Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2022-01-14
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2022-01-14

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Friday sale(12-10-21): All yearlings were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Steer calves under 650 lbs sold sharply higher with most sales 15.00-25.00 higher than last sale. Steers over 650 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Heifer calves under 550 lbs sold sharply higher with most sales 15.00-20.00 higher, heifers over 550 lbs sold mostly steady to 10.00 higher. Quality this sale was mostly attractive to very attractive. Many long strings of very attractive, weaned, home-raised offerings were seen this sale. Buyers were able to buy into multiple load lots all off one ranch. Demand for these type offerings was very good. Packages of calves sold on moderate to good, however light demand was seen for small packages or singles. Most calves were weaned 60 days or longer. Demand for grass cattle was mostly very good with a large buyer pool looking for this class of cattle. Transportation issues continue to mentioned by some buyers as winter weather in the Midwest and a tight supply of drivers continues to limit demand on very large sales. Market activity this sale was mostly active, with many buyers actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows and bulls were too lightly tested either this sale or last to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Cow quality was mostly below average this sale and many cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly good as a winter storm has slowed the volume of cattle being delivered to the packer. As a result packer buyers showed moderate to good demand for slaughter cows. Young age cows 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 $192.72/cwt on 2,499 head.

Average price

$192.72

2,499 head · 580 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,118

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$498

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2

$59.02/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−2.01

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	585	194.02	1,135	2,206
Medium and Large 1-2	544	187.10	1,017	238
Large 1	568	177.29	1,007	37
Medium 1	650	155.00	1,008	3thin
Medium 2	472	135.00	637	15thin

One grade step is worth $59.02/cwt here — about $498 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 sale2,499 hd

192.72

—

MT average4 barns · 4,068 hd

194.73

−2.01

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	1,836	80.66	1,481	7thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,420	68.00	966	1thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,342	53.23	714	18
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,123	42.28	475	41

Every lot, as filed

73 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	—	533	175.24/cwt	167.50–180.00	934	553
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	574	167.18/cwt	160.00–172.50	960	411
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,033	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,384	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	673	151.81/cwt	150.00–153.00	1,022	69
Heifers	Large 1	—	567	151.20/cwt	147.00–152.00	857	43
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	726	165.67/cwt	157.00–169.50	1,203	115
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	816	159.05/cwt	154.00–160.50	1,298	119
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	767	151.08/cwt	150.50–151.50	1,159	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	703	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	1,125	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	429	205.21/cwt	203.00–208.00	880	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	531	192.97/cwt	179.00–197.50	1,025	52
Steers	Medium 2	—	472	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	637	15
Steers	Large 1	—	568	177.29/cwt	168.00–184.00	1,007	37
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	754	161.77/cwt	156.50–163.00	1,220	39
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	487	203.47/cwt	201.00–204.50	991	40
Steers	Medium 1	—	650	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	1,008	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	622	183.88/cwt	173.00–191.50	1,144	377
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	468	219.46/cwt	210.00–228.00	1,027	266
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	527	206.79/cwt	199.00–213.00	1,090	424
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	579	179.87/cwt	169.00–189.00	1,041	102
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	575	199.93/cwt	190.00–206.75	1,150	473
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	533	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	831	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	392	222.28/cwt	215.00–225.50	871	49
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	323	207.50/cwt	207.50–207.50	670	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	678	168.32/cwt	164.00–170.50	1,141	230
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	621	163.51/cwt	157.00–168.00	1,015	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	654	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	1,020	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	421	223.31/cwt	211.00–227.00	940	86
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	580	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	934	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	468	201.00/cwt	201.00–201.00	941	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	481	160.42/cwt	153.00–168.00	772	34
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	580	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	870	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	425	202.00/cwt	202.00–202.00	859	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	723	131.50/cwt	131.50–131.50	951	13
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,029	100.00/cwt	100.00–100.00	1,029	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	520	180.97/cwt	175.00–184.00	941	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	526	154.64/cwt	146.00–166.50	813	56
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	524	161.17/cwt	157.00–169.50	845	58
Heifers	Medium 1	—	444	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	773	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	810	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	1,199	6
Heifers	Medium 1	—	711	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	1,024	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	827	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	1,154	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	438	168.97/cwt	164.00–177.00	740	60
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	364	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	546	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	721	149.40/cwt	148.50–151.00	1,077	38
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	372	189.99/cwt	185.00–191.00	707	49
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	413	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	603	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	777	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,033	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	725	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,015	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	568	161.17/cwt	155.00–164.00	915	146
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	431	188.07/cwt	179.00–193.50	811	223
Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	490	177.00/cwt	177.00–177.00	867	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	618	146.53/cwt	143.50–148.00	906	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	—	830	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	1,087	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	619	159.93/cwt	150.00–164.50	990	206
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	476	183.11/cwt	173.00–185.25	872	230
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	346	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	623	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	765	63.00/cwt	63.00–63.00	482	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	800	88.26/cwt	88.00–90.00	706	15
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	913	74.16/cwt	71.00–77.00	677	15
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,345	71.00/cwt	71.00–71.00	955	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	797	23.95/cwt	21.00–28.50	191	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,201	37.13/cwt	22.00–41.50	446	14
Bulls	—	—	2,041	85.28/cwt	85.00–86.00	1,741	4
Bulls	—	—	1,673	76.26/cwt	75.00–77.50	1,276	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,243	53.00/cwt	53.00–53.00	659	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,142	46.95/cwt	43.00–49.50	536	17
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,346	56.67/cwt	54.00–59.00	763	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,420	68.00/cwt	68.00–68.00	966	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	833	41.00/cwt	41.00–41.00	342	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,320	61.00/cwt	61.00–61.00	805	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,341	50.65/cwt	45.00–52.50	679	11
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,213	57.36/cwt	54.50–60.00	696	2

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 →