Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2020-09-30
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-09-30

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Unweaned calves were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings and calves was moderate. Quality this week was plain to average on yearlings and average to attractive on calves. Yearling quality overall was lower than last week. Yearlings were offered in mostly mostly small packages with no load lots seen this week. All feeders on offer were in light flesh. Limited yearlings made it difficult for buyers to put together loads which slightly hindered demand. Yearling weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this week. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and offerings. Packer buyers showed light demand for all cows on offer. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00 to 3.00 lower on lean and boning cows. Breaking cows sold with steady undertones in a narrow comparison. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-4.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00 lower. Cow quality this week was mostly average. Many cows were coming out of dry country and were in thin flesh. Young age 2-3 year old cows suitable to re-breed sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive. More buyers showed interest in purchasing this class of cow compared to the last few weeks. Demand was moderate to good as a result.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $133.33/cwt on 147 head.

Average price

$133.33

147 head · 750 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,001

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$179

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

$0.34/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−4.47

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	627	133.64	838	14thin
Medium and Large 1	763	133.30	1,018	133

One grade step is worth $0.34/cwt here — about −$179 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 sale147 hd

133.33

—

MT average3 barns · 1,096 hd

137.81

−4.47

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	1,822	75.58	1,377	45
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,575	63.55	1,001	25
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,393	56.91	793	119
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,217	52.45	638	141

Every lot, as filed

68 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 1Unweaned	—	666	139.71/cwt	131.00–142.50	930	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	533	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	730	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,409	58.24/cwt	55.00–62.00	821	4
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,572	63.00/cwt	63.00–63.00	990	5
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,483	65.78/cwt	64.00–66.50	976	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	532	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	761	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	773	126.15/cwt	125.00–127.00	975	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	477	146.74/cwt	144.00–147.50	700	9
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,491	66.71/cwt	66.00–67.50	995	8
Bulls	—	—	1,908	77.91/cwt	75.00–80.50	1,487	22
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,200	57.11/cwt	55.50–65.00	685	36
Cows	Boner 80-85%Light Weight	—	935	51.00/cwt	51.00–51.00	477	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,100	55.00/cwt	55.00–55.00	605	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,333	58.46/cwt	56.25–65.00	779	55
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	997	49.00/cwt	49.00–49.00	489	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,259	50.77/cwt	46.00–54.00	639	64
Bulls	—	—	2,067	81.97/cwt	81.50–82.50	1,694	4
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,722	68.65/cwt	67.50–69.50	1,182	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,387	64.86/cwt	64.00–68.00	900	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,278	64.50/cwt	64.50–64.50	824	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,202	52.68/cwt	48.00–54.00	633	30
Bulls	—	—	1,718	71.42/cwt	64.50–74.50	1,227	16
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,393	54.85/cwt	52.50–55.50	764	24
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,533	53.68/cwt	50.00–55.50	823	28
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,658	53.47/cwt	51.00–58.50	887	4
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,860	57.00/cwt	57.00–57.00	1,060	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,102	43.99/cwt	42.00–46.00	485	7
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,423	72.09/cwt	68.00–75.00	1,026	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	661	126.50/cwt	126.50–126.50	836	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	758	127.99/cwt	127.00–129.00	970	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	975	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	1,243	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	433	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	758	10
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	625	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	813	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	370	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	559	2
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,145	92.00/cwt	92.00–92.00	1,053	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	595	142.75/cwt	142.75–142.75	849	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	609	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	786	4
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,271	81.00/cwt	81.00–81.00	1,030	4
Steers	Medium 1	—	796	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	1,083	4
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,013	95.00/cwt	95.00–95.00	962	2
Steers	Medium 1	—	747	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	964	18
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,203	57.50/cwt	57.50–57.50	692	26
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,171	1,075.00/cwt	1,075.00–1,075.00	12,588	21
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,160	92.00/cwt	92.00–92.00	1,067	1
Steers	Large 1Full	—	1,140	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	1,311	7
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,227	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	1,043	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	445	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	621	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	788	134.50/cwt	134.50–134.50	1,060	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	933	127.17/cwt	126.00–128.00	1,186	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	349	196.00/cwt	196.00–196.00	684	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	878	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	1,119	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	648	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	888	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,007	84.31/cwt	71.00–95.00	849	123
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	483	166.90/cwt	165.00–169.50	806	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	625	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	781	3
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,321	1,385.00/cwt	1,385.00–1,385.00	18,296	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	972	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	1,166	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,073	68.29/cwt	59.00–77.00	733	58
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	826	142.75/cwt	142.00–143.50	1,179	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	812	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	1,112	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	443	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	673	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	612	141.70/cwt	139.50–145.00	867	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	859	130.50/cwt	130.50–130.50	1,121	15
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	893	81.00/cwt	81.00–81.00	723	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	588	133.09/cwt	130.00–134.50	783	23
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	975	100.00/cwt	100.00–100.00	975	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	525	158.44/cwt	153.00–161.00	832	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	597	148.26/cwt	146.00–149.00	885	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 →