060	61.00–104.75	85.58

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	—	1,023	55.00–58.00	57.10
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	770	85.00	85.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,295	1,700.00	1,700.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	500	132.00	132.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	546	144.00	144.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	570	159.50	159.50
21	—	616	155.50	155.50
2	—	423	193.00	193.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	470	157.00	157.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	611	136.00	136.00
1	—	510	157.50	157.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	566	141.00	141.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	364	179.00	179.00
4	—	658	134.00	134.00

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.