Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2023-01-05
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-01-05

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale(12-15-22): Steer calves sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher on all offerings. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold generally steady, heifers over 500 lbs sold 7.00-10.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Cattle were offered in a variety of package sizes, however most packages were small to medium in size. Heifer quality under 500 lbs was mostly plain to average. Demand for calves mostly good to very good. Cattle destined for wheat or grass sold with very good demand. Heavier weight cattle destined for the feedlot sold on moderate to good demand, with good interest seen from cooperate packer buyers. Most calves were long weaned, from 50-90 days. A large buyer pool was on hand this sale and market activity was mostly active to very active as a result. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. A large winter storm has much of the northern plains buried in snow and has packers searching for cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 5.00-9.00 higher on all classes. Feeding cows sold 2.00-4.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 10.00-12.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $202.64/cwt on 1,341 head.

Average price

$202.64

1,341 head · 614 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,245

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$65

per head · Medium 1 over Medium and Large 2

$56.55/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−3.24

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	460	231.55	1,066	22
Medium and Large 1	619	204.63	1,267	1,092
Medium and Large 1-2	591	194.16	1,147	180
Large 1	687	175.24	1,203	42
Medium and Large 2	572	175.00	1,001	5thin

One grade step is worth $56.55/cwt here — about $65 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 sale1,341 hd

202.64

—

MT average3 barns · 1,583 hd

205.88

−3.24

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	—	Average	1,662	96.74	1,608	19
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,706	70.64	1,205	7thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,414	69.61	985	88
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,156	64.73	748	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	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,181	$1,200	4thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,163	$1,075	13
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,500	$1,050	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,404	$925	11

Every lot, as filed

104 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	—	628	176.26/cwt	171.00–182.50	1,107	141
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	459	210.58/cwt	199.00–217.00	967	47
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	518	197.18/cwt	190.00–203.00	1,021	159
Heifers	Medium 1	—	365	206.00/cwt	206.00–206.00	752	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	673	155.50/cwt	150.00–158.00	1,047	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	363	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	773	8
Heifers	Medium 1	—	474	190.77/cwt	187.00–195.00	904	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	582	188.03/cwt	181.00–195.00	1,094	201
Heifers	Medium 1	—	575	172.05/cwt	167.00–175.00	989	39
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	368	207.10/cwt	200.00–210.00	762	36
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	423	211.91/cwt	210.00–219.00	896	99
Heifers	Medium 1	—	618	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	1,020	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	724	163.04/cwt	159.50–165.00	1,180	63
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	781	161.23/cwt	154.00–165.50	1,259	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	598	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	951	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	528	180.37/cwt	178.00–185.00	952	16
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	365	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	712	8
Heifers	Large 1	—	580	165.01/cwt	158.00–174.00	957	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	724	150.87/cwt	145.00–155.00	1,092	26
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	429	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	781	5
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	490	192.00/cwt	192.00–192.00	941	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	674	164.50/cwt	164.50–164.50	1,109	38
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	584	175.20/cwt	167.00–178.00	1,023	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	591	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	892	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	632	163.46/cwt	158.00–170.00	1,033	12
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	579	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	874	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	680	169.45/cwt	161.50–172.00	1,152	87
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	372	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	930	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	470	196.18/cwt	191.00–200.00	922	28
Heifers	Large 1	—	647	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	971	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	301	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	677	13
Heifers	Medium 1	—	516	179.61/cwt	178.00–189.00	927	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	606	187.00/cwt	187.00–187.00	1,133	17
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,181	1,200.00/head	1,200.00–1,200.00	1,200	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,163	1,075.00/head	1,075.00–1,075.00	1,075	13
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,088	74.89/cwt	66.00–90.00	815	14
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	994	100.45/cwt	83.00–107.00	998	29
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,404	925.00/head	925.00–925.00	925	11
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,500	1,050.00/head	1,050.00–1,050.00	1,050	3
Bulls	—	—	1,803	103.72/cwt	96.00–108.00	1,870	11
Bulls	—	—	1,468	87.15/cwt	83.00–92.00	1,279	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,444	71.14/cwt	69.50–75.50	1,027	38
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,162	65.94/cwt	64.00–67.00	766	30
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,065	51.00/cwt	51.00–51.00	543	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,344	70.13/cwt	69.00–71.00	943	19
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,223	65.97/cwt	64.00–69.00	807	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,032	59.86/cwt	57.00–64.00	618	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,253	74.50/cwt	74.50–74.50	933	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,714	69.08/cwt	62.00–73.00	1,184	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,655	80.00/cwt	80.00–80.00	1,324	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,113	61.34/cwt	55.00–64.00	683	11
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,421	67.42/cwt	63.00–69.00	958	31
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	—	645	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	948	26
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	439	229.00/cwt	229.00–229.00	1,005	8
Bulls	Large 1	—	667	178.00/cwt	178.00–178.00	1,187	8
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	433	249.50/cwt	249.50–249.50	1,080	57
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	563	183.00/cwt	183.00–183.00	1,030	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	534	193.64/cwt	187.00–197.00	1,034	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	757	171.09/cwt	170.00–173.00	1,295	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	472	209.21/cwt	205.00–212.50	987	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	560	216.12/cwt	212.00–219.50	1,210	35
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	668	197.50/cwt	197.50–197.50	1,319	53
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	487	211.00/cwt	211.00–211.00	1,028	5
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	732	165.12/cwt	164.00–167.50	1,209	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	677	185.69/cwt	183.00–186.00	1,257	39
Steers	Large 1	—	586	191.00/cwt	191.00–191.00	1,119	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	618	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	1,174	3
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	555	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	1,055	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	356	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	872	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	962	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	1,414	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	623	186.00/cwt	186.00–186.00	1,159	2
Steers	Medium 1	—	539	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	1,148	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	751	172.00/cwt	172.00–172.00	1,292	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	601	209.50/cwt	209.50–209.50	1,259	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	733	168.40/cwt	168.00–170.00	1,234	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	847	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	1,347	13
Steers	Large 1	—	758	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	1,311	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	372	271.47/cwt	264.00–277.50	1,010	26
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	335	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	838	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	525	198.88/cwt	192.50–210.00	1,044	47
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	725	187.74/cwt	180.00–189.50	1,361	68
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	475	239.76/cwt	232.50–253.00	1,139	79
Steers	Medium 1	—	477	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,073	11
Steers	Large 1	—	818	166.00/cwt	166.00–166.00	1,358	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	572	197.22/cwt	190.00–205.00	1,128	49
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	669	184.48/cwt	177.00–186.00	1,234	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	830	177.04/cwt	174.00–181.00	1,469	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	907	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	1,497	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	433	249.71/cwt	247.00–263.00	1,081	16
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	711	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	1,038	8
Steers	Medium 1	—	364	259.00/cwt	259.00–259.00	943	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	617	201.68/cwt	186.00–212.00	1,244	204
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	511	232.00/cwt	232.00–232.00	1,186	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	516	225.90/cwt	215.00–236.00	1,166	70
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	772	180.50/cwt	175.00–183.50	1,393	78
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	565	189.58/cwt	186.00–192.00	1,071	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	672	189.06/cwt	182.00–193.00	1,270	157
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	570	211.65/cwt	207.00–215.00	1,206	200
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	428	206.00/cwt	206.00–206.00	882	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	734	166.00/cwt	166.00–166.00	1,218	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	460	199.89/cwt	199.00–201.00	919	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	420	204.06/cwt	204.00–205.00	857	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	432	228.10/cwt	217.50–232.50	985	7
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	572	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,001	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 →