Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2024-02-15
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-02-15

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: 500-599 and 700-749 lbs feeder steers offered the best test this week. These offerings sold fully steady. All other weights of feeder steers were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. Feeder heifers under 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher, all other weights of heifers were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. Quality this week was mostly plain to average with a limited offering of attractive cattle seen. Quality was lower compared to last weeks sale. Most offerings sold in small to moderate size packages. Small lots and singles sold with a discount to larger packages this week. Demand for all feeders was good for light to moderate offerings. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings. CME positions continue to see upward momentum. The March feeder cattle contract closed today at 247.10, while the April closed at 250.225, 0.25 higher and 1.70 lower respectfully, than last Thursdays close. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week. A smaller buyer pool was noticed this week as well. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Too few cows were seen this week to make an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on slaughter cows, feeding cows and slaughter bulls. Packer buyers continue to be aggressive as they bid for both feeding cows and slaughter cows. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady to 10.00 higher on a very attractive offering. Demand for this class was very good as feeding demand continues to improve with higher live cattle contract prices. Demand from rebreed buyers was strong as quality this week was attractive, with several sets offerings off reputation ranches noted.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $302.41/cwt on 757 head.

Average price

$302.41

757 head · 611 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,847

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$230

per head · Medium 1 over Medium and Large 2

$68.07/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−2.78

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	489	313.75	1,535	26
Medium and Large 1	619	306.64	1,897	535
Medium and Large 1-2	596	292.70	1,744	182
Medium and Large 2	718	245.68	1,765	14thin

One grade step is worth $68.07/cwt here — about −$230 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 sale757 hd

302.41

—

MT average3 barns · 941 hd

305.18

−2.78

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	1,794	112.85	2,024	11
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,445	110.68	1,599	19
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,132	104.03	1,178	175
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,399	102.73	1,437	26

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)	1,277	$2,350	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,417	$2,150	3thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,285	$1,625	3thin
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,206	$2,333	6

Every lot, as filed

99 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
Heifers	Medium 1	—	375	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,200	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	524	301.22/cwt	285.00–310.00	1,578	149
Steers	Medium 1	—	345	351.00/cwt	351.00–351.00	1,211	3
Steers	Medium 1	—	606	276.00/cwt	276.00–276.00	1,673	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	479	318.30/cwt	306.00–323.00	1,525	156
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	625	263.37/cwt	251.00–276.00	1,646	73
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	763	221.00/cwt	221.00–221.00	1,686	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	673	249.25/cwt	240.00–254.00	1,677	37
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	625	288.36/cwt	280.00–298.00	1,802	30
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	515	326.59/cwt	322.50–327.50	1,682	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	575	283.99/cwt	279.50–286.00	1,633	27
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	396	336.74/cwt	330.00–343.00	1,333	31
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	837	222.00/cwt	222.00–222.00	1,858	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	819	239.00/cwt	239.00–239.00	1,957	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	607	307.52/cwt	293.00–314.00	1,867	38
Steers	Medium 1	—	395	342.50/cwt	342.50–342.50	1,353	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	854	222.00/cwt	222.00–222.00	1,896	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	589	294.00/cwt	294.00–294.00	1,732	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	474	334.85/cwt	325.00–341.00	1,587	32
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	748	244.00/cwt	244.00–244.00	1,825	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	774	239.21/cwt	232.50–240.50	1,851	8
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	596	288.00/cwt	288.00–288.00	1,716	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	678	255.70/cwt	244.50–274.00	1,734	33
Steers	Medium and Large 2	—	685	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	1,524	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	774	244.22/cwt	243.00–245.00	1,890	5
Steers	Medium 1	—	494	312.50/cwt	312.50–312.50	1,544	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	658	272.00/cwt	272.00–272.00	1,790	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	412	340.45/cwt	332.50–343.00	1,403	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	566	327.11/cwt	316.50–333.00	1,851	102
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	386	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,370	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	724	261.24/cwt	251.00–264.75	1,891	134
Steers	Medium 1	—	425	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,445	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	653	293.50/cwt	293.50–293.50	1,917	30
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	569	301.85/cwt	300.50–308.50	1,718	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	835	227.40/cwt	226.00–230.00	1,899	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	462	348.87/cwt	346.00–350.00	1,612	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	363	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,307	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	618	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	2,009	60
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	509	362.50/cwt	362.50–362.50	1,845	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	453	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	1,699	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	445	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,602	1
Steers	Medium 1	—	516	307.43/cwt	290.00–312.50	1,586	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	531	342.33/cwt	333.00–349.00	1,818	78
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	730	232.00/cwt	232.00–232.00	1,694	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	1,040	192.00/cwt	192.00–192.00	1,997	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	680	237.50/cwt	237.50–237.50	1,615	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	910	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	1,911	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	587	306.35/cwt	299.00–310.00	1,798	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	678	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,763	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,505	108.50/cwt	108.00–109.00	1,633	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,600	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	1,680	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,143	73.74/cwt	71.00–76.00	843	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,191	87.42/cwt	81.00–94.00	1,041	16
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,550	107.69/cwt	104.00–109.50	1,669	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,321	90.77/cwt	85.00–95.00	1,199	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,218	106.25/cwt	106.00–106.50	1,294	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,350	97.00/cwt	97.00–97.00	1,310	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,177	98.14/cwt	95.00–103.00	1,155	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,156	99.88/cwt	97.00–104.50	1,155	56
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,383	112.74/cwt	111.50–113.00	1,559	12
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,103	110.24/cwt	106.00–114.00	1,216	94
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,416	104.95/cwt	96.00–107.00	1,486	20
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,410	112.00/cwt	112.00–112.00	1,579	1
Bulls	—	—	1,693	109.80/cwt	99.00–116.00	1,859	5
Bulls	—	—	1,992	115.26/cwt	113.00–121.00	2,296	5
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,305	116.00/cwt	116.00–116.00	1,514	1
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS	—	1,180	2,100.00/head	2,100.00–2,100.00	2,100	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,285	1,625.00/head	1,625.00–1,625.00	1,625	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,277	2,350.00/head	2,350.00–2,350.00	2,350	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	917	190.01/cwt	180.00–195.00	1,742	48
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	840	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,092	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	995	156.05/cwt	108.00–170.00	1,553	103
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	958	155.02/cwt	130.00–175.00	1,485	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	804	172.50/cwt	172.50–172.50	1,387	12
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,219	2,450.00/head	2,450.00–2,450.00	2,450	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,417	2,150.00/head	2,150.00–2,150.00	2,150	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	480	283.30/cwt	282.50–284.50	1,360	5
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	341	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,040	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	566	268.51/cwt	259.00–273.00	1,520	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	671	223.00/cwt	223.00–223.00	1,496	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	512	262.75/cwt	252.50–272.00	1,345	19
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	—	730	221.00/cwt	221.00–221.00	1,613	2
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	351	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	1,000	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	614	246.14/cwt	240.00–251.00	1,511	9
Heifers	Medium 1	—	494	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,433	15
Heifers	Medium 1	—	564	272.50/cwt	272.50–272.50	1,537	8
Heifers	Medium 1	—	666	241.63/cwt	239.00–243.00	1,609	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	455	247.50/cwt	247.50–247.50	1,126	2
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	298	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	864	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	421	324.82/cwt	317.50–336.00	1,367	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	360	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,080	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	714	223.00/cwt	223.00–223.00	1,592	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	553	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,327	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	432	316.32/cwt	300.00–328.00	1,367	15
Heifers	Medium 1	—	516	282.82/cwt	275.00–286.00	1,459	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	718	233.33/cwt	227.00–238.00	1,675	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	—	646	229.00/cwt	229.00–229.00	1,479	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	663	237.74/cwt	230.00–242.00	1,576	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	804	211.00/cwt	211.00–211.00	1,696	7

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 →