Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-11-08
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-11-08

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Both steer and heifer calves were scarcely tested this week as todays sale featured bred heifers and cows as well as weigh ups. No trend is available. Yearling quality was mostly plain to average today. Market activity was mostly slow. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold 3.00-6.00 lower on boning cows and lean cows. Breaking slaughter cows were too lightly tested to trend as most were purchased to feed this week, however lower undertones were noticed. Demand for feeding cows was mostly moderate to good. Buyer participation was good again this week, however not as many buyers were seen this week as last. Thin cows purchased to feed or turn out on corn stalks this winter sold 2.00-4.00 lower which would be near steady with prices two weeks ago. High quality feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold 1.00-4.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average to start the sale but improved as the sale progressed, especially on cattle that had been preg. checked and run through the chute. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady, on a lower quality offering. Cow quality today was mixed from plain to attractive. Young age cows sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher on a much higher quality offering. Demand for these offerings was stronger this week as quality allowed for more rebreed buyers to participate. Demand from feeding buyers remains light to moderate. Most of these offerings are in the report as slaughter cows returning to feed especially offerings over 3 years old. A good selection of bred cows and heifers sold today and demand for these offerings was mostly moderate to good. Quality was average to very attractive. A large crowd was on hand for todays bred cow sale with both ranchers and order buyers as active participants. 3rd trimester calve from now until Feb 9th, 2nd Trimester calve from Feb 9th till May 12th, 1st trimester calve after May 12th.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $197.16/cwt on 74 head.

Average price

$197.16

74 head · 828 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,632

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$242

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

$30.50/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−57.98

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	746	213.00	1,589	12thin
Medium and Large 1-2	890	199.22	1,774	43
Medium and Large 2	738	182.50	1,347	19thin

One grade step is worth $30.50/cwt here — about $242 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 sale74 hd

197.16

—

MT average5 barns · 2,475 hd

255.14

−57.98

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	1,743	104.62	1,824	61
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,612	97.10	1,565	27
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,408	89.75	1,264	309
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,210	80.73	977	508

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)	1,235	$2,299	104
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,340	$2,154	28
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,093	$1,896	54
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,318	$1,560	10
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,332	$1,550	42
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,285	$1,420	78
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,260	$1,355	14
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,262	$1,285	4thin
Bred Heifers	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	(<2 yrs)	936	$2,252	70
Bred Heifers	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	(<2 yrs)	961	$1,850	5

Every lot, as filed

58 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	—	746	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	1,589	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	433	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	1,104	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	886	198.91/cwt	198.00–202.00	1,762	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	738	182.50/cwt	182.50–182.50	1,347	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	935	214.00/cwt	214.00–214.00	2,001	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	449	302.50/cwt	302.50–302.50	1,358	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	916	194.00/cwt	194.00–194.00	1,777	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	966	192.00/cwt	192.00–192.00	1,855	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	919	199.00/cwt	199.00–199.00	1,829	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,133	1,921.02/head	1,800.00–1,985.00	1,921	23
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,176	1,300.00/head	1,300.00–1,300.00	1,300	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,294	1,314.66/head	1,300.00–1,335.00	1,315	12
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,216	1,281.55/head	1,275.00–1,300.00	1,282	11
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,268	2,427.37/head	2,250.00–2,650.00	2,427	79
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,093	1,896.23/head	1,585.00–2,000.00	1,896	54
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	856	105.14/cwt	92.00–115.00	900	8
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,083	113.78/cwt	90.00–142.50	1,232	66
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	936	164.88/cwt	117.00–189.50	1,543	168
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	939	124.89/cwt	102.50–140.00	1,173	9
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,355	1,602.89/head	1,375.00–1,775.00	1,603	34
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,457	1,550.00/head	1,550.00–1,550.00	1,550	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,197	85.79/cwt	83.00–88.00	1,027	9
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	961	1,850.00/head	1,850.00–1,850.00	1,850	5
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	936	2,251.98/head	2,125.00–2,300.00	2,252	70
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	700	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	1,015	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,262	1,284.72/head	1,200.00–1,500.00	1,285	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,058	1,600.00/head	1,600.00–1,600.00	1,600	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,318	1,559.63/head	1,500.00–1,600.00	1,560	10
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,297	1,350.00/head	1,350.00–1,350.00	1,350	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,326	2,226.24/head	2,100.00–2,300.00	2,226	25
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,118	1,600.00/head	1,600.00–1,600.00	1,600	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,297	94.47/cwt	85.00–96.50	1,225	23
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,296	1,442.76/head	1,300.00–1,525.00	1,443	67
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,241	113.34/cwt	110.00–115.00	1,407	4
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,295	89.37/cwt	86.00–95.00	1,157	5
Bulls	—Natural	—	1,881	107.62/cwt	105.00–109.00	2,024	9
Bulls	—	—	1,936	111.87/cwt	109.50–116.00	2,166	16
Bulls	—	—	1,717	99.50/cwt	90.00–106.00	1,708	25
Bulls	—	—	2,038	117.74/cwt	117.50–118.00	2,400	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	895	68.66/cwt	64.00–74.00	615	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,380	84.69/cwt	78.00–87.50	1,169	63
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	948	52.23/cwt	51.00–55.00	495	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,647	95.60/cwt	95.00–97.00	1,575	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,250	85.18/cwt	83.00–94.00	1,065	174
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,195	78.27/cwt	68.00–82.00	935	102
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,184	98.81/cwt	96.50–100.00	1,170	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,733	93.02/cwt	91.00–94.00	1,612	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,378	82.00/cwt	74.00–84.50	1,130	91
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,250	83.64/cwt	82.00–86.00	1,046	75
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,160	64.22/cwt	56.00–67.00	745	19
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,170	77.67/cwt	65.00–83.00	909	124
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,453	104.19/cwt	101.00–109.50	1,514	52
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,538	99.36/cwt	97.00–101.50	1,528	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,414	94.41/cwt	88.50–100.00	1,335	73
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,018	62.00/cwt	62.00–62.00	631	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,590	98.08/cwt	97.00–99.50	1,559	7
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,446	86.64/cwt	85.00–93.00	1,253	27
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,644	96.01/cwt	94.00–97.00	1,578	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 →