Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2022-10-17
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2022-10-17

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on steers under 600 lbs, while steady to weak undertones were noticed on steer calves over 600 lbs. Heifer calves all sold with with higher undertones. Yearlings of both sexes were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand was mostly moderate today for light offerings. Quality today was average to attractive and overall better than last week. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold generally steady on breaking and boning cows lean cows sold weak. Feeding cows sold 1.00-3.00 lower however quality was not as attractive as 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 were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, steady undertones were noticed.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $189.78/cwt on 251 head.

Average price

$189.78

251 head · 466 lb average

Value per head Derived

$884

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$20

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$45.08/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+10.39

vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	447	198.08	886	192
Medium and Large 1-2	521	165.23	861	45
Medium 1	505	156.25	788	8thin
Large 1	592	153.00	906	6thin

One grade step is worth $45.08/cwt here — about −$20 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 sale251 hd

189.78

—

MT average5 barns · 2,858 hd

179.39

+10.39

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	—	Low	1,961	85.31	1,673	11
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,549	77.42	1,199	39
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,419	70.94	1,007	128
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,151	58.29	671	164

Replacement cattle Per head

By class, stage and age

Bred stock and pairs are reported per head, not per hundredweight — these prices are never mixed with the $/cwt figures above.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,158	$1,260	6
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,358	$1,250	7
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,297	$1,225	3thin

Every lot, as filed

64 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
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	386	197.29/cwt	195.00–202.00	762	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	770	169.00/cwt	169.00–169.00	1,301	4
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	533	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	805	5
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	—	457	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	754	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	552	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	800	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	380	212.50/cwt	212.50–212.50	808	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	695	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	1,126	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	438	174.11/cwt	172.00–179.00	763	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	505	162.50/cwt	162.50–162.50	821	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	613	175.83/cwt	175.00–176.00	1,078	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	362	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	796	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	557	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	1,030	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	492	189.38/cwt	180.00–191.00	932	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1	—	953	161.50/cwt	161.50–161.50	1,539	3
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	—	592	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	906	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	415	216.00/cwt	216.00–216.00	896	2
Steers	Medium 2Unweaned	—	414	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	528	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	311	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	669	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	437	201.97/cwt	198.00–205.00	883	7
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	—	406	172.00/cwt	172.00–172.00	698	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	290	264.00/cwt	264.00–264.00	766	37
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	576	176.29/cwt	174.50–177.00	1,015	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	507	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	913	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	538	191.24/cwt	189.00–194.00	1,029	36
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	468	202.21/cwt	198.00–208.00	946	40
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	650	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	1,112	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	307	228.65/cwt	205.00–229.00	702	68
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	904	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	1,446	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	—	558	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	870	9
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	481	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	794	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	763	147.50/cwt	147.50–147.50	1,125	3
Bulls	Large 1	—	1,030	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	1,246	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,522	76.00/cwt	76.00–76.00	1,157	23
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,399	58.09/cwt	56.50–65.50	813	12
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	787	45.58/cwt	45.00–47.00	359	23
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,415	65.80/cwt	65.00–67.50	931	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,215	47.02/cwt	45.00–48.00	571	15
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,430	79.24/cwt	78.50–80.00	1,133	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,628	75.68/cwt	72.00–77.00	1,232	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,444	71.56/cwt	68.00–73.50	1,033	28
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,216	56.30/cwt	51.00–63.00	685	65
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,125	66.01/cwt	64.00–73.00	743	26
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,539	79.67/cwt	79.00–83.00	1,226	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,604	83.00/cwt	83.00–83.00	1,331	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,413	72.58/cwt	68.00–76.50	1,026	83
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,305	61.00/cwt	61.00–61.00	796	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,257	69.94/cwt	66.00–75.50	879	33
Bulls	—	—	1,919	79.31/cwt	70.00–85.00	1,522	4
Bulls	—	—	2,035	90.19/cwt	88.00–93.00	1,835	6
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,690	80.00/cwt	80.00–80.00	1,352	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	710	95.00/cwt	95.00–95.00	675	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,134	78.77/cwt	64.00–84.50	893	10
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,088	63.26/cwt	57.00–77.00	688	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,030	106.08/cwt	87.00–120.00	1,093	39
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,358	1,250.00/head	1,250.00–1,250.00	1,250	7
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,158	1,260.00/head	1,260.00–1,260.00	1,260	6
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,297	1,225.00/head	1,225.00–1,225.00	1,225	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	470	184.52/cwt	174.00–187.50	867	38
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	535	175.55/cwt	171.00–176.00	939	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	583	165.45/cwt	164.00–166.50	965	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	287	227.00/cwt	227.00–227.00	651	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	—	482	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	805	14
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	—	816	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	1,306	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	—	310	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	698	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 →