Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2020-03-12

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Mar 12
● Final74 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
2,277 head
1,661 vs last sale 616 2,277 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
277 head
72 vs last sale 205 277 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
144 head
6 vs last sale 138 144 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 750 lbs sold sharply lower, with most sales 15.00-25.00 lower. Steer calves over 750 lbs were too lightly tested to trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Heifer calves were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Feeder cattle sold on very light to light demand for light to moderate offerings. Demand for all classes of feeder cattle was lower this week as CME positions sold off the limit again today. Cattle were of mixed quality this sale ranging from plain to attractive. Flesh conditions were mostly light for cattle under 700 lbs and mostly moderate to fleshy for cattle over 700 lbs. Market activity this week was mostly slow. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers were much more aggressive this week as they purchased cows exclusively for slaughter. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold steady to 1.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Feeding cows were scarcely tested this week as packers purchased the majority of the cow offering for immediate harvest. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold mostly 5.00 lower. Pressure on the feeding market continues to cause these offerings to sell lower.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $138.38/cwt on 1,200 head.
Average price
$138.38
1,200 head · 667 lb average
Value per head Derived
$924
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$122
per head · Medium and Large 2 over Large 1
$34.95/cwt at this weight
vs the market
5.61
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 2441151.9567010thin
Medium 1589146.2886229
Medium and Large 1669140.36939906
Medium and Large 1-2681130.20886249
Large 1677117.007926thin
One grade step is worth $34.95/cwt here — about −$122 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 sale1,200 hd
138.38
MT average3 barns · 2,084 hd
143.99
−5.61
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
BullsAverage1,68773.211,23514
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,41660.0285074
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,37756.8378287
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,22754.8867484

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
SteersLarge 1677117.00/cwt117.00–117.007926
HeifersMedium and Large 2528132.00/cwt132.00–132.006976
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2574132.81/cwt131.00–136.5076219
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2488145.48/cwt144.00–150.0071019
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2438146.82/cwt145.00–152.0064311
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight98350.50/cwt50.50–50.504962
CowsLean 85-90%1,21452.80/cwt47.00–55.0064147
HeifersMedium 1413151.00/cwt151.00–151.006246
Bulls1,84679.20/cwt77.00–80.501,4624
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,12854.42/cwt53.00–56.006142
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,16265.55/cwt59.50–83.0076229
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,01782.12/cwt70.00–93.0083540
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,22057.00/cwt57.00–57.006951
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,352935.00/cwt935.00–935.0012,64121
Dairy SteersLarge 3-461760.00/cwt60.00–60.003705
SteersMedium and Large 1725131.37/cwt130.50–132.0095253
CowsLean 85-90%1,25460.90/cwt60.00–61.0076410
CowsLean 85-90%1,42042.00/cwt42.00–42.005961
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,39860.88/cwt55.50–62.5085165
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,55053.83/cwt53.50–54.008349
CowsBoner 80-85%1,39657.77/cwt55.00–60.5080662
CowsBoner 80-85%1,32153.73/cwt51.50–54.0071023
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42063.50/cwt63.50–63.509022
SteersMedium and Large 1-2514153.37/cwt151.00–155.007885
SteersMedium and Large 1477161.00/cwt160.00–167.0076852
SteersMedium and Large 1676140.88/cwt136.00–143.0095235
SteersMedium and Large 1437172.00/cwt172.00–172.007527
SteersMedium and Large 1987114.50/cwt114.50–114.501,1303
SteersMedium and Large 1882118.68/cwt118.00–119.001,0473
SteersMedium and Large 1360175.00/cwt175.00–175.006303
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy770119.95/cwt118.00–121.0092425
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy924112.29/cwt111.00–113.001,03814
HeifersMedium and Large 1715120.64/cwt119.50–123.0086325
HeifersMedium and Large 1786117.15/cwt117.00–118.0092120
HeifersMedium and Large 1413163.14/cwt161.00–164.0067411
HeifersMedium and Large 1399161.00/cwt161.00–161.006427
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fleshy878107.00/cwt107.00–107.0093912
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fleshy697121.00/cwt121.00–121.008436
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fleshy812110.00/cwt110.00–110.008935
HeifersMedium and Large 1477154.22/cwt152.00–156.0073629
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy824108.00/cwt108.00–108.008904
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed708139.50/cwt139.50–139.5098820
SteersMedium and Large 1580153.47/cwt151.00–160.00890195
SteersMedium and Large 1632144.61/cwt142.00–150.50914178
SteersMedium and Large 1765125.40/cwt125.25–127.00959171
SteersMedium and Large 1840120.91/cwt119.00–124.501,01687
SteersMedium and Large 1534161.99/cwt155.00–166.0086555
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2617126.00/cwt126.00–126.007777
HeifersMedium 1477151.00/cwt151.00–151.007205
HeifersLarge 1Fleshy913107.00/cwt107.00–107.009772
BullsMedium and Large 1716121.50/cwt121.50–121.5087023
BullsMedium and Large 1625135.49/cwt132.00–136.5084722
SteersMedium 1589146.28/cwt146.00–148.0086229
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy822115.00/cwt115.00–115.009455
Bulls1,62470.81/cwt64.00–75.001,15010
HeifersMedium and Large 1815116.00/cwt116.00–116.0094531
HeifersMedium and Large 1675124.60/cwt122.50–126.0084134
HeifersMedium and Large 1521148.75/cwt145.00–152.0077566
HeifersMedium and Large 1620136.91/cwt129.00–143.5084995
HeifersMedium and Large 1570144.67/cwt140.00–152.00825153
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy764111.41/cwt110.50–112.0085115
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2729116.00/cwt116.00–116.008464
SteersMedium and Large 2441151.95/cwt150.00–155.0067010
SteersMedium and Large 1-2445165.00/cwt165.00–165.007347
SteersMedium and Large 1-2481158.50/cwt158.50–158.5076210
SteersMedium and Large 1-2723123.85/cwt121.00–128.0089511
SteersMedium and Large 1-2637140.50/cwt140.50–140.5089520
SteersMedium and Large 1-2595138.72/cwt131.00–148.0082534
SteersMedium and Large 1-2790119.41/cwt119.25–122.0094351
SteersMedium and Large 1-2696126.19/cwt126.00–133.00878107
CowsLean 85-90%1,25557.33/cwt55.00–59.0071924
BullsMedium and Large 1540141.00/cwt141.00–141.007619
BullsMedium and Large 1667125.00/cwt125.00–125.008348
BullsLarge 11,05890.50/cwt90.50–90.509577

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.