Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-05-27

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, May 27
● Final98 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,517 head
▲ 1,203 vs last sale 314▲ 7 vs year ago 1,510 · +0.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
342 head
▼ 217 vs last sale 559▲ 152 vs year ago 190 · +80.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
844 head
▲ 339 vs last sale 505▼ 512 vs year ago 1,356 · −37.8%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steers were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Feeder heifers under 600 lbs sold mostly 10.00 higher, while heifers over 600 lbs sold steady to weak in a narrow comparison. Quality was mostly average this week. Demand was mostly moderate to good. Several ranchers were in the stands buying grass cattle this week and provided strong competition for order buyers. More buyers were active in the market this week than in the past few sales. Market activity was moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand this week. Packers opted to feed most of the offering this week. Packers competed with feeder buyers over market share this week and pushed cows higher on a lighter offering than was seen last week. Both slaughter and feeding cows sold steady to 1.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were average to above average as most cows were emptied out and coming off grass. Weigh up conditions were better overall compared to last week. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Demand for high quality cow calf pairs was very good this sale as spotty rain showers have fallen across parts of the state. Limited demand was seen for average quality pairs.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $151.13/cwt on 716 head.
Average price
$151.13
716 head · 586 lb average
Value per head Derived
$885
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$400
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Small and Medium 2
$52.05/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+2.10
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1593154.55916632
Medium and Large 2457134.006126thin
Medium and Large 1-2569131.1074650
Medium 1-2445130.0057911thin
Small and Medium 2504102.5051717thin
One grade step is worth $52.05/cwt here — about $400 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 sale716 hd
151.13
—
MT average3 barns · 852 hd
149.03
+2.10
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—Low1,77687.231,54980
CowsPremium White 65-75%High1,65378.001,2892thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,68268.631,15411
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,37766.0891083
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,17561.00717110

Every lot

98 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 · Steers24 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 2409150.00/cwt150.00–150.006147
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2443160.00/cwt160.00–160.007093
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2480177.00/cwt177.00–177.008502
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned481157.50/cwt157.50–157.507587
Steers—Medium and Large 1499184.00/cwt184.00–184.0091823
Steers—Medium 1500178.00/cwt178.00–178.008904
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2506172.27/cwt164.00–178.0087226
Steers—Medium and Large 1533183.25/cwt178.00–186.0097760
Steers—Medium and Large 1564171.35/cwt170.00–177.0096634
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2584162.99/cwt161.00–165.0095212
Steers—Large 1593152.00/cwt152.00–152.009014
Steers—Large 1615157.50/cwt157.50–157.509694
Steers—Medium and Large 1627178.17/cwt173.50–179.501,117100
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2639159.31/cwt157.00–163.001,0189
Steers—Medium and Large 1661166.18/cwt160.00–167.501,09827
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2662141.36/cwt139.00–145.009365
Steers—Medium and Large 2675125.00/cwt125.00–125.008442
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2710136.22/cwt131.00–138.009679
Steers—Medium and Large 1724147.51/cwt145.00–148.001,06826
Steers—Medium and Large 1788142.91/cwt142.75–145.001,12667
Steers—Medium and Large 1829135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,11910
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2845125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,0562
Steers—Medium and Large 1874130.72/cwt128.50–134.501,14228
Steers—Medium and Large 1905128.00/cwt128.00–128.001,1584
Feeder Cattle · Heifers22 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2440145.00/cwt145.00–145.006383
Heifers—Medium 1-2445130.00/cwt130.00–130.0057911
Heifers—Medium and Large 2457134.00/cwt134.00–134.006126
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2460140.00/cwt140.00–140.0064423
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned475145.00/cwt145.00–145.0068915
Heifers—Medium and Large 1486166.00/cwt166.00–166.0080711
Heifers—Small and Medium 2504102.50/cwt102.50–102.5051717
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned507151.00/cwt151.00–151.0076616
Heifers—Medium and Large 1519166.12/cwt160.00–168.00862198
Heifers—Medium and Large 1569160.48/cwt155.00–163.50913181
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2613128.58/cwt121.00–134.0078814
Heifers—Medium and Large 1627148.83/cwt141.00–156.0093372
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full630127.00/cwt127.00–127.008006
Heifers—Medium and Large 1671138.87/cwt138.00–140.009329
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy692124.21/cwt123.00–127.0086013
Heifers—Medium and Large 1728125.00/cwt125.00–125.009106
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed729144.00/cwt144.00–144.001,05071
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy758118.00/cwt118.00–118.008943
Heifers—Medium and Large 1771121.00/cwt121.00–121.009336
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy795108.00/cwt108.00–108.008596
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2799113.00/cwt113.00–113.009034
Heifers—Medium and Large 1857117.00/cwt117.00–117.001,00325
Feeder Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1541143.00/cwt143.00–143.007746
Bulls—Medium and Large 1645126.00/cwt126.00–126.0081314
Bulls—Medium and Large 1702118.00/cwt118.00–118.008283
Bulls—Medium and Large 1793115.71/cwt112.00–118.5091823
Bulls—Medium and Large 1973106.00/cwt102.00–110.001,0314
Bulls—Large 11,040104.00/cwt104.00–104.001,0821
Bulls—Large 1Thin Fleshed1,053110.00/cwt110.00–110.001,1582
Bulls—Large 11,17895.00/cwt95.00–95.001,1193
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,14166.55/cwt61.00–74.507595
Bulls——Return to Feed1,34190.94/cwt85.00–94.001,2204
Bulls——Return to Feed1,36678.76/cwt78.00–81.001,0764
Bulls——1,65278.05/cwt73.00–82.001,28912
Bulls——1,66287.34/cwt84.00–90.501,45224
Bulls——2,08497.24/cwt94.00–103.002,02623
Bulls——2,11487.65/cwt86.00–88.001,8536
Bulls——Heavy Weight2,60586.00/cwt86.00–86.002,2402
Slaughter Cattle · Cows18 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight93652.89/cwt47.00–56.004957
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight96539.00/cwt39.00–39.003761
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,08457.37/cwt56.00–58.506224
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,11556.18/cwt49.50–59.0062617
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,19768.16/cwt66.00–70.008163
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,20269.08/cwt67.00–71.508303
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,21061.89/cwt59.00–65.0074941
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,22663.75/cwt60.00–68.0078234
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,28059.00/cwt59.00–59.007553
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,31565.00/cwt65.00–65.008551
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,33471.47/cwt67.00–75.009537
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,37566.27/cwt64.00–68.5091149
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,37670.99/cwt69.00–74.509777
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,41862.53/cwt61.00–64.0088717
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,57067.68/cwt66.00–70.001,0635
Cows—Premium White 65-75%1,65378.00/cwt78.00–78.001,2892
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,77373.39/cwt71.50–76.001,3014
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,24558.00/cwt58.00–58.001,3021
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs9 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,1111,460.00/cwt1,460.00–1,460.0016,2214
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,2191,442.23/cwt1,435.00–1,450.0017,58122
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3901,222.85/cwt1,200.00–1,250.0016,99827
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,4271,407.11/cwt1,375.00–1,460.0020,07927
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5101,210.00/cwt1,210.00–1,210.0018,2716
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5281,343.93/cwt1,275.00–1,400.0020,53537
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Fancy1,5311,382.42/cwt1,375.00–1,400.0021,165103
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Fancy1,5661,500.00/cwt1,500.00–1,500.0023,49025
Cow-Calf Pairs—Large 1Registered1,7361,385.00/cwt1,385.00–1,385.0024,0447
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,251925.00/cwt925.00–925.0011,5729
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,269750.00/cwt750.00–750.009,5185
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2901,032.76/cwt1,025.00–1,035.0013,32322
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3911,024.06/cwt1,000.00–1,050.0014,2456
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 19131,400.00/cwt1,400.00–1,400.0012,78213
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-295870.39/cwt70.00–74.0067410
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-297356.58/cwt55.00–58.005512
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,02589.87/cwt80.00–97.0092149
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,07773.78/cwt62.00–85.0079540

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.