Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-04-29

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Apr 29
● Final118 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
3,324 head
▲ 3,070 vs last sale 254▼ 566 vs year ago 3,890 · −14.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
385 head
▲ 38 vs last sale 347▲ 125 vs year ago 260 · +48.1%
Replacement Cattle receipts
202 head
▼ 127 vs last sale 329▼ 1,267 vs year ago 1,469 · −86.2%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago: Last sale feeder receipts were very light so no accurate market comparisons can be made. Lower undertones were seen on steers and steady to weak undertones were noted on heifers. Heifer quality was mostly average to attractive, while steer quality was mostly plain to average. Dry conditions have pushed some replacement heifers to market. Buyers looking for high quality grass cattle showed good demand for these offerings. A limited amount of heifers sold as replacements this sale. Flesh conditions were mixed today with most cattle under 750 lbs in light flesh, while most cattle over 750 lbs were in moderate to moderate plus flesh, with a few fleshy cattle on offer as well. Demand overall was moderate for moderate to heavy offerings. Demand was strong early in the sale as several ranchers were in the stands actively bidding on offerings. Demand diminished as these buyers filled loads. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mixed demand for light offerings. Packers showed lighter demand for slaughter cows this sale and feeding buyers continue to pass on older and thinner cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 lower. Feeding cows sold on mostly good demand this sale as packers showed good demand for high quality young cows. Feeding cows sold generally steady. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this sale as cows sold late in the day and many were pushing heavy amounts of fill. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 6.00-10.00 lower. Demand to feed these offerings has lightened as corn and other feed cost have risen sharply over the last few weeks.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $143.32/cwt on 1,526 head.
Average price
$143.32
1,526 head · 620 lb average
Value per head Derived
$888
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$237
per head · Medium 1 over Large 1
$23.12/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.50
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1540146.7279267
Medium and Large 1-2518146.52759276
Medium and Large 1632144.969171,024
Medium and Large 2492135.2766522
Medium 1-2502129.006488thin
Medium 2572127.2872813thin
Large 1833123.601,029116
One grade step is worth $23.12/cwt here — about −$237 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 sale1,526 hd
143.32
—
MT average3 barns · 1,923 hd
142.83
+0.50
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—High1,70687.731,49782
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,42266.0493952
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,56863.4599517
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,18160.18711125

Every lot

118 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 · Steers35 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium 1353185.00/cwt185.00–185.006537
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2394191.00/cwt191.00–191.0075311
Steers—Medium and Large 1398194.50/cwt194.50–194.507746
Steers—Medium and Large 1423193.75/cwt190.00–197.0082045
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2425184.99/cwt184.00–188.0078615
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2468176.26/cwt175.00–179.0082521
Steers—Medium 1469181.43/cwt180.00–182.008517
Steers—Medium and Large 1482188.86/cwt186.50–192.5091045
Steers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed510195.00/cwt195.00–195.0099543
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2521170.84/cwt166.00–177.0089032
Steers—Medium and Large 1534182.22/cwt179.00–187.00973178
Steers—Medium 1540176.00/cwt176.00–176.0095018
Steers—Medium and Large 1573176.47/cwt170.00–179.501,011205
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2589166.64/cwt159.00–169.0098217
Steers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed608176.84/cwt176.50–179.001,07567
Steers—Medium and Large 1625164.59/cwt160.00–170.001,02950
Steers—Medium 2632110.00/cwt110.00–110.0069511
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full643148.00/cwt148.00–148.009525
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2643144.95/cwt144.00–151.009327
Steers—Medium and Large 1661158.31/cwt148.00–164.501,04692
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2688144.64/cwt143.50–146.0099520
Steers—Medium and Large 1736145.52/cwt141.50–149.501,071112
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2738136.19/cwt135.00–137.001,00520
Steers—Medium and Large 1773135.94/cwt131.00–137.001,05114
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy821121.00/cwt121.00–121.009934
Steers—Medium and Large 1824128.00/cwt128.00–128.001,0555
Steers—Medium and Large 1863123.95/cwt123.00–125.001,07021
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy885120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,0624
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy927109.27/cwt107.00–114.001,01312
Steers—Medium and Large 1937120.38/cwt120.00–120.501,1288
Steers—Medium and Large 1982114.00/cwt114.00–114.001,1193
Steers—Large 1Fleshy1,081107.00/cwt107.00–107.001,1577
Steers—Large 11,083113.50/cwt113.50–113.501,22924
Steers—Large 1Fleshy1,144102.00/cwt102.00–102.001,16710
Steers—Large 11,291111.00/cwt111.00–111.001,4337
Feeder Cattle · Heifers42 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 170200.00/cwt200.00–200.001401
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2326163.00/cwt163.00–163.005319
Heifers—Medium and Large 1377160.00/cwt160.00–160.006038
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2390158.05/cwt156.00–160.5061635
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2433150.00/cwt150.00–150.0065011
Heifers—Medium and Large 1437161.50/cwt161.50–161.5070621
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2477153.19/cwt145.00–159.0073165
Heifers—Medium and Large 1478160.33/cwt158.00–162.0076695
Heifers—Medium and Large 2479135.00/cwt135.00–135.0064716
Heifers—Medium 1484157.50/cwt157.50–157.5076211
Heifers—Medium 1-2502129.00/cwt129.00–129.006488
Heifers—Medium and Large 1520157.87/cwt157.00–159.0082176
Heifers—Medium 1524148.68/cwt147.00–150.0077938
Heifers—Medium and Large 2525136.00/cwt136.00–136.007146
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2528150.09/cwt141.00–156.5079241
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full565138.00/cwt138.00–138.0078011
Heifers—Large 1571144.00/cwt144.00–144.0082231
Heifers—Medium 2572127.28/cwt121.00–130.0072813
Heifers—Medium and Large 1579152.83/cwt148.00–158.00885187
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2586135.80/cwt131.00–147.0079678
Heifers—Medium 1607136.00/cwt136.00–136.0082618
Heifers—Medium and Large 1626145.10/cwt140.50–152.50908120
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2630137.50/cwt131.00–139.0086637
Heifers—Large 1640127.00/cwt127.00–127.0081320
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy647130.50/cwt129.00–132.0084410
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed655150.00/cwt150.00–150.00983102
Heifers—Medium and Large 1665142.63/cwt136.00–145.50948111
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full669133.93/cwt133.00–134.0089641
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy690134.00/cwt134.00–134.009259
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement699143.00/cwt143.00–143.001,00028
Heifers—Medium and Large 1713133.73/cwt128.50–139.0095365
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy713120.64/cwt119.00–123.0086012
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement743139.00/cwt139.00–139.001,03331
Heifers—Medium and Large 1756128.30/cwt126.00–131.0097023
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy779119.29/cwt116.00–121.009296
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy838113.00/cwt113.00–113.009476
Heifers—Medium and Large 1866118.59/cwt116.00–120.001,02735
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy898108.00/cwt108.00–108.0097014
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy968110.50/cwt110.50–110.501,07013
Heifers—Large 11,003114.00/cwt114.00–114.001,14354
Heifers—Large 1Fleshy1,020112.50/cwt112.50–112.501,1484
Heifers—Large 1Fleshy1,121104.00/cwt104.00–104.001,1667
Feeder Cattle · Bulls9 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 175200.00/cwt200.00–200.001501
Bulls—Medium and Large 1115300.00/cwt300.00–300.003451
Bulls—Medium and Large 1451185.00/cwt185.00–185.0083418
Bulls—Medium and Large 1825117.10/cwt112.50–123.509667
Bulls—Medium and Large 1964110.50/cwt110.50–110.501,06510
Bulls—Large 11,008108.00/cwt108.00–108.001,0892
Bulls—Large 11,059102.00/cwt102.00–102.001,0808
Bulls—Medium and Large 11,082106.00/cwt106.00–106.001,1473
Bulls—Large 1Fancy1,130108.00/cwt108.00–108.001,22011
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,14087.77/cwt86.00–89.501,0019
Bulls——Return to Feed1,24575.20/cwt72.00–79.009362
Bulls——1,66979.56/cwt73.50–84.001,32822
Bulls——Natural1,68991.65/cwt87.00–93.001,5489
Bulls——1,69887.98/cwt84.50–91.001,49414
Bulls——Natural1,74585.00/cwt85.00–85.001,4832
Bulls——Natural1,87895.00/cwt95.00–95.001,7848
Bulls——2,06094.81/cwt92.00–100.001,95316
Slaughter Cattle · Cows13 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight91561.00/cwt61.00–61.005581
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight94155.55/cwt54.00–60.005234
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,15757.58/cwt53.00–62.5066660
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,19266.31/cwt64.50–68.5079018
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,23662.85/cwt62.00–68.5077726
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,24359.83/cwt59.25–63.5074416
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,35859.71/cwt48.00–63.2581111
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,36264.19/cwt64.00–64.508745
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,41665.86/cwt63.50–67.509338
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,45968.47/cwt65.00–69.5099925
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,47072.65/cwt72.00–74.001,0683
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,56763.10/cwt57.00–65.0098916
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,58069.00/cwt69.00–69.001,0901
Replacement Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-21,1001,450.00/cwt1,450.00–1,450.0015,9502
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,1481,179.71/cwt1,150.00–1,200.0013,54317
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-283889.32/cwt72.00–95.007495
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-293063.00/cwt63.00–63.005862
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 199189.72/cwt71.00–111.0088980
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,18169.90/cwt66.00–72.0082611
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1861,229.42/cwt1,175.00–1,250.0014,58114
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5811,100.00/cwt1,100.00–1,100.0017,3914
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs3 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,4201,350.00/cwt1,350.00–1,350.0019,1702
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5031,675.00/cwt1,675.00–1,675.0025,1753
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5331,300.00/cwt1,300.00–1,300.0019,9293

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.