Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2024-11-11
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-11-11

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Quality today was mostly average to attractive, but overall more attractive than last weeks sale. Demand was mostly moderate for light offerings. The best demand continues to be for calves under 500 lbs which buyers can develop into yearlings. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows comprised most of the market today. Demand for cows was mostly light to moderate to start the sale and demand improved to mostly moderate to end the sale. Offerings were heavy. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower on boning and lean cows in a very narrow comparison. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality was most average to attractive and more attractive than last weeks sale. The majority of cows this sale were purchased to go to feed. Even lame or blemished cows ended up on feeding orders again this week. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 lower. Good demand was seen for a limited offering of bred cows. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 5.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average. Cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good demand. Young age offerings sold generally steady to weak.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $296.88/cwt on 95 head.

Average price

$296.88

95 head · 540 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,603

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$76

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

$20.70/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−6.81

vs MT average

−8.56 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	538	300.14	1,615	80
Large 1	550	280.00	1,540	2thin
Medium and Large 1-2	551	279.44	1,539	13thin

One grade step is worth $20.70/cwt here — about $76 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 400–500 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale95 hd

296.88

—

MT average5 barns · 1,850 hd

303.70

−6.81

National average190 barns · 31,255 hd

305.44

−8.56

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	1,666	142.09	2,367	78
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,539	117.13	1,802	63
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,362	114.87	1,564	467
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,175	104.98	1,234	315

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	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,455	$2,100	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,408	$1,975	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,465	$1,825	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,304	$1,650	9
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,207	$1,600	3thin

Every lot, as filed

89 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
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	479	307.12/cwt	295.00–309.00	1,471	15
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,186	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	1,305	10
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	994	142.53/cwt	123.00–162.00	1,417	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	575	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,409	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,333	115.50/cwt	115.50–115.50	1,540	19
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,370	118.00/cwt	118.00–118.00	1,617	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	492	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	1,451	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,026	162.87/cwt	125.00–196.00	1,671	168
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,207	1,600.00/head	1,600.00–1,600.00	1,600	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,217	117.30/cwt	109.00–121.50	1,428	31
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	331	357.28/cwt	356.00–370.00	1,183	20
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,288	118.50/cwt	118.50–118.50	1,526	24
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,001	123.40/cwt	112.00–132.50	1,235	11
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	973	186.01/cwt	154.00–204.00	1,810	132
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,304	1,650.00/head	1,650.00–1,650.00	1,650	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	455	330.64/cwt	312.00–336.00	1,504	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	417	364.05/cwt	340.00–370.00	1,518	65
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,408	1,975.00/head	1,975.00–1,975.00	1,975	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,455	2,100.00/head	2,100.00–2,100.00	2,100	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	485	292.25/cwt	282.50–297.50	1,417	48
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	588	256.85/cwt	247.00–258.50	1,510	48
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	462	302.50/cwt	302.50–302.50	1,398	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,465	1,825.00/head	1,825.00–1,825.00	1,825	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,277	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	1,405	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	893	237.00/cwt	237.00–237.00	2,116	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	900–950	924	234.00/cwt	234.00–234.00	2,162	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	590	269.71/cwt	265.00–272.00	1,591	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	200–250	249	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	822	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	480	274.15/cwt	270.00–285.00	1,316	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	380	327.77/cwt	325.00–328.00	1,246	25
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	375	368.20/cwt	355.00–380.00	1,381	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	700–750	732	240.49/cwt	240.00–241.00	1,760	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	344	403.00/cwt	403.00–403.00	1,386	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	861	223.00/cwt	223.00–223.00	1,920	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	636	263.21/cwt	259.00–266.00	1,674	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	200–250	247	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	1,062	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	650–700	651	234.00/cwt	234.00–234.00	1,523	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	331	349.09/cwt	344.00–352.00	1,155	22
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,438	122.70/cwt	122.50–125.00	1,764	30
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,483	105.88/cwt	103.00–115.00	1,570	15
Bulls	—	—	1,924	147.80/cwt	145.50–153.00	2,844	12
Bulls	—	—	1,920	141.00/cwt	133.00–143.00	2,707	7
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,554	144.89/cwt	144.00–147.00	2,252	22
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,600	138.78/cwt	121.00–143.50	2,220	37
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,205	110.86/cwt	107.00–117.50	1,336	159
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,056	92.78/cwt	92.00–93.00	980	14
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,163	103.04/cwt	94.00–108.00	1,198	114
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,705	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	1,995	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,725	107.00/cwt	107.00–107.00	1,846	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,443	113.97/cwt	106.00–115.00	1,645	21
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,190	91.91/cwt	90.00–94.50	1,094	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,238	101.65/cwt	98.00–105.00	1,258	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	930	88.00/cwt	88.00–88.00	818	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	893	76.67/cwt	76.00–78.00	685	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,349	117.31/cwt	112.00–121.00	1,583	323
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,197	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	1,436	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight	—	2,015	121.50/cwt	121.50–121.50	2,448	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,118	76.57/cwt	65.00–88.00	856	15
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,569	118.98/cwt	117.00–123.00	1,867	39
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,470	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	1,250	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,394	94.08/cwt	92.00–101.00	1,311	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,359	106.63/cwt	99.50–110.50	1,449	94
Heifers	Medium 1	700–750	748	221.00/cwt	221.00–221.00	1,653	7
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	450–500	453	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,382	5
Heifers	Medium 2	600–650	625	233.00/cwt	233.00–233.00	1,456	4
Bulls	Large 1	1100–1150	1,112	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	2,024	5
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	700–750	718	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	1,745	3
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	550–600	550	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,540	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	400	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	1,380	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	525	257.50/cwt	257.50–257.50	1,352	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	500–550	514	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,182	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 2	—	912	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	1,140	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	517	287.78/cwt	285.00–295.00	1,488	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	425	331.19/cwt	327.50–340.00	1,408	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	315	420.00/cwt	420.00–420.00	1,323	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	413	326.00/cwt	326.00–326.00	1,346	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	617	242.49/cwt	241.00–243.00	1,496	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	386	341.13/cwt	336.00–345.00	1,317	12
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	800–850	805	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	1,771	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	850–900	894	216.00/cwt	216.00–216.00	1,931	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	543	263.00/cwt	263.00–263.00	1,428	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	700–750	711	244.00/cwt	244.00–244.00	1,735	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	367	387.33/cwt	387.00–390.00	1,422	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	268	477.67/cwt	465.00–480.00	1,280	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	533	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,546	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	615	273.74/cwt	267.00–279.00	1,684	16
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,638	116.00/cwt	116.00–116.00	1,900	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	662	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,556	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	538	300.14/cwt	294.00–307.00	1,615	80

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 →