Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2019-10-09
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-10-09

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Spring born calves were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Yearling steers were scarcely traded today thus no trend is available. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly plain today. Heavy snowfall was seen across much of the Central portions of the state overnight and through the day. Many freshly weaned calves were seen this sale and buyers discounted most of these offerings severely as many showed signs of stress. Demand for calves was mostly light while demand for yearlings was moderate. Offerings were light to moderate. Market activity was slow. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for mostly moderate to heavy offerings. Packer buyers continue to buy cows for immediate harvest. Many load lots of cows were seen today and packers bought cows to put on feed and for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold steady to 1.00 lower. Feeding cows were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to re-breed sold steady to 2.00 higher. Demand for these offerings was moderate to good. Quality was average to attractive.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $142.54/cwt on 171 head.

Average price

$142.54

171 head · 531 lb average

Value per head Derived

$757

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$380

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

$29.62/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−2.91

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	538	148.62	799	113
Medium and Large 1-2	464	132.04	613	52
Medium and Large 2	991	119.00	1,179	6thin

One grade step is worth $29.62/cwt here — about −$380 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 sale171 hd

142.54

—

MT average5 barns · 1,285 hd

145.45

−2.91

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	1,684	78.83	1,327	38
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,642	67.65	1,111	8thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,466	62.72	919	60
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,192	58.52	698	240

Every lot, as filed

54 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
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,463	65.73/cwt	63.00–67.50	962	10
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,555	53.00/cwt	53.00–53.00	824	1
Bulls	—	—	1,596	74.90/cwt	71.00–77.50	1,195	25
Bulls	—	—	1,809	84.09/cwt	80.50–87.00	1,521	9
Bulls	—	—	1,948	91.54/cwt	89.50–95.50	1,783	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,083	63.00/cwt	63.00–63.00	682	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	963	57.31/cwt	54.50–60.00	552	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,170	57.22/cwt	50.00–61.00	669	177
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,265	62.32/cwt	60.50–66.50	788	61
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,635	67.82/cwt	66.00–69.00	1,109	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	323	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	420	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	429	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	558	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	761	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	997	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	381	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	629	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	521	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	782	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	665	132.50/cwt	130.00–133.00	881	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	328	177.50/cwt	177.50–177.50	582	14
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,430	59.55/cwt	58.75–62.50	852	38
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	838	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,073	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	905	129.50/cwt	129.50–129.50	1,172	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	978	123.57/cwt	123.00–124.50	1,209	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	488	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	615	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	616	124.19/cwt	124.00–124.50	765	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	578	126.09/cwt	124.50–131.00	729	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	520	125.93/cwt	125.00–126.00	655	14
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	991	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	1,179	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	1,613	84.00/cwt	84.00–84.00	1,355	5
Bred Cows	Medium 1-2	—	957	615.03/cwt	600.00–625.00	5,886	13
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,167	1,080.73/cwt	1,075.00–1,085.00	12,612	12
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,354	61.22/cwt	55.00–66.00	829	29
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,304	62.17/cwt	59.00–69.00	811	43
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	998	84.05/cwt	80.00–85.00	839	29
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,081	73.46/cwt	63.00–78.00	794	107
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,340	65.18/cwt	64.50–70.00	873	30
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,023	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	1,166	8
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	398	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	637	11
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,000	119.50/cwt	119.50–119.50	1,195	13
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,104	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	1,170	13
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,165	104.00/cwt	104.00–104.00	1,212	13
Heifers	Medium 1	—	719	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	956	7
Heifers	Medium 1	—	794	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,032	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	413	161.27/cwt	160.00–162.00	666	14
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,630	61.00/cwt	61.00–61.00	994	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,665	70.54/cwt	70.00–71.00	1,174	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,584	71.83/cwt	70.00–72.00	1,138	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	823	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,070	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	583	143.86/cwt	138.00–144.50	839	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	623	136.97/cwt	130.00–140.00	853	30
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	713	138.50/cwt	138.50–138.50	988	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	585	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	708	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	307	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	491	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	369	150.00/cwt	139.00–157.50	554	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	473	121.66/cwt	120.50–123.00	575	29
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	989	118.00/cwt	118.00–118.00	1,167	8

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 →