Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2020-04-01
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-04-01

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly light on light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. CME positions slumped lower again today as limit lower trading was seen. Market activity was mostly slow. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers showed light demand for all cows for immediate harvest. Packers opted to send the majority of cows to to feed this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly 11.00-14.00 lower on boning and lean cows, breaking cows were too lightly tested to trend as most of these offerings were purchased to feed. Feeding cows sold mostly 9.00-13.00 lower. Packers have decreased slaughter volumes over the last few days after near record slaughter volumes were seen last week. Slaughter today was estimated at 116,000 head compared to 122,00 last week. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 10.00-12.00 lower. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold 3.00-4.00 lower. Demand from feeding buyers remains moderate and similar to last week.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $157.19/cwt on 113 head.

Average price

$157.19

113 head · 545 lb average

Value per head Derived

$856

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$49

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

$23.58/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+6.69

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	502	165.75	832	72
Medium and Large 1-2	620	142.17	881	41

One grade step is worth $23.58/cwt here — about −$49 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 sale113 hd

157.19

—

MT average2 barns · 532 hd

150.51

+6.69

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	—	Average	1,708	72.25	1,234	21
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,635	51.83	847	3thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,451	51.80	751	16
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,259	47.78	601	39

Every lot, as filed

35 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%	—	1,467	52.95/cwt	51.00–55.00	777	12
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,401	48.34/cwt	47.00–51.50	677	4
Bulls	—	—	1,716	75.98/cwt	74.00–81.00	1,304	8
Bulls	—	—	2,100	80.67/cwt	80.00–82.00	1,694	3
Bulls	—	—	1,584	66.73/cwt	62.00–72.00	1,057	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	621	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	807	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	566	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	747	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,257	47.69/cwt	46.00–49.50	599	24
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,293	50.54/cwt	48.00–53.00	653	12
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,240	35.27/cwt	30.00–42.00	437	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,615	53.74/cwt	53.50–54.00	868	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	628	141.77/cwt	135.00–145.50	890	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	672	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	907	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	674	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	876	44
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	412	142.40/cwt	142.00–147.50	587	28
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,675	48.00/cwt	48.00–48.00	804	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,230	46.52/cwt	45.00–49.00	572	8
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,300	54.50/cwt	54.50–54.50	709	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,216	54.13/cwt	53.00–56.00	658	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	925	42.00/cwt	42.00–42.00	389	1
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,175	82.39/cwt	82.00–84.00	968	5
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,054	82.15/cwt	81.00–89.00	866	7
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,018	92.98/cwt	91.00–94.00	947	9
Bulls	Large 1-2	—	1,108	83.00/cwt	83.00–83.00	920	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	523	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	832	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	820	92.00/cwt	92.00–92.00	754	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,171	65.25/cwt	53.00–76.00	764	74
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	464	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	793	30
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	529	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	857	42
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	482	158.03/cwt	156.00–160.00	762	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,354	58.31/cwt	48.00–61.50	790	32
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,402	56.51/cwt	54.00–59.00	792	20
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	978	83.63/cwt	66.00–93.50	818	88
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	734	115.50/cwt	115.50–115.50	848	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	513	137.18/cwt	135.00–143.00	704	11

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 →