Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2019-11-08
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-11-08

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Fridays sale: Yearling steers and heifers were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Steer calves weighing less than 500 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; steers weighing over 500 lbs sold mostly steady to weak. Heifer calves weighing less than 500 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower, 500-599 lbs heifers sold steady to 3.00 higher; heifers over 600 lbs sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower. Quality this week was mixed from plain to very attractive. Many long strings of fresh calves were seen this sale as many cattle arrived throughout the morning and over the noon hour. Cattle this sale were very fresh and clean as a result. Buyers showed mostly moderate to good demand for calves this sale. Calves that were preconditioned this fall continue to sell with the best demand. Market activity this week was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light offerings. All classes of slaughter cows sold 2.00-4.00 higher. Packers opted to send a larger portion of the cow offering to slaughter again this week. All cows and bulls were very full offering buyers below average weigh up conditions. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeding cows were all too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to re-breed were too lightly tested to develop any market trend.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $156.89/cwt on 1,733 head.

Average price

$156.89

1,733 head · 555 lb average

Value per head Derived

$872

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$71

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

$24.65/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−0.30

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	560	157.65	882	1,522
Medium and Large 1-2	526	151.60	797	209
Medium and Large 2	610	133.00	811	2thin

One grade step is worth $24.65/cwt here — about $71 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 sale1,733 hd

156.89

—

MT average5 barns · 6,268 hd

157.20

−0.30

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	1,787	68.84	1,230	16
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,590	61.67	980	6thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,456	54.83	798	21
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,258	47.90	602	68

Every lot, as filed

67 lots · USDA AMS · Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Fri)

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 1-2Unweaned	—	613	129.50/cwt	129.50–129.50	794	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	578	130.57/cwt	130.00–131.00	755	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	311	162.50/cwt	162.50–162.50	505	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	384	154.11/cwt	151.00–158.00	592	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	427	151.04/cwt	148.00–152.00	645	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	487	142.07/cwt	136.00–144.00	692	67
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	538	135.91/cwt	133.00–137.00	731	85
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	703	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	935	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	587	147.18/cwt	145.00–148.00	864	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	633	143.01/cwt	142.50–143.50	905	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	484	152.55/cwt	144.50–161.00	738	63
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	313	212.93/cwt	210.00–215.00	666	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	658	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	895	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	605	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	829	4
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	534	136.50/cwt	136.50–136.50	729	9
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	363	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	552	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	780	134.50/cwt	134.50–134.50	1,049	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	970	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,358	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	233	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	536	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	520	142.25/cwt	137.00–151.00	740	297
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	610	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	811	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,387	760.00/cwt	760.00–760.00	10,541	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,388	56.99/cwt	50.50–59.00	791	15
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,416	58.94/cwt	53.00–66.50	835	24
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	771	136.37/cwt	136.00–144.00	1,051	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	716	140.96/cwt	137.00–145.00	1,009	43
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	375	194.79/cwt	192.50–205.00	730	53
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	677	145.03/cwt	142.50–147.00	982	69
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	424	179.61/cwt	175.00–189.00	762	71
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	464	173.52/cwt	164.00–180.00	805	182
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	571	150.81/cwt	150.00–153.50	861	201
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	537	148.53/cwt	143.00–153.00	798	85
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	528	158.68/cwt	152.00–162.00	838	400
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,277	49.74/cwt	43.00–52.50	635	52
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,156	38.16/cwt	37.00–40.00	441	12
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,310	53.12/cwt	52.50–55.00	696	4
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,542	58.50/cwt	58.50–58.50	902	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,444	52.34/cwt	50.50–53.50	756	13
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,442	58.22/cwt	58.00–58.50	840	7
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,637	64.83/cwt	64.50–65.00	1,061	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,700	63.50/cwt	63.50–63.50	1,080	1
Bulls	—	—	1,830	75.17/cwt	70.50–76.50	1,376	10
Bulls	—	—	1,714	58.28/cwt	52.00–64.00	999	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,199	49.57/cwt	46.00–53.50	594	34
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,515	57.50/cwt	57.50–57.50	871	10
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,234	63.96/cwt	60.00–69.00	789	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,005	55.00/cwt	55.00–55.00	553	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,153	48.15/cwt	46.00–50.00	555	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	606	143.50/cwt	143.50–143.50	870	14
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	681	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	906	36
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	624	129.27/cwt	128.00–132.50	807	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	486	150.38/cwt	146.00–154.50	731	175
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	577	137.84/cwt	133.00–143.25	795	142
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	436	156.23/cwt	154.00–159.00	681	142
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	615	134.50/cwt	133.25–137.50	827	141
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	827	141.25/cwt	141.25–141.25	1,168	54
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	373	163.44/cwt	160.00–167.50	610	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	673	131.45/cwt	129.50–134.50	885	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	693	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	970	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	855	132.50/cwt	132.50–132.50	1,133	5
Heifers	Small and Medium 2	—	596	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	697	13
Heifers	Small and Medium 1-2	—	691	124.50/cwt	124.50–124.50	860	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	511	123.69/cwt	122.00–125.00	632	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	387	184.07/cwt	180.00–188.00	712	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	436	166.50/cwt	166.50–166.50	726	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	666	141.98/cwt	137.00–143.00	946	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	617	149.78/cwt	145.00–152.50	924	457

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 →