Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2023-01-26
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-01-26

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lighly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noted on all steer calves under 750 lbs and higher undertones were noticed on steers over 750 lbs. Heifer calves sold with steady to higher undertones on all offerings. Today was the first feeder special in three weeks, while prices were generally higher today compared to last week, compared to the last feeder special on Jan. 5th, prices were mostly steady to lower. Quality today was mixed from plain to attractive, with lots of variation in quality noted. Demand was mostly moderate for moderate offerings. Package sizes varied greatly this week. Several load lots were on offer this sale, however many small packaged and singles were see as well. Most calves were long weaned from 60-90 days. A large buyer pool was on hand this sale. Orderbuyers, buying for packers, showed very good demand for high quality heavy weight offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate to active today. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to trend, higher undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold 3.00-4.00 higher in a narrow compairson. Demand for bulls was mostly good as slaughter and feeding buyers competed over offerings. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly higher to sharply higher in a narrow compairson. Several sets of one iron, homeraised, ranch tested open, young cows sold today. Demand for these offerings was mostly good to very good as quality was mostly attractive.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $199.51/cwt on 1,363 head.

Average price

$199.51

1,363 head · 599 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,194

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$129

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1-2

$41.51/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−2.81

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	475	209.82	996	55
Medium 1-2	364	209.09	761	50
Medium and Large 1	640	202.06	1,292	872
Medium and Large 1-2	552	201.22	1,112	233
Medium and Large 2	556	181.76	1,011	40
Large 1	623	181.65	1,131	43
Large 1-2	515	168.30	866	70

One grade step is worth $41.51/cwt here — about $129 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 sale1,363 hd

199.51

—

MT average3 barns · 2,259 hd

202.32

−2.81

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	1,756	99.68	1,750	21
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,704	73.17	1,246	6thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,389	70.77	983	135
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,195	65.96	788	291

Every lot, as filed

117 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
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,364	75.08/cwt	74.00–77.00	1,024	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	968	57.68/cwt	52.00–63.00	558	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	665	169.60/cwt	166.00–174.00	1,128	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	375	212.50/cwt	212.50–212.50	797	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	577	206.76/cwt	205.00–210.00	1,193	70
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	831	177.94/cwt	176.50–179.50	1,479	57
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	561	179.00/cwt	179.00–179.00	1,004	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	423	213.01/cwt	209.00–217.50	901	45
Heifers	Medium 1	—	576	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	1,014	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	—	820	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	1,320	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	393	240.40/cwt	235.00–250.00	945	59
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	713	169.93/cwt	165.00–174.50	1,212	40
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	782	172.00/cwt	172.00–172.00	1,345	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Replacement	—	571	186.50/cwt	186.50–186.50	1,065	79
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	495	196.00/cwt	196.00–196.00	970	5
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	442	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	928	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	433	228.50/cwt	228.00–230.00	989	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	589	190.14/cwt	185.00–193.00	1,120	22
Steers	Large 1-2	—	451	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	785	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	519	195.72/cwt	183.00–205.00	1,016	20
Steers	Large 1	—	693	169.50/cwt	169.50–169.50	1,175	3
Steers	Medium 1-2	—	373	210.28/cwt	207.50–215.00	784	34
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	474	236.26/cwt	227.00–245.00	1,120	46
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	200	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	400	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	524	221.30/cwt	211.00–230.00	1,160	165
Steers	Medium 1-2	—	423	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	888	5
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	509	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	993	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	628	181.10/cwt	176.00–187.00	1,137	44
Steers	Large 1	—	607	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	1,105	27
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	684	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,197	6
Steers	Medium 1-2	—	309	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	633	11
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	617	166.71/cwt	160.00–170.00	1,029	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	715	180.89/cwt	177.00–188.00	1,293	27
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	668	189.51/cwt	178.50–197.00	1,266	111
Steers	Large 1	—	804	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	1,302	5
Steers	Large 1	—	502	202.00/cwt	202.00–202.00	1,014	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	881	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	1,216	10
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	731	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	1,162	7
Bulls	Large 1Unweaned	—	799	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	1,087	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	679	166.00/cwt	166.00–166.00	1,127	55
Bulls	Medium and Large 2	—	734	117.50/cwt	117.50–117.50	862	9
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	576	179.00/cwt	179.00–179.00	1,031	13
Dairy Steers	Large 1-2	—	727	177.00/cwt	177.00–177.00	1,287	28
Dairy Steers	Large 1-2	—	827	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,158	9
Dairy Heifers	Large 1-2	—	808	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	1,042	6
Dairy Heifers	Large 1-2	—	870	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,114	1
Dairy Heifers	Large 1-2	—	761	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	989	12
Steers	Medium 1	—	676	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	1,169	8
Steers	Medium 1	—	354	249.00/cwt	249.00–249.00	881	9
Steers	Medium 1	—	411	216.00/cwt	216.00–216.00	888	25
Dairy Heifers	Large 1-2	—	720	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	936	4
Steers	Medium 1	—	638	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,148	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	632	193.83/cwt	188.00–199.00	1,225	158
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	772	181.29/cwt	178.00–182.00	1,400	91
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	427	249.53/cwt	249.00–250.00	1,065	69
Steers	Medium 1	—	486	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	996	7
Dairy Heifers	Large 1-2	—	674	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	930	6
Steers	Large 1-2	—	523	167.57/cwt	165.00–168.00	876	62
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	484	211.33/cwt	210.00–214.00	1,023	12
Steers	Large 1	—	595	189.50/cwt	189.50–189.50	1,128	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,232	69.74/cwt	67.50–71.00	859	22
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,488	78.94/cwt	75.00–82.50	1,175	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,261	67.81/cwt	66.50–70.50	855	133
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,755	69.17/cwt	68.00–71.00	1,214	3
Bulls	—	—	2,405	107.00/cwt	107.00–107.00	2,573	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,652	77.16/cwt	76.00–78.00	1,275	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,174	61.57/cwt	55.00–66.00	723	70
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,184	75.03/cwt	72.00–78.00	888	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,410	75.30/cwt	74.00–76.50	1,062	17
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,122	73.39/cwt	72.00–75.50	823	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,378	69.44/cwt	62.00–71.00	957	93
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,411	69.14/cwt	64.00–72.50	976	14
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,478	80.50/cwt	80.50–80.50	1,190	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,068	64.79/cwt	60.00–65.25	692	55
Bulls	—	—	1,773	100.44/cwt	97.00–105.50	1,781	11
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,473	86.29/cwt	85.00–87.00	1,271	3
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,758	103.76/cwt	100.00–107.00	1,824	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	962	104.50/cwt	73.50–139.00	1,005	174
Stock Cows	Medium 1	—	794	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,056	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,042	86.00/cwt	86.00–86.00	896	16
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,055	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	1,298	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	827	155.28/cwt	125.00–159.00	1,284	81
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	479	183.22/cwt	180.00–186.00	878	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	852	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,133	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	885	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	1,319	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	547	191.00/cwt	191.00–191.00	1,045	16
Heifers	Large 1	—	594	176.39/cwt	175.50–178.00	1,048	36
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	441	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,014	4
Heifers	Medium 1	—	339	199.58/cwt	195.00–210.00	677	36
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	691	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	1,099	8
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	303	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	545	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	710	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	1,051	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	903	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	1,291	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	519	157.50/cwt	157.50–157.50	817	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	752	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	1,136	7
Heifers	Medium 1	—	468	198.00/cwt	198.00–198.00	927	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	395	223.29/cwt	217.50–227.50	882	32
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	483	202.77/cwt	198.00–211.00	979	146
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	498	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	876	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	373	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	746	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	576	170.40/cwt	164.00–174.00	982	19
Heifers	Large 1	—	783	160.50/cwt	160.50–160.50	1,257	6
Heifers	Large 1	—	737	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	1,194	3
Heifers	Medium 1	—	767	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	1,089	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	439	197.81/cwt	197.00–199.00	868	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	620	165.41/cwt	162.00–169.00	1,026	18
Heifers	Medium 1	—	704	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	1,077	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	626	176.50/cwt	176.50–176.50	1,105	45
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	576	189.00/cwt	180.00–194.50	1,089	65
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	526	198.23/cwt	189.00–206.00	1,043	137
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	716	168.00/cwt	168.00–168.00	1,203	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	632	179.19/cwt	168.50–183.50	1,132	179
Heifers	Medium 1	—	400	190.79/cwt	190.00–191.00	763	33
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	991	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	1,516	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	866	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	1,576	69
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	—	691	1,350.00/head	1,350.00–1,350.00	1,350	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	758	164.16/cwt	156.00–168.50	1,244	81

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 →