Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2024-02-29
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-02-29

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Most offerings sold in small packages with many singles seen. Demand for all feeders was good for light offerings. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings. CME positions have soften slightly since the release of the cattle on feed report last Friday. The March feeder cattle contract closed today at 249.00, while the April closed at 253.725, 1.90 and 3.50 higher respectfully, than Thursday, two weeks ago. Market activity was mostly active this week. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher on all classes. Demand for feeding cows was very good as quality was very attractive. Several large consignments of open, one iron feeding cows were seen this week. Packer buyers and private feeders both bid aggressive on attractive feeding offerings. Feeding cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher on a higher quality offering. Weigh up conditions were average to above average. Many high dressing cows were seen this week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady to firm. Demand for this class was very good. Several sets of high quality calves off reputation ranches were noted this week.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $293.42/cwt on 68 head.

Average price

$293.42

68 head · 505 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,481

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$300

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

$28.21/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+18.36

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	468	300.71	1,406	17thin
Medium and Large 1	526	292.56	1,540	47
Large 1-2	406	272.50	1,106	4thin

One grade step is worth $28.21/cwt here — about $300 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 sale68 hd

293.42

—

MT average4 barns · 2,724 hd

275.05

+18.36

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	—	High	1,742	121.38	2,115	61
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	Average	1,562	119.00	1,859	3thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,374	116.43	1,600	316
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,528	111.72	1,707	19
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,198	106.83	1,280	71

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)	1,435	$2,550	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,090	$2,400	1thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,378	$1,750	3thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,372	$1,581	4thin

Every lot, as filed

60 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	—	1,378	1,750.00/head	1,750.00–1,750.00	1,750	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,238	1,450.00/head	1,450.00–1,450.00	1,450	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,775	1,975.00/head	1,975.00–1,975.00	1,975	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	565	242.50/cwt	242.50–242.50	1,370	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	398	317.00/cwt	317.00–317.00	1,262	2
Heifers	Large 1-2	—	406	272.50/cwt	272.50–272.50	1,106	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	493	303.00/cwt	303.00–303.00	1,494	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	601	268.00/cwt	268.00–268.00	1,611	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	460	313.33/cwt	312.00–315.00	1,441	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	495	348.00/cwt	348.00–348.00	1,723	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	325	387.50/cwt	387.50–387.50	1,259	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	429	312.00/cwt	311.00–313.00	1,338	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	562	283.93/cwt	280.00–288.00	1,596	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	656	252.88/cwt	249.50–254.00	1,659	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	431	318.00/cwt	318.00–318.00	1,371	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	608	294.00/cwt	294.00–294.00	1,788	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	735	254.00/cwt	254.00–254.00	1,867	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	484	327.55/cwt	317.50–340.00	1,585	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	635	283.00/cwt	283.00–283.00	1,797	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	670	262.00/cwt	262.00–262.00	1,755	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	417	370.81/cwt	370.00–372.50	1,546	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	420	341.00/cwt	341.00–341.00	1,432	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	503	344.59/cwt	330.00–347.00	1,733	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	704	268.50/cwt	268.00–269.00	1,890	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	545	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	1,717	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	735	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,764	10
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	1,015	210.00/cwt	209.00–211.00	2,132	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	1,160	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	2,111	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	965	218.00/cwt	218.00–218.00	2,104	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	750	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,838	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,153	93.88/cwt	90.00–99.00	1,082	17
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,697	113.00/cwt	113.00–113.00	1,918	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,371	117.55/cwt	115.00–121.75	1,612	244
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,476	110.50/cwt	110.50–110.50	1,631	9
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,489	113.87/cwt	112.75–116.00	1,696	6
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,326	111.88/cwt	106.00–114.50	1,484	36
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,226	106.70/cwt	102.00–111.00	1,308	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,095	79.00/cwt	79.00–79.00	865	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,208	110.14/cwt	105.00–113.50	1,330	29
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,449	103.17/cwt	101.00–104.50	1,495	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,446	119.31/cwt	115.00–122.00	1,725	20
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,424	108.62/cwt	105.00–112.00	1,547	8
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,725	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	1,829	1
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	—	1,562	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	1,859	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,239	115.48/cwt	115.00–117.00	1,431	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,214	116.68/cwt	115.00–118.00	1,416	12
Bulls	—	—	2,181	139.67/cwt	137.00–143.00	3,046	6
Bulls	—	—	1,808	124.28/cwt	118.00–136.00	2,247	34
Bulls	—	—	1,557	113.04/cwt	106.00–117.00	1,760	17
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,253	98.00/cwt	98.00–98.00	1,228	2
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,373	111.40/cwt	109.00–114.00	1,530	2
Stock Cows	Medium 1	—	769	177.98/cwt	170.00–185.00	1,369	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	930	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	1,497	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	960	175.52/cwt	160.00–191.00	1,685	49
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	908	115.52/cwt	115.00–116.00	1,049	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,095	144.19/cwt	117.50–172.50	1,579	98
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	810	112.50/cwt	112.50–112.50	911	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,170	159.50/cwt	159.50–159.50	1,866	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,435	2,550.00/head	2,550.00–2,550.00	2,550	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,090	2,400.00/head	2,400.00–2,400.00	2,400	1

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 →