Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2019-05-01

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, May 1
● Final40 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
366 head
▼ 140 vs last sale 506▲ 366 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
242 head
▼ 2 vs last sale 244▲ 242 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
310 head
▼ 180 vs last sale 490▲ 310 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers were too lightly tested this week to develop any market trend. The best test for feeder heifers was for 550-599 lbs which sold mostly 10.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Feeder cattle sold on mostly light demand and offerings. CME contracts continued last weeks sell off again today and with lower prices seen eight days in a row buyers all backed off prices and purchased feeders lower. Market activity this week was mostly slow. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Packer buyers showed the best demand for cows this week as late spring storms have packers searching for cows. Packers bid aggressively against each other as they pushed to purchase cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Fewer cows returned to the country to feed this sale as fewer buyers were present this week. Feeding cows sold steady to weak as a result. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 4.00 higher as packers showed very good demand for high quality bulls. 2-3 year olds sold generally steady. Quality this week was not as attractive as the last few weeks, however demand remains mostly good.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $144.18/cwt on 162 head.
Average price
$144.18
162 head · 599 lb average
Value per head Derived
$863
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$15
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2
$12.62/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−2.13
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2521148.1877213thin
Medium and Large 1612144.97887131
Medium and Large 2558135.5675718thin
One grade step is worth $12.62/cwt here — about $15 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 sale162 hd
144.18
—
MT average3 barns · 605 hd
146.31
−2.13
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—High1,84685.601,58127
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,71070.501,20615
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,71866.171,13713
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,42365.9493849
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,20761.47742118

Every lot

40 lots · USDA AMS · Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Wed)
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 · Steers5 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1526177.00/cwt177.00–177.009319
Steers—Medium and Large 1682147.92/cwt147.50–150.001,00912
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2773135.45/cwt132.00–139.001,0478
Steers—Medium and Large 1821130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,0674
Steers—Medium and Large 1894125.50/cwt125.50–125.501,12215
Feeder Cattle · Heifers8 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 2507139.20/cwt139.00–140.0070610
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2521148.18/cwt146.00–150.0077213
Heifers—Medium and Large 1595147.82/cwt147.50–148.00880110
Heifers—Medium and Large 2622131.00/cwt131.00–131.008158
Heifers—Medium and Large 1669137.00/cwt137.00–137.009177
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy678130.50/cwt130.50–130.508855
Heifers—Medium and Large 1723125.00/cwt125.00–125.009046
Heifers—Medium and Large 1765123.00/cwt123.00–123.009413
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1107357.14/cwt350.00–375.003827
Bulls—Medium and Large 11,010106.00/cwt106.00–106.001,0711
Bulls—Medium and Large 11,12299.00/cwt99.00–99.001,1113
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,69677.00/cwt72.00–82.501,3068
Bulls——1,78986.23/cwt83.00–91.001,54314
Bulls——2,24897.58/cwt94.00–105.002,1945
Slaughter Cattle · Cows11 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight92457.60/cwt53.00–60.505325
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,15850.00/cwt50.00–50.005792
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,19759.41/cwt52.00–62.5071162
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,24168.13/cwt66.50–70.0084510
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,25364.13/cwt62.50–66.0080439
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,41671.63/cwt69.00–73.001,0145
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,42466.08/cwt64.00–68.0094137
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,42461.11/cwt59.50–62.508707
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,65766.75/cwt66.75–66.751,1067
Cows—Premium White 65-75%1,71070.50/cwt70.50–70.501,20615
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,79065.50/cwt65.50–65.501,1726
Replacement Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 11,0491,345.49/cwt1,325.00–1,375.0014,1145
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,011100.49/cwt80.00–128.001,01659
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,14282.56/cwt69.00–102.0094326
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,32166.89/cwt62.00–74.0088430
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,32462.55/cwt62.00–64.0082814
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,35058.27/cwt57.00–59.007873
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,57766.30/cwt63.00–69.001,04633
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3351,400.00/cwt1,400.00–1,400.0018,6904
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,49567.00/cwt67.00–67.001,0023
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5581,250.00/cwt1,250.00–1,250.0019,4753

This sale against other markets

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.