Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2020-11-05

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-11-05
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-11-05

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Nov 5

● Final103 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Oct 29Nov 5Nov 12 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

5,291 head

▲ 2,057 vs last sale 3,234▼ 233 vs year ago 5,524 · −4.2%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

434 head

▲ 160 vs last sale 274▲ 389 vs year ago 45 · +864.4%

Replacement Cattle receipts

201 head

▲ 86 vs last sale 115▼ 125 vs year ago 326 · −38.3%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers sold mostly 6.00-12.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Unweaned steer calves under 400 lbs sold mostly sharply lower, with most sale 15.00-20.00 lower; 400-599 lbs sold mostly steady to 4.00 higher; unweaned steers over 600 lbs sold mostly steady to 5.00 lower. Yearling heifers sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Unweaned heifers sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher on all weights. Quality this sale was mixed from plain to attractive. Demand was mostly moderate for moderate to heavy offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for moderate offerings. Packers started buying short term feeding cows for the holiday season this sale. These cows were mostly thin to very thin and some even had slight blemishes. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 lower on a lower quality cow compared to last week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Weigh up conditions were below average as all cows and bulls were very full. 2-3 year olds sold steady to 4.00 higher.

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 $153.46/cwt on 2,700 head.

Average price

$153.46

2,700 head · 611 lb average

Value per head Derived

$938

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$482

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1-2

$45.95/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−2.52

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	465	161.95	753	58
Medium and Large 1	557	159.02	886	1,898
Medium and Large 1-2	505	157.65	796	288
Medium 2	425	131.31	558	52
Medium and Large 2	767	131.15	1,006	65
Large 1	1,026	126.04	1,293	302
Large 1-2	1,065	116.00	1,235	37

One grade step is worth $45.95/cwt here — about −$482 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 sale2,700 hd

153.46

—

MT average5 barns · 6,205 hd

155.98

−2.52

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	—	Average	1,856	76.08	1,412	9thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,705	57.00	972	2thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,411	52.66	743	104
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,173	45.34	532	260

Every lot

103 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 · Steers44 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	298	192.50/cwt	192.50–192.50	574	6
Steers	—	Medium 2Unweaned	312	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	474	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	316	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	553	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	327	191.79/cwt	185.00–200.00	627	30
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	333	171.42/cwt	170.00–179.00	571	60
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	371	181.29/cwt	180.00–187.00	673	107
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	379	177.80/cwt	175.00–180.00	674	43
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	399	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	690	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	400	189.00/cwt	189.00–189.00	756	21
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	405	167.58/cwt	164.00–177.00	679	18
Steers	—	Medium 2Unweaned	406	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	512	34
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	420	168.00/cwt	168.00–168.00	706	21
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	423	182.89/cwt	178.00–184.00	774	209
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	469	186.00/cwt	186.00–186.00	872	74
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	479	170.34/cwt	163.00–180.00	816	212
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	483	158.74/cwt	153.00–164.00	767	45
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	484	159.54/cwt	151.50–164.00	772	33
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	522	157.70/cwt	151.50–165.00	823	341
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	530	158.00/cwt	158.00–158.00	837	25
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	532	149.55/cwt	145.00–152.00	796	24
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	548	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	822	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	568	140.76/cwt	140.00–142.00	800	16
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	572	149.06/cwt	144.00–152.00	853	350
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	613	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	821	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	624	142.44/cwt	141.00–143.50	889	109
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	652	145.50/cwt	145.50–145.50	949	31
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	665	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	964	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	665	139.28/cwt	134.00–143.25	926	137
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	683	132.48/cwt	131.00–134.00	905	23
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	689	136.25/cwt	136.25–136.25	939	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	714	136.23/cwt	130.00–140.50	973	45
Steers	—	Medium 2	759	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	911	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	763	136.50/cwt	136.50–136.50	1,041	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	774	146.50/cwt	146.50–146.50	1,134	22
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	809	145.86/cwt	142.00–147.00	1,180	69
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	837	135.39/cwt	132.50–140.00	1,133	34
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	837	123.31/cwt	123.00–127.00	1,032	38
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	856	143.01/cwt	135.00–143.25	1,224	71
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	872	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	1,081	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	917	132.20/cwt	124.00–132.50	1,212	28
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	960	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	1,056	11
Steers	—	Large 1	1,018	126.96/cwt	124.50–127.25	1,292	227
Steers	—	Large 1	1,051	123.25/cwt	123.25–123.25	1,295	75
Steers	—	Large 1-2	1,065	116.00/cwt	116.00–116.00	1,235	37
Feeder Cattle · Heifers30 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium 2Unweaned	294	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	382	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	296	172.50/cwt	172.50–172.50	511	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	341	160.95/cwt	155.00–162.50	549	128
Heifers	—	Medium 2Unweaned	364	119.23/cwt	105.00–122.00	434	47
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	370	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	518	19
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	391	154.61/cwt	151.50–163.50	605	216
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	400	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	584	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	426	140.49/cwt	137.50–143.00	598	13
Heifers	—	Medium 1	434	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	621	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	437	152.78/cwt	149.00–156.00	668	155
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	475	149.10/cwt	145.00–151.00	708	221
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	475	141.53/cwt	136.00–143.50	672	76
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	500	149.25/cwt	149.25–149.25	746	54
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	508	144.29/cwt	137.00–147.00	733	195
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	530	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	710	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	537	133.76/cwt	133.00–134.00	718	16
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	577	134.68/cwt	131.00–138.00	777	230
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	614	126.50/cwt	126.50–126.50	777	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	616	133.22/cwt	129.00–135.00	821	95
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	666	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	859	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	670	127.30/cwt	125.00–129.50	853	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	709	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	900	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	717	134.50/cwt	134.50–134.50	964	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	722	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	931	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	786	134.92/cwt	133.50–135.50	1,060	40
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	824	132.50/cwt	132.50–132.50	1,092	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	835	123.27/cwt	123.00–124.50	1,029	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	869	120.83/cwt	120.00–122.00	1,050	19
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	892	126.89/cwt	122.00–129.00	1,132	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	987	119.62/cwt	119.25–121.00	1,181	28
Feeder Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	308	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	447	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	427	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	687	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	464	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	710	20
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	555	142.75/cwt	137.00–145.00	792	8
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	630	131.50/cwt	131.50–131.50	828	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	705	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	899	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	758	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	910	2
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,560	74.00/cwt	74.00–74.00	1,154	1
Bulls	—	—	1,805	65.88/cwt	65.00–67.00	1,189	2
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,851	79.00/cwt	79.00–79.00	1,462	4
Bulls	—	—	2,065	81.50/cwt	81.50–81.50	1,683	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows13 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,045	49.00/cwt	49.00–49.00	512	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,072	40.59/cwt	34.00–42.00	435	30
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,108	37.09/cwt	33.00–42.00	411	21
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,193	46.22/cwt	43.00–48.00	551	182
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,195	44.00/cwt	44.00–44.00	526	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,212	51.76/cwt	49.00–55.50	627	24
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,369	47.39/cwt	45.00–50.00	649	40
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,379	45.00/cwt	45.00–45.00	621	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,430	54.11/cwt	51.00–60.00	774	37
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,449	62.77/cwt	62.00–63.00	910	19
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,498	55.50/cwt	55.50–55.50	831	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,535	40.00/cwt	40.00–40.00	614	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,705	57.00/cwt	57.00–57.00	972	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	924	77.00/cwt	62.00–85.00	711	73
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,077	62.57/cwt	53.00–72.50	674	45
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,124	56.00/cwt	56.00–56.00	629	5
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,077	884.61/cwt	825.00–1,000.00	9,527	10
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,117	1,000.00/cwt	1,000.00–1,000.00	11,170	5

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 Nov 5, 2020

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 5,291Last week 3,234Year ago 5,524

Slaughter CattleReceipts 434Last week 274Year ago 45

Replacement CattleReceipts 201Last week 115Year ago 326

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
45	—	483	153.00–164.00	158.74
23	—	683	131.00–134.00	132.48
6	—	298	192.50	192.50
60	—	333	170.00–179.00	171.42
8	—	613	134.00	134.00
18	—	405	164.00–177.00	167.58
16	—	568	140.00–142.00	140.76
24	—	532	145.00–152.00	149.55
43	—	379	175.00–180.00	177.80

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	399	173.00	173.00
4	—	316	175.00	175.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	665	145.00	145.00
34	—	837	132.50–140.00	135.39

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
38	—	837	123.00–127.00	123.31
3	—	872	124.00	124.00
11	—	960	110.00	110.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
34	—	406	126.00	126.00
12	—	312	152.00	152.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	420	168.00	168.00
33	—	484	151.50–164.00	159.54
4	—	548	150.00	150.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	759	120.00	120.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
71	—	856	135.00–143.25	143.01
25	—	530	158.00	158.00
4	—	689	136.25	136.25
22	—	774	146.50	146.50
28	—	917	124.00–132.50	132.20
69	—	809	142.00–147.00	145.86

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	400	189.00	189.00
31	—	652	145.50	145.50
74	—	469	186.00	186.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
209	—	423	178.00–184.00	182.89
13	—	763	136.50	136.50
109	—	624	141.00–143.50	142.44
212	—	479	163.00–180.00	170.34
107	—	371	180.00–187.00	181.29
137	—	665	134.00–143.25	139.28
341	—	522	151.50–165.00	157.70
350	—	572	144.00–152.00	149.06
45	—	714	130.00–140.50	136.23
30	—	327	185.00–200.00	191.79

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
227	—	1,018	124.50–127.25	126.96
75	—	1,051	123.25	123.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
37	—	1,065	116.00	116.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	614	126.50	126.50
19	—	370	140.00	140.00
16	—	537	133.00–134.00	133.76
13	—	426	137.50–143.00	140.49
76	—	475	136.00–143.50	141.53

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	709	127.00	127.00
11	—	835	123.00–124.50	123.27
19	—	869	120.00–122.00	120.83

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
54	—	500	149.25	149.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	294	130.00	130.00
47	—	364	105.00–122.00	119.23

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	400	146.00	146.00
11	—	530	134.00	134.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	666	129.00	129.00
7	—	717	134.50	134.50
28	—	987	119.25–121.00	119.62
10	—	892	122.00–129.00	126.89
12	—	824	132.50	132.50
40	—	786	133.50–135.50	134.92

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	296	172.50	172.50
221	—	475	145.00–151.00	149.10
195	—	508	137.00–147.00	144.29
12	—	722	129.00	129.00
216	—	391	151.50–163.50	154.61
128	—	341	155.00–162.50	160.95
155	—	437	149.00–156.00	152.78
95	—	616	129.00–135.00	133.22
230	—	577	131.00–138.00	134.68
11	—	670	125.00–129.50	127.30

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	434	143.00	143.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	705	127.50	127.50
2	—	758	120.00	120.00
20	—	464	153.00	153.00
3	—	427	161.00	161.00
3	—	630	131.50	131.50
8	—	555	137.00–145.00	142.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	308	145.00	145.00

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
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	45	—	1,077	53.00–72.50	62.57
(<2 yrs)	Open	73	—	924	62.00–85.00	77.00

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	5	—	1,124	56.00	56.00

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)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	10	—	1,077	825.00–1,000.00	884.61
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	5	—	1,117	1,000.00	1,000.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	2,065	81.50	81.50
2	—	1,805	65.00–67.00	65.88

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,851	79.00	79.00
1	—	1,560	74.00	74.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
182	—	1,193	43.00–48.00	46.22
24	—	1,212	49.00–55.50	51.76
30	—	1,072	34.00–42.00	40.59

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,498	55.50	55.50
4	—	1,379	45.00	45.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,045	49.00	49.00
21	—	1,108	33.00–42.00	37.09
2	—	1,195	44.00	44.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
37	—	1,430	51.00–60.00	54.11
19	—	1,449	62.00–63.00	62.77
40	—	1,369	45.00–50.00	47.39
1	—	1,535	40.00	40.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,705	57.00	57.00

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.