Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-11-16
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-11-16

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Monday: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand was moderate for light to moderate offerings. Quality was average to attractive. Market activity today was mostly moderate. Weigh up cow sold on mostly moderate demand and offerings. Packers continue to purchase cows to put away on feed for the upcoming holidays as well as cows suitable to feed to premium white. Slaughter cows sold steady to firm. Feeding cows sold steady to 1.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this sale with many full cows on offer. Cow and bull quality was average to attractive. Many cows continue to sell in thin body condition. Several buyers were buying exposed cows or cows they believed to be bred to feed. Some buyers will calves these cows out while others will ship them before they calve. Young 2-3 year old's suitable to feed or rebreed sold sharply higher with most sales 5.00-10.00 higher. Demand for these offerings was mostly good and much stronger than last sale.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $156.94/cwt on 487 head.

Average price

$156.94

487 head · 508 lb average

Value per head Derived

$797

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$87

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$26.20/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−5.35

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	509	160.20	815	361
Medium and Large 1-2	524	151.92	796	59
Medium and Large 2	431	146.87	633	51
Large 1	673	134.00	902	16thin

One grade step is worth $26.20/cwt here — about −$87 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 sale487 hd

156.94

—

MT average5 barns · 5,940 hd

162.29

−5.35

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	1,756	77.45	1,360	7thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,597	64.01	1,022	5thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,381	54.32	750	100
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,171	48.03	562	236

Every lot, as filed

65 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	Large 1	—	1,005	62.00/cwt	62.00–62.00	623	2
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	588	128.50/cwt	128.50–128.50	756	15
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	538	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	683	2
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	—	673	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	902	16
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,160	108.00/cwt	108.00–108.00	1,253	2
Heifers	Medium 2Unweaned	—	427	100.00/cwt	100.00–100.00	427	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	566	149.39/cwt	144.00–154.50	846	68
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	416	176.46/cwt	167.50–180.00	734	39
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	348	158.00/cwt	158.00–158.00	550	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	490	146.26/cwt	143.00–147.00	717	112
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	670	136.50/cwt	136.00–137.00	915	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	481	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	741	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	366	159.36/cwt	151.00–162.50	583	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	631	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	839	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	332	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	581	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	484	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	639	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	445	149.11/cwt	146.00–151.00	664	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	524	158.14/cwt	154.00–161.00	829	160
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	512	145.23/cwt	138.00–147.50	744	112
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	613	146.09/cwt	141.00–147.50	896	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	514	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	745	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	982	117.50/cwt	117.50–117.50	1,154	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	675	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	878	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	430	139.00/cwt	133.00–142.00	598	27
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	544	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	724	50
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	592	141.34/cwt	131.00–143.00	837	14
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	375	155.53/cwt	150.00–159.00	583	24
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	481	139.17/cwt	137.00–142.00	669	27
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	466	166.21/cwt	160.00–170.00	775	46
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	833	135.50/cwt	135.50–135.50	1,129	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	410	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	656	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	518	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	627	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,186	48.12/cwt	43.00–51.25	571	118
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,778	77.83/cwt	75.00–79.00	1,384	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,365	48.83/cwt	47.00–50.00	667	28
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,520	71.00/cwt	71.00–71.00	1,079	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,168	44.62/cwt	41.00–48.00	521	28
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	905	35.00/cwt	35.00–35.00	317	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,069	39.15/cwt	36.00–40.00	419	27
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,519	64.50/cwt	62.50–68.00	980	7
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	940	43.00/cwt	43.00–43.00	404	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,605	56.00/cwt	56.00–56.00	899	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,381	46.60/cwt	44.50–48.00	644	5
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,750	73.50/cwt	73.50–73.50	1,286	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,025	84.50/cwt	65.00–93.00	866	17
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,340	62.00/cwt	62.00–62.00	831	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,376	56.75/cwt	50.50–61.00	781	55
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,199	53.62/cwt	51.00–57.00	643	57
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,329	51.85/cwt	51.00–55.00	689	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	995	52.00/cwt	52.00–52.00	517	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	400	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	600	2
Bulls	—	—	1,885	82.00/cwt	82.00–82.00	1,546	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,240	50.00/cwt	50.00–50.00	620	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,544	63.51/cwt	63.00–64.50	981	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,031	76.88/cwt	61.00–88.50	793	22
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,083	1,125.00/cwt	1,125.00–1,125.00	12,184	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	473	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	705	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	864	77.16/cwt	71.00–79.00	667	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,210	675.00/cwt	675.00–675.00	8,168	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,213	735.00/cwt	735.00–735.00	8,916	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	707	116.00/cwt	116.00–116.00	820	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	388	144.24/cwt	136.00–148.50	560	70
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	385	184.19/cwt	175.00–190.00	709	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	411	168.00/cwt	168.00–168.00	690	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	865	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,150	4

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 →