Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2020-10-26

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Mon, Oct 26
● Final24 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1775
Feeder Cattle receipts
76 head
258 vs last sale 334 460 vs year ago 536 · 85.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
96 head
161 vs last sale 257 21 vs year ago 117 · 17.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
14 head
134 vs last sale 148 384 vs year ago 398 · 96.5%
Also sold hereRegular saleThu Aug 13, 2026
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Not enough of any class to develop any accurate market trend. Near a foot of snow fell over the weekend and roads were snow covered and icy making travel difficult. Demand was light for very light offerings.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $122.57/cwt on 35 head.
Average price
$122.57
35 head · 611 lb average
Value per head Derived
$748
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$333
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$0.52/cwt at this weight
vs the market
13.80
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1688122.7284425
Medium and Large 1-2418122.2051110thin
One grade step is worth $0.52/cwt here — about $333 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 sale35 hd
122.57
MT average5 barns · 2,754 hd
136.37
−13.80
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
BullsAverage1,87577.231,4483thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,59156.538999thin
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,39153.9475017
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,10444.9549647

Every lot, as filed

24 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
CowsLean 85-90%1,14049.50/cwt49.50–49.505641
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,41862.50/cwt62.50–62.508862
CowsLean 85-90%1,14643.65/cwt42.00–48.0050017
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,07252.47/cwt52.00–52.5056215
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight92037.00/cwt37.00–37.003401
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight87935.39/cwt34.00–40.003114
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,35055.58/cwt53.00–57.007507
Bulls1,87577.23/cwt74.50–80.001,4483
Stock CowsMedium and Large 199769.83/cwt67.00–71.006963
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned456151.12/cwt148.00–153.006898
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned571135.24/cwt134.00–135.5077212
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned471130.00/cwt130.00–130.006124
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned533126.00/cwt126.00–126.006727
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned508145.50/cwt145.50–145.507392
HeifersMedium and Large 1827119.00/cwt119.00–119.0098414
SteersMedium and Large 1739127.00/cwt127.00–127.009395
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned685121.00/cwt121.00–121.008292
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned351122.50/cwt122.50–122.504308
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,53549.00/cwt49.00–49.007521
CowsBoner 80-85%1,39551.32/cwt50.50–55.007166
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45046.00/cwt46.00–46.006671
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,54762.00/cwt62.00–62.009593
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,61353.79/cwt52.00–54.508686
CowsLean 85-90%1,19539.52/cwt32.00–43.504729

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.