Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2022-10-26
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2022-10-26

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Steer and heifer calves were too lightly tested either this sale or last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality today was mostly plain to average. Most calves were cutbacks off the summer videos with very few fresh calves on offer. Demand was mostly light for light offerings. Most feeders were offered in small package or as singles. Market activity was mostly slow today. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00 higher on breaking cows, boning cows sold steady to 4.00 lower, lean cows sold 2.00-5.00 lower. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower. Cow quality was plain to attractive today. Feeding cow quality was significantly higher this week and packer buyers were much more active as a result. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this sale, and slightly better for buyers this week compared to last. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly moderate to good demand. These offerings sold unevenly steady, with higher prices seen on high quality rebreed offerings and lower prices seen on average, feeding quality offerings.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $195.27/cwt on 129 head.

Average price

$195.27

129 head · 557 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,088

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$204

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

$35.20/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−8.95

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	486	200.20	973	30
Medium and Large 1	571	195.31	1,116	94
Large 1	713	165.00	1,176	5thin

One grade step is worth $35.20/cwt here — about −$204 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 sale129 hd

195.27

—

MT average5 barns · 3,380 hd

204.23

−8.95

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	1,739	86.73	1,509	36
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,635	79.68	1,303	32
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,420	71.10	1,009	216
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,210	58.41	707	345

Replacement cattle Per head

By class, stage and age

Bred stock and pairs are reported per head, not per hundredweight — these prices are never mixed with the $/cwt figures above.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,171	$1,262	23
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,109	$1,220	15
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,295	$1,125	17
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,408	$1,060	2thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,220	$858	18

Every lot, as filed

72 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
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	928	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	1,438	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	920	160.50/cwt	160.50–160.50	1,477	1
Heifers	Medium 1	—	755	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	1,216	2
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,011	152.44/cwt	152.00–152.50	1,541	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	998	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	1,507	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	323	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	688	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	560	173.67/cwt	165.00–176.00	973	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	479	184.17/cwt	180.00–189.00	882	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	465	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	860	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	617	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	944	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	540	169.55/cwt	169.00–172.50	916	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	842	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,516	12
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	556	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	917	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	431	192.93/cwt	191.00–194.00	832	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	540	173.60/cwt	173.00–175.00	937	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	640	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	870	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	365	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	745	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	581	188.45/cwt	186.00–190.00	1,095	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	515	193.82/cwt	190.50–203.00	998	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	413	217.44/cwt	217.00–218.00	898	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	468	207.78/cwt	206.00–209.00	972	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	380	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	912	5
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	713	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	1,176	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	656	168.50/cwt	168.50–168.50	1,105	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	347	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	819	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	462	206.00/cwt	203.00–211.00	952	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	693	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	1,123	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	544	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	947	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	609	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	1,142	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	415	216.00/cwt	216.00–216.00	896	4
Bulls	Large 1-2	—	1,045	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	1,150	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	576	173.50/cwt	173.50–173.50	999	31
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	715	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	1,115	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	505	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	985	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	638	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	1,034	3
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,070	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	1,220	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,241	67.60/cwt	63.00–74.00	839	89
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,235	58.86/cwt	55.50–61.00	727	58
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,520	80.00/cwt	80.00–80.00	1,216	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,399	74.23/cwt	68.00–81.00	1,038	101
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,426	62.20/cwt	57.50–67.50	887	28
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,426	80.67/cwt	78.50–84.50	1,150	34
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,174	45.23/cwt	41.00–48.00	531	20
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,194	54.62/cwt	49.00–59.00	652	150
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,266	61.88/cwt	60.00–66.00	783	19
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,630	76.12/cwt	68.00–79.00	1,241	15
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,667	84.60/cwt	84.00–85.50	1,410	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,635	82.05/cwt	79.00–83.50	1,342	10
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,444	58.57/cwt	52.50–65.00	846	34
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,396	81.73/cwt	77.00–87.00	1,141	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,485	70.55/cwt	65.50–76.00	1,048	15
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	860	41.00/cwt	41.00–41.00	353	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	933	47.94/cwt	46.00–50.00	447	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	995	52.00/cwt	52.00–52.00	517	6
Bulls	—	—	1,983	91.51/cwt	85.00–97.00	1,815	14
Bulls	—	—	1,686	78.05/cwt	72.00–82.50	1,316	9
Bulls	—	—	1,915	98.49/cwt	98.00–99.00	1,886	2
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,290	63.00/cwt	63.00–63.00	813	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,333	82.86/cwt	79.00–87.50	1,105	4
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,538	91.21/cwt	86.00–94.00	1,403	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	746	112.00/cwt	112.00–112.00	836	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	953	66.00/cwt	66.00–66.00	629	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,037	83.46/cwt	71.00–107.50	865	61
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	904	87.14/cwt	78.00–107.50	788	8
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	971	112.46/cwt	81.00–128.00	1,092	178
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,408	1,060.00/head	1,060.00–1,060.00	1,060	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,171	1,262.06/head	1,210.00–1,325.00	1,262	23
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,307	975.00/head	975.00–975.00	975	6
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,109	1,219.87/head	1,175.00–1,250.00	1,220	15
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,295	1,125.00/head	1,125.00–1,125.00	1,125	17
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,177	800.00/head	800.00–800.00	800	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	869	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	1,356	4

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 →