Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-08-20
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-08-20

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale(8-06-20): Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Yearling quality was mostly average to attractive, however quality overall was not as attractive as last sale. Demand was mostly light to moderate for light offerings. Spring born calves sold on mostly good demand. Many calves were in light flesh due to drought conditions. Market activity this week was mostly slow to moderate. Fewer market participants were seen this sale compared to last sale. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for mostly light to moderate offerings. Packers showed mostly light to moderate demand for slaughter cows this sale. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-6.00 lower than two weeks ago. Feeding cows sold 1.00-3.00 lower as lighter demand from packer buyers allowed cow prices to fall. Cow quality this sale was mostly average. Many cows had freshly weaned calves split off of them. Additionally, many cows were in very light to light flesh as parts of Montana and Wyoming are very dry. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-6.00 lower. Young age cows were very lightly tested and sold as feeding cows.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $136.03/cwt on 163 head.

Average price

$136.03

163 head · 792 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,077

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$48

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

$14.73/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+0.00

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	714	140.10	1,001	117
Large 1	1,020	125.74	1,283	38
Medium and Large 1-2	836	125.38	1,048	8thin

One grade step is worth $14.73/cwt here — about −$48 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 sale163 hd

136.03

—

MT average1 barns · 163 hd

136.03

+0.00

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	—	Average	1,817	85.64	1,556	90
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,544	62.13	959	5thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,419	61.94	879	52
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,170	57.35	671	166

Every lot, as filed

44 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	Large 1	—	1,163	109.00/cwt	109.00–109.00	1,268	2
Steers	Large 1-2	—	1,010	116.56/cwt	116.00–117.00	1,177	9
Steers	Large 1	—	1,006	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	1,217	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	903	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	1,093	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	978	120.50/cwt	120.50–120.50	1,178	6
Steers	Large 1	—	1,128	112.00/cwt	112.00–112.00	1,263	2
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,047	98.00/cwt	98.00–98.00	1,026	3
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,053	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	1,343	6
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,004	126.50/cwt	126.50–126.50	1,270	30
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,453	66.20/cwt	64.50–68.50	962	40
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,325	61.77/cwt	59.50–64.50	818	125
Steers	Large 1	—	1,091	115.50/cwt	115.50–115.50	1,260	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	897	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,139	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	937	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,218	35
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	969	127.73/cwt	125.25–128.50	1,238	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	326	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	571	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	891	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	1,105	27
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	690	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	973	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	828	144.47/cwt	142.50–145.25	1,196	16
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,055	63.00/cwt	63.00–63.00	665	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	827	85.64/cwt	75.50–89.00	708	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	879	133.50/cwt	133.50–133.50	1,173	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	672	147.62/cwt	146.00–149.00	992	25
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,166	70.14/cwt	64.50–74.50	818	9
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,450	68.49/cwt	67.50–70.00	993	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,251	62.23/cwt	61.00–63.75	778	23
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,523	63.30/cwt	62.50–65.00	964	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,399	63.26/cwt	62.00–66.00	885	23
Bulls	—	—	1,821	85.34/cwt	81.00–90.00	1,554	76
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	318	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	541	17
Bulls	—	—	1,551	76.26/cwt	71.00–78.50	1,183	5
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,575	60.37/cwt	59.00–61.50	951	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,430	58.48/cwt	53.00–62.00	836	22
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,160	56.57/cwt	53.00–59.50	656	139
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,200	66.00/cwt	66.00–66.00	792	1
Bulls	—	—	1,928	93.42/cwt	91.00–96.00	1,801	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,175	51.00/cwt	51.00–51.00	599	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	918	54.50/cwt	53.00–56.00	500	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	460	164.00/cwt	164.00–164.00	754	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	796	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,019	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	388	156.38/cwt	155.00–161.00	607	26
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	413	168.77/cwt	167.50–175.00	697	30
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	859	140.45/cwt	135.50–145.50	1,206	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	938	129.21/cwt	128.75–130.50	1,212	26

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 →