Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-03-04

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2021-03-04
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-03-04

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Mar 4

● Final93 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Feb 18Mar 4Mar 11 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

2,106 head

▲ 1,352 vs last sale 754▲ 1,490 vs year ago 616 · +241.9%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

560 head

▲ 105 vs last sale 455▲ 355 vs year ago 205 · +173.2%

Replacement Cattle receipts

153 head

▼ 137 vs last sale 290▲ 15 vs year ago 138 · +10.9%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago: No sale was held last week so all comparisons are to two weeks ago. The best test for steers was for 650-699 lbs which sold mostly 5.00 higher. All other weights of steers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Feeder heifers under 650 lbs sold mostly 3.00-6.00 higher, heifers over 650 lbs sold generally steady. Quality this week was average to attractive. Demand was mostly good to very good for cattle suitable to go to grass and moderate for cattle destined for feed lots. CME feeder cattle contracts traded sharply lower today, however demand continues to be be strong. Canadian buyers competing with local ranchers continues to be the driving force behind the higher grass cattle market. Cattle continue to be very green with several consignments of calves selling with a premium for condition. Market activity this week was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. The last sale occurred in the heart of the storm market and cow prices for all other sales adjusted lower last week. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-4.00 lower compared to two weeks ago. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Packers opted to send the majority of the cow offering to feed this week as they only sent cows to slaughter that were not suitable to feed. A few sets of thin cows were purchased by feeding buyers this week. Feeding buyers pushed thin cows well beyond where packers were willing to purchase them for harvest. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to rebreed sold on mostly moderate to good demand this week. Most of these offerings were average to attractive in quality and many had freshly lost calves.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $151.21/cwt on 1,011 head.

Average price

$151.21

1,011 head · 570 lb average

Value per head Derived

$861

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$240

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2

$11.67/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−2.66

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	574	152.17	873	874
Medium 1	534	149.60	798	56
Large 1	614	143.79	883	7thin
Medium and Large 1-2	571	142.07	811	60
Medium and Large 2	450	140.50	632	14thin

One grade step is worth $11.67/cwt here — about $240 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 sale1,011 hd

151.21

—

MT average4 barns · 3,769 hd

153.86

−2.66

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	1,901	81.71	1,554	30
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,667	61.31	1,022	32
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,405	59.48	836	84
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,152	53.58	617	292

Every lot

93 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 · Steers28 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	350	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	634	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	390	199.00/cwt	199.00–199.00	776	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	404	201.88/cwt	201.00–202.00	816	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	427	184.33/cwt	183.00–186.00	787	7
Steers	—	Medium 1	432	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	795	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	467	180.42/cwt	179.00–182.00	843	30
Steers	—	Large 2	478	152.50/cwt	152.50–152.50	729	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	494	194.00/cwt	194.00–194.00	958	14
Steers	—	Large 1-2	502	168.00/cwt	168.00–168.00	843	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	526	175.62/cwt	173.00–180.00	924	12
Steers	—	Medium 1	530	172.20/cwt	171.00–173.00	913	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	536	185.30/cwt	178.00–187.00	993	42
Steers	—	Large 1-2	556	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	778	29
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	564	164.15/cwt	154.00–171.00	926	26
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	584	172.49/cwt	169.00–174.00	1,007	88
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	607	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	1,038	13
Steers	—	Large 1	608	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	955	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	613	153.48/cwt	148.50–159.50	941	25
Steers	—	Large 1-2	616	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	832	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	624	163.97/cwt	157.00–168.00	1,023	112
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	671	150.74/cwt	147.50–154.00	1,011	115
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	675	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	918	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	728	145.51/cwt	145.00–148.00	1,059	34
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	764	140.16/cwt	137.00–141.00	1,071	29
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	843	135.50/cwt	135.50–135.50	1,142	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	857	131.88/cwt	130.00–132.00	1,130	35
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	904	134.90/cwt	134.50–136.00	1,219	15
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	988	123.50/cwt	123.50–123.50	1,220	3
Feeder Cattle · Heifers29 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	336	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	538	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	397	167.08/cwt	167.00–167.50	663	25
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	409	160.35/cwt	155.00–164.00	656	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	420	143.50/cwt	143.50–143.50	603	7
Heifers	—	Medium 1	421	164.11/cwt	162.00–165.00	691	17
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	430	165.63/cwt	165.00–167.00	712	66
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	457	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	736	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	480	152.38/cwt	149.00–156.00	731	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	480	137.50/cwt	137.50–137.50	660	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	485	164.63/cwt	159.00–166.75	798	108
Heifers	—	Large 1	514	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	802	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	519	162.52/cwt	155.00–166.50	843	150
Heifers	—	Medium 1	543	148.00/cwt	148.00–148.00	804	30
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	569	155.01/cwt	153.00–159.00	882	136
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	581	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	831	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	600	152.00/cwt	152.00–152.00	912	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	624	144.74/cwt	139.00–146.50	903	249
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	638	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	868	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	642	136.63/cwt	131.00–137.00	877	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	668	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	875	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	690	134.26/cwt	132.00–136.00	926	41
Heifers	—	Medium 1	716	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	913	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	721	124.00/cwt	124.00–124.00	894	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	724	129.95/cwt	129.00–132.00	941	33
Heifers	—	Large 1	747	127.50/cwt	127.50–127.50	952	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	768	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	960	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	776	126.31/cwt	126.00–128.00	980	32
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	815	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	1,043	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	920	116.50/cwt	116.50–116.50	1,072	7
Feeder Cattle · Bulls10 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	424	198.29/cwt	195.00–200.00	841	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	510	162.50/cwt	162.50–162.50	829	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	532	163.15/cwt	162.00–165.00	868	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	560	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	890	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	610	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	866	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	656	136.80/cwt	130.00–140.00	897	25
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	695	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	890	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	830	123.50/cwt	123.50–123.50	1,025	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	878	121.34/cwt	121.00–122.00	1,065	3
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,053	113.00/cwt	113.00–113.00	1,190	2
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,776	73.29/cwt	65.00–82.00	1,302	15
Bulls	—	—	1,847	86.37/cwt	84.00–88.50	1,595	5
Bulls	—	—	2,000	84.00/cwt	84.00–84.00	1,680	1
Bulls	—	—	2,129	92.91/cwt	90.50–94.50	1,978	9
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	947	46.00/cwt	46.00–46.00	436	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	976	40.75/cwt	40.75–40.75	398	17
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,105	44.39/cwt	43.00–46.00	491	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,142	54.60/cwt	54.50–56.50	624	108
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,162	52.71/cwt	49.50–56.50	612	101
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,205	57.16/cwt	57.00–63.00	689	50
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,210	64.50/cwt	64.50–64.50	780	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,253	58.30/cwt	56.75–62.50	730	10
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,330	66.00/cwt	66.00–66.00	878	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,377	61.41/cwt	57.00–65.00	846	42
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,407	59.11/cwt	57.00–60.00	832	9
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,443	56.86/cwt	54.00–57.00	820	32
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,619	62.68/cwt	61.00–64.50	1,015	14
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,635	57.00/cwt	57.00–57.00	932	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,645	58.73/cwt	57.00–59.50	966	6
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,755	61.80/cwt	60.00–63.75	1,085	10
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	843	74.86/cwt	61.00–79.00	631	23
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	923	87.43/cwt	82.00–90.00	807	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	993	103.73/cwt	91.00–115.00	1,030	52
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,113	72.33/cwt	61.00–90.00	805	28
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,396	62.00/cwt	62.00–62.00	866	5
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	1,229	54.00/cwt	54.00–54.00	664	7

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 Mar 4, 2021

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 2,106Last week 754Year ago 616

Slaughter CattleReceipts 560Last week 455Year ago 205

Replacement CattleReceipts 153Last week 290Year ago 138

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
32	—	1,443	54.00–57.00	56.86
9	—	1,407	57.00–60.00	59.11

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	947	46.00	46.00
17	—	976	40.75	40.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,645	57.00–59.50	58.73
14	—	1,619	61.00–64.50	62.68

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
50	—	1,205	57.00–63.00	57.16
108	—	1,142	54.50–56.50	54.60
1	—	1,210	64.50	64.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,253	56.75–62.50	58.30
101	—	1,162	49.50–56.50	52.71
2	—	1,105	43.00–46.00	44.39

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
42	—	1,377	57.00–65.00	61.41
1	—	1,330	66.00	66.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,755	60.00–63.75	61.80
2	—	1,635	57.00	57.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,000	84.00	84.00
5	—	1,847	84.00–88.50	86.37
9	—	2,129	90.50–94.50	92.91
15	—	1,776	65.00–82.00	73.29

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	608	157.00	157.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	988	123.50	123.50
6	—	390	199.00	199.00
34	—	728	145.00–148.00	145.51
112	—	624	157.00–168.00	163.97
5	—	843	135.50	135.50
88	—	584	169.00–174.00	172.49
42	—	536	178.00–187.00	185.30
14	—	494	194.00	194.00
35	—	857	130.00–132.00	131.88
8	—	404	201.00–202.00	201.88
115	—	671	147.50–154.00	150.74
29	—	764	137.00–141.00	140.16

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	526	173.00–180.00	175.62
1	—	675	136.00	136.00
25	—	613	148.50–159.50	153.48
30	—	467	179.00–182.00	180.42
13	—	350	181.00	181.00
7	—	427	183.00–186.00	184.33
26	—	564	154.00–171.00	164.15

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
29	—	556	140.00	140.00
3	—	502	168.00	168.00
14	—	616	135.00	135.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	607	171.00	171.00
15	—	904	134.50–136.00	134.90

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	478	152.50	152.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	432	184.00	184.00
5	—	530	171.00–173.00	172.20

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	768	125.00	125.00
8	—	336	160.00	160.00
6	—	668	131.00	131.00
6	—	721	124.00	124.00
5	—	409	155.00–164.00	160.35
8	—	581	143.00	143.00
15	—	642	131.00–137.00	136.63
8	—	480	149.00–156.00	152.38

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
136	—	569	153.00–159.00	155.01
7	—	920	116.50	116.50
32	—	776	126.00–128.00	126.31
150	—	519	155.00–166.50	162.52
41	—	690	132.00–136.00	134.26
2	—	815	128.00	128.00
33	—	724	129.00–132.00	129.95
66	—	430	165.00–167.00	165.63
108	—	485	159.00–166.75	164.63
25	—	397	167.00–167.50	167.08
249	—	624	139.00–146.50	144.74

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	716	127.50	127.50
17	—	421	162.00–165.00	164.11
30	—	543	148.00	148.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	420	143.50	143.50
7	—	480	137.50	137.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	600	152.00	152.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	457	161.00	161.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	638	136.00	136.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	514	156.00	156.00
3	—	747	127.50	127.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	560	159.00	159.00
2	—	830	123.50	123.50
3	—	424	195.00–200.00	198.29
3	—	878	121.00–122.00	121.34
25	—	656	130.00–140.00	136.80
5	—	532	162.00–165.00	163.15
4	—	610	142.00	142.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	695	128.00	128.00
1	—	510	162.50	162.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,053	113.00	113.00

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/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	5	—	1,396	62.00	62.00
(<2 yrs)	Open	52	—	993	91.00–115.00	103.73
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	28	—	1,113	61.00–90.00	72.33

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	23	—	843	61.00–79.00	74.86

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	3	—	923	82.00–90.00	87.43

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	7	—	1,229	54.00	54.00

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.