Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2020-04-30

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Apr 30
● Final109 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
3,890 head
▲ 3,664 vs last sale 226▲ 342 vs year ago 3,548 · +9.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
260 head
▲ 145 vs last sale 115▲ 80 vs year ago 180 · +44.4%
Replacement Cattle receipts
1,469 head
▲ 1,402 vs last sale 67▼ 193 vs year ago 1,662 · −11.6%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on steers weighing less than 550 lbs and higher undertones were noticed on steers over 550 lbs. The best test for heifers was for 600-649 lbs, which sold mostly 10.00-13.00 higher. All other weights of feeder heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on calves weighing less than 600 lbs, and higher undertones were noticed on all calves over 650 lbs. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Feeder cattle were offered mostly in small to moderate size packages, with a limited offering of load lots seen. Flesh conditions were mostly light to moderate, however some backgrounded offerings were moderate to fleshy. CME positions traded with mostly triple digit losses today. The expiring April feeder cattle contract settled at 119.175, May closed at 117.10, and August closed at 126.50, 0.375 , 1.45, and 1.95 lower respectfully. Market activity this week was moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers purchased the majority of cows for immediate harvest this week. Slaughter cows sold steady to 1.00 higher. Feeding cows were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Packers pushed feeding buyers on all offerings as they pushed to purchase the majority of the offering. With warm weather seen today the majority of the cow and bulls on offer were very full, offering buyers below average weigh up conditions. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 5.00-7.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher. A heavy offering of cow and heifer pairs was seen this sale. Demand was mostly good to very good with many bidders and buyers in the stands actively bidding on offerings

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $143.93/cwt on 1,818 head.
Average price
$143.93
1,818 head · 668 lb average
Value per head Derived
$962
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$55
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 1
$4.32/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+4.18
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2579147.63855121
Medium and Large 2469145.006809thin
Medium and Large 1679143.699751,578
Large 1635143.31910110
One grade step is worth $4.32/cwt here — about −$55 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 sale1,818 hd
143.93
—
MT average3 barns · 2,438 hd
139.76
+4.18
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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Bulls—High1,69179.681,34816
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,66356.7594425
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,45855.1980534
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,20552.40631112

Every lot

109 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.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Feeder Cattle · Steers32 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned440167.50/cwt167.50–167.5073717
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2444161.50/cwt161.50–161.5071716
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2462151.00/cwt151.00–151.006988
Steers—Medium and Large 2469145.00/cwt145.00–145.006809
Steers—Medium and Large 1499160.00/cwt160.00–160.007987
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2514153.22/cwt147.00–156.0078822
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned515162.00/cwt162.00–162.0083423
Steers—Medium and Large 1522160.50/cwt160.50–160.5083849
Steers—Large 1536149.00/cwt149.00–149.0079925
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy576147.00/cwt147.00–147.008476
Steers—Medium and Large 1582154.53/cwt150.00–157.50899186
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2597147.19/cwt147.00–149.0087921
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fancy600157.00/cwt157.00–157.0094295
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy604140.00/cwt140.00–140.008465
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed607155.50/cwt155.50–155.5094415
Steers—Medium and Large 1621149.45/cwt144.50–155.00928211
Steers—Large 1634146.00/cwt146.00–146.0092666
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2637140.24/cwt138.00–143.0089317
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fancy659153.00/cwt153.00–153.001,008154
Steers—Medium and Large 1678142.01/cwt138.00–148.00963189
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2686135.47/cwt133.50–138.5092915
Steers—Medium and Large 1719140.50/cwt137.50–143.001,010190
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full731128.46/cwt126.00–131.0093929
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2741123.00/cwt123.00–123.009117
Steers—Large 1767126.50/cwt126.50–126.5097019
Steers—Medium and Large 1781131.24/cwt129.00–139.001,025233
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy783127.00/cwt127.00–127.0099418
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full790125.59/cwt125.00–126.0099217
Steers—Medium and Large 1816125.51/cwt124.00–127.001,024125
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy861119.00/cwt119.00–119.001,0257
Steers—Medium and Large 1878121.96/cwt120.00–124.001,07112
Steers—Medium and Large 1903120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,0845
Feeder Cattle · Heifers31 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 2307131.00/cwt131.00–131.004023
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned407135.00/cwt135.00–135.005499
Heifers—Medium and Large 1410145.50/cwt145.50–145.505978
Heifers—Large 1443146.00/cwt146.00–146.0064715
Heifers—Medium 2462118.00/cwt118.00–118.0054510
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2469141.18/cwt139.50–143.0066262
Heifers—Medium and Large 2472131.38/cwt130.00–133.0062032
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned481140.00/cwt140.00–140.0067325
Heifers—Medium and Large 1496145.50/cwt145.50–145.5072234
Heifers—Medium and Large 2506130.00/cwt130.00–130.006589
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2531138.09/cwt133.00–141.00733182
Heifers—Large 1550134.50/cwt134.50–134.5074050
Heifers—Medium and Large 1567145.99/cwt141.50–148.00828258
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2571131.34/cwt129.00–135.0075029
Heifers—Medium and Large 2583126.00/cwt126.00–126.007358
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2611132.32/cwt120.00–134.00808102
Heifers—Medium and Large 1619141.45/cwt136.00–144.00876143
Heifers—Large 1620124.50/cwt124.50–124.5077226
Heifers—Medium and Large 1653136.18/cwt126.00–137.00889119
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement654140.75/cwt140.75–140.7592129
Heifers—Large 1690119.00/cwt119.00–119.008212
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2691131.00/cwt131.00–131.0090526
Heifers—Medium and Large 2692107.48/cwt105.00–110.0074414
Heifers—Medium and Large 1719124.60/cwt121.00–128.50896112
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy734116.03/cwt111.00–118.0085229
Heifers—Medium and Large 1783120.13/cwt119.00–122.0094128
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy798116.00/cwt116.00–116.009263
Heifers—Large 1800117.00/cwt117.00–117.0093614
Heifers—Medium and Large 1813117.88/cwt117.00–119.009589
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy882103.00/cwt103.00–103.009087
Heifers—Medium and Large 1924109.00/cwt109.00–109.001,00749
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 180305.16/cwt225.00–400.002444
Bulls—Medium and Large 1100250.00/cwt250.00–250.002506
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2477140.43/cwt140.00–141.0067020
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2585121.00/cwt121.00–121.007083
Bulls—Medium and Large 1624127.00/cwt127.00–127.007925
Bulls—Medium and Large 191796.64/cwt95.00–101.0088611
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,29764.57/cwt61.00–69.008373
Bulls——1,69176.68/cwt72.00–80.001,2975
Bulls——1,74184.97/cwt83.00–85.501,4796
Bulls——2,13594.00/cwt94.00–94.002,0072
Slaughter Cattle · Cows10 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight91247.61/cwt44.00–52.504343
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight93541.00/cwt41.00–41.003831
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,05544.43/cwt42.00–45.004697
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,22551.42/cwt46.00–55.0063064
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,23056.29/cwt55.00–60.0069237
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,41057.03/cwt55.00–60.0080413
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,48854.05/cwt51.00–54.5080421
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,60059.00/cwt59.00–59.0094415
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,68753.35/cwt53.00–54.509008
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,03553.50/cwt53.50–53.501,0892
Replacement Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 11,0291,496.04/cwt1,300.00–1,650.0015,39416
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs8 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2331,000.00/cwt1,000.00–1,000.0012,33010
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,3111,882.01/cwt1,700.00–1,900.0024,67345
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,3411,060.00/cwt1,060.00–1,060.0014,2158
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,3791,911.73/cwt1,850.00–1,950.0026,36343
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3911,165.97/cwt1,160.00–1,200.0016,21951
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,4491,534.00/cwt1,275.00–1,625.0022,22845
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5391,653.76/cwt1,525.00–1,700.0025,45125
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5631,475.00/cwt1,475.00–1,475.0023,0543
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs3 lots · lightest first
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,1011,574.69/cwt1,500.00–1,650.0017,33710
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 11,1061,773.14/cwt1,675.00–1,875.0019,61166
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 11,2791,977.79/cwt1,900.00–2,025.0025,29689
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows7 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0331,400.00/cwt1,400.00–1,400.0014,4629
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,173800.00/cwt800.00–800.009,3848
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,1871,375.00/cwt1,375.00–1,375.0016,3213
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,2661,000.00/cwt1,000.00–1,000.0012,6603
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3361,518.62/cwt1,400.00–1,575.0020,28935
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3631,522.33/cwt1,425.00–1,550.0020,7499
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3961,319.09/cwt1,125.00–1,500.0018,41414
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,1331,455.44/cwt1,400.00–1,500.0016,49023
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-283075.00/cwt75.00–75.006231
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 191589.42/cwt82.50–96.0081867
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,06371.40/cwt61.50–81.0075959
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,20554.93/cwt54.00–57.006625
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,32956.89/cwt51.00–63.0075632
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,54555.50/cwt55.50–55.508571

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.