Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2020-10-01

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-10-01
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-10-01

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Oct 1

● Final100 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Sep 24Oct 1Oct 8 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

3,394 head

▲ 2,716 vs last sale 678▲ 2,781 vs year ago 613 · +453.7%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

571 head

▲ 133 vs last sale 438▲ 351 vs year ago 220 · +159.5%

Replacement Cattle receipts

155 head

▲ 83 vs last sale 72▲ 103 vs year ago 52 · +198.1%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling feeder steers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Unweaned steer calves sold steady to 10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. The best test for yearling heifers was 800-849 lbs which sold firm and 900-949 lbs which sold mostly 2.00 lower; all other weights of yearling heifers were not well compared. Unweaned heifer calves were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Quality this week was average to attractive for yearlings and mostly average for calves. Calves with 2 rounds of preconditioning shots sold on significantly stronger demand than calves with only one round of shots. This led to large price spreads at times. Calves are mostly in light flesh despite coming straight off the cow. Yearlings were in mostly light flesh as well with the exception of a few packages which were coming out of the feedlot. Market activity this week was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and light offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower on boning and lean cows, breaking cows sold steady to 2.00 higher. The best demand for feeding cows was for fleshy breaking cows. Demand did improve late in the day as several buyers attempted to fill loads. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 4.00 lower. Cows and bulls were very full throughout todays sale offering buyers mostly below average weigh up conditions. Cow quality this week was mostly plain to average with lots of thin cows in the sale. Young age re-breed type cows were lightly traded again this week. Steady undertones were noticed in a narrow comparison. Quality was mostly average this week.

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 $156.02/cwt on 1,348 head.

Average price

$156.02

1,348 head · 611 lb average

Value per head Derived

$954

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$261

per head · Large 1 over Medium 1

$45.20/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+1.54

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Large 1	368	192.00	707	14thin
Medium and Large 2	438	167.00	731	9thin
Medium and Large 1	618	156.08	964	1,071
Medium and Large 1-2	600	153.80	923	239
Medium 1	659	146.80	967	15thin

One grade step is worth $45.20/cwt here — about −$261 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 sale1,348 hd

156.02

—

MT average3 barns · 1,744 hd

154.48

+1.54

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	1,796	75.38	1,354	43
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,473	62.92	927	82
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,397	55.93	782	136
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,200	50.29	603	216

Every lot

100 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 · Steers33 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	280	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	560	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	307	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	583	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	331	195.24/cwt	191.00–198.00	646	27
Steers	—	Large 1Unweaned	368	192.00/cwt	192.00–192.00	707	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	388	193.54/cwt	191.00–194.00	751	24
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	388	180.66/cwt	178.00–182.50	701	30
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	420	173.61/cwt	173.00–175.00	729	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	426	174.28/cwt	170.00–180.00	742	102
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	438	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	731	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	477	161.71/cwt	155.50–173.00	771	221
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	478	155.38/cwt	150.00–166.00	743	36
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	515	157.24/cwt	154.00–159.00	810	161
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	520	153.78/cwt	149.00–155.50	800	54
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	568	158.27/cwt	153.00–161.00	899	153
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	570	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	832	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	619	154.04/cwt	149.00–158.50	954	35
Steers	—	Medium 1	643	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	945	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	674	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	971	5
Steers	—	Medium 1	683	146.50/cwt	146.50–146.50	1,001	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	688	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	936	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	709	148.95/cwt	147.00–149.00	1,056	41
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	710	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	980	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	756	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	1,089	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	769	147.37/cwt	147.00–148.00	1,133	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	773	143.05/cwt	142.00–144.00	1,106	20
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	826	147.30/cwt	145.50–151.00	1,217	55
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	837	139.30/cwt	137.50–141.50	1,166	30
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	868	141.07/cwt	138.50–144.50	1,224	100
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	888	132.33/cwt	132.00–135.50	1,175	21
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	930	136.29/cwt	133.50–138.50	1,267	97
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	979	130.60/cwt	130.25–134.50	1,279	24
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	985	125.30/cwt	125.00–125.50	1,234	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	992	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	1,240	21
Feeder Cattle · Heifers34 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	331	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	520	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	340	164.12/cwt	161.00–170.00	558	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	362	161.13/cwt	157.50–165.00	583	47
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	389	153.15/cwt	147.50–187.50	596	26
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	427	150.24/cwt	146.00–155.00	642	201
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	475	148.49/cwt	140.00–155.00	705	141
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	475	139.00/cwt	139.00–139.00	660	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	527	140.13/cwt	139.00–144.00	738	115
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	545	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	730	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	572	134.85/cwt	130.00–137.50	771	45
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	621	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	801	10
Heifers	—	Medium 1	643	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	842	7
Heifers	—	Medium 1	659	136.29/cwt	134.50–136.50	898	20
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	683	141.55/cwt	140.00–142.00	967	36
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	727	139.69/cwt	139.00–140.00	1,016	77
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	734	136.45/cwt	136.00–137.00	1,002	20
Heifers	—	Medium 1	735	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	970	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	763	135.62/cwt	134.00–136.25	1,035	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	764	130.47/cwt	126.00–132.50	997	24
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	777	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	1,018	54
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	790	138.54/cwt	138.00–140.00	1,094	59
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	810	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	1,013	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	811	127.69/cwt	124.50–131.50	1,036	20
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	830	137.39/cwt	135.50–138.00	1,140	157
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	884	132.23/cwt	130.75–134.50	1,169	66
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	899	128.50/cwt	128.50–128.50	1,155	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	920	129.90/cwt	127.00–130.75	1,195	67
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	923	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	1,163	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	970	118.83/cwt	118.00–125.00	1,153	25
Heifers	—	Large 1Full	1,015	118.99/cwt	117.00–120.50	1,208	7
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,048	124.50/cwt	124.50–124.50	1,305	2
Heifers	—	Large 1Full	1,072	119.50/cwt	119.50–119.50	1,281	5
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,085	126.08/cwt	125.75–126.50	1,368	9
Heifers	—	Large 1Fleshy	1,115	111.50/cwt	111.50–111.50	1,243	13
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	373	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	656	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	678	129.50/cwt	129.50–129.50	878	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	899	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	1,052	6
Feeder Cattle · Dairy Steers1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Steers	—	Large 2	938	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	994	11
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,533	73.00/cwt	73.00–73.00	1,119	9
Bulls	—	—	1,766	70.97/cwt	65.00–75.00	1,253	12
Bulls	—	—	1,912	78.18/cwt	75.00–81.25	1,495	20
Bulls	—	—	1,990	84.57/cwt	83.50–85.50	1,683	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	840	45.00/cwt	45.00–45.00	378	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	970	52.00/cwt	52.00–52.00	504	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,124	43.47/cwt	39.00–47.50	489	30
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,165	49.79/cwt	47.00–53.50	580	22
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,212	49.32/cwt	45.00–53.50	598	105
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,233	56.68/cwt	55.00–63.00	699	36
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,252	53.24/cwt	52.50–54.00	667	19
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,263	67.50/cwt	67.50–67.50	853	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,357	64.72/cwt	63.75–66.50	878	13
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,374	58.58/cwt	52.00–65.50	805	46
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,394	52.66/cwt	51.50–54.00	734	40
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,416	63.87/cwt	62.50–65.50	904	41
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,438	51.93/cwt	50.00–53.50	747	26
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,460	55.82/cwt	54.00–57.50	815	11
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,489	61.31/cwt	56.00–62.25	913	29
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,548	59.91/cwt	55.00–63.50	927	6
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,655	68.50/cwt	68.50–68.50	1,134	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,655	68.00/cwt	68.00–68.00	1,125	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,740	66.64/cwt	66.00–67.00	1,160	4
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	954	1,008.03/cwt	1,000.00–1,010.00	9,617	10
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	875	84.00/cwt	84.00–84.00	735	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	954	77.50/cwt	77.50–77.50	739	14
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,003	83.28/cwt	67.00–94.00	835	61
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,135	66.00/cwt	66.00–66.00	749	4
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,167	66.55/cwt	59.00–75.00	777	13

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 Oct 1, 2020

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 3,394Last week 678Year ago 613

Slaughter CattleReceipts 571Last week 438Year ago 220

Replacement CattleReceipts 155Last week 72Year ago 52

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Steers — Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	938	106.00	106.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,115	111.50	111.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
47	—	362	157.50–165.00	161.13
14	—	340	161.00–170.00	164.12
141	—	475	140.00–155.00	148.49
201	—	427	146.00–155.00	150.24
45	—	572	130.00–137.50	134.85
10	—	621	129.00	129.00
115	—	527	139.00–144.00	140.13

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
67	—	920	127.00–130.75	129.90
36	—	683	140.00–142.00	141.55
77	—	727	139.00–140.00	139.69
66	—	884	130.75–134.50	132.23
59	—	790	138.00–140.00	138.54
157	—	830	135.50–138.00	137.39

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	475	139.00	139.00
14	—	545	134.00	134.00
4	—	331	157.00	157.00
26	—	389	147.50–187.50	153.15

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
24	—	764	126.00–132.50	130.47
1	—	810	125.00	125.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	735	132.00	132.00
20	—	659	134.50–136.50	136.29
7	—	643	131.00	131.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,015	117.00–120.50	118.99
5	—	1,072	119.50	119.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,048	124.50	124.50
9	—	1,085	125.75–126.50	126.08

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
54	—	777	131.00	131.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	923	126.00	126.00
25	—	970	118.00–125.00	118.83
20	—	811	124.50–131.50	127.69
20	—	734	136.00–137.00	136.45
5	—	899	128.50	128.50
11	—	763	134.00–136.25	135.62

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
102	—	426	170.00–180.00	174.28
27	—	331	191.00–198.00	195.24
35	—	619	149.00–158.50	154.04
221	—	477	155.50–173.00	161.71
153	—	568	153.00–161.00	158.27
24	—	388	191.00–194.00	193.54
2	—	710	138.00	138.00
5	—	674	144.00	144.00
161	—	515	154.00–159.00	157.24
2	—	280	200.00	200.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
30	—	388	178.00–182.50	180.66
54	—	520	149.00–155.50	153.78
5	—	688	136.00	136.00
17	—	420	173.00–175.00	173.61
3	—	570	146.00	146.00
6	—	307	190.00	190.00
36	—	478	150.00–166.00	155.38

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	992	125.00	125.00
5	—	756	144.00	144.00
41	—	709	147.00–149.00	148.95
21	—	888	132.00–135.50	132.33

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	368	192.00	192.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	643	147.00	147.00
6	—	683	146.50	146.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
30	—	837	137.50–141.50	139.30
5	—	985	125.00–125.50	125.30
20	—	773	142.00–144.00	143.05

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	438	167.00	167.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
100	—	868	138.50–144.50	141.07
97	—	930	133.50–138.50	136.29
24	—	979	130.25–134.50	130.60
55	—	826	145.50–151.00	147.30
8	—	769	147.00–148.00	147.37

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	899	117.00	117.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	373	176.00	176.00
5	—	678	129.50	129.50

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	1,460	54.00–57.50	55.82
26	—	1,438	50.00–53.50	51.93

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
46	—	1,374	52.00–65.50	58.58
13	—	1,357	63.75–66.50	64.72
40	—	1,394	51.50–54.00	52.66

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,740	66.00–67.00	66.64
1	—	1,655	68.50	68.50
6	—	1,548	55.00–63.50	59.91

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	1,252	52.50–54.00	53.24
105	—	1,212	45.00–53.50	49.32
30	—	1,124	39.00–47.50	43.47

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	970	52.00	52.00
1	—	840	45.00	45.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
41	—	1,416	62.50–65.50	63.87
1	—	1,655	68.00	68.00
29	—	1,489	56.00–62.25	61.31

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
36	—	1,233	55.00–63.00	56.68
2	—	1,263	67.50	67.50
22	—	1,165	47.00–53.50	49.79

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,990	83.50–85.50	84.57
20	—	1,912	75.00–81.25	78.18
12	—	1,766	65.00–75.00	70.97

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,533	73.00	73.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	10	—	954	1,000.00–1,010.00	1,008.03

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	3	—	875	84.00	84.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,135	66.00	66.00
(<2 yrs)	Open	14	—	954	77.50	77.50

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	13	—	1,167	59.00–75.00	66.55
(<2 yrs)	Open	61	—	1,003	67.00–94.00	83.28

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.