Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-10-20

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2021-10-20
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-10-20

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Oct 20

● Final84 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Oct 13Oct 20Oct 27 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

863 head

▲ 662 vs last sale 201▲ 3 vs year ago 860 · +0.3%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

1,804 head

▲ 777 vs last sale 1,027▲ 1,169 vs year ago 635 · +184.1%

Replacement Cattle receipts

770 head

▼ 534 vs last sale 1,304▲ 353 vs year ago 417 · +84.7%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were not well compared as last weeks sale focused mostly on weigh ups and bred cows. Feeder cattle today were of mostly plain quality. Most cattle were offered in very small packages or as singles. A lot of cut back calves off summer videos were seen this week. Not many buyers were on hand this sale as trucks remain very tight. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for heavy offerings. An additional packer buyers was on hand this sale and buyers showed stronger demand as they competed over market share. The cutter cow cutout remains seasonally high as demand for ground beef is especially good. The cutter cow cutout was 230.21 as of todays close, 1.61 lower than yesterday. Packers were especially aggressive in buying feeding cows this week pushing them back to price levels seen two weeks ago before prices turned lower. Heavy supplies continue to be seen and packers continue to work through large supplies as cows and bull harvest has been running around 24,000-27,000 head per day nationally. Slaughter cows sold 1.00-3.00 higher on breaking cows, boning cows sold 2.00-4.00 higher, lean cows sold steady to 3.00 higher. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-6.00 higher. Cow quality this week was very attractive with many high quality cows selling off reputation ranches. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this week. Weigh conditions overall were more favorable to buyers and buyers bid more aggressively on high quality cows. Cows were mixed for flesh this week, however boning flesh cows continue to sell with the best demand as packers plan on feeding these cows to premium white. Thin feeding cow buyers were active this week to as buyers searched for cows to turn out on corn stalks in the corn belt or hold until the holidays. Buyers looking for ranch tested bred or cows they could test sold on good demand. These buyers were competitive with both packer buyers and other feeding buyers. Slaughter bulls sold steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Young age cows sold mostly 5.00-7.00 lower. Most of these offerings are being purchased for southern fall breeding programs.

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 $141.18/cwt on 235 head.

Average price

$141.18

235 head · 579 lb average

Value per head Derived

$818

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$286

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1

$17.39/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−16.26

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	456	143.73	655	36
Medium and Large 1	621	143.70	893	143
Large 1-2	392	140.00	549	8thin
Medium 1-2	421	136.00	573	6thin
Medium and Large 1-2	559	134.57	753	23
Medium and Large 2	448	130.00	582	6thin
Large 1	745	126.35	941	13thin

One grade step is worth $17.39/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 sale235 hd

141.18

—

MT average4 barns · 5,075 hd

157.43

−16.26

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	1,846	75.54	1,394	43
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,646	66.81	1,100	23
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,409	58.69	827	361
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,218	47.55	579	505

Every lot

84 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 · Steers16 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	276	191.00/cwt	191.00–191.00	527	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	373	201.00/cwt	201.00–201.00	750	9
Steers	—	Medium 2	384	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	622	8
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	393	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	715	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	396	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	693	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	760	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	409	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	622	9
Steers	—	Medium 1-2Unweaned	411	152.50/cwt	152.50–152.50	627	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	467	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	845	3
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	484	162.53/cwt	162.00–165.00	787	17
Steers	—	Large 1Unweaned	491	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	727	21
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	530	155.30/cwt	155.00–156.00	823	20
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	569	149.40/cwt	141.00–150.00	850	59
Steers	—	Large 1Unweaned	575	127.47/cwt	127.00–130.00	733	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	591	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	839	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	681	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	865	4
Feeder Cattle · Heifers19 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	338	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	608	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	364	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	622	9
Heifers	—	Large 1-2Unweaned	392	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	549	8
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2Unweaned	421	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	573	6
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	436	147.72/cwt	140.00–152.00	644	27
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	438	165.50/cwt	165.50–165.50	725	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	448	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	654	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	448	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	582	6
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	461	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	641	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	477	140.82/cwt	139.00–142.00	672	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	489	144.50/cwt	144.50–144.50	707	6
Heifers	—	Large 1Unweaned	501	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	626	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	518	137.93/cwt	125.00–143.00	714	42
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	538	128.80/cwt	127.00–130.00	693	10
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	559	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	704	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	560	129.63/cwt	123.00–135.00	726	16
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	751	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	999	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	873	137.86/cwt	131.00–138.00	1,204	50
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,030	127.92/cwt	127.50–128.00	1,318	6
Feeder Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	366	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	622	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	421	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	636	21
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	530	124.14/cwt	123.00–126.00	658	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	563	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	687	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	567	130.79/cwt	129.00–132.00	742	12
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	636	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	827	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	678	116.00/cwt	116.00–116.00	786	5
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,717	80.60/cwt	78.00–83.00	1,384	4
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,726	74.11/cwt	73.00–76.50	1,279	10
Bulls	—	—	1,839	83.23/cwt	80.00–86.00	1,531	9
Bulls	—	—	1,929	70.72/cwt	62.00–75.00	1,364	19
Bulls	—	—	2,040	92.00/cwt	92.00–92.00	1,877	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows21 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	840	34.00/cwt	34.00–34.00	286	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	995	45.00/cwt	45.00–45.00	448	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,125	36.90/cwt	36.50–38.00	415	19
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,172	32.93/cwt	31.00–36.00	386	16
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,199	42.81/cwt	38.00–46.50	513	102
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,228	49.86/cwt	47.00–55.00	612	242
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,230	57.50/cwt	57.50–57.50	707	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,233	62.61/cwt	58.00–65.50	772	40
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,237	42.69/cwt	38.00–46.00	528	63
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,270	51.09/cwt	46.50–55.00	649	20
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,385	61.94/cwt	55.00–64.50	858	188
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,390	49.60/cwt	44.00–54.00	689	78
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,436	47.42/cwt	43.00–53.00	681	28
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,457	68.41/cwt	66.00–72.00	997	45
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,489	54.33/cwt	53.00–57.00	809	9
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,582	68.66/cwt	68.00–69.00	1,086	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,586	60.00/cwt	60.00–60.00	952	13
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,588	67.60/cwt	66.00–68.50	1,073	9
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,690	61.00/cwt	61.00–61.00	1,031	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,690	59.31/cwt	51.50–65.00	1,002	6
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,750	76.37/cwt	74.00–79.25	1,336	4
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	931	93.33/cwt	73.00–109.00	869	234
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	962	53.97/cwt	52.00–55.00	519	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	997	48.00/cwt	48.00–48.00	479	6
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,015	75.31/cwt	71.00–82.00	764	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,067	72.57/cwt	59.00–83.00	774	40
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,166	44.72/cwt	44.00–48.00	521	9
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,297	775.00/cwt	775.00–775.00	10,052	12
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows9 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,104	1,188.35/cwt	1,175.00–1,200.00	13,119	8
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,118	1,200.00/cwt	1,200.00–1,200.00	13,416	16
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,118	900.00/cwt	900.00–900.00	10,062	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,190	1,050.00/cwt	1,050.00–1,050.00	12,495	20
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,305	1,139.07/cwt	1,100.00–1,150.00	14,865	41
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,328	48.00/cwt	48.00–48.00	637	11
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,329	902.82/cwt	885.00–910.00	11,998	41
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,343	750.00/cwt	750.00–750.00	10,073	41
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,366	50.15/cwt	48.00–51.00	685	7

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 Oct 20, 2021

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 863Last week 201Year ago 860

Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,804Last week 1,027Year ago 635

Replacement CattleReceipts 770Last week 1,304Year ago 417

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	393	182.00	182.00
17	—	484	162.00–165.00	162.53

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	681	127.00	127.00
4	—	396	175.00	175.00
9	—	409	152.00	152.00
4	—	591	142.00	142.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	491	148.00	148.00
13	—	575	127.00–130.00	127.47

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	530	155.00–156.00	155.30
59	—	569	141.00–150.00	149.40
13	—	276	191.00	191.00
9	—	373	201.00	201.00
1	—	400	190.00	190.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	384	162.00	162.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	411	152.50	152.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	467	181.00	181.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	366	170.00	170.00
21	—	421	151.00	151.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	678	116.00	116.00
4	—	636	130.00	130.00
12	—	567	129.00–132.00	130.79

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	530	123.00–126.00	124.14
2	—	563	122.00	122.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	559	126.00	126.00
27	—	436	140.00–152.00	147.72
4	—	461	139.00	139.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	338	180.00	180.00
16	—	560	123.00–135.00	129.63
6	—	489	144.50	144.50
42	—	518	125.00–143.00	137.93
15	—	438	165.50	165.50
9	—	364	171.00	171.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
50	—	873	131.00–138.00	137.86

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,030	127.50–128.00	127.92

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	538	127.00–130.00	128.80
5	—	477	139.00–142.00	140.82
3	—	448	146.00	146.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	448	130.00	130.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	392	140.00	140.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	751	133.00	133.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	501	125.00	125.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	421	136.00	136.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,690	51.50–65.00	59.31
4	—	1,750	74.00–79.25	76.37
9	—	1,588	66.00–68.50	67.60

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
242	—	1,228	47.00–55.00	49.86
19	—	1,125	36.50–38.00	36.90
102	—	1,199	38.00–46.50	42.81
40	—	1,233	58.00–65.50	62.61

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,582	68.00–69.00	68.66
1	—	1,690	61.00	61.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	1,172	31.00–36.00	32.93
20	—	1,270	46.50–55.00	51.09
63	—	1,237	38.00–46.00	42.69
1	—	1,230	57.50	57.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,586	60.00	60.00
28	—	1,436	43.00–53.00	47.42
9	—	1,489	53.00–57.00	54.33

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	995	45.00	45.00
1	—	840	34.00	34.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
188	—	1,385	55.00–64.50	61.94
78	—	1,390	44.00–54.00	49.60
45	—	1,457	66.00–72.00	68.41

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	1,929	62.00–75.00	70.72
1	—	2,040	92.00	92.00
9	—	1,839	80.00–86.00	83.23

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,726	73.00–76.50	74.11
4	—	1,717	78.00–83.00	80.60

Replacement Cattle

As reported

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	6	—	997	48.00	48.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	9	—	1,166	44.00–48.00	44.72

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	3	—	962	52.00–55.00	53.97
(<2 yrs)	Open	234	—	931	73.00–109.00	93.33
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	40	—	1,067	59.00–83.00	72.57

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	2	—	1,015	71.00–82.00	75.31

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	12	—	1,297	775.00	775.00

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 Stage (1-3 mo)	20	—	1,190	1,050.00	1,050.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	2	—	1,118	900.00	900.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	41	—	1,329	885.00–910.00	902.82
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	8	—	1,104	1,175.00–1,200.00	1,188.35
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	41	—	1,305	1,100.00–1,150.00	1,139.07
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	7	—	1,366	48.00–51.00	50.15
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	16	—	1,118	1,200.00	1,200.00

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)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	41	—	1,343	750.00	750.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	11	—	1,328	48.00	48.00

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.