Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2023-06-01
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-06-01

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on steers and steady undertones were noticed on heifers. Quality this sale was mostly plain to average with lots of variation seen. Many sets of cut backs were seen as producers sell the end of their grass cattle following turnout. No load lots were seen today and most calves sold in small packages or as singles. Sharply higher CME live cattle contract prices were seen today as the nearby contract closed 5.775 higher to close at 174.90. Feeder cattle contracts also traded sharply higher from 2.475-4.20 higher on the August 23'-March 24' contracts. Market activity was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for moderate offerings. Packers were very aggressive as they purchased cows for immediate harvest and to feed. Slaughter cows sold steady to firm on lean and boning cows, breaking cows were too lightly tested to trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 1.00 higher. 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 some fill, especially in the afternoon as temperatures warmed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 5.00-7.00 lower as fewer taker were seen for this class of cows as it is getting late to buy cows to turn out. Quality this week was mostly average.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $220.03/cwt on 153 head.

Average price

$220.03

153 head · 683 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,503

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$112

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

$6.10/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−2.49

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	693	221.98	1,539	104
Medium and Large 1-2	661	215.88	1,427	49

One grade step is worth $6.10/cwt here — about $112 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 sale153 hd

220.03

—

MT average3 barns · 206 hd

222.52

−2.49

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	1,731	122.02	2,112	107
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,633	106.65	1,741	24
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,395	101.76	1,419	193
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,194	94.58	1,130	207

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)	1,300	$1,550	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,208	$1,500	2thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,417	$1,750	9

Every lot, as filed

83 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
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,125	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	1,586	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	685	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	1,507	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	180	500.00/head	500.00–500.00	500	2
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,267	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	1,799	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	795	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	1,439	4
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,010	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	1,667	1
Steers	Large 1	—	854	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	1,571	11
Steers	Medium 1	—	498	246.00/cwt	246.00–246.00	1,225	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	540	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,566	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	614	286.00/cwt	280.00–288.00	1,756	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,204	104.03/cwt	102.00–105.50	1,253	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,196	97.03/cwt	93.00–101.00	1,160	103
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,530	102.31/cwt	101.00–103.00	1,565	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,576	111.24/cwt	110.50–112.00	1,753	4
Bulls	—	—	1,799	122.16/cwt	117.00–128.00	2,198	40
Bulls	—	—	2,076	131.66/cwt	127.00–137.00	2,733	19
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,382	93.31/cwt	90.00–95.00	1,290	16
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,115	101.00/cwt	101.00–101.00	1,126	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,266	95.20/cwt	93.00–98.00	1,205	30
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,209	89.72/cwt	85.00–93.00	1,085	27
Bulls	—	—	1,558	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	1,854	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,153	90.37/cwt	82.00–93.00	1,042	33
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,386	94.18/cwt	89.00–96.00	1,305	16
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,410	107.40/cwt	104.50–112.50	1,514	71
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,078	81.00/cwt	81.00–81.00	873	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,680	107.73/cwt	107.00–108.50	1,810	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,702	109.44/cwt	109.00–109.50	1,863	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,765	108.00/cwt	108.00–108.00	1,906	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,543	106.50/cwt	106.50–106.50	1,643	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,645	100.77/cwt	95.00–103.00	1,658	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,395	99.53/cwt	95.00–104.00	1,388	41
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	930	93.00/cwt	93.00–93.00	865	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	840	78.73/cwt	73.00–84.00	661	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,371	100.55/cwt	97.00–105.50	1,379	48
Bulls	—	—	1,662	111.63/cwt	98.00–116.00	1,855	17
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,491	108.29/cwt	105.00–109.00	1,615	5
Bulls	—Heavy Weight	—	2,715	90.00/cwt	90.00–90.00	2,444	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,312	133.44/cwt	127.00–137.00	1,751	9
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,351	121.40/cwt	114.00–132.00	1,640	11
Bulls	—Canadian Origin	—	2,465	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	3,131	1
Stock Cows	Medium 1	—	818	112.50/cwt	112.50–112.50	920	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,140	114.57/cwt	102.00–139.00	1,306	73
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,098	145.19/cwt	117.50–167.00	1,594	50
Stock Cows	Medium 1	—	740	137.44/cwt	132.50–142.00	1,017	2
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	880	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	1,320	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	910	140.79/cwt	140.00–141.00	1,281	9
Steers	Large 1Fleshy	—	1,046	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,831	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	660	249.89/cwt	249.00–250.00	1,649	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	734	226.00/cwt	226.00–226.00	1,659	6
Steers	Medium 2	—	409	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	818	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	505	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,414	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	488	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,293	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	402	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,085	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	800	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	1,640	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	590	290.27/cwt	285.00–292.00	1,713	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	410	252.00/cwt	252.00–252.00	1,033	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	679	221.92/cwt	220.00–227.50	1,507	6
Steers	Medium 1Fleshy	—	746	208.00/cwt	208.00–208.00	1,552	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	738	215.56/cwt	215.00–218.00	1,591	27
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	—	826	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	1,528	7
Steers	Large 1	—	708	218.00/cwt	218.00–218.00	1,543	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	483	268.00/cwt	268.00–268.00	1,294	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	673	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,548	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	628	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,444	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	586	240.46/cwt	236.00–247.50	1,409	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	516	261.00/cwt	261.00–261.00	1,347	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	845	179.00/cwt	179.00–179.00	1,513	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	709	212.03/cwt	209.00–215.00	1,503	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	918	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	1,561	4
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,070	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	1,616	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	733	203.00/cwt	203.00–203.00	1,488	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	—	743	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	1,367	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	937	178.71/cwt	177.00–183.00	1,675	21
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	2,185	138.50/cwt	138.50–138.50	3,026	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,417	1,750.00/head	1,750.00–1,750.00	1,750	9
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,540	82.00/cwt	82.00–82.00	1,263	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,373	105.52/cwt	105.00–106.00	1,449	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,208	1,500.00/head	1,500.00–1,500.00	1,500	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,300	1,550.00/head	1,550.00–1,550.00	1,550	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	942	101.65/cwt	92.50–115.00	958	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,183	99.00/cwt	99.00–99.00	1,171	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,109	129.22/cwt	114.00–140.00	1,433	8
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,478	107.20/cwt	106.50–108.00	1,584	2

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 →