Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-06-21

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jun 21
● Final96 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
449 head
▲ 355 vs last sale 94▲ 2 vs year ago 447 · +0.4%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
636 head
▲ 287 vs last sale 349▼ 471 vs year ago 1,107 · −42.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
901 head
▲ 763 vs last sale 138▲ 349 vs year ago 552 · +63.2%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Demand for feeders was mostly moderate to good, however demand was not as strong as it was the last sale as CME feeder contracts have lost significant ground in the last week of trading. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to run on grass as order buyers and ranchers continue to compete over offerings. Quality today was mostly plain to average. Market activity remains active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to 1.00 lower on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Demand for feeding cows remains good to very good. Feeding cows sold steady to 3.00 lower on a poorer quality offering. Cow quality today was mostly plain to average. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average today as cool and rainy conditions were seen and many sets of cows were pushing fill. Slaughter bulls sold unevenly steady from 2.00 lower to 3.00 higher. Very attractive, high dressing bulls sold with very good demand this week as most high dressing bulls sold higher. However the bulk of the bulls seen were average and low yielding bulls and the bulk of these bulls sold lower. Bull quality was mixed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady to weak. A large portion of this class of cows are returning to the country to feed as many have already turned out cows and bulls for the season. Quality was average this week.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $206.35/cwt on 222 head.
Average price
$206.35
222 head · 685 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,413
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$322
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 1
$29.35/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−6.09
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2562223.351,25689
Medium and Large 2392205.008047thin
Medium 2457200.009149thin
Medium and Large 1813194.001,578117
One grade step is worth $29.35/cwt here — about −$322 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 sale222 hd
206.35
—
MT average2 barns · 287 hd
212.44
−6.09
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—Low1,786116.932,089112
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,607101.801,63615
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,403100.191,406236
CowsLean 85-90%High1,20691.641,105121

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 Stage (4-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,423$1,4502thin
Bred Heifers1st Stage (1-3 mo)(<2 yrs)892$1,898251
BullsN/A(<2 yrs)1,071$2,27514
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,341$2,80014
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,327$2,74543
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,659$2,57511
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,377$2,32866
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,406$2,30013
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,341$2,2388
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,423$2,0859
Heifer PairsOpen(<2 yrs)1,071$2,57328

Every lot

96 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 2360255.00/cwt255.00–255.009181
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2466273.23/cwt265.00–275.001,2736
Steers—Medium 2490210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,0291
Steers—Medium and Large 2560232.50/cwt232.50–232.501,3022
Steers—Medium and Large 1608285.00/cwt285.00–285.001,7333
Steers—Medium and Large 2616230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,4174
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2635254.56/cwt240.00–262.501,6169
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2653247.50/cwt247.50–247.501,6162
Steers—Medium and Large 2655209.00/cwt209.00–209.001,3691
Steers—Medium and Large 1663276.16/cwt262.50–281.001,83112
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2705232.50/cwt232.50–232.501,6393
Steers—Medium and Large 1727246.79/cwt240.00–250.001,7943
Steers—Medium and Large 1765224.90/cwt220.00–230.001,7202
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2765217.50/cwt217.50–217.501,6641
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2843210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,7702
Steers—Medium and Large 1895203.00/cwt203.00–203.001,81717
Steers—Medium and Large 1913194.50/cwt194.00–195.001,7762
Steers—Large 21,012165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,6703
Steers—Large 11,025186.00/cwt186.00–186.001,9073
Feeder Cattle · Heifers17 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 2384205.00/cwt205.00–205.007874
Heifers—Medium and Large 2403205.00/cwt205.00–205.008263
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2427230.00/cwt230.00–230.009828
Heifers—Medium 2457200.00/cwt200.00–200.009149
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2486231.41/cwt222.50–240.001,1256
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2518232.58/cwt222.50–242.501,20553
Heifers—Medium and Large 1540240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,2962
Heifers—Medium and Large 1550252.50/cwt252.50–252.501,3891
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2567229.06/cwt220.00–237.501,2993
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2655204.23/cwt201.00–215.001,3388
Heifers—Medium and Large 1717206.59/cwt202.00–212.001,48133
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2748190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,4213
Heifers—Medium and Large 1781194.23/cwt192.00–195.001,51719
Heifers—Medium and Large 1820194.00/cwt194.00–194.001,5911
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2884179.00/cwt179.00–179.001,5828
Heifers—Medium and Large 1886184.78/cwt181.00–190.001,63758
Heifers—Medium and Large 1937182.00/cwt182.00–182.001,7053
Feeder Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1438265.00/cwt265.00–265.001,1612
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned469251.00/cwt251.00–251.001,1775
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2810187.50/cwt187.50–187.501,5191
Bulls—Medium and Large 1838207.00/cwt207.00–207.001,7356
Bulls—Medium and Large 1990180.00/cwt180.00–180.001,7821
Bulls—Medium and Large 11,004171.00/cwt171.00–171.001,7179
Bulls—Large 11,030191.00/cwt191.00–191.001,9671
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,260124.00/cwt124.00–124.001,5621
Bulls——Light Weight1,314100.14/cwt89.00–106.001,3167
Bulls——Return to Feed1,456106.62/cwt100.00–109.001,55213
Bulls——1,692107.62/cwt97.00–117.001,82122
Bulls——1,862119.18/cwt114.00–127.002,21941
Bulls——2,026130.26/cwt124.00–140.002,63927
Bulls——2,415114.00/cwt114.00–114.002,7531
Slaughter Cattle · Cows18 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight94682.99/cwt77.00–89.007856
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,18586.78/cwt85.00–90.001,0285
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,18693.94/cwt89.00–98.001,11437
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,208101.02/cwt100.00–102.001,2202
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,23283.45/cwt77.00–91.001,02822
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,24193.66/cwt91.00–97.501,16243
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,266102.64/cwt100.00–108.001,2996
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,37298.44/cwt96.00–103.001,35191
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,37493.86/cwt89.00–94.501,29019
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,40097.16/cwt94.00–100.001,36022
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,427106.10/cwt104.00–111.001,51476
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,444104.17/cwt101.50–109.001,50414
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,445113.00/cwt113.00–113.001,6331
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,48388.90/cwt86.00–93.001,31814
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,529102.50/cwt101.00–103.001,5674
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,620104.00/cwt104.00–104.001,6851
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,65499.32/cwt98.00–100.501,6438
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,695105.50/cwt105.50–105.501,7881
Replacement Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed9751,800.00/head1,800.00–1,800.001,8001
Bulls—Medium and Large 11,0782,311.53/head2,100.00–2,700.002,31213
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs13 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,1952,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4007
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,2692,402.99/head2,350.00–2,500.002,4036
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,3402,200.00/head2,200.00–2,200.002,2004
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,3412,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,80014
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,3412,275.00/head2,275.00–2,275.002,2754
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,3501,900.00/head1,900.00–1,900.001,9001
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,3592,347.94/head2,200.00–2,450.002,34861
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,3692,893.94/head2,750.00–3,150.002,89430
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,4062,300.00/head2,300.00–2,300.002,30013
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4232,085.00/head2,085.00–2,085.002,0859
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,5821,950.00/head1,950.00–1,950.001,9503
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,6592,575.00/head2,575.00–2,575.002,57511
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,8752,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,7001
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,225129.00/cwt129.00–129.001,5801
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,400101.00/cwt101.00–101.001,4141
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,420116.00/cwt116.00–116.001,6471
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4231,450.00/head1,450.00–1,450.001,4502
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,0712,572.68/head2,560.00–2,650.002,57328
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1695165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,1473
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2995141.66/cwt141.00–143.001,4103
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1998152.69/cwt131.00–187.501,52422
Stock Cows—Large 11,068123.92/cwt113.00–135.001,3232
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,086103.47/cwt98.50–112.501,1246
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,12892.47/cwt92.00–93.001,0432
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,133120.77/cwt100.00–149.001,36860
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 18921,897.86/head1,700.00–2,000.001,898251

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.