Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2021-11-29
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-11-29

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Mondays sale: Feeder cattle were not sold last week as it was a bred cow special. No comparisons can be made for feeder cattle. Demand was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. All calves were offered in small groups or as singles. Market activity today was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Packer buyers were more aggressive this week as they purchased cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-4.00 higher on boning and lean cows, breaking cows were too lightly tested to trend. Feeding cows sold mostly 4.00-5.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on a higher quality offering.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $137.43/cwt on 68 head.

Average price

$137.43

68 head · 667 lb average

Value per head Derived

$917

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$572

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

$23.39/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−13.68

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	536	140.89	755	35
Medium and Large 1	733	138.19	1,013	21
Medium 1	802	130.71	1,048	7thin
Large 1	1,100	127.00	1,397	1thin
Large 1-2	1,129	117.50	1,327	4thin

One grade step is worth $23.39/cwt here — about −$572 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 sale68 hd

137.43

—

MT average3 barns · 555 hd

151.10

−13.68

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	1,770	81.07	1,435	40
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,718	60.25	1,035	2thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,410	53.81	759	96
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,219	46.74	570	195

Every lot, as filed

42 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
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,267	50.78/cwt	47.00–54.00	643	29
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,270	48.61/cwt	45.50–49.00	617	19
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,240	37.50/cwt	37.50–37.50	465	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,230	51.35/cwt	49.00–58.50	632	58
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,354	51.55/cwt	47.00–53.00	698	16
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,385	65.98/cwt	64.00–67.50	914	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,780	55.00/cwt	55.00–55.00	979	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,655	65.50/cwt	65.50–65.50	1,084	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,394	48.08/cwt	41.00–52.50	670	30
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,452	52.79/cwt	52.00–53.00	767	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	967	40.34/cwt	38.00–45.00	390	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,197	43.29/cwt	38.00–47.00	518	73
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,009	30.50/cwt	30.00–32.00	308	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,443	57.93/cwt	54.50–59.50	836	35
Bulls	—	—	1,899	85.64/cwt	84.50–86.50	1,626	17
Bulls	—	—	1,794	72.66/cwt	62.00–78.00	1,304	8
Bulls	—	—	1,930	89.00/cwt	89.00–89.00	1,718	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,720	73.63/cwt	60.50–78.50	1,266	3
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,554	81.44/cwt	79.00–84.50	1,266	11
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,139	54.21/cwt	54.00–55.00	617	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,138	72.78/cwt	59.50–85.00	828	21
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	923	99.78/cwt	90.00–101.00	921	23
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,299	45.00/cwt	45.00–45.00	585	5
Heifers	Medium 1	—	781	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	1,023	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	578	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	769	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	598	137.50/cwt	137.50–137.50	822	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	407	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	631	3
Heifers	Large 1-2	—	1,129	117.50/cwt	117.50–117.50	1,327	4
Heifers	Medium 1	—	853	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,109	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	535	159.26/cwt	156.00–164.00	852	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	460	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	787	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	461	175.32/cwt	174.00–178.00	808	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	605	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	829	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	666	135.50/cwt	135.50–135.50	902	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	509	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	733	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	365	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	661	2
Heifers	Large 1	—	1,100	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,397	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	634	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	831	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	425	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	655	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	851	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,191	10
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	414	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	704	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	320	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	608	2

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 →