Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2020-04-22

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Apr 22
● Final63 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,143 head
▼ 845 vs last sale 1,988▲ 637 vs year ago 506 · +125.9%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
245 head
▲ 230 vs last sale 15▲ 1 vs year ago 244 · +0.4%
Replacement Cattle receipts
267 head
▲ 243 vs last sale 24▼ 223 vs year ago 490 · −45.5%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers 600-899 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. All other weights of steers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. The best test for feeder heifers was for 650-699 lbs which sold 3.00-7.00 higher, all other weights were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was average to attractive. Several load lots were seen this week and these were met with mostly good demand. Demand overall was moderate to good for moderate offerings. Flesh conditions were mostly light to moderate. Very few fleshy offerings were seen this sale despite a large run of backgrounded offerings. Market activity this week was mostly active with many bidders actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers continue to be aggressive as they bid on offerings for immediate harvest. Packer buyers purchased most of the cow offering for immediate harvest, with the exception of a few high quality young cows they purchased to feed. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Feeding cow buyers picked around the edges this sale as they tried to buy a few cows away from packers. Feeding cows were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Weigh up conditions started the day mostly above average for buyers, however with warmer weather seen in the afternoon many cows showed excess fill as the day progressed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Offerings were too lightly tested last week to trend, however higher undertones were noticed.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $135.53/cwt on 523 head.
Average price
$135.53
523 head · 707 lb average
Value per head Derived
$959
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$78
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 1
$45.38/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−2.65
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2597141.8884787
Medium and Large 1733135.52994405
Medium and Large 2534131.6770418thin
Large 1-2791101.007996thin
Large 195996.509257thin
One grade step is worth $45.38/cwt here — about −$78 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 sale523 hd
135.53
—
MT average3 barns · 872 hd
138.18
−2.65
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—Low1,76375.081,32420
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,47654.1579968
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,24352.49652119
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,56552.258184thin

Every lot

63 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 · Steers19 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1398170.00/cwt170.00–170.006775
Steers—Medium and Large 2441143.00/cwt143.00–143.006316
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2475156.00/cwt156.00–156.007413
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy501140.00/cwt140.00–140.007014
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2523153.48/cwt150.00–157.0080330
Steers—Medium and Large 2581126.00/cwt126.00–126.0073212
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2618143.59/cwt143.00–144.0088717
Steers—Medium and Large 1620153.50/cwt153.50–153.5095245
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy621139.00/cwt139.00–139.008634
Steers—Medium and Large 1651151.00/cwt151.00–151.0098395
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2658131.72/cwt130.00–133.5086721
Steers—Medium and Large 1731132.27/cwt130.00–136.00967128
Steers—Medium and Large 1750129.50/cwt129.50–129.5097118
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2753118.50/cwt118.50–118.508928
Steers—Large 1-2791101.00/cwt101.00–101.007996
Steers—Medium and Large 1819122.80/cwt120.00–125.001,00627
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fancy837129.75/cwt129.75–129.751,08613
Steers—Medium and Large 1880115.15/cwt112.50–115.751,01374
Steers—Large 195996.50/cwt96.50–96.509257
Feeder Cattle · Heifers20 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2416141.00/cwt141.00–141.005874
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2474141.41/cwt136.00–149.5067019
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2540135.50/cwt135.50–135.507322
Heifers—Medium and Large 1547145.50/cwt145.50–145.5079614
Heifers—Medium and Large 1551146.50/cwt146.50–146.5080716
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full589138.25/cwt138.25–138.2581412
Heifers—Medium and Large 1614134.74/cwt131.00–136.5082713
Heifers—Medium 1-2631107.00/cwt107.00–107.0067512
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2643115.59/cwt113.00–129.007436
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2683121.00/cwt121.00–121.008266
Heifers—Medium and Large 1695123.32/cwt122.50–129.0085777
Heifers—Medium and Large 2698107.00/cwt107.00–107.007477
Heifers—Medium and Large 1700124.00/cwt124.00–124.0086859
Heifers—Medium 1-2709105.00/cwt105.00–105.007445
Heifers—Medium and Large 1760111.00/cwt111.00–111.008442
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2788107.00/cwt107.00–107.008432
Heifers—Large 1795108.00/cwt108.00–108.0085936
Heifers—Medium and Large 1813108.54/cwt106.00–109.7588285
Heifers—Medium and Large 1873105.50/cwt105.50–105.5092111
Heifers—Medium and Large 199799.00/cwt99.00–99.009873
Feeder Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 195300.00/cwt300.00–300.002851
Bulls—Medium and Large 1833106.00/cwt106.00–106.0088316
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,28370.00/cwt70.00–70.008982
Bulls——1,69171.63/cwt63.00–79.001,21111
Bulls——2,01481.96/cwt78.00–85.501,6517
Slaughter Cattle · Cows10 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight98849.50/cwt49.50–49.504894
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,10039.13/cwt35.00–43.004302
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,24650.60/cwt44.50–54.0063062
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,26060.00/cwt60.00–60.007561
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,26555.45/cwt54.00–58.0070150
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,41256.48/cwt54.00–57.5079723
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,48056.00/cwt56.00–56.008291
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,50951.57/cwt45.00–54.5077838
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,51160.49/cwt59.00–61.509147
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,59351.00/cwt51.00–51.008123
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 197487.12/cwt71.00–102.5084944
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,05345.66/cwt44.00–48.004815
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,11571.00/cwt71.00–71.007922
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,14953.66/cwt52.00–55.006177
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,16464.80/cwt56.00–81.0075444
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,24054.31/cwt50.00–58.5067323
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,31650.96/cwt49.00–53.0067113
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2979950.00/cwt950.00–950.009,3014
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2431,060.00/cwt1,060.00–1,060.0013,1763

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.