Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2021-09-09
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-09-09

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however mostly steady to firm undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers under 750 lbs sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher, while heifers over 750 lbs sold unevenly steady. Steer calves were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on steer calves under 400 lbs and steady to weak undertones were noticed on calves over 400 lbs. Heifer calves were also too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on heifer calves under 400 lbs and steady to weak undertones were noticed on calves over 400 lbs. Demand for all feeder cattle remains strong with lots of willing buyers. CME positions have fallen sharply over the past week and a half, however demand remains mostly good for high quality feeder cattle. Quality this week was mixed from plain to very attractive. Demand for very light calves was especially good this week as buyers have already started thinking about buying calves to develop into yearlings. Many of the very light steers and heifers sold for the same dollars per head as their bigger brother and sisters. Market activity this week was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Cows continue to sell for three different purposes: slaughter, feed and to preg test for bred cows. Slaughter buyers tried to buy cows near steady this week, however pressure from other buyers forced packers to pay higher money in order to secure offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher on all classes in a very narrow comparison. Feeding cow demand was mostly very good this week. Many Midwestern farmers are wrapping up cutting silage and many are starting to purchase feeding cows. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00 higher. Several sets of cow sold today that were exposed or bred and replacement cows buyers purchased most of these cows away from slaughter cow buyers this week. Cows continue to come to town in poor body condition as most have freshly weaned cows and many are coming out of very dry country. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 1.00 higher. Feeding demand helped push or hold the market steady on bulls suitable to feed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to weak. Quality was not as attractive this week as last and fewer takers were bidding on offerings.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $156.90/cwt on 1,317 head.

Average price

$156.90

1,317 head · 660 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,035

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$220

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1-2

$44.48/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−0.46

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	643	158.98	1,023	1,018
Medium and Large 1-2	640	155.57	996	166
Medium 1	634	153.41	972	66
Medium 1-2	632	147.50	932	3thin
Medium and Large 2	806	132.50	1,068	4thin
Large 1	1,013	132.09	1,337	57
Large 1-2	1,085	114.50	1,242	3thin

One grade step is worth $44.48/cwt here — about −$220 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 sale1,317 hd

156.90

—

MT average3 barns · 1,850 hd

157.36

−0.46

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	1,756	85.76	1,506	65
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,550	74.20	1,150	40
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,391	63.84	888	153
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,207	52.06	628	182

Every lot, as filed

110 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
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	939	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	1,277	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	749	168.00/cwt	168.00–168.00	1,258	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	818	163.50/cwt	163.50–163.50	1,337	5
Heifers	Large 1	—	991	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	1,264	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	430	168.44/cwt	162.50–172.50	724	151
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	608	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	985	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	318	230.22/cwt	221.00–235.00	732	27
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	275	231.52/cwt	230.00–232.50	637	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	316	183.39/cwt	180.00–186.00	580	24
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	431	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	690	9
Heifers	Large 1Fleshy	—	1,133	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	1,428	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	320	212.00/cwt	212.00–212.00	678	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	420	183.54/cwt	181.00–185.00	771	55
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	367	186.88/cwt	177.00–200.00	686	46
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	889	135.50/cwt	135.50–135.50	1,205	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	518	157.03/cwt	152.00–162.00	813	102
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	488	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	781	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	474	178.30/cwt	173.00–185.00	845	90
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	375	175.50/cwt	175.50–175.50	658	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	570	166.83/cwt	160.50–169.00	951	70
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	674	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	1,038	6
Steers	Large 1	—	1,064	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,426	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	568	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	880	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	998	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,267	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	683	159.86/cwt	156.00–163.00	1,092	147
Heifers	Medium 1	—	625	153.26/cwt	148.00–156.00	958	53
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	372	215.04/cwt	203.00–232.00	800	46
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	981	130.50/cwt	130.50–130.50	1,280	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	660	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	1,030	2
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,120	126.50/cwt	126.50–126.50	1,417	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	774	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	1,146	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	478	170.95/cwt	168.00–174.00	817	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	522	169.93/cwt	168.50–171.00	887	35
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	543	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	869	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	765	169.73/cwt	163.00–170.50	1,298	69
Steers	Medium 1	—	608	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	991	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	646	160.03/cwt	158.50–162.00	1,034	39
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	276	211.00/cwt	211.00–211.00	582	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	482	163.98/cwt	162.00–166.00	790	52
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	393	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	711	13
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,073	129.82/cwt	125.50–131.50	1,393	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	728	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	1,143	3
Steers	Medium 1	—	569	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	939	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	871	138.51/cwt	138.00–139.00	1,206	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	910	141.27/cwt	138.00–143.00	1,286	23
Heifers	Large 1	—	863	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	1,200	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	921	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	1,335	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	905	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	1,330	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	740	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	1,162	70
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	903	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	1,120	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	532	152.70/cwt	151.00–154.00	812	9
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	424	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	721	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	478	168.00/cwt	168.00–168.00	803	9
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	394	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	690	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	317	204.47/cwt	201.00–205.00	648	15
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,375	73.82/cwt	71.00–76.00	1,015	32
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,551	76.37/cwt	76.00–78.00	1,184	10
Bulls	—	—	1,838	86.65/cwt	82.00–89.50	1,593	25
Bulls	—	—	1,684	78.50/cwt	76.00–80.00	1,322	5
Bulls	—	—	1,833	92.41/cwt	90.00–94.50	1,694	14
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,392	61.89/cwt	60.00–65.00	862	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,416	55.27/cwt	52.00–57.00	783	5
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,770	77.56/cwt	77.00–78.00	1,373	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,240	77.50/cwt	77.50–77.50	961	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,206	53.77/cwt	52.00–56.25	648	46
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,301	57.30/cwt	57.00–58.00	745	20
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,418	64.55/cwt	61.00–69.00	915	59
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,097	44.63/cwt	44.50–48.00	490	30
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	933	55.00/cwt	55.00–55.00	513	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,350	56.49/cwt	53.00–58.00	763	45
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,532	70.93/cwt	67.00–72.50	1,087	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,700	80.00/cwt	80.00–80.00	1,360	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,540	70.68/cwt	68.50–73.00	1,088	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,289	57.16/cwt	56.00–59.00	737	11
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,249	54.72/cwt	52.00–56.00	683	26
Bulls	—	—	1,880	76.00/cwt	76.00–76.00	1,429	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,206	49.50/cwt	49.50–49.50	597	46
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,527	73.50/cwt	73.50–73.50	1,122	21
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,539	83.92/cwt	81.50–87.00	1,292	13
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,747	79.26/cwt	77.00–80.00	1,385	7
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	1,040	72.00/cwt	72.00–72.00	749	4
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	1,194	65.28/cwt	61.00–67.00	779	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	313	201.37/cwt	197.00–211.00	630	39
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	551	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	827	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	771	153.48/cwt	149.00–157.00	1,183	128
Heifers	Medium 1	—	669	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	1,030	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	865	142.14/cwt	140.50–144.75	1,230	98
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	255	182.50/cwt	182.50–182.50	465	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	480	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	744	4
Heifers	Large 1-2	—	1,085	114.50/cwt	114.50–114.50	1,242	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	980	137.18/cwt	137.00–139.00	1,344	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	686	170.50/cwt	170.50–170.50	1,170	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	821	142.71/cwt	138.00–144.00	1,172	36
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	632	147.50/cwt	147.50–147.50	932	3
Steers	Medium 1-2	—	570	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	912	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	806	132.50/cwt	132.50–132.50	1,068	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	930	113.00/cwt	113.00–113.00	1,051	6
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,202	104.00/cwt	104.00–104.00	1,250	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	264	212.50/cwt	212.50–212.50	561	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	722	149.88/cwt	145.00–153.50	1,082	53
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	448	174.87/cwt	173.00–176.50	783	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	811	145.88/cwt	145.00–147.00	1,183	55
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,286	60.47/cwt	55.00–63.50	778	24
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,080	1,135.00/cwt	1,135.00–1,135.00	12,258	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,034	65.99/cwt	57.00–71.00	682	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,064	71.27/cwt	59.00–76.50	758	28
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,257	925.00/cwt	925.00–925.00	11,627	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,410	59.63/cwt	56.50–61.00	841	22
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	1,052	1,585.00/cwt	1,585.00–1,585.00	16,674	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,045	83.65/cwt	72.00–96.00	874	66

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 →