Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2020-12-10

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Dec 10
● Final121 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
3,949 head
▼ 918 vs last sale 4,867▼ 2,429 vs year ago 6,378 · −38.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
832 head
▲ 420 vs last sale 412▲ 727 vs year ago 105 · +692.4%
Replacement Cattle receipts
339 head
▲ 117 vs last sale 222▲ 134 vs year ago 205 · +65.4%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers sold generally steady. Good demand was seen for all yearling on offer. Yearling quality was average this week. Unweaned steer calves under 500 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 lower on a significantly lower quality offering; steers 500 lbs and heavier sold steady to 3.00 higher. Unweaned heifers under 400 lbs were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed; 400-499 lbs heifer calves sold 5.00-10.00 higher; 500-649 lbs heifers sold steady to 2.00 higher; heifers over 650 lbs sold with lower undertones in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive, however quality this week was not as attractive as last. Many sets of weaned calves were seen this week. Demand for calves was mostly moderate for moderate to heavy offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Feeding buyers and packer buyers competed over offerings throughout the sale. Packers opted to send most fleshy cows to slaughter this week. Most cows and bulls offered below average weigh up conditions as all cows and bulls were pushing heavy amounts of fill. 2 year old to young age cows sold on mostly light demand. These cows were of mostly plain to average quality; and sold mostly 4.00-8.00 lower. Quality was significantly lower compared to last sale.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $164.95/cwt on 1,753 head.
Average price
$164.95
1,753 head · 540 lb average
Value per head Derived
$890
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$192
per head · Medium 1 over Medium and Large 1
$6.62/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−0.75
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1420171.1371936
Medium and Large 1-2462166.87771228
Medium and Large 1554164.509121,489
One grade step is worth $6.62/cwt here — about −$192 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 sale1,753 hd
164.95
—
MT average4 barns · 5,335 hd
165.70
−0.75
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 · $/cwt
Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.
ClassGradeDressingAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Bulls—Average1,68975.041,26829
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,95071.501,3941thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,58157.6091118
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,37853.17733121
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,14644.86514315

Every lot

121 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.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Feeder Cattle · Steers42 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned302197.50/cwt197.50–197.505965
Steers—Medium 1329185.50/cwt185.50–185.5061011
Steers—Medium and Large 1349190.82/cwt185.00–197.5066620
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned370185.00/cwt185.00–185.006853
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2374182.73/cwt180.00–184.0068364
Steers—Medium 1389169.00/cwt169.00–169.006576
Steers—Medium and Large 1392186.46/cwt186.00–199.0073160
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned423182.29/cwt180.50–187.0077138
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2428173.67/cwt170.00–179.0074343
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned436163.39/cwt162.50–175.0071228
Steers—Medium and Large 1438183.76/cwt183.00–186.0080564
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned452169.00/cwt169.00–169.007643
Steers—Medium and Large 1475180.02/cwt171.00–193.00855206
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned478176.57/cwt167.00–189.0084451
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2478165.83/cwt164.00–169.0079330
Steers—Medium 1481164.00/cwt164.00–164.0078917
Steers—Medium 1503159.00/cwt159.00–159.008002
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned520172.49/cwt160.00–178.5089739
Steers—Medium and Large 1526172.27/cwt161.00–177.00906205
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2526157.71/cwt151.00–165.0083025
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full545149.00/cwt149.00–149.008123
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned574157.53/cwt152.00–160.0090464
Steers—Medium and Large 1577159.06/cwt150.00–164.50918375
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2582143.86/cwt141.00–145.008377
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned591145.25/cwt145.00–145.508586
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2615139.46/cwt138.00–140.008589
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned621148.04/cwt147.00–149.5091958
Steers—Medium and Large 1632149.04/cwt147.00–155.5094295
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned633134.00/cwt134.00–134.008483
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned665145.59/cwt145.00–146.0096815
Steers—Medium and Large 1678146.41/cwt141.00–146.7599399
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned681138.15/cwt137.00–140.009415
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2695138.50/cwt138.50–138.509632
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned709137.96/cwt137.50–138.5097811
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2712127.00/cwt127.00–127.009043
Steers—Medium and Large 1724138.81/cwt136.00–144.001,00523
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full728137.00/cwt137.00–137.009974
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned752134.00/cwt134.00–134.001,0083
Steers—Medium and Large 1774133.50/cwt133.50–133.501,03324
Steers—Medium and Large 1891129.82/cwt128.50–133.501,15715
Steers—Medium and Large 1906133.50/cwt133.50–133.501,2104
Steers—Medium and Large 1956126.50/cwt126.50–126.501,2095
Feeder Cattle · Heifers37 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1331167.00/cwt167.00–167.0055315
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2331162.00/cwt162.00–162.0053610
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned339182.10/cwt180.00–183.0061713
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned374168.80/cwt165.00–170.0063112
Heifers—Medium and Large 1383171.01/cwt167.00–175.0065577
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2390152.00/cwt152.00–152.0059310
Heifers—Medium and Large 2393140.00/cwt140.00–140.005505
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned402151.00/cwt151.00–151.0060715
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Natural415169.00/cwt169.00–169.0070110
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2419154.42/cwt153.50–157.5064728
Heifers—Medium and Large 1422164.88/cwt158.00–170.00696191
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned426159.21/cwt157.50–160.0067820
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned469160.60/cwt151.00–165.5075399
Heifers—Medium and Large 1482158.92/cwt148.00–166.00766164
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned485132.00/cwt132.00–132.006405
Heifers—Medium 1518124.00/cwt124.00–124.006423
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned519146.17/cwt142.00–149.0075987
Heifers—Medium and Large 1523149.87/cwt142.00–154.50784156
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Natural525154.43/cwt152.50–157.0081118
Heifers—Medium and Large 1570142.16/cwt135.00–144.25810113
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned579142.08/cwt132.00–144.5082368
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Natural591144.00/cwt144.00–144.0085149
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned603134.00/cwt134.00–134.008086
Heifers—Medium and Large 1635134.68/cwt130.00–139.5085592
Heifers—Medium and Large 1672127.47/cwt124.00–128.5085737
Heifers—Medium and Large 1735128.67/cwt127.00–129.0094618
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned768122.00/cwt122.00–122.009372
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2768121.00/cwt121.00–121.009298
Heifers—Medium and Large 1781132.14/cwt128.50–132.501,03223
Heifers—Medium and Large 1845130.51/cwt127.00–131.001,1038
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2852122.50/cwt122.50–122.501,0447
Heifers—Medium and Large 1895124.00/cwt124.00–124.001,1101
Heifers—Medium and Large 1900126.00/cwt126.00–126.001,13414
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2953115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,0966
Heifers—Medium and Large 1978121.00/cwt121.00–121.001,18314
Heifers—Large 11,046115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,20332
Heifers—Large 11,062115.50/cwt115.50–115.501,22713
Feeder Cattle · Bulls14 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1261177.50/cwt177.50–177.5046310
Bulls—Medium and Large 1342182.00/cwt182.00–182.0062230
Bulls—Medium and Large 1393182.00/cwt182.00–182.0071548
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned433140.00/cwt140.00–140.0060614
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned485152.50/cwt152.50–152.507402
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2490144.00/cwt144.00–144.0070610
Bulls—Medium and Large 1501142.00/cwt142.00–142.007114
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2525139.00/cwt139.00–139.007304
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned548144.00/cwt144.00–144.007892
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned558138.00/cwt138.00–138.007702
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned679126.00/cwt126.00–126.008567
Bulls—Medium and Large 1698125.00/cwt125.00–125.008733
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2799108.00/cwt108.00–108.008634
Bulls—Large 1-21,14091.00/cwt91.00–91.001,0371
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,35769.00/cwt69.00–69.009369
Bulls——1,80074.57/cwt68.00–77.001,3428
Bulls——Return to Feed1,82179.73/cwt77.00–82.501,45210
Bulls——2,08580.59/cwt78.50–83.001,6802
Slaughter Cattle · Cows17 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight95231.50/cwt31.50–31.5030016
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,05537.92/cwt31.00–39.5040059
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,14046.69/cwt41.50–51.0053299
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,18645.98/cwt40.00–49.2554582
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,24450.79/cwt49.00–57.0063256
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,27250.68/cwt50.00–51.006453
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,30553.50/cwt53.50–53.506981
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,35355.31/cwt49.00–60.0074876
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,38944.93/cwt42.00–48.006248
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,39561.00/cwt61.00–61.008511
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40647.70/cwt46.00–49.0067130
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,52961.29/cwt60.00–62.009373
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,55955.42/cwt47.00–58.0086413
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,56563.00/cwt63.00–63.009861
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,57765.00/cwt65.00–65.001,0255
Cows—Premium White 65-75%1,95071.50/cwt71.50–71.501,3941
Cows—Breaker 75-80%2,04569.50/cwt69.50–69.501,4211
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed83057.00/cwt57.00–57.004731
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 196576.11/cwt60.00–87.00734120
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,05763.55/cwt52.00–73.0067233
Stock Cows—Large 11,23060.00/cwt60.00–60.007382
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1851,050.00/cwt1,050.00–1,050.0012,4431
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2111,069.99/cwt1,050.00–1,150.0012,9585
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2401,050.00/cwt1,050.00–1,050.0013,0201

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.