Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-04-02
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-04-02

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (3-19-20): Feeder steers and heifers were all too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Feeder cattle sold on light to moderate demand and mostly moderate offerings. Quality this week was average to very attractive. Several load lots of very attractive home-raised one iron feeders were seen this week. These offerings were met with the best demand. Flesh conditions overall were attractive to buyers as most cattle were in light to moderate flesh. CME positions have traded sharply lower the last couple days wiping out much of the gains seen last week. The April contract closed at 110.675 as of today's close. Market activity this week was mostly moderate to active with lots of buyers on the internet and ringside bidding on cattle. Weigh up cows sold on mostly very light to light demand for light offerings. Packer buyers showed very light demand for cows as they allowed feeding buyers to purchase the majority of the cow offering. Slaughter and feeding cows were too lightly tested this sale to develop an accurate market trend, however lower to sharply lower undertones were noticed. Cow quality this week was mostly plain to average. Slaughter bulls sold 5.00-8.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold mostly 5.00 lower. Demand from feeding buyers remains moderate.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $130.23/cwt on 1,233 head.

Average price

$130.23

1,233 head · 637 lb average

Value per head Derived

$829

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$120

per head · Medium 1 over Medium 2

$54.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−4.72

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	456	145.00	661	10thin
Medium and Large 1	640	132.46	848	1,011
Medium and Large 1-2	598	128.73	769	148
Medium and Large 2	586	108.50	636	4thin
Medium 1-2	698	98.00	684	31
Large 1-2	795	94.00	747	17thin
Medium 2	595	91.00	541	12thin

One grade step is worth $54.00/cwt here — about $120 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 sale1,233 hd

130.23

—

MT average3 barns · 1,826 hd

134.95

−4.72

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	1,955	79.27	1,550	10
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,537	48.31	742	7thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,201	42.81	514	9thin

Every lot, as filed

59 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
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	960	45.00/cwt	45.00–45.00	432	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,188	40.63/cwt	34.00–46.00	483	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,360	48.24/cwt	48.00–48.50	656	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,575	47.43/cwt	45.50–51.00	747	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,508	48.97/cwt	48.25–51.00	738	4
Bulls	—	—	1,645	74.50/cwt	74.50–74.50	1,226	2
Bulls	—	—	2,058	79.20/cwt	75.00–81.50	1,630	5
Bulls	—	—	1,990	82.57/cwt	82.00–83.50	1,643	3
Steers	Medium 2	—	586	109.00/cwt	109.00–109.00	639	6
Steers	Medium 1-2	—	717	109.25/cwt	109.25–109.25	783	36
Steers	Medium 1-2	—	641	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	705	7
Steers	Large 1	—	597	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	872	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	586	108.50/cwt	108.50–108.50	636	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	768	115.50/cwt	115.50–115.50	887	19
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,428	48.26/cwt	45.50–51.50	689	17
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	606	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	745	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	627	134.50/cwt	134.50–134.50	843	53
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	717	125.74/cwt	124.00–126.00	902	31
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	756	114.52/cwt	111.00–115.00	866	26
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	557	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	763	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	541	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	822	8
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,265	48.14/cwt	48.00–49.00	609	13
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,299	57.40/cwt	55.00–62.50	746	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	934	82.86/cwt	70.00–92.00	774	42
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,485	53.50/cwt	53.50–53.50	794	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	520	162.73/cwt	160.00–170.00	846	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	405	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	595	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	788	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	827	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	680	116.56/cwt	116.00–118.00	793	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	727	105.60/cwt	104.50–112.00	768	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	636	122.80/cwt	121.00–124.00	781	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	574	132.18/cwt	127.50–134.00	759	29
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	544	137.88/cwt	137.50–139.50	750	64
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	490	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	799	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	572	154.31/cwt	149.50–159.00	883	69
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	819	119.49/cwt	114.50–122.00	979	114
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	719	133.00/cwt	128.00–133.50	956	194
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	784	122.41/cwt	122.25–125.00	960	231
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	754	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	980	31
Steers	Medium and Large 1Natural	—	658	147.50/cwt	147.50–147.50	971	185
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	400	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	668	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	862	97.00/cwt	97.00–97.00	836	9
Heifers	Large 1-2	—	795	94.00/cwt	94.00–94.00	747	17
Heifers	Medium 1	—	456	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	661	10
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	698	98.00/cwt	98.00–98.00	684	31
Heifers	Medium 2	—	595	91.00/cwt	91.00–91.00	541	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	871	109.00/cwt	109.00–109.00	949	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	712	118.72/cwt	118.00–119.00	845	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	754	119.25/cwt	119.25–119.25	899	37
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	481	149.97/cwt	149.00–151.00	721	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	828	109.54/cwt	108.00–110.00	907	56
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	537	145.28/cwt	142.00–148.50	780	75
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	614	139.50/cwt	132.00–141.00	857	180
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	574	142.64/cwt	141.25–147.00	819	262
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	683	123.59/cwt	118.00–125.50	844	308
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	701	123.50/cwt	123.50–123.50	866	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	660	142.21/cwt	139.00–143.00	939	50
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	793	108.00/cwt	108.00–108.00	856	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	613	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	913	17

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 →