Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2020-02-21
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-02-21

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Friday sale (1-24-2020): Steers weighing less than 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed; Feeder steers weighing 450-699 lbs sold generally steady, steers weighing over 700 lbs were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Feeder heifers weighing less than 550 lbs sold mostly 6.00-12.00 higher, heifers weighing over 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Quality this week was average to very attractive. Many sets of home raised, lightly fleshed, long weaned cattle were on offer this week. These cattle were met with good to very good demand. Demand for backgrounded, feedlot ready cattle was mostly light to moderate. Most of these offerings were in moderate plus to fleshy condition. CME positions are significantly lower this sale compared to last month, however demand for cattle to develop into yearlings remains good to very good. Market activity this week was mostly active with many bidders and buyers in the stands as well as on the internet bidding on cattle. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offering. Packers showed strong demand for cows to send to immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to firm compared to Wednesdays sale. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Cows purchased to feed this sale were scarce as packer buyers purchased the large majority of the cow offering for immediate harvest. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady undertones were noticed.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $149.04/cwt on 2,337 head.

Average price

$149.04

2,337 head · 628 lb average

Value per head Derived

$936

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$129

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$42.39/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−0.34

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	633	149.39	946	2,112
Medium and Large 1-2	556	148.97	828	187
Medium and Large 2	505	141.10	713	25
Large 1	1,005	107.00	1,075	13thin

One grade step is worth $42.39/cwt here — about −$129 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 sale2,337 hd

149.04

—

MT average3 barns · 3,215 hd

149.37

−0.34

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	1,580	76.25	1,204	8thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,707	60.67	1,036	4thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,440	59.79	861	6thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,184	52.22	618	31

Every lot, as filed

74 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 1-2	—	536	157.18/cwt	156.00–158.00	842	64
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	570	144.77/cwt	139.50–154.50	825	98
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	490	146.50/cwt	146.50–146.50	718	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	515	137.50/cwt	137.50–137.50	708	15
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	663	147.11/cwt	138.50–149.50	975	90
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	887	60.00/cwt	60.00–60.00	532	3
Bulls	Large 1-2	—	1,085	100.00/cwt	100.00–100.00	1,085	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	760	133.50/cwt	133.50–133.50	1,015	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	482	171.65/cwt	170.00–177.00	827	12
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	845	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	1,048	16
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	551	161.53/cwt	159.00–162.00	890	32
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	804	127.40/cwt	127.25–128.00	1,024	50
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	726	131.95/cwt	130.00–134.00	958	99
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	953	132.50/cwt	132.50–132.50	1,263	62
Heifers	Large 1Fleshy	—	1,005	107.00/cwt	107.00–107.00	1,075	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	604	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	936	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	478	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	693	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	579	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	811	55
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	727	128.81/cwt	128.25–129.00	936	76
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	875	125.25/cwt	125.25–125.25	1,096	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	425	178.78/cwt	174.00–183.00	760	34
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	535	167.50/cwt	167.50–167.50	896	5
Steers	Large 1	—	1,320	76.00/cwt	76.00–76.00	1,003	15
Steers	Medium 1	—	514	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	838	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	778	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	1,004	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	659	168.00/cwt	168.00–168.00	1,107	9
Bulls	—	—	1,622	78.40/cwt	77.00–79.50	1,272	4
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,285	76.50/cwt	76.50–76.50	983	2
Bulls	—	—	1,790	71.68/cwt	68.50–75.00	1,283	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,490	59.00/cwt	59.00–59.00	879	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,430	59.95/cwt	57.00–62.50	857	5
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,520	54.50/cwt	54.50–54.50	828	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,769	62.73/cwt	62.00–64.50	1,110	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,230	58.03/cwt	57.00–59.00	714	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,129	41.70/cwt	41.00–44.00	471	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,276	64.50/cwt	64.50–64.50	823	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,170	50.99/cwt	47.00–54.50	597	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	607	134.80/cwt	134.00–135.00	818	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	464	158.89/cwt	155.00–163.00	737	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	579	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	955	234
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	470	171.33/cwt	167.00–174.00	805	38
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,048	74.41/cwt	71.00–81.00	780	24
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	925	114.69/cwt	107.00–126.00	1,061	21
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	1,014	107.75/cwt	107.75–107.75	1,093	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	539	174.85/cwt	172.00–177.00	942	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	388	194.43/cwt	192.50–195.00	754	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	624	152.42/cwt	151.00–154.00	951	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	578	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	890	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	470	179.00/cwt	179.00–179.00	841	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	634	176.50/cwt	176.50–176.50	1,119	368
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	940	91.00/cwt	91.00–91.00	855	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	816	132.95/cwt	130.50–134.00	1,085	38
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	435	197.29/cwt	190.00–206.00	858	27
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	858	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	1,124	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	587	167.25/cwt	164.00–169.50	982	50
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	892	127.65/cwt	124.75–128.50	1,139	38
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	923	129.50/cwt	129.50–129.50	1,195	27
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	834	128.34/cwt	128.00–128.50	1,070	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	627	155.64/cwt	155.00–156.50	976	80
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	717	148.16/cwt	143.75–151.50	1,062	285
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	679	151.96/cwt	149.00–154.00	1,032	210
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	574	177.29/cwt	172.00–180.50	1,018	209
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	628	164.55/cwt	158.00–174.50	1,033	135
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	773	135.53/cwt	134.50–138.00	1,048	81
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	542	184.57/cwt	180.00–185.00	1,000	74
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	476	192.72/cwt	185.00–196.00	917	72
Steers	Large 1	—	1,006	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	1,247	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	618	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	1,007	80
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	755	134.50/cwt	134.50–134.50	1,015	74
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	673	139.87/cwt	135.00–149.50	941	338
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	524	163.02/cwt	159.00–166.75	854	310
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	585	158.22/cwt	153.00–162.00	926	231
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	769	130.77/cwt	128.25–132.00	1,006	183
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	630	148.69/cwt	144.00–153.50	937	178

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 →