Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2023-11-30
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-11-30

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold steady to 15.00 higher; Steers 450-599 lbs sold generally steady to weak; steer calves over 600 lbs sold mostly 8.00-10.00 lower. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold generally steady; heifer calves 500-650 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; heifer calves over 650 lbs were too lightly tested to trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly moderate to good this sale. Quality today was mixed from plain to attractive with lots of variation seen. Large price spreads continue to be seen between plain/average quality calves and high quality calves. CME positions have been very volatile over the last week with sharply higher and sharply lower prices seen. CME contracts sold off sharply today with triple digit losses seen on all contracts. The January contracts sold 2.25 lower to settle at 219.95, The March contract closed at 222.575 1.70 lower. Package sizes were mixed this week. Demand was good for load lots and large packages, however small packages sold at a discount. Calves with fall preconditioning shots sold with the best demand. Most calves with only one round of shots sold with a 5.00-12.00 discount. A few weaned calves were seen this week however very few weaned calves sold with any premium to fresh, clean, bloomy calves straight off the cow. Market activity was mostly active today with a very large crowd on hand of both farmer feeders and order buyers noticed. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for mostly light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows and feeding cows were too lightly tested last week to develop a full market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on light demand today. Quality was mostly average to attractive. This class was too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however lower to sharply lower undertones were noticed.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $264.24/cwt on 1,512 head.

Average price

$264.24

1,512 head · 581 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,536

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$48

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$64.36/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−4.81

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	576	270.09	1,554	1,204
Medium and Large 1-2	574	253.56	1,456	216
Medium 1-2	492	221.07	1,087	14thin
Medium and Large 2	591	220.30	1,303	29
Large 1	779	205.73	1,602	49

One grade step is worth $64.36/cwt here — about −$48 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 sale1,512 hd

264.24

—

MT average4 barns · 2,415 hd

269.05

−4.81

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	—	Low	1,762	100.01	1,762	17
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,541	95.39	1,470	16
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,360	84.70	1,152	85
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,186	77.94	924	108

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)	1,344	$1,535	8
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,341	$1,450	4thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,380	$1,375	6

Every lot, as filed

112 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	—	541	264.65/cwt	261.00–268.00	1,432	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	680	224.00/cwt	224.00–224.00	1,523	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	348	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,288	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	366	389.77/cwt	387.50–397.50	1,427	13
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	675	218.60/cwt	212.00–224.00	1,476	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	395	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,383	1
Steers	Medium 1-2Unweaned	—	597	202.50/cwt	202.50–202.50	1,209	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	705	214.00/cwt	214.00–214.00	1,509	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	433	333.64/cwt	325.00–337.00	1,445	25
Steers	Medium 1-2Unweaned	—	413	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	971	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	—	889	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,911	61
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	689	197.50/cwt	197.50–197.50	1,361	13
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	724	202.80/cwt	202.50–203.00	1,468	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	472	289.00/cwt	289.00–289.00	1,364	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	601	227.00/cwt	227.00–227.00	1,364	11
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	504	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	1,436	7
Heifers	Medium 2Unweaned	—	404	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	747	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	406	267.50/cwt	267.50–267.50	1,086	12
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	512	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,178	3
Heifers	Medium 2Unweaned	—	685	172.00/cwt	172.00–172.00	1,178	15
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	625	226.00/cwt	226.00–226.00	1,413	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	659	216.62/cwt	215.00–223.00	1,428	36
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	913	200.36/cwt	198.50–201.50	1,829	53
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	776	215.76/cwt	213.00–220.00	1,674	39
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	325	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	878	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	519	261.61/cwt	252.00–272.00	1,358	65
Heifers	Medium 1	—	401	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	942	8
Heifers	Medium 1	—	373	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	839	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	581	241.89/cwt	238.00–246.00	1,405	24
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	898	208.00/cwt	208.00–208.00	1,868	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	435	275.76/cwt	270.00–287.00	1,200	35
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	413	232.50/cwt	232.50–232.50	960	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	450	277.00/cwt	277.00–277.00	1,247	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,038	181.68/cwt	181.50–182.00	1,886	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	895	199.00/cwt	199.00–199.00	1,781	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	548	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,343	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	783	209.00/cwt	209.00–209.00	1,636	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	951	183.00/cwt	183.00–183.00	1,740	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	941	182.50/cwt	182.50–182.50	1,717	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	485	249.83/cwt	245.00–253.00	1,212	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	430	282.50/cwt	282.50–282.50	1,215	24
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	502	274.00/cwt	274.00–274.00	1,375	55
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	577	227.25/cwt	223.50–237.00	1,311	68
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	539	243.71/cwt	235.00–247.00	1,314	54
Steers	Large 1	—	825	203.00/cwt	203.00–203.00	1,675	11
Steers	Large 1	—	1,117	178.00/cwt	178.00–178.00	1,988	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	423	268.50/cwt	268.50–268.50	1,136	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	566	250.12/cwt	242.00–256.00	1,416	183
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	390	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	975	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	624	236.42/cwt	234.00–244.00	1,475	72
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,064	191.10/cwt	191.00–192.50	2,033	31
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	473	317.82/cwt	295.00–330.00	1,503	39
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	562	233.00/cwt	233.00–233.00	1,309	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	470	273.52/cwt	261.50–279.00	1,286	81
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	533	274.80/cwt	274.50–275.00	1,465	40
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	414	352.31/cwt	349.00–356.00	1,459	49
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	637	232.38/cwt	225.00–237.00	1,480	51
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	580	237.00/cwt	237.00–237.00	1,375	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	584	251.32/cwt	247.00–256.50	1,468	66
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	637	237.00/cwt	237.00–237.00	1,510	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	736	224.36/cwt	224.00–224.50	1,651	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	640	232.02/cwt	230.50–245.00	1,485	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	714	222.50/cwt	220.00–224.00	1,589	18
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	673	201.68/cwt	198.00–206.00	1,357	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,022	191.00/cwt	191.00–191.00	1,952	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	668	230.50/cwt	230.50–230.50	1,540	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	663	226.00/cwt	224.00–229.00	1,498	10
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	612	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	1,163	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	331	380.09/cwt	282.50–390.00	1,258	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	295	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	1,136	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	524	261.00/cwt	258.00–265.00	1,368	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	366	380.56/cwt	375.00–387.50	1,393	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	611	250.12/cwt	239.50–255.00	1,528	70
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	761	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	1,674	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	577	256.19/cwt	246.00–268.00	1,478	400
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	413	352.45/cwt	337.50–358.00	1,456	58
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	339	303.34/cwt	300.00–305.00	1,028	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	954	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	1,813	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	668	235.37/cwt	224.00–240.00	1,572	164
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	580	235.78/cwt	230.00–243.00	1,368	56
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	494	286.00/cwt	286.00–286.00	1,413	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	524	283.89/cwt	270.00–300.00	1,488	64
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	606	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,303	7
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	707	209.50/cwt	209.50–209.50	1,481	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	484	304.87/cwt	296.00–328.00	1,476	113
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	905	57.50/cwt	57.50–57.50	520	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,330	58.00/cwt	58.00–58.00	771	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,484	97.38/cwt	97.00–99.00	1,445	11
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,363	84.32/cwt	84.00–86.00	1,149	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,126	71.10/cwt	65.00–79.00	801	18
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,190	83.87/cwt	82.00–86.00	998	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	989	71.16/cwt	71.00–72.00	704	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,585	86.00/cwt	86.00–86.00	1,363	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,790	87.00/cwt	87.00–87.00	1,557	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,230	84.02/cwt	80.00–86.50	1,033	49
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,344	79.51/cwt	73.00–83.00	1,069	16
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	965	76.00/cwt	76.00–76.00	733	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,652	94.02/cwt	92.00–96.00	1,553	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,365	81.22/cwt	77.00–84.00	1,109	14
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,363	87.43/cwt	84.50–94.00	1,192	49
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,202	72.60/cwt	65.00–79.00	873	25
Bulls	—	—	1,691	96.80/cwt	85.00–110.00	1,637	14
Bulls	—	—	2,093	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	2,407	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,035	97.00/cwt	97.00–97.00	1,004	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,128	95.34/cwt	85.00–107.50	1,075	42
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,085	76.00/cwt	76.00–76.00	825	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	988	136.41/cwt	100.50–152.00	1,348	70
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,380	1,375.00/head	1,375.00–1,375.00	1,375	6
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,344	1,535.27/head	1,500.00–1,750.00	1,535	8
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,341	1,450.00/head	1,450.00–1,450.00	1,450	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	832	209.70/cwt	207.50–214.00	1,745	46
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	966	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	1,884	18

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 →