Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2020-10-29

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-10-29
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-10-29

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Oct 29

● Final96 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Oct 22Oct 29Nov 5 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

3,234 head

▲ 960 vs last sale 2,274▼ 884 vs year ago 4,118 · −21.5%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

274 head

▲ 134 vs last sale 140▲ 166 vs year ago 108 · +153.7%

Replacement Cattle receipts

115 head

▲ 39 vs last sale 76▼ 302 vs year ago 417 · −72.4%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Unweaned steer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher; 450-599 lbs steers sold 7.00-10.00 higher; 600-749 lbs steers sold 3.00-8.00 higher. Unweaned heifers sold 2.00-5.00 higher on all weights. Demand was mostly moderate to good on moderate to heavy offerings. Warmer, dryer, weather was seen this week. CME positions pushed higher all week and buyers showed good demand as a result. Quality this week was average to attractive. A large crowd was on hand this week. Market activity was mostly active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for light offerings. Not enough cows or bulls sold last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average. Weigh up conditions were below average as all cows and bulls were very full.

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 $154.55/cwt on 1,904 head.

Average price

$154.55

1,904 head · 560 lb average

Value per head Derived

$865

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$421

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$37.15/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−1.65

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	544	156.79	853	1,654
Medium and Large 1-2	547	148.26	811	165
Medium 1	590	134.44	794	18thin
Medium and Large 2	544	123.00	669	12thin
Large 1	1,065	119.64	1,274	55

One grade step is worth $37.15/cwt here — about −$421 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 sale1,904 hd

154.55

—

MT average5 barns · 4,790 hd

156.20

−1.65

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	1,688	76.32	1,288	18
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Very Low	1,571	60.19	946	14
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Very Low	1,431	51.29	734	113
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,240	44.60	553	73

Every lot

96 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 · Steers35 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	275	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	619	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	325	209.70/cwt	205.00–215.00	682	25
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	344	199.00/cwt	199.00–199.00	685	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	360	200.53/cwt	187.50–205.00	722	52
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	387	175.41/cwt	172.00–181.00	679	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	421	175.73/cwt	171.00–185.00	740	114
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	428	167.64/cwt	167.00–168.00	717	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	451	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	821	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	453	179.00/cwt	179.00–179.00	811	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	463	156.10/cwt	155.00–157.00	723	18
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	466	173.38/cwt	161.00–177.00	808	97
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	523	147.13/cwt	145.00–149.50	769	34
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	525	156.23/cwt	149.00–161.00	820	793
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	544	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	669	12
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	548	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	734	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	574	146.96/cwt	143.50–149.75	844	215
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	578	138.89/cwt	135.00–140.50	803	46
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	599	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	809	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	616	143.89/cwt	139.00–148.75	886	185
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	619	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	829	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	641	135.09/cwt	134.50–137.00	866	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	682	141.19/cwt	138.00–148.75	963	31
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	686	133.40/cwt	133.00–134.00	915	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	718	142.58/cwt	138.00–146.00	1,024	56
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	729	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	962	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	758	137.52/cwt	137.00–139.00	1,042	19
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	762	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	983	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	768	137.71/cwt	134.50–140.00	1,058	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	848	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,077	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	868	130.50/cwt	130.50–130.50	1,133	22
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	890	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	1,068	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	907	126.25/cwt	125.00–127.50	1,145	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	971	128.50/cwt	128.50–128.50	1,248	9
Steers	—	Large 1	1,062	120.04/cwt	115.00–121.50	1,275	51
Steers	—	Large 1	1,106	114.50/cwt	114.50–114.50	1,266	4
Feeder Cattle · Heifers31 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	247	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	383	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	272	172.50/cwt	172.50–172.50	469	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	287	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	465	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	333	163.45/cwt	160.00–170.00	544	22
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	360	148.82/cwt	147.00–150.00	536	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	385	156.88/cwt	153.00–165.00	604	59
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	421	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	653	22
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	426	139.37/cwt	139.00–141.00	594	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	429	153.50/cwt	146.00–157.00	659	100
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	436	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	532	9
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	468	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	655	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	475	146.47/cwt	140.50–150.00	696	278
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	490	138.81/cwt	135.00–140.00	680	16
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	503	143.25/cwt	143.25–143.25	721	40
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	519	141.07/cwt	135.00–145.25	732	278
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	527	133.17/cwt	131.00–134.00	702	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	578	135.55/cwt	129.00–139.00	783	108
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	581	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	749	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	619	132.78/cwt	131.50–133.50	822	52
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	653	131.49/cwt	129.50–134.00	859	36
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	710	130.50/cwt	130.50–130.50	927	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	730	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	986	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	782	123.52/cwt	122.00–128.00	966	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	793	132.50/cwt	132.50–132.50	1,051	18
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	805	133.61/cwt	132.00–135.50	1,076	24
Heifers	—	Large 1-2	845	113.00/cwt	113.00–113.00	955	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	889	115.50/cwt	115.00–121.00	1,027	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	895	127.25/cwt	127.25–127.25	1,139	41
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	919	117.57/cwt	117.50–118.00	1,080	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	957	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	1,139	5
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,045	116.00/cwt	116.00–116.00	1,212	2
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	418	172.43/cwt	172.00–175.00	721	7
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	459	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	601	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	482	142.65/cwt	142.00–145.00	688	32
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	507	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	649	8
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	562	129.00/cwt	128.00–130.00	725	6
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	652	126.50/cwt	126.50–126.50	825	9
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,045	55.00/cwt	55.00–55.00	575	1
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,642	80.78/cwt	78.00–85.00	1,326	9
Bulls	—	—	1,698	78.92/cwt	75.00–82.50	1,340	4
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,750	59.00/cwt	59.00–59.00	1,033	1
Bulls	—	—	2,005	72.33/cwt	71.00–74.00	1,450	3
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	938	42.50/cwt	42.00–43.00	399	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	942	37.50/cwt	37.50–37.50	353	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,200	54.20/cwt	54.00–54.50	650	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,207	48.49/cwt	47.00–50.00	585	10
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,241	45.59/cwt	45.00–48.50	566	18
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,297	39.87/cwt	34.00–43.00	517	26
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,300	49.50/cwt	49.50–49.50	644	9
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,405	62.90/cwt	62.00–67.00	884	8
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,405	47.72/cwt	47.50–49.00	670	36
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,439	54.38/cwt	49.50–59.50	783	37
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,453	47.15/cwt	46.00–48.00	685	12
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,455	51.99/cwt	49.50–54.50	756	15
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,483	43.36/cwt	42.00–44.00	643	5
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,565	60.97/cwt	57.00–62.50	954	12
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,595	63.00/cwt	63.00–63.00	1,005	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,620	48.00/cwt	48.00–48.00	778	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows2 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,027	76.40/cwt	63.75–84.00	785	70
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,129	56.26/cwt	54.00–68.00	635	15
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,207	1,108.04/cwt	1,100.00–1,135.00	13,374	9

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 29, 2020

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 3,234Last week 2,274Year ago 4,118

Slaughter CattleReceipts 274Last week 140Year ago 108

Replacement CattleReceipts 115Last week 76Year ago 417

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
114	—	421	171.00–185.00	175.73
185	—	616	139.00–148.75	143.89
56	—	718	138.00–146.00	142.58
97	—	466	161.00–177.00	173.38
31	—	682	138.00–148.75	141.19
215	—	574	143.50–149.75	146.96
1	—	275	225.00	225.00
19	—	758	137.00–139.00	137.52
793	—	525	149.00–161.00	156.23
25	—	325	205.00–215.00	209.70
52	—	360	187.50–205.00	200.53

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	344	199.00	199.00
17	—	641	134.50–137.00	135.09
13	—	428	167.00–168.00	167.64
13	—	387	172.00–181.00	175.41
34	—	523	145.00–149.50	147.13
18	—	463	155.00–157.00	156.10
5	—	686	133.00–134.00	133.40
3	—	729	132.00	132.00
46	—	578	135.00–140.50	138.89

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	848	127.00	127.00
3	—	762	129.00	129.00
4	—	890	120.00	120.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	544	123.00	123.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	548	134.00	134.00
5	—	619	134.00	134.00
8	—	599	135.00	135.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	451	182.00	182.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
51	—	1,062	115.00–121.50	120.04
4	—	1,106	114.50	114.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	971	128.50	128.50
12	—	768	134.50–140.00	137.71
22	—	868	130.50	130.50
10	—	453	179.00	179.00
6	—	907	125.00–127.50	126.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	919	117.50–118.00	117.57
8	—	782	122.00–128.00	123.52
12	—	889	115.00–121.00	115.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	436	122.00	122.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	426	139.00–141.00	139.37
16	—	490	135.00–140.00	138.81
8	—	247	155.00	155.00
4	—	581	129.00	129.00
15	—	360	147.00–150.00	148.82
9	—	287	162.00	162.00
7	—	527	131.00–134.00	133.17

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
100	—	429	146.00–157.00	153.50
22	—	333	160.00–170.00	163.45
278	—	519	135.00–145.25	141.07
278	—	475	140.50–150.00	146.47
3	—	710	130.50	130.50
5	—	272	172.50	172.50
108	—	578	129.00–139.00	135.55
36	—	653	129.50–134.00	131.49
52	—	619	131.50–133.50	132.78
59	—	385	153.00–165.00	156.88

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,045	116.00	116.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	845	113.00	113.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	468	140.00	140.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
40	—	503	143.25	143.25
41	—	895	127.25	127.25
22	—	421	155.00	155.00
18	—	793	132.50	132.50
15	—	730	135.00	135.00
24	—	805	132.00–135.50	133.61
5	—	957	119.00	119.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	459	131.00	131.00
8	—	507	128.00	128.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	652	126.50	126.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
32	—	482	142.00–145.00	142.65
6	—	562	128.00–130.00	129.00
7	—	418	172.00–175.00	172.43

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	70	—	1,027	63.75–84.00	76.40
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	15	—	1,129	54.00–68.00	56.26

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	9	—	1,207	1,100.00–1,135.00	1,108.04

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,200	54.00–54.50	54.20
10	—	1,207	47.00–50.00	48.49

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,620	48.00	48.00
12	—	1,565	57.00–62.50	60.97

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,483	42.00–44.00	43.36
12	—	1,453	46.00–48.00	47.15
15	—	1,455	49.50–54.50	51.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	942	37.50	37.50
2	—	938	42.00–43.00	42.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	1,297	34.00–43.00	39.87
18	—	1,241	45.00–48.50	45.59
9	—	1,300	49.50	49.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
36	—	1,405	47.50–49.00	47.72
8	—	1,405	62.00–67.00	62.90
37	—	1,439	49.50–59.50	54.38

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,595	63.00	63.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	2,005	71.00–74.00	72.33
4	—	1,698	75.00–82.50	78.92

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,045	55.00	55.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,750	59.00	59.00
9	—	1,642	78.00–85.00	80.78

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.