Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2021-04-29
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-04-29

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago: Last sale feeder receipts were very light so no accurate market comparisons can be made. Lower undertones were seen on steers and steady to weak undertones were noted on heifers. Heifer quality was mostly average to attractive, while steer quality was mostly plain to average. Dry conditions have pushed some replacement heifers to market. Buyers looking for high quality grass cattle showed good demand for these offerings. A limited amount of heifers sold as replacements this sale. Flesh conditions were mixed today with most cattle under 750 lbs in light flesh, while most cattle over 750 lbs were in moderate to moderate plus flesh, with a few fleshy cattle on offer as well. Demand overall was moderate for moderate to heavy offerings. Demand was strong early in the sale as several ranchers were in the stands actively bidding on offerings. Demand diminished as these buyers filled loads. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mixed demand for light offerings. Packers showed lighter demand for slaughter cows this sale and feeding buyers continue to pass on older and thinner cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 lower. Feeding cows sold on mostly good demand this sale as packers showed good demand for high quality young cows. Feeding cows sold generally steady. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this sale as cows sold late in the day and many were pushing heavy amounts of fill. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 6.00-10.00 lower. Demand to feed these offerings has lightened as corn and other feed cost have risen sharply over the last few weeks.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $143.32/cwt on 1,526 head.

Average price

$143.32

1,526 head · 620 lb average

Value per head Derived

$888

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$237

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1

$23.12/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+0.50

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	540	146.72	792	67
Medium and Large 1-2	518	146.52	759	276
Medium and Large 1	632	144.96	917	1,024
Medium and Large 2	492	135.27	665	22
Medium 1-2	502	129.00	648	8thin
Medium 2	572	127.28	728	13thin
Large 1	833	123.60	1,029	116

One grade step is worth $23.12/cwt here — about −$237 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 sale1,526 hd

143.32

—

MT average3 barns · 1,923 hd

142.83

+0.50

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	—	High	1,706	87.73	1,497	82
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,422	66.04	939	52
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,568	63.45	995	17
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,181	60.18	711	125

Every lot, as filed

118 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
Bulls	—	—	2,060	94.81/cwt	92.00–100.00	1,953	16
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,459	68.47/cwt	65.00–69.50	999	25
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,567	63.10/cwt	57.00–65.00	989	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	423	193.75/cwt	190.00–197.00	820	45
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	451	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	834	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	863	123.95/cwt	123.00–125.00	1,070	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	478	160.33/cwt	158.00–162.00	766	95
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	482	188.86/cwt	186.50–192.50	910	45
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	866	118.59/cwt	116.00–120.00	1,027	35
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	1,082	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	1,147	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	825	117.10/cwt	112.50–123.50	966	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	579	152.83/cwt	148.00–158.00	885	187
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	665	142.63/cwt	136.00–145.50	948	111
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	520	157.87/cwt	157.00–159.00	821	76
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	437	161.50/cwt	161.50–161.50	706	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	898	108.00/cwt	108.00–108.00	970	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	70	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	140	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	713	120.64/cwt	119.00–123.00	860	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	713	133.73/cwt	128.50–139.00	953	65
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	756	128.30/cwt	126.00–131.00	970	23
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	565	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	780	11
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	115	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	345	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	586	135.80/cwt	131.00–147.00	796	78
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	377	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	603	8
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	964	110.50/cwt	110.50–110.50	1,065	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	968	110.50/cwt	110.50–110.50	1,070	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	838	113.00/cwt	113.00–113.00	947	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	433	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	650	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	738	136.19/cwt	135.00–137.00	1,005	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	643	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	952	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	669	133.93/cwt	133.00–134.00	896	41
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	779	119.29/cwt	116.00–121.00	929	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	534	182.22/cwt	179.00–187.00	973	178
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	661	158.31/cwt	148.00–164.50	1,046	92
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	937	120.38/cwt	120.00–120.50	1,128	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	398	194.50/cwt	194.50–194.50	774	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	982	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	1,119	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	626	145.10/cwt	140.50–152.50	908	120
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	736	145.52/cwt	141.50–149.50	1,071	112
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	573	176.47/cwt	170.00–179.50	1,011	205
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	743	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	1,033	31
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	510	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	995	43
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	773	135.94/cwt	131.00–137.00	1,051	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	824	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,055	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	625	164.59/cwt	160.00–170.00	1,029	50
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	927	109.27/cwt	107.00–114.00	1,013	12
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,148	1,179.71/cwt	1,150.00–1,200.00	13,543	17
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	991	89.72/cwt	71.00–111.00	889	80
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	608	176.84/cwt	176.50–179.00	1,075	67
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	821	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	993	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,581	1,100.00/cwt	1,100.00–1,100.00	17,391	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,181	69.90/cwt	66.00–72.00	826	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	699	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	1,000	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	655	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	983	102
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	885	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	1,062	4
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,503	1,675.00/cwt	1,675.00–1,675.00	25,175	3
Bulls	—Natural	—	1,745	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	1,483	2
Bulls	—	—	1,698	87.98/cwt	84.50–91.00	1,494	14
Bulls	—Natural	—	1,878	95.00/cwt	95.00–95.00	1,784	8
Bulls	—Natural	—	1,689	91.65/cwt	87.00–93.00	1,548	9
Bulls	—	—	1,669	79.56/cwt	73.50–84.00	1,328	22
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,358	59.71/cwt	48.00–63.25	811	11
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,245	75.20/cwt	72.00–79.00	936	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,192	66.31/cwt	64.50–68.50	790	18
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,580	69.00/cwt	69.00–69.00	1,090	1
Bulls	Large 1Fancy	—	1,130	108.00/cwt	108.00–108.00	1,220	11
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	915	61.00/cwt	61.00–61.00	558	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	941	55.55/cwt	54.00–60.00	523	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,157	57.58/cwt	53.00–62.50	666	60
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,362	64.19/cwt	64.00–64.50	874	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,470	72.65/cwt	72.00–74.00	1,068	3
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,003	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	1,143	54
Heifers	Large 1	—	640	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	813	20
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,243	59.83/cwt	59.25–63.50	744	16
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,416	65.86/cwt	63.50–67.50	933	8
Steers	Large 1Fleshy	—	1,144	102.00/cwt	102.00–102.00	1,167	10
Steers	Large 1Fleshy	—	1,081	107.00/cwt	107.00–107.00	1,157	7
Steers	Medium 1	—	353	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	653	7
Heifers	Large 1Fleshy	—	1,121	104.00/cwt	104.00–104.00	1,166	7
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,140	87.77/cwt	86.00–89.50	1,001	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,236	62.85/cwt	62.00–68.50	777	26
Heifers	Large 1	—	571	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	822	31
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,008	108.00/cwt	108.00–108.00	1,089	2
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	502	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	648	8
Heifers	Medium 1	—	607	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	826	18
Steers	Large 1	—	1,083	113.50/cwt	113.50–113.50	1,229	24
Steers	Large 1	—	1,291	111.00/cwt	111.00–111.00	1,433	7
Steers	Medium 1	—	540	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	950	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	690	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	925	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	589	166.64/cwt	159.00–169.00	982	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	643	144.95/cwt	144.00–151.00	932	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	390	158.05/cwt	156.00–160.50	616	35
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	528	150.09/cwt	141.00–156.50	792	41
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	647	130.50/cwt	129.00–132.00	844	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	326	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	531	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	425	184.99/cwt	184.00–188.00	786	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	525	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	714	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	394	191.00/cwt	191.00–191.00	753	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	468	176.26/cwt	175.00–179.00	825	21
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	75	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	150	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	630	137.50/cwt	131.00–139.00	866	37
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,186	1,229.42/cwt	1,175.00–1,250.00	14,581	14
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	930	63.00/cwt	63.00–63.00	586	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	688	144.64/cwt	143.50–146.00	995	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	477	153.19/cwt	145.00–159.00	731	65
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,533	1,300.00/cwt	1,300.00–1,300.00	19,929	3
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,420	1,350.00/cwt	1,350.00–1,350.00	19,170	2
Heifers	Medium 1	—	484	157.50/cwt	157.50–157.50	762	11
Heifers	Medium 1	—	524	148.68/cwt	147.00–150.00	779	38
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	479	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	647	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	521	170.84/cwt	166.00–177.00	890	32
Heifers	Medium 2	—	572	127.28/cwt	121.00–130.00	728	13
Steers	Medium 2	—	632	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	695	11
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,059	102.00/cwt	102.00–102.00	1,080	8
Heifers	Large 1Fleshy	—	1,020	112.50/cwt	112.50–112.50	1,148	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,100	1,450.00/cwt	1,450.00–1,450.00	15,950	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	838	89.32/cwt	72.00–95.00	749	5
Steers	Medium 1	—	469	181.43/cwt	180.00–182.00	851	7

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 →