Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2019-10-28
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-10-28

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 steady to firm undertones were noticed on steer calves and higher undertones were noticed on heifer calves. Yearlings were scarcely traded. Quality this sale was average to attractive Demand for calves was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for moderate offerings. Packers continue to show very light to light demand for cows for immediate harvest. Seasonally high cow offerings are being seen across the upper plains as ranchers are culling old or unproductive cows. This has shackle space full and packers putting most offerings on feed. Slaughter cows sold steady to weak on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to trend, however higher undertones were noticed as packers search for fleshy cows to blend with the heavy volumes of thin cows. Feeding cows sold generally steady this sale. The best demand continues to be for large frame, fleshy cows. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Young re-breed cows sold on light to moderate demand for light 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 $137.57/cwt on 193 head.

Average price

$137.57

193 head · 515 lb average

Value per head Derived

$709

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$452

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

$15.71/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−3.20

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	400	138.35	554	32
Medium and Large 1	525	138.09	725	154
Large 1	820	122.64	1,005	7thin

One grade step is worth $15.71/cwt here — about −$452 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 sale193 hd

137.57

—

MT average5 barns · 3,963 hd

140.77

−3.20

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	—	Average	1,747	71.11	1,242	5thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,728	58.50	1,011	2thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,537	42.83	658	6thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,179	41.39	488	25

Every lot, as filed

39 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
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	782	86.50/cwt	82.00–91.00	676	10
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,324	55.14/cwt	47.00–66.00	730	55
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,376	53.51/cwt	46.25–61.50	736	31
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	966	87.06/cwt	80.00–90.00	841	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	446	162.34/cwt	161.00–163.00	724	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	877	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,140	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	420	174.37/cwt	170.00–182.00	732	76
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	614	146.30/cwt	145.00–149.00	898	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	577	150.83/cwt	148.00–151.50	870	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	356	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	644	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	704	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	982	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	524	149.59/cwt	149.00–150.00	784	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	472	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	760	3
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	696	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	960	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	339	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	475	19
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	681	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	940	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	502	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	683	9
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,013	119.50/cwt	119.50–119.50	1,211	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	989	39.17/cwt	38.50–39.50	387	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,239	42.09/cwt	37.00–44.00	521	19
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,728	58.50/cwt	58.50–58.50	1,011	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,455	42.30/cwt	42.00–43.50	615	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,945	45.50/cwt	45.50–45.50	885	1
Bulls	—	—	1,776	73.64/cwt	71.50–75.50	1,308	4
Bulls	—	—	1,630	61.00/cwt	61.00–61.00	994	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	985	41.00/cwt	41.00–41.00	404	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,171	43.39/cwt	41.00–44.50	508	27
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,147	43.64/cwt	39.00–45.00	501	54
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	981	71.66/cwt	58.00–85.00	703	59
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	675	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	844	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	923	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	1,163	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	361	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	549	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	617	130.15/cwt	130.00–130.50	803	27
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	420	147.39/cwt	146.00–148.00	619	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	561	134.35/cwt	133.00–135.00	754	35
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	505	138.95/cwt	138.00–139.00	702	55
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	572	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	744	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	424	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	606	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	493	134.20/cwt	130.00–135.00	662	6

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 →