Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2020-11-19

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-11-19
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-11-19

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Nov 19

● Final91 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Nov 12Nov 19Dec 3 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

5,990 head

▲ 1,380 vs last sale 4,610▲ 2,838 vs year ago 3,152 · +90.0%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

312 head

▲ 133 vs last sale 179▲ 272 vs year ago 40 · +680.0%

Replacement Cattle receipts

132 head

▲ 75 vs last sale 57▼ 116 vs year ago 248 · −46.8%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Good demand was seen for yearling steers as quality was mostly attractive. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Yearling heifer quality was mostly plain to average. Unweaned steer calves under 450 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 lower; 450 lbs and heavier sold mostly steady to 5.00 lower. Unweaned heifers under 500 lbs sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher; 500-549 lbs unweaned heifers sold 3.00 lower; heifer calves over 550 sold steady. Quality this sale was mixed from plain to attractive. Demand was light to moderate for heavy offerings. CME positions sold off today with triple digit losses seen on all contracts. Demand was good early in the day but waned as the sale progressed and buyers filled loads. With heavy offerings seen today demand for plainer type cattle was mostly light especially later in the afternoon. A brief rain shower was seen over night and caused pens to muddy slightly. Many sets of calves were slightly dirty today as a result. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding buyers trying to fill loads helped keep cow prices near steady early, however as they filled loads cow prices backed off. Feeding cows sold fully steady. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average and similar to last week. Bulls were extremely full this sale. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Young age cows were not well compared. Quality was mostly plain and much lower than last sale.

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 $158.98/cwt on 2,799 head.

Average price

$158.98

2,799 head · 546 lb average

Value per head Derived

$868

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$61

per head · Medium 1 over Medium and Large 2

$25.58/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−2.79

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	403	180.97	729	107
Medium and Large 1-2	449	165.82	744	295
Medium and Large 1	566	157.18	890	2,366
Medium and Large 2	430	155.39	668	31

One grade step is worth $25.58/cwt here — about $61 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 sale2,799 hd

158.98

—

MT average5 barns · 8,001 hd

161.77

−2.79

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	1,879	70.27	1,321	9thin
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,635	63.02	1,031	11
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,331	52.12	694	61
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,159	45.86	531	147

Every lot

91 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 · Steers38 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	220	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	398	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	295	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	531	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	323	184.57/cwt	182.00–186.00	596	30
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	344	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	547	19
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	347	192.50/cwt	192.50–192.50	668	3
Steers	—	Medium 1	356	185.50/cwt	185.50–185.50	660	18
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	378	176.15/cwt	164.00–180.00	666	36
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	385	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	708	50
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	391	187.39/cwt	181.00–195.00	733	79
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	417	173.15/cwt	170.00–173.50	722	98
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	424	183.41/cwt	175.00–193.00	778	73
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	444	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	733	8
Steers	—	Medium 1	447	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	782	39
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	474	159.56/cwt	157.50–163.00	756	36
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	478	173.03/cwt	163.00–182.00	827	459
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	489	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	782	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	522	149.04/cwt	145.00–153.00	778	22
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	529	160.22/cwt	151.00–165.50	848	624
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	539	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	846	18
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	571	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	828	20
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	573	148.07/cwt	140.00–151.00	848	322
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	595	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	845	21
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	605	150.40/cwt	142.00–151.50	910	123
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	618	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	933	108
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	628	142.53/cwt	138.00–146.00	895	204
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	635	134.50/cwt	134.50–134.50	854	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	667	140.59/cwt	134.00–142.00	938	111
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	667	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	887	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	693	142.75/cwt	142.75–142.75	989	50
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	710	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	888	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	728	138.22/cwt	137.75–139.00	1,006	18
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	748	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	980	15
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	783	129.50/cwt	129.50–129.50	1,014	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	785	139.34/cwt	137.50–141.50	1,094	45
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	809	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	963	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	870	136.64/cwt	136.50–137.00	1,189	32
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	902	126.60/cwt	126.00–128.00	1,142	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	927	139.89/cwt	139.50–140.50	1,297	55
Feeder Cattle · Heifers33 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	328	156.97/cwt	151.00–159.00	515	36
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	330	163.05/cwt	161.00–166.00	538	17
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	374	163.44/cwt	160.00–166.00	611	84
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	381	155.85/cwt	149.00–159.00	594	30
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	406	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	585	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	423	156.92/cwt	150.00–162.00	664	272
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2Unweaned	431	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	625	24
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	472	149.44/cwt	145.50–154.50	705	231
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	472	137.11/cwt	134.00–144.00	647	43
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	475	140.14/cwt	136.00–142.00	666	26
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	486	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	710	24
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2Unweaned	488	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	654	22
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	518	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	808	66
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	524	142.21/cwt	136.00–149.25	745	415
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	528	132.72/cwt	130.00–138.00	701	39
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	538	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	726	22
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	562	137.50/cwt	137.50–137.50	773	20
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	570	128.97/cwt	128.50–130.00	735	22
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	571	136.35/cwt	132.00–138.00	779	206
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	582	127.98/cwt	124.00–131.50	745	17
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	620	135.64/cwt	135.00–136.50	841	136
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	628	136.06/cwt	134.00–136.50	854	35
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	655	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	865	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	660	130.69/cwt	126.00–135.50	863	38
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	680	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	850	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	719	126.50/cwt	126.50–126.50	910	6
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	723	121.00/cwt	121.00–121.00	875	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	778	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	973	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	816	131.50/cwt	131.50–131.50	1,073	28
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	845	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	1,056	26
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	928	123.00/cwt	123.00–123.00	1,141	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	960	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	1,142	2
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,077	114.50/cwt	114.50–114.50	1,233	9
Feeder Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	630	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	470	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	705	7
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	563	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	816	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	748	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	898	2
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,695	70.11/cwt	62.00–74.50	1,188	3
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,785	78.04/cwt	77.50–78.50	1,393	2
Bulls	—	—	2,065	66.50/cwt	60.00–69.00	1,373	4
Slaughter Cattle · Cows11 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,049	59.77/cwt	59.00–64.00	627	14
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,156	35.42/cwt	32.50–37.50	409	21
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,163	39.48/cwt	38.00–44.50	459	15
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,171	44.99/cwt	41.00–48.50	527	72
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,185	53.16/cwt	49.50–56.50	630	25
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,313	54.92/cwt	52.00–59.00	721	23
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,331	49.17/cwt	48.00–50.00	654	27
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,349	64.51/cwt	64.00–65.00	870	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,383	47.21/cwt	47.00–47.50	653	7
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,633	63.77/cwt	62.00–66.50	1,041	10
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,660	55.50/cwt	55.50–55.50	921	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows2 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	895	79.35/cwt	67.00–82.00	710	47
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	958	60.79/cwt	59.00–67.50	582	16

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 19, 2020

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 5,990Last week 4,610Year ago 3,152

Slaughter CattleReceipts 312Last week 179Year ago 40

Replacement CattleReceipts 132Last week 57Year ago 248

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
30	—	323	182.00–186.00	184.57
10	—	220	181.00	181.00
8	—	295	180.00	180.00
36	—	474	157.50–163.00	159.56
5	—	667	133.00	133.00
3	—	710	125.00	125.00
98	—	417	170.00–173.50	173.15
36	—	378	164.00–180.00	176.15
21	—	595	142.00	142.00
22	—	522	145.00–153.00	149.04
2	—	635	134.50	134.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
204	—	628	138.00–146.00	142.53
624	—	529	151.00–165.50	160.22
73	—	424	175.00–193.00	183.41
3	—	347	192.50	192.50
79	—	391	181.00–195.00	187.39
322	—	573	140.00–151.00	148.07
111	—	667	134.00–142.00	140.59
15	—	748	131.00	131.00
459	—	478	163.00–182.00	173.03

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
45	—	785	137.50–141.50	139.34
123	—	605	142.00–151.50	150.40
18	—	728	137.75–139.00	138.22
32	—	870	136.50–137.00	136.64
20	—	571	145.00	145.00
55	—	927	139.50–140.50	139.89
50	—	693	142.75	142.75
18	—	539	157.00	157.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
50	—	385	184.00	184.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	356	185.50	185.50
39	—	447	175.00	175.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
108	—	618	151.00	151.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	809	119.00	119.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	344	159.00	159.00
8	—	444	165.00	165.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	783	129.50	129.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	902	126.00–128.00	126.60
14	—	489	160.00	160.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
84	—	374	160.00–166.00	163.44
206	—	571	132.00–138.00	136.35
38	—	660	126.00–135.50	130.69
17	—	330	161.00–166.00	163.05
231	—	472	145.50–154.50	149.44
136	—	620	135.00–136.50	135.64
272	—	423	150.00–162.00	156.92
6	—	719	126.50	126.50
415	—	524	136.00–149.25	142.21

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
39	—	528	130.00–138.00	132.72
3	—	680	125.00	125.00
30	—	381	149.00–159.00	155.85
36	—	328	151.00–159.00	156.97
6	—	406	144.00	144.00
17	—	582	124.00–131.50	127.98
43	—	472	134.00–144.00	137.11

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
66	—	518	156.00	156.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	655	132.00	132.00
2	—	960	119.00	119.00
28	—	816	131.50	131.50
20	—	562	137.50	137.50
15	—	928	123.00	123.00
35	—	628	134.00–136.50	136.06

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	488	134.00	134.00
24	—	431	145.00	145.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	475	136.00–142.00	140.14

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,077	114.50	114.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	570	128.50–130.00	128.97
22	—	538	135.00	135.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	845	125.00	125.00
24	—	486	146.00	146.00
7	—	778	125.00	125.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	723	121.00	121.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	563	145.00	145.00
7	—	470	150.00	150.00
2	—	748	120.00	120.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	450	140.00	140.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,660	55.50	55.50
10	—	1,633	62.00–66.50	63.77

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,383	47.00–47.50	47.21

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	1,163	38.00–44.50	39.48
21	—	1,156	32.50–37.50	35.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,349	64.00–65.00	64.51
23	—	1,313	52.00–59.00	54.92
27	—	1,331	48.00–50.00	49.17

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	1,049	59.00–64.00	59.77
72	—	1,171	41.00–48.50	44.99
25	—	1,185	49.50–56.50	53.16

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	2,065	60.00–69.00	66.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,695	62.00–74.50	70.11
2	—	1,785	77.50–78.50	78.04

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	47	—	895	67.00–82.00	79.35
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	16	—	958	59.00–67.50	60.79

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.