Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-05-06

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, May 6
● Final76 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
827 head
2,497 vs last sale 3,324 226 vs year ago 601 · +37.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
424 head
39 vs last sale 385 158 vs year ago 266 · +59.4%
Replacement Cattle receipts
313 head
111 vs last sale 202 77 vs year ago 390 · 19.7%
Also sold here(Mon)Thu Apr 16, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: The best test for feeder cattle was 550-649 lbs heifers which sold mostly 4.00-5.00 lower. All other weights of steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly plain to average this week. Demand was very light to moderate. Demand for feeders under 500 lbs was mostly light as these cattle are too light for most to turn out on grass and will take more feed if put in the feedlot to get to their desired weight. Demand for crossbred or plain cattle was very light as very few takers were bidding on these type offerings. Cattle suitable to run on grass sold with moderate demand this week. Market activity was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Packers buyers showed need for cows for immediate harvest as they purchased a large portion of the offering to slaughter. The cow cutout continues to push higher as demand for ground beef is very good. The cutter cow cutout closed at 201.55 as of todays close, 1.52 higher. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on breaking cows, while boning and lean cows sold 1.00-2.00 lower. Packers were able to buy cows lower due to heavier than usually supplies for this time of year as drought conditions continue to drive cows and bulls to market. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Weigh up conditions were average to above average this week as good weather and green grass helped with weigh conditions. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady. Several sets of fancy three year old cows sold on very good demand. Quality this week was average to attractive.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $135.81/cwt on 388 head.
Average price
$135.81
388 head · 561 lb average
Value per head Derived
$762
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$43
per head · Medium 1-2 over Medium 2
$46.51/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.79
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1-2386146.9856748
Medium and Large 1569145.15825136
Medium and Large 1-2590136.19803123
Medium 1518134.0069412thin
Medium and Large 2637116.9274437
Medium 2607100.4761032
One grade step is worth $46.51/cwt here — about −$43 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 sale388 hd
135.81
MT average3 barns · 1,029 hd
135.02
+0.79
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
BullsAverage1,78387.871,56759
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,61367.411,08741
CowsBoner 80-85%Very Low1,37763.05868134
CowsLean 85-90%High1,19060.35718155

Every lot, as filed

76 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 11,0431,030.28/cwt1,025.00–1,050.0010,74612
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,111900.00/cwt900.00–900.009,9998
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2710122.00/cwt122.00–122.008661
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2628136.71/cwt132.00–137.5085921
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2569135.00/cwt135.00–135.0076811
BullsMedium and Large 1-2555137.00/cwt137.00–137.007603
SteersMedium and Large 2580140.00/cwt140.00–140.008128
HeifersMedium and Large 2556122.11/cwt120.00–132.0067918
SteersMedium and Large 1425187.00/cwt187.00–187.007956
SteersMedium and Large 1-2514164.47/cwt163.00–167.508453
SteersMedium and Large 1-2650135.00/cwt135.00–135.0087814
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2437149.27/cwt149.00–150.0065215
BullsMedium and Large 2492130.00/cwt130.00–130.006405
SteersMedium and Large 1-2568160.00/cwt160.00–160.009092
BullsMedium and Large 1-2688119.00/cwt119.00–119.008192
SteersMedium and Large 1765134.99/cwt132.00–138.001,03318
SteersMedium and Large 1609155.67/cwt154.00–164.0094812
HeifersMedium and Large 1562149.03/cwt148.00–149.5083849
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2398150.00/cwt150.00–150.005974
SteersMedium and Large 1-2335180.00/cwt180.00–180.006032
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed700150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,0503
SteersMedium and Large 1460182.00/cwt182.00–182.0083712
BullsMedium and Large 1902109.00/cwt109.00–109.009833
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,186800.00/cwt800.00–800.009,4884
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2485133.30/cwt131.00–134.0064716
HeifersMedium and Large 1526146.54/cwt144.00–151.0077130
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,12977.74/cwt61.00–96.00878108
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3071,023.31/cwt1,000.00–1,050.0013,3758
HeifersMedium and Large 1707128.00/cwt128.00–128.009053
HeifersMedium and Large 1632140.35/cwt139.00–140.5088740
SteersMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed513190.00/cwt190.00–190.0097515
HeifersMedium and Large 1473146.00/cwt146.00–146.0069114
CowsBoner 80-85%1,49353.00/cwt53.00–53.007914
BullsReturn to Feed1,25585.79/cwt84.00–88.001,0772
BullsLight Weight1,12565.00/cwt65.00–65.007311
BullsReturn to Feed1,27775.39/cwt72.00–82.009633
Bulls1,80788.18/cwt84.50–92.501,59322
Bulls1,57178.85/cwt72.00–83.001,23911
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,22470.30/cwt69.00–72.008608
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,22064.62/cwt63.00–66.5078819
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,34665.70/cwt62.50–68.0088446
CowsLean 85-90%1,20161.27/cwt58.50–65.5073650
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,73572.61/cwt72.50–73.501,2609
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,58366.87/cwt65.00–68.501,05919
CowsLean 85-90%1,14569.02/cwt67.50–69.757906
CowsLean 85-90%1,08050.00/cwt50.00–50.005401
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,33859.05/cwt58.00–60.007902
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,42471.25/cwt67.00–73.501,01515
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight89061.00/cwt61.00–61.005431
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,54873.50/cwt73.50–73.501,1382
BullsLarge 11,12595.60/cwt92.00–98.001,0765
Stock CowsLarge 11,02281.15/cwt81.00–85.0082923
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21259.17/cwt57.00–62.0071711
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,57762.98/cwt61.00–64.0099311
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight86056.66/cwt56.00–58.004873
CowsLean 85-90%1,19056.32/cwt51.00–59.0067056
HeifersMedium 2571100.00/cwt100.00–100.0057117
HeifersMedium 1-2425147.00/cwt147.00–147.0062520
CowsBoner 80-85%1,38858.62/cwt56.00–62.0081444
CowsBoner 80-85%1,37262.96/cwt62.00–67.0086423
HeifersMedium 1518134.00/cwt134.00–134.0069412
BullsMedium 1808106.00/cwt106.00–106.008562
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,055850.00/cwt850.00–850.008,96814
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,3261,100.98/cwt1,085.00–1,150.0014,5997
Stock CowsLarge 11,00065.00/cwt65.00–65.006504
Bulls2,03695.71/cwt93.00–102.001,94920
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed84565.00/cwt65.00–65.005491
HeifersMedium 2648101.00/cwt101.00–101.0065415
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2663132.75/cwt132.75–132.7588055
SteersMedium and Large 2652123.90/cwt121.00–125.0080855
HeifersMedium 1-2324146.00/cwt146.00–146.0047310
HeifersMedium 1-2376147.50/cwt147.50–147.5055518
HeifersMedium and Large 2713112.00/cwt112.00–112.0079919
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,01389.93/cwt80.00–107.0091193
BullsMedium and Large 2426138.00/cwt138.00–138.005884
SteersMedium and Large 1-2491170.84/cwt170.00–175.0083912

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.