Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2020-04-22
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-04-22

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers 600-899 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. All other weights of steers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. The best test for feeder heifers was for 650-699 lbs which sold 3.00-7.00 higher, all other weights were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was average to attractive. Several load lots were seen this week and these were met with mostly good demand. Demand overall was moderate to good for moderate offerings. Flesh conditions were mostly light to moderate. Very few fleshy offerings were seen this sale despite a large run of backgrounded offerings. Market activity this week was mostly active with many bidders actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers continue to be aggressive as they bid on offerings for immediate harvest. Packer buyers purchased most of the cow offering for immediate harvest, with the exception of a few high quality young cows they purchased to feed. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Feeding cow buyers picked around the edges this sale as they tried to buy a few cows away from packers. Feeding cows were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Weigh up conditions started the day mostly above average for buyers, however with warmer weather seen in the afternoon many cows showed excess fill as the day progressed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Offerings were too lightly tested last week to trend, however higher undertones were noticed.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $135.53/cwt on 523 head.

Average price

$135.53

523 head · 707 lb average

Value per head Derived

$959

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$78

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

$45.38/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−2.65

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	597	141.88	847	87
Medium and Large 1	733	135.52	994	405
Medium and Large 2	534	131.67	704	18thin
Large 1-2	791	101.00	799	6thin
Large 1	959	96.50	925	7thin

One grade step is worth $45.38/cwt here — about −$78 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 sale523 hd

135.53

—

MT average3 barns · 872 hd

138.18

−2.65

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	1,763	75.08	1,324	20
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,476	54.15	799	68
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,243	52.49	652	119
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,565	52.25	818	4thin

Every lot, as filed

63 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.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Steers	Large 1-2	—	791	101.00/cwt	101.00–101.00	799	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	523	153.48/cwt	150.00–157.00	803	30
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	658	131.72/cwt	130.00–133.50	867	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	618	143.59/cwt	143.00–144.00	887	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	753	118.50/cwt	118.50–118.50	892	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	475	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	741	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	—	621	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	863	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	—	501	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	701	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,115	71.00/cwt	71.00–71.00	792	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,164	64.80/cwt	56.00–81.00	754	44
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	974	87.12/cwt	71.00–102.50	849	44
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,240	54.31/cwt	50.00–58.50	673	23
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,316	50.96/cwt	49.00–53.00	671	13
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,243	1,060.00/cwt	1,060.00–1,060.00	13,176	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	979	950.00/cwt	950.00–950.00	9,301	4
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,480	56.00/cwt	56.00–56.00	829	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	731	132.27/cwt	130.00–136.00	967	128
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	651	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	983	95
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	880	115.15/cwt	112.50–115.75	1,013	74
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	620	153.50/cwt	153.50–153.50	952	45
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	819	122.80/cwt	120.00–125.00	1,006	27
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	750	129.50/cwt	129.50–129.50	971	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	398	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	677	5
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	581	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	732	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	760	111.00/cwt	111.00–111.00	844	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	589	138.25/cwt	138.25–138.25	814	12
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	631	107.00/cwt	107.00–107.00	675	12
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	709	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	744	5
Heifers	Large 1	—	795	108.00/cwt	108.00–108.00	859	36
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	95	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	285	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	833	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	883	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	997	99.00/cwt	99.00–99.00	987	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	837	129.75/cwt	129.75–129.75	1,086	13
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	988	49.50/cwt	49.50–49.50	489	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,246	50.60/cwt	44.50–54.00	630	62
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,265	55.45/cwt	54.00–58.00	701	50
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,100	39.13/cwt	35.00–43.00	430	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,260	60.00/cwt	60.00–60.00	756	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,593	51.00/cwt	51.00–51.00	812	3
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	441	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	631	6
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,412	56.48/cwt	54.00–57.50	797	23
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,511	60.49/cwt	59.00–61.50	914	7
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,283	70.00/cwt	70.00–70.00	898	2
Bulls	—	—	1,691	71.63/cwt	63.00–79.00	1,211	11
Bulls	—	—	2,014	81.96/cwt	78.00–85.50	1,651	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,149	53.66/cwt	52.00–55.00	617	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,053	45.66/cwt	44.00–48.00	481	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,509	51.57/cwt	45.00–54.50	778	38
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	813	108.54/cwt	106.00–109.75	882	85
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	695	123.32/cwt	122.50–129.00	857	77
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	700	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	868	59
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	551	146.50/cwt	146.50–146.50	807	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	547	145.50/cwt	145.50–145.50	796	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	614	134.74/cwt	131.00–136.50	827	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	873	105.50/cwt	105.50–105.50	921	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	540	135.50/cwt	135.50–135.50	732	2
Steers	Large 1	—	959	96.50/cwt	96.50–96.50	925	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	698	107.00/cwt	107.00–107.00	747	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	474	141.41/cwt	136.00–149.50	670	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	683	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	826	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	643	115.59/cwt	113.00–129.00	743	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	416	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	587	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	788	107.00/cwt	107.00–107.00	843	2

How this sale compares

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 →