Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2022-01-05
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2022-01-05

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale(12-15-21): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to make an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Quality this week was plain to average. Most calves were offered in small packages or as singles. Very cold temperatures were seen across the region today which limited the volume of cattle being marketed. Demand for feeders was light to moderate this sale. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Packers were more aggressive as they purchased cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady to lower undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher. Demand for feeding cows was mostly moderate to good. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed to feed or rebreed sold generally steady on like quality offerings.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $175.90/cwt on 34 head.

Average price

$175.90

34 head · 567 lb average

Value per head Derived

$997

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$266

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

$12.37/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+0.00

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	431	185.00	797	9thin
Medium and Large 1	616	172.63	1,063	25

One grade step is worth $12.37/cwt here — about −$266 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 sale34 hd

175.90

—

MT average1 barns · 34 hd

175.90

+0.00

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	1,725	82.88	1,429	28
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,685	60.50	1,019	15
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,419	59.20	840	200
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,188	53.26	633	154

Every lot, as filed

39 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
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	688	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	929	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	572	143.44/cwt	142.00–145.00	820	12
Heifers	Large 1-2	—	1,205	112.50/cwt	112.50–112.50	1,356	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	595	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	1,029	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	617	167.33/cwt	167.00–168.00	1,032	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	672	159.88/cwt	159.00–161.00	1,074	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	630	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	895	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	678	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	963	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	520	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	754	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	543	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	950	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	375	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	713	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	546	192.00/cwt	192.00–192.00	1,048	8
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,433	1,000.00/cwt	1,000.00–1,000.00	14,330	22
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,366	1,100.00/cwt	1,100.00–1,100.00	15,026	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,018	81.89/cwt	64.00–97.50	834	91
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,172	64.78/cwt	60.00–68.50	759	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,100	65.53/cwt	54.00–78.00	721	56
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,082	47.11/cwt	45.00–49.00	510	7
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,320	75.51/cwt	72.00–79.00	997	5
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,552	83.95/cwt	82.00–87.00	1,303	5
Bulls	—	—	1,734	86.27/cwt	83.00–89.50	1,496	9
Bulls	—	—	1,910	78.34/cwt	72.00–82.00	1,496	6
Bulls	—	—	2,288	92.27/cwt	90.00–94.00	2,111	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,373	55.50/cwt	55.50–55.50	762	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,430	66.50/cwt	66.50–66.50	951	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,384	52.88/cwt	48.00–55.00	732	26
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,425	59.32/cwt	55.50–62.50	845	55
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,247	61.58/cwt	61.50–62.00	768	12
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,146	48.69/cwt	45.00–52.50	558	24
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,910	63.50/cwt	63.50–63.50	1,213	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,693	57.87/cwt	54.00–61.00	980	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,222	54.90/cwt	51.00–57.50	671	32
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,310	62.00/cwt	62.00–62.00	812	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,429	60.05/cwt	56.00–64.00	858	106
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,388	65.91/cwt	65.00–66.00	915	10
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,143	48.11/cwt	42.00–50.50	550	22
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,581	63.50/cwt	63.50–63.50	1,004	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	820	43.41/cwt	41.00–44.00	356	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,221	55.18/cwt	54.00–60.00	674	58

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 →