Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-09-24
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-09-24

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder Steers not enough comparable weights for an accurate market trend, lower undertone noted. Heifer Calves not enough comparable weights, lower undertone noted. Yearling Heifers higher undertone noted. Breaker and Boning Utility cows sold steady. Lean Cows sold 2.00 to 3.00 lower. Slaughter Bulls sold steady.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $135.35/cwt on 226 head.

Average price

$135.35

226 head · 735 lb average

Value per head Derived

$995

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$251

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

$6.20/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+1.37

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	780	137.13	1,069	161
Medium and Large 1-2	625	130.94	818	65

One grade step is worth $6.20/cwt here — about $251 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 sale226 hd

135.35

—

MT average3 barns · 1,493 hd

133.99

+1.37

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	—	Low	1,842	75.97	1,399	50
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,571	63.26	994	45
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,338	59.04	790	142
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,199	52.07	625	131

Every lot, as filed

49 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
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	440	163.37/cwt	157.50–170.00	719	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	201	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	392	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	397	181.04/cwt	180.00–186.00	719	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	478	164.16/cwt	162.00–166.00	785	42
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	500	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	800	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	553	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	780	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	251	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	414	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	562	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	764	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	526	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	715	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	419	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	629	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	480	150.50/cwt	150.50–150.50	722	4
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,832	73.39/cwt	69.00–77.50	1,345	25
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,790	80.05/cwt	79.50–81.50	1,433	6
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	2,225	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	1,891	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,588	56.00/cwt	56.00–56.00	889	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,348	59.09/cwt	55.00–62.00	797	26
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,182	53.01/cwt	52.00–55.50	627	12
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,512	63.29/cwt	60.75–66.00	957	16
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,343	63.67/cwt	63.00–64.00	855	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	274	192.50/cwt	192.50–192.50	527	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	316	172.50/cwt	172.50–172.50	545	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	927	131.18/cwt	131.00–131.25	1,216	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	718	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	890	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	829	112.00/cwt	112.00–112.00	928	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	940	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	1,241	38
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	959	122.76/cwt	121.00–124.50	1,177	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	819	136.82/cwt	133.50–141.50	1,121	71
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	679	131.36/cwt	131.00–131.50	892	27
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,342	57.36/cwt	54.00–59.75	770	84
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,333	53.02/cwt	52.00–54.00	707	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,608	63.66/cwt	59.00–66.25	1,024	21
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,169	48.03/cwt	45.00–52.00	561	26
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,648	55.50/cwt	54.00–57.00	915	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,562	68.50/cwt	68.50–68.50	1,070	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,223	53.80/cwt	52.00–57.50	658	88
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,310	64.22/cwt	63.00–65.00	841	24
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	986	40.32/cwt	37.50–42.00	398	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	389	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	587	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	390	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	589	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	360	142.04/cwt	140.00–144.00	511	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	820	141.75/cwt	141.75–141.75	1,162	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	730	128.96/cwt	125.00–131.00	941	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	696	142.50/cwt	142.50–142.50	992	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	484	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	755	12
Bulls	—	—	1,969	81.33/cwt	80.50–82.50	1,601	8
Bulls	—	—	1,756	74.76/cwt	70.00–78.00	1,313	10
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,003	83.91/cwt	73.00–99.00	842	52
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	759	142.50/cwt	142.50–142.50	1,082	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	858	133.25/cwt	133.25–133.25	1,143	6

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 →