Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2020-10-19

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Mon, Oct 19
● Final32 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1775
Feeder Cattle receipts
334 head
90 vs last sale 424 4,491 vs year ago 4,825 · 93.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
257 head
202 vs last sale 459 97 vs year ago 160 · +60.6%
Replacement Cattle receipts
148 head
68 vs last sale 80 262 vs year ago 410 · 63.9%
Also sold hereRegular saleThu Aug 13, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Monday: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on unweaned calves. Not enough yearlings tested to develop any market trend. CME positions saw sharply lower prices today with over triple digit losses. The October contract closed 3.45 lower, November 5.00 lower and January 4.20 lower. Market activity today was mostly moderate. Weigh up cow sold on mostly moderate demand for light offerings. A two tier market continues to be seen as cows suitable to feed sell with a strong premium to cows destined for slaughter. Both slaughter and feeding cows sold fully steady this week. Quality was average to attractive . Weigh up conditions were average and better overall than last week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Quality this week was average to attractive. Offerings sold steady to firm in a narrow comparison.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $147.07/cwt on 131 head.
Average price
$147.07
131 head · 437 lb average
Value per head Derived
$643
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$247
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$26.02/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+5.51
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1369153.6256798
Medium and Large 1-2638127.6181433
One grade step is worth $26.02/cwt here — about −$247 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 sale131 hd
147.07
MT average5 barns · 4,429 hd
141.56
+5.51
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
BullsHigh1,83878.431,4417thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,55769.671,0848thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,39257.7280387
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,18850.12596114

Every lot, as filed

32 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
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,09965.94/cwt62.00–71.0072521
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,16857.50/cwt57.50–57.506726
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2331,027.66/cwt985.00–1,085.0012,67145
Stock CowsMedium and Large 195990.49/cwt82.00–93.0086852
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed83073.00/cwt73.00–73.006061
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned381195.82/cwt191.00–205.0074672
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned323165.00/cwt165.00–165.0053335
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned377150.00/cwt150.00–150.0056646
CowsBoner 80-85%1,50551.60/cwt49.50–54.5077722
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,34655.54/cwt52.00–58.5074818
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2831122.00/cwt122.00–122.001,01416
SteersMedium and Large 1-2933119.00/cwt119.00–119.001,1102
SteersMedium and Large 1-2819130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,0656
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned444140.00/cwt140.00–140.0062217
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,64571.50/cwt71.50–71.501,1762
Bulls1,77088.00/cwt88.00–88.001,5581
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned330211.00/cwt211.00–211.0069615
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned440133.00/cwt133.00–133.0058516
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2715131.00/cwt131.00–131.009371
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,17853.67/cwt52.00–55.0063219
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,08347.16/cwt46.00–48.505113
Bulls1,70572.50/cwt72.50–72.501,2362
CowsLean 85-90%1,21249.46/cwt48.00–51.5059956
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,52769.06/cwt67.00–70.001,0556
Bulls1,92179.00/cwt77.50–80.501,5184
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,18062.00/cwt62.00–62.0073211
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight86836.00/cwt36.00–36.003122
CowsLean 85-90%1,15342.36/cwt41.00–43.004886
CowsBoner 80-85%1,36864.45/cwt59.00–70.008822
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,35264.22/cwt64.00–64.5086836
CowsLean 85-90%1,19645.53/cwt44.00–48.0054517
CowsBoner 80-85%1,37249.50/cwt49.50–49.506799

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.