Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2019-08-22

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Aug 22
● Final36 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
165 head
91 vs last sale 256 165 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
320 head
145 vs last sale 465 320 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
154 head
320 vs last sale 474 154 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 week: Feeder steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend, feeder heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed. Yearlings comprised the majority of the feeder offering this week. These offerings sold on light to moderate demand for light offerings. Quality was mostly average to attractive. Market activity was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows and bulls comprised the majority of the sale again this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for moderate offerings. Packers continue to be the driving force in the market as they showed need for cows for immediate harvest. Cows were all pushing heavy amounts of fill today. Feeding buyers showed moderate to good demand for cows. Feeding buyers showed the best demand for high quality cows which had been started on feed. Demand was good for all ages of feeding cows this week. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 lower, feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower. Cow quality this week was mostly attractive. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower this week. Young age cows suitable to re-breed sold on light to moderate demand. Quality was lower this week than last sale. Young age cows sold with lower undertones in a narrow comparison.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $121.75/cwt on 86 head.
Average price
$121.75
86 head · 927 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,128
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$35
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1-2
$21.56/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.00
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1906125.051,13362
Medium 1708124.008786thin
Large 11,077114.501,23310thin
Large 1-21,062103.491,0998thin
One grade step is worth $21.56/cwt here — about $35 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 sale86 hd
121.75
MT average1 barns · 86 hd
121.75
+0.00
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
BullsAverage1,83887.061,60096
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,47565.8797175
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,62965.641,06919
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,25762.6478896

Every lot, as filed

36 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
HeifersMedium and Large 1923124.60/cwt121.00–127.501,15026
HeifersMedium and Large 1835129.00/cwt129.00–129.001,07712
HeifersMedium and Large 1980120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,17612
SteersMedium and Large 1943128.00/cwt128.00–128.001,2074
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,43068.29/cwt67.00–72.0097712
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,49363.55/cwt62.00–66.7594947
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,51667.74/cwt66.00–69.501,02736
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,28870.16/cwt65.00–76.0090413
BullsMedium and Large 1905121.00/cwt121.00–121.001,0952
HeifersMedium and Large 1868127.15/cwt125.00–129.001,10412
HeifersLarge 1-21,048111.00/cwt111.00–111.001,1632
HeifersLarge 1-21,066100.99/cwt100.00–106.001,0776
HeifersLarge 11,037116.00/cwt116.00–116.001,2035
HeifersLarge 11,117113.00/cwt113.00–113.001,2625
SteersLarge 11,372100.00/cwt100.00–100.001,37216
HeifersMedium 1708124.00/cwt122.00–126.008786
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight99555.00/cwt55.00–55.005471
BullsLarge 11,110108.67/cwt108.00–110.001,2063
BullsLarge 11,162110.00/cwt110.00–110.001,2783
BullsLarge 11,028114.00/cwt113.00–115.001,1728
BullsLarge 1-21,11594.00/cwt94.00–94.001,0481
SteersLarge 11,314100.00/cwt100.00–100.001,3145
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,66363.18/cwt58.50–65.501,0517
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42061.94/cwt54.50–64.0088019
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,53071.50/cwt71.50–71.501,0941
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,61666.67/cwt65.00–67.501,07711
Bulls1,85786.87/cwt82.00–92.001,61365
CowsLean 85-90%1,25365.57/cwt64.00–69.0082226
BullsMedium and Large 1-2732126.00/cwt126.00–126.009223
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned618142.00/cwt142.00–142.008783
Bulls1,60279.91/cwt75.00–82.501,28015
Bulls1,98294.53/cwt92.00–98.501,87416
CowsLean 85-90%1,26361.16/cwt55.50–63.5077266
CowsLean 85-90%1,25872.49/cwt71.50–73.009123
CowsBoner 80-85%1,57071.07/cwt70.00–72.501,1165
CowsBoner 80-85%1,48666.82/cwt64.00–69.5099351

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.