Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2024-06-19

Public Auction Yards

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Jun 19
● Final115 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774
Feeder Cattle receipts
699 head
▲ 622 vs last sale 77▲ 250 vs year ago 449 · +55.7%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
721 head
▲ 138 vs last sale 583▲ 85 vs year ago 636 · +13.4%
Replacement Cattle receipts
937 head
▲ 737 vs last sale 200▲ 36 vs year ago 901 · +4.0%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle offerings were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Demand for feeder cattle was good to very good for light to moderate offerings. Package sizes were small to moderate today and larger than the last two weeks. Quality was mostly plain to average today. Many strings of blemished feeder cattle were seen today as backgrounders cleaned out lots for turn out. Market activity was mostly active with several buyers bidding ringside as well as over the internet. Weigh up cows sold very good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Additional Packers were in the market this week and they showed very good demand for cows for immediate harvest. Packer buyers trying to buy high quality cows to feed were forced to pay up significantly for cows this week in order to secure offerings. Slaughter cows sold 4.00-8.00 higher on boning and breaking cows, lean cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-9.00 higher on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Thin, short term feeding cows destined for harvest around the 4th of July sold 2.00-3.00 higher. Cow quality was mostly attractive to very attractive today, and overall better than last week. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average this week. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00-5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Bulls Quality today was mostly attractive. Packers opted to feed several sets of light to middle weight bulls again this week. Demand for bulls suitable to feed was very good. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to 5.00 lower. Demand for very high quality offerings remains very good. However, quality this week was average to attractive and overall not as attractive as last week. Around 350 pairs were on offer for todays sale. Quality was average to attractive. Demand for pairs was mostly good. A large crowd was on hand in the afternoon for todays pair special. Market activity for was mostly active with lots of buyers actively bidding on offerings.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $325.99/cwt on 47 head. That ranks 1 of 10 comparable sales and sits −128.93 against this barn's trailing median of $454.92.
Average price
$325.99
47 head · 568 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,853
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$195
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$6.33/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−1.45
vs MT average
+25.33 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1584328.011,91632
Medium and Large 1-2535321.681,72115thin
One grade step is worth $6.33/cwt here — about $195 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 800–900 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale47 hd
325.99
—
MT average3 barns · 56 hd
327.44
−1.45
National average144 barns · 7,865 hd
300.66
+25.33
This barn, trailing median10 sales
454.92
−128.93
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

10 sales
525476427379median 454.9203/1804/1506/2409/3010/21
Steers 500–600 lb: high $510.69, low $392.59, median $454.92 across 10 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

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—Average1,882165.023,10662
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,357145.321,972284
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,565144.522,26243
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,183135.981,60976
Dairy CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,582139.842,2124thin
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Low1,359124.941,6984thin

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 Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,165$2,1884thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,128$2,1099
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,142$1,9855
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)845$1,97418
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,221$3,072118
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,440$2,9253thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,593$2,82957
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,413$2,32766
Heifer PairsOpen(<2 yrs)967$3,09163

Every lot

115 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 · Steers18 lots · lightest first
Steers100–150Medium and Large 1140675.00/head675.00–675.006751
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2302370.00/cwt370.00–370.001,1173
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2535321.68/cwt315.00–325.001,72115
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1584328.01/cwt323.00–337.501,91632
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1610320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,9521
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1687295.03/cwt289.00–306.002,02728
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2690282.00/cwt282.00–282.001,9463
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1719289.00/cwt289.00–289.002,0784
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1753268.00/cwt268.00–268.002,0182
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2765255.61/cwt255.00–256.001,9555
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1813256.95/cwt256.00–257.002,08919
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2817247.94/cwt241.00–255.002,0264
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1857256.75/cwt252.00–257.002,20040
Steers850–900Medium and Large 2870225.00/cwt225.00–225.001,9582
Steers900–950Large 1935223.00/cwt223.00–223.002,0852
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2954226.00/cwt226.00–226.002,1569
Steers1050–1100Large 1-21,058191.00/cwt191.00–191.002,02114
Steers1200–1250Large 1Fleshy1,221180.00/cwt180.00–180.002,19820
Feeder Cattle · Heifers19 lots · lightest first
Heifers50–100Medium and Large 1-270125.00/head125.00–125.001252
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2399315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,2576
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2443315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,3953
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2485310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,50410
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1508317.50/cwt317.50–317.501,61332
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2532302.50/cwt302.50–302.501,6096
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1557294.00/cwt294.00–294.001,6383
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2594283.00/cwt283.00–283.001,68116
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2621275.20/cwt255.00–279.001,70916
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2655256.00/cwt256.00–256.001,6772
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2661229.00/cwt229.00–229.001,5144
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1685266.00/cwt266.00–266.001,82210
Heifers650–700Medium 1699254.00/cwt254.00–254.001,7759
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1703252.00/cwt252.00–252.001,7722
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1757244.00/cwt244.00–244.001,8475
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2768234.66/cwt233.00–237.001,8026
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1822230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,8913
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1860231.50/cwt231.50–231.501,9918
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2971216.00/cwt216.00–216.002,09732
Feeder Cattle · Bulls16 lots · lightest first
Bulls50–100Medium and Large 1-290600.00/head600.00–600.006002
Bulls100–150Medium and Large 1116666.81/head600.00–725.006674
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1336430.00/cwt430.00–430.001,4455
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1523290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,5175
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2540307.50/cwt307.50–307.501,6611
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1626281.00/cwt281.00–281.001,7597
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1838234.00/cwt234.00–234.001,9613
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1868231.71/cwt228.00–234.002,0118
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1-2874225.29/cwt222.50–226.001,9695
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1-2942222.14/cwt221.00–223.002,0937
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1955225.00/cwt225.00–225.002,1496
Bulls1000–1050Large 1-21,010205.00/cwt205.00–205.002,0711
Bulls1000–1050Large 11,018220.00/cwt220.00–220.002,2406
Bulls1050–1100Large 11,062217.16/cwt216.00–217.502,3069
Bulls1100–1150Large 11,105207.50/cwt207.50–207.502,2931
Bulls1150–1200Large 1-21,155187.50/cwt187.50–187.502,1661
Feeder Cattle · Beef/Dairy Heifers2 lots · lightest first
Beef/Dairy Heifers750–800Large 1-2783224.00/cwt224.00–224.001,75415
Beef/Dairy Heifers850–900Large 1-2897215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,92924
Feeder Cattle · Beef/Dairy Steers3 lots · lightest first
Beef/Dairy Steers700–750Large 3715227.50/cwt227.50–227.501,6272
Beef/Dairy Steers850–900Large 1-2883230.00/cwt230.00–230.002,03121
Beef/Dairy Steers950–1000Large 1-2966218.00/cwt218.00–218.002,10614
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,378142.38/cwt142.00–144.001,9626
Bulls——Return to Feed1,651158.00/cwt158.00–158.002,6094
Bulls——1,670144.73/cwt143.00–149.002,4176
Bulls——1,881163.62/cwt152.00–169.003,07821
Bulls——2,092177.61/cwt171.00–189.503,71625
Slaughter Cattle · Cows20 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight860122.90/cwt117.50–128.001,0572
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed905102.00/cwt102.00–102.009231
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,108125.74/cwt125.00–127.001,3933
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,176123.95/cwt118.00–127.001,4584
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,180135.18/cwt131.00–137.001,5957
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,183135.93/cwt128.00–138.001,60837
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,232142.41/cwt139.00–149.501,75417
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,255143.47/cwt141.00–151.001,8015
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,317143.50/cwt137.00–148.001,89075
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,319141.21/cwt136.00–147.001,86364
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,382149.57/cwt146.00–154.002,067110
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,396128.21/cwt118.00–136.001,7905
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,425133.76/cwt132.00–135.001,90611
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,450153.18/cwt148.00–155.502,22117
Cows—Boner 80-85%Natural1,463151.50/cwt151.50–151.502,2162
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,514135.94/cwt132.00–138.002,05811
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,524153.04/cwt152.50–156.002,3329
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,525154.00/cwt154.00–154.002,3492
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,614144.30/cwt140.00–148.002,32919
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,615146.00/cwt146.00–146.002,3582
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows2 lots · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%1,359124.94/cwt122.00–126.001,6984
Dairy Cows—Boner 80-85%1,582139.84/cwt138.00–141.002,2124
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs2 lots · lightest first
Heifer Pairs—Medium 1-28052,050.00/head2,050.00–2,050.002,0504
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 19783,161.97/head3,150.00–3,175.003,16259
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs13 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium 11,0392,916.02/head2,910.00–2,950.002,91619
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,2382,150.00/head2,150.00–2,150.002,1509
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,2452,775.00/head2,775.00–2,775.002,77513
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,2553,296.66/head3,000.00–3,400.003,29772
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,2682,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4005
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS1,2772,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4009
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3022,203.37/head2,000.00–2,350.002,20311
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3222,117.96/head2,000.00–2,350.002,11815
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,4402,925.00/head2,925.00–2,925.002,9253
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,4702,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4002
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5422,535.11/head2,450.00–2,550.002,53529
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5972,844.76/head2,450.00–3,000.002,84555
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,6182,350.00/head2,350.00–2,350.002,3502
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 2705170.00/cwt170.00–170.001,1992
Stock Cows—Medium 1795202.50/cwt202.50–202.501,6101
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2938175.18/cwt167.50–185.001,6437
Stock Cows—Large 11,024152.96/cwt147.50–165.001,56615
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,047188.23/cwt153.50–220.001,971128
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,144158.15/cwt143.00–192.501,80939
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,248154.00/cwt154.00–154.001,9228
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows8 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium 17861,873.69/head1,800.00–1,950.001,8749
Bred Cows—Medium 1Registered9042,075.00/head2,075.00–2,075.002,0759
Bred Cows—Medium 19502,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-29981,850.00/head1,850.00–1,850.001,8502
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1282,109.17/head1,900.00–2,325.002,1099
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2372,250.00/head2,250.00–2,250.002,2503
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2382,075.00/head2,075.00–2,075.002,0753
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,373125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,7162

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.