Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2020-12-03

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2020-12-03
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2020-12-03

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Dec 3

● Final96 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Nov 19Dec 3Dec 10 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

4,867 head

▼ 1,123 vs last sale 5,990▼ 1,006 vs year ago 5,873 · −17.1%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

412 head

▲ 100 vs last sale 312▲ 318 vs year ago 94 · +338.3%

Replacement Cattle receipts

222 head

▲ 90 vs last sale 132▲ 93 vs year ago 129 · +72.1%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Good demand was seen for all yearlings on offer. Yearling quality was average to attractive. Unweaned steer calves under 550 lbs sold 10.00-15.00 higher; unweaned steers 550-599 lbs steer sold 6.00-9.00 higher; steers over 600 lbs sold 1.00-4.00 higher. Unweaned heifers under 450 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; 450-499 lbs heifers sold 1.00-2.00 higher; 500-599 lbs heifers sold 3.00-6.00 higher; heifers over 600 lbs sold steady to weak. Demand was mostly good this sale with very good demand seen at times. Several very large consignments of very attractive, reputation calves were seen this week. Quality overall was mostly attractive. The cattle selection overall was better this week compared to the last sale two weeks ago. Weaned calves over 600 lbs showed a slight premium to unweaned cattle this week, however lighter weight calves offered little to no premium. The best demand continues to be seen for calves under 500 lbs which can be developed into yearlings. Many of these calves sold for more dollars per head than their heavyweight siblings. Market activity this week was mostly active with many bidders and buyers in the stands actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers were more aggressive this sale as they purchased cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher than two weeks ago on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows continue to be purchased to feed. Feeding cows sold steady to firm. Cows were of mostly average to very attractive quality this sale. 2 year old to young age cows sold on mostly very good demand. One load lot of very attractive 2 coming 3 year olds were the highlight of the sale. These cows were of very attractive quality and all off one ranch. These offerings sold sharply higher on a significantly higher quality offering compared to 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 $174.59/cwt on 2,262 head.

Average price

$174.59

2,262 head · 531 lb average

Value per head Derived

$926

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$116

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$43.25/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+1.47

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	528	176.85	934	2,018
Medium and Large 1-2	511	162.15	829	190
Medium 1	756	134.25	1,015	25
Medium and Large 2	546	134.00	732	19thin
Large 1	786	133.60	1,050	10thin

One grade step is worth $43.25/cwt here — about −$116 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 sale2,262 hd

174.59

—

MT average4 barns · 3,229 hd

173.12

+1.47

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	1,833	77.59	1,422	21
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,634	60.36	986	6thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,320	56.12	741	136
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,193	47.74	570	106

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 · Steers36 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	322	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	564	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	332	210.57/cwt	210.00–213.00	699	68
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	381	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	671	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	412	212.90/cwt	190.00–216.00	877	212
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	423	186.22/cwt	175.00–189.00	788	42
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	431	177.87/cwt	169.00–185.00	767	19
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	444	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	906	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	460	197.50/cwt	197.50–197.50	909	88
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	473	192.83/cwt	176.00–195.00	912	499
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	480	180.15/cwt	175.00–187.50	865	31
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	524	172.91/cwt	167.00–178.00	906	407
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	525	169.27/cwt	164.00–174.00	889	97
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	540	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	837	43
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	542	159.50/cwt	159.50–159.50	864	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	546	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	732	19
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	567	146.46/cwt	146.00–147.00	830	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	571	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	834	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	577	153.72/cwt	150.00–160.00	887	89
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	584	157.01/cwt	153.00–159.50	917	56
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	618	150.61/cwt	143.00–155.00	931	19
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	620	149.97/cwt	143.00–155.00	930	240
Steers	—	Large 1	630	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	869	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	646	137.34/cwt	134.00–138.00	887	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	656	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	886	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	664	144.98/cwt	137.00–150.00	963	22
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	679	135.42/cwt	135.00–136.75	920	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	683	140.40/cwt	140.00–140.50	959	23
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	720	137.60/cwt	133.00–138.00	991	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	721	142.87/cwt	140.00–144.00	1,030	53
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	753	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,009	7
Steers	—	Medium 1	756	134.25/cwt	134.25–134.25	1,015	25
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	764	139.26/cwt	136.00–139.50	1,064	74
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	843	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,121	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	891	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	1,123	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	958	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,274	8
Steers	—	Large 1	1,019	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,294	4
Feeder Cattle · Heifers35 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	323	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	565	48
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	355	168.00/cwt	168.00–168.00	596	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	358	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	555	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	384	173.18/cwt	160.00–177.50	665	175
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	420	159.01/cwt	154.00–160.50	668	36
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	422	147.25/cwt	145.00–149.00	621	18
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	432	163.23/cwt	151.00–167.00	705	276
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	438	147.33/cwt	146.00–149.00	645	38
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	474	150.88/cwt	147.00–155.00	715	109
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	481	140.49/cwt	138.00–146.00	676	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	487	152.95/cwt	148.00–158.00	745	197
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	527	150.05/cwt	144.00–152.00	791	86
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	529	148.95/cwt	145.00–154.50	788	124
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	581	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	761	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	583	142.66/cwt	135.50–145.00	832	92
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	585	138.93/cwt	135.00–140.50	813	69
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	586	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	774	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	618	133.85/cwt	133.00–134.00	827	48
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	633	132.57/cwt	129.00–137.50	839	69
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	680	134.68/cwt	132.50–140.00	916	23
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	680	131.46/cwt	129.00–133.00	894	5
Heifers	—	Medium 1	733	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	916	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	762	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	975	16
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	805	131.96/cwt	131.00–137.00	1,062	105
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	809	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,027	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	835	124.50/cwt	124.50–124.50	1,040	26
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	880	132.45/cwt	132.00–133.00	1,166	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	911	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,184	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	914	136.50/cwt	136.50–136.50	1,248	99
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	952	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	1,114	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	958	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,217	5
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,028	122.50/cwt	122.50–122.50	1,259	3
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,090	120.50/cwt	120.50–120.50	1,313	1
Heifers	—	Large 1Fleshy	1,113	100.00/cwt	100.00–100.00	1,113	6
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,117	110.50/cwt	110.50–110.50	1,234	9
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	363	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	690	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	605	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	817	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	642	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	860	3
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,315	72.00/cwt	72.00–72.00	947	1
Bulls	—	—	1,838	72.79/cwt	68.00–74.00	1,338	10
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,849	82.46/cwt	80.50–83.00	1,525	4
Bulls	—	—	1,900	83.26/cwt	79.00–84.00	1,582	6
Slaughter Cattle · Cows12 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,180	51.45/cwt	49.50–53.00	607	52
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,187	36.17/cwt	32.00–38.00	429	11
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,205	46.52/cwt	44.00–49.00	561	29
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,222	45.24/cwt	42.00–48.00	553	13
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,225	60.84/cwt	60.00–61.00	745	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,225	50.00/cwt	50.00–50.00	613	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,322	56.47/cwt	49.00–59.50	747	123
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,371	46.03/cwt	41.00–49.00	631	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,380	46.00/cwt	46.00–46.00	635	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,555	55.72/cwt	52.00–60.00	866	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,665	63.00/cwt	63.00–63.00	1,049	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,810	69.00/cwt	69.00–69.00	1,249	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	904	95.29/cwt	68.00–99.00	861	122
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,028	66.30/cwt	62.00–75.00	682	50
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,058	51.00/cwt	51.00–51.00	540	2
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,163	950.00/cwt	950.00–950.00	11,049	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS	1,195	985.00/cwt	985.00–985.00	11,771	6
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,493	1,085.00/cwt	1,085.00–1,085.00	16,199	2

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 Dec 3, 2020

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 4,867Last week 5,990Year ago 5,873

Slaughter CattleReceipts 412Last week 312Year ago 94

Replacement CattleReceipts 222Last week 132Year ago 129

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
31	—	480	175.00–187.50	180.15
23	—	683	140.00–140.50	140.40
7	—	444	204.00	204.00
56	—	584	153.00–159.50	157.01
53	—	721	140.00–144.00	142.87
4	—	843	133.00	133.00
97	—	525	164.00–174.00	169.27
8	—	958	133.00	133.00
74	—	764	136.00–139.50	139.26
19	—	618	143.00–155.00	150.61

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	720	133.00–138.00	137.60
240	—	620	143.00–155.00	149.97
68	—	332	210.00–213.00	210.57
499	—	473	176.00–195.00	192.83
89	—	577	150.00–160.00	153.72
407	—	524	167.00–178.00	172.91
212	—	412	190.00–216.00	212.90
22	—	664	137.00–150.00	144.98

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	891	126.00	126.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
88	—	460	197.50	197.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	630	138.00	138.00
4	—	1,019	127.00	127.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
25	—	756	134.25	134.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	431	169.00–185.00	177.87
43	—	540	155.00	155.00
7	—	753	134.00	134.00
9	—	571	146.00	146.00
10	—	381	176.00	176.00
4	—	656	135.00	135.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	322	175.00	175.00
10	—	542	159.50	159.50
12	—	646	134.00–138.00	137.34
17	—	567	146.00–147.00	146.46
42	—	423	175.00–189.00	186.22
8	—	679	135.00–136.75	135.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	546	134.00	134.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	762	128.00	128.00
7	—	911	130.00	130.00
36	—	420	154.00–160.50	159.01
23	—	680	132.50–140.00	134.68
105	—	805	131.00–137.00	131.96
92	—	583	135.50–145.00	142.66
86	—	527	144.00–152.00	150.05
69	—	633	129.00–137.50	132.57
2	—	355	168.00	168.00
11	—	880	132.00–133.00	132.45
197	—	487	148.00–158.00	152.95
5	—	958	127.00	127.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
48	—	323	175.00	175.00
5	—	680	129.00–133.00	131.46
69	—	585	135.00–140.50	138.93
109	—	474	147.00–155.00	150.88
48	—	618	133.00–134.00	133.85
276	—	432	151.00–167.00	163.23
175	—	384	160.00–177.50	173.18
124	—	529	145.00–154.50	148.95

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	835	124.50	124.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
99	—	914	136.50	136.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,113	100.00	100.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	733	125.00	125.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,090	120.50	120.50
9	—	1,117	110.50	110.50
3	—	1,028	122.50	122.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	581	131.00	131.00
4	—	358	155.00	155.00
8	—	809	127.00	127.00
18	—	422	145.00–149.00	147.25
3	—	952	117.00	117.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	481	138.00–146.00	140.49
38	—	438	146.00–149.00	147.33
5	—	586	132.00	132.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	363	190.00	190.00
2	—	605	135.00	135.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	642	134.00	134.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
123	—	1,322	49.00–59.50	56.47
2	—	1,380	46.00	46.00
6	—	1,225	60.00–61.00	60.84

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,371	41.00–49.00	46.03

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,225	50.00	50.00
11	—	1,187	32.00–38.00	36.17
13	—	1,222	42.00–48.00	45.24

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,555	52.00–60.00	55.72
1	—	1,810	69.00	69.00
2	—	1,665	63.00	63.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
29	—	1,205	44.00–49.00	46.52
52	—	1,180	49.50–53.00	51.45

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,315	72.00	72.00
4	—	1,849	80.50–83.00	82.46

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,838	68.00–74.00	72.79
6	—	1,900	79.00–84.00	83.26

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	122	—	904	68.00–99.00	95.29
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	50	—	1,028	62.00–75.00	66.30

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,058	51.00	51.00

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/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	2	—	1,163	950.00	950.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	2	—	1,493	1,085.00	1,085.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	6	—	1,195	985.00	985.00

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.