Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2019-12-19

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2019-12-19
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2019-12-19

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Dec 19

● Final82 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Dec 12Dec 19Jan 9 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

1,821 head

▼ 4,557 vs last sale 6,378▲ 1,821 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Slaughter Cattle receipts

160 head

▲ 55 vs last sale 105▲ 160 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Replacement Cattle receipts

766 head

▲ 561 vs last sale 205▲ 766 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 an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand for yearlings was mostly good on light offerings. Yearling quality this sale was average to attractive overall. 550-599 lbs steer calves offered the best test this week selling 1.00-2.00 higher. All other weights of steer calves were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on a significantly lower quality offering compared to last week. Heifer calves 400-649 lbs sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher. All other weights of heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Heifer quality was noticeably higher than steer quality this week. Most of this weeks offering was un-weaned, however most calves had two rounds of preconditioning shots. Demand overall was uneven. Market activity this week was moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Packers were very selective this week as they purchased both slaughter cows and feeding cows on lighter demand again this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-7.00 lower. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower, however thin cows sold sharply lower. Significantly lighter packer demand allowed all cows to fall in price. Thin cows sold on the lightest demand this week with packer buyers showing little to no interest for these type offerings. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to re-breed sold steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Quality was mostly average.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $146.90/cwt on 703 head.

Average price

$146.90

703 head · 542 lb average

Value per head Derived

$796

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$572

per head · Medium 1-2 over Large 1-2

$27.06/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+3.90

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1-2	460	149.56	688	32
Medium and Large 1	537	147.62	793	577
Medium and Large 1-2	551	143.14	789	85
Large 1	1,037	130.12	1,349	5thin
Large 1-2	1,029	122.50	1,261	4thin

One grade step is worth $27.06/cwt here — about −$572 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 sale703 hd

146.90

—

MT average4 barns · 2,740 hd

143.00

+3.90

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	1,656	73.21	1,212	14
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,453	43.47	631	13
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,203	35.29	425	90

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 · Steers32 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	327	171.18/cwt	170.00–172.50	560	20
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	328	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	558	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	330	192.50/cwt	192.50–192.50	635	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	355	179.00/cwt	179.00–179.00	635	15
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	387	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	658	45
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	390	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	624	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	424	169.84/cwt	168.00–175.00	720	15
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	435	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	783	21
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	453	174.56/cwt	171.00–175.50	791	26
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	472	157.48/cwt	146.00–168.00	743	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	481	174.67/cwt	167.00–177.50	840	80
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	493	155.48/cwt	154.00–157.50	767	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	500	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	815	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	529	163.56/cwt	160.00–170.00	865	35
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	538	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	818	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	562	162.24/cwt	161.00–162.75	912	82
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	576	156.82/cwt	155.00–159.00	903	70
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	576	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	881	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	610	140.77/cwt	140.00–141.00	859	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	613	148.50/cwt	148.50–148.50	910	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	630	147.89/cwt	144.00–154.00	932	69
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	671	142.24/cwt	142.00–144.00	954	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	680	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	938	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	687	148.25/cwt	148.25–148.25	1,018	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	723	142.44/cwt	140.00–146.00	1,030	36
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	737	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	1,024	26
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	767	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	989	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	942	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	1,366	5
Steers	—	Large 1	1,020	133.50/cwt	133.50–133.50	1,362	1
Steers	—	Large 1	1,061	132.26/cwt	127.00–133.25	1,403	52
Steers	—	Large 1	1,150	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	1,380	4
Steers	—	Large 1-2	1,198	111.00/cwt	111.00–111.00	1,330	7
Feeder Cattle · Heifers30 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	345	150.99/cwt	150.00–152.00	521	22
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	355	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	550	7
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	389	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	619	22
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	389	153.95/cwt	153.50–154.50	599	33
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2Unweaned	408	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	571	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	411	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	637	31
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	426	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	639	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	431	148.56/cwt	148.00–149.00	640	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	433	157.99/cwt	157.00–158.25	684	33
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	456	146.24/cwt	146.00–147.00	667	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	466	153.08/cwt	150.00–157.00	713	24
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	478	153.62/cwt	150.00–156.50	734	69
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	502	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	708	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	522	147.55/cwt	145.50–149.50	770	59
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	527	145.59/cwt	142.00–147.75	767	114
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	543	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	760	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	565	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	808	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	568	146.85/cwt	144.75–149.50	834	79
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	572	141.58/cwt	137.00–146.00	810	47
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	617	145.37/cwt	137.00–148.00	897	37
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	665	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	851	2
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	669	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	843	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	683	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	888	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	778	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,043	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	908	134.61/cwt	132.50–135.00	1,222	26
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	940	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,222	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	960	132.17/cwt	131.50–132.50	1,269	3
Heifers	—	Large 1-2	1,029	122.50/cwt	122.50–122.50	1,261	4
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,037	130.12/cwt	127.50–130.75	1,349	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,072	122.50/cwt	122.50–122.50	1,313	17
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	553	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	758	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	830	118.00/cwt	118.00–118.00	979	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	930	108.00/cwt	108.00–108.00	1,004	3
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,593	66.41/cwt	62.00–72.50	1,058	7
Bulls	—	—	1,640	78.09/cwt	75.50–82.50	1,281	6
Bulls	—	—	2,195	91.50/cwt	91.50–91.50	2,008	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows5 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,197	48.39/cwt	45.00–55.00	579	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,203	38.28/cwt	31.00–43.00	461	64
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,204	25.25/cwt	22.00–31.00	304	23
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,438	42.56/cwt	36.00–45.00	612	11
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,533	48.47/cwt	48.00–49.00	743	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,051	75.06/cwt	62.00–93.00	789	95
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,196	62.08/cwt	52.00–73.00	742	46
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,211	47.55/cwt	46.00–47.75	576	66
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,226	41.57/cwt	40.50–44.00	510	32
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,297	44.00/cwt	44.00–44.00	571	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,334	59.92/cwt	50.50–64.25	799	71
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,360	51.23/cwt	45.00–57.50	697	109
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,414	54.27/cwt	48.00–61.00	767	66
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,244	900.00/cwt	900.00–900.00	11,196	4

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 19, 2019

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 1,821Last week 6,378Year ago 0

Slaughter CattleReceipts 160Last week 105Year ago 0

Replacement CattleReceipts 766Last week 205Year ago 0

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
31	—	411	155.00	155.00
59	—	522	145.50–149.50	147.55
26	—	908	132.50–135.00	134.61
3	—	960	131.50–132.50	132.17
33	—	389	153.50–154.50	153.95
69	—	478	150.00–156.50	153.62
7	—	683	130.00	130.00
3	—	778	134.00	134.00
79	—	568	144.75–149.50	146.85

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	502	141.00	141.00
7	—	355	155.00	155.00
7	—	431	148.00–149.00	148.56

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	1,072	122.50	122.50
7	—	426	150.00	150.00
13	—	456	146.00–147.00	146.24
3	—	565	143.00	143.00
1	—	940	130.00	130.00
22	—	345	150.00–152.00	150.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,029	122.50	122.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	389	159.00	159.00
8	—	669	126.00	126.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,037	127.50–130.75	130.12

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	408	140.00	140.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	665	128.00	128.00
24	—	466	150.00–157.00	153.08
114	—	527	142.00–147.75	145.59
37	—	617	137.00–148.00	145.37
33	—	433	157.00–158.25	157.99
47	—	572	137.00–146.00	141.58

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	543	140.00	140.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	472	146.00–168.00	157.48
3	—	538	152.00	152.00
20	—	327	170.00–172.50	171.18
9	—	576	153.00	153.00
45	—	387	170.00	170.00
3	—	680	138.00	138.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	767	129.00	129.00
9	—	610	140.00–141.00	140.77
7	—	493	154.00–157.50	155.48
5	—	328	170.00	170.00
15	—	424	168.00–175.00	169.84

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
80	—	481	167.00–177.50	174.67
8	—	613	148.50	148.50
8	—	671	142.00–144.00	142.24
15	—	355	179.00	179.00
3	—	330	192.50	192.50
4	—	500	163.00	163.00
36	—	723	140.00–146.00	142.44
5	—	942	145.00	145.00
82	—	562	161.00–162.75	162.24
21	—	435	180.00	180.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	390	160.00	160.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,198	111.00	111.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,020	133.50	133.50
4	—	1,150	120.00	120.00
52	—	1,061	127.00–133.25	132.26

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	453	171.00–175.50	174.56
70	—	576	155.00–159.00	156.82
69	—	630	144.00–154.00	147.89
26	—	737	139.00	139.00
11	—	687	148.25	148.25
35	—	529	160.00–170.00	163.56

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	930	108.00	108.00
2	—	830	118.00	118.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	553	137.00	137.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

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	32	—	1,226	40.50–44.00	41.57
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	66	—	1,211	46.00–47.75	47.55
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,297	44.00	44.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	66	—	1,414	48.00–61.00	54.27
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	109	—	1,360	45.00–57.50	51.23
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	71	—	1,334	50.50–64.25	59.92
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	46	—	1,196	52.00–73.00	62.08
(<2 yrs)	Open	95	—	1,051	62.00–93.00	75.06

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	4	—	1,244	900.00	900.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,438	36.00–45.00	42.56
2	—	1,533	48.00–49.00	48.47

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,197	45.00–55.00	48.39
23	—	1,204	22.00–31.00	25.25
64	—	1,203	31.00–43.00	38.28

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,593	62.00–72.50	66.41
1	—	2,195	91.50	91.50
6	—	1,640	75.50–82.50	78.09

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.