Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2020-09-16
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-09-16

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (9-09-20): Yearling steers and heifers were all too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on the steers and steady to firm undertones were noticed on the heifers. Unweaned calves were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings and calves was moderate. Quality this week was average to attractive. Yearlings were offered in mostly mostly medium to large size packages with a few load lots seen as well. All feeders on offer were in light flesh. Yearling weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this week with many sets pushing heavy amounts of fill. Market activity this week was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light offerings. Feeding buyers were the market driver this week as additional buyers were in the market purchasing cows to feed. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady 3.00 higher on lean cows. Boning and breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. Weight up conditions were average to below average this week. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to firm. Cow quality this week was mostly average. Young age 2-3 year old cows suitable to re-breed were too lightly tested to trend, however steady undertones were noticed.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $132.42/cwt on 512 head.

Average price

$132.42

512 head · 796 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,054

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$436

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1

$16.36/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−0.60

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	639	137.00	875	36
Medium and Large 1-2	657	135.36	890	28
Medium and Large 1	798	133.86	1,069	364
Medium 1-2	605	127.17	770	33
Large 1	1,087	120.64	1,311	51

One grade step is worth $16.36/cwt here — about −$436 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 sale512 hd

132.42

—

MT average3 barns · 2,280 hd

133.01

−0.60

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	1,730	80.90	1,399	45
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,581	64.22	1,015	20
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,394	61.32	855	97
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,194	59.05	705	74

Every lot, as filed

69 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 1Full	—	758	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	1,054	6
Steers	Medium 1-2	—	607	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	850	14
Steers	Large 1	—	1,015	123.69/cwt	123.00–124.50	1,255	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	977	127.78/cwt	125.50–132.00	1,248	35
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	875	137.91/cwt	137.25–139.50	1,207	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	932	133.02/cwt	132.50–133.25	1,240	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	353	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	600	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	590	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	856	4
Dairy Steers	Large 3	—	980	61.00/cwt	61.00–61.00	598	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,245	71.88/cwt	70.00–74.00	895	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,117	63.42/cwt	62.00–66.50	708	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,152	66.50/cwt	66.50–66.50	766	3
Bulls	—	—	2,028	89.52/cwt	88.50–93.00	1,815	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	636	141.25/cwt	141.25–141.25	898	37
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	814	126.50/cwt	126.50–126.50	1,030	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	776	130.50/cwt	130.50–130.50	1,013	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	909	126.50/cwt	126.50–126.50	1,150	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	997	119.69/cwt	119.50–122.00	1,193	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	928	128.19/cwt	127.00–129.00	1,190	10
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,410	62.38/cwt	60.00–64.50	880	35
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,227	56.02/cwt	52.00–59.50	687	12
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,180	48.00/cwt	48.00–48.00	566	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,520	65.53/cwt	65.00–66.00	996	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,387	56.21/cwt	55.00–58.00	780	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,402	63.23/cwt	61.00–64.50	886	12
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,437	65.58/cwt	65.00–66.00	942	12
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,349	58.29/cwt	55.00–60.00	786	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	468	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	651	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	302	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	468	5
Steers	Large 1Full	—	1,015	121.50/cwt	121.50–121.50	1,233	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	970	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	1,028	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	313	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	545	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	459	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	711	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	520	132.50/cwt	132.50–132.50	689	2
Heifers	Large 1Fancy	—	1,135	120.50/cwt	120.50–120.50	1,368	33
Heifers	Large 1	—	888	124.50/cwt	124.50–124.50	1,106	4
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,031	119.86/cwt	119.50–120.50	1,236	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	869	128.84/cwt	128.50–129.25	1,120	24
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,740	64.00/cwt	64.00–64.00	1,114	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,544	67.61/cwt	67.50–68.00	1,044	5
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,583	63.03/cwt	62.00–67.00	998	14
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,368	46.00/cwt	46.00–46.00	629	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,217	62.64/cwt	62.00–64.00	762	3
Heifers	Medium 1	—	639	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	875	36
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	547	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	695	7
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	621	127.21/cwt	126.50–128.00	790	26
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	827	141.29/cwt	138.50–144.00	1,168	84
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	387	183.32/cwt	180.00–185.00	709	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	411	172.00/cwt	172.00–172.00	707	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	499	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	813	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	933	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,194	2
Bulls	—	—	1,713	76.30/cwt	73.00–78.50	1,307	12
Bulls	—	—	1,701	81.57/cwt	78.50–85.50	1,388	27
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,210	75.00/cwt	75.00–75.00	908	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	760	137.57/cwt	134.00–137.75	1,046	64
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	825	133.32/cwt	130.25–134.00	1,100	107
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	496	148.67/cwt	148.00–149.00	737	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	515	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	762	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	901	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	1,090	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	681	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	913	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	780	131.01/cwt	129.00–133.00	1,022	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	717	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	982	13
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,091	66.00/cwt	66.00–66.00	720	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,177	55.75/cwt	52.00–59.00	656	22
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,208	62.13/cwt	61.00–64.00	751	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	974	126.12/cwt	125.00–128.25	1,228	24
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	685	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	959	33
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	706	143.50/cwt	143.50–143.50	1,013	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	777	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	1,103	6

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 →