Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2020-04-16

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Apr 16
● Final32 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
226 head
95 vs last sale 321 204 vs year ago 430 · 47.4%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
115 head
29 vs last sale 86 1,155 vs year ago 1,270 · 90.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
67 head
864 vs last sale 931 133 vs year ago 200 · 66.5%
Also sold here(Mon)Thu Apr 16, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mostly average. Demand was light to moderate for light offerings. CME positions have inched higher all week following Mondays limit lower move. The April feeder cattle contract settled at 118.25, 2.45 higher than yesterdays close. Market activity this week was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Packers showed strong demand for slaughter cows this week as a late winter storm tightened available supplies for packers in the Midwest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 6.00-7.00 higher on all classes in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-7.00 higher. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to trend, as most offerings were purchased for immediate harvest. Cow quality this week was mostly average. 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 $140.54/cwt on 101 head.
Average price
$140.54
101 head · 518 lb average
Value per head Derived
$728
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$20
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$20.72/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+12.05
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1509142.3972592
Medium and Large 1-2612121.677459thin
One grade step is worth $20.72/cwt here — about −$20 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 sale101 hd
140.54
MT average2 barns · 1,117 hd
128.49
+12.05
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
BullsHigh1,82079.971,45623
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,52855.5084812
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,42154.9678130
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,25452.8566231

Every lot, as filed

32 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
BullsHeavy Weight2,64082.00/cwt82.00–82.002,1651
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,53052.50/cwt52.50–52.508031
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40755.92/cwt54.00–57.5078720
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight99050.00/cwt50.00–50.004951
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45053.05/cwt53.00–53.5076910
CowsLean 85-90%1,23356.93/cwt54.75–57.507029
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,51955.45/cwt55.00–55.5084210
Bulls2,15983.91/cwt83.00–84.501,8126
HeifersMedium and Large 1484148.00/cwt148.00–148.0071650
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2626121.00/cwt121.00–121.007576
HeifersMedium and Large 1623128.14/cwt126.00–130.0079826
HeifersMedium and Large 1401148.00/cwt148.00–148.0059316
CowsLean 85-90%1,27551.23/cwt45.00–54.0065321
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,61559.00/cwt59.00–59.009531
SteersMedium and Large 1465172.00/cwt172.00–172.0080035
SteersMedium and Large 1721124.00/cwt124.00–124.008946
SteersMedium and Large 1539162.00/cwt162.00–162.008734
SteersMedium and Large 1918109.00/cwt109.00–109.001,0013
SteersMedium 1-2621122.00/cwt122.00–122.007584
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2585123.00/cwt123.00–123.007203
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,44755.33/cwt55.00–55.508013
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,18665.74/cwt55.00–75.0078021
Stock CowsMedium and Large 197188.01/cwt79.00–94.0085514
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,4021,500.00/cwt1,500.00–1,500.0021,0306
SteersMedium and Large 1-2372165.00/cwt165.00–165.006146
SteersMedium and Large 1-2689130.00/cwt130.00–130.008964
Bulls1,54369.07/cwt66.00–72.001,0662
Bulls1,65679.70/cwt77.00–82.501,32014
BullsMedium and Large 1-2760104.00/cwt104.00–104.007903
BullsMedium and Large 180248.55/cwt200.00–275.001993
BullsMedium and Large 199594.00/cwt94.00–94.009351
BullsMedium 1-2426125.00/cwt125.00–125.005334

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.