Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2020-09-03

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Sep 3
● Final59 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
702 head
261 vs last sale 441 794 vs year ago 1,496 · 53.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
290 head
38 vs last sale 328 355 vs year ago 645 · 55.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
361 head
156 vs last sale 205 78 vs year ago 283 · +27.6%
Also sold here(Mon)Thu Apr 16, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale(8-20-20): Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noted on steers under 900 lbs and steady to firm undertones were noticed on steers over 900 lbs. Yearling heifers under 900 lbs sold with lower undertones heifers over 900 lbs sold with mostly steady undertones. Heifers saw uneven demand this sale as buyers were forced to finish loads for the week before the long weekend this led to uneven price spreads. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Demand was mostly light to moderate for light offerings. Spring born calves sold on mostly light to moderate demand. Market activity this week was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and offerings. Packers showed mostly light demand for slaughter cows this sale. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-4.00 lower than two weeks ago. Feeding cows sold 2.00-5.00 lower as lighter demand from packer buyers allowed cow prices to fall. Cow quality this sale was mostly average. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average again this week. Warm weather continues to have cows very full as afternoon temperatures warm into the low 90s. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-4.00 lower. Young age cows were very lightly again this week most sold as feeding cows.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $127.16/cwt on 262 head.
Average price
$127.16
262 head · 855 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,088
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$136
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$8.92/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.57
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1882129.021,137160
Medium and Large 1-2742125.9393466
Medium 1605124.007509thin
Large 11,061120.111,27427
One grade step is worth $8.92/cwt here — about −$136 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 sale262 hd
127.16
MT average2 barns · 698 hd
126.58
+0.57
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
BullsAverage1,81782.021,49099
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,62561.901,00612
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,39059.3882532
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,14153.1960776

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.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
SteersMedium and Large 1980126.50/cwt126.50–126.501,2403
BullsMedium and Large 1Unweaned549132.00/cwt132.00–132.0072534
BullsMedium and Large 1Unweaned438150.00/cwt150.00–150.006574
HeifersMedium and Large 1880128.93/cwt126.00–129.251,13585
SteersMedium and Large 1Full805134.00/cwt134.00–134.001,0793
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2876119.98/cwt118.00–122.001,0516
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,71063.43/cwt62.75–64.501,0853
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42662.01/cwt58.50–64.5088415
Bulls1,81182.68/cwt79.00–86.501,49768
CowsLean 85-90%1,21458.91/cwt58.00–61.507158
HeifersMedium and Large 1816128.36/cwt126.00–128.751,04731
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2968120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,1622
Bulls1,74475.44/cwt70.00–78.501,31616
BullsLight Weight1,27370.29/cwt63.00–77.508952
CowsBoner 80-85%1,52564.00/cwt64.00–64.009761
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,61667.25/cwt67.25–67.251,0875
BullsHeavy Weight2,66082.50/cwt82.50–82.502,1951
Bulls1,96788.93/cwt86.50–91.501,74912
CowsLean 85-90%1,07849.92/cwt49.50–50.005386
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight78646.21/cwt45.50–47.0036317
CowsBoner 80-85%1,34756.62/cwt53.00–60.0076316
CowsLean 85-90%1,27155.25/cwt50.50–57.2570245
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,57354.08/cwt51.50–57.008514
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned438151.00/cwt151.00–151.006618
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2772123.63/cwt118.00–127.0095426
HeifersMedium and Large 1931128.24/cwt124.50–129.501,19423
SteersMedium and Large 1714148.59/cwt148.50–149.501,06164
BullsMedium and Large 1Unweaned493151.00/cwt151.00–151.007443
BullsMedium and Large 1Unweaned392164.00/cwt164.00–164.006433
SteersMedium and Large 1887134.27/cwt134.00–134.501,19113
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,21054.32/cwt52.00–56.2565753
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned368157.00/cwt157.00–157.005782
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned552148.00/cwt148.00–148.008173
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned393162.50/cwt162.50–162.506393
SteersMedium and Large 1912133.25/cwt133.25–133.251,21534
HeifersMedium and Large 1990128.54/cwt122.00–129.501,27319
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2906121.99/cwt119.00–122.501,1057
BullsMedium and Large 1787118.00/cwt118.00–118.009296
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,26664.68/cwt59.00–70.0081926
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,10052.19/cwt51.50–52.505743
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,30556.87/cwt55.00–61.5074259
SteersMedium and Large 1-2864127.50/cwt127.50–127.501,1024
SteersLarge 11,006125.81/cwt125.50–126.001,2668
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,18353.53/cwt52.00–54.756332
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,43862.10/cwt56.50–66.50893107
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,03474.70/cwt70.00–95.0077216
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,28158.00/cwt58.00–58.0074312
HeifersMedium 1605124.00/cwt124.00–124.007509
SteersLarge 1-21,021113.50/cwt113.50–113.501,1595
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2717127.00/cwt127.00–127.0091118
SteersMedium and Large 2749133.50/cwt133.50–133.501,00014
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned540136.00/cwt136.00–136.007342
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned351142.50/cwt142.50–142.505007
HeifersLarge 11,137114.61/cwt114.00–116.501,3034
HeifersLarge 11,013124.14/cwt122.50–125.751,25812
HeifersLarge 11,064120.69/cwt119.00–125.001,2847
HeifersLarge 11,160113.00/cwt113.00–113.001,3112
HeifersLarge 1Full1,083112.00/cwt112.00–112.001,2132
SteersMedium 1-2646143.00/cwt143.00–143.009244

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.