Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-01-11

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jan 11
● Final79 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
180 head
▼ 153 vs last sale 333▼ 10 vs year ago 190 · −5.3%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
534 head
▲ 17 vs last sale 517▼ 154 vs year ago 688 · −22.4%
Replacement Cattle receipts
1,820 head
▲ 1,653 vs last sale 167▲ 1,143 vs year ago 677 · +168.8%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested this sale to develop any market trend as todays sale featured mostly bred cows and heifers. Feeder cattle quality was mostly plain. Most calves were offered in small packages or as singles. Demand was mostly light to moderate for light offerings. Market activity was slow. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand and offerings. Eastern packers showed lighter demand for slaughter cows this week, however demand from western packers remains moderate too good. Slaughter cows sold steady to weak on all offerings. Demand improved late in the sale as additional buyers entered the market. Feeding cows sold generally steady to firm on a light offering. Demand for feeding cows was mostly good this week, however quality was mostly plain to average, with a limited offering of attractive quality cows seen. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 lower. Young age cows sold generally steady on a light offering. Yearlings were included in the stock cow section of the report below. Todays sale featured mostly bred cow offerings. Demand was mostly light to moderate for moderate to heavy offerings. Quality today was mixed from plain to attractive, but mostly average. The best demand was for cattle off complete dispersions. A good crowd was on hand for todays sale which streached late into the evening.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $168.34/cwt on 47 head.
Average price
$168.34
47 head · 579 lb average
Value per head Derived
$974
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$324
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$11.38/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−19.40
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1624172.381,07616thin
Medium and Large 1-2572167.5795823
Large 1633167.001,0572thin
Medium and Large 2467161.007526thin
One grade step is worth $11.38/cwt here — about $324 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 sale47 hd
168.34
—
MT average3 barns · 1,927 hd
187.75
−19.40
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—Low1,75888.711,55932
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,61671.261,15118
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,39066.7492898
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,17459.28696228

Replacement cattle Per head

By class, stage and age
Bred stock and pairs are reported per head, not per hundredweight — these prices are never mixed with the $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,086$1,784154
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,300$1,567148
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,139$1,47515
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,367$1,44520
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,295$1,38410
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,336$1,330297
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,105$1,27533
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,331$1,2506
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,165$1,1503thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,287$1,09717
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,155$1,05816
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,304$1,056258
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,300$1,04251
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,385$97012
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,244$78011
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,060$1,72577
Bred Heifers2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)(<2 yrs)966$1,626180
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)(<2 yrs)916$1,21337

Every lot

79 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 · Steers3 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 2493200.00/cwt200.00–200.009864
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2523212.00/cwt212.00–212.001,1092
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2649183.00/cwt183.00–183.001,1885
Feeder Cattle · Heifers8 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 2467161.00/cwt161.00–161.007526
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2497176.00/cwt176.00–176.008755
Heifers—Medium and Large 1555181.00/cwt181.00–181.001,0053
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2573168.43/cwt167.00–169.0096514
Heifers—Medium and Large 1603175.00/cwt175.00–175.001,0559
Heifers—Large 1633167.00/cwt167.00–167.001,0572
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2660154.00/cwt154.00–154.001,0164
Heifers—Medium and Large 1724160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,1584
Feeder Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2583173.00/cwt173.00–173.001,0092
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2675152.00/cwt152.00–152.001,0262
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,26591.00/cwt91.00–91.001,1511
Bulls——1,68883.60/cwt74.00–91.001,41120
Bulls——1,90095.98/cwt92.00–102.001,8248
Bulls——2,008102.59/cwt101.00–105.002,0603
Slaughter Cattle · Cows17 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight85042.00/cwt42.00–42.003576
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight91553.61/cwt52.00–55.004912
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight99559.00/cwt59.00–59.005871
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,10260.00/cwt58.00–61.0066111
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,11145.02/cwt42.00–51.005006
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,15456.21/cwt52.00–60.0064976
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,16163.51/cwt60.50–66.0073739
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,24162.16/cwt60.00–64.0077186
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,28074.00/cwt74.00–74.009471
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,30268.31/cwt66.00–74.0088911
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,37469.03/cwt66.00–77.0094847
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40564.66/cwt62.00–65.5090822
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,46662.33/cwt60.00–65.0091418
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,54064.00/cwt64.00–64.009861
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,59269.74/cwt65.00–72.501,11011
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,60875.50/cwt74.00–76.501,2144
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,80074.77/cwt74.50–75.001,3462
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows31 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium 19551,306.93/head1,275.00–1,325.001,30711
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Fancy1,0012,050.00/head2,050.00–2,050.002,05083
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0961,298.85/head1,175.00–1,400.001,29929
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1391,475.00/head1,475.00–1,475.001,47515
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1551,057.69/head1,000.00–1,085.001,05816
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1651,150.00/head1,150.00–1,150.001,1503
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1741,100.00/head1,100.00–1,100.001,1004
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,185921.76/head900.00–935.009229
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,206881.94/head825.00–910.0088239
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2091,519.54/head1,400.00–1,585.001,52047
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Fancy1,2152,012.66/head1,975.00–2,075.002,01340
Bred Cows—Medium 11,2291,185.00/head1,185.00–1,185.001,1854
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,234785.00/head785.00–785.007855
Bred Cows—Medium 11,2401,050.00/head1,050.00–1,050.001,0505
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2531,250.00/head1,250.00–1,250.001,2509
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,253775.00/head775.00–775.007756
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,270910.00/head910.00–910.009105
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,283800.00/head800.00–800.008007
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2901,450.00/head1,450.00–1,450.001,45013
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2951,383.75/head1,375.00–1,400.001,38410
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2981,253.47/head1,175.00–1,350.001,25316
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3231,096.00/head950.00–1,275.001,096212
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,325850.00/head850.00–850.008503
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,326925.00/head925.00–925.009258
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3311,250.00/head1,250.00–1,250.001,2506
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3321,088.85/head1,025.00–1,200.001,08937
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3361,447.37/head1,410.00–1,525.001,44785
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3381,339.98/head1,000.00–1,610.001,340289
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3671,445.32/head1,100.00–1,525.001,44520
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,385970.05/head950.00–1,000.0097012
Bred Cows—Large 11,5031,200.00/head1,200.00–1,200.001,2003
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers7 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium 18491,201.54/head1,125.00–1,410.001,20225
Bred Heifers—Medium 19231,421.19/head1,285.00–1,450.001,42117
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS9521,200.00/head1,200.00–1,200.001,2006
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 19711,664.37/head1,575.00–1,725.001,664157
Bred Heifers—Medium 19741,425.00/head1,425.00–1,425.001,4254
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0571,235.42/head1,200.00–1,310.001,23512
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0651,741.32/head1,500.00–1,850.001,74173
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed85582.00/cwt82.00–82.0070116
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed87555.00/cwt55.00–55.004816
Stock Cows—Large 193582.00/cwt82.00–82.007671
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-294856.00/cwt56.00–56.005312
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1953144.83/cwt112.00–153.001,38056
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,01194.38/cwt60.00–113.00954130
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,06871.00/cwt71.00–71.007586

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.