Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2022-01-14

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Jan 14
● Final73 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1776
Feeder Cattle receipts
5,852 head
▲ 4,824 vs last sale 1,028▲ 1,726 vs year ago 4,126 · +41.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
142 head
▼ 108 vs last sale 250▲ 97 vs year ago 45 · +215.6%
Replacement Cattle receipts
72 head
▲ 72 vs last sale 0▲ 65 vs year ago 7 · +928.6%
View

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 classPick one — the panels below update

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 / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1585194.021,1352,206
Medium and Large 1-2544187.101,017238
Large 1568177.291,00737
Medium 1650155.001,0083thin
Medium 2472135.0063715thin
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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Bulls—Low1,83680.661,4817thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,42068.009661thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,34253.2371418
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,12342.2847541

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. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Feeder Cattle · Steers24 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2323207.50/cwt207.50–207.506705
Steers—Medium and Large 1392222.28/cwt215.00–225.5087149
Steers—Medium and Large 1421223.31/cwt211.00–227.0094086
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2429205.21/cwt203.00–208.0088016
Steers—Medium and Large 1468219.46/cwt210.00–228.001,027266
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned468201.00/cwt201.00–201.0094112
Steers—Medium 2472135.00/cwt135.00–135.0063715
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2487203.47/cwt201.00–204.5099140
Steers—Medium and Large 1527206.79/cwt199.00–213.001,090424
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2531192.97/cwt179.00–197.501,02552
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned533156.00/cwt156.00–156.008313
Steers—Large 1568177.29/cwt168.00–184.001,00737
Steers—Medium and Large 1575199.93/cwt190.00–206.751,150473
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2579179.87/cwt169.00–189.001,041102
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned580161.00/cwt161.00–161.0093413
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2621163.51/cwt157.00–168.001,01512
Steers—Medium and Large 1622183.88/cwt173.00–191.501,144377
Steers—Medium 1650155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,0083
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2654156.00/cwt156.00–156.001,0208
Steers—Medium and Large 1678168.32/cwt164.00–170.501,141230
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2703160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,1253
Steers—Medium and Large 1726165.67/cwt157.00–169.501,203115
Steers—Medium and Large 1754161.77/cwt156.50–163.001,22039
Steers—Medium and Large 1816159.05/cwt154.00–160.501,298119
Feeder Cattle · Heifers27 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2346180.00/cwt180.00–180.006239
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2364150.00/cwt150.00–150.0054614
Heifers—Medium and Large 1372189.99/cwt185.00–191.0070749
Heifers—Medium 1-2413146.00/cwt146.00–146.006037
Heifers—Medium and Large 1431188.07/cwt179.00–193.50811223
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2438168.97/cwt164.00–177.0074060
Heifers—Medium 1444174.00/cwt174.00–174.007739
Heifers—Medium and Large 1476183.11/cwt173.00–185.25872230
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2481160.42/cwt153.00–168.0077234
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned524161.17/cwt157.00–169.5084558
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2526154.64/cwt146.00–166.5081356
Heifers—Medium and Large 1533175.24/cwt167.50–180.00934553
Heifers—Large 1567151.20/cwt147.00–152.0085743
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2568161.17/cwt155.00–164.00915146
Heifers—Medium and Large 1574167.18/cwt160.00–172.50960411
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2618146.53/cwt143.50–148.0090618
Heifers—Medium and Large 1619159.93/cwt150.00–164.50990206
Heifers—Medium and Large 1673151.81/cwt150.00–153.001,02269
Heifers—Medium 1711144.00/cwt144.00–144.001,0244
Heifers—Medium and Large 1721149.40/cwt148.50–151.001,07738
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2725140.00/cwt140.00–140.001,0157
Heifers—Medium and Large 1767151.08/cwt150.50–151.501,1597
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2777133.00/cwt133.00–133.001,0335
Heifers—Medium and Large 1810148.00/cwt148.00–148.001,1996
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2827139.50/cwt139.50–139.501,15414
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy830131.00/cwt131.00–131.001,0874
Heifers—Large 11,033134.00/cwt134.00–134.001,3849
Feeder Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1425202.00/cwt202.00–202.008591
Bulls—Medium and Large 1520180.97/cwt175.00–184.009419
Bulls—Medium and Large 1580150.00/cwt150.00–150.008703
Bulls—Medium and Large 1723131.50/cwt131.50–131.5095113
Bulls—Large 11,029100.00/cwt100.00–100.001,0297
Feeder Cattle · Cows1 lot · lightest first
Cows—Medium and Large 1490177.00/cwt177.00–177.0086718
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,34571.00/cwt71.00–71.009551
Bulls——1,67376.26/cwt75.00–77.501,2762
Bulls——2,04185.28/cwt85.00–86.001,7414
Slaughter Cattle · Cows10 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight79723.95/cwt21.00–28.501913
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight83341.00/cwt41.00–41.003423
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,14246.95/cwt43.00–49.5053617
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,20137.13/cwt22.00–41.5044614
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,21357.36/cwt54.50–60.006962
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,24353.00/cwt53.00–53.006592
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,32061.00/cwt61.00–61.008051
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,34150.65/cwt45.00–52.5067911
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,34656.67/cwt54.00–59.007636
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,42068.00/cwt68.00–68.009661
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-276563.00/cwt63.00–63.004822
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 180088.26/cwt88.00–90.0070615
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 191374.16/cwt71.00–77.0067715

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.