Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2020-05-20
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-05-20

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on all feeders on offer. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and offered in mostly small packages or as singles. Buyers showed mostly light to moderate demand for all feeder cattle today. Market activity this week was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand and light to moderate offerings. Packer buyers showed mostly light to moderate demand for cows for immediate harvest this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed as packers allowed feeding buyers to buy the majority of this class. Packers purchased most of the cow offering to put away on feed. Feeding cows sold fully steady as packers showed moderate demand for high quality cows. Cow and bull quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week, cows sold later in the sale were pushing heavier amounts of fill. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold generally steady to firm on moderate demand. Quality was mostly average.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $132.23/cwt on 66 head.

Average price

$132.23

66 head · 568 lb average

Value per head Derived

$751

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$368

per head · Medium 2 over Large 1

$25.32/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+4.39

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 2	351	142.82	502	17thin
Medium and Large 1	628	134.07	841	24
Medium and Large 1-2	627	125.50	787	18thin
Large 1	740	117.50	870	7thin

One grade step is worth $25.32/cwt here — about −$368 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 sale66 hd

132.23

—

MT average3 barns · 261 hd

127.83

+4.39

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	—	High	1,814	81.55	1,480	47
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,690	60.00	1,014	1thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,434	55.71	799	26
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,204	53.92	649	72

Every lot, as filed

44 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	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	954	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	1,011	5
Bulls	—	—	2,086	93.79/cwt	91.00–99.00	1,956	11
Bulls	—	—	1,658	74.60/cwt	69.00–79.50	1,237	15
Bulls	—	—	1,872	84.56/cwt	81.00–89.00	1,583	16
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,089	95.00/cwt	95.00–95.00	1,035	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	773	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	904	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	775	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	814	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	480	167.50/cwt	167.50–167.50	804	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,060	87.88/cwt	73.00–105.00	932	48
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,210	66.04/cwt	57.50–79.00	799	41
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	880	65.00/cwt	65.00–65.00	572	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,420	58.25/cwt	51.00–65.50	827	70
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,324	61.05/cwt	54.50–67.00	808	85
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	658	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	862	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	716	121.50/cwt	121.50–121.50	870	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	574	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	746	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	804	124.50/cwt	124.50–124.50	1,001	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	710	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	966	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	740	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	910	2
Heifers	Medium 2	—	320	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	467	8
Heifers	Medium 2	—	379	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	531	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	783	118.50/cwt	118.50–118.50	928	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	937	47.16/cwt	41.00–53.00	442	3
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,160	66.00/cwt	66.00–66.00	766	4
Bulls	—Heavy Weight	—	2,870	65.00/cwt	65.00–65.00	1,866	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,478	1,150.00/cwt	1,150.00–1,150.00	16,997	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	920	74.77/cwt	72.00–80.00	688	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,162	54.76/cwt	53.50–55.75	636	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,157	52.05/cwt	43.00–55.50	602	13
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,433	58.24/cwt	57.00–60.50	835	11
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,470	44.00/cwt	44.00–44.00	647	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,260	57.47/cwt	55.00–59.50	724	18
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,170	63.11/cwt	62.75–63.50	738	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,383	42.70/cwt	42.00–45.00	591	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	969	101.88/cwt	99.00–104.00	987	7
Heifers	Large 1	—	740	117.50/cwt	117.50–117.50	870	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	630	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	737	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	566	142.60/cwt	141.00–143.00	807	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,187	52.34/cwt	46.00–56.00	621	40
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,690	60.00/cwt	60.00–60.00	1,014	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,432	54.56/cwt	51.50–56.50	781	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	604	138.03/cwt	134.00–142.00	834	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	509	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	743	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	659	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	844	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 →