Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2021-08-05
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-08-05

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago(7-22-21): Yearling steers under 900 lbs sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher, steers over 900 lbs sold mostly 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Yearling heifers under 800 lbs sold unevenly steady, while heifers over 800 lbs sold mostly 5.00-6.00 higher. Demand was mostly good to very good for all yearlings on offer. This week was the first test of spring born calves. Demand for high quality calves was light to moderate. Many sets of spring born calves were of plain to average quality. Many calves were very green and much lighter in weight than usual. Drought conditions continues to drive these offerings to market. With hot dry and dusty conditions being experienced across a large region many buyers passed on these offerings over health concerns. Several sets of replacement heifers continue to be marketed and consigners continue to offer to abort the heifers at their cost if the buyer wishes to feed them. Market activity was mostly active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for heavy offerings. Packers are fighting both feeding buyers and buyers looking for cows which are bred and selling as weigh ups. This helped support the entire cow market this week. Slaughter cows sold steady to firm, while feeding cows sold steady to 1.00 higher. Cow quality this sale was mostly average to very attractive. Many long strings of cows were on offer this sale. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 3.00 higher. Demand from rebreed buyers was stronger this sale. Buyers were actively purchasing cows to rebreed for fall calving in southern states. Demand for cow calf pairs was mostly good this sale. Quality was average to attractive.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $147.05/cwt on 991 head.

Average price

$147.05

991 head · 728 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,071

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$271

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$15.99/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−0.12

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	733	148.61	1,089	700
Medium 1	579	147.86	857	98
Medium and Large 1-2	619	147.62	914	103
Small and Medium 1	483	143.00	691	7thin
Large 1	1,025	132.62	1,359	83

One grade step is worth $15.99/cwt here — about −$271 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 sale991 hd

147.05

—

MT average2 barns · 1,188 hd

147.18

−0.12

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	—	Average	1,757	90.69	1,593	71
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,523	75.58	1,151	89
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,424	71.58	1,019	190
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,156	65.22	754	96

Every lot, as filed

119 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
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,852	1,800.00/cwt	1,800.00–1,800.00	33,336	14
Steers	Medium 1	—	481	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	794	12
Heifers	Medium 1	—	632	142.57/cwt	141.00–150.00	901	34
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,638	1,408.94/cwt	1,300.00–1,435.00	23,078	14
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	935	69.00/cwt	69.00–69.00	645	1
Steers	Medium 2	—	616	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	807	10
Heifers	Medium 1	—	481	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	731	15
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	373	147.50/cwt	147.50–147.50	550	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	765	140.32/cwt	139.00–143.00	1,073	25
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	293	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	454	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,127	62.20/cwt	58.00–63.00	701	6
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,645	1,435.00/cwt	1,435.00–1,435.00	23,606	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	771	149.27/cwt	145.00–155.00	1,151	7
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,422	1,699.06/cwt	1,675.00–1,725.00	24,161	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	722	146.84/cwt	146.00–147.50	1,060	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	903	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,201	4
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	342	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	513	3
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	788	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,001	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	780	148.83/cwt	145.50–150.50	1,161	65
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	487	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	760	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	466	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	676	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	651	168.50/cwt	168.50–168.50	1,097	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	399	145.50/cwt	145.50–145.50	581	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	518	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	751	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	769	163.23/cwt	158.00–164.50	1,255	41
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	239	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	394	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	978	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	1,262	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	674	153.82/cwt	151.00–155.50	1,037	74
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	855	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	1,154	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	720	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	1,174	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	735	151.90/cwt	150.00–154.00	1,116	27
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	378	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	605	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	732	166.77/cwt	163.50–174.00	1,221	71
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	806	146.63/cwt	146.50–147.00	1,182	38
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	969	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,240	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	691	149.70/cwt	147.50–150.00	1,034	40
Steers	Medium 1	—	639	166.66/cwt	164.50–169.00	1,065	22
Steers	Medium 1	—	822	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	1,143	3
Heifers	Medium 1	—	580	151.68/cwt	151.00–152.50	880	40
Steers	Medium 1	—	572	170.13/cwt	169.00–171.00	973	9
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,185	103.49/cwt	100.00–107.00	1,226	2
Heifers	Medium 1	—	542	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	780	9
Steers	Large 1	—	1,034	133.42/cwt	133.00–136.00	1,380	7
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,096	116.14/cwt	116.00–117.00	1,273	7
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,000	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	1,220	1
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,062	127.59/cwt	116.00–133.50	1,355	3
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,110	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,421	4
Steers	Medium 1	—	691	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	1,126	13
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,129	111.70/cwt	108.00–115.00	1,261	14
Dairy Steers	Large 3	—	710	67.00/cwt	67.00–67.00	476	14
Dairy Steers	Large 3	—	513	66.00/cwt	66.00–66.00	339	19
Dairy Steers	Large 3-4	—	420	60.00/cwt	60.00–60.00	252	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,484	76.01/cwt	73.00–77.50	1,128	70
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,012	133.47/cwt	130.00–134.50	1,351	65
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	1,273	78.90/cwt	66.00–80.00	1,004	11
Heifers	Large 1Fancy	—	1,031	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	1,392	9
Bulls	Large 1Fancy	—	1,115	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	1,338	4
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,195	111.00/cwt	111.00–111.00	1,326	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,150	47.00/cwt	47.00–47.00	541	1
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,200	95.00/cwt	95.00–95.00	1,140	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,454	76.27/cwt	74.50–79.50	1,109	79
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,476	62.33/cwt	62.00–63.00	920	7
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,408	66.61/cwt	64.00–69.50	938	46
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,580	63.50/cwt	63.50–63.50	1,003	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,373	68.95/cwt	66.00–72.50	947	45
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	1,035	84.00/cwt	84.00–84.00	869	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,201	64.47/cwt	62.00–66.00	774	25
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	915	66.00/cwt	66.00–66.00	604	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,681	68.75/cwt	66.00–72.00	1,156	8
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,337	85.35/cwt	83.00–90.00	1,141	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,175	59.25/cwt	54.50–62.00	696	38
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,147	78.29/cwt	70.00–79.50	898	25
Bulls	—	—	1,944	96.48/cwt	92.00–104.50	1,876	28
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,445	74.71/cwt	71.00–78.00	1,080	13
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,660	79.25/cwt	78.00–81.50	1,316	10
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	928	54.62/cwt	51.00–60.00	507	6
Bulls	—	—	1,582	80.73/cwt	78.00–83.00	1,277	5
Bulls	—	—	1,668	87.94/cwt	84.00–91.50	1,467	35
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,120	81.45/cwt	73.00–101.00	912	61
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,238	62.00/cwt	62.00–62.00	768	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,366	63.00/cwt	63.00–63.00	861	5
Heifers	Small and Medium 1	—	483	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	691	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,125	69.84/cwt	62.00–79.00	786	29
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,234	1,765.03/cwt	1,485.00–1,900.00	21,780	59
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,496	1,325.00/cwt	1,325.00–1,325.00	19,822	7
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,020	1,275.00/cwt	1,275.00–1,275.00	13,005	11
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,426	1,275.00/cwt	1,275.00–1,275.00	18,182	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	777	150.23/cwt	147.50–153.00	1,167	14
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	882	1,338.16/cwt	1,235.00–1,475.00	11,803	85
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	460	159.18/cwt	150.50–159.50	732	61
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	901	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	1,288	24
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,099	1,000.00/cwt	1,000.00–1,000.00	10,990	6
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,296	1,257.54/cwt	1,000.00–1,300.00	16,298	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	754	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	1,078	4
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,750	1,375.00/cwt	1,375.00–1,375.00	24,063	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	848	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	1,289	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	827	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	1,166	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	380	180.09/cwt	177.50–185.00	684	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	370	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	592	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	874	150.87/cwt	147.50–155.00	1,319	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	928	136.00/cwt	134.50–138.00	1,262	32
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	535	150.53/cwt	148.00–151.50	805	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	648	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	1,011	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	477	171.82/cwt	160.00–173.50	820	25
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	323	187.00/cwt	187.00–187.00	604	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	963	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	1,343	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	423	176.11/cwt	171.00–180.00	745	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	429	156.15/cwt	150.00–158.50	670	73
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	921	151.14/cwt	145.75–153.00	1,392	84
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	623	177.35/cwt	171.00–183.00	1,105	24
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	672	171.50/cwt	171.50–171.50	1,152	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	976	133.29/cwt	130.00–134.25	1,301	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	873	145.01/cwt	141.00–147.50	1,266	206
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	204	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	408	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	315	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	488	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	987	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,313	7
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,475	1,507.75/cwt	1,460.00–1,550.00	22,239	24
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	550	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	880	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	255	187.88/cwt	187.50–188.00	479	13

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 →