Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2019-12-12
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-12-12

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings was mostly good on light offerings. Steer calves 400-499 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 lower; 500-699 lbs sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower; steers over 700 lbs sold steady to weak. Heifer calves under 550 lbs sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower; heifer calves over 550 lbs sold steady to 2.00 higher on stronger demand for weaned calves. Quality this week was average to attractive, however quality overall was not as attractive as last week. A very heavy offering of weaned calves were on offer this week. Last weeks sale was mostly comprised of un-weaned calves, this made comparisons difficult in places. Demand overall was light to moderate on heavy offerings. Market activity this week was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for mostly light offerings. Packers purchased slaughter cows on mostly light demand this sale opting to only purchase cows not suitable to feed. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were not tested as these cows were all purchased to feed. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 4.00 lower. Packers showed significantly lower demand for feeding cows this week. Feeding buyers purchased cows on moderate demand this week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to re-breed sold steady to 5.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Quality was mostly average.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $158.60/cwt on 2,775 head.

Average price

$158.60

2,775 head · 580 lb average

Value per head Derived

$919

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$620

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1

$36.04/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−0.20

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	436	170.35	743	66
Medium and Large 1-2	522	159.29	831	293
Medium and Large 1	585	158.66	928	2,361
Medium 1-2	436	154.00	671	10thin
Medium and Large 2	605	136.00	823	8thin
Large 1	1,015	134.31	1,363	37

One grade step is worth $36.04/cwt here — about −$620 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 sale2,775 hd

158.60

—

MT average4 barns · 5,472 hd

158.80

−0.20

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	—	High	1,734	75.96	1,317	15
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,488	48.00	714	2thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,203	42.88	516	27

Every lot, as filed

101 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.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	655	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	838	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	377	197.00/cwt	197.00–197.00	743	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	441	166.00/cwt	166.00–166.00	732	17
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,091	51.97/cwt	49.00–54.50	567	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,198	44.77/cwt	44.00–45.00	536	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,210	47.97/cwt	47.00–49.00	580	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	933	132.50/cwt	132.50–132.50	1,236	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	528	136.28/cwt	133.00–137.00	720	94
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,213	45.13/cwt	42.00–48.00	547	15
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,178	37.89/cwt	37.00–38.00	446	10
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,258	51.00/cwt	51.00–51.00	642	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,488	48.00/cwt	48.00–48.00	714	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	481	126.70/cwt	124.00–127.50	609	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	431	143.78/cwt	135.00–147.50	620	68
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	494	140.88/cwt	138.00–143.00	696	47
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	798	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,021	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	591	128.28/cwt	126.00–129.50	758	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	723	124.50/cwt	124.50–124.50	900	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	672	132.70/cwt	129.50–136.50	892	57
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	655	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	858	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	573	138.31/cwt	130.50–142.00	793	408
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	529	141.27/cwt	138.50–146.00	747	403
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	605	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	738	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	481	147.27/cwt	144.50–154.00	708	280
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	473	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	752	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	450	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	599	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	660	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	865	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	449	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	611	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	389	151.23/cwt	150.00–153.00	588	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	513	163.84/cwt	155.00–168.25	840	44
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	571	153.75/cwt	152.00–155.00	878	46
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	625	147.04/cwt	141.00–154.50	919	119
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	454	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	749	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	712	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	1,011	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	763	135.45/cwt	135.00–138.00	1,033	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	666	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	892	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	528	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	787	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	594	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	796	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	653	143.10/cwt	141.50–144.00	934	75
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	479	167.13/cwt	163.00–173.00	801	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	570	134.97/cwt	130.00–139.50	769	70
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	465	148.56/cwt	142.50–153.00	691	24
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	615	131.50/cwt	131.50–131.50	809	38
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	448	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	717	50
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	528	136.45/cwt	136.00–137.00	720	50
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	438	173.90/cwt	170.00–179.00	762	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	756	139.75/cwt	139.75–139.75	1,057	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	487	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	804	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	503	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	755	72
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	560	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	706	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	410	177.00/cwt	177.00–177.00	726	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	517	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	812	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	722	134.50/cwt	134.50–134.50	971	8
Bulls	—	—	1,960	86.54/cwt	84.50–87.50	1,696	3
Bulls	—	—	1,735	78.71/cwt	73.00–80.50	1,366	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	755	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	1,042	3
Bulls	—	—	1,598	65.77/cwt	64.00–71.00	1,051	5
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,118	91.00/cwt	91.00–91.00	1,017	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	636	132.93/cwt	132.50–136.00	845	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	920	141.25/cwt	141.25–141.25	1,300	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	624	152.32/cwt	149.00–155.00	950	447
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,487	54.89/cwt	48.00–59.00	816	13
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,288	55.42/cwt	50.00–64.00	714	45
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	986	68.60/cwt	63.00–90.00	676	10
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,088	64.76/cwt	56.00–73.00	705	34
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	533	154.96/cwt	151.00–157.00	826	36
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	487	162.84/cwt	153.00–168.00	793	88
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	665	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	911	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	831	139.62/cwt	137.00–140.00	1,160	39
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	605	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	823	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	878	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,229	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	572	156.45/cwt	153.00–160.25	895	415
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	399	206.00/cwt	206.00–206.00	822	59
Heifers	Medium 1	—	396	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	594	8
Heifers	Medium 1	—	437	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	594	7
Heifers	Large 1	—	538	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	748	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	381	170.42/cwt	159.00–172.00	649	51
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	630	135.24/cwt	130.00–137.00	852	209
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	432	155.32/cwt	150.00–161.00	671	170
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	688	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	922	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	386	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	583	4
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,047	124.56/cwt	124.00–128.00	1,304	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	962	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,279	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	701	130.54/cwt	130.00–134.00	915	15
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	649	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	863	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	605	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	774	2
Steers	Large 1	—	790	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	1,114	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	728	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,019	5
Steers	Medium 1-2	—	436	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	671	10
Steers	Medium 1	—	479	163.71/cwt	156.00–165.00	784	35
Steers	Medium 1	—	406	174.38/cwt	172.50–177.00	708	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	467	179.58/cwt	168.50–184.50	839	311
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	666	148.58/cwt	145.50–151.75	990	279
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	528	161.88/cwt	157.00–170.00	855	253
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	432	182.09/cwt	178.00–192.00	787	60
Steers	Medium 1	—	366	182.07/cwt	175.00–187.00	666	14
Steers	Large 1	—	1,042	133.50/cwt	133.50–133.50	1,391	33
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	639	140.95/cwt	132.00–148.00	901	35
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	580	145.20/cwt	141.00–150.00	842	30
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	377	188.72/cwt	177.00–195.00	711	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	718	148.19/cwt	147.00–150.00	1,064	123

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.

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