Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2021-09-23
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-09-23

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were scarcely traded last week so no comparison is available. Steer calves under 500 lbs sold 8.00-12.00 higher, steers over 500 lbs were not well compared, however higher undertones were noticed. Yearling heifer were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Heifer calves all sold steady to 5.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive. Demand for yearlings was mostly good. Demand for calves was moderate. The best demand for calves was for light weight calves suitable to develop into yearlings or big heavyweight calves that buyers hoped to have finished before the expiration of the April contract. Heavy supplies of calves continue to come early. Many buyers report corn belt feeders are not ready for calves as they are busy with harvest. Once buyers filled orders demand diminished. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for heavy offerings. Packers showed slightly stronger demand for slaughter cows this week. Harvest has started in the corn-belt and as a result packers are seeing less available supplies as farmers and dairy men are busy with harvest. Slaughter cows sold steady to firm on boning and lean cows, breaking cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Feeding cows sold generally steady. Cows were extremely full today as weigh-ups sold late in the day after the feeder sale. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average which made comparisons difficult. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Young age cows suitable to rebreed sold steady. Quality was average to very attractive and similar to last week. Demand remains very good.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $183.27/cwt on 1,967 head.

Average price

$183.27

1,967 head · 507 lb average

Value per head Derived

$930

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$430

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$51.69/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−4.90

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	507	184.97	937	1,622
Medium and Large 1-2	479	178.18	854	287
Medium 1	495	173.36	859	40
Large 1	1,026	133.28	1,368	18thin

One grade step is worth $51.69/cwt here — about −$430 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 sale1,967 hd

183.27

—

MT average3 barns · 3,418 hd

188.17

−4.90

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	—	High	1,665	84.78	1,411	38
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	Average	1,685	87.00	1,466	1thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,586	69.60	1,104	31
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,444	60.55	874	271
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,227	51.83	636	179

Every lot, as filed

114 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 1-2	—	806	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	1,193	8
Steers	Large 1	—	1,086	132.50/cwt	132.50–132.50	1,439	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	673	170.50/cwt	170.50–170.50	1,147	24
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	860	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	1,273	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	905	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	1,249	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	952	144.50/cwt	144.50–144.50	1,376	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	531	164.00/cwt	164.00–164.00	871	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	713	171.69/cwt	170.00–174.00	1,224	38
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	865	153.20/cwt	150.00–158.75	1,325	42
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	828	159.76/cwt	157.00–160.00	1,323	37
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	788	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	1,229	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	728	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	1,165	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	278	191.00/cwt	191.00–191.00	531	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	624	151.49/cwt	149.50–153.00	945	25
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	365	227.57/cwt	225.00–229.00	831	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	559	185.50/cwt	185.50–185.50	1,037	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	606	170.83/cwt	170.00–171.50	1,035	67
Steers	Large 1Fleshy	—	1,009	133.50/cwt	133.50–133.50	1,347	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	387	179.16/cwt	173.00–182.00	693	113
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	468	159.94/cwt	158.00–163.00	749	130
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	523	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	758	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	571	154.40/cwt	150.00–157.50	882	111
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	338	184.68/cwt	181.50–190.00	624	122
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	318	182.50/cwt	182.50–182.50	580	49
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	303	167.44/cwt	166.50–180.00	507	29
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	470	146.57/cwt	143.00–148.50	689	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	434	160.33/cwt	157.00–161.00	696	24
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	519	156.30/cwt	151.00–161.50	811	193
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	472	175.31/cwt	167.00–179.00	827	51
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	333	221.86/cwt	219.00–225.00	739	126
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	493	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	823	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	606	165.60/cwt	164.00–168.50	1,004	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	700	152.50/cwt	152.50–152.50	1,068	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	754	165.35/cwt	165.00–166.00	1,247	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	296	238.00/cwt	238.00–238.00	704	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	662	162.03/cwt	155.50–164.00	1,073	39
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	291	212.50/cwt	212.50–212.50	618	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	430	182.74/cwt	175.00–186.00	786	131
Steers	Medium 1	—	465	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	842	21
Steers	Medium 1	—	569	162.61/cwt	160.00–164.00	925	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	558	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	898	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	639	157.32/cwt	155.50–157.75	1,005	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	342	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	650	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	391	199.90/cwt	199.00–200.00	782	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	549	166.26/cwt	164.00–167.50	913	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	678	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	1,017	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	471	185.04/cwt	177.50–192.50	872	449
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	568	165.95/cwt	162.00–170.00	943	120
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	523	179.46/cwt	167.00–184.50	939	193
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	375	207.67/cwt	201.00–218.00	779	96
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	419	193.39/cwt	189.00–199.00	810	266
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,030	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	1,226	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	324	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	648	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	440	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	708	14
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	547	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	804	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	611	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	855	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	395	206.00/cwt	206.00–206.00	814	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,220	56.82/cwt	55.00–65.00	693	13
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,322	55.02/cwt	55.00–55.50	727	21
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,608	65.50/cwt	65.50–65.50	1,053	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,439	73.64/cwt	71.00–77.00	1,060	17
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,490	65.91/cwt	60.00–69.00	982	106
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,428	59.79/cwt	57.00–74.00	854	30
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	993	43.00/cwt	43.00–43.00	427	5
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,541	66.23/cwt	65.00–68.50	1,021	17
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,555	81.40/cwt	80.00–83.00	1,266	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,484	49.50/cwt	49.50–49.50	735	5
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	—	1,685	87.00/cwt	87.00–87.00	1,466	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,243	51.56/cwt	48.00–55.50	641	104
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,192	56.46/cwt	55.00–58.00	673	19
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,120	43.10/cwt	37.50–47.50	483	17
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,678	75.88/cwt	74.50–77.00	1,273	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,402	54.18/cwt	50.50–59.00	760	112
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,515	61.00/cwt	61.00–61.00	924	1
Bulls	—	—	1,900	86.00/cwt	86.00–86.00	1,634	1
Bulls	—	—	1,843	84.57/cwt	81.00–86.00	1,559	15
Bulls	—	—	1,893	93.50/cwt	93.50–93.50	1,770	2
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,637	79.00/cwt	79.00–79.00	1,293	9
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,359	90.36/cwt	89.50–90.50	1,228	9
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,483	78.00/cwt	78.00–78.00	1,157	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	975	62.00/cwt	62.00–62.00	605	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	971	94.15/cwt	65.00–107.00	914	86
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,150	76.00/cwt	76.00–76.00	874	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,078	75.99/cwt	67.00–84.00	819	16
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,217	1,081.57/cwt	1,025.00–1,110.00	13,163	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	432	168.49/cwt	162.00–175.00	728	326
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	387	175.28/cwt	169.00–178.00	678	10
Heifers	Medium 1	—	842	140.50/cwt	140.50–140.50	1,183	12
Heifers	Medium 1	—	633	164.50/cwt	164.50–164.50	1,041	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	885	143.40/cwt	140.00–146.00	1,269	121
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	831	147.94/cwt	146.50–148.50	1,229	31
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,152	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	1,394	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	553	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	818	3
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	638	149.50/cwt	149.50–149.50	954	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	981	133.78/cwt	132.75–136.50	1,312	32
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,084	128.20/cwt	128.00–129.00	1,390	5
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,021	132.21/cwt	132.00–132.50	1,350	28
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	677	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	982	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	669	154.92/cwt	154.00–155.25	1,036	32
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	912	140.52/cwt	136.00–141.50	1,282	93
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	730	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	1,088	7
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	713	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	991	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	728	153.38/cwt	150.00–154.75	1,117	48
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	770	149.60/cwt	147.00–151.75	1,152	57
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	793	145.73/cwt	145.50–146.50	1,156	22
Heifers	Large 1Fleshy	—	1,163	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	1,337	2
Heifers	Medium 1Full	—	699	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	1,035	12
Heifers	Large 1	—	798	145.50/cwt	145.50–145.50	1,161	2
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,111	125.59/cwt	125.00–126.50	1,395	5
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	561	151.50/cwt	151.50–151.50	850	8
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	765	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	1,086	18
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,241	54.43/cwt	53.00–56.00	675	19
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,416	57.00/cwt	57.00–57.00	807	6
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,208	1,050.00/cwt	1,050.00–1,050.00	12,684	5

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 →