Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2021-12-01

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2021-12-01
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-12-01

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Dec 1

● Final76 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Nov 24Dec 1Dec 15 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

575 head

▲ 7 vs last sale 568▲ 175 vs year ago 400 · +43.8%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

1,002 head

▲ 382 vs last sale 620▲ 47 vs year ago 955 · +4.9%

Replacement Cattle receipts

674 head

▲ 391 vs last sale 283▲ 275 vs year ago 399 · +68.9%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noted on both steers and heifers. Quality this week was average to attractive. Demand was mostly moderate to good. CME positions were mostly higher today and have been trending up the past couple weeks. Market activity was mostly active with several buyers actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for heavy offerings. Packers showed slightly lighter demand for slaughter cows this week especially early in the sale, however with strong demand seen from feeding buyers, packers were forced to get more aggressive in order to secure offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher on lean cows. Boning cows sold steady to 1.00 higher. Breaking cows were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Feeding cows sold steady to 3.00 higher. The best demand seen today was for thin cows to feed until the market improves or for the upcoming holiday break. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher. Again, demand from feeding buyers helped keep and push prices higher. Quality this week was average to very attractive with many long strings of cows and bulls off reputation ranches. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady to weak. 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 $146.77/cwt on 237 head.

Average price

$146.77

237 head · 656 lb average

Value per head Derived

$962

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$406

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

$36.37/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−9.67

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	618	150.97	933	180
Medium and Large 1-2	627	145.00	909	20
Large 1	1,022	132.66	1,355	26
Medium 1-2	460	114.60	527	11thin

One grade step is worth $36.37/cwt here — about $406 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 sale237 hd

146.77

—

MT average3 barns · 900 hd

156.45

−9.67

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	1,803	87.33	1,574	87
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	Low	2,075	66.00	1,370	2thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,601	60.78	973	28
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,411	54.22	765	181
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,202	47.66	573	364

Every lot

76 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 · Steers11 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium 1	447	182.71/cwt	179.00–195.00	817	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	450	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	752	8
Steers	—	Medium 1	453	183.00/cwt	183.00–183.00	829	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	458	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	843	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	469	198.00/cwt	198.00–198.00	929	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	537	175.47/cwt	167.50–178.00	942	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	543	189.00/cwt	189.00–189.00	1,026	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	565	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	983	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	634	163.73/cwt	161.00–164.50	1,038	35
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	689	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	1,096	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	761	158.00/cwt	158.00–158.00	1,202	18
Feeder Cattle · Heifers19 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	385	169.39/cwt	165.00–174.00	652	16
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	418	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	665	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	438	169.00/cwt	169.00–169.00	740	37
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	460	114.60/cwt	110.00–120.00	527	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	476	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	747	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	520	151.57/cwt	150.00–152.00	788	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	524	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	755	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	620	143.99/cwt	143.50–146.00	893	42
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	662	137.67/cwt	132.00–139.00	911	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	779	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,013	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	788	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	1,064	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	867	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,214	16
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	903	131.50/cwt	131.50–131.50	1,187	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	905	136.50/cwt	136.50–136.50	1,235	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	955	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,222	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	963	140.15/cwt	139.50–140.25	1,350	15
Heifers	—	Large 1Fancy	1,007	137.25/cwt	137.25–137.25	1,382	19
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,050	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	1,339	1
Heifers	—	Large 1Fleshy	1,063	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	1,265	6
Feeder Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	595	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	774	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	793	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	1,071	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	988	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	1,176	3
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,049	111.00/cwt	111.00–111.00	1,164	7
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,050	111.00/cwt	111.00–111.00	1,166	1
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,180	104.00/cwt	104.00–104.00	1,227	2
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,220	107.00/cwt	107.00–107.00	1,305	3
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,675	78.00/cwt	78.00–78.00	1,307	2
Bulls	—	—Natural	1,773	89.28/cwt	84.00–90.50	1,583	47
Bulls	—	—Natural	1,808	77.78/cwt	75.00–84.00	1,406	7
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,842	89.38/cwt	82.00–90.50	1,646	18
Bulls	—	—	1,847	84.99/cwt	80.00–86.00	1,570	12
Bulls	—	—	2,195	72.00/cwt	72.00–72.00	1,580	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows17 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	931	38.65/cwt	35.00–43.00	360	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,138	33.35/cwt	31.00–35.00	380	19
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,203	43.03/cwt	37.00–46.00	518	50
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,204	58.53/cwt	58.00–61.00	705	20
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,206	49.00/cwt	46.00–53.00	591	75
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,213	45.22/cwt	39.00–47.00	549	31
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,214	49.52/cwt	47.00–55.00	601	164
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,369	51.00/cwt	50.50–53.00	698	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,385	62.90/cwt	62.00–63.00	871	39
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,413	50.59/cwt	49.00–52.00	715	20
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,417	53.84/cwt	51.00–59.00	763	89
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,436	46.49/cwt	40.00–49.00	668	28
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,518	64.63/cwt	63.00–68.00	981	14
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,618	56.18/cwt	54.50–63.00	909	11
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,800	63.00/cwt	63.00–63.00	1,134	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,995	58.00/cwt	58.00–58.00	1,157	2
Cows	—	Premium White 65-75%	2,075	66.00/cwt	66.00–66.00	1,370	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows12 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	656	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	689	5
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	898	47.87/cwt	41.00–55.00	430	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	935	93.66/cwt	67.00–113.00	876	188
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	958	70.12/cwt	63.00–75.00	672	6
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	995	45.00/cwt	45.00–45.00	448	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,054	68.08/cwt	49.00–82.50	718	86
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1	1,095	52.00/cwt	52.00–52.00	569	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,108	42.00/cwt	42.00–42.00	465	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,141	48.49/cwt	43.00–64.00	553	39
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,155	38.00/cwt	38.00–38.00	439	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,218	36.00/cwt	36.00–36.00	438	4
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,300	44.00/cwt	44.00–44.00	572	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,027	910.43/cwt	810.00–1,075.00	9,350	5
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,139	1,282.95/cwt	1,250.00–1,300.00	14,613	6
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,230	53.50/cwt	53.50–53.50	658	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,519	1,071.67/cwt	1,050.00–1,150.00	16,279	15

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 Dec 1, 2021

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 575Last week 568Year ago 400

Slaughter CattleReceipts 1,002Last week 620Year ago 955

Replacement CattleReceipts 674Last week 283Year ago 399

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
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,300	44.00	44.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,108	42.00	42.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	39	—	1,141	43.00–64.00	48.49
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	86	—	1,054	49.00–82.50	68.08
(<2 yrs)	Open	188	—	935	67.00–113.00	93.66

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	3	—	898	41.00–55.00	47.87
(<2 yrs)	Open	6	—	958	63.00–75.00	70.12

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	5	—	656	105.00	105.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,218	36.00	36.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,155	38.00	38.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	995	45.00	45.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,095	52.00	52.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,230	53.50	53.50
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	6	—	1,139	1,250.00–1,300.00	1,282.95
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	15	—	1,519	1,050.00–1,150.00	1,071.67
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	5	—	1,027	810.00–1,075.00	910.43

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,675	78.00	78.00
18	—	1,842	82.00–90.50	89.38

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Natural$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,808	75.00–84.00	77.78
47	—	1,773	84.00–90.50	89.28

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,847	80.00–86.00	84.99
1	—	2,195	72.00	72.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
31	—	1,213	39.00–47.00	45.22
164	—	1,214	47.00–55.00	49.52
20	—	1,204	58.00–61.00	58.53

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
75	—	1,206	46.00–53.00	49.00
50	—	1,203	37.00–46.00	43.03
19	—	1,138	31.00–35.00	33.35

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
39	—	1,385	62.00–63.00	62.90
89	—	1,417	51.00–59.00	53.84
20	—	1,413	49.00–52.00	50.59

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	1,518	63.00–68.00	64.63
11	—	1,618	54.50–63.00	56.18

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,369	50.50–53.00	51.00
28	—	1,436	40.00–49.00	46.49

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	931	35.00–43.00	38.65

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,995	58.00	58.00
1	—	1,800	63.00	63.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	2,075	66.00	66.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	793	135.00	135.00
3	—	988	119.00	119.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,220	107.00	107.00
7	—	1,049	111.00	111.00
2	—	1,180	104.00	104.00
1	—	1,050	111.00	111.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	595	130.00	130.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	537	167.50–178.00	175.47
14	—	458	184.00	184.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	689	159.00	159.00
17	—	543	189.00	189.00
1	—	565	174.00	174.00
4	—	469	198.00	198.00
35	—	634	161.00–164.50	163.73
18	—	761	158.00	158.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	450	167.00	167.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	453	183.00	183.00
17	—	447	179.00–195.00	182.71

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	779	130.00	130.00
14	—	520	150.00–152.00	151.57
37	—	438	169.00	169.00
42	—	620	143.50–146.00	143.99
13	—	476	157.00	157.00
11	—	662	132.00–139.00	137.67
16	—	385	165.00–174.00	169.39

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	524	144.00	144.00
8	—	418	159.00	159.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	867	140.00	140.00
10	—	905	136.50	136.50
15	—	963	139.50–140.25	140.15

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	903	131.50	131.50
2	—	788	135.00	135.00
2	—	955	128.00	128.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,050	127.50	127.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,063	119.00	119.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	1,007	137.25	137.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	460	110.00–120.00	114.60

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.