Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-11-06
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-11-06

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Calf quality was mostly average today. Yearling quality was average to attractive with several sets of tested open replacements seen. Most feeders were offered in small packages or as singles. Demand was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate to active today. Weigh up and bred cows comprised most of todays sale. Cow quality this week was mixed from plain to very attractive. Many lame, low yielding cows were seen again this sale. Packer buyers were active in buying lower yielding slightly blemished cows to hold for the upcoming holiday. This is the fist week packers purchased short term feeding cows this fall. Demand for low dressing cows was very good this sale, these offerings sold steady to firm. More takers were seen for this class of cows this week. High quality feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-4.00 lower. Most cows were purchased to feed again this week as very few offerings were purchased for direct slaughter. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly light. Slaughter cows sold 2.00 to 5.00 lower on boning cows and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Weigh conditions were mostly average today. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to weak. Feeding bulls sold generally steady as a larger portion of the bull offering was purchased to feed. Quality today was mostly average for bulls. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Demand from rebreed buyers was good to very good. Quality was mostly average to attractive this week and more attractive than last weeks offering. Young cow offerings were heavy. A moderate offering of bred cows sold today and demand was mostly light to moderate as quality limited demand. Bred cow quality was mostly plain to average. A large crowd was on hand for the bred cow portion of todays sale.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $234.00/cwt on 3 head. That ranks 1 of 19 comparable sales and sits −187.54 against this barn's trailing median of $421.54.

Average price

$234.00

3 head · 598 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,399

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

—

single grade reported

vs the market

−32.33

vs MT average

−24.39 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	598	234.00	1,399	3thin

Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

19 sales

Heifers 500–600 lb: high $464.07, low $350.88, median $421.54 across 19 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale3 hd

234.00

—

MT average5 barns · 839 hd

266.33

−32.33

National average194 barns · 18,518 hd

258.39

−24.39

This barn, trailing median19 sales

421.54

−187.54

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	1,693	139.65	2,365	49
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,513	120.06	1,817	75
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,371	118.71	1,627	269
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,161	107.09	1,244	302

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	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,065	$2,287	7
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,152	$2,259	98
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,409	$2,078	26
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,534	$2,011	10
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,405	$1,851	48
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,090	$1,744	9
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,296	$1,669	173
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,146	$1,250	9
Bred Heifers	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	(<2 yrs)	958	$2,225	6
Bred Heifers	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	(<2 yrs)	943	$2,154	55

Every lot, as filed

81 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
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 2	—	1,045	1,850.00/head	1,850.00–1,850.00	1,850	19
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,216	1,500.00/head	1,500.00–1,500.00	1,500	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	361	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	1,245	11
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,435	2,300.00/head	2,300.00–2,300.00	2,300	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	255	480.00/cwt	480.00–480.00	1,224	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,015	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	2,132	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	309	440.00/cwt	440.00–440.00	1,360	8
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,475	1,916.09/head	1,700.00–1,925.00	1,916	22
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	915	202.00/cwt	162.50–220.00	1,848	379
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	876	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	2,015	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	913	235.79/cwt	231.00–237.00	2,153	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	570	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,482	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,324	1,723.82/head	1,650.00–1,850.00	1,724	123
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,540	2,088.71/head	2,000.00–2,100.00	2,089	8
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,162	2,410.62/head	2,300.00–2,600.00	2,411	68
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,163	1,800.00/head	1,800.00–1,800.00	1,800	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,065	2,286.99/head	2,200.00–2,300.00	2,287	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	320	367.07/cwt	355.00–390.00	1,175	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,013	217.76/cwt	208.00–220.00	2,206	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	770	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,848	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	409	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	1,329	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	1050–1100	1,090	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	2,235	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	846	242.00/cwt	242.00–242.00	2,047	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	776	190.89/cwt	182.50–200.00	1,481	20
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,242	142.19/cwt	135.00–186.00	1,766	8
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	1,146	1,250.00/head	1,250.00–1,250.00	1,250	9
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,345	1,796.23/head	1,775.00–1,825.00	1,796	26
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,384	2,026.85/head	1,850.00–2,200.00	2,027	20
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,032	1,700.00/head	1,700.00–1,700.00	1,700	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	966	154.58/cwt	123.00–194.00	1,493	44
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,055	155.56/cwt	131.00–185.00	1,641	55
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	900–950	915	223.00/cwt	223.00–223.00	2,040	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,020	142.50/cwt	142.50–142.50	1,454	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,274	2,024.07/head	1,800.00–2,250.00	2,024	11
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,119	2,300.00/head	2,300.00–2,300.00	2,300	4
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,721	128.73/cwt	126.50–137.50	2,215	8
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,723	117.35/cwt	115.00–120.00	2,022	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,438	118.39/cwt	115.00–124.00	1,702	43
Bulls	—	—	1,888	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	2,964	2
Bulls	—	—	1,980	146.07/cwt	144.00–149.00	2,892	6
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,590	140.48/cwt	124.00–144.00	2,234	25
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,158	100.04/cwt	99.00–101.00	1,158	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	887	74.91/cwt	70.00–77.50	664	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,345	97.52/cwt	96.00–99.00	1,312	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,180	113.17/cwt	110.00–120.50	1,335	135
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,361	106.53/cwt	100.00–111.00	1,450	31
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,142	84.64/cwt	81.00–93.00	967	13
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	985	94.75/cwt	94.50–95.00	933	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,225	123.53/cwt	122.50–124.00	1,513	3
Bulls	—	—	1,723	133.77/cwt	130.00–147.00	2,305	16
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,164	107.06/cwt	96.00–112.50	1,246	128
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,369	120.85/cwt	111.00–125.00	1,654	201
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,073	78.42/cwt	72.50–82.00	841	14
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,576	110.84/cwt	107.00–114.00	1,747	10
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,558	128.40/cwt	125.50–131.50	2,000	12
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,442	84.00/cwt	84.00–84.00	1,211	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,403	114.91/cwt	108.50–117.00	1,612	6
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,366	127.36/cwt	126.00–131.00	1,740	23
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	950	88.49/cwt	88.00–89.00	841	2
Bred Cows	Large 1	—	1,553	2,200.00/head	2,200.00–2,200.00	2,200	3
Heifers	Large 1	1100–1150	1,114	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	2,284	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	893	232.00/cwt	230.00–233.00	2,072	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	760	172.50/cwt	172.50–172.50	1,311	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	995	221.00/cwt	221.00–221.00	2,199	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	435	342.50/cwt	342.50–342.50	1,490	5
Bred Heifers	Medium 1	—	958	2,225.00/head	2,225.00–2,225.00	2,225	6
Heifers	Medium 1	450–500	457	296.00/cwt	296.00–296.00	1,353	5
Heifers	Medium 1	550–600	598	234.00/cwt	234.00–234.00	1,399	3
Heifers	Medium 1	800–850	843	223.00/cwt	223.00–223.00	1,880	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,510	1,700.00/head	1,700.00–1,700.00	1,700	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,233	1,552.48/head	1,500.00–1,625.00	1,552	31
Heifers	Large 1	1250–1300	1,293	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	2,392	2
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	650–700	680	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	1,605	1
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	500–550	548	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,480	2
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	550–600	586	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,553	4
Bred Heifers	Medium 1Non-Legible BANGS	—	860	2,200.00/head	2,200.00–2,200.00	2,200	13
Bred Heifers	Medium 1	—	959	2,303.18/head	2,100.00–2,350.00	2,303	21
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,512	91.00/cwt	91.00–91.00	1,376	3
Bred Heifers	Large 1-2	—	946	1,900.00/head	1,900.00–1,900.00	1,900	17
Heifers	Large 1	1150–1200	1,188	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	2,376	2
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	1,178	143.50/cwt	130.50–171.00	1,690	3

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 →