Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-05-19

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2021-05-19
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-05-19

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, May 19

● Final59 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← May 12May 19May 26 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

171 head

▼ 2,085 vs last sale 2,256▼ 54 vs year ago 225 · −24.0%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

568 head

▲ 246 vs last sale 322▲ 413 vs year ago 155 · +266.5%

Replacement Cattle receipts

164 head

▼ 324 vs last sale 488▼ 156 vs year ago 320 · −48.8%

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 an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on steers and generally steady undertones were noticed on heifers. Feeder cattle quality was mostly plain to average today. Demand was mostly light for light offerings. Lower CME contract prices for corn, beans and other feedstuffs has provided some support to the feeder cattle market. CME feeder cattle contract prices have seen a strong up tick in price since last week. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate today. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light demand for moderate offerings. Packers were much more reserved this week as they bid on cows. Drought areas in the Dakotas and Western Minnesota continue to cull cows and packers backed off prices this week due to heavier cow supplies. Slaughter cows sold steady to weak on breaking cows, while boning and lean cows sold 2.00-3.00 lower. Packers passed on several loads of thin cows this week as feeding buyers showed stronger demand for these offerings than packers. Feeding cows sold 1.00-3.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week with many full and thin cows on offer. Cow and bull quality were not as attractive as last week. Young age cows were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering.

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 $141.21/cwt on 60 head.

Average price

$141.21

60 head · 561 lb average

Value per head Derived

$792

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$212

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$41.92/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+5.81

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	582	146.92	855	30
Medium and Large 1-2	485	142.94	693	17thin
Medium 1-2	431	135.00	582	9thin
Large 1	1,016	105.00	1,067	4thin

One grade step is worth $41.92/cwt here — about −$212 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 sale60 hd

141.21

—

MT average3 barns · 319 hd

135.40

+5.81

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	1,931	88.20	1,703	36
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,607	66.95	1,076	16
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,403	62.41	876	114
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,185	58.72	696	321

Every lot

59 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 · Steers12 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	338	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	625	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	385	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	770	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	515	188.00/cwt	188.00–188.00	968	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	535	157.50/cwt	157.50–157.50	843	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	545	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	948	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	550	179.00/cwt	179.00–179.00	985	2
Steers	—	Large 1-2	581	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	761	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	626	165.02/cwt	161.00–166.00	1,033	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	704	149.25/cwt	147.00–150.00	1,051	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	758	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	1,046	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	787	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	1,015	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	822	132.76/cwt	126.00–136.00	1,091	3
Feeder Cattle · Heifers13 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	200	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	700	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	324	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	486	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	398	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	613	5
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	431	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	582	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	465	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	684	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	493	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	754	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	508	151.32/cwt	150.00–152.00	769	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	575	142.99/cwt	142.00–144.00	822	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	578	151.87/cwt	147.00–157.00	878	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	621	144.61/cwt	142.00–146.00	898	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	719	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	863	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	758	120.50/cwt	120.00–121.00	913	2
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,016	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	1,067	4
Feeder Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	988	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	1,037	2
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,093	98.00/cwt	98.00–98.00	1,071	6
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,118	96.00/cwt	96.00–96.00	1,073	9
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,205	94.00/cwt	94.00–94.00	1,133	6
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,508	77.73/cwt	72.00–83.00	1,172	2
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,753	74.23/cwt	72.00–74.50	1,301	6
Bulls	—	—	1,918	88.28/cwt	84.00–92.00	1,693	15
Bulls	—	—	2,055	97.35/cwt	93.00–100.00	2,001	12
Bulls	—	—Heavy Weight	2,550	82.00/cwt	82.00–82.00	2,091	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	840	42.50/cwt	42.50–42.50	357	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	905	59.00/cwt	59.00–59.00	534	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	963	55.96/cwt	52.00–58.50	539	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,153	57.77/cwt	52.00–60.00	666	63
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,166	55.81/cwt	51.00–59.00	651	92
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,212	60.95/cwt	59.75–63.50	739	66
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,223	60.74/cwt	60.00–63.50	743	90
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,275	68.00/cwt	68.00–68.00	867	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,347	70.77/cwt	69.00–76.00	953	15
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,372	58.21/cwt	51.00–61.00	799	26
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,405	58.12/cwt	53.00–59.50	817	16
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,417	63.26/cwt	60.00–68.00	896	41
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,454	61.43/cwt	61.00–62.00	893	13
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,522	72.68/cwt	72.00–73.00	1,106	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,527	58.50/cwt	58.50–58.50	893	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,560	70.00/cwt	70.00–70.00	1,092	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,608	68.70/cwt	68.00–69.50	1,105	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,610	62.99/cwt	62.00–63.50	1,014	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,661	71.55/cwt	71.00–73.50	1,188	6
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	790	52.00/cwt	52.00–52.00	411	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	877	72.00/cwt	72.00–72.00	631	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,005	62.34/cwt	57.00–68.00	627	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,014	90.16/cwt	69.00–105.00	914	88
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,156	68.05/cwt	55.00–84.00	787	41
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,355	61.00/cwt	61.00–61.00	827	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 May 19, 2021

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 171Last week 2,256Year ago 225

Slaughter CattleReceipts 568Last week 322Year ago 155

Replacement CattleReceipts 164Last week 488Year ago 320

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	398	154.00	154.00
2	—	465	147.00	147.00
4	—	719	120.00	120.00
2	—	575	142.00–144.00	142.99
4	—	324	150.00	150.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	621	142.00–146.00	144.61
2	—	758	120.00–121.00	120.50
1	—	200	350.00	350.00
6	—	508	150.00–152.00	151.32
4	—	493	153.00	153.00
6	—	578	147.00–157.00	151.87

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	431	135.00	135.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,016	105.00	105.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	550	179.00	179.00
3	—	822	126.00–136.00	132.76
2	—	758	138.00	138.00
1	—	385	200.00	200.00
4	—	704	147.00–150.00	149.25
11	—	515	188.00	188.00
5	—	626	161.00–166.00	165.02

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	535	157.50	157.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	545	174.00	174.00
3	—	787	129.00	129.00
3	—	338	185.00	185.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	581	131.00	131.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	988	105.00	105.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,118	96.00	96.00
6	—	1,093	98.00	98.00
6	—	1,205	94.00	94.00

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
(<2 yrs)	Open	88	—	1,014	69.00–105.00	90.16
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	41	—	1,156	55.00–84.00	68.05

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	—	1,005	57.00–68.00	62.34

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	790	52.00	52.00

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	3	—	877	72.00	72.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,355	61.00	61.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,522	72.00–73.00	72.68
13	—	1,454	61.00–62.00	61.43
26	—	1,372	51.00–61.00	58.21

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,275	68.00	68.00
63	—	1,153	52.00–60.00	57.77
90	—	1,223	60.00–63.50	60.74

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	1,405	53.00–59.50	58.12
15	—	1,347	69.00–76.00	70.77
41	—	1,417	60.00–68.00	63.26

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	905	59.00	59.00
1	—	840	42.50	42.50
5	—	963	52.00–58.50	55.96

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,661	71.00–73.50	71.55
3	—	1,610	62.00–63.50	62.99
2	—	1,608	68.00–69.50	68.70

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
66	—	1,212	59.75–63.50	60.95
92	—	1,166	51.00–59.00	55.81

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,527	58.50	58.50
2	—	1,560	70.00	70.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,508	72.00–83.00	77.73
12	—	2,055	93.00–100.00	97.35
15	—	1,918	84.00–92.00	88.28

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,753	72.00–74.50	74.23

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,550	82.00	82.00

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.