Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-12-06

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Mon, Dec 6
● Final55 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1775
Feeder Cattle receipts
301 head
92 vs last sale 209 285 vs year ago 586 · 48.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
753 head
98 vs last sale 655 582 vs year ago 1,335 · 43.6%
Replacement Cattle receipts
399 head
140 vs last sale 259 11 vs year ago 388 · +2.8%
Also sold hereRegular saleThu Aug 13, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Mondays sale: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Demand was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. All calves were offered in small groups or as singles today, however buyers continue to show good demand for all feeders on offer. Market activity today was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Packer buyers were less aggressive this week as they purchased cows for immediate harvest. Despite lighter packer demand feeding buyers showed similar demand as last week. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 lower on boning and lean cows, breaking cows were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Feeding cows sold unevenly steady. Cow quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average with many very full cows on offer. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 2.00-5.00 lower. Quality this week was mostly plain to average.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $141.62/cwt on 112 head.
Average price
$141.62
112 head · 639 lb average
Value per head Derived
$905
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$203
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1
$20.96/cwt at this weight
vs the market
14.81
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1673147.9699650
Medium and Large 1-2639145.8393218thin
Large 11,030137.501,4164thin
Medium and Large 2523135.0070626
Medium 1624127.0079214thin
One grade step is worth $20.96/cwt here — about $203 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 sale112 hd
141.62
MT average5 barns · 3,807 hd
156.42
−14.81
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
BullsAverage1,64981.711,34720
CowsBreaker 75-80%Very Low1,53065.561,00368
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,35454.96744163
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,18245.86542424

Every lot, as filed

55 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
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned463198.00/cwt198.00–198.0091714
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned539187.02/cwt184.00–195.501,00815
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned606166.12/cwt159.00–168.501,00727
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned373202.00/cwt202.00–202.007535
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned595164.00/cwt164.00–164.0097611
SteersMedium and Large 1Unweaned654153.68/cwt153.00–156.001,0059
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2806144.00/cwt144.00–144.001,1616
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned584149.85/cwt147.50–150.5087532
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned603146.00/cwt146.00–146.008805
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned533149.29/cwt147.50–150.0079610
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Unweaned668134.00/cwt134.00–134.008952
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-291973.29/cwt64.00–84.006745
Stock CowsMedium and Large 194894.01/cwt68.00–108.00891151
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,30249.00/cwt49.00–49.0063812
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,45159.00/cwt59.00–59.008564
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,34351.00/cwt51.00–51.006855
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,18546.16/cwt44.00–49.0054744
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,02670.62/cwt58.00–81.0072598
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed72880.00/cwt80.00–80.005822
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,14341.00/cwt41.00–41.004694
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed81045.00/cwt45.00–45.003651
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,23245.32/cwt43.00–46.0055820
Stock CowsMedium 171382.19/cwt75.00–94.0058638
BullsReturn to Feed1,50888.00/cwt88.00–88.001,3272
BullsReturn to Feed1,73580.04/cwt79.00–80.501,3893
Bulls1,67478.92/cwt77.00–81.001,3216
Bulls2,09092.50/cwt92.50–92.501,9331
Bulls1,57781.50/cwt81.50–81.501,2858
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,07239.40/cwt39.00–40.0042224
CowsBoner 80-85%1,69055.00/cwt55.00–55.009301
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,56546.00/cwt46.00–46.007201
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,57857.31/cwt56.00–60.009043
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,18144.18/cwt43.00–46.00522103
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,48066.42/cwt63.00–69.009838
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,33355.95/cwt53.00–61.50746121
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight96739.33/cwt37.00–43.0038017
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight68236.00/cwt36.00–36.002463
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,71867.31/cwt66.00–68.001,1568
CowsLean 85-90%1,25448.17/cwt47.50–49.0060410
CowsLean 85-90%1,16843.88/cwt40.00–48.00513120
CowsBoner 80-85%1,45648.25/cwt44.00–50.007037
CowsLean 85-90%1,12237.67/cwt34.00–40.0042312
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,78371.28/cwt71.00–71.501,2712
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,22861.28/cwt60.00–64.007537
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,37548.64/cwt45.00–51.0066926
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,48165.46/cwt64.00–70.0096951
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,62773.50/cwt73.50–73.501,1963
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,25451.11/cwt47.00–54.25641128
SteersMedium and Large 2Unweaned489149.00/cwt149.00–149.0072910
HeifersMedium 1624127.00/cwt127.00–127.0079214
HeifersLarge 11,030137.50/cwt137.50–137.501,4164
HeifersMedium and Large 1881146.37/cwt146.00–149.001,2908
HeifersMedium and Large 2Unweaned523135.00/cwt135.00–135.0070626
HeifersMedium and Large 1981140.41/cwt136.50–143.001,3775
BullsMedium and Large 1Unweaned708134.00/cwt134.00–134.009492

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.