Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2019-07-11

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jul 11
● Final46 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
495 head
185 vs last sale 310 495 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
318 head
133 vs last sale 185 318 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
800 head
67 vs last sale 867 800 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Also sold here(Mon)Thu Apr 16, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last test: With the last reported sale over a month ago on 6/06/19 no true comparisons can be made. Demand for both steers and heifers was moderate to good on light to moderate offerings. Quality was mostly average to attractive. A few limited load lots of calves were available this sale and buyers showed good demand for one iron home-raised calves. Most of these calves were weaned 60 days. Market activity was mostly moderate this week. Weigh up cows and bulls comprised most of the sale this week. Cow and bull quality was mostly attractive to very attractive as ranchers continue to cull open cows and bulls that are blemished or didn't test fertile. Feeding cow buyers purchased the majority of the cow offering this week as they showed good demand for all ages. Fleshy cows sold with the best demand this sale as packer buyers were only able to pick a few away from feeding buyers. Slaughter cows and bulls both sold with lower undertones compared to last sale. Feeding cows sold with steady to lower undertones. Demand for young age cows has lightened since last sale and these offerings all sold with lower undertones. Weigh up conditions started the day average to above average for buyers, however as the day heated up cows filled up and offered significantly poorer weigh conditions after lunch.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $147.53/cwt on 204 head.
Average price
$147.53
204 head · 741 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,093
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$109
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$4.19/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.23
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1747148.001,106181
Medium and Large 1-2693143.8299623
One grade step is worth $4.19/cwt here — about $109 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 sale204 hd
147.53
MT average2 barns · 207 hd
147.31
+0.23
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
BullsAverage1,83782.391,514106
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,83865.501,2042thin
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,36862.5485654
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,21358.52710109

Every lot, as filed

46 lots · USDA AMS · Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Thu)
Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Bulls1,83182.77/cwt79.00–85.501,51646
CowsLean 85-90%1,26961.49/cwt60.00–64.5078050
CowsBoner 80-85%1,63067.25/cwt67.00–67.501,0962
Bulls2,05288.35/cwt85.00–92.001,81332
Bulls1,60274.96/cwt71.00–78.501,20128
CowsBoner 80-85%1,34663.08/cwt60.00–65.0084947
SteersMedium and Large 1930126.26/cwt126.00–128.001,17415
BullsMedium and Large 1890125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,1132
HeifersMedium and Large 1562142.82/cwt140.00–144.0080314
SteersMedium and Large 1838143.00/cwt143.00–143.001,19814
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,13871.58/cwt63.00–85.0081591
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,32764.63/cwt62.00–68.0085880
HeifersMedium and Large 1825125.92/cwt123.00–129.001,0396
HeifersMedium and Large 1708138.50/cwt138.50–138.509819
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,39663.16/cwt59.50–66.75882212
SteersMedium and Large 1958120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,1502
SteersMedium and Large 1636156.50/cwt156.50–156.5099517
HeifersMedium and Large 1Spayed767129.00/cwt129.00–129.009897
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Full707136.00/cwt136.00–136.009625
BullsMedium and Large 1-2848122.00/cwt122.00–122.001,0352
SteersMedium and Large 1728150.61/cwt148.50–151.001,096101
HeifersMedium and Large 1Spayed865123.50/cwt123.50–123.501,06821
SteersMedium and Large 1-2552157.00/cwt157.00–157.008676
SteersMedium and Large 1687152.41/cwt151.25–157.001,04719
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-298565.04/cwt64.00–66.006412
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,14561.49/cwt60.00–62.007047
SteersMedium and Large 1786145.00/cwt145.00–145.001,14013
HeifersMedium and Large 1665142.91/cwt140.00–143.2595090
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,06883.86/cwt73.00–105.0089651
BullsMedium and Large 2713105.00/cwt105.00–105.007495
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,72063.00/cwt63.00–63.001,0841
CowsBoner 80-85%1,47355.58/cwt54.00–58.008195
BullsMedium and Large 1-2758126.00/cwt126.00–126.009552
SteersMedium and Large 1-2757140.48/cwt137.00–144.001,06312
BullsLarge 11,086117.72/cwt117.00–118.001,2787
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,39056.67/cwt56.00–57.007883
CowsLean 85-90%1,25256.35/cwt52.00–59.5070645
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight91858.51/cwt57.50–60.005373
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,14658.25/cwt55.00–60.006688
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,37364.14/cwt61.00–68.50881152
CowsLean 85-90%1,24565.75/cwt65.50–66.008192
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight77253.38/cwt51.00–56.504126
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight85047.07/cwt46.00–47.504003
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,95568.00/cwt68.00–68.001,3291
BullsLarge 11,013120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,2162
HeifersLarge 1Spayed1,053103.00/cwt103.00–103.001,0853

How this sale compares

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.