BL_LS750 Billings, MT Wed Oct 18, 2017 USDA Market News Public Auction Yards- Billings, MT Feeder Cattle Weighted Average Report for 10/18/2017 Receipts: 2,774 Last Week: 1,989 Year Ago: 1,851 Compared to last Wednesdays sale: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested both this week and last week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on all feeders on offer. Feeder cattle sold on mostly light to moderate demand and light offerings. Quality this week was mostly average. All feeder cattle were offered in small packages, which forced buyers to piece together loads. Market activity was moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for very heavy offerings. Cow quality was average to attractive with many cows on both ends of the quality spectrum on offer. Very few cow offerings were sent to harvest this week as packers are seeing heavy offerings across the upper plains as ranchers cull cows. Only very poor quality or lame cows not suitable to feed were sent to harvest. With many cows in poor body condition packers, and a few feeding buyers, sent these offerings to feed for a short time in an attempt to add value to them. Packers and other buyers were also busy purchasing high quality cows to feed to premium white. While demand for cows was moderate, offerings were very heavy and which allowed buyers to purchase cows mostly 2.00-3.00 lower as there were plenty of cows to go around. Slaughter cows sold mostly 4.00-5.00 lower. Like feeding cows there are plenty of low quality immediate harvest cows to go around. Slaughter bulls sold steady on high quality, average and high dressing bulls as packers competed with feeding buyers over offerings, however low dressing bulls sold mostly 4.00 lower as feeding buyers were not as competitive over these offerings and packers were able to purchase these offerings lower. 2-3 year olds suitable to rebreed sold on mostly moderate demand. Offerings sold steady to 5.00 lower on an attractive quality offering. A heavy offering of bred cattle were seen this sale and these offerings were met with mostly light to moderate demand. Feeder cattle receipts were 43 percent steers and bulls, 57 percent heifers; 36 percent weighing over 600 lbs. Offerings were 25 percent feeder cattle, 13 percent slaughter cows, 2 percent slaughter bulls, and 30 percent feeding cows and cows returning to the country, balance bred cows, heifers, and pairs. Next sale will be Friday Oct 20th, 2017 with the Top of the Rockies feeder special. Expecting 3,000+. Feeder Steers Medium and Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 6 328 328 237.50 237.50 7 350-351 351 220.00-227.50 222.14 32 411-435 421 186.00-200.00 194.00 46 460-491 476 170.00-181.00 175.12 32 500-540 518 165.00-173.50 168.98 32 555-587 572 156.00-161.00 158.34 26 605-644 613 150.00-155.00 152.53 Calves 6 602 602 151.00 151.00 Fleshy 16 678-679 678 149.00-150.50 149.47 Calves 4 725 725 145.00 145.00 Calves Feeder Steers Medium and Large 1-2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 4 354 354 200.00 200.00 8 536-539 538 159.00-160.00 159.50 2 583 583 148.00 148.00 5 644 644 147.00 147.00 Calves Feeder Heifers Medium and Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 31 357-367 365 174.00-181.00 179.58 69 455-496 479 153.00-168.00 158.80 6 479 479 151.00 151.00 Full 30 511-548 527 147.50-154.50 151.04 5 555-570 564 144.00-145.00 144.39 9 615-643 630 140.00-149.00 143.15 Calves 2 670 670 140.00 140.00 Calves 54 932-945 935 137.00-140.00 139.48 45 955-980 976 138.00-138.50 138.08 Feeder Heifers Medium and Large 1-2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 5 301 301 177.00 177.00 10 350-396 382 165.00-169.00 167.75 4 426 426 165.00 165.00 3 488 488 142.50 142.50 7 511-542 524 143.50-144.00 143.78 4 559 559 141.00 141.00 4 809 809 133.00 133.00 3 995 995 129.00-129.50 129.33 Feeder Heifers Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 27 1003-1010 1003 133.75-136.00 133.83 Feeder Bulls Medium and Large 1 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 3 408 408 160.00 160.00 Feeder Bulls Medium and Large 1-2 Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price 7 494 494 135.00 135.00 Slaughter Cows Pct Lean Weight Avg Dress High Dress Low Dress Very Low Dress Breakers 75-80 1613-1785 59.50-62.50 -- 53.50-55.00 -- Boners 80-85 1315-1710 58.00-62.50 64.50 52.00-57.50 -- Lean 85-90 1030-1570 60.00 -- 50.00-56.00 40.00-51.00 Slaughter Bulls, Yield Grade 1-2 Weight Avg Dress High Dress Low Dress Very Low Dress 1590-2385 77.50-83.50 84.00-88.50 65.00-75.50 60.00-63.00 Feeding bulls: 1330-1945 lbs 65.00-84.00. Feeding Cows and Cows Returning to the Country: 2 yrs old: 725-1395 lbs 70.00-120.00. 3 yrs old 850-1405 lbs 66.00-105.00. Young age 1070-1705 lbs 58.50-74.00. Middle Aged 1156-1790 lbs 56.00-64.25. Aged 1210-1698 lbs 55.00-63.00, thin fleshed 983-1300 lbs 48.50-58.00, exposed 1109 lbs 58.00. Bred Heifers: Medium and large 1 calving before May 15th 964 lbs 1,400.00, calving May-June 952 lbs 1,200.00. Bred cows: 3-4 yrs old Medium and large 1 calving before May 15th 1121-1126 lbs 1,400.00 calving May-June 1038-1195 lbs 1,210.00-1,275.00. Bred cows: 3-6 yrs old Medium and large 1 calving before May 15th 1,300.00. Bred cows: 5-6 yrs old Medium and large 1 calving before May 15th 1140 lbs 1,185.00, calving May-June 1260-1354 lbs 1,025.00-1,150.00. Bred cows: Middle age (Solid mouth) Medium and large 1 calving before May 15th 1206-1605 lbs 975.00-1,025.00. Bred cows: Aged (Broken Mouth) Medium and large 1 calving before May 15th 1286-1404 lbs 885.00-925.00, Thin fleshed 1160-1192 lbs 860.00-885.00, calving May-June 1155 lbs 710.00. Source: USDA- Livestock, Poultry, Grain, Market News Service John Kimbrell, Officer in Charge, 406-210-4792 john.kimbrell@ams.usda.gov www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/BL_LS750.txt 1741 .