Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2019-12-05

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2019-12-05
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-12-05

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Dec 5

● Final95 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Nov 21Dec 5Dec 12 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

5,873 head

▲ 2,721 vs last sale 3,152▲ 5,873 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Slaughter Cattle receipts

94 head

▲ 54 vs last sale 40▲ 94 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Replacement Cattle receipts

129 head

▼ 119 vs last sale 248▲ 129 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 too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings was mostly good on light offerings. Steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed; 450-549 lbs steers sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher, 550-699 lbs steers sold steady to 5.00 higher; steers heavier than 700 lbs sold unevenly steady. Heifer calves weighing less than 500 lbs were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed; 500-649 lbs heifers sold steady to 3.00 higher, heifers over 650 lbs sold with lower undertones. Quality this sale was average to very attractive. Many long strings of April May and June born calves from Northern Montana sold today. These calves were mostly unweaned but very attractive and sold with very good demand. Weaned calves this sale were of mostly plain to average quality and buyers offered little to no premium for weaned calves this sale. Calves with fall preconditioning shots continue to sell with a premium to non vaccinated of calves with only one round of preconditioning shots. Lightweight calves suitable to develop into yearlings sold on good demand. West coast grass operations are back in the market after several storms dumped heavy rain and snow on the west coast over the last two weeks. Market activity this week was mostly active with many buyers in the stands actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light offerings. Packers showed good demand for all weigh up cows as they purchased offerings to feed and send to immediate harvest. Slaughter cow were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-4.00 higher.

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 $161.96/cwt on 2,763 head.

Average price

$161.96

2,763 head · 568 lb average

Value per head Derived

$920

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$23

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

$29.54/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+1.45

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	576	162.54	937	2,325
Medium and Large 1-2	518	159.57	827	427
Large 1-2	687	133.00	914	11thin

One grade step is worth $29.54/cwt here — about $23 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 sale2,763 hd

161.96

—

MT average4 barns · 3,484 hd

160.52

+1.45

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	1,853	79.71	1,477	17
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,543	55.81	861	10
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,486	52.00	773	18
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,288	48.89	630	19

Every lot

95 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 · Steers42 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	334	208.48/cwt	208.00–210.00	696	41
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	342	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	633	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	364	179.50/cwt	179.50–179.50	653	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	370	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	673	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	378	206.13/cwt	202.50–208.00	779	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	410	197.50/cwt	197.50–197.50	810	73
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	422	196.80/cwt	196.00–198.00	830	23
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	422	179.42/cwt	177.50–181.00	757	38
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	424	165.74/cwt	165.00–166.00	703	27
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	477	167.24/cwt	162.50–173.00	798	81
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	481	184.46/cwt	182.00–189.00	887	213
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	485	173.06/cwt	170.00–178.00	839	37
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	498	164.00/cwt	164.00–164.00	817	25
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	528	168.91/cwt	159.50–181.00	892	452
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	535	160.01/cwt	156.00–162.00	856	76
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	535	150.50/cwt	150.50–150.50	805	40
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	541	157.32/cwt	151.00–161.50	851	90
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	556	151.50/cwt	151.50–151.50	842	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	569	158.60/cwt	150.00–163.50	902	335
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	570	152.92/cwt	151.00–155.00	872	50
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	577	147.47/cwt	145.00–151.00	851	28
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	616	141.63/cwt	140.00–143.00	872	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	618	155.54/cwt	155.50–156.00	961	114
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	619	151.64/cwt	145.00–157.75	939	396
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	622	142.32/cwt	138.50–146.00	885	35
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	626	159.75/cwt	159.75–159.75	1,000	155
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	657	149.45/cwt	149.00–151.00	982	31
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	661	143.11/cwt	140.00–145.50	946	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	669	148.57/cwt	143.00–150.50	994	113
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	675	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	905	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	679	142.94/cwt	137.00–147.50	971	7
Steers	—	Large 1-2Unweaned	687	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	914	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	712	149.83/cwt	148.00–152.00	1,067	64
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	714	142.37/cwt	138.00–148.50	1,017	56
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	731	131.97/cwt	130.50–134.00	965	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	735	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	1,000	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	756	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	1,081	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	796	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	1,178	23
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	801	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	1,161	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	808	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	1,139	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	882	136.50/cwt	136.50–136.50	1,204	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	883	145.50/cwt	145.50–145.50	1,285	24
Feeder Cattle · Heifers34 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	276	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	518	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	330	157.50/cwt	157.50–157.50	520	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	346	169.61/cwt	167.00–170.00	587	31
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	371	162.77/cwt	160.50–165.00	604	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	381	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	594	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	410	163.19/cwt	153.00–165.00	669	82
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	422	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	608	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	437	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	664	32
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	439	144.84/cwt	144.00–146.00	636	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	446	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	660	33
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	463	138.36/cwt	136.00–139.50	641	16
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	466	143.44/cwt	138.00–146.00	668	32
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	467	150.49/cwt	147.00–152.00	703	21
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	473	151.33/cwt	145.00–156.00	716	282
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	500	152.50/cwt	152.50–152.50	763	38
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	508	147.53/cwt	143.00–149.50	749	180
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	517	134.58/cwt	133.00–138.50	696	52
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	529	144.35/cwt	138.50–148.50	764	248
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	532	135.53/cwt	131.50–140.00	721	42
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	559	136.35/cwt	132.00–139.00	762	107
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	588	138.79/cwt	132.00–140.75	816	299
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	615	134.11/cwt	132.50–140.00	825	32
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	616	134.63/cwt	128.00–140.00	829	159
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	620	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	769	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	629	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	793	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	657	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	854	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	689	128.07/cwt	124.00–132.00	882	21
Heifers	—	Medium 1Full	796	123.50/cwt	123.50–123.50	983	6
Heifers	—	Medium 1Full	865	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	1,055	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	878	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	1,203	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	921	132.20/cwt	131.50–132.50	1,218	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	963	132.68/cwt	130.50–133.00	1,278	31
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	984	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	1,240	15
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,057	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	1,332	12
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	483	152.50/cwt	152.50–152.50	737	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	628	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	854	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	678	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	834	5
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,807	73.30/cwt	62.50–78.50	1,325	5
Bulls	—	—	1,872	82.38/cwt	80.00–84.50	1,542	12
Slaughter Cattle · Cows7 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	955	43.00/cwt	43.00–43.00	411	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,204	53.16/cwt	53.00–53.50	640	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,326	49.18/cwt	43.50–51.00	652	14
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,350	38.00/cwt	38.00–38.00	513	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,486	52.00/cwt	52.00–52.00	773	18
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,538	54.96/cwt	51.00–59.00	845	9
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,590	63.50/cwt	63.50–63.50	1,010	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,039	72.22/cwt	69.00–75.00	750	17
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,141	53.24/cwt	53.00–54.00	607	4
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,143	63.03/cwt	56.00–72.00	720	32
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,227	51.76/cwt	47.00–54.00	635	12
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,282	48.35/cwt	46.50–51.00	620	15
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,300	52.59/cwt	51.50–55.50	684	16
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,422	61.13/cwt	53.50–65.00	869	12

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 Dec 5, 2019

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 5,873Last week 3,152Year ago 0

Slaughter CattleReceipts 94Last week 40Year ago 0

Replacement CattleReceipts 129Last week 248Year ago 0

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
32	—	437	152.00	152.00
32	—	615	132.50–140.00	134.11
107	—	559	132.00–139.00	136.35
3	—	878	137.00	137.00
13	—	657	130.00	130.00
13	—	921	131.50–132.50	132.20
21	—	467	147.00–152.00	150.49
31	—	963	130.50–133.00	132.68
180	—	508	143.00–149.50	147.53

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	439	144.00–146.00	144.84
16	—	463	136.00–139.50	138.36
3	—	330	157.50	157.50
42	—	532	131.50–140.00	135.53
5	—	381	156.00	156.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
33	—	446	148.00	148.00
15	—	984	126.00	126.00
7	—	620	124.00	124.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
52	—	517	133.00–138.50	134.58
3	—	422	144.00	144.00
32	—	466	138.00–146.00	143.44
5	—	629	126.00	126.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	865	122.00	122.00
6	—	796	123.50	123.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,057	126.00	126.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
282	—	473	145.00–156.00	151.33
31	—	346	167.00–170.00	169.61
82	—	410	153.00–165.00	163.19
12	—	371	160.50–165.00	162.77
299	—	588	132.00–140.75	138.79
9	—	276	187.50	187.50
248	—	529	138.50–148.50	144.35
159	—	616	128.00–140.00	134.63
21	—	689	124.00–132.00	128.07

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
38	—	500	152.50	152.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
24	—	883	145.50	145.50
114	—	618	155.50–156.00	155.54
76	—	535	156.00–162.00	160.01
31	—	657	149.00–151.00	149.45
73	—	410	197.50	197.50
50	—	570	151.00–155.00	152.92
64	—	712	148.00–152.00	149.83
37	—	485	170.00–178.00	173.06
4	—	756	143.00	143.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
25	—	498	164.00	164.00
4	—	556	151.50	151.50
3	—	882	136.50	136.50
27	—	424	165.00–166.00	165.74
3	—	342	185.00	185.00
35	—	622	138.50–146.00	142.32
7	—	679	137.00–147.50	142.94
12	—	364	179.50	179.50
40	—	535	150.50	150.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
81	—	477	162.50–173.00	167.24
3	—	735	136.00	136.00
38	—	422	177.50–181.00	179.42
13	—	661	140.00–145.50	143.11
28	—	577	145.00–151.00	147.47
90	—	541	151.00–161.50	157.32
9	—	616	140.00–143.00	141.63
9	—	370	182.00	182.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	687	133.00	133.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
155	—	626	159.75	159.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
113	—	669	143.00–150.50	148.57
41	—	334	208.00–210.00	208.48
213	—	481	182.00–189.00	184.46
452	—	528	159.50–181.00	168.91
56	—	714	138.00–148.50	142.37
5	—	378	202.50–208.00	206.13
23	—	422	196.00–198.00	196.80
396	—	619	145.00–157.75	151.64
23	—	796	148.00	148.00
4	—	801	145.00	145.00
335	—	569	150.00–163.50	158.60

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	675	134.00	134.00
6	—	808	141.00	141.00
17	—	731	130.50–134.00	131.97

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	678	123.00	123.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	628	136.00	136.00
2	—	483	152.50	152.50

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
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	32	—	1,143	56.00–72.00	63.03
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	12	—	1,422	53.50–65.00	61.13
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	16	—	1,300	51.50–55.50	52.59
(<2 yrs)	Open	17	—	1,039	69.00–75.00	72.22

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	15	—	1,282	46.50–51.00	48.35
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,141	53.00–54.00	53.24
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	12	—	1,227	47.00–54.00	51.76

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	955	43.00	43.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	1,326	43.50–51.00	49.18
1	—	1,350	38.00	38.00
3	—	1,204	53.00–53.50	53.16

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	1,486	52.00	52.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,538	51.00–59.00	54.96
1	—	1,590	63.50	63.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,872	80.00–84.50	82.38
5	—	1,807	62.50–78.50	73.30

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.