Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2019-11-21

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2019-11-21
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-11-21

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Nov 21

● Final82 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Nov 14Nov 21Dec 5 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

3,152 head

▼ 2,166 vs last sale 5,318▲ 3,152 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Slaughter Cattle receipts

40 head

▼ 70 vs last sale 110▲ 40 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Replacement Cattle receipts

248 head

▼ 222 vs last sale 470▲ 248 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings was mostly good on light offerings. Quality this week was average to attractive. Steer calves under 550 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 higher, steers heavier than 550 lbs sold steady to firm. Heifer calves weighing less than 550 lbs sold mostly steady to 4.00 higher, heifer calves heavier than 550 lbs sold steady to weak. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive and much more attractive than the last two sales. Demand overall was moderate to good for moderate offerings. Calves were much fresher appearing this week as warmer, drier weather has helped dry up lot and pen conditions. Rain is forecasted for the west coast early next week which help improve prices for lightweight calves. Weaned calves are started to be marketed. Buyers showed good demand for healthy appearing, weaned calves which were given two rounds of shots and weaned over 45 days. Calves with fall preconditioning shots continue to sell with a premium to non vaccinated of calves with only one round of preconditioning shots. Market activity this week was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light demand for light to moderate offerings. Weigh up conditions were average to below average this week, however an improvement from last week. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested this week to develop any market trend. Most cows are destined for a feedlot this week. All classes of feeding cows sold mostly 3.00 to 6.00 lower. Packers and other feeding buyers have feedlots near capacity as they have been sending heavy supplies of cows for over a month. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to re-breed sold with steady to weak undertones. Quality was mostly average.

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 $159.64/cwt on 1,550 head.

Average price

$159.64

1,550 head · 573 lb average

Value per head Derived

$914

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$161

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

$23.99/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+1.24

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	562	161.18	906	1,329
Medium and Large 1-2	553	157.20	869	116
Medium 1	364	150.00	546	18thin
Medium 1-2	445	148.68	661	22
Large 1	1,005	139.31	1,399	54
Medium and Large 2	543	137.18	745	11thin

One grade step is worth $23.99/cwt here — about $161 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 sale1,550 hd

159.64

—

MT average5 barns · 4,180 hd

158.40

+1.24

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	—	High	1,911	77.64	1,484	21
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,510	66.00	997	1thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,202	36.34	437	7thin

Every lot

82 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 · Steers37 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	615	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	318	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	572	3
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	364	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	546	18
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	378	186.00/cwt	186.00–186.00	703	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	383	199.05/cwt	195.00–210.00	762	27
Steers	—	Medium 1-2	421	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	623	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	427	186.58/cwt	180.00–194.00	797	60
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	438	175.46/cwt	164.00–179.50	769	37
Steers	—	Medium 1-2	456	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	679	15
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	470	177.91/cwt	167.50–188.00	836	191
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	486	163.50/cwt	163.50–163.50	795	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	501	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	706	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	524	164.37/cwt	160.50–169.50	861	59
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	526	163.66/cwt	155.00–168.00	861	341
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	545	153.64/cwt	153.50–154.00	837	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	566	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	843	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	577	153.46/cwt	150.00–158.50	885	190
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	578	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	775	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	580	153.54/cwt	153.00–154.00	891	20
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	583	148.50/cwt	148.50–148.50	866	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	602	155.05/cwt	154.50–156.00	933	22
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	611	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	874	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	631	151.30/cwt	144.00–155.50	955	266
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	661	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	925	24
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	666	147.37/cwt	144.00–150.00	981	66
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	704	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	1,056	21
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	707	143.17/cwt	140.00–149.00	1,012	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	721	130.50/cwt	130.50–130.50	941	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	725	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	1,022	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	761	138.68/cwt	138.00–140.50	1,055	19
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	765	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	1,067	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	847	128.50/cwt	128.50–128.50	1,088	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	848	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	1,204	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	906	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	1,287	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	916	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	1,246	5
Steers	—	Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,003	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	1,399	53
Steers	—	Large 1	1,085	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	1,400	1
Feeder Cattle · Heifers29 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	310	162.50/cwt	162.50–162.50	504	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	329	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	503	5
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	379	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	584	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	382	162.82/cwt	161.00–164.00	622	29
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	389	153.77/cwt	152.00–156.00	598	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	422	158.42/cwt	157.00–160.00	669	21
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	422	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	629	10
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	429	141.14/cwt	130.00–149.00	605	33
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	471	142.73/cwt	138.00–145.00	672	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	473	152.32/cwt	150.50–154.00	720	40
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	478	151.13/cwt	145.00–156.00	722	138
Heifers	—	Medium 2Unweaned	478	122.50/cwt	122.50–122.50	586	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	522	141.48/cwt	136.50–146.00	739	174
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	530	128.50/cwt	128.50–128.50	681	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	532	134.20/cwt	132.00–137.00	714	29
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	563	136.61/cwt	136.50–137.00	769	23
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	568	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	750	20
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	574	135.60/cwt	132.00–136.50	778	178
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	610	132.62/cwt	130.00–138.00	809	104
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	638	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	817	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	643	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	874	25
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	648	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	868	20
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	663	132.29/cwt	130.00–133.00	877	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	673	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	861	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	725	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	892	6
Heifers	—	Medium 1	752	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	978	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	885	131.50/cwt	131.50–131.50	1,164	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	932	132.48/cwt	130.50–135.00	1,235	45
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,033	129.25/cwt	129.25–129.25	1,335	6
Feeder Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	522	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	647	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	601	134.71/cwt	134.00–135.00	810	7
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,745	68.98/cwt	61.00–73.50	1,204	5
Bulls	—	—	1,750	82.50/cwt	82.50–82.50	1,444	1
Bulls	—	—	1,893	81.20/cwt	80.00–86.50	1,537	11
Bulls	—	—	2,210	77.46/cwt	71.00–80.50	1,712	4
Slaughter Cattle · Cows3 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,185	34.56/cwt	32.00–35.00	410	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,305	47.00/cwt	47.00–47.00	613	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,510	66.00/cwt	66.00–66.00	997	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	960	79.56/cwt	62.00–92.00	764	27
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,078	65.81/cwt	56.00–69.00	709	27
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,086	53.18/cwt	45.00–56.00	578	7
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,301	45.89/cwt	42.50–48.00	597	9
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,305	54.89/cwt	52.50–68.50	716	37
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,322	50.14/cwt	48.00–54.50	663	17
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,349	54.12/cwt	50.00–64.00	730	26

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 Nov 21, 2019

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 3,152Last week 5,318Year ago 0

Slaughter CattleReceipts 40Last week 110Year ago 0

Replacement CattleReceipts 248Last week 470Year ago 0

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
45	—	932	130.50–135.00	132.48
23	—	563	136.50–137.00	136.61
20	—	648	134.00	134.00
40	—	473	150.50–154.00	152.32

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
138	—	478	145.00–156.00	151.13
21	—	422	157.00–160.00	158.42
13	—	663	130.00–133.00	132.29
6	—	725	123.00	123.00
178	—	574	132.00–136.50	135.60
3	—	310	162.50	162.50
174	—	522	136.50–146.00	141.48
29	—	382	161.00–164.00	162.82
104	—	610	130.00–138.00	132.62

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	389	152.00–156.00	153.77
12	—	471	138.00–145.00	142.73
5	—	329	153.00	153.00
20	—	568	132.00	132.00
29	—	532	132.00–137.00	134.20
10	—	422	149.00	149.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	530	128.50	128.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	885	131.50	131.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
33	—	429	130.00–149.00	141.14
4	—	379	154.00	154.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	752	130.00	130.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	478	122.50	122.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,033	129.25	129.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	638	128.00	128.00
6	—	673	128.00	128.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
25	—	643	136.00	136.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	611	143.00	143.00
5	—	566	149.00	149.00
37	—	438	164.00–179.50	175.46
5	—	721	130.50	130.50
7	—	545	153.50–154.00	153.64
24	—	661	140.00	140.00
3	—	378	186.00	186.00
3	—	318	180.00	180.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	486	163.50	163.50
5	—	916	136.00	136.00
3	—	725	141.00	141.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	578	134.00	134.00
5	—	501	141.00	141.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	583	148.50	148.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,085	129.00	129.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	456	149.00	149.00
7	—	421	148.00	148.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	364	150.00	150.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
53	—	1,003	139.50	139.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	383	195.00–210.00	199.05
341	—	526	155.00–168.00	163.66
66	—	666	144.00–150.00	147.37
19	—	761	138.00–140.50	138.68
3	—	847	128.50	128.50
17	—	707	140.00–149.00	143.17
60	—	427	180.00–194.00	186.58
190	—	577	150.00–158.50	153.46
266	—	631	144.00–155.50	151.30
2	—	300	205.00	205.00
191	—	470	167.50–188.00	177.91

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	765	139.50	139.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	580	153.00–154.00	153.54
5	—	906	142.00	142.00
22	—	602	154.50–156.00	155.05
59	—	524	160.50–169.50	164.37
21	—	704	150.00	150.00
8	—	848	142.00	142.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	522	124.00	124.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	601	134.00–135.00	134.71

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
(<2 yrs)	Open	27	—	960	62.00–92.00	79.56
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	27	—	1,078	56.00–69.00	65.81
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	26	—	1,349	50.00–64.00	54.12
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	37	—	1,305	52.50–68.50	54.89
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	17	—	1,322	48.00–54.50	50.14

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	7	—	1,086	45.00–56.00	53.18
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	9	—	1,301	42.50–48.00	45.89

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,750	82.50	82.50
5	—	1,745	61.00–73.50	68.98
4	—	2,210	71.00–80.50	77.46
11	—	1,893	80.00–86.50	81.20

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,510	66.00	66.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,185	32.00–35.00	34.56
1	—	1,305	47.00	47.00

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.