Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-01-14

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jan 14
● Final64 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
177 head
5,469 vs last sale 5,646 148 vs year ago 325 · 45.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
516 head
376 vs last sale 140 306 vs year ago 210 · +145.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
777 head
696 vs last sale 81 1,427 vs year ago 2,204 · 64.7%
Also sold here(Mon)Thu Apr 16, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Steers and heifers were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on a significantly lower quality offering. Demand this week was mostly light for light offerings. Quality was mostly plain and most calves were offered in small packages or as singles. Market activity was slow. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for heavy offerings. Packer buyers were reserved as they bid on cow offerings this week, showing mostly light demand for both slaughter and feeding cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower on lean cows. Boning and breaking cows were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were average this week and better overall than last. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Around 650 bred cows were on offer this sale. Demand was light to moderate. Quality was mostly plain. Young age cows suitable to rebreed were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $120.50/cwt on 87 head.
Average price
$120.50
87 head · 721 lb average
Value per head Derived
$869
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$99
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$32.61/cwt at this weight
vs the market
19.10
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1714125.1189367
Medium 2438110.004826thin
Medium 1736108.507997thin
Medium and Large 1-2970101.009804thin
Large 11,07392.509933thin
One grade step is worth $32.61/cwt here — about −$99 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 sale87 hd
120.50
MT average3 barns · 794 hd
139.60
−19.10
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
BullsAverage1,71876.511,31430
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,64853.4088015
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,40749.3869592
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,18444.69529267

Every lot, as filed

64 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
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS9331,100.00/cwt1,100.00–1,100.0010,2638
Stock CowsMedium and Large 194188.73/cwt81.00–95.008356
HeifersMedium and Large 1474151.00/cwt151.00–151.007164
SteersMedium and Large 1528156.23/cwt155.00–157.508252
HeifersMedium and Large 1906105.57/cwt105.00–106.0095614
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3791,215.75/cwt1,110.00–1,275.0016,76517
SteersMedium and Large 1583149.99/cwt149.00–151.008746
SteersMedium and Large 1469164.46/cwt158.00–170.0077111
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,0611,261.65/cwt1,085.00–1,325.0013,38635
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS1,317850.00/cwt850.00–850.0011,1955
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,390994.39/cwt860.00–1,075.0013,82269
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3721,025.00/cwt1,025.00–1,025.0014,0633
SteersMedium and Large 1721125.13/cwt125.00–125.509028
HeifersMedium and Large 1345160.00/cwt160.00–160.005524
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,295792.88/cwt700.00–810.0010,26816
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 1-21,0101,075.00/cwt1,075.00–1,075.0010,8582
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1831,335.23/cwt1,300.00–1,410.0015,79642
Stock CowsMedium and Large 197271.07/cwt54.00–82.00691134
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,565775.00/cwt775.00–775.0012,1291
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,0561,106.18/cwt1,100.00–1,125.0011,6814
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,338842.38/cwt750.00–925.0011,271158
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,355810.00/cwt810.00–810.0010,9761
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 19691,285.00/cwt1,285.00–1,285.0012,45235
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS1,3631,050.00/cwt1,050.00–1,050.0014,3122
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,4151,200.00/cwt1,200.00–1,200.0016,9803
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,183675.00/cwt675.00–675.007,9854
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight94332.50/cwt32.00–33.003062
Bulls2,30578.50/cwt78.50–78.501,8091
Bulls1,80086.50/cwt86.50–86.501,5571
Bulls1,94382.80/cwt82.00–84.501,6093
BullsReturn to Feed1,43481.20/cwt78.50–83.001,1645
Bulls1,71273.44/cwt68.00–77.501,25713
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,29647.82/cwt47.25–51.0062039
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,62852.96/cwt51.00–53.5086210
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,41046.55/cwt43.00–48.0065625
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,38351.78/cwt48.50–54.5071650
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,30557.50/cwt57.50–57.507501
CowsLean 85-90%1,16544.03/cwt39.00–47.00513133
BullsLarge 11,02490.00/cwt90.00–90.009225
CowsBoner 80-85%1,46345.50/cwt43.00–48.0066614
CowsBoner 80-85%1,52851.00/cwt51.00–51.007793
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,80549.50/cwt49.50–49.508931
CowsLean 85-90%1,22748.13/cwt47.50–52.0059114
CowsLean 85-90%1,12436.82/cwt35.00–38.504147
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3451,150.00/cwt1,150.00–1,150.0015,4683
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,217975.00/cwt975.00–975.0011,86612
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,18844.96/cwt42.00–47.0053463
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,65955.48/cwt54.50–56.509204
SteersLarge 11,102108.50/cwt108.50–108.501,19613
HeifersLarge 11,07392.50/cwt92.50–92.509933
SteersMedium and Large 1398183.00/cwt183.00–183.007282
SteersMedium and Large 1-2459152.50/cwt152.50–152.507006
BullsReturn to Feed1,73874.44/cwt72.50–74.751,2947
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight93640.58/cwt37.50–45.003808
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3081,185.00/cwt1,185.00–1,185.0015,5009
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,317718.72/cwt710.00–735.009,46612
SteersMedium and Large 1-2570144.00/cwt144.00–144.008214
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2970101.00/cwt101.00–101.009804
HeifersMedium 2438110.00/cwt110.00–110.004826
HeifersMedium 1736108.50/cwt108.50–108.507997
HeifersMedium and Large 1530139.22/cwt138.00–140.007385
HeifersMedium and Large 1878114.50/cwt114.50–114.501,00519
HeifersMedium and Large 1615129.90/cwt128.00–130.5079911
HeifersMedium and Large 1577136.00/cwt136.00–136.0078510

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.