Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2022-11-10
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2022-11-10

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifer were too lightly tested last week develop an accurate market trend, however sharply higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Yearling quality was very attractive this week. All yearlings were coming straight off grass and offered buyers good weigh conditions. Steer calves all sold steady to firm. Heifer calves under 550 lbs sold steady in a narrow comparison, heifer calves over 550 lbs sold steady to 3.00 higher. Demand was mostly moderate to good this week. Quality was average to very attractive, and significantly higher than last week. Most weaned cattle were weaned over 45 days this week and many were of attractive quality. Market activity was mostly active as a good buyer pool was on hand for todays sale. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand and light offerings. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, steady to firm undertones were noticed. Most cows returned to feed as packers continue to buy cows to put away for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. These cows were most thin and would normally go to slaughter. High quality feeding cows purchased to feed to premium white sold with steady undertones. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 5.00-8.00 lower in a narrow comparison. The best demand continues to be for high quality rebreed type cows. Quality was not as attractive as last week.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $202.13/cwt on 1,367 head.

Average price

$202.13

1,367 head · 603 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,218

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$383

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

$39.74/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−1.69

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	548	202.95	1,112	139
Medium and Large 1	604	202.71	1,223	1,207
Large 1	916	163.21	1,495	21

One grade step is worth $39.74/cwt here — about −$383 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 sale1,367 hd

202.13

—

MT average5 barns · 3,496 hd

203.82

−1.69

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	2,073	89.44	1,854	9thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,581	80.00	1,265	18
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,418	65.59	930	59
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,188	58.68	697	55

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	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,069	$1,375	4thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,230	$1,275	3thin

Every lot, as filed

89 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 1-2Unweaned	—	326	275.86/cwt	265.00–280.00	899	10
Steers	Large 1	—	1,040	157.50/cwt	157.50–157.50	1,638	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	879	184.52/cwt	183.50–186.50	1,622	32
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	568	180.56/cwt	172.00–184.00	1,026	194
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	536	183.83/cwt	181.00–186.00	985	124
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	613	175.70/cwt	168.00–178.00	1,077	111
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	473	195.03/cwt	190.00–202.00	922	40
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	690	164.40/cwt	160.00–166.00	1,134	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	412	208.00/cwt	208.00–208.00	857	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	798	188.50/cwt	188.50–188.50	1,504	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	467	229.73/cwt	221.00–248.00	1,073	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	742	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	1,373	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	512	212.00/cwt	212.00–212.00	1,085	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	903	189.00/cwt	189.00–189.00	1,707	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	489	182.05/cwt	172.00–184.00	890	18
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	673	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,178	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	657	192.96/cwt	187.50–198.00	1,268	125
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	562	196.12/cwt	193.00–198.00	1,102	86
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	887	190.75/cwt	185.50–192.00	1,692	107
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	870	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,566	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	372	214.23/cwt	212.00–216.00	797	33
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	734	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	1,255	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	455	217.50/cwt	217.50–217.50	990	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	574	182.91/cwt	180.00–186.00	1,050	24
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	523	190.13/cwt	184.00–192.00	994	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	582	194.75/cwt	187.00–198.50	1,133	235
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	707	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	1,103	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	379	286.82/cwt	272.50–308.00	1,087	58
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	430	254.86/cwt	250.00–261.00	1,096	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	640	179.74/cwt	175.00–180.50	1,150	33
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	440	240.63/cwt	230.00–245.00	1,059	33
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	683	168.23/cwt	164.00–170.00	1,149	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	726	181.27/cwt	172.00–184.00	1,316	36
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	755	169.50/cwt	169.50–169.50	1,280	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	618	191.84/cwt	187.00–199.50	1,186	232
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	526	206.81/cwt	200.00–215.00	1,088	179
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	873	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	1,440	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	473	226.68/cwt	211.00–250.00	1,072	74
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	426	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,022	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	516	197.00/cwt	197.00–197.00	1,017	15
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	563	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	929	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	688	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	1,135	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	383	258.00/cwt	258.00–258.00	988	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	805	158.00/cwt	158.00–158.00	1,272	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,540	80.00/cwt	80.00–80.00	1,232	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,432	74.70/cwt	72.00–76.00	1,070	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	940	44.00/cwt	44.00–44.00	414	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,264	41.84/cwt	37.00–43.00	529	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,445	76.72/cwt	71.50–79.00	1,109	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,166	60.12/cwt	60.00–61.00	701	7
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,388	58.87/cwt	52.00–64.00	817	11
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,206	64.92/cwt	63.00–66.00	783	17
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,152	55.41/cwt	50.00–62.00	638	15
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,213	61.85/cwt	60.00–65.00	750	10
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,581	80.00/cwt	80.00–80.00	1,265	18
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,485	80.00/cwt	80.00–80.00	1,188	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,414	63.56/cwt	61.00–68.00	899	35
Bulls	—	—	1,920	87.00/cwt	87.00–87.00	1,670	3
Bulls	—	—	2,070	94.00/cwt	94.00–94.00	1,946	5
Bulls	—Heavy Weight	—	2,545	74.00/cwt	74.00–74.00	1,883	1
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	975	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	829	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,035	61.00/cwt	61.00–61.00	631	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,058	79.88/cwt	68.00–94.00	845	13
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	934	108.80/cwt	95.00–117.50	1,016	42
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,230	1,275.00/head	1,275.00–1,275.00	1,275	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,069	1,375.00/head	1,375.00–1,375.00	1,375	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	583	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	1,009	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	537	191.50/cwt	191.50–191.50	1,028	84
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	830	172.00/cwt	172.00–172.00	1,428	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	604	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,057	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	530	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	901	3
Heifers	Medium 1	—	692	178.50/cwt	178.50–178.50	1,235	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	793	193.97/cwt	193.50–194.00	1,538	172
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	831	183.59/cwt	183.00–187.00	1,526	60
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	730	196.00/cwt	196.00–196.00	1,431	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	495	177.50/cwt	177.50–177.50	879	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	408	192.50/cwt	192.50–192.50	785	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	903	181.50/cwt	181.50–181.50	1,639	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	393	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	766	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	433	193.00/cwt	193.00–193.00	836	4
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	431	233.00/cwt	233.00–233.00	1,004	7
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	528	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	929	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	431	208.14/cwt	199.00–218.00	897	83
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	472	193.00/cwt	193.00–193.00	911	27
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	282	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	627	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	322	222.30/cwt	215.00–237.50	716	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	524	173.30/cwt	169.00–179.00	908	32
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	571	153.89/cwt	150.00–166.00	879	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	624	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	942	4

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 →