Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2023-12-07
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-12-07

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested this week to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly 10.00-15.00 lower; Steers 450-499 lbs sold generally steady; steer calves 500-649 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher; steers over 650 lbs were not well compared steady to weak undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; heifer calves 450-549 lbs sold mostly steady to 8.00 lower; heifer calves over 550 lbs sold mostly 6.00-8.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Demand was mostly moderate to good this sale. Quality today was mixed from plain to very attractive. Much more of the offering was comprised of weaned calves this week. Demand for long weaned calves was mostly good. Many sets of calves were weaned over 50 days. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings, and buyers were willing to buy heavier weights of calves to take to grass this week. Large price spreads continue to be seen between plain/average quality calves and high quality calves as less takers and lighter demand was seen for plain/average quality cattle. CME positions continue to show lots of volatility with many triple digit swings higher and lower seen. Today, CME positions started the day higher before selling off mid trading secession. The January contract closed at 210.025, while the March contract closed at 211.175, up 0.125 and down 0.575 respectfully from yesterdays close. Package sizes were mixed this week. No load lots were seen, however several partial loads were seen and these calves were met with the best demand. Market activity was mostly active today with a very large crowd on hand. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for mostly light offerings. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested this week to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. High quality feeding cows were too lightly tested to trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Thin feeding cows sold with lower undertones as well. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average today with most offerings pushing heavy amounts of fill. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on light to moderate demand today. Quality was mostly average and most offerings sold to feed. This class sold steady to firm on a slightly higher quality offering.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $277.03/cwt on 1,781 head.

Average price

$277.03

1,781 head · 539 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,492

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$556

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2

$95.77/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+1.15

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	545	278.27	1,516	1,309
Medium and Large 1-2	521	275.55	1,437	310
Medium 1	517	274.67	1,419	143
Medium and Large 2	479	262.57	1,259	7thin
Large 1	619	234.00	1,448	8thin
Medium 2	526	182.50	960	4thin

One grade step is worth $95.77/cwt here — about $556 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 sale1,781 hd

277.03

—

MT average4 barns · 3,181 hd

275.88

+1.15

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	1,752	107.67	1,886	13
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,693	88.29	1,494	8thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,353	85.46	1,157	42
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,137	72.07	819	160

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/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,234	$1,705	10
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,193	$1,575	2thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,068	$1,300	3thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,136	$1,275	5
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,239	$1,250	8
Bred Heifers	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,018	$1,800	2thin

Every lot, as filed

126 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
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,136	1,275.00/head	1,275.00–1,275.00	1,275	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	322	287.00/cwt	287.00–287.00	924	32
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	568	235.38/cwt	230.00–242.50	1,337	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	663	224.00/cwt	224.00–224.00	1,485	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	318	357.50/cwt	357.50–357.50	1,137	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	489	283.82/cwt	275.00–293.00	1,388	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	679	223.00/cwt	223.00–223.00	1,514	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	315	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	977	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	576	249.93/cwt	236.50–256.50	1,440	112
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	298	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	805	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	363	358.02/cwt	355.00–361.00	1,300	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	825	211.00/cwt	211.00–211.00	1,741	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	526	260.13/cwt	252.00–265.00	1,368	77
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	481	254.05/cwt	244.00–262.00	1,222	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	524	260.20/cwt	253.00–268.00	1,363	124
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	718	222.18/cwt	214.00–227.00	1,595	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	337	371.77/cwt	360.00–375.00	1,253	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	519	267.00/cwt	267.00–267.00	1,386	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	726	206.00/cwt	206.00–206.00	1,496	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	898	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,616	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	611	225.26/cwt	218.00–228.50	1,376	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	537	290.25/cwt	280.00–292.00	1,559	108
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	569	262.31/cwt	252.00–279.00	1,493	98
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	425	284.77/cwt	274.00–306.00	1,210	131
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	462	245.22/cwt	240.00–259.00	1,133	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	724	208.00/cwt	208.00–208.00	1,506	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	346	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,055	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	530	244.65/cwt	237.00–253.00	1,297	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	365	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	967	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	485	292.21/cwt	277.50–298.00	1,417	43
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	633	231.14/cwt	229.00–234.00	1,463	35
Heifers	Large 1	—	568	188.00/cwt	188.00–188.00	1,068	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	589	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,414	14
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	653	194.00/cwt	194.00–194.00	1,267	9
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	492	253.52/cwt	242.00–264.00	1,247	25
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	1,013	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	1,763	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	597	234.00/cwt	234.00–234.00	1,397	14
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	399	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	1,257	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	503	270.11/cwt	270.00–271.00	1,359	9
Steers	Large 1	—	619	234.00/cwt	234.00–234.00	1,448	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	882	197.47/cwt	191.00–199.50	1,742	56
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	376	358.03/cwt	350.00–375.00	1,346	45
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	652	202.00/cwt	202.00–202.00	1,317	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	616	244.14/cwt	238.00–249.50	1,504	182
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	334	368.63/cwt	367.00–375.00	1,231	33
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	456	307.36/cwt	290.00–313.00	1,402	33
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	485	222.00/cwt	222.00–222.00	1,077	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	819	192.90/cwt	192.50–194.00	1,580	23
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	483	265.90/cwt	260.00–272.00	1,284	121
Steers	Medium 1	—	546	264.13/cwt	260.00–273.00	1,442	113
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	564	266.74/cwt	251.00–280.00	1,504	245
Heifers	Medium 2Unweaned	—	438	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	657	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	462	306.73/cwt	301.00–317.50	1,417	106
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	525	284.62/cwt	278.00–295.00	1,494	121
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	420	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	1,302	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	682	211.81/cwt	209.00–214.00	1,445	31
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	620	247.38/cwt	245.00–253.00	1,534	46
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	667	233.98/cwt	224.00–239.00	1,561	46
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	526	266.68/cwt	264.00–272.50	1,403	53
Steers	Medium 1	—	320	334.00/cwt	334.00–334.00	1,069	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	362	280.15/cwt	265.00–295.00	1,014	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	442	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	928	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	966	186.43/cwt	185.50–190.00	1,801	24
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	581	234.95/cwt	224.50–246.00	1,365	87
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	400	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,060	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	588	226.93/cwt	226.00–227.50	1,334	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,048	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	1,792	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	388	299.76/cwt	297.00–301.00	1,163	35
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	423	320.40/cwt	315.00–325.00	1,355	34
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	380	344.15/cwt	335.00–346.00	1,308	18
Steers	Medium 2	—	526	182.50/cwt	182.50–182.50	960	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	627	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	1,336	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	370	301.69/cwt	297.50–310.00	1,116	23
Steers	Medium 1	—	469	298.00/cwt	298.00–298.00	1,398	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	768	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,651	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	578	223.40/cwt	221.00–224.00	1,291	25
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	278	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	751	10
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	524	227.00/cwt	227.00–227.00	1,189	4
Heifers	Medium 1	—	368	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,030	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	445	302.08/cwt	294.00–308.00	1,344	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	519	267.51/cwt	255.00–275.00	1,388	38
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	315	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	851	5
Steers	Medium 1	—	433	317.50/cwt	317.50–317.50	1,375	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	491	265.23/cwt	263.00–267.50	1,302	76
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	419	333.11/cwt	320.00–352.00	1,396	81
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	603	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	1,423	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	444	250.00/cwt	244.00–267.50	1,110	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	423	331.37/cwt	319.00–340.00	1,402	36
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	431	283.12/cwt	281.00–286.00	1,220	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	605	232.24/cwt	224.00–236.00	1,405	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	667	234.69/cwt	228.00–240.00	1,565	56
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	717	221.92/cwt	217.00–226.00	1,591	36
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,185	83.72/cwt	83.00–85.00	992	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,464	77.02/cwt	73.00–80.00	1,128	10
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,183	94.50/cwt	94.50–94.50	1,118	6
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,359	88.43/cwt	85.00–92.50	1,202	13
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	980	67.33/cwt	62.00–72.50	660	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	896	51.07/cwt	42.50–55.00	458	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,100	60.00/cwt	60.00–60.00	660	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,128	69.97/cwt	62.50–78.00	789	93
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,583	91.00/cwt	91.00–91.00	1,441	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,210	95.00/cwt	95.00–95.00	1,150	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,204	81.84/cwt	78.00–85.00	985	37
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,640	90.09/cwt	89.50–91.00	1,477	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,447	75.88/cwt	74.00–79.00	1,098	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,309	87.50/cwt	87.50–87.50	1,145	10
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,080	56.94/cwt	52.50–61.00	615	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,190	89.00/cwt	89.00–89.00	1,059	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,161	69.82/cwt	67.50–72.00	811	12
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,818	84.68/cwt	84.50–85.00	1,539	3
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,372	92.59/cwt	87.50–100.00	1,270	3
Bulls	—	—	1,495	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	1,570	1
Bulls	—	—	2,240	107.00/cwt	107.00–107.00	2,397	1
Bulls	—	—	1,904	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	2,266	3
Bulls	—	—	2,032	111.65/cwt	109.00–115.00	2,269	3
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,558	109.00/cwt	109.00–109.00	1,698	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	925	116.33/cwt	102.50–127.50	1,076	25
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	995	128.06/cwt	107.50–142.00	1,274	43
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	955	89.00/cwt	89.00–89.00	850	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,058	102.08/cwt	80.00–127.50	1,080	53
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,018	1,800.00/head	1,800.00–1,800.00	1,800	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,068	1,300.00/head	1,300.00–1,300.00	1,300	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,239	1,250.00/head	1,250.00–1,250.00	1,250	8
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,193	1,575.00/head	1,575.00–1,575.00	1,575	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,211	1,650.00/head	1,650.00–1,650.00	1,650	6
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,269	1,788.04/head	1,775.00–1,800.00	1,788	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 →