Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2020-05-21

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-05-21
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-05-21

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

● Final48 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← May 14May 21May 28 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

192 head

▼ 161 vs last sale 353▼ 18 vs year ago 210 · −8.6%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

132 head

▼ 43 vs last sale 175▲ 17 vs year ago 115 · +14.8%

Replacement Cattle receipts

720 head

▲ 115 vs last sale 605▲ 185 vs year ago 535 · +34.6%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested today to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and mostly offered in small packages or as singles. Demand was mostly light for light offerings. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and moderate offerings. Packer buyers showed mostly light to moderate demand for cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 lower on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to trend as most of these cows sold to feed. Fleshy cows sold with lower to sharply lower undertones compared to last week. Despite light demand for slaughter cows, packers showed mostly moderate demand for cows suitable to feed. With many ranchers branding and culling cows, cow quality this week was mostly attractive. Feeding cows sold unevenly steady this week from 2.00 lower to 1.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mixed this sale, which created large prices spreads at times. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or re-breed sold mostly steady to weak. Quality this week 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 $123.75/cwt on 82 head.

Average price

$123.75

82 head · 615 lb average

Value per head Derived

$761

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$132

per head · Medium 1 over Large 2

$21.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−3.11

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	581	129.00	749	4thin
Medium and Large 1	672	128.15	861	33
Medium and Large 1-2	580	127.76	741	25
Medium and Large 2	569	114.06	649	8thin
Large 2	572	108.00	618	12thin

One grade step is worth $21.00/cwt here — about $132 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 sale82 hd

123.75

—

MT average3 barns · 235 hd

126.86

−3.11

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	1,913	87.66	1,677	33
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,461	55.34	809	10
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,184	52.75	625	67

Every lot

48 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 · Steers5 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	438	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	714	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	487	158.00/cwt	158.00–158.00	769	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	671	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	939	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	723	139.50/cwt	139.50–139.50	1,009	16
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	838	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,064	27
Feeder Cattle · Heifers11 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	488	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	678	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	518	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	694	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	528	117.50/cwt	117.50–117.50	620	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	550	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	776	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	560	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	734	3
Heifers	—	Large 2	572	108.00/cwt	108.00–108.00	618	12
Heifers	—	Medium 1	581	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	749	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	593	112.00/cwt	112.00–112.00	664	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	652	119.25/cwt	118.00–123.00	778	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	676	128.25/cwt	126.00–128.50	867	28
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	712	118.66/cwt	118.00–119.00	845	3
Feeder Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	105	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	368	1
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,098	86.00/cwt	86.00–86.00	944	2
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,782	75.90/cwt	72.00–78.50	1,353	5
Bulls	—	—	1,900	86.51/cwt	82.00–90.00	1,644	18
Bulls	—	—	2,003	95.60/cwt	91.00–99.00	1,915	10
Slaughter Cattle · Cows7 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	935	46.63/cwt	43.00–50.00	436	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,118	41.59/cwt	39.00–44.00	465	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,190	52.11/cwt	46.00–56.50	620	42
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,208	62.49/cwt	62.00–63.00	755	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,217	57.45/cwt	57.00–60.50	699	16
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,363	57.00/cwt	57.00–57.00	777	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,486	54.92/cwt	53.00–56.50	816	8
Replacement Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	1,170	118.50/cwt	118.50–118.50	1,386	3
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows10 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Large 1	908	69.52/cwt	62.50–72.00	631	12
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	973	59.59/cwt	55.00–72.50	580	9
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,002	71.87/cwt	70.00–75.00	720	12
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,029	88.02/cwt	65.00–106.00	906	103
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,084	54.15/cwt	48.00–56.00	587	16
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,192	55.00/cwt	55.00–55.00	656	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,220	67.55/cwt	58.50–84.00	824	77
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,336	59.19/cwt	49.00–64.25	791	134
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,340	55.00/cwt	55.00–55.00	737	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,344	61.26/cwt	54.00–68.00	823	129
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,129	975.00/cwt	975.00–975.00	11,008	4
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs4 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,225	1,175.00/cwt	1,175.00–1,175.00	14,394	7
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,310	1,325.00/cwt	1,325.00–1,325.00	17,358	13
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,544	1,600.00/cwt	1,600.00–1,600.00	24,704	5
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,696	1,325.00/cwt	1,325.00–1,325.00	22,472	4
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,455	900.00/cwt	900.00–900.00	13,095	4
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,516	1,000.00/cwt	1,000.00–1,000.00	15,160	6
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,600	1,000.00/cwt	1,000.00–1,000.00	16,000	1
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Heifer Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,168	1,675.00/cwt	1,675.00–1,675.00	19,564	6

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 May 21, 2020

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 192Last week 353Year ago 210

Slaughter CattleReceipts 132Last week 175Year ago 115

Replacement CattleReceipts 720Last week 605Year ago 535

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,486	53.00–56.50	54.92
2	—	1,363	57.00	57.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,208	62.00–63.00	62.49
5	—	1,118	39.00–44.00	41.59
16	—	1,217	57.00–60.50	57.45
42	—	1,190	46.00–56.50	52.11

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	935	43.00–50.00	46.63

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	1,900	82.00–90.00	86.51
5	—	1,782	72.00–78.50	75.90
10	—	2,003	91.00–99.00	95.60

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	16	—	1,084	48.00–56.00	54.15
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,192	55.00	55.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	9	—	973	55.00–72.50	59.59

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	129	—	1,344	54.00–68.00	61.26
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	134	—	1,336	49.00–64.25	59.19
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	77	—	1,220	58.50–84.00	67.55
(<2 yrs)	Open	103	—	1,029	65.00–106.00	88.02

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	12	—	1,002	70.00–75.00	71.87
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,340	55.00	55.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	12	—	908	62.50–72.00	69.52

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	4	—	1,129	975.00	975.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	N/A	3	—	1,170	118.50	118.50

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	7	—	1,225	1,175.00	1,175.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	13	—	1,310	1,325.00	1,325.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	5	—	1,544	1,600.00	1,600.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,696	1,325.00	1,325.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	4	—	1,455	900.00	900.00
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	6	—	1,516	1,000.00	1,000.00
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	1,600	1,000.00	1,000.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifer Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,168	1,675.00	1,675.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	105	350.00	350.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,098	86.00	86.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	560	131.00	131.00
12	—	652	118.00–123.00	119.25
6	—	488	139.00	139.00
4	—	518	134.00	134.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	593	112.00	112.00
3	—	528	117.50	117.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	712	118.00–119.00	118.66
2	—	550	141.00	141.00
28	—	676	126.00–128.50	128.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	581	129.00	129.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	572	108.00	108.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	438	163.00	163.00
3	—	487	158.00	158.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	838	127.00	127.00
16	—	723	139.50	139.50
5	—	671	140.00	140.00

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.