Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2021-10-01
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-10-01

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

This is the first Friday sale of the fall run so no comparisons are available. Demand was mostly moderate with moderate to good demand seen at times, especially on very attractive cattle. Quality this week was average to very attractive. Calves were mostly offered in moderate size packages this sale, however a couple load lots were seen as well. Mostly good demand was seen for feeders under 400 lbs suitable to develop into yearlings. Most cattle on offer were in light flesh as most were straight off the cow and coming out of very dry conditions. Market activity was moderate to active this sale, however a limited number of order buyers were in the seats this sale. Weigh up cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand was moderate to good today as buyers pushed to fill loads from yesterdays sale.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $173.40/cwt on 1,641 head.

Average price

$173.40

1,641 head · 514 lb average

Value per head Derived

$891

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$211

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

$29.44/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−4.66

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	527	174.44	920	1,376
Medium and Large 1-2	440	169.62	746	213
Medium 1	444	164.43	729	38
Large 1	540	155.00	837	10thin
Medium and Large 2	489	145.00	709	4thin

One grade step is worth $29.44/cwt here — about $211 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 sale1,641 hd

173.40

—

MT average4 barns · 3,711 hd

178.05

−4.66

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	1,852	87.27	1,616	6thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,585	82.50	1,308	3thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,402	68.68	963	24
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,207	50.75	613	18

Every lot, as filed

81 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
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	754	152.68/cwt	150.50–154.00	1,151	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	844	149.50/cwt	149.50–149.50	1,262	42
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	528	150.54/cwt	148.00–156.50	795	147
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	925	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	1,258	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	517	183.00/cwt	183.00–183.00	946	177
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	877	142.06/cwt	141.50–142.25	1,246	35
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	454	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	686	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	975	136.75/cwt	136.50–137.00	1,333	2
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	468	162.50/cwt	162.50–162.50	761	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	397	156.77/cwt	151.50–161.00	622	45
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	485	164.53/cwt	161.00–166.00	798	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	748	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	1,107	5
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	489	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	709	4
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	540	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	837	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	468	177.21/cwt	170.00–182.00	829	197
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	453	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	793	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	328	211.69/cwt	210.00–215.00	694	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	665	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	964	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	419	169.87/cwt	164.00–176.00	712	39
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	581	159.82/cwt	154.50–168.00	929	164
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	667	148.89/cwt	147.00–152.00	993	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	515	153.61/cwt	152.00–158.50	791	73
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	389	183.43/cwt	180.00–190.00	714	33
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	274	199.00/cwt	199.00–199.00	545	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	346	184.60/cwt	184.00–190.00	639	37
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	275	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	605	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	375	206.84/cwt	194.00–211.00	776	89
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	335	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	580	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	521	168.57/cwt	161.00–174.00	878	265
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	426	193.14/cwt	179.00–199.00	823	199
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	619	154.32/cwt	151.00–156.50	955	81
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	669	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	963	41
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	694	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	972	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	452	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	768	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	572	150.25/cwt	150.25–150.25	859	53
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	322	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	628	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	523	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	800	11
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,575	51.50/cwt	51.50–51.50	811	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,332	75.24/cwt	75.00–77.00	1,002	9
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,406	66.08/cwt	60.00–70.00	929	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,225	53.50/cwt	53.50–53.50	655	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,158	56.94/cwt	55.00–59.00	659	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,490	71.00/cwt	71.00–71.00	1,058	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,252	44.00/cwt	44.00–44.00	551	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,267	52.11/cwt	47.00–53.50	660	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	890	42.50/cwt	42.50–42.50	378	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,480	56.00/cwt	56.00–56.00	829	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,267	57.50/cwt	57.50–57.50	729	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,585	82.50/cwt	82.50–82.50	1,308	3
Bulls	—	—	1,870	94.00/cwt	94.00–94.00	1,758	2
Bulls	—	—	1,843	83.91/cwt	81.00–87.00	1,546	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,078	71.00/cwt	71.00–71.00	765	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,069	69.03/cwt	60.00–76.00	738	22
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,147	54.64/cwt	54.00–55.00	627	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,039	73.00/cwt	73.00–73.00	758	9
Heifers	Medium 1Fleshy	—	774	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	937	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	547	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	793	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	614	138.49/cwt	136.00–140.50	850	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	713	130.50/cwt	130.50–130.50	930	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	815	141.05/cwt	139.00–142.00	1,150	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	510	155.50/cwt	155.50–155.50	793	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	930	133.47/cwt	132.00–135.00	1,241	47
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	469	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	713	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	417	155.25/cwt	151.00–163.00	647	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	545	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	785	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	462	147.11/cwt	145.00–149.00	680	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	978	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	1,223	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	575	146.51/cwt	139.00–152.00	842	99
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	323	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	565	13
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	407	148.24/cwt	145.00–151.00	603	24
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	487	159.61/cwt	152.00–162.00	777	418
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	422	167.79/cwt	165.00–175.00	708	155
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	320	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	512	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	540	169.90/cwt	169.00–172.00	917	49
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	340	182.70/cwt	180.00–186.00	621	38
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	294	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	500	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	762	136.50/cwt	136.50–136.50	1,040	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	377	179.53/cwt	171.00–183.50	677	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	269	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	444	5
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	470	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	700	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	670	138.75/cwt	130.00–139.50	930	26

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 →