Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2020-04-09

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Apr 9
● Final53 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
321 head
2,363 vs last sale 2,684 24 vs year ago 345 · 7.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
86 head
54 vs last sale 32 74 vs year ago 160 · 46.3%
Replacement Cattle receipts
931 head
834 vs last sale 97 673 vs year ago 258 · +260.9%
Also sold here(Mon)Thu Apr 16, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Feeder heifers 550-600 lbs sold steady to firm, 600-650 lbs sold mostly 5.00 lower on a lower quality offering, all other weights of heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average and significantly lower than last week. Demand was mostly moderate for light offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers showed light demand for cows for immediate harvest as well as to feed. Feeding buyers purchased a large portion of the cow offering this week, buying up many middle age and older cows to hold until the market improves. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Cow quality this week was mostly plain to average. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00-6.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold generally steady. Demand from feeding buyers remains moderate.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $135.90/cwt on 167 head.
Average price
$135.90
167 head · 604 lb average
Value per head Derived
$821
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$35
per head · Medium 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$10.11/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+4.10
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1528138.007293thin
Medium and Large 1606136.96830144
Medium and Large 1-2597127.8976420
One grade step is worth $10.11/cwt here — about −$35 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 sale167 hd
135.90
MT average3 barns · 315 hd
131.80
+4.10
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
BullsLow1,69971.361,2129thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,41548.1368112
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,59545.007181thin
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,18844.9053332

Every lot, as filed

53 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
Heifer PairsMedium and Large 11,0331,810.00/cwt1,810.00–1,810.0018,69731
BullsLarge 11,37069.00/cwt69.00–69.009451
BullsLarge 11,15983.67/cwt82.00–84.5097012
BullsMedium and Large 1690105.00/cwt105.00–105.007253
Bulls1,46362.03/cwt53.00–68.009072
BullsMedium and Large 1-280796.00/cwt96.00–96.007756
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,59545.00/cwt45.00–45.007181
CowsBoner 80-85%1,41548.13/cwt47.00–49.0068112
CowsLean 85-90%1,15442.29/cwt40.00–46.0048821
CowsLean 85-90%1,25349.89/cwt48.00–50.2562511
SteersMedium and Large 1410175.00/cwt175.00–175.007185
BullsLarge 11,22074.00/cwt74.00–74.009031
BullsLarge 11,07986.63/cwt85.50–89.0093512
BullsMedium and Large 192894.00/cwt94.00–94.008722
Bulls1,71772.87/cwt71.00–77.001,2516
BullsMedium and Large 199389.89/cwt88.50–97.008936
SteersMedium and Large 1579154.50/cwt154.50–154.5089528
SteersMedium and Large 1-2593140.00/cwt140.00–140.008306
SteersMedium and Large 1712129.40/cwt128.00–130.0092110
SteersMedium and Large 1510167.50/cwt163.00–169.0085421
SteersMedium and Large 1-2435165.00/cwt165.00–165.007182
BullsLarge 11,03886.00/cwt86.00–86.008938
BullsLarge 1-21,14879.00/cwt79.00–79.009072
Bulls2,06081.00/cwt81.00–81.001,6691
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,3501,664.07/cwt1,650.00–1,675.0022,46545
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4091,300.00/cwt1,300.00–1,300.0018,3176
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2541131.48/cwt130.00–133.007118
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,17062.64/cwt50.00–74.0073373
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,350810.00/cwt810.00–810.0010,9353
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2121,592.25/cwt1,500.00–1,635.0019,29829
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,0391,445.11/cwt1,410.00–1,475.0015,0159
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2571132.00/cwt132.00–132.007546
HeifersMedium and Large 1716121.00/cwt121.00–121.0086611
HeifersMedium 1528138.00/cwt138.00–138.007293
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2699119.00/cwt119.00–119.008326
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,05046.01/cwt45.00–47.004832
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,33248.64/cwt46.00–55.5064833
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,40546.33/cwt42.50–49.5065137
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-284373.06/cwt69.50–85.006164
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,01181.15/cwt70.00–93.5082086
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,4031,642.62/cwt1,475.00–1,725.0023,0469
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,3901,475.00/cwt1,475.00–1,475.0020,50327
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,3141,600.00/cwt1,600.00–1,600.0021,0244
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,1531,789.48/cwt1,775.00–1,825.0020,63370
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4561,328.94/cwt1,150.00–1,425.0019,34924
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,295860.00/cwt860.00–860.0011,1374
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3591,510.00/cwt1,510.00–1,510.0020,5217
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3241,396.68/cwt1,350.00–1,425.0018,4928
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3751,075.00/cwt1,075.00–1,075.0014,7816
HeifersMedium and Large 1639132.73/cwt129.50–133.0084856
HeifersMedium and Large 1440160.00/cwt160.00–160.007042
HeifersMedium and Large 1559143.28/cwt141.00–144.5080168
HeifersMedium and Large 1678128.00/cwt128.00–128.008687

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.