Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-09-17
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-09-17

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers were all too lightly tested this week to develop an accurate however steady to lower undertones were noticed on both yearlings and unweaned calves. The best test for yearling heifers was 700-799 lbs which sold steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Heifers over 800 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average. Cattle were offered in mostly small packages. Buyers showed mostly light demand as light offerings made it difficult to put together loads. CME positions posted lower values today which weighed on the market as well. Market activity this week was slow to moderate with fewer participants seen this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold steady to firm. Cows and bulls were very full throughout today's sale offering buyers mostly below average weigh up conditions. Cow quality this week was mostly plain to average and similar compared to last week. Young age cows were lightly traded again this week. Steady to higher undertones were noticed in a narrow comparison. Quality was better this week than last.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $136.58/cwt on 270 head.

Average price

$136.58

270 head · 708 lb average

Value per head Derived

$967

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$170

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

$32.87/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+2.52

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	475	151.37	719	31
Medium and Large 1	725	136.46	989	206
Medium 1-2	671	128.00	859	15thin
Large 1	1,031	119.93	1,236	13thin
Medium 1	750	118.50	889	5thin

One grade step is worth $32.87/cwt here — about −$170 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 sale270 hd

136.58

—

MT average3 barns · 1,706 hd

134.05

+2.52

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	1,888	79.78	1,506	89
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,578	59.40	937	37
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,417	56.20	796	96
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,189	53.25	633	68

Every lot, as filed

61 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 1	—	886	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	1,099	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	926	122.50/cwt	122.50–122.50	1,134	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	985	119.09/cwt	118.50–120.50	1,173	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	595	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	887	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	503	165.86/cwt	165.00–168.00	834	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	416	183.00/cwt	183.00–183.00	761	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	393	184.40/cwt	175.00–185.00	725	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	788	136.50/cwt	136.50–136.50	1,076	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	247	172.50/cwt	172.50–172.50	426	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	513	152.93/cwt	152.00–153.50	785	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	560	142.50/cwt	142.50–142.50	798	13
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	985	77.52/cwt	66.00–92.50	764	10
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,142	66.93/cwt	64.00–68.00	764	12
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	809	78.00/cwt	78.00–78.00	631	17
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,363	57.68/cwt	57.00–59.00	786	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,245	52.99/cwt	50.50–56.25	660	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,126	45.05/cwt	44.00–47.00	507	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,154	58.98/cwt	58.00–60.50	681	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,191	53.95/cwt	48.50–56.75	643	41
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,394	58.43/cwt	57.00–59.50	815	10
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,015	109.00/cwt	109.00–109.00	1,106	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	868	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	1,068	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	918	124.88/cwt	124.75–125.00	1,146	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	837	125.59/cwt	124.00–130.00	1,051	24
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	727	138.30/cwt	138.00–139.00	1,005	37
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	760	136.35/cwt	132.00–139.00	1,036	38
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	310	177.00/cwt	177.00–177.00	549	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	328	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	623	17
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,454	56.20/cwt	54.00–57.00	817	26
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,228	65.78/cwt	64.50–67.00	808	2
Bulls	—	—	2,065	87.44/cwt	86.00–88.50	1,806	12
Bulls	—	—	1,793	74.74/cwt	65.00–78.50	1,340	35
Bulls	—	—	1,913	82.51/cwt	79.00–85.50	1,578	38
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	840	141.19/cwt	137.00–141.75	1,186	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	986	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	1,233	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,040	43.00/cwt	43.00–43.00	447	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	228	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	399	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	948	121.50/cwt	121.50–121.50	1,152	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	680	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	911	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	898	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	1,096	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	357	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	571	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	452	157.50/cwt	157.50–157.50	712	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	648	133.50/cwt	133.50–133.50	865	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,586	56.97/cwt	54.00–58.50	904	21
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,411	69.25/cwt	69.25–69.25	977	9
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,767	54.00/cwt	53.00–54.50	954	7
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,411	54.26/cwt	50.00–57.00	766	43
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,387	58.72/cwt	57.00–61.00	814	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	759	142.50/cwt	142.50–142.50	1,082	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	893	131.18/cwt	130.50–132.00	1,171	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	298	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	477	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	878	122.29/cwt	122.00–123.00	1,074	7
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	671	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	859	15
Heifers	Medium 1	—	750	118.50/cwt	118.50–118.50	889	5
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,031	119.93/cwt	119.50–121.25	1,236	13
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	323	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	614	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	567	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	771	6
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,715	63.00/cwt	63.00–63.00	1,080	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,923	69.00/cwt	69.00–69.00	1,327	2
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,395	80.00/cwt	80.00–80.00	1,116	1
Bulls	—Heavy Weight	—	2,520	82.00/cwt	82.00–82.00	2,066	1

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 →