Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2020-02-27

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Feb 27
● Final74 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,719 head
372 vs last sale 1,347 1,719 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
50 head
153 vs last sale 203 50 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
285 head
100 vs last sale 385 285 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 sale: Feeder steers weighing less than 550 lbs sold mostly 5.00 lower, 550-749 lbs steers sold 2.00 to 5.00 higher. Steers over 750 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Heifer calves 400-649 lbs sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher, heifers over 650 lbs were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Feeder cattle sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Demand for grass and wheat pasture cattle was mostly good, with very good demand seen at times. Cattle under 650 lbs were mostly destined for grass or wheat this week. These cattle were mostly in thin to light flesh. Buyers were willing to purchase cattle for grass or wheat at heavier weights as long as they were in light flesh. Backgrounded cattle were met with mostly light demand this week. Most of these cattle were in moderate plus to fleshy condition. Market activity this week was mostly active to very active with mostly grass buyers in the stands bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and offerings. Packers opted to send the majority of the cow offering to feed this week. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Feeding cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand as well. Feeding cows were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold mostly 5.00 lower. Pressure on the feeding market caused these offerings to sell lower.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $161.33/cwt on 680 head.
Average price
$161.33
680 head · 627 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,012
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$213
per head · Medium 1 over Medium and Large 1
$20.12/cwt at this weight
vs the market
0.81
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1459179.1582362
Medium and Large 1-2533167.6589337
Medium and Large 1651159.031,036581
One grade step is worth $20.12/cwt here — about −$213 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 sale680 hd
161.33
MT average4 barns · 2,695 hd
162.15
−0.81
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
BullsHigh1,67578.581,31611
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,68562.501,0531thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,44957.168283thin
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,16051.2359420

Every lot, as filed

74 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
HeifersLarge 1643133.00/cwt133.00–133.008553
BullsLarge 11,03394.00/cwt94.00–94.009713
CowsBoner 80-85%1,44957.16/cwt57.00–57.508283
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight93245.78/cwt39.00–52.504273
HeifersMedium 1445162.00/cwt162.00–162.0072111
SteersMedium 1486177.20/cwt175.00–179.0086131
HeifersLarge 1586135.00/cwt135.00–135.007914
HeifersLarge 1797123.50/cwt123.50–123.509843
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,19063.71/cwt59.00–67.0075841
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,42458.43/cwt57.00–60.7583225
BullsLarge 11,07096.00/cwt96.00–96.001,0271
SteersMedium 1443179.68/cwt179.00–180.0079625
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,68562.50/cwt62.50–62.501,0531
HeifersMedium 1455160.00/cwt160.00–160.007285
SteersMedium 1388187.00/cwt187.00–187.007266
SteersMedium and Large 1-2554158.50/cwt148.50–161.0087810
SteersMedium and Large 1-2675144.00/cwt144.00–144.009724
HeifersMedium 1556150.00/cwt150.00–150.008347
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1908108.73/cwt85.00–117.0098776
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,19350.00/cwt50.00–50.005972
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2534159.00/cwt159.00–159.008498
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2480157.23/cwt152.50–162.5075510
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-286187.14/cwt80.50–96.5075058
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,25151.65/cwt50.00–55.006467
SteersMedium and Large 1-2447184.14/cwt184.00–185.0082314
SteersMedium and Large 1-2462170.00/cwt170.00–170.007853
BullsMedium and Large 1723134.50/cwt134.50–134.509722
BullsMedium and Large 1763132.00/cwt132.00–132.001,0076
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2429164.84/cwt163.00–166.0070713
SteersMedium and Large 1-2638159.00/cwt159.00–159.001,0146
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2379165.68/cwt163.00–169.0062811
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2583150.00/cwt150.00–150.008753
HeifersMedium and Large 1465171.96/cwt168.50–178.0080028
SteersMedium and Large 1439187.87/cwt187.00–190.0082514
Bulls1,98585.00/cwt85.00–85.001,6871
Bulls1,56871.55/cwt71.00–72.001,1222
Bulls1,66379.53/cwt77.00–81.501,3238
CowsLean 85-90%1,13357.00/cwt57.00–57.006462
CowsLean 85-90%1,32341.77/cwt40.00–44.005532
CowsLean 85-90%1,19153.06/cwt49.00–55.0063213
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,03274.63/cwt60.00–88.0077025
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,12056.72/cwt53.50–57.5063515
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed604175.50/cwt175.50–175.501,06016
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed704152.50/cwt152.50–152.501,07431
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fleshy867119.75/cwt119.75–119.751,03828
BullsMedium and Large 1678148.63/cwt144.50–149.001,00824
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed657169.24/cwt168.00–169.501,11247
SteersMedium and Large 1616166.30/cwt162.50–171.001,02467
SteersMedium and Large 1711145.29/cwt140.00–147.501,033141
SteersMedium and Large 1512179.08/cwt174.00–183.0091730
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy739135.00/cwt135.00–135.0099824
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fleshy946117.00/cwt117.00–117.001,1076
HeifersMedium and Large 1789123.00/cwt123.00–123.0097028
SteersMedium and Large 1781134.00/cwt134.00–134.001,0475
SteersMedium and Large 1819130.09/cwt129.75–130.251,06513
HeifersMedium and Large 1728127.43/cwt124.00–129.0092815
SteersMedium and Large 1579173.24/cwt167.00–176.001,00366
HeifersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed667145.00/cwt145.00–145.009675
HeifersMedium and Large 1680135.62/cwt134.00–137.0092215
HeifersMedium and Large 1626144.07/cwt137.00–153.0090297
BullsMedium and Large 1643152.00/cwt152.00–152.009772
HeifersMedium and Large 1517165.91/cwt160.00–167.50858103
SteersMedium and Large 1368189.00/cwt189.00–189.006963
SteersMedium and Large 1676153.41/cwt147.00–159.001,03729
HeifersMedium and Large 1421170.66/cwt168.00–174.0071832
BullsMedium and Large 1483162.00/cwt162.00–162.007826
SteersMedium and Large 1491182.38/cwt180.00–185.0089555
HeifersMedium and Large 1562156.41/cwt151.00–157.0087958
HeifersMedium and Large 1353176.00/cwt176.00–176.006214
SteersMedium and Large 1871129.85/cwt128.50–130.001,13140
BullsMedium and Large 1412177.00/cwt177.00–177.007293
BullsMedium and Large 1535165.00/cwt165.00–165.008839
BullsMedium and Large 1351167.50/cwt167.50–167.505884
HeifersMedium and Large 1345175.00/cwt175.00–175.006044

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.