Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2021-10-21
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-10-21

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearlings were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings was mostly moderate. Steer calves under 400 lbs were too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, sharply lower undertones were noticed. 400-449 lbs steers sold steady to weak, 450 lbs and up sold mostly 3.00-6.00 lower with instances of steady seen on very attractive steers. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold steady to firm, 450-599 lbs heifers sold steady to 5.00 lower, heifers over 600 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, steady to lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Many long strings off reputation ranches were seen this week. Demand for calves was uneven, as average quality calves sold on light to moderate demand, while high quality cattle sold on moderate to good demand. Transportation continue to be the biggest factor limiting demand. Trucks are very tight and several buyers left as soon as they filled the trucks they had available. Buyers were not willing to buy un-weaned calves without wheels to get them to their final destination. Buyers focused on buying front end calves, especially ones with two rounds of vaccinations and passed or discounted average quality calves or calves with only spring shots. Price spreads for 50 lbs increments reached 20.00 cwt in many instances. Heavy discounts were seen on plain or average quality cattle. Some cattle showed some dirt this week as trucks have been running nearly around the clock and some pens remain dirty after last weeks rain. The best demand seen this week was for high quality cattle suitable to run as yearlings. California is expected to get 3 inches of rain in the nearby forecast and demand for light grass calves remains good as a result. Market activity this week was mostly moderate to active. Weight up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. An additional packer buyer was on hand this week and packers were aggressive as they fought over market share. Slaughter cows sold mostly 5.00 higher on boning cows, lean cows sold steady to 3.00 higher. Feeding cows sold with the best demand this week as both packers and feeding buyers showed good demand as they competed over offerings. Feeding cows sold mostly 4.00-7.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week as all cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady to higher undertones were seen on a higher quality offering this week.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $167.84/cwt on 2,609 head.

Average price

$167.84

2,609 head · 523 lb average

Value per head Derived

$878

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$532

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Small and Medium 2-3

$77.01/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−3.57

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	532	172.01	916	1,977
Medium and Large 2	394	159.49	629	83
Medium 1	545	158.85	866	53
Medium and Large 1-2	506	157.01	795	420
Large 1	534	148.72	794	56
Small and Medium 2-3	404	95.00	384	20

One grade step is worth $77.01/cwt here — about $532 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 sale2,609 hd

167.84

—

MT average4 barns · 5,701 hd

171.41

−3.57

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	1,512	74.85	1,132	24
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,511	60.00	907	6thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,418	52.49	744	89
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,172	43.28	507	144

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 1Unweaned	—	483	178.99/cwt	170.00–190.50	865	223
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	386	187.97/cwt	183.00–193.00	726	26
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	429	172.89/cwt	165.00–180.00	742	39
Steers	Medium 1	—	699	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	1,021	27
Steers	Medium 1	—	308	187.00/cwt	187.00–187.00	576	13
Steers	Medium 1	—	462	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	693	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	536	148.49/cwt	144.00–150.00	796	58
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	738	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	959	2
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	534	148.72/cwt	147.00–149.00	794	56
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	805	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	1,167	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	566	145.54/cwt	141.00–150.00	824	102
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	741	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	1,023	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	726	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	973	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	487	159.61/cwt	150.00–166.00	777	102
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	505	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	727	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	453	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	734	41
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	625	145.69/cwt	144.00–147.00	911	19
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	515	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	711	35
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	520	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	780	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	472	157.97/cwt	153.00–163.00	746	41
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	812	132.50/cwt	132.50–132.50	1,076	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	343	181.80/cwt	180.00–190.00	624	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	683	160.75/cwt	160.75–160.75	1,098	38
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	826	137.57/cwt	136.50–138.50	1,136	52
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	871	135.50/cwt	135.50–135.50	1,180	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	519	149.34/cwt	139.00–155.75	775	500
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	658	135.28/cwt	130.00–139.00	890	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	684	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	971	6
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	428	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	659	26
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	379	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	614	57
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	262	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	524	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	670	148.88/cwt	144.00–156.00	997	37
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	291	211.87/cwt	210.00–212.50	617	31
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Full	—	544	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	756	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	418	200.07/cwt	187.00–209.00	836	239
Steers	Small and Medium 2-3Unweaned	—	404	95.00/cwt	95.00–95.00	384	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	908	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	1,335	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	742	147.50/cwt	147.50–147.50	1,094	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	534	165.25/cwt	164.00–169.00	882	89
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	578	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	983	38
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	529	169.16/cwt	155.00–175.00	895	310
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	571	161.39/cwt	150.00–166.00	922	547
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	624	152.85/cwt	148.50–160.50	954	210
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	327	207.78/cwt	200.00–215.00	679	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	817	153.58/cwt	149.00–154.00	1,255	37
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	464	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	752	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	370	206.09/cwt	195.00–213.00	763	112
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	624	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	936	13
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	684	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	876	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	406	174.71/cwt	167.00–178.00	709	20
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	259	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	518	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	469	153.10/cwt	151.50–167.50	718	32
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	723	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	882	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	543	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	825	34
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,473	56.30/cwt	55.00–58.00	829	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,461	47.81/cwt	45.50–53.00	699	17
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,110	48.00/cwt	48.00–48.00	533	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,580	72.00/cwt	72.00–72.00	1,138	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,290	61.98/cwt	61.00–63.00	800	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	968	33.47/cwt	25.00–35.00	324	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,180	32.99/cwt	30.00–37.00	389	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,177	43.47/cwt	41.00–44.00	512	9
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,477	54.00/cwt	54.00–54.00	798	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,458	35.00/cwt	35.00–35.00	510	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,173	44.83/cwt	39.00–47.00	526	62
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,211	49.40/cwt	47.00–53.00	598	35
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,408	50.56/cwt	45.50–57.00	712	52
Bulls	—	—	1,796	74.71/cwt	70.00–77.00	1,342	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,177	35.98/cwt	32.00–37.00	423	20
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,207	74.38/cwt	67.00–76.00	898	9
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,406	68.04/cwt	65.00–71.50	957	11
Bulls	—	—	2,090	82.00/cwt	82.00–82.00	1,714	1
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,436	74.50/cwt	74.50–74.50	1,070	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,038	76.52/cwt	69.00–82.50	794	34
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,023	53.00/cwt	53.00–53.00	542	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	4	1,000.00/cwt	1,000.00–1,000.00	40	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	957	90.78/cwt	69.00–101.00	869	33
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,169	50.00/cwt	50.00–50.00	585	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	839	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,116	4
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,137	90.56/cwt	90.00–92.00	1,030	14
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,080	94.00/cwt	94.00–94.00	1,015	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	564	139.53/cwt	130.00–142.50	787	274
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	435	167.65/cwt	160.00–175.25	729	336
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	424	137.50/cwt	137.50–137.50	583	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	999	130.50/cwt	130.50–130.50	1,304	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	248	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	459	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	480	139.59/cwt	139.00–142.00	670	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	370	180.28/cwt	172.00–189.00	667	193
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	345	188.00/cwt	188.00–188.00	649	4
Heifers	Medium 1	—	449	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	674	5
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,055	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	1,319	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	571	128.50/cwt	126.00–130.00	734	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	289	186.20/cwt	182.50–187.00	538	23
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	544	134.24/cwt	127.50–135.00	730	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	308	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	462	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	587	127.13/cwt	127.00–129.00	746	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	317	176.79/cwt	175.00–177.50	560	49
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	363	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	563	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	437	149.25/cwt	145.00–151.00	652	41
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	779	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	974	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	285	190.76/cwt	190.00–195.00	544	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	475	153.12/cwt	145.00–162.50	727	423
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	606	137.28/cwt	130.00–139.00	832	129
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	946	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,230	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	389	159.93/cwt	155.00–170.00	622	57
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	738	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	900	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	626	134.91/cwt	134.00–136.00	845	13
Bulls	Large 1Unweaned	—	589	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	777	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	367	186.00/cwt	186.00–186.00	683	25

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 →