Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-03-18

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Mar 18
● Final62 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
542 head
1,963 vs last sale 2,505 464 vs year ago 78 · +594.9%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
225 head
120 vs last sale 345 160 vs year ago 385 · 41.6%
Replacement Cattle receipts
80 head
1,424 vs last sale 1,504 839 vs year ago 919 · 91.3%
Also sold here(Mon)Thu Apr 16, 2026
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steers under 600 lbs sold with lower undertones, while steers over 600 lbs sold with steady to higher undertones. Heifers weighing less than 700 lbs sold with steady undertones, while heifers over 700 lbs sold with lower undertones. Quality this week was plain to average. CME positions sold off sharply today, as most contracts saw triple digit losses. However, demand for cattle suitable to go to grass remained good as ranchers continue to push to gather offerings. Market activity this week was moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Packers were the driving force in the market this week as they showed good demand for slaughter cows. A winter storm across much of the plains has slowed the volume of cows and bulls being delivered to plants. Packers paid significantly higher prices in order to secure offerings this sale. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to trend as most cows were purchased for immediate harvest this week. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher. Two year old to young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady in a narrow comparison.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $140.52/cwt on 226 head.
Average price
$140.52
226 head · 645 lb average
Value per head Derived
$907
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$259
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium 1
$25.24/cwt at this weight
vs the market
9.70
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2450150.2467617thin
Medium 1-2376141.055307thin
Medium and Large 1668140.29937194
Medium 1748125.009358thin
One grade step is worth $25.24/cwt here — about −$259 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
140.52
MT average3 barns · 2,311 hd
150.22
−9.70
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
BullsHigh1,85085.131,57538
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,53564.259864thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,53063.8897733
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,39262.1786573
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,22459.5472958

Every lot, as filed

62 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
SteersMedium and Large 1-2564158.21/cwt148.00–165.008928
HeifersMedium and Large 1483161.53/cwt158.50–164.5078012
SteersMedium and Large 1458181.19/cwt177.50–185.0083016
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2510141.00/cwt141.00–141.007194
HeifersMedium and Large 1791129.00/cwt129.00–129.001,02010
HeifersMedium and Large 1830124.50/cwt124.50–124.501,03337
HeifersMedium and Large 1622144.07/cwt136.00–146.5089629
SteersMedium and Large 1573160.61/cwt160.00–162.0092010
SteersMedium and Large 1603163.00/cwt163.00–163.009834
HeifersMedium and Large 1912116.00/cwt116.00–116.001,0586
SteersMedium and Large 1737143.50/cwt143.50–143.501,05820
HeifersMedium and Large 1710130.00/cwt130.00–130.0092318
HeifersMedium and Large 1507159.30/cwt159.00–159.508085
BullsMedium and Large 1923101.00/cwt101.00–101.009322
BullsMedium and Large 1633138.00/cwt138.00–138.008742
SteersMedium and Large 1530172.39/cwt170.00–174.009145
SteersMedium and Large 1663160.88/cwt160.00–163.501,06765
SteersMedium and Large 1368185.00/cwt185.00–185.006812
SteersMedium and Large 1770136.20/cwt135.00–141.001,04913
BullsMedium and Large 1674129.80/cwt129.00–131.008755
BullsMedium and Large 1482167.00/cwt167.00–167.008055
SteersMedium and Large 1429193.37/cwt190.00–195.008303
BullsMedium and Large 1791125.50/cwt125.50–125.509937
BullsMedium and Large 1500162.50/cwt162.50–162.508131
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed96570.00/cwt70.00–70.006761
CowsBoner 80-85%1,35666.85/cwt66.00–68.009066
Bulls2,18589.00/cwt89.00–89.001,9451
Bulls1,69977.29/cwt73.00–83.001,31313
Bulls2,03792.56/cwt91.00–97.001,88511
Bulls1,99485.94/cwt83.00–89.001,71410
BullsReturn to Feed1,22487.82/cwt87.50–88.001,0753
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,43964.32/cwt63.50–65.5092617
CowsBoner 80-85%1,36356.63/cwt55.50–58.0077213
CowsLean 85-90%1,28460.93/cwt58.00–64.5078225
CowsLean 85-90%1,19157.32/cwt56.00–59.5068317
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,58856.46/cwt54.00–59.008972
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,39659.79/cwt56.00–60.7583513
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21562.62/cwt60.00–65.507618
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight94855.83/cwt51.00–59.505293
SteersMedium 1714139.00/cwt139.00–139.0099211
HeifersMedium 1748125.00/cwt125.00–125.009358
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21457.41/cwt54.50–62.006975
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,29667.10/cwt66.50–67.508705
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40764.86/cwt62.50–66.259136
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42363.30/cwt61.00–65.5090130
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,355835.00/cwt835.00–835.0011,3142
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,10768.50/cwt61.50–81.0075831
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,63264.40/cwt61.00–66.501,05114
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,53564.25/cwt64.25–64.259864
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-288380.00/cwt80.00–80.007062
HeifersMedium 1-2376141.05/cwt140.00–142.505307
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2411154.87/cwt154.00–156.006377
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2455151.00/cwt151.00–151.006876
SteersLarge 11,023119.00/cwt119.00–119.001,2172
Stock CowsLarge 11,01087.00/cwt87.00–87.008791
SteersMedium and Large 1-2392180.00/cwt180.00–180.007063
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,03895.50/cwt80.00–106.0099135
HeifersMedium and Large 1578152.45/cwt146.00–158.0088158
HeifersMedium and Large 1674133.10/cwt133.00–135.0089719
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,129943.51/cwt900.00–1,000.0010,6525
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-299560.00/cwt60.00–60.005971
SteersMedium and Large 1-2510156.00/cwt156.00–156.007961

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.