Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-01-30
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-01-30

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeder steers weighing less than 650 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed; Feeder steers over 650 lbs sold generally steady to weak in a narrow comparison. 600-649 lbs heifers offered the best market test this week as these heifers sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher, all other weights of heifer calves sold unevenly steady, from weak to firm. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Demand was mostly light to moderate for grass cattle and mostly moderate to good for backgrounded cattle. Backgrounded cattle were mostly attractive overall and more attractive than grass cattle this week. Notably all calves were pushing some fill this week as mild weather was seen throughout the day. Market activity this week was mostly active with many bidders and buyers in the stands. Weigh up cows and bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend however lower undertones were noticed. Notably, cows and bulls were very full this sale and offered buyers below average weigh up conditions. Young age cows suitable to re-breed were too lightly tested to develop any market trend this week.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $152.19/cwt on 1,894 head.

Average price

$152.19

1,894 head · 657 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,000

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$113

per head · Medium 1 over Medium and Large 1-2

$20.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−7.98

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	493	167.71	826	16thin
Medium and Large 1	661	152.44	1,007	1,726
Medium and Large 1-2	636	147.71	939	152

One grade step is worth $20.00/cwt here — about −$113 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 sale1,894 hd

152.19

—

MT average4 barns · 4,063 hd

160.17

−7.98

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	—	Low	1,714	71.24	1,221	10
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,600	61.50	984	5thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,554	51.42	799	6thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,230	48.04	591	27

Every lot, as filed

78 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
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	452	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	651	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	478	143.50/cwt	143.00–144.00	686	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	737	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	914	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	551	165.50/cwt	165.50–165.50	912	38
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	606	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	897	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	758	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	1,107	37
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	733	134.50/cwt	134.50–134.50	986	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	531	159.50/cwt	159.50–159.50	847	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	774	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	983	6
Steers	Medium 1Full	—	488	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	795	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	824	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	1,079	13
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	573	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	831	2
Bulls	—	—	1,714	71.24/cwt	66.00–76.00	1,221	10
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	607	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	832	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,223	56.03/cwt	55.00–57.00	685	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,172	58.50/cwt	58.50–58.50	686	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,340	33.50/cwt	33.50–33.50	449	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,332	60.80/cwt	58.50–63.50	810	21
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,096	67.82/cwt	59.00–77.00	743	24
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	527	170.25/cwt	165.00–176.00	897	198
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	672	146.66/cwt	143.50–151.00	986	212
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	624	153.47/cwt	149.00–157.50	958	245
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,395	54.00/cwt	54.00–54.00	753	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,623	59.00/cwt	59.00–59.00	958	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,562	58.46/cwt	55.00–60.75	913	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	610	148.41/cwt	148.00–148.50	905	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	585	150.13/cwt	147.00–151.00	878	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	575	159.18/cwt	155.00–170.00	915	299
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	468	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	814	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	535	163.59/cwt	158.00–168.00	875	33
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	680	138.84/cwt	134.50–142.00	944	48
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	485	182.65/cwt	178.00–189.50	886	48
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	932	133.83/cwt	131.00–134.75	1,247	81
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	711	144.88/cwt	140.00–147.00	1,030	112
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	822	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,052	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	769	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,023	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	433	181.21/cwt	174.00–184.00	785	7
Steers	Medium 1	—	568	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	875	2
Steers	Medium 1	—	476	176.33/cwt	170.00–179.00	839	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	835	134.42/cwt	131.50–135.50	1,122	136
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	772	137.56/cwt	134.00–140.00	1,062	151
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	432	190.67/cwt	185.50–193.00	824	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	867	130.82/cwt	130.25–131.00	1,134	46
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	408	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	624	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	657	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	854	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	796	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	987	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	784	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	1,035	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	577	146.94/cwt	142.00–153.00	848	222
Heifers	Medium 1	—	513	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	693	3
Heifers	Medium 1	—	425	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	646	17
Heifers	Medium 1	—	491	150.85/cwt	150.00–151.00	741	41
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	675	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	803	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	678	135.55/cwt	132.00–137.00	919	194
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	521	156.01/cwt	150.00–161.00	813	220
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	437	158.28/cwt	157.00–160.50	692	23
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	468	158.02/cwt	154.00–162.00	740	63
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	725	133.55/cwt	130.50–135.75	968	112
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	620	143.75/cwt	138.50–146.25	891	193
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,228	50.38/cwt	46.00–53.25	619	16
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,445	57.00/cwt	57.00–57.00	824	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,576	50.30/cwt	48.00–54.00	793	5
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,600	61.50/cwt	61.50–61.50	984	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	629	133.87/cwt	133.50–134.00	842	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	529	145.81/cwt	144.00–149.00	771	48
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	450	194.22/cwt	194.00–195.00	874	28
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,202	52.07/cwt	49.00–54.50	626	14
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,154	53.85/cwt	53.75–54.00	621	20
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,408	54.30/cwt	52.00–56.50	765	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,369	810.00/cwt	810.00–810.00	11,089	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	905	36.00/cwt	36.00–36.00	326	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	702	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	899	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	394	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	642	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	515	157.50/cwt	157.50–157.50	811	46
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	639	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	971	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	452	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	836	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	733	138.50/cwt	138.50–138.50	1,015	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	709	150.25/cwt	150.25–150.25	1,065	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	567	159.00/cwt	158.50–159.50	902	90

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 →