Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2022-03-03
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2022-03-03

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago(2/17/22): All feeder cattle were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, steady to lower undertones were noticed on steers under 700 lbs, steers over 700 lbs were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Heifers under 600 lbs sold with steady to lower undertones, heifers over 600 lbs were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive, mostly plain to average. Demand for high quality cattle remains good, and prices for these offerings are fully steady. Buyers expressed some concern in current market conditions this week. Feeding cost have risen sharply in the last couple weeks following unrest in Europe. Corn and soybean prices have skyrocketed since the last sale two weeks ago. May corn closed at 6.4925 on 2-17-22, todays closing price was 7.4775, 0.985 cents higher in two weeks. Soybeans closed at 15.7975 on 2-17-22 and 16.6775 today, 0.88 higher than two weeks ago. Buyers are attempting to buy cattle lower to offset rising feeding costs. A large crowd was on hand for todays sale and buyer participation was moderate. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for heavy offerings. Packer buyers showed moderate to good demand for cattle for immediate harvest, and mostly good to very good demand for feeding cows this sale. Slaughter cows sold mostly 6.00-7.00 higher than 2 weeks ago, however prices are lower than comparable markets last week. Feeding cows sold mostly 7.00-8.00 higher than 2 weeks ago and steady to 2.00 higher with comparable markets last week. Cow quality this week was average to very attractive. Slaughter bulls sold 3.00-6.00 higher. Cows and bulls were pushing heavy amounts of fill this sale as they offered buyers mostly below average weigh conditions. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were not well compared. A large offering of open one iron replacement type cows were seen this week all off 2 ranches. These offerings were met with very good demand as buyers purchased these offerings to mostly rebreed. Quality was mostly very attractive.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $165.91/cwt on 738 head.

Average price

$165.91

738 head · 606 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,005

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$264

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1-2

$33.58/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−2.06

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	294	180.00	529	12thin
Medium and Large 2	484	171.00	828	5thin
Medium and Large 1	618	167.80	1,038	616
Medium and Large 1-2	583	155.39	906	77
Large 1-2	542	146.42	794	28

One grade step is worth $33.58/cwt here — about −$264 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 sale738 hd

165.91

—

MT average3 barns · 2,192 hd

167.97

−2.06

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	1,838	96.17	1,767	33
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,489	83.26	1,240	136
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,418	73.62	1,044	127
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,180	70.07	827	221

Every lot, as filed

84 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 1	—	837	145.25/cwt	145.25–145.25	1,216	69
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	484	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	828	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	684	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	944	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	305	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	572	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	522	164.19/cwt	155.00–174.00	857	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	519	184.81/cwt	180.00–190.00	959	58
Heifers	Large 1-2	—	542	146.42/cwt	143.00–152.00	794	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	380	184.51/cwt	183.00–185.00	701	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	471	181.43/cwt	179.00–185.00	855	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	587	168.62/cwt	167.00–169.00	990	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	768	148.49/cwt	145.50–151.00	1,140	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	425	187.76/cwt	185.00–193.00	798	11
Heifers	Medium 1	—	294	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	529	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	685	159.91/cwt	157.00–161.00	1,095	37
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	850	145.25/cwt	145.25–145.25	1,235	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	468	207.35/cwt	207.00–209.00	970	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	684	166.00/cwt	166.00–166.00	1,135	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	828	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	1,259	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	720	167.74/cwt	161.00–170.50	1,208	78
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Full	—	570	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	975	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	359	190.19/cwt	190.00–191.00	683	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	665	173.56/cwt	170.50–178.00	1,154	19
Steers	Large 1-2	—	585	166.00/cwt	166.00–166.00	971	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	722	155.44/cwt	154.00–159.00	1,122	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	565	203.27/cwt	189.50–209.00	1,148	56
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	647	169.50/cwt	169.50–169.50	1,097	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	512	197.04/cwt	185.00–200.00	1,009	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	519	212.38/cwt	207.00–214.00	1,102	113
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	777	155.68/cwt	154.00–158.00	1,210	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	578	179.84/cwt	178.00–185.00	1,039	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	401	207.50/cwt	207.50–207.50	832	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	960	145.50/cwt	145.50–145.50	1,397	25
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	641	180.81/cwt	179.00–186.00	1,159	141
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	479	218.56/cwt	212.00–224.00	1,047	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	416	217.77/cwt	215.00–223.00	906	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	297	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	661	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	873	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	1,144	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	655	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	1,048	3
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,127	110.00/cwt	108.00–112.00	1,240	9
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,014	117.78/cwt	117.00–118.00	1,194	9
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	345	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	673	21
Bulls	Large 1Fancy	—	1,058	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	1,280	14
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,755	75.46/cwt	74.00–78.00	1,324	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,367	81.64/cwt	80.50–82.00	1,116	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,433	69.22/cwt	64.00–73.50	992	64
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,203	81.88/cwt	80.00–83.00	985	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,246	73.20/cwt	72.50–78.00	912	42
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,595	75.50/cwt	75.50–75.50	1,204	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,386	77.01/cwt	73.00–80.00	1,067	17
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,405	83.20/cwt	81.00–86.50	1,169	14
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,430	77.54/cwt	73.00–83.00	1,109	24
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	950	63.97/cwt	62.00–68.00	608	10
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,219	73.83/cwt	72.00–78.00	900	51
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,155	68.88/cwt	62.00–72.50	796	95
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,164	54.25/cwt	53.00–58.00	631	15
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,213	79.00/cwt	79.00–79.00	958	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,479	85.49/cwt	85.00–85.50	1,264	55
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,498	82.12/cwt	80.50–84.50	1,230	69
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,359	73.07/cwt	68.50–74.50	993	8
Bulls	—	—	1,589	89.58/cwt	80.00–93.00	1,423	12
Bulls	—	—	2,395	106.50/cwt	106.50–106.50	2,551	1
Bulls	—	—	1,959	99.60/cwt	97.00–103.00	1,951	20
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,266	75.00/cwt	75.00–75.00	950	61
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	938	74.47/cwt	71.00–80.00	699	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,114	96.49/cwt	67.00–110.00	1,075	296
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,013	123.25/cwt	109.00–129.00	1,249	76
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,270	87.30/cwt	82.00–89.00	1,109	15
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,309	85.25/cwt	85.25–85.25	1,116	79
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,020	81.29/cwt	81.00–82.00	829	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	670	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	1,119	18
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	938	117.98/cwt	116.00–121.00	1,107	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	675	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	992	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	923	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	1,191	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	823	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,070	23
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	520	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	975	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	615	166.29/cwt	159.50–170.00	1,023	207
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	480	192.49/cwt	188.00–196.00	924	92
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	727	150.12/cwt	147.50–156.00	1,091	25
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	755	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	989	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	898	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,203	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	734	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,028	29
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	641	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	1,000	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	721	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	988	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	595	150.57/cwt	146.00–160.00	896	30

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 →