Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2020-01-16

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-01-16
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-01-16

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jan 16

● Final66 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Jan 9Jan 16Jan 23 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

325 head

▼ 6,276 vs last sale 6,601▲ 325 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Slaughter Cattle receipts

210 head

▲ 151 vs last sale 59▲ 210 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago

Replacement Cattle receipts

2,204 head

▲ 2,107 vs last sale 97▲ 2,204 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 sale: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings remains mostly good. Feeder steers and heifer calves were all too lightly tested this sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average and significantly lower than last weeks very attractive offering. Demand was mostly light to moderate for light offerings. Market activity this week was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Packers, after several weeks of very light activity were active in purchasing cows this week. Slaughter cows sold steady to 4.00 higher. Packers showed the best demand for lean and boning cows. Fleshy cows sold mostly to feeding buyers this week. Feeding cows sold on higher demand as both packers and feeding buyers were active in purchasing high quality cows suitable to feed. Feeding cows sold steady to 4.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold with higher undertones in a narrow comparison. A heavy offering of bred cows and heifers were on offer this sale. Bred stock comprised the majority of the offering today with over 2,000 head of bred cattle. Demand was good to very good. The stands were packed this sale with many bidders and buyers actively bidding on offerings.

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 $150.01/cwt on 95 head.

Average price

$150.01

95 head · 544 lb average

Value per head Derived

$816

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$379

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

$38.19/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−4.52

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	540	152.19	822	73
Medium and Large 1-2	481	147.31	708	19thin
Large 1-2	1,053	114.00	1,200	3thin

One grade step is worth $38.19/cwt here — about −$379 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 sale95 hd

150.01

—

MT average3 barns · 466 hd

154.52

−4.52

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	1,855	79.41	1,473	13
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,628	57.74	940	8thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,388	55.91	776	4thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,188	46.77	556	119

Every lot

66 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 · Steers8 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	278	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	584	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	344	194.00/cwt	194.00–194.00	667	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	377	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	679	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	399	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	758	18
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	527	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	901	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	555	164.50/cwt	164.50–164.50	913	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	615	159.50/cwt	159.50–159.50	981	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	680	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	1,006	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers11 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	374	154.26/cwt	152.00–157.50	577	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	443	166.00/cwt	166.00–166.00	735	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	464	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	691	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	471	158.24/cwt	158.00–160.00	745	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	508	157.80/cwt	157.00–159.00	802	25
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	568	145.22/cwt	144.00–149.00	825	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	595	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	863	22
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	600	134.50/cwt	134.50–134.50	807	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	641	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	885	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	800	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	1,032	2
Heifers	—	Large 1-2	1,053	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	1,200	3
Feeder Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	503	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	820	8
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	559	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	878	24
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	579	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	811	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	609	151.15/cwt	151.00–152.00	921	20
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	680	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	898	6
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	909	132.50/cwt	132.50–132.50	1,204	7
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	913	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	1,178	2
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,107	103.00/cwt	103.00–103.00	1,140	11
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,797	81.57/cwt	77.50–83.50	1,466	9
Bulls	—	—	1,903	69.57/cwt	66.00–74.50	1,324	3
Bulls	—	—	2,235	89.50/cwt	89.50–89.50	2,000	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows8 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	898	41.94/cwt	36.00–45.00	377	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,124	31.04/cwt	29.00–32.00	349	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,176	46.34/cwt	37.00–49.00	545	85
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,283	57.84/cwt	57.50–58.00	742	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,320	51.31/cwt	50.00–53.50	677	21
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,388	55.91/cwt	52.00–58.00	776	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,625	56.31/cwt	56.00–57.00	915	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,629	58.60/cwt	57.50–60.00	955	5
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows18 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,093	1,175.00/cwt	1,175.00–1,175.00	12,843	21
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,152	1,279.03/cwt	1,250.00–1,375.00	14,734	29
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS	1,163	1,250.00/cwt	1,250.00–1,250.00	14,538	12
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,171	1,255.78/cwt	1,225.00–1,275.00	14,705	35
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,187	1,522.91/cwt	1,300.00–1,585.00	18,077	219
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,253	780.66/cwt	700.00–885.00	9,782	27
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,295	1,035.00/cwt	1,035.00–1,035.00	13,403	5
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,303	1,295.64/cwt	1,250.00–1,310.00	16,882	85
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,318	1,260.00/cwt	1,260.00–1,260.00	16,607	43
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,354	55.50/cwt	55.50–55.50	751	8
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,361	1,395.77/cwt	1,200.00–1,535.00	18,996	143
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,364	927.71/cwt	800.00–1,125.00	12,654	349
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,375	1,300.00/cwt	1,300.00–1,300.00	17,875	28
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,391	825.00/cwt	825.00–825.00	11,476	11
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,409	975.00/cwt	975.00–975.00	13,738	10
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,416	900.00/cwt	900.00–900.00	12,744	9
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,420	1,149.41/cwt	900.00–1,310.00	16,322	156
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,611	1,010.08/cwt	1,000.00–1,035.00	16,272	10
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers4 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium 1	923	1,247.54/cwt	1,225.00–1,275.00	11,515	34
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,053	1,100.00/cwt	1,100.00–1,100.00	11,583	2
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,063	1,396.14/cwt	1,350.00–1,450.00	14,841	77
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,072	1,409.92/cwt	1,325.00–1,485.00	15,114	45
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,023	73.84/cwt	60.00–94.00	755	108
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,190	56.00/cwt	56.00–56.00	666	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,191	52.02/cwt	51.00–52.50	620	23
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,316	57.23/cwt	54.00–68.00	753	66
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,320	47.00/cwt	47.00–47.00	620	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,374	56.92/cwt	50.00–63.00	782	131

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 Jan 16, 2020

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 325Last week 6,601Year ago 0

Slaughter CattleReceipts 210Last week 59Year ago 0

Replacement CattleReceipts 2,204Last week 97Year ago 0

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	568	144.00–149.00	145.22
25	—	508	157.00–159.00	157.80
7	—	443	166.00	166.00
8	—	471	158.00–160.00	158.24
7	—	641	138.00	138.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	800	129.00	129.00
2	—	600	134.50	134.50
7	—	374	152.00–157.50	154.26
8	—	464	149.00	149.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,053	114.00	114.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	595	145.00	145.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	913	129.00	129.00
6	—	680	132.00	132.00
8	—	503	163.00	163.00
20	—	609	151.00–152.00	151.15
24	—	559	157.00	157.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	909	132.50	132.50
4	—	579	140.00	140.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,107	103.00	103.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	377	180.00	180.00
4	—	344	194.00	194.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	615	159.50	159.50
7	—	555	164.50	164.50
18	—	399	190.00	190.00
3	—	278	210.00	210.00
2	—	680	148.00	148.00
3	—	527	171.00	171.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	10	—	1,409	975.00	975.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	5	—	1,295	1,035.00	1,035.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	35	—	1,171	1,225.00–1,275.00	1,255.78
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	85	—	1,303	1,250.00–1,310.00	1,295.64
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	10	—	1,611	1,000.00–1,035.00	1,010.08
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	43	—	1,318	1,260.00	1,260.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	8	—	1,354	55.50	55.50
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	21	—	1,093	1,175.00	1,175.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	156	—	1,420	900.00–1,310.00	1,149.41
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	143	—	1,361	1,200.00–1,535.00	1,395.77
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	28	—	1,375	1,300.00	1,300.00
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	29	—	1,152	1,250.00–1,375.00	1,279.03
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	219	—	1,187	1,300.00–1,585.00	1,522.91

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	9	—	1,416	900.00	900.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	11	—	1,391	825.00	825.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	349	—	1,364	800.00–1,125.00	927.71

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	27	—	1,253	700.00–885.00	780.66

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	12	—	1,163	1,250.00	1,250.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	34	—	923	1,225.00–1,275.00	1,247.54

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	45	—	1,072	1,325.00–1,485.00	1,409.92
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	77	—	1,063	1,350.00–1,450.00	1,396.14
(<2 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,053	1,100.00	1,100.00

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	1	—	1,190	56.00	56.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,320	47.00	47.00
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	23	—	1,191	51.00–52.50	52.02

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	—	1,316	54.00–68.00	57.23
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	131	—	1,374	50.00–63.00	56.92
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	108	—	1,023	60.00–94.00	73.84

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,235	89.50	89.50
3	—	1,903	66.00–74.50	69.57
9	—	1,797	77.50–83.50	81.57

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,625	56.00–57.00	56.31
5	—	1,629	57.50–60.00	58.60

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	898	36.00–45.00	41.94

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
85	—	1,176	37.00–49.00	46.34
4	—	1,124	29.00–32.00	31.04
21	—	1,320	50.00–53.50	51.31
3	—	1,283	57.50–58.00	57.84

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,388	52.00–58.00	55.91

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.