Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2019-11-25

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Mon, Nov 25
● Final93 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1775
Feeder Cattle receipts
871 head
▲ 270 vs last sale 601▲ 871 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
135 head
▼ 99 vs last sale 234▲ 135 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
2,600 head
▲ 1,278 vs last sale 1,322▲ 2,600 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
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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 a full market trend, however weak undertones were noticed on steers and steady undertones were noticed on heifers. Quality this sale was mostly plain to average. Calves were offered mostly as singles or in small lots. Many buyers were reserved in buying calves due to the shortened sale week and limited supplies preventing buyers from getting a full load of any weigh. Demand for calves was mostly light for light offerings. Market activity this sale was slow. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for very heavy offerings. Packers showed mostly light demand this week for cows destined for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on breaking cows while boning and lean cows sold 2.00-4.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Packers opted to send the majority of the cow offering to feed. With heavy offerings of cows seen over the last few months packers have stashed away a large number of cows for the holiday break. Packers have started to back off feeding cow prices due to very large numbers of cows on feed. Feeding cows sold steady to 5.00 lower. The best demand for feeding cows continues to be large framed, heavy muscled cows suitable to feed to premium white. 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 steady undertones. A very large portion of the offering this week was comprised of bred cattle, with much of the offering being aged cows. Quality was mostly plain to average. Demand for bred cattle was mostly light. Many older cows were purchased by packers or feeding buyers to put on a short term feeding program to be harvested in the next 3-8 weeks.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $133.08/cwt on 217 head.
Average price
$133.08
217 head · 666 lb average
Value per head Derived
$887
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$453
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$14.44/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−7.22
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1621135.46841172
Medium and Large 1-2602127.0976522
Large 11,069121.021,29423
One grade step is worth $14.44/cwt here — about −$453 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 sale217 hd
133.08
—
MT average5 barns · 3,159 hd
140.30
−7.22
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—Average1,92876.721,47915
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,67058.3797513
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,55353.2382620
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,18739.2246641

Every lot

93 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.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Feeder Cattle · Steers19 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium 1Unweaned322188.00/cwt188.00–188.006055
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned335188.00/cwt188.00–188.006302
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned359185.31/cwt185.00–186.0066510
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned391175.00/cwt175.00–175.006844
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned411180.26/cwt176.00–181.0074127
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned444165.00/cwt165.00–165.0073311
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned463165.34/cwt163.00–166.0076645
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned487147.46/cwt145.00–150.007186
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned547145.77/cwt145.00–146.0079730
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned576142.00/cwt142.00–142.0081810
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned588138.00/cwt138.00–138.008112
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned635134.48/cwt133.00–136.008546
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned637137.46/cwt134.00–141.008764
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned665132.00/cwt132.00–132.008787
Steers—Medium and Large 1888141.50/cwt140.00–142.001,2578
Steers—Medium and Large 1935141.00/cwt141.00–141.001,3181
Steers—Medium and Large 1968138.50/cwt138.50–138.501,34110
Steers—Large 11,003136.00/cwt136.00–136.001,3643
Steers—Large 11,074130.49/cwt130.00–131.001,4014
Feeder Cattle · Heifers17 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned377152.20/cwt151.00–152.5057430
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned474138.15/cwt135.00–140.0065515
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned490133.00/cwt133.00–133.006524
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned525125.00/cwt125.00–125.0065613
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned530133.25/cwt131.00–135.5070630
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned567131.53/cwt129.00–133.0074622
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned611130.67/cwt126.00–132.5079819
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned685127.00/cwt127.00–127.008709
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned700128.00/cwt128.00–128.008965
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2815130.99/cwt130.00–132.001,0682
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2875127.00/cwt127.00–127.001,1111
Heifers—Medium and Large 1888132.14/cwt130.50–134.001,17317
Heifers—Medium and Large 1934130.93/cwt130.00–131.501,22321
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2980125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,2252
Heifers—Medium and Large 1991127.00/cwt127.00–127.001,2594
Heifers—Large 11,030124.63/cwt123.00–125.001,28412
Heifers—Large 11,112117.08/cwt116.00–117.501,30211
Feeder Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned365167.50/cwt167.50–167.506112
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned581122.00/cwt122.00–122.007099
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned630132.00/cwt132.00–132.008323
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned654121.00/cwt121.00–121.0079110
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,71663.69/cwt61.00–65.001,0934
Bulls——1,93885.51/cwt84.50–88.001,6575
Bulls——2,06078.09/cwt74.00–81.501,6096
Slaughter Cattle · Cows11 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight87834.02/cwt32.00–36.002992
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight97038.33/cwt37.00–39.003723
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,21039.30/cwt36.00–44.0047632
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,31047.74/cwt47.00–48.506252
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,33836.00/cwt36.00–36.004822
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,46845.16/cwt43.00–47.006635
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,57653.86/cwt51.00–57.008499
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,58859.00/cwt59.00–59.009376
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,66163.69/cwt62.00–64.501,0587
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,66653.79/cwt51.00–60.008965
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,75044.00/cwt44.00–44.007701
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows24 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,147942.95/cwt900.00–1,060.0010,81684
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,166700.00/cwt700.00–700.008,16210
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,185961.10/cwt950.00–975.0011,3899
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,19148.00/cwt48.00–48.005727
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,193646.90/cwt625.00–650.007,718122
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,19547.00/cwt47.00–47.005622
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,213775.00/cwt775.00–775.009,4013
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2211,165.53/cwt1,000.00–1,285.0014,23158
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,22949.58/cwt49.00–50.006095
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2561,050.00/cwt1,050.00–1,050.0013,18814
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,287950.00/cwt950.00–950.0012,2275
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,28747.20/cwt45.50–49.0060727
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,297769.07/cwt675.00–835.009,975439
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,30249.68/cwt46.50–58.0064749
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,308788.31/cwt760.00–850.0010,3117
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,322710.00/cwt710.00–710.009,3863
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,33243.00/cwt43.00–43.005733
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3481,050.00/cwt1,050.00–1,050.0014,15422
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,353925.00/cwt925.00–925.0012,5155
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,354840.89/cwt700.00–985.0011,386158
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,355980.06/cwt935.00–1,000.0013,28031
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3831,127.24/cwt950.00–1,175.0015,59020
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,38349.00/cwt49.00–49.006783
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,56265.00/cwt65.00–65.001,0159
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows10 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed79971.07/cwt56.00–76.005685
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 195183.70/cwt61.00–96.5079673
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,00453.06/cwt45.00–58.005338
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,06968.04/cwt58.00–76.0072772
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,22344.52/cwt36.00–47.50544120
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,22644.87/cwt36.00–49.0055070
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,26056.00/cwt56.00–56.007061
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,26162.34/cwt50.00–68.5078616
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,37249.83/cwt45.00–62.00684146
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,40059.21/cwt50.00–68.50829133
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers5 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium 18871,147.93/cwt1,135.00–1,225.0010,18260
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0151,225.00/cwt1,225.00–1,225.0012,43414
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 1-21,0341,050.00/cwt1,050.00–1,050.0010,8576
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0621,162.33/cwt1,150.00–1,175.0012,34430
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0631,276.44/cwt1,150.00–1,325.0013,56929

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.