Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-05-12

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2021-05-12
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-05-12

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, May 12

● Final81 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← May 5May 12May 19 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

2,256 head

▲ 1,908 vs last sale 348▼ 718 vs year ago 2,974 · −24.1%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

322 head

▼ 67 vs last sale 389▲ 192 vs year ago 130 · +147.7%

Replacement Cattle receipts

488 head

▲ 345 vs last sale 143▼ 159 vs year ago 647 · −24.6%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested last develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Feeder cattle quality was average to attractive and much higher than last week. Demand was mostly moderate to good for moderate to heavy offerings. Local ranchers showed very good demand for feeders today as they attempted to buy feeders to finish filling summer pasture and range. Order buyers were forced to fill loads later in the sale and pushed all cattle higher to do so. CME feeder cattle contracts traded with triple digit gains today. The May contract closed 1.425 higher to settle at 136.75, while the August contract closed 1.675 higher at 150.525. Market activity was mostly active today. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand today for light offerings. Packers were very aggressive as they bid on cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher on boning and lean cows, breaking cows sold mostly 1.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 1.00 higher. Lean cows saw the biggest increase in demand this week. The cutter cow cutout continues to climb higher, todays close was 204.16. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher. Demand for cow calf pairs was mostly light. Higher feed costs and drought conditions, which are bringing these offerings to market, are also what is hindering demand. Demand for bred cows is also light as it is getting late in the breeding season. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady to firm. Quality this week was average 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 $146.48/cwt on 1,309 head.

Average price

$146.48

1,309 head · 606 lb average

Value per head Derived

$888

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$355

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

$27.56/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+3.86

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	625	147.56	923	1,051
Medium and Large 1-2	547	144.80	791	186
Medium and Large 2	450	140.77	633	26
Medium 1	495	132.86	657	42
Medium 1-2	473	120.00	568	4thin

One grade step is worth $27.56/cwt here — about $355 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 sale1,309 hd

146.48

—

MT average3 barns · 1,991 hd

142.62

+3.86

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	1,888	87.40	1,650	27
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,655	66.86	1,107	15
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,417	64.52	915	137
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,169	59.34	694	96

Every lot

81 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 · Steers21 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	441	156.74/cwt	155.00–157.50	691	20
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	468	158.06/cwt	157.50–162.00	740	16
Steers	—	Medium 2	493	147.50/cwt	147.50–147.50	727	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	508	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	919	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	519	159.90/cwt	156.00–167.00	830	45
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	560	188.46/cwt	188.00–190.00	1,055	88
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	560	177.26/cwt	170.00–184.00	993	34
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	561	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	808	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	570	147.50/cwt	147.50–147.50	841	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	614	170.93/cwt	166.00–176.00	1,050	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	616	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,109	33
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	624	147.01/cwt	145.00–148.00	917	38
Steers	—	Large 1	637	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	1,026	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	663	143.00/cwt	141.00–147.00	948	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	674	157.36/cwt	151.00–163.00	1,061	80
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	720	136.30/cwt	135.00–140.00	981	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	733	142.93/cwt	141.00–144.00	1,048	24
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	762	135.00/cwt	133.00–143.00	1,029	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	830	118.50/cwt	118.50–118.50	984	18
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	831	130.88/cwt	125.00–134.00	1,088	51
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	897	125.99/cwt	125.00–126.00	1,130	67
Feeder Cattle · Heifers24 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	97	216.90/cwt	200.00–250.00	210	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	386	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	579	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	420	142.50/cwt	142.50–142.50	599	20
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	451	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	722	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	467	148.49/cwt	147.00–151.00	693	27
Heifers	—	Medium 1	472	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	661	18
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	473	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	568	4
Heifers	—	Medium 1	512	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	653	24
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	514	152.61/cwt	150.00–158.00	784	87
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	524	145.63/cwt	145.00–147.00	763	23
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	548	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	740	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	551	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	953	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	564	156.99/cwt	147.00–159.50	885	287
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	582	143.39/cwt	132.00–147.00	835	125
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	615	157.96/cwt	157.00–158.75	971	119
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	632	147.56/cwt	142.50–149.00	933	235
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	667	149.50/cwt	149.50–149.50	997	36
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	679	133.59/cwt	127.00–136.50	907	143
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	701	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	960	17
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	723	126.47/cwt	122.00–129.00	914	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	792	119.11/cwt	118.00–121.50	943	49
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	816	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	1,040	26
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	820	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	976	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	878	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	1,054	16
Feeder Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	125	289.97/cwt	250.00–350.00	362	9
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,721	80.79/cwt	74.00–83.50	1,390	14
Bulls	—	—	1,965	90.07/cwt	86.00–92.00	1,770	5
Bulls	—	—	2,076	97.50/cwt	94.00–103.00	2,024	7
Bulls	—	—Heavy Weight	2,525	96.00/cwt	96.00–96.00	2,424	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows17 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	865	56.47/cwt	56.00–57.00	488	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,082	49.42/cwt	49.00–49.50	535	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,152	58.34/cwt	54.00–62.00	672	16
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,158	57.87/cwt	52.00–61.50	670	43
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,220	63.97/cwt	63.50–66.00	780	13
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,222	69.50/cwt	69.50–69.50	849	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,248	63.47/cwt	63.00–64.50	792	13
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,392	60.72/cwt	58.00–63.00	845	19
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,399	67.13/cwt	64.00–69.50	939	53
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,406	60.57/cwt	57.00–62.00	852	33
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,453	72.50/cwt	72.50–72.50	1,053	6
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,455	71.00/cwt	71.00–71.00	1,033	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,482	64.68/cwt	63.75–68.00	959	24
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,618	65.90/cwt	64.00–68.50	1,066	7
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,635	71.47/cwt	71.00–72.00	1,169	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,640	64.92/cwt	63.00–66.50	1,065	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,838	69.50/cwt	69.50–69.50	1,277	2
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs6 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,205	1,425.00/cwt	1,425.00–1,425.00	17,171	2
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,208	950.00/cwt	950.00–950.00	11,476	6
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS	1,224	1,200.00/cwt	1,200.00–1,200.00	14,688	4
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,303	1,082.55/cwt	1,060.00–1,100.00	14,106	44
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,343	1,000.00/cwt	1,000.00–1,000.00	13,430	13
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,383	1,072.04/cwt	1,050.00–1,100.00	14,826	59
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,244	1,050.00/cwt	1,050.00–1,050.00	13,062	21
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,392	1,035.00/cwt	1,035.00–1,035.00	14,407	13
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,406	943.73/cwt	910.00–1,050.00	13,269	4
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,030	65.00/cwt	65.00–65.00	670	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,113	75.96/cwt	68.00–88.00	845	33
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,125	72.00/cwt	72.00–72.00	810	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,127	89.92/cwt	74.00–100.00	1,013	29
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Heifer Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	988	1,375.00/cwt	1,375.00–1,375.00	13,585	8

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 May 12, 2021

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 2,256Last week 348Year ago 2,974

Slaughter CattleReceipts 322Last week 389Year ago 130

Replacement CattleReceipts 488Last week 143Year ago 647

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	816	127.50	127.50
16	—	878	120.00	120.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	451	160.00	160.00
143	—	679	127.00–136.50	133.59
235	—	632	142.50–149.00	147.56
87	—	514	150.00–158.00	152.61
287	—	564	147.00–159.50	156.99
49	—	792	118.00–121.50	119.11
6	—	97	200.00–250.00	216.90
3	—	820	119.00	119.00
12	—	723	122.00–129.00	126.47

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	467	147.00–151.00	148.49
11	—	386	150.00	150.00
23	—	524	145.00–147.00	145.63
125	—	582	132.00–147.00	143.39

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
36	—	667	149.50	149.50
119	—	615	157.00–158.75	157.96
12	—	551	173.00	173.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	701	137.00	137.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
24	—	512	127.50	127.50
18	—	472	140.00	140.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	473	120.00	120.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	420	142.50	142.50
6	—	548	135.00	135.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	637	161.00	161.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
38	—	624	145.00–148.00	147.01
6	—	663	141.00–147.00	143.00
5	—	570	147.50	147.50
20	—	441	155.00–157.50	156.74
18	—	830	118.50	118.50
8	—	720	135.00–140.00	136.30
16	—	468	157.50–162.00	158.06
45	—	519	156.00–167.00	159.90

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
80	—	674	151.00–163.00	157.36
24	—	733	141.00–144.00	142.93
14	—	762	133.00–143.00	135.00
67	—	897	125.00–126.00	125.99
51	—	831	125.00–134.00	130.88
6	—	614	166.00–176.00	170.93
12	—	508	181.00	181.00
34	—	560	170.00–184.00	177.26

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	561	144.00	144.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	493	147.50	147.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
33	—	616	180.00	180.00
88	—	560	188.00–190.00	188.46

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	125	250.00–350.00	289.97

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,224	1,200.00	1,200.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	59	—	1,383	1,050.00–1,100.00	1,072.04

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	44	—	1,303	1,060.00–1,100.00	1,082.55
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,205	1,425.00	1,425.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	13	—	1,343	1,000.00	1,000.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,208	950.00	950.00

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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	13	—	1,392	1,035.00	1,035.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	4	—	1,406	910.00–1,050.00	943.73
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	21	—	1,244	1,050.00	1,050.00

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	1	—	1,030	65.00	65.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,125	72.00	72.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	29	—	1,127	74.00–100.00	89.92
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	33	—	1,113	68.00–88.00	75.96

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	8	—	988	1,375.00	1,375.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,525	96.00	96.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	1,721	74.00–83.50	80.79
5	—	1,965	86.00–92.00	90.07
7	—	2,076	94.00–103.00	97.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,248	63.00–64.50	63.47
43	—	1,158	52.00–61.50	57.87
6	—	1,082	49.00–49.50	49.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,635	71.00–72.00	71.47
7	—	1,618	64.00–68.50	65.90
2	—	1,838	69.50	69.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,453	72.50	72.50
33	—	1,406	57.00–62.00	60.57
24	—	1,482	63.75–68.00	64.68

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,640	63.00–66.50	64.92

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,222	69.50	69.50
13	—	1,220	63.50–66.00	63.97
16	—	1,152	54.00–62.00	58.34

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	1,392	58.00–63.00	60.72
2	—	1,455	71.00	71.00
53	—	1,399	64.00–69.50	67.13

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	865	56.00–57.00	56.47

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.