Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2022-08-18
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2022-08-18

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale(8-04-22): Feeder steers were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. The best test for for feeder heifers was 900-949 lbs which sold 8.00-10.00 higher. All other weights of heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand today was mostly good to very good. Quality was mostly average to attractive this week. A good crowd was on hand for todays sale. Market activity was mostly active, with buyers both in the stands and on the internet actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers showed mostly good demand for all cows on offer. Most cows were purchased to send to immediate harvest this sale. Slaughter cows sold 3.00-6.00 higher than two weeks ago. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average today as most cows and bulls were very full. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly average. Young cow offerings were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $170.39/cwt on 432 head.

Average price

$170.39

432 head · 808 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,376

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$69

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

$32.10/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+0.00

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	797	176.10	1,404	289
Medium 1	644	166.18	1,070	67
Medium and Large 1-2	879	159.43	1,402	38
Large 1	1,121	145.54	1,632	32
Large 1-2	1,023	144.00	1,473	6thin

One grade step is worth $32.10/cwt here — about −$69 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 sale432 hd

170.39

—

MT average1 barns · 432 hd

170.39

+0.00

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	1,702	105.88	1,802	110
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,659	92.35	1,533	31
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,474	90.41	1,333	135
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,168	78.57	918	89

Replacement cattle Per head

By class, stage and age

Bred stock and pairs are reported per head, not per hundredweight — these prices are never mixed with the $/cwt figures above.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,034	$1,575	10
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,555	$1,541	10
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,566	$1,529	7
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,502	$1,450	5

Every lot, as filed

79 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 1-2	—	788	163.24/cwt	161.00–165.00	1,286	8
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,083	152.70/cwt	149.50–156.00	1,654	14
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,283	136.50/cwt	136.50–136.50	1,751	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	731	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	1,371	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	631	183.50/cwt	183.50–183.50	1,158	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	895	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	1,441	1
Heifers	Medium 1	—	598	171.50/cwt	171.50–171.50	1,026	18
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	459	169.00/cwt	169.00–169.00	776	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	452	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	814	35
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	491	209.07/cwt	205.50–211.00	1,027	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	955	163.60/cwt	159.00–166.00	1,562	5
Heifers	Medium 1	—	607	166.68/cwt	166.00–168.00	1,012	27
Heifers	Medium 1	—	786	159.50/cwt	159.50–159.50	1,254	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	674	178.00/cwt	178.00–178.00	1,200	5
Steers	Medium 1	—	679	191.21/cwt	191.00–191.50	1,298	7
Steers	Medium 1-2	—	680	178.00/cwt	178.00–178.00	1,210	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	814	187.57/cwt	185.00–189.25	1,527	68
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	903	185.15/cwt	173.50–185.50	1,672	67
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	377	182.50/cwt	182.50–182.50	688	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	502	209.00/cwt	209.00–209.00	1,049	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	397	211.00/cwt	211.00–211.00	838	20
Steers	Large 1	—	1,114	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	1,693	7
Dairy Heifers	Large 1-2	—	772	158.00/cwt	158.00–158.00	1,220	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	953	172.50/cwt	172.50–172.50	1,644	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	810	183.50/cwt	183.50–183.50	1,486	1
Dairy Steers	Large 1-2	—	709	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	1,312	8
Dairy Steers	Large 1-2	—	753	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,355	10
Dairy Heifers	Large 1-2	—	653	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	1,077	9
Dairy Steers	Large 3	—	1,087	96.50/cwt	96.50–96.50	1,049	12
Dairy Heifers	Large 1-2	—	890	158.00/cwt	158.00–158.00	1,406	6
Dairy Steers	Large 3	—	794	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	1,048	4
Dairy Steers	Large 1-2	—	994	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	1,620	4
Dairy Steers	Large 1-2	—	872	179.50/cwt	179.50–179.50	1,565	10
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,100	146.50/cwt	146.50–146.50	1,612	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	831	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	1,288	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	890	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	1,299	2
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,183	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	1,550	2
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,247	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	1,509	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	663	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,193	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,396	95.75/cwt	95.75–95.75	1,337	6
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,338	93.85/cwt	93.50–94.75	1,256	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,122	86.00/cwt	86.00–86.00	965	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,467	91.43/cwt	86.50–93.50	1,341	79
Bulls	—	—	1,648	95.95/cwt	92.00–100.50	1,581	9
Bulls	—	—	1,831	105.94/cwt	102.00–109.00	1,940	52
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,534	83.04/cwt	76.50–86.00	1,274	25
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,244	87.73/cwt	84.50–91.25	1,091	18
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,005	61.00/cwt	61.00–61.00	613	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,283	79.37/cwt	74.00–84.50	1,018	49
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	806	73.17/cwt	70.00–78.00	590	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	863	80.95/cwt	80.00–82.50	699	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,669	93.31/cwt	91.25–96.00	1,557	23
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,632	89.60/cwt	88.00–91.00	1,462	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,503	94.71/cwt	94.25–96.50	1,423	17
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,465	65.00/cwt	65.00–65.00	952	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	715	52.72/cwt	50.00–55.00	377	6
Bulls	—	—	1,906	111.22/cwt	109.00–115.50	2,120	11
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,283	97.00/cwt	97.00–97.00	1,245	2
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,414	94.99/cwt	92.00–97.00	1,343	4
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,357	113.78/cwt	111.50–115.00	1,544	10
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,564	106.32/cwt	102.00–110.00	1,663	22
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,063	100.87/cwt	93.00–107.00	1,072	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,134	104.89/cwt	101.00–114.00	1,189	20
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,260	93.61/cwt	90.00–95.50	1,179	8
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,502	1,450.00/head	1,450.00–1,450.00	1,450	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,555	1,540.97/head	1,500.00–1,550.00	1,541	10
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS	—	1,034	1,575.00/head	1,575.00–1,575.00	1,575	10
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,566	1,528.93/head	1,525.00–1,535.00	1,529	7
Heifers	Large 1-2	—	1,023	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	1,473	6
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,021	149.50/cwt	149.50–149.50	1,526	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	818	178.50/cwt	178.50–178.50	1,460	16
Heifers	Large 1Fleshy	—	1,245	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	1,544	3
Heifers	Large 1Fleshy	—	1,170	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,568	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	768	177.00/cwt	177.00–177.00	1,359	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	745	178.50/cwt	178.50–178.50	1,330	53
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	904	158.32/cwt	158.00–161.00	1,431	29
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	573	169.00/cwt	169.00–169.00	968	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	926	174.01/cwt	166.00–175.25	1,611	149
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	873	169.00/cwt	168.50–170.00	1,475	6

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 →