Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-04-30
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-04-30

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on steers weighing less than 550 lbs and higher undertones were noticed on steers over 550 lbs. The best test for heifers was for 600-649 lbs, which sold mostly 10.00-13.00 higher. All other weights of feeder heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on calves weighing less than 600 lbs, and higher undertones were noticed on all calves over 650 lbs. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Feeder cattle were offered mostly in small to moderate size packages, with a limited offering of load lots seen. Flesh conditions were mostly light to moderate, however some backgrounded offerings were moderate to fleshy. CME positions traded with mostly triple digit losses today. The expiring April feeder cattle contract settled at 119.175, May closed at 117.10, and August closed at 126.50, 0.375 , 1.45, and 1.95 lower respectfully. Market activity this week was moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers purchased the majority of cows for immediate harvest this week. Slaughter cows sold steady to 1.00 higher. Feeding cows were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Packers pushed feeding buyers on all offerings as they pushed to purchase the majority of the offering. With warm weather seen today the majority of the cow and bulls on offer were very full, offering buyers below average weigh up conditions. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 5.00-7.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher. A heavy offering of cow and heifer pairs was seen this sale. Demand was mostly good to very good with many bidders and buyers in the stands actively bidding on offerings

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $143.93/cwt on 1,818 head.

Average price

$143.93

1,818 head · 668 lb average

Value per head Derived

$962

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$55

per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 1

$4.32/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+4.18

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	579	147.63	855	121
Medium and Large 2	469	145.00	680	9thin
Medium and Large 1	679	143.69	975	1,578
Large 1	635	143.31	910	110

One grade step is worth $4.32/cwt here — about −$55 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 sale1,818 hd

143.93

—

MT average3 barns · 2,438 hd

139.76

+4.18

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	—	High	1,691	79.68	1,348	16
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,663	56.75	944	25
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,458	55.19	805	34
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,205	52.40	631	112

Every lot, as filed

109 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
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	472	131.38/cwt	130.00–133.00	620	32
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	692	107.48/cwt	105.00–110.00	744	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	506	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	658	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	410	145.50/cwt	145.50–145.50	597	8
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,341	1,060.00/cwt	1,060.00–1,060.00	14,215	8
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,233	1,000.00/cwt	1,000.00–1,000.00	12,330	10
Heifer Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,106	1,773.14/cwt	1,675.00–1,875.00	19,611	66
Bulls	—	—	2,135	94.00/cwt	94.00–94.00	2,007	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,055	44.43/cwt	42.00–45.00	469	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,230	56.29/cwt	55.00–60.00	692	37
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	637	140.24/cwt	138.00–143.00	893	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	597	147.19/cwt	147.00–149.00	879	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	514	153.22/cwt	147.00–156.00	788	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	607	155.50/cwt	155.50–155.50	944	15
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	469	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	680	9
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	1,029	1,496.04/cwt	1,300.00–1,650.00	15,394	16
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,449	1,534.00/cwt	1,275.00–1,625.00	22,228	45
Steers	Large 1	—	634	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	926	66
Heifers	Large 1	—	443	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	647	15
Heifers	Large 1	—	620	124.50/cwt	124.50–124.50	772	26
Heifers	Large 1	—	550	134.50/cwt	134.50–134.50	740	50
Heifers	Medium 2	—	462	118.00/cwt	118.00–118.00	545	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	798	116.00/cwt	116.00–116.00	926	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	882	103.00/cwt	103.00–103.00	908	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	734	116.03/cwt	111.00–118.00	852	29
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	407	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	549	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	621	149.45/cwt	144.50–155.00	928	211
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	781	131.24/cwt	129.00–139.00	1,025	233
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	440	167.50/cwt	167.50–167.50	737	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	515	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	834	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	741	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	911	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	462	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	698	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	686	135.47/cwt	133.50–138.50	929	15
Heifers	Large 1	—	800	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	936	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	496	145.50/cwt	145.50–145.50	722	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	924	109.00/cwt	109.00–109.00	1,007	49
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	719	124.60/cwt	121.00–128.50	896	112
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	653	136.18/cwt	126.00–137.00	889	119
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	619	141.45/cwt	136.00–144.00	876	143
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,173	800.00/cwt	800.00–800.00	9,384	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	307	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	402	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	583	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	735	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,225	51.42/cwt	46.00–55.00	630	64
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	935	41.00/cwt	41.00–41.00	383	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	912	47.61/cwt	44.00–52.50	434	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	600	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	942	95
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	659	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	1,008	154
Bulls	—	—	1,691	76.68/cwt	72.00–80.00	1,297	5
Bulls	—	—	1,741	84.97/cwt	83.00–85.50	1,479	6
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,297	64.57/cwt	61.00–69.00	837	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,410	57.03/cwt	55.00–60.00	804	13
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,488	54.05/cwt	51.00–54.50	804	21
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,687	53.35/cwt	53.00–54.50	900	8
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,600	59.00/cwt	59.00–59.00	944	15
Heifer Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,279	1,977.79/cwt	1,900.00–2,025.00	25,296	89
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	903	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	1,084	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	499	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	798	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	878	121.96/cwt	120.00–124.00	1,071	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	522	160.50/cwt	160.50–160.50	838	49
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	816	125.51/cwt	124.00–127.00	1,024	125
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	582	154.53/cwt	150.00–157.50	899	186
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	678	142.01/cwt	138.00–148.00	963	189
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,563	1,475.00/cwt	1,475.00–1,475.00	23,054	3
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,133	1,455.44/cwt	1,400.00–1,500.00	16,490	23
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,545	55.50/cwt	55.50–55.50	857	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,329	56.89/cwt	51.00–63.00	756	32
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	915	89.42/cwt	82.50–96.00	818	67
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,063	71.40/cwt	61.50–81.00	759	59
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,205	54.93/cwt	54.00–57.00	662	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	830	75.00/cwt	75.00–75.00	623	1
Steers	Large 1	—	767	126.50/cwt	126.50–126.50	970	19
Steers	Large 1	—	536	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	799	25
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	444	161.50/cwt	161.50–161.50	717	16
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,539	1,653.76/cwt	1,525.00–1,700.00	25,451	25
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,311	1,882.01/cwt	1,700.00–1,900.00	24,673	45
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,391	1,165.97/cwt	1,160.00–1,200.00	16,219	51
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,379	1,911.73/cwt	1,850.00–1,950.00	26,363	43
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	783	120.13/cwt	119.00–122.00	941	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	813	117.88/cwt	117.00–119.00	958	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	719	140.50/cwt	137.50–143.00	1,010	190
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	731	128.46/cwt	126.00–131.00	939	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	790	125.59/cwt	125.00–126.00	992	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	783	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	994	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	861	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	1,025	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	576	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	847	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight	—	2,035	53.50/cwt	53.50–53.50	1,089	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,266	1,000.00/cwt	1,000.00–1,000.00	12,660	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,187	1,375.00/cwt	1,375.00–1,375.00	16,321	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,033	1,400.00/cwt	1,400.00–1,400.00	14,462	9
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,336	1,518.62/cwt	1,400.00–1,575.00	20,289	35
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,363	1,522.33/cwt	1,425.00–1,550.00	20,749	9
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,396	1,319.09/cwt	1,125.00–1,500.00	18,414	14
Heifer Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,101	1,574.69/cwt	1,500.00–1,650.00	17,337	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	604	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	846	5
Heifers	Large 1	—	690	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	821	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	477	140.43/cwt	140.00–141.00	670	20
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	585	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	708	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	100	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	250	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	80	305.16/cwt	225.00–400.00	244	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	917	96.64/cwt	95.00–101.00	886	11
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	624	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	792	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	567	145.99/cwt	141.50–148.00	828	258
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	531	138.09/cwt	133.00–141.00	733	182
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	611	132.32/cwt	120.00–134.00	808	102
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	469	141.18/cwt	139.50–143.00	662	62
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	571	131.34/cwt	129.00–135.00	750	29
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	691	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	905	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	654	140.75/cwt	140.75–140.75	921	29
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	481	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	673	25

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 →