Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-12-03
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-12-03

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Good demand was seen for all yearlings on offer. Yearling quality was average to attractive. Unweaned steer calves under 550 lbs sold 10.00-15.00 higher; unweaned steers 550-599 lbs steer sold 6.00-9.00 higher; steers over 600 lbs sold 1.00-4.00 higher. Unweaned heifers under 450 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; 450-499 lbs heifers sold 1.00-2.00 higher; 500-599 lbs heifers sold 3.00-6.00 higher; heifers over 600 lbs sold steady to weak. Demand was mostly good this sale with very good demand seen at times. Several very large consignments of very attractive, reputation calves were seen this week. Quality overall was mostly attractive. The cattle selection overall was better this week compared to the last sale two weeks ago. Weaned calves over 600 lbs showed a slight premium to unweaned cattle this week, however lighter weight calves offered little to no premium. The best demand continues to be seen for calves under 500 lbs which can be developed into yearlings. Many of these calves sold for more dollars per head than their heavyweight siblings. Market activity this week was mostly active with many bidders and buyers in the stands actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers were more aggressive this sale as they purchased cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher than two weeks ago on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows continue to be purchased to feed. Feeding cows sold steady to firm. Cows were of mostly average to very attractive quality this sale. 2 year old to young age cows sold on mostly very good demand. One load lot of very attractive 2 coming 3 year olds were the highlight of the sale. These cows were of very attractive quality and all off one ranch. These offerings sold sharply higher on a significantly higher quality offering compared to last sale.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $174.59/cwt on 2,262 head.

Average price

$174.59

2,262 head · 531 lb average

Value per head Derived

$926

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$116

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$43.25/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+1.47

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	528	176.85	934	2,018
Medium and Large 1-2	511	162.15	829	190
Medium 1	756	134.25	1,015	25
Medium and Large 2	546	134.00	732	19thin
Large 1	786	133.60	1,050	10thin

One grade step is worth $43.25/cwt here — about −$116 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 sale2,262 hd

174.59

—

MT average4 barns · 3,229 hd

173.12

+1.47

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	1,833	77.59	1,422	21
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,634	60.36	986	6thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,320	56.12	741	136
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,193	47.74	570	106

Every lot, as filed

96 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 1	—	480	180.15/cwt	175.00–187.50	865	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	762	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	975	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	683	140.40/cwt	140.00–140.50	959	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	444	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	906	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	911	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,184	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	420	159.01/cwt	154.00–160.50	668	36
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	680	134.68/cwt	132.50–140.00	916	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	584	157.01/cwt	153.00–159.50	917	56
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	721	142.87/cwt	140.00–144.00	1,030	53
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	805	131.96/cwt	131.00–137.00	1,062	105
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	583	142.66/cwt	135.50–145.00	832	92
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	527	150.05/cwt	144.00–152.00	791	86
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	633	132.57/cwt	129.00–137.50	839	69
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	843	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,121	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	363	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	690	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	525	169.27/cwt	164.00–174.00	889	97
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	355	168.00/cwt	168.00–168.00	596	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	323	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	565	48
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	680	131.46/cwt	129.00–133.00	894	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	958	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,274	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	720	137.60/cwt	133.00–138.00	991	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	620	149.97/cwt	143.00–155.00	930	240
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	764	139.26/cwt	136.00–139.50	1,064	74
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	618	150.61/cwt	143.00–155.00	931	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	585	138.93/cwt	135.00–140.50	813	69
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	332	210.57/cwt	210.00–213.00	699	68
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	605	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	817	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	474	150.88/cwt	147.00–155.00	715	109
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	473	192.83/cwt	176.00–195.00	912	499
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	577	153.72/cwt	150.00–160.00	887	89
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	618	133.85/cwt	133.00–134.00	827	48
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	524	172.91/cwt	167.00–178.00	906	407
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	412	212.90/cwt	190.00–216.00	877	212
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	664	144.98/cwt	137.00–150.00	963	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	432	163.23/cwt	151.00–167.00	705	276
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	384	173.18/cwt	160.00–177.50	665	175
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	529	148.95/cwt	145.00–154.50	788	124
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	642	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	860	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	835	124.50/cwt	124.50–124.50	1,040	26
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	891	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	1,123	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	914	136.50/cwt	136.50–136.50	1,248	99
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	460	197.50/cwt	197.50–197.50	909	88
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,322	56.47/cwt	49.00–59.50	747	123
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,371	46.03/cwt	41.00–49.00	631	5
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,315	72.00/cwt	72.00–72.00	947	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,849	82.46/cwt	80.50–83.00	1,525	4
Bulls	—	—	1,838	72.79/cwt	68.00–74.00	1,338	10
Bulls	—	—	1,900	83.26/cwt	79.00–84.00	1,582	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,225	50.00/cwt	50.00–50.00	613	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,187	36.17/cwt	32.00–38.00	429	11
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,222	45.24/cwt	42.00–48.00	553	13
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,555	55.72/cwt	52.00–60.00	866	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,810	69.00/cwt	69.00–69.00	1,249	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,665	63.00/cwt	63.00–63.00	1,049	2
Steers	Large 1	—	630	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	869	6
Heifers	Large 1Fleshy	—	1,113	100.00/cwt	100.00–100.00	1,113	6
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,380	46.00/cwt	46.00–46.00	635	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,225	60.84/cwt	60.00–61.00	745	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,205	46.52/cwt	44.00–49.00	561	29
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,180	51.45/cwt	49.50–53.00	607	52
Heifers	Medium 1	—	733	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	916	14
Steers	Medium 1	—	756	134.25/cwt	134.25–134.25	1,015	25
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,090	120.50/cwt	120.50–120.50	1,313	1
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,117	110.50/cwt	110.50–110.50	1,234	9
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,028	122.50/cwt	122.50–122.50	1,259	3
Steers	Large 1	—	1,019	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,294	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	904	95.29/cwt	68.00–99.00	861	122
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,163	950.00/cwt	950.00–950.00	11,049	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,058	51.00/cwt	51.00–51.00	540	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,028	66.30/cwt	62.00–75.00	682	50
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,493	1,085.00/cwt	1,085.00–1,085.00	16,199	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS	—	1,195	985.00/cwt	985.00–985.00	11,771	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	880	132.45/cwt	132.00–133.00	1,166	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	487	152.95/cwt	148.00–158.00	745	197
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	958	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,217	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	581	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	761	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	431	177.87/cwt	169.00–185.00	767	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	540	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	837	43
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	358	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	555	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	809	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,027	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	422	147.25/cwt	145.00–149.00	621	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	322	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	564	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	542	159.50/cwt	159.50–159.50	864	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	646	137.34/cwt	134.00–138.00	887	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	481	140.49/cwt	138.00–146.00	676	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	567	146.46/cwt	146.00–147.00	830	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	423	186.22/cwt	175.00–189.00	788	42
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	679	135.42/cwt	135.00–136.75	920	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	438	147.33/cwt	146.00–149.00	645	38
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	753	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,009	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	571	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	834	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	381	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	671	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	952	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	1,114	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	586	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	774	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	656	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	886	4
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	546	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	732	19

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 →