Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2019-11-18

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2019-11-18
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-11-18

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Mon, Nov 18

● Final57 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1775

← Nov 11Nov 18Nov 25 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

601 head

▲ 63 vs last sale 538▲ 601 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Slaughter Cattle receipts

234 head

▲ 93 vs last sale 141▲ 234 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Replacement Cattle receipts

1,322 head

▲ 812 vs last sale 510▲ 1,322 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Also sold hereRegular saleThu Oct 29, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers calves were too lightly tested in any weight category to develop any market trend. Yearlings were scarcely traded this sale thus no trend is available. Quality this sale was mostly plain to average. Calves were offered mostly as singles or in small lots. Demand for calves was mostly light to moderate for light offerings. Market activity this sale was slow. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for mostly heavy offerings. Packers showed light to moderate demand this week for cows destined for immediate harvest. All classes of slaughter cows sold generally steady. The cutter cow cutout continues its march higher driven by very good demand for lean grinding materials. The cow cutout as of today's close is 186.24, 1.17 higher than Fridays value. Imported supplies of lean trimmings from Australia and New Zealand are light and prices are a large premium to domestic prices. High imported lean trimming prices have helped improve domestic prices as some domestic buyers use least cost formulas which allows them to switch to domestic product when import prices are too high. Despite higher meat prices, packers have been able to continue to purchase cows near steady for the last few weeks due to large slaughter numbers. The latest data from USDA F.S.I.S. shows beef cow harvest over 70,000 for the week ending Nov. 2nd. This is the largest beef cow slaughter numbers since the end of the southern drought in May 2013. Total cow and bull harvest for week ending Nov 2nd was 146,888. Feeding cows sold steady on all classes. The best demand for feeding cows continues to be large framed, heavy muscled cows with some flesh. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Young re-breed cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand and light to moderate offerings. Young age cows were of mostly average to attractive quality this week. Offerings sold with higher undertones.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $145.63/cwt on 144 head.

Average price

$145.63

144 head · 601 lb average

Value per head Derived

$875

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$698

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1

$37.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−12.83

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	407	169.00	688	11thin
Medium and Large 2	418	149.00	623	8thin
Medium and Large 1-2	683	146.05	998	29
Medium and Large 1	586	144.70	848	79
Small and Medium 1	700	132.60	928	15thin
Large 1	1,050	132.00	1,386	2thin

One grade step is worth $37.00/cwt here — about −$698 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 sale144 hd

145.63

—

MT average5 barns · 5,425 hd

158.46

−12.83

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Average	2,100	72.50	1,523	1thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,744	58.35	1,018	7thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,520	56.61	860	13
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,199	45.14	541	13

Every lot

57 lots · USDA AMS · Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Mon)

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.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers20 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	363	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	606	2
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	407	169.00/cwt	169.00–169.00	688	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	418	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	623	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	446	166.00/cwt	166.00–166.00	740	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	467	160.54/cwt	157.50–161.00	750	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	530	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	795	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	545	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	790	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	573	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	774	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	575	144.76/cwt	144.00–147.00	832	24
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	598	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	849	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	618	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	859	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	622	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	840	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	633	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	886	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	656	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	905	4
Steers	—	Small and Medium 1	694	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	923	13
Steers	—	Small and Medium 1	740	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	962	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	836	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	1,179	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	866	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	1,208	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	974	135.50/cwt	135.50–135.50	1,320	5
Steers	—	Large 1Full	1,050	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	1,386	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers15 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	368	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	607	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	382	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	554	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	445	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	645	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	489	133.25/cwt	130.00–134.00	652	21
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	493	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	705	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	513	132.89/cwt	132.00–133.00	682	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	513	131.17/cwt	130.00–132.00	673	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	518	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	725	7
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	548	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	701	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	560	131.50/cwt	131.50–131.50	736	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	575	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	725	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	695	125.67/cwt	125.00–126.00	873	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	729	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	889	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	875	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	1,190	4
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,027	128.83/cwt	128.50–129.00	1,323	6
Feeder Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	345	177.50/cwt	177.50–177.50	612	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	588	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	717	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	975	113.00/cwt	113.00–113.00	1,102	2
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,013	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	1,205	21
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	2,100	72.50/cwt	72.50–72.50	1,523	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows9 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,125	35.00/cwt	35.00–35.00	394	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,186	44.80/cwt	42.50–48.00	531	10
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,300	51.92/cwt	51.00–53.00	675	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,443	49.24/cwt	48.50–50.00	711	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,529	54.50/cwt	54.50–54.50	833	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,538	60.82/cwt	59.50–61.50	935	6
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,627	54.50/cwt	54.50–54.50	887	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,665	62.96/cwt	62.50–63.50	1,048	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight	2,000	59.50/cwt	59.50–59.50	1,190	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	914	85.25/cwt	70.00–93.00	779	68
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,025	55.00/cwt	55.00–55.00	564	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,155	66.37/cwt	59.00–75.00	767	25
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,189	49.69/cwt	48.00–50.50	591	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,265	56.70/cwt	54.00–62.50	717	6
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,272	48.08/cwt	47.00–49.00	612	13
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,319	51.81/cwt	51.00–54.50	683	14
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,406	61.73/cwt	53.50–68.50	868	35

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.

Montana feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Mon)

Mon Nov 18, 2019

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 601Last week 538Year ago 0

Slaughter CattleReceipts 234Last week 141Year ago 0

Replacement CattleReceipts 1,322Last week 510Year ago 0

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	545	145.00	145.00
4	—	573	135.00	135.00
10	—	618	139.00	139.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Small and Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	740	130.00	130.00
13	—	694	133.00	133.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,050	132.00	132.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	407	169.00	169.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	866	139.50	139.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	467	157.50–161.00	160.54
9	—	530	150.00	150.00
13	—	633	140.00	140.00
24	—	575	144.00–147.00	144.76

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	974	135.50	135.50
7	—	836	141.00	141.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	363	167.00	167.00
6	—	446	166.00	166.00
4	—	656	138.00	138.00
3	—	622	135.00	135.00
2	—	598	142.00	142.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	418	149.00	149.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	513	130.00–132.00	131.17
13	—	382	145.00	145.00
21	—	489	130.00–134.00	133.25
2	—	445	145.00	145.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	368	165.00	165.00
7	—	518	140.00	140.00
4	—	875	136.00	136.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	575	126.00	126.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	548	128.00	128.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,027	128.50–129.00	128.83

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	560	131.50	131.50
9	—	513	132.00–133.00	132.89
7	—	729	122.00	122.00
5	—	493	143.00	143.00
3	—	695	125.00–126.00	125.67

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	588	122.00	122.00
2	—	345	177.50	177.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	975	113.00	113.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	1,013	119.00	119.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	14	—	1,319	51.00–54.50	51.81
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,265	54.00–62.50	56.70
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	25	—	1,155	59.00–75.00	66.37
(<2 yrs)	Open	68	—	914	70.00–93.00	85.25
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	35	—	1,406	53.50–68.50	61.73

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,025	55.00	55.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,189	48.00–50.50	49.69
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	13	—	1,272	47.00–49.00	48.08

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,100	72.50	72.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	2,000	59.50	59.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,300	51.00–53.00	51.92
1	—	1,125	35.00	35.00
10	—	1,186	42.50–48.00	44.80

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,443	48.50–50.00	49.24
5	—	1,529	54.50	54.50
6	—	1,538	59.50–61.50	60.82

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,665	62.50–63.50	62.96
3	—	1,627	54.50	54.50

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.