Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2023-05-25
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-05-25

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last reported sale (5-11-23): Steers and heifers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on steers and higher undertones were noticed on heifers. Quality this sale was mixed from plain to attractive with lots of variation seen. A few load lots were seen today and demand was very good for full loads. Packages sold on moderate to good demand. Higher fed cattle prices seen yesterday helped spur demand for feeders today. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to run on grass. Market activity was active to very active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers were very aggressive as they purchased cows for immediate harvest as well as to feed. Slaughter cows sold 6.00-8.00 higher on all offerings compared to the last reported sale 2 weeks ago. Feeding cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher than the last reported sale. Demand for all cows was very good and strengthened throughout the sale and into the afternoon as buyers fought to fill loads. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Some offerings have been out on grass and were emptied out while others were pushing heavy amounts of fill. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 5.00-10.00 lower as fewer taker were seen for this class of cows this sale. Quality this week was mostly average.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $232.28/cwt on 651 head.

Average price

$232.28

651 head · 622 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,445

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$602

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2-3

$73.92/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+5.01

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	637	242.26	1,544	381
Medium 1	560	239.60	1,342	46
Medium and Large 1-2	610	226.96	1,385	119
Medium 1-2	388	215.00	834	5thin
Medium and Large 2	610	206.61	1,261	69
Medium 2	551	185.00	1,019	11thin
Large 1	788	182.36	1,437	11thin
Medium 2-3	560	168.33	942	9thin

One grade step is worth $73.92/cwt here — about $602 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 sale651 hd

232.28

—

MT average3 barns · 812 hd

227.27

+5.01

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	1,653	118.46	1,959	36
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,529	102.26	1,564	23
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,389	102.01	1,417	88
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,170	95.45	1,117	44

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	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,020	$1,800	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,390	$1,600	1thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,468	$1,550	2thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,025	$1,400	1thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,571	$1,672	9
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,320	$1,475	2thin

Every lot, as filed

102 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
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	841	111.89/cwt	100.00–120.00	941	4
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	920	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	1,426	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,468	1,550.00/head	1,550.00–1,550.00	1,550	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,020	1,800.00/head	1,800.00–1,800.00	1,800	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,390	1,600.00/head	1,600.00–1,600.00	1,600	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,025	1,400.00/head	1,400.00–1,400.00	1,400	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,570	1,749.68/head	1,725.00–1,775.00	1,750	2
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,320	1,475.00/head	1,475.00–1,475.00	1,475	2
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,571	1,650.00/head	1,650.00–1,650.00	1,650	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	532	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	1,357	3
Bulls	Large 1	—	665	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,496	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	585	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,463	8
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	987	150.29/cwt	148.00–155.00	1,483	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	770	188.00/cwt	188.00–188.00	1,448	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	100	175.00/head	175.00–175.00	175	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	108	175.00/head	175.00–175.00	175	1
Heifers	Medium 2-3	—	636	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	986	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	565	212.50/cwt	212.50–212.50	1,201	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	494	217.50/cwt	217.50–217.50	1,074	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	787	178.02/cwt	176.00–179.00	1,401	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	973	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	1,654	6
Heifers	Medium 1	—	603	218.00/cwt	218.00–218.00	1,315	13
Heifers	Large 1	—	897	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	1,579	6
Heifers	Large 1	—	657	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	1,248	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	762	204.40/cwt	193.00–211.00	1,558	18
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	846	128.38/cwt	115.00–150.00	1,086	12
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	970	151.44/cwt	131.00–174.00	1,469	46
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,046	121.71/cwt	94.00–151.00	1,273	72
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,327	104.37/cwt	102.00–111.00	1,385	5
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,328	123.50/cwt	123.00–124.00	1,640	2
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,216	134.50/cwt	134.50–134.50	1,636	5
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,370	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	1,439	1
Bulls	—	—	1,812	119.32/cwt	116.00–124.00	2,162	11
Bulls	—	—	1,591	109.82/cwt	103.00–114.00	1,747	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,174	89.79/cwt	85.00–93.00	1,054	9
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,520	99.07/cwt	97.00–100.00	1,506	9
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,563	104.73/cwt	103.00–105.50	1,637	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,510	107.00/cwt	107.00–107.00	1,616	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,390	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	1,460	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,146	103.31/cwt	101.00–105.00	1,184	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,339	100.08/cwt	95.00–103.00	1,340	19
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,181	94.85/cwt	94.00–96.00	1,120	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,262	101.02/cwt	100.00–108.00	1,275	10
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,353	90.44/cwt	79.00–93.00	1,224	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,447	106.65/cwt	104.00–110.50	1,543	27
Bulls	—	—	2,342	127.39/cwt	127.00–129.00	2,983	5
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,516	103.00/cwt	103.00–103.00	1,561	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,157	89.27/cwt	86.00–92.00	1,033	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,380	102.03/cwt	94.00–104.00	1,408	33
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	878	92.15/cwt	88.00–96.00	809	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,135	94.67/cwt	93.00–96.00	1,075	9
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	90	150.00/head	150.00–150.00	150	1
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,030	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	1,607	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	523	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	1,438	3
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,133	141.74/cwt	140.50–143.00	1,606	2
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,178	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,649	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	100	225.00/head	225.00–225.00	225	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	579	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,737	33
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	466	253.32/cwt	250.00–260.00	1,180	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	883	189.50/cwt	189.50–189.50	1,673	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,029	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,801	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	828	193.00/cwt	193.00–193.00	1,598	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	587	257.00/cwt	257.00–257.00	1,509	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	656	277.00/cwt	277.00–277.00	1,817	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	480	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,440	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	634	268.00/cwt	268.00–268.00	1,699	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,030	186.50/cwt	186.50–186.50	1,921	106
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	622	246.95/cwt	246.00–257.50	1,536	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	587	262.50/cwt	262.50–262.50	1,541	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	729	223.00/cwt	223.00–223.00	1,626	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	575	272.50/cwt	272.50–272.50	1,567	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	785	220.08/cwt	218.00–231.00	1,728	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	721	232.65/cwt	231.00–235.00	1,677	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	813	212.00/cwt	212.00–212.00	1,724	12
Steers	Medium 1	—	613	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,471	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	865	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	1,765	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	630	218.83/cwt	214.00–224.00	1,379	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	685	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,233	3
Heifers	Medium 2	—	551	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	1,019	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	841	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,682	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	713	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,604	9
Steers	Large 1	—	1,204	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	2,107	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	832	184.50/cwt	184.50–184.50	1,535	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	582	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,339	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	852	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,491	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	473	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,230	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	535	248.25/cwt	230.00–251.00	1,328	47
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	760	192.00/cwt	192.00–192.00	1,459	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	582	263.01/cwt	261.00–263.50	1,531	139
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	722	190.25/cwt	190.00–192.00	1,374	16
Heifers	Medium 1	—	584	241.67/cwt	238.00–243.00	1,411	22
Heifers	Medium 1	—	461	261.00/cwt	261.00–261.00	1,203	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	821	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	1,560	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	863	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	1,588	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	680	226.02/cwt	220.00–232.00	1,537	104
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	624	245.59/cwt	239.00–257.00	1,532	62
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	388	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	834	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	702	217.20/cwt	214.00–222.00	1,525	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	685	214.20/cwt	212.50–217.00	1,467	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	505	269.16/cwt	268.00–270.00	1,359	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	628	208.01/cwt	193.00–210.00	1,306	35
Heifers	Medium 2-3	—	464	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	858	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 →