Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2019-10-14
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-10-14

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend however higher undertones were noticed on calves and steady undertones were noticed on yearlings. Quality this sale was average to attractive and significantly higher than last week. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand and offerings. Packers continue to show good demand for cows for immediate harvest. Cow quality this week was mostly plain to average. Many cows were fresh off weaning and in thin body condition. Most were carrying bags as well. Weigh up conditions were average this sale. Feeding cows were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Feeding cow buyers were very active this sale buying very thin cows to put on feed for a short time. These offerings were purchased just above slaughter price and helped slaughter cows hold their value this week. Slaughter cows sold generally steady. Slaughter bulls sold on moderate demand for very light offerings. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Young re-breed cows sold on light to moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Young age cows were of plain to average quality this week. Many offerings were in thin flesh having freshly weaned calves. These offerings were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $131.91/cwt on 194 head.

Average price

$131.91

194 head · 636 lb average

Value per head Derived

$839

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$483

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

$24.07/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−1.44

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	510	135.07	688	33
Medium and Large 1	649	131.98	856	141
Medium 1-2	677	130.00	880	16thin
Large 1	1,055	111.00	1,171	4thin

One grade step is worth $24.07/cwt here — about −$483 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 sale194 hd

131.91

—

MT average5 barns · 1,705 hd

133.35

−1.44

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	1,773	79.72	1,414	5thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,478	61.77	913	25
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,163	55.50	645	149

Every lot, as filed

45 lots · USDA AMS · Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Mon)

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	—	1,137	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	1,194	3
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,155	97.00/cwt	97.00–97.00	1,120	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	472	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	689	9
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,055	111.00/cwt	111.00–111.00	1,171	4
Heifers	Medium 1-2	—	677	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	880	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	940	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	1,166	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	985	123.51/cwt	122.00–123.75	1,217	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	431	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	651	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	533	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	693	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	625	128.51/cwt	128.00–130.00	803	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	474	142.55/cwt	138.00–144.00	676	24
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	563	132.44/cwt	128.00–133.50	746	62
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	950	118.00/cwt	118.00–118.00	1,121	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	364	145.01/cwt	140.00–152.00	528	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	475	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	632	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	493	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	764	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	648	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	888	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,160	69.32/cwt	64.50–77.00	804	24
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,343	66.76/cwt	62.00–71.25	897	12
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,335	59.00/cwt	59.00–59.00	788	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,155	55.00/cwt	55.00–55.00	635	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,105	60.00/cwt	60.00–60.00	663	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,270	60.00/cwt	60.00–60.00	762	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	656	136.50/cwt	136.50–136.50	895	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	532	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	777	12
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,122	1,025.00/cwt	1,025.00–1,025.00	11,501	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,481	63.34/cwt	60.00–66.00	938	14
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,423	64.51/cwt	61.50–68.00	918	59
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	982	81.61/cwt	76.00–91.00	801	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	423	139.40/cwt	138.00–140.00	590	13
Steers	Large 1	—	1,025	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	1,281	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	448	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	726	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	592	143.19/cwt	143.00–144.00	848	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	331	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	596	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	516	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	784	26
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	643	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	932	62
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	437	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	721	3
Bulls	—	—	1,535	76.50/cwt	76.50–76.50	1,174	1
Bulls	—	—	1,833	80.53/cwt	78.50–81.50	1,476	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,461	56.74/cwt	54.50–58.50	829	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,486	64.14/cwt	62.75–66.75	953	17
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,092	47.50/cwt	47.50–47.50	519	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,354	63.52/cwt	61.00–65.00	860	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,159	55.48/cwt	50.00–61.00	643	136
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	925	57.50/cwt	57.50–57.50	532	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 →