Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2024-02-23
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-02-23

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: The last Friday feeder special was over one month ago and market conditions have improved drastically since that sale. All feeder steers and heifers sold with higher to sharply higher undertones. Demand for all feeder cattle was good to very good today. Offerings were heavy as over 5,700 feeders were on offer. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings. As long as the cattle were in light flesh, steers up to 725 lbs and heifer up to 675 lbs were purchased for this purpose. Order buyers buying for packers showed very good demand for long strings of high quality, uniform cattle. Most calves were weaned over 60 days. Quality this sale was mostly average to very attractive. A small portion of the heifer offering was purchased for replacements, however most heifers were purchased to feed as demand from yearling buyers and corporate packers was very good. Package sizes were mixed today. Several load lots were seen this sale, with two consigners offering multiple loads all off one ranch. The cattle on feed report was released at 1:00 local time today and it showed cattle on feed up slightly, placements down 7% and marketings down slightly in the month of January. Market activity was mostly active today. A large buyer pool was noted as the stands were packed throughout the day. A good mix of order-buyers and ranchers were active in buying cattle this sale. Weigh up cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed, compared to Wednesdays sale. Demand was mostly good for very light offerings. Young age cows sold on good demand today. An attractive offering of coming 3 year old's were seen today and these offerings sold on very good demand. Several rebreed buyers were active in bidding on these offerings. Young age cows sold with steady to higher undertones in a narrow comparison.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $275.09/cwt on 2,451 head.

Average price

$275.09

2,451 head · 618 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,701

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$321

per head · Medium and Large 2 over Large 2

$137.41/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−1.88

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 2	432	289.11	1,248	19thin
Medium and Large 1-2	556	281.56	1,566	291
Medium and Large 1	619	278.86	1,725	1,853
Medium 1	559	276.96	1,549	142
Medium 1-2	469	274.46	1,286	24
Large 1	718	246.71	1,771	53
Large 1-2	1,005	168.00	1,688	39
Large 2	1,034	151.70	1,569	30

One grade step is worth $137.41/cwt here — about −$321 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 sale2,451 hd

275.09

—

MT average3 barns · 2,723 hd

276.97

−1.88

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	1,631	112.41	1,833	11
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,679	109.89	1,845	7thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,391	108.64	1,511	18
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,109	102.81	1,140	13

Every lot, as filed

111 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 1-2	—	681	269.86/cwt	252.50–277.00	1,838	80
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	426	346.32/cwt	342.00–360.00	1,475	38
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	535	319.76/cwt	312.00–332.50	1,711	50
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	501	306.00/cwt	306.00–306.00	1,533	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	338	362.50/cwt	362.50–362.50	1,225	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	252	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	1,008	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	663	285.96/cwt	280.00–296.00	1,896	102
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	430	366.49/cwt	360.00–375.00	1,576	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	869	247.50/cwt	247.50–247.50	2,151	25
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	487	357.72/cwt	350.00–371.00	1,742	53
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	774	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,896	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	473	337.47/cwt	325.00–348.00	1,596	25
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	740	252.40/cwt	245.00–255.00	1,868	30
Steers	Medium 1	—	854	221.00/cwt	221.00–221.00	1,887	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	723	246.82/cwt	246.00–250.50	1,785	33
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	970	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	2,086	5
Steers	Large 1	—	750	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,800	4
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	492	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	1,525	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	677	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	1,862	29
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	637	276.00/cwt	276.00–276.00	1,758	61
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	662	266.50/cwt	266.50–266.50	1,764	233
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	721	252.00/cwt	252.00–252.00	1,817	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	809	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,942	26
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	768	231.00/cwt	231.00–231.00	1,774	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	922	223.72/cwt	223.00–224.00	2,063	32
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	574	293.90/cwt	280.50–305.00	1,687	376
Heifers	Medium 1	—	664	247.00/cwt	247.00–247.00	1,640	31
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	518	345.04/cwt	329.00–354.00	1,787	157
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	362	383.05/cwt	375.00–387.50	1,387	15
Steers	Large 1-2	—	545	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,417	21
Steers	Large 1-2	—	588	253.00/cwt	253.00–253.00	1,488	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	372	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,376	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	626	315.82/cwt	295.00–328.50	1,977	285
Steers	Large 1	—	910	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	2,002	25
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	764	253.12/cwt	246.00–261.00	1,934	114
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	819	237.00/cwt	237.00–237.00	1,941	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	565	310.79/cwt	300.00–317.00	1,756	72
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	633	284.40/cwt	276.00–297.50	1,800	50
Steers	Large 1	—	556	298.00/cwt	298.00–298.00	1,657	5
Steers	Large 1	—	604	293.34/cwt	285.00–298.00	1,772	58
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	569	325.88/cwt	318.00–335.00	1,854	167
Steers	Medium 1	—	685	267.00/cwt	267.00–267.00	1,829	22
Steers	Medium 1	—	528	316.00/cwt	316.00–316.00	1,668	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	720	277.30/cwt	266.00–286.50	1,997	276
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	807	255.50/cwt	255.50–255.50	2,062	353
Steers	Large 1	—	680	261.00/cwt	252.00–272.00	1,775	13
Steers	Large 1	—	532	298.20/cwt	296.00–302.00	1,586	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	651	303.00/cwt	303.00–303.00	1,973	35
Steers	Medium 1	—	582	302.01/cwt	286.00–308.00	1,758	45
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	428	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,412	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	515	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,571	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	559	309.00/cwt	309.00–309.00	1,727	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	670	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,742	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	448	332.50/cwt	332.50–332.50	1,490	20
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	457	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,462	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,081	100.51/cwt	99.00–102.00	1,087	5
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,720	116.00/cwt	116.00–116.00	1,995	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,520	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	1,748	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,110	82.00/cwt	82.00–82.00	910	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,845	104.00/cwt	104.00–104.00	1,919	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,638	109.85/cwt	109.00–113.00	1,799	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,187	110.60/cwt	108.00–112.00	1,313	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,417	102.18/cwt	100.00–105.00	1,448	6
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,396	111.10/cwt	106.00–113.00	1,551	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	870	87.00/cwt	87.00–87.00	757	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,328	112.17/cwt	111.00–113.00	1,490	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,100	112.00/cwt	112.00–112.00	1,232	1
Bulls	—	—	1,646	112.11/cwt	107.00–115.00	1,845	6
Bulls	—	—	1,697	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	2,019	3
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,485	103.45/cwt	100.00–108.00	1,536	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	970	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	1,504	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	915	170.38/cwt	111.00–175.10	1,559	61
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	848	173.33/cwt	165.00–176.00	1,470	19
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	994	178.37/cwt	170.00–182.00	1,773	47
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	301	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	858	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	589	259.00/cwt	259.00–259.00	1,526	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	848	231.50/cwt	231.50–231.50	1,963	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	763	245.74/cwt	245.00–247.00	1,875	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	556	311.00/cwt	311.00–311.00	1,729	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	704	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,830	12
Heifers	Large 1	—	845	228.00/cwt	228.00–228.00	1,927	25
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	—	932	203.26/cwt	200.00–205.00	1,894	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	744	232.00/cwt	232.00–232.00	1,726	7
Heifers	Medium 1	—	577	269.39/cwt	256.00–277.25	1,554	47
Heifers	Large 1	—	583	271.00/cwt	271.00–271.00	1,580	3
Heifers	Large 1	—	607	262.50/cwt	262.50–262.50	1,593	25
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	463	316.17/cwt	310.00–325.00	1,464	119
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	526	307.57/cwt	300.00–314.00	1,618	184
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	678	258.93/cwt	250.00–266.00	1,756	267
Heifers	Medium 1	—	485	296.52/cwt	287.50–305.00	1,438	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	832	227.51/cwt	225.00–229.00	1,893	24
Heifers	Medium 1	—	429	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,373	6
Heifers	Medium 1	—	522	292.68/cwt	286.00–296.00	1,528	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	587	278.28/cwt	270.00–281.00	1,634	25
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	762	226.15/cwt	223.00–227.00	1,723	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	623	277.25/cwt	265.50–284.50	1,727	320
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	614	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,474	6
Heifers	Large 1-2	—	1,005	168.00/cwt	168.00–168.00	1,688	39
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	766	234.08/cwt	231.00–236.00	1,793	89
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	728	245.68/cwt	239.50–248.00	1,789	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	372	326.45/cwt	310.00–335.00	1,214	71
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	675	247.11/cwt	245.00–248.00	1,668	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	473	303.66/cwt	303.50–305.00	1,436	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	532	289.48/cwt	280.00–298.00	1,540	66
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	712	234.20/cwt	233.00–235.00	1,668	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	492	291.00/cwt	291.00–291.00	1,432	13
Heifers	Large 2	—	1,001	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	1,552	21
Heifers	Large 2	—	1,112	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	1,601	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	438	325.01/cwt	324.00–328.00	1,424	42
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	624	259.86/cwt	255.00–265.00	1,622	63
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	420	285.94/cwt	282.50–295.00	1,201	18

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 →