Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2019-12-02

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Mon, Dec 2
● Final30 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1775
Feeder Cattle receipts
170 head
701 vs last sale 871 170 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
91 head
44 vs last sale 135 91 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
122 head
2,478 vs last sale 2,600 122 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Also sold hereRegular saleThu Aug 13, 2026
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers calves were too lightly tested today to develop any market trend. Snowy conditions seen over the weekend were to blame for limited offerings this sale. Road conditions across much of the eastern portion of the state remain poor. With limited feeder offerings buyers showed little interest as many feared they could not fill a full load. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly light for light offerings. Market activity was slow. Packers were more aggressive this week as they came off a lightened slaughter week and a major winter storm that limited the volume of cattle delivered directly to the plant as well as to sales across the upper plains. Slaughter cattle sold sharply higher with most sales 3.00-8.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 higher. Feeding cows sold with steady to higher undertones as packers opted to purchase mostly young to middle age offerings to feed. Young re-breed cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light offerings. Young age cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $146.00/cwt on 89 head.
Average price
$146.00
89 head · 583 lb average
Value per head Derived
$851
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$39
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$8.22/cwt at this weight
vs the market
8.88
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1579146.5584883
Medium and Large 1-2641138.338876thin
One grade step is worth $8.22/cwt here — about −$39 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 sale89 hd
146.00
MT average2 barns · 1,242 hd
154.88
−8.88
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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
BullsHigh1,76582.471,45622
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,39455.5577420
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,20651.3661943

Every lot, as filed

30 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.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned432138.72/cwt135.00–145.005996
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned605122.00/cwt122.00–122.007382
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned537129.97/cwt129.00–132.006983
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned468136.00/cwt136.00–136.006362
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned591144.21/cwt144.00–149.0085258
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned690133.00/cwt133.00–133.009184
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned539150.51/cwt149.00–154.0081113
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned399170.00/cwt170.00–170.006784
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned543149.00/cwt149.00–149.008092
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned420170.00/cwt170.00–170.007143
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned778130.59/cwt130.00–133.001,0165
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned589123.00/cwt123.00–123.007247
BullsMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned504138.00/cwt138.00–138.006967
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight89330.00/cwt30.00–30.002682
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS1,046900.00/cwt900.00–900.009,4144
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,16558.00/cwt58.00–58.006761
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,14558.00/cwt58.00–58.006642
CowsLean 85-90%1,07349.20/cwt44.00–51.505288
Bulls1,86885.17/cwt84.00–86.501,5917
CowsBoner 80-85%1,70558.00/cwt58.00–58.009891
CowsBoner 80-85%1,37655.70/cwt55.25–57.0076617
CowsBoner 80-85%1,39353.00/cwt53.00–53.007382
CowsLean 85-90%1,25753.18/cwt50.00–55.0066833
Stock CowsMedium and Large 197679.82/cwt78.00–84.0077921
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,29453.81/cwt50.00–55.006969
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,45059.31/cwt54.00–62.0086030
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,37758.00/cwt58.00–58.007999
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,14766.96/cwt61.00–78.0076825
Bulls1,43563.00/cwt63.00–63.009041
Bulls1,73782.51/cwt77.00–83.501,43314

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.