Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2021-08-19
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-08-19

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago(8-05-21): Yearling steers under 850 lbs were not well compared, however steady undertones were noticed. Steers over 850 lbs sold mostly 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Yearling heifers under 850 lbs sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher, heifers over 850 lbs sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher. Demand was mostly good to very good for all yearlings on offer. Spring born calves sold on moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Steer calves were too lightly tested last sale to develop a full market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed. The best test for heifer calves was for 400-499 lbs which sold mostly 5.00-15.00 higher. All other heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all weights. Quality this week for both calves and yearlings was average to very attractive. The best demand for calves was for fully preconditioned calves. These offerings sold with an $8.00-10.00 premium for most offerings. This led to wide price spreads at times. 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 with many bidders both ringside as well as on the internet. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for heavy offerings. Packers took a back seat to other buyers this week as they allowed cow prices to slide. Buyers looking for cows which could be bred purchased a large portion of the cow offering this week. These cows were reported as bred per cwt. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-4.00 lower on a lower quality offering. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower on all classes. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00 lower. Several buyers purchased bulls to feed this week including packers. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. Demand from rebreed buyers was stronger again 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. Prices for pairs continue to go up in value as calves increase in price.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $175.88/cwt on 855 head.

Average price

$175.88

855 head · 638 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,121

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$508

per head · Large 1 over Medium and Large 2

$58.50/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+0.55

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Large 1	370	192.50	712	3thin
Medium and Large 1	630	177.91	1,122	761
Medium 1	627	167.00	1,047	3thin
Medium and Large 1-2	691	160.16	1,107	81
Medium and Large 2	911	134.00	1,221	7thin

One grade step is worth $58.50/cwt here — about −$508 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 sale855 hd

175.88

—

MT average2 barns · 1,097 hd

175.33

+0.55

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	—	Low	1,742	85.28	1,485	98
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,670	72.63	1,213	29
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,464	63.09	923	129
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,204	57.86	696	160

Every lot, as filed

109 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
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	716	167.76/cwt	165.00–170.00	1,201	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	911	144.63/cwt	143.50–146.00	1,318	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	713	158.80/cwt	157.00–162.00	1,132	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	423	169.74/cwt	164.00–176.50	718	80
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	379	182.12/cwt	173.50–185.00	690	117
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	330	184.19/cwt	173.00–190.00	608	34
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	761	164.04/cwt	162.00–165.00	1,248	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	567	151.01/cwt	148.10–152.50	856	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	664	177.00/cwt	177.00–177.00	1,175	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	457	165.69/cwt	161.00–170.00	757	35
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	389	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	650	8
Heifers	Medium 1	—	696	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	1,044	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	950	135.50/cwt	135.50–135.50	1,287	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	382	169.00/cwt	169.00–169.00	646	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	619	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	842	4
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	703	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	942	3
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,011	135.50/cwt	135.50–135.50	1,370	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	825	149.01/cwt	148.00–150.00	1,229	58
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	521	154.44/cwt	154.00–156.00	805	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	973	139.10/cwt	133.00–141.50	1,353	72
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	274	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	507	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	878	146.07/cwt	143.25–148.25	1,282	107
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	764	153.03/cwt	150.00–155.00	1,169	33
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	511	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	669	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	453	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	693	2
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,080	125.50/cwt	125.50–125.50	1,355	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	736	154.31/cwt	150.00–157.00	1,136	50
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	895	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	1,271	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	777	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	1,220	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	474	177.92/cwt	171.00–181.50	843	70
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	911	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,221	7
Steers	Large 1	—	370	192.50/cwt	192.50–192.50	712	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	371	196.00/cwt	196.00–196.00	727	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	805	162.39/cwt	162.00–162.50	1,307	36
Steers	Medium 1	—	627	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	1,047	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	811	154.50/cwt	154.50–154.50	1,253	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	363	214.05/cwt	190.00–219.00	777	68
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	224	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	448	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	417	176.09/cwt	172.50–179.00	734	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	586	166.39/cwt	165.00–169.00	975	24
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	879	155.80/cwt	152.00–157.50	1,369	184
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	908	156.23/cwt	150.00–157.00	1,419	95
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	506	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	865	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	274	219.08/cwt	213.00–228.50	600	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	628	154.92/cwt	145.00–160.00	973	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	327	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	697	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	418	199.79/cwt	185.00–209.75	835	200
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	532	168.40/cwt	164.50–176.00	896	20
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,113	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	1,224	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	635	142.50/cwt	142.50–142.50	905	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	463	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	755	13
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	234	212.50/cwt	212.50–212.50	497	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	693	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	1,012	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	950	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,264	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,493	81.02/cwt	80.00–82.00	1,210	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,458	75.12/cwt	75.00–75.50	1,095	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,476	65.17/cwt	61.00–69.00	962	58
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,375	59.87/cwt	59.00–60.00	823	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,425	70.82/cwt	69.00–75.00	1,009	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,182	57.11/cwt	50.00–60.50	675	74
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,290	61.66/cwt	59.00–66.00	795	27
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,070	50.13/cwt	50.00–51.00	536	8
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,646	73.69/cwt	72.50–76.00	1,213	11
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,937	79.46/cwt	78.50–80.00	1,539	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,743	66.10/cwt	62.00–70.50	1,152	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,288	66.00/cwt	66.00–66.00	850	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,287	60.86/cwt	60.00–63.00	783	15
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,490	58.73/cwt	58.50–60.00	875	35
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,432	62.87/cwt	60.50–67.00	900	20
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	955	54.18/cwt	53.00–56.00	517	5
Bulls	—	—	1,585	78.72/cwt	67.00–82.50	1,248	11
Bulls	—	—	2,021	92.30/cwt	90.00–96.50	1,865	16
Bulls	—	—	1,875	86.02/cwt	81.00–89.00	1,613	38
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,209	56.87/cwt	52.00–59.50	688	29
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,431	74.79/cwt	68.00–80.00	1,070	5
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,518	84.73/cwt	81.00–89.00	1,286	28
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,283	61.47/cwt	59.00–65.50	789	51
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,053	988.18/cwt	950.00–1,000.00	10,406	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	968	90.05/cwt	65.00–106.00	872	77
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,641	1,433.60/cwt	1,400.00–1,450.00	23,525	13
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,452	1,628.23/cwt	1,500.00–1,650.00	23,642	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	706	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	1,038	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	908	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,180	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	683	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	956	5
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,115	124.50/cwt	124.50–124.50	1,388	2
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	581	146.50/cwt	146.50–146.50	851	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	993	130.50/cwt	130.50–130.50	1,296	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	878	139.23/cwt	138.00–140.50	1,222	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	782	147.05/cwt	145.50–148.00	1,150	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	769	159.50/cwt	159.50–159.50	1,227	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	921	142.21/cwt	140.50–143.00	1,310	24
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	683	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	1,072	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	434	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	699	3
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,056	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,352	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	312	212.00/cwt	212.00–212.00	661	3
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,248	96.00/cwt	96.00–96.00	1,198	2
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,172	110.73/cwt	108.00–113.00	1,298	9
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	991	120.50/cwt	120.50–120.50	1,194	7
Bulls	Large 1-2	—	1,139	91.00/cwt	91.00–91.00	1,036	8
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,411	1,439.64/cwt	1,400.00–1,450.00	20,313	21
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,314	63.50/cwt	62.00–64.00	834	9
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,685	1,417.83/cwt	1,410.00–1,450.00	23,890	16
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,103	72.74/cwt	58.00–79.50	802	53
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,687	1,570.21/cwt	1,475.00–1,600.00	26,489	27
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,616	1,603.34/cwt	1,500.00–1,710.00	25,910	21
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,619	1,250.00/cwt	1,250.00–1,250.00	20,238	4
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	861	1,410.00/cwt	1,410.00–1,410.00	12,140	50
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,320	59.00/cwt	59.00–59.00	779	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,524	1,620.54/cwt	1,485.00–1,700.00	24,697	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 →