Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2019-10-03

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2019-10-03
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-10-03

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Oct 3

● Final50 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Sep 26Oct 3Oct 10 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

613 head

▼ 1,115 vs last sale 1,728▲ 613 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Slaughter Cattle receipts

220 head

▲ 40 vs last sale 180▲ 220 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Replacement Cattle receipts

52 head

▼ 55 vs last sale 107▲ 52 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were all too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. CME positions continue to inch higher giving buyers additional confidence in the market. Feedlots are looking for yearlings to fill lots as heavy slaughter numbers are helping clear lot space. The CME feeder cattle index was sharply higher across all 12 states as feeders are becoming aggressive as they search for offerings. Demand for yearlings was mostly good on light to moderate offerings. Demand for spring calves was mostly light to moderate for light offerings. Calf quality this sale was mostly average to attractive. Still too few calves on offer to make an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on steers and lower undertones were noticed on heifers. Market activity this week was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers showed mostly good demand as they searched for cows for immediate harvest. Feeding buyers were mostly out of the market this week, however packers picked up the slack as the bid aggressively against each other for cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average again this sale. Many cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend as most offerings were destined for slaughter this week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Young re-breed cows sold with higher undertones in a narrow comparison. Demand continues to improve on young cows.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $143.96/cwt on 202 head.

Average price

$143.96

202 head · 740 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,065

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$296

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$27.41/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+0.34

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	693	149.96	1,039	145
Medium 1-2	337	145.00	489	9thin
Medium and Large 1-2	926	129.80	1,202	10thin
Medium 1	774	127.60	988	15thin
Large 1	1,090	122.55	1,335	23

One grade step is worth $27.41/cwt here — about −$296 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 sale202 hd

143.96

—

MT average3 barns · 274 hd

143.62

+0.34

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	1,805	85.34	1,540	14
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,602	67.30	1,078	13
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,476	65.71	970	38
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,245	61.04	760	143

Every lot

50 lots · USDA AMS · Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Thu)

Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers19 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium 1-2	337	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	489	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	419	175.77/cwt	175.00–182.50	736	20
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	473	164.36/cwt	155.00–165.00	777	30
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	592	141.09/cwt	140.00–149.00	835	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	642	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	918	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	642	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	860	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	692	135.64/cwt	134.00–136.00	939	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	721	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	959	4
Steers	—	Medium 1Fleshy	743	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	966	3
Steers	—	Medium 1Fleshy	782	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	993	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	855	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,197	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	895	141.50/cwt	141.50–141.50	1,266	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	915	141.78/cwt	136.50–143.50	1,297	43
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	927	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	1,168	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	952	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	1,285	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	979	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	1,224	4
Steers	—	Large 1	1,035	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	1,304	3
Steers	—	Large 1	1,068	124.76/cwt	123.00–129.50	1,332	14
Steers	—	Large 1	1,167	115.67/cwt	115.50–116.00	1,350	6
Feeder Cattle · Heifers15 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	367	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	495	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	447	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	599	17
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	548	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	701	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	586	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	756	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	610	128.32/cwt	125.00–129.00	783	19
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	685	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	863	3
Heifers	—	Medium 1	769	134.78/cwt	134.00–135.00	1,036	27
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	807	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	1,057	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	855	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,094	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	889	131.78/cwt	129.50–132.75	1,172	26
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	907	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,206	26
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	953	129.85/cwt	126.00–130.25	1,237	22
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,021	119.20/cwt	117.00–120.75	1,217	18
Heifers	—	Large 1Full	1,036	111.50/cwt	111.50–111.50	1,155	4
Heifers	—	Large 1Fleshy	1,060	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	1,124	7
Feeder Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	900	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	1,134	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	973	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	1,187	3
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,713	83.99/cwt	83.50–84.50	1,439	5
Bulls	—	—	1,748	76.33/cwt	71.00–79.50	1,334	3
Bulls	—	—	1,910	90.97/cwt	85.50–97.00	1,738	6
Slaughter Cattle · Cows8 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	923	55.00/cwt	55.00–55.00	508	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,228	59.80/cwt	54.50–64.00	734	119
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,367	68.29/cwt	65.00–69.00	934	22
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,475	67.11/cwt	65.00–69.00	990	24
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,479	63.31/cwt	63.00–64.50	936	14
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,546	69.43/cwt	67.75–70.50	1,073	8
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,676	65.35/cwt	62.50–66.25	1,095	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,755	58.00/cwt	58.00–58.00	1,018	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,130	80.59/cwt	80.00–86.00	911	8
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,152	75.58/cwt	70.50–79.50	871	13
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,235	65.00/cwt	65.00–65.00	803	2

This sale against other markets

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 →

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Thu)

Thu Oct 3, 2019

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 613Last week 1,728Year ago 0

Slaughter CattleReceipts 220Last week 180Year ago 0

Replacement CattleReceipts 52Last week 107Year ago 0

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	642	134.00	134.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	855	140.00	140.00
3	—	927	126.00	126.00
4	—	979	125.00	125.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
43	—	915	136.50–143.50	141.78
7	—	952	135.00	135.00
10	—	895	141.50	141.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	337	145.00	145.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	721	133.00	133.00
11	—	692	134.00–136.00	135.64
9	—	642	143.00	143.00
20	—	419	175.00–182.50	175.77
30	—	473	155.00–165.00	164.36
8	—	592	140.00–149.00	141.09

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,167	115.50–116.00	115.67
3	—	1,035	126.00	126.00
14	—	1,068	123.00–129.50	124.76

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	782	127.00	127.00
3	—	743	130.00	130.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	900	126.00	126.00
3	—	973	122.00	122.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	367	135.00	135.00
17	—	447	134.00	134.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	807	131.00	131.00
7	—	855	128.00	128.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	685	126.00	126.00
19	—	610	125.00–129.00	128.32
7	—	586	129.00	129.00
2	—	548	128.00	128.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	889	129.50–132.75	131.78
22	—	953	126.00–130.25	129.85
26	—	907	133.00	133.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	769	134.00–135.00	134.78

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,036	111.50	111.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,060	106.00	106.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	1,021	117.00–120.75	119.20

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,235	65.00	65.00
(<2 yrs)	Open	8	—	1,130	80.00–86.00	80.59
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	13	—	1,152	70.50–79.50	75.58

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	923	55.00	55.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
119	—	1,228	54.50–64.00	59.80
22	—	1,367	65.00–69.00	68.29

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,546	67.75–70.50	69.43
1	—	1,755	58.00	58.00
4	—	1,676	62.50–66.25	65.35

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
24	—	1,475	65.00–69.00	67.11
14	—	1,479	63.00–64.50	63.31

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,748	71.00–79.50	76.33
6	—	1,910	85.50–97.00	90.97
5	—	1,713	83.50–84.50	83.99

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.