Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-11-20
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-11-20

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Both calf and yearling quality was average today. Most feeders were offered in small packages or as singles. Market activity was mostly moderate to active today. Buyers were active both ringside as well as over the internet bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows comprised most of todays sale. Cow quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Packer buyers showed lighter demand for all cows this week, while private buyers showed good to very good demand for all cows suitable to feed. Many lame, low yielding cows continue to be seen and many were purchased to feed again this week. Packer buyers showed lighter demand for short term feeding cows this week which allowed prices to slide lower. Feeding cow demand was good and stayed good throughout todays sale. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Thin feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 lower. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly light. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 lower on breaking cows; boning and lean cows sold 2.00 to 5.00 lower. Weigh conditions were mostly average today. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00 to 6.00 lower. Demand from packer buyers was significantly lighter this week which allowed all bull prices to slide lower. Quality today was mostly average for bulls. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Demand from rebreed buyers remains good to very good, especially for light weight offerings. Quality this week was average to attractive. Buyers showed lighter demand for heavy weight young cows this week especially 3 to 4 year old cows. Buyers pushed these cows just out of reach of feeding buyers but gave little premium above feeding cow price. Many of these cows were purchased to feed, pregnancy check or use as receipt cows in E.T. programs.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $256.30/cwt on 51 head. That ranks 1 of 19 comparable sales and sits −165.23 against this barn's trailing median of $421.54.

Average price

$256.30

51 head · 551 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,412

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

—

single grade reported

vs the market

−27.67

vs MT average

−10.75 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	551	256.30	1,412	51

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 sale51 hd

256.30

—

MT average5 barns · 1,176 hd

283.98

−27.67

National average196 barns · 21,141 hd

267.05

−10.75

This barn, trailing median19 sales

421.54

−165.23

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	—	Low	1,775	135.29	2,402	52
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,623	117.30	1,904	16
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,385	114.54	1,586	350
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,172	104.41	1,223	255
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,452	93.57	1,359	7thin
Dairy Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,950	83.00	1,619	1thin

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	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,565	$2,400	1thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,068	$2,350	5
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,101	$2,281	35
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,387	$2,050	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,190	$1,900	3thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,092	$1,800	5
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,247	$1,633	9
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,395	$1,625	1thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,338	$1,600	7

Every lot, as filed

102 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	600–650	616	279.00/cwt	279.00–279.00	1,719	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	478	345.57/cwt	341.00–346.00	1,652	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	359	458.00/cwt	458.00–458.00	1,644	25
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,068	2,350.00/head	2,350.00–2,350.00	2,350	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,387	2,050.00/head	2,050.00–2,050.00	2,050	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,343	127.88/cwt	124.50–131.00	1,717	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	560	295.50/cwt	290.00–301.00	1,655	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	665	261.00/cwt	261.00–261.00	1,736	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	430	378.41/cwt	360.00–395.00	1,627	28
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,339	1,749.52/head	1,625.00–1,800.00	1,750	6
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,338	1,600.00/head	1,600.00–1,600.00	1,600	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	658	240.50/cwt	240.50–240.50	1,582	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	557	261.74/cwt	250.00–263.00	1,458	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	411	322.50/cwt	322.50–322.50	1,325	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	470	304.00/cwt	304.00–304.00	1,429	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	512	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	1,408	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	622	245.57/cwt	245.00–246.00	1,527	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	335	440.00/cwt	440.00–440.00	1,474	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	500	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,600	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	391	401.13/cwt	400.00–402.50	1,568	13
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	580	286.00/cwt	286.00–286.00	1,659	20
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	520	316.07/cwt	306.00–325.00	1,644	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	838	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,927	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	968	214.00/cwt	214.00–214.00	2,072	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	410	317.50/cwt	317.50–317.50	1,302	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,565	2,400.00/head	2,400.00–2,400.00	2,400	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,092	1,800.00/head	1,800.00–1,800.00	1,800	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,395	1,625.00/head	1,625.00–1,625.00	1,625	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,361	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	1,443	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,360	116.00/cwt	116.00–116.00	1,578	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	894	167.18/cwt	125.00–197.50	1,495	33
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	858	222.99/cwt	221.00–225.00	1,913	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	750	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	975	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Full	450–500	475	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,235	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,108	149.80/cwt	120.00–179.50	1,660	44
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	860	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	1,419	6
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,104	2,301.14/head	2,100.00–2,450.00	2,301	32
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	573	284.66/cwt	284.00–285.00	1,631	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	797	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,833	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,190	1,900.00/head	1,900.00–1,900.00	1,900	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,089	120.77/cwt	115.00–140.00	1,315	18
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,070	2,067.76/head	1,950.00–2,200.00	2,068	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,062	1,400.00/head	1,400.00–1,400.00	1,400	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	458	299.00/cwt	299.00–299.00	1,369	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	328	334.15/cwt	330.00–335.00	1,096	17
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,444	104.71/cwt	102.00–108.00	1,512	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,392	122.90/cwt	122.00–124.50	1,711	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,381	117.08/cwt	108.00–121.50	1,617	278
Bulls	—	—	1,828	129.06/cwt	114.00–136.00	2,359	17
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,489	129.85/cwt	122.50–135.00	1,933	6
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,655	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	2,069	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,383	104.76/cwt	94.00–114.00	1,449	57
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,787	111.63/cwt	106.00–116.00	1,995	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,188	99.98/cwt	95.50–105.00	1,188	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,229	85.13/cwt	84.00–93.00	1,046	19
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,128	77.85/cwt	73.00–82.50	878	12
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	990	62.50/cwt	62.50–62.50	619	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,620	140.29/cwt	139.50–142.50	2,273	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,072	86.90/cwt	85.00–89.00	932	9
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,700	103.00/cwt	103.00–103.00	1,751	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,134	97.42/cwt	88.00–108.00	1,105	65
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,785	84.00/cwt	84.00–84.00	1,499	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,335	90.00/cwt	90.00–90.00	1,202	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	860	80.00/cwt	80.00–80.00	688	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,800	126.76/cwt	125.50–128.00	2,282	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	920	101.56/cwt	95.00–107.50	934	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,570	117.49/cwt	116.50–118.00	1,845	3
Bulls	—	—	1,950	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	2,789	1
Bulls	—	—	1,827	140.54/cwt	136.00–143.00	2,568	24
Dairy Steers	Large 3	650–700	666	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	866	7
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,411	92.00/cwt	92.00–92.00	1,298	6
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,514	90.35/cwt	89.00–92.50	1,368	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,198	113.97/cwt	108.50–118.00	1,365	144
Dairy Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,950	83.00/cwt	83.00–83.00	1,619	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,538	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	1,799	8
Heifers	Large 1	1200–1250	1,211	188.50/cwt	188.50–188.50	2,283	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	350–400	382	337.50/cwt	337.50–337.50	1,289	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,020	204.22/cwt	202.00–208.00	2,083	8
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	318	445.00/cwt	445.00–445.00	1,415	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	905	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,946	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	700–750	704	237.00/cwt	237.00–237.00	1,668	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	408	392.50/cwt	392.50–392.50	1,601	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	500–550	536	257.50/cwt	257.50–257.50	1,380	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	950–1000	988	204.50/cwt	204.50–204.50	2,020	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	550–600	579	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,361	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	728	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	1,718	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	950–1000	968	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	1,984	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	831	224.75/cwt	223.00–226.00	1,868	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	356	354.31/cwt	340.00–360.00	1,261	14
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	924	194.69/cwt	141.00–220.50	1,799	404
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Full	1150–1200	1,178	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	2,179	2
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	350–400	366	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	1,427	8
Steers	Medium 1	500–550	539	307.00/cwt	307.00–307.00	1,655	13
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	450–500	497	332.00/cwt	332.00–332.00	1,650	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	421	357.50/cwt	357.50–357.50	1,505	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	396	316.56/cwt	316.00–320.00	1,254	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	415	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,266	1
Dairy Steers	Large 3	850–900	888	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	977	4
Dairy Heifers	Large 3	900–950	940	95.00/cwt	95.00–95.00	893	2
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	1,310	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,703	3
Bulls	Large 1	1100–1150	1,107	197.00/cwt	197.00–197.00	2,181	3
Bulls	Large 1	1200–1250	1,205	172.50/cwt	172.50–172.50	2,079	1

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 →