Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-11-12
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-11-12

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Unweaned steer calves under 400 lbs sold mostly sharply higher, with most sale 10.00-15.00 higher; 400-549 lbs sold mostly 5.00 higher; unweaned steers over 550 lbs sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market, however higher undertones were noticed. Unweaned heifers under 500 lbs sold mostly steady to firm. Unweaned heifers 500-549 lbs sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher, heifer calves over 550 sold steady to firm. Quality this sale was mostly average to attractive. Demand was mostly good for moderate to heavy offerings. Many sets of short weaned calves were seen this sale. Buyers offered no premium for most of these calves as many were full, dirty and not very eye appealing. The best demand seen this week was for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings. Market activity was mostly active this week. A large crowd was on hand with many buyers and bidders both ringside as well as on the internet. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light offerings. Packers continue to purchase cows for the upcoming holidays. All cows and bulls were very full this sale offering buyers mostly below average weigh up conditions. Slaughter cows sold sold 1.00-3.00 higher, however cows on a dressed basis were 4.00-6.00 higher than last week. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to trend, however steady undertones were noticed. 2-3 year olds sold steady in a narrow comparison.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $163.38/cwt on 2,252 head.

Average price

$163.38

2,252 head · 531 lb average

Value per head Derived

$867

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$219

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1

$19.94/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+2.13

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	536	164.09	879	2,000
Medium and Large 1-2	492	162.92	802	174
Large 1	555	151.54	841	24
Medium 1	458	144.15	661	54

One grade step is worth $19.94/cwt here — about $219 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 sale2,252 hd

163.38

—

MT average5 barns · 5,459 hd

161.26

+2.13

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	1,786	71.02	1,268	13
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,608	60.58	974	18
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,365	53.68	733	28
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,176	48.31	568	95

Every lot, as filed

104 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
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	950	40.28/cwt	38.00–46.00	383	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,139	39.28/cwt	38.00–42.50	447	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,162	38.17/cwt	31.00–41.00	444	11
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,388	48.06/cwt	47.00–49.00	667	2
Bulls	—	—	2,290	48.50/cwt	48.50–48.50	1,111	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,197	48.75/cwt	44.00–50.50	584	16
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,409	46.48/cwt	45.00–48.00	655	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	477	163.31/cwt	160.00–165.00	779	30
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	423	187.39/cwt	180.00–199.00	793	125
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	294	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	603	37
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	478	148.20/cwt	145.00–153.00	708	219
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	419	154.07/cwt	149.00–159.00	646	149
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	520	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	775	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	469	164.00/cwt	164.00–164.00	769	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	516	147.98/cwt	144.00–152.50	764	254
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Full	—	697	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	795	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Full	—	590	111.00/cwt	111.00–111.00	655	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	419	146.16/cwt	145.00–148.00	612	24
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	844	129.50/cwt	129.50–129.50	1,093	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	902	122.50/cwt	122.50–122.50	1,105	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	579	144.86/cwt	144.50–147.00	839	41
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	723	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	1,019	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	765	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	1,048	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	921	131.84/cwt	131.00–132.00	1,214	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	420	173.57/cwt	170.00–179.00	729	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	537	152.57/cwt	150.00–156.00	819	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	334	191.51/cwt	190.00–192.50	640	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	257	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	482	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	521	140.09/cwt	139.00–141.00	730	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	462	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	656	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	584	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	736	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	646	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	885	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	637	139.54/cwt	138.00–143.50	889	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	469	140.07/cwt	135.00–143.00	657	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	356	188.00/cwt	187.50–190.00	669	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	638	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	810	6
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	430	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	555	21
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	550	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	803	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,066	64.10/cwt	59.00–68.00	683	27
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,122	75.04/cwt	69.00–82.00	842	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	503	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	765	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	462	187.69/cwt	186.00–188.00	867	59
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,195	52.45/cwt	49.00–54.00	627	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,755	67.50/cwt	67.50–67.50	1,185	1
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	541	136.79/cwt	136.50–137.00	740	12
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	476	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	676	18
Heifers	Medium 1	—	700	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	889	6
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	451	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	649	50
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,133	41.80/cwt	40.50–43.00	474	4
Bulls	—	—	1,856	71.75/cwt	65.00–74.50	1,332	6
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,265	56.50/cwt	56.50–56.50	715	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,340	55.78/cwt	52.00–59.00	747	16
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,195	109.00/cwt	109.00–109.00	1,303	3
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,005	118.45/cwt	118.00–118.50	1,190	11
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,120	108.00/cwt	108.00–108.00	1,210	1
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	480	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	763	17
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	637	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	892	3
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	814	128.50/cwt	128.50–128.50	1,046	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	805	134.88/cwt	134.50–135.00	1,086	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	528	160.50/cwt	160.50–160.50	847	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	443	194.00/cwt	194.00–194.00	859	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	663	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	908	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	264	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	449	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	671	130.22/cwt	130.00–131.00	874	31
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	719	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	1,035	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	583	152.08/cwt	151.25–157.00	887	76
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	812	137.22/cwt	136.00–143.50	1,114	37
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	633	136.25/cwt	134.00–139.00	862	51
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	684	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	896	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	384	207.50/cwt	207.50–207.50	797	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	483	169.30/cwt	169.00–169.50	818	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	624	147.05/cwt	145.50–147.50	918	47
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	510	158.00/cwt	158.00–158.00	806	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	441	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	728	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	881	138.25/cwt	137.00–140.50	1,218	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	383	167.50/cwt	167.50–167.50	642	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	590	135.60/cwt	135.00–136.00	800	69
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	902	129.12/cwt	123.50–131.00	1,165	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	384	160.49/cwt	156.00–167.00	616	74
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	575	152.80/cwt	147.00–158.00	879	477
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	700	134.75/cwt	134.75–134.75	943	53
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	446	158.50/cwt	158.50–158.50	707	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	513	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	754	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	788	131.55/cwt	131.00–133.50	1,037	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	387	198.46/cwt	192.00–208.00	768	202
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	514	164.31/cwt	157.25–169.50	845	383
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	665	130.63/cwt	129.00–134.00	869	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	571	137.99/cwt	133.00–143.00	788	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	609	135.75/cwt	130.00–138.00	827	32
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	621	145.50/cwt	144.00–149.50	904	142
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	326	160.52/cwt	156.00–167.50	523	95
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	566	134.85/cwt	131.00–141.00	763	98
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	479	175.20/cwt	168.00–182.50	839	156
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	322	203.24/cwt	201.00–209.00	654	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	709	138.93/cwt	134.50–140.00	985	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	674	141.04/cwt	137.00–145.00	951	127
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	538	136.09/cwt	131.00–138.50	732	58
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,599	60.17/cwt	53.00–63.00	962	17
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,463	65.00/cwt	65.00–65.00	951	2
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,495	77.00/cwt	77.00–77.00	1,151	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,505	39.00/cwt	39.00–39.00	587	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,405	66.41/cwt	63.00–69.00	933	2
Bulls	—	—	1,993	78.74/cwt	76.50–81.00	1,569	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,200	52.85/cwt	51.00–57.00	634	49

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 →