Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-05-06

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2021-05-06
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2021-05-06

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, May 6

● Final76 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Apr 29May 6May 13 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

827 head

▼ 2,497 vs last sale 3,324▲ 226 vs year ago 601 · +37.6%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

424 head

▲ 39 vs last sale 385▲ 158 vs year ago 266 · +59.4%

Replacement Cattle receipts

313 head

▲ 111 vs last sale 202▼ 77 vs year ago 390 · −19.7%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: The best test for feeder cattle was 550-649 lbs heifers which sold mostly 4.00-5.00 lower. All other weights of steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly plain to average this week. Demand was very light to moderate. Demand for feeders under 500 lbs was mostly light as these cattle are too light for most to turn out on grass and will take more feed if put in the feedlot to get to their desired weight. Demand for crossbred or plain cattle was very light as very few takers were bidding on these type offerings. Cattle suitable to run on grass sold with moderate demand this week. Market activity was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Packers buyers showed need for cows for immediate harvest as they purchased a large portion of the offering to slaughter. The cow cutout continues to push higher as demand for ground beef is very good. The cutter cow cutout closed at 201.55 as of todays close, 1.52 higher. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on breaking cows, while boning and lean cows sold 1.00-2.00 lower. Packers were able to buy cows lower due to heavier than usually supplies for this time of year as drought conditions continue to drive cows and bulls to market. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Weigh up conditions were average to above average this week as good weather and green grass helped with weigh conditions. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady. Several sets of fancy three year old cows sold on very good demand. Quality this week was average to attractive.

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 $135.81/cwt on 388 head.

Average price

$135.81

388 head · 561 lb average

Value per head Derived

$762

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$43

per head · Medium 1-2 over Medium 2

$46.51/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+0.79

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1-2	386	146.98	567	48
Medium and Large 1	569	145.15	825	136
Medium and Large 1-2	590	136.19	803	123
Medium 1	518	134.00	694	12thin
Medium and Large 2	637	116.92	744	37
Medium 2	607	100.47	610	32

One grade step is worth $46.51/cwt here — about −$43 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 sale388 hd

135.81

—

MT average3 barns · 1,029 hd

135.02

+0.79

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	—	Average	1,783	87.87	1,567	59
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,613	67.41	1,087	41
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Very Low	1,377	63.05	868	134
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,190	60.35	718	155

Every lot

76 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 · Steers13 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	335	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	603	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	425	187.00/cwt	187.00–187.00	795	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	460	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	837	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	491	170.84/cwt	170.00–175.00	839	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	513	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	975	15
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	514	164.47/cwt	163.00–167.50	845	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	568	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	909	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	580	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	812	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	609	155.67/cwt	154.00–164.00	948	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	650	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	878	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	652	123.90/cwt	121.00–125.00	808	55
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	700	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	1,050	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	765	134.99/cwt	132.00–138.00	1,033	18
Feeder Cattle · Heifers20 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	324	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	473	10
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	376	147.50/cwt	147.50–147.50	555	18
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	398	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	597	4
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	425	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	625	20
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	437	149.27/cwt	149.00–150.00	652	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	473	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	691	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	485	133.30/cwt	131.00–134.00	647	16
Heifers	—	Medium 1	518	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	694	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	526	146.54/cwt	144.00–151.00	771	30
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	556	122.11/cwt	120.00–132.00	679	18
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	562	149.03/cwt	148.00–149.50	838	49
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	569	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	768	11
Heifers	—	Medium 2	571	100.00/cwt	100.00–100.00	571	17
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	628	136.71/cwt	132.00–137.50	859	21
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	632	140.35/cwt	139.00–140.50	887	40
Heifers	—	Medium 2	648	101.00/cwt	101.00–101.00	654	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	663	132.75/cwt	132.75–132.75	880	55
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	707	128.00/cwt	128.00–128.00	905	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	710	122.00/cwt	122.00–122.00	866	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	713	112.00/cwt	112.00–112.00	799	19
Feeder Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 2	426	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	588	4
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 2	492	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	640	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	555	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	760	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2	688	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	819	2
Bulls	—	Medium 1	808	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	856	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	902	109.00/cwt	109.00–109.00	983	3
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,125	95.60/cwt	92.00–98.00	1,076	5
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,125	65.00/cwt	65.00–65.00	731	1
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,255	85.79/cwt	84.00–88.00	1,077	2
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,277	75.39/cwt	72.00–82.00	963	3
Bulls	—	—	1,571	78.85/cwt	72.00–83.00	1,239	11
Bulls	—	—	1,807	88.18/cwt	84.50–92.50	1,593	22
Bulls	—	—	2,036	95.71/cwt	93.00–102.00	1,949	20
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	860	56.66/cwt	56.00–58.00	487	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	890	61.00/cwt	61.00–61.00	543	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,080	50.00/cwt	50.00–50.00	540	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,145	69.02/cwt	67.50–69.75	790	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,190	56.32/cwt	51.00–59.00	670	56
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,201	61.27/cwt	58.50–65.50	736	50
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,212	59.17/cwt	57.00–62.00	717	11
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,220	64.62/cwt	63.00–66.50	788	19
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,224	70.30/cwt	69.00–72.00	860	8
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,338	59.05/cwt	58.00–60.00	790	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,346	65.70/cwt	62.50–68.00	884	46
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,372	62.96/cwt	62.00–67.00	864	23
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,388	58.62/cwt	56.00–62.00	814	44
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,424	71.25/cwt	67.00–73.50	1,015	15
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,493	53.00/cwt	53.00–53.00	791	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,548	73.50/cwt	73.50–73.50	1,138	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,577	62.98/cwt	61.00–64.00	993	11
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,583	66.87/cwt	65.00–68.50	1,059	19
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,735	72.61/cwt	72.50–73.50	1,260	9
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,043	1,030.28/cwt	1,025.00–1,050.00	10,746	12
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,055	850.00/cwt	850.00–850.00	8,968	14
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,111	900.00/cwt	900.00–900.00	9,999	8
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,307	1,023.31/cwt	1,000.00–1,050.00	13,375	8
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs2 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,186	800.00/cwt	800.00–800.00	9,488	4
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1	1,326	1,100.98/cwt	1,085.00–1,150.00	14,599	7
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	845	65.00/cwt	65.00–65.00	549	1
Stock Cows	—	Large 1	1,000	65.00/cwt	65.00–65.00	650	4
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,013	89.93/cwt	80.00–107.00	911	93
Stock Cows	—	Large 1	1,022	81.15/cwt	81.00–85.00	829	23
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,129	77.74/cwt	61.00–96.00	878	108

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 May 6, 2021

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 827Last week 3,324Year ago 601

Slaughter CattleReceipts 424Last week 385Year ago 266

Replacement CattleReceipts 313Last week 202Year ago 390

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	12	—	1,043	1,025.00–1,050.00	1,030.28

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	8	—	1,111	900.00	900.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	8	—	1,307	1,000.00–1,050.00	1,023.31
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	14	—	1,055	850.00	850.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per cwt · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,186	800.00	800.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	Open	7	—	1,326	1,085.00–1,150.00	1,100.98

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	108	—	1,129	61.00–96.00	77.74
(<2 yrs)	Open	93	—	1,013	80.00–107.00	89.93

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	23	—	1,022	81.00–85.00	81.15
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,000	65.00	65.00

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	1	—	845	65.00	65.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	710	122.00	122.00
21	—	628	132.00–137.50	136.71
11	—	569	135.00	135.00
15	—	437	149.00–150.00	149.27
4	—	398	150.00	150.00
16	—	485	131.00–134.00	133.30
55	—	663	132.75	132.75

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
18	—	556	120.00–132.00	122.11
19	—	713	112.00	112.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
49	—	562	148.00–149.50	149.03
30	—	526	144.00–151.00	146.54
3	—	707	128.00	128.00
40	—	632	139.00–140.50	140.35
14	—	473	146.00	146.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	571	100.00	100.00
15	—	648	101.00	101.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	425	147.00	147.00
10	—	324	146.00	146.00
18	—	376	147.50	147.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	518	134.00	134.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	555	137.00	137.00
2	—	688	119.00	119.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	492	130.00	130.00
4	—	426	138.00	138.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	902	109.00	109.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,125	92.00–98.00	95.60

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	808	106.00	106.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	580	140.00	140.00
55	—	652	121.00–125.00	123.90

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	425	187.00	187.00
18	—	765	132.00–138.00	134.99
12	—	609	154.00–164.00	155.67
12	—	460	182.00	182.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	514	163.00–167.50	164.47
14	—	650	135.00	135.00
2	—	568	160.00	160.00
2	—	335	180.00	180.00
12	—	491	170.00–175.00	170.84

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	700	150.00	150.00
15	—	513	190.00	190.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,493	53.00	53.00
44	—	1,388	56.00–62.00	58.62
23	—	1,372	62.00–67.00	62.96

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,224	69.00–72.00	70.30
19	—	1,220	63.00–66.50	64.62
11	—	1,212	57.00–62.00	59.17

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
46	—	1,346	62.50–68.00	65.70
2	—	1,338	58.00–60.00	59.05
15	—	1,424	67.00–73.50	71.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
50	—	1,201	58.50–65.50	61.27
6	—	1,145	67.50–69.75	69.02
1	—	1,080	50.00	50.00
56	—	1,190	51.00–59.00	56.32

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,735	72.50–73.50	72.61
19	—	1,583	65.00–68.50	66.87
11	—	1,577	61.00–64.00	62.98

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	890	61.00	61.00
3	—	860	56.00–58.00	56.66

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,548	73.50	73.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,255	84.00–88.00	85.79
3	—	1,277	72.00–82.00	75.39

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,125	65.00	65.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	1,807	84.50–92.50	88.18
11	—	1,571	72.00–83.00	78.85
20	—	2,036	93.00–102.00	95.71

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.