Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-07-08

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jul 8
● Final83 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
840 head
226 vs last sale 614 840 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
1,004 head
503 vs last sale 501 1,004 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
488 head
290 vs last sale 198 488 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Also sold here(Mon)Thu Apr 16, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Several sets of cattle were coming off grass and were in light flesh. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate to good on light offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weight up cows sold on moderate to good demand. Demand following the holiday remains mostly good for feeding cows as both packers and feeding buyers showed good demand for offerings. The last sale took place three weeks ago so comparisons on cows is difficult. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to weak. Slaughter cows sold fully steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower. Cow quality was mostly average to attractive this week, however quality was not as attractive overall compared to last sale. Cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill this sale as temperatures soared into the upper 90's to low 100's. Packers continue to purchase the majority of the cow offering to feed as cow supplies remain large due to drought conditions. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower on a drastically lower quality offering. Demand for this class of cattle has lightened as it is getting too late in the season to breed for spring calves.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $161.72/cwt on 304 head.
Average price
$161.72
304 head · 717 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,159
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$27
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 1
$15.89/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.00
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2651162.891,06040
Medium and Large 1727161.651,175262
Large 1703147.001,0332thin
One grade step is worth $15.89/cwt here — about $27 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 sale304 hd
161.72
MT average1 barns · 304 hd
161.72
+0.00
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
BullsHigh1,82587.021,588133
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,60872.421,16555
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,40167.05940327
CowsLean 85-90%High1,15658.75679212

Every lot, as filed

83 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 1-2Full673163.00/cwt163.00–163.001,0977
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,216885.00/cwt885.00–885.0010,76210
SteersMedium and Large 1728165.76/cwt165.50–166.001,207108
HeifersMedium and Large 2588134.00/cwt134.00–134.007884
SteersMedium and Large 1-2669163.73/cwt160.00–166.001,09516
HeifersMedium and Large 1873128.67/cwt125.00–131.001,1239
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned451168.00/cwt168.00–168.0075812
HeifersMedium and Large 1671154.74/cwt147.00–157.001,03813
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned379180.00/cwt180.00–180.006828
SteersMedium and Large 1-2760152.00/cwt152.00–152.001,1555
BullsMedium and Large 1745131.00/cwt131.00–131.009763
SteersMedium and Large 1-2613156.00/cwt156.00–156.009563
SteersMedium and Large 1Full923134.50/cwt134.50–134.501,2412
SteersMedium and Large 1792154.89/cwt154.50–159.001,22761
HeifersMedium and Large 1739146.88/cwt145.00–147.001,08569
HeifersMedium and Large 1771145.26/cwt141.50–146.001,12074
HeifersMedium and Large 1831130.16/cwt129.00–131.001,08214
BullsMedium and Large 1904121.50/cwt121.50–121.501,0988
SteersMedium and Large 1Full738149.00/cwt149.00–149.001,10011
SteersMedium and Large 1819149.59/cwt145.00–152.001,2256
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5061,096.28/cwt1,025.00–1,325.0016,51030
SteersMedium and Large 1625177.00/cwt177.00–177.001,1065
SteersMedium and Large 1587181.19/cwt178.00–186.001,06415
HeifersMedium and Large 1643152.00/cwt152.00–152.009776
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-273080.00/cwt80.00–80.005841
HeifersMedium and Large 1931123.07/cwt121.00–125.501,14615
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,11378.70/cwt66.00–89.5087681
SteersMedium and Large 1860147.04/cwt140.00–148.001,26525
SteersMedium and Large 1675175.00/cwt175.00–175.001,1816
SteersMedium and Large 1Full893137.00/cwt137.00–137.001,2233
Heifer PairsMedium and Large 11,4141,700.00/cwt1,700.00–1,700.0024,0386
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,7731,700.00/cwt1,700.00–1,700.0030,1413
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,4781,425.00/cwt1,425.00–1,425.0021,0623
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,05469.21/cwt61.00–75.0072971
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-21,4951,175.00/cwt1,175.00–1,175.0017,5665
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21570.20/cwt67.00–72.008538
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,16365.47/cwt64.00–67.0076119
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,39366.73/cwt62.50–68.50930130
CowsBoner 80-85%1,44758.21/cwt53.00–62.0084219
Bulls2,02694.80/cwt91.00–99.501,92129
Bulls1,81287.04/cwt82.00–91.001,57783
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight86652.41/cwt47.00–56.0045420
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,41271.50/cwt71.50–71.501,0103
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,52064.22/cwt62.50–67.009765
CowsLean 85-90%1,17555.95/cwt49.00–59.5065781
CowsLean 85-90%1,04846.00/cwt46.00–46.004823
CowsBoner 80-85%1,50469.13/cwt67.50–73.001,04020
BullsReturn to Feed1,48477.00/cwt77.00–77.001,1433
Bulls2,36586.00/cwt86.00–86.002,0341
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,38271.77/cwt69.00–79.5099299
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,37761.71/cwt58.00–63.5085024
CowsLean 85-90%1,22961.62/cwt59.00–65.0075761
CowsBoner 80-85%1,42162.18/cwt61.00–65.0088435
BullsLarge 11,161112.48/cwt109.00–116.001,3066
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,65476.02/cwt74.00–79.501,25724
BullsLarge 11,263106.00/cwt105.00–107.001,3394
Stock CowsLarge 11,16076.00/cwt76.00–76.008821
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,60570.56/cwt70.00–73.501,13223
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,13558.64/cwt57.00–60.0066620
Bred CowsMedium 11,108800.00/cwt800.00–800.008,86431
Bulls1,57275.49/cwt64.00–81.001,18717
Bred CowsMedium 1Non-Legible BANGS933765.60/cwt750.00–775.007,14319
HeifersLarge 11,108115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,2742
SteersLarge 1703147.00/cwt147.00–147.001,0332
BullsLarge 11,087115.45/cwt115.00–122.001,25515
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,04264.90/cwt59.00–67.5067629
HeifersLarge 11,026120.50/cwt120.50–120.501,2368
HeifersMedium 1688138.00/cwt138.00–138.009494
Stock CowsMedium 185365.00/cwt65.00–65.005544
Bred CowsMedium 1Non-Legible BANGS1,138760.00/cwt760.00–760.008,6498
Bred CowsMedium 1Non-Legible BANGS1,161700.00/cwt700.00–700.008,12712
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2738136.00/cwt136.00–136.001,0042
Bred CowsMedium 1Non-Legible BANGS1,024635.00/cwt635.00–635.006,5026
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,5131,660.00/cwt1,660.00–1,660.0025,11612
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,6111,525.00/cwt1,525.00–1,525.0024,56810
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,7151,438.48/cwt1,410.00–1,450.0024,67029
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,4991,460.00/cwt1,460.00–1,460.0021,8855
HeifersMedium and Large 1970126.00/cwt126.00–126.001,2223
HeifersMedium 1581148.00/cwt148.00–148.008605
SteersMedium and Large 1-2540170.00/cwt170.00–170.009186
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2687143.00/cwt143.00–143.0098230
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2628144.00/cwt144.00–144.009043
SteersMedium and Large 1-2580169.00/cwt169.00–169.009803

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.