Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2019-12-13
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-12-13

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Fridays sale: Yearling steers and heifers were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings was mostly moderate on a plain to average quality offering. Yearling offerings were light. Steer calves weighing less than 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; steers 600 lbs and heavier sold uneven from 2.00 lower to 4.00 higher, mostly 2.00 higher. Heifer calves of all weights sold unevenly steady from 2.00 lower to 2.00 higher. More weaned calves were on offer this week making comparisons narrow. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive, however quality overall was better this week than last. Demand was mostly moderate for moderate offerings. CME positions were all sharply higher today following the news of an initial U.S./China trade deal. Market activity this week was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and offerings. Packers opted to send only very poor cows to slaughter this sale. Packers purchased slaughter cows on mostly light demand. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower on boning and lean cows, breaking cows were too lightly tested to trend. Feeding cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand. Feeding buyers were more active this sale than packer buyers as they purchased most of the feeding quality cows away from packers. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 4.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower. All cows and bulls were very full this week as they sold late in the evening and cold rainy and snowy conditions were seen through much of the morning and late afternoon. 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 $159.96/cwt on 1,236 head.

Average price

$159.96

1,236 head · 565 lb average

Value per head Derived

$904

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$734

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1

$34.75/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+0.32

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	418	168.25	704	27
Medium and Large 2	417	162.50	678	5thin
Medium and Large 1	569	160.71	914	1,080
Medium and Large 1-2	503	156.64	788	94
Medium 1-2	492	137.50	677	13thin
Medium 2	557	134.00	746	3thin
Large 1	1,077	133.50	1,438	14thin

One grade step is worth $34.75/cwt here — about −$734 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 sale1,236 hd

159.96

—

MT average4 barns · 5,839 hd

159.64

+0.32

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	—	High	1,945	74.85	1,456	22
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Very Low	1,460	45.85	669	26
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,258	41.21	519	23

Every lot, as filed

87 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
Bulls	Large 1	—	668	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	822	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	593	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	854	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	675	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	878	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	635	128.50/cwt	128.50–128.50	816	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	855	138.50/cwt	138.50–138.50	1,184	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	681	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	906	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	575	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	805	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	529	149.50/cwt	149.50–149.50	791	108
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	368	196.04/cwt	190.00–202.50	721	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	480	139.38/cwt	136.00–142.00	669	27
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	627	125.50/cwt	125.50–125.50	787	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	460	154.29/cwt	150.50–156.00	710	56
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	643	132.48/cwt	132.00–133.50	852	25
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	366	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	622	14
Steers	Medium 2Unweaned	—	557	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	746	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	570	156.36/cwt	153.00–157.50	891	51
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	398	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	697	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	634	144.43/cwt	144.00–145.00	916	41
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	468	164.23/cwt	154.00–167.00	769	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	533	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	879	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	655	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	878	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	716	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	916	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	621	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	807	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	561	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	741	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	545	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	828	4
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	417	162.50/cwt	162.50–162.50	678	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	675	140.51/cwt	139.00–145.00	948	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	782	135.06/cwt	132.00–141.00	1,056	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	467	171.97/cwt	167.50–173.00	803	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	723	141.65/cwt	139.00–144.00	1,024	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	653	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	833	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	549	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	758	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	443	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	642	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	572	136.35/cwt	130.00–140.00	780	80
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	688	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	956	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	643	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	829	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,313	45.85/cwt	43.50–48.50	602	34
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,245	47.32/cwt	46.00–50.00	589	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	488	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	688	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	766	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	996	21
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,520	46.00/cwt	46.00–46.00	699	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,272	43.87/cwt	38.00–46.00	558	17
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,220	33.69/cwt	32.00–37.00	411	6
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,456	44.75/cwt	44.00–47.50	652	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	574	139.60/cwt	130.00–143.00	801	91
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	418	154.50/cwt	148.00–160.50	646	37
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	724	130.11/cwt	129.00–131.00	942	11
Heifers	Large 1-2	—	1,045	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	1,285	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	522	140.73/cwt	134.00–144.50	735	205
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	702	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	892	3
Heifers	Medium 1	—	327	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	441	8
Heifers	Medium 1	—	480	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	658	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	829	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,111	6
Heifers	Medium 1	—	413	134.11/cwt	131.00–139.00	554	36
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	480	147.43/cwt	146.50–150.00	708	35
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	604	135.15/cwt	133.00–136.00	816	95
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	570	159.87/cwt	155.50–163.75	911	238
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	388	141.65/cwt	137.50–145.00	550	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	682	131.99/cwt	130.00–134.00	900	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	435	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	626	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	967	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,238	3
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	317	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	412	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	376	180.51/cwt	177.50–181.00	679	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	621	150.79/cwt	144.00–154.75	936	157
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	474	178.41/cwt	173.00–183.00	846	157
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	673	148.47/cwt	142.00–150.00	999	51
Steers	Medium 1	—	437	167.64/cwt	164.00–172.50	733	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	521	167.98/cwt	158.00–170.00	875	245
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	428	167.97/cwt	165.00–170.00	719	10
Steers	Medium 1-2	—	492	137.50/cwt	137.50–137.50	677	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	763	144.50/cwt	144.50–144.50	1,103	6
Steers	Medium 1	—	365	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	621	7
Steers	Large 1	—	1,077	133.50/cwt	133.50–133.50	1,438	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	370	177.50/cwt	177.50–177.50	657	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,305	56.37/cwt	50.00–61.00	736	19
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,374	1,000.00/cwt	1,000.00–1,000.00	13,740	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	474	162.87/cwt	150.00–167.00	772	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	438	177.44/cwt	177.00–180.00	777	13
Bulls	Large 1	—	710	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	923	6
Bulls	—	—	2,205	84.50/cwt	84.50–84.50	1,863	1
Bulls	—	—	1,860	65.30/cwt	59.00–71.00	1,215	6
Bulls	—	—	1,961	78.03/cwt	72.00–82.50	1,530	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	713	144.50/cwt	144.50–144.50	1,030	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	933	141.50/cwt	141.50–141.50	1,320	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,433	60.91/cwt	52.00–63.50	873	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,048	66.71/cwt	64.00–69.50	699	6
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,447	53.48/cwt	52.00–56.00	774	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 →