Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-07-22

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jul 22
● Final94 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
2,454 head
▲ 1,614 vs last sale 840▲ 2,454 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
992 head
▼ 12 vs last sale 1,004▲ 992 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
909 head
▲ 421 vs last sale 488▲ 909 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago(7-8-21): The best test for yearling steers was for 700-749 lbs which sold unevenly steady, all other weights of steers were too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers sold mostly 5.00 higher. All calves were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend. Demand was mostly good for all yearlings on offer, while calves sold with mostly light demand. Not enough calves were on offer to put together a load so demand was limited. All yearling cattle were in very light to light flesh and most are being marketed early due to drought conditions. All yearlings were pushing moderate to heavy amounts of fill today as hot weather and fresh feed caused offerings to fill up. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Several sets of replacement heifers sold today and most had been turned out with a bull. Consigners offered to abort the heifers at their cost if the buyer wished to feed them. Several sets of heifers were purchased to keep as replacements this sale, however most were purchased to feed. Market activity was mostly active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand this week. Packers continue to push to purchase cows both for slaughter and to feed. Slaughter cows sold with good demand. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher on all classes. Feeding cows sold steady to firm. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average and although prices were near steady, cows were higher on a carcass basis. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Most of these offerings sold to packers and feeding buyers. Demand for rebreeding cows has lightened as it is getting too late in the season to breed for spring calves.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $144.64/cwt on 1,393 head.
Average price
$144.64
1,393 head · 805 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,164
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$385
per head · Medium 1 over Large 1
$25.01/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.00
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1614150.7892640
Medium and Large 1803145.751,1701,231
Medium and Large 1-2742136.481,01364
Large 11,043125.771,31158
One grade step is worth $25.01/cwt here — about −$385 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 sale1,393 hd
144.64
—
MT average1 barns · 1,393 hd
144.64
+0.00
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—High1,69387.541,48269
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,58877.301,22828
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,45868.40998150
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,15261.7571269

Every lot

94 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 · Steers19 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned482160.00/cwt160.00–160.0077115
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2590161.00/cwt161.00–161.009504
Steers—Medium and Large 1622180.56/cwt175.00–182.501,12344
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned635137.00/cwt137.00–137.008702
Steers—Medium and Large 1683171.63/cwt166.00–173.501,172112
Steers—Medium and Large 1729163.25/cwt160.00–169.001,19080
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2741162.27/cwt154.00–166.001,20213
Steers—Medium and Large 1783163.00/cwt163.00–163.001,27632
Steers—Medium and Large 1824157.49/cwt154.00–159.001,29857
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full829151.50/cwt151.50–151.501,2566
Steers—Large 1Full876137.00/cwt137.00–137.001,2004
Steers—Medium and Large 1880150.78/cwt150.50–151.001,32720
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2890141.00/cwt141.00–141.001,2553
Steers—Medium and Large 1921142.46/cwt140.50–143.501,31238
Steers—Large 1Full1,031124.50/cwt124.50–124.501,2846
Steers—Large 11,056123.00/cwt123.00–123.001,2998
Steers—Large 11,147123.00/cwt123.00–123.001,4117
Steers—Large 11,224121.00/cwt121.00–121.001,48113
Steers—Large 11,343114.50/cwt114.50–114.501,53832
Feeder Cattle · Heifers29 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned421145.00/cwt145.00–145.006109
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned428140.00/cwt140.00–140.005998
Heifers—Medium 1562164.00/cwt164.00–164.0092217
Heifers—Medium and Large 1582166.00/cwt166.00–166.0096616
Heifers—Medium and Large 1637160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,0193
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2640144.00/cwt144.00–144.009224
Heifers—Medium 1653141.00/cwt141.00–141.0092123
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed664162.00/cwt162.00–162.001,07687
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2687145.57/cwt145.00–146.001,0007
Heifers—Medium and Large 1724152.18/cwt148.00–157.001,102101
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full727145.22/cwt145.00–145.501,05611
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2728139.00/cwt139.00–139.001,0123
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2769136.38/cwt135.00–143.001,04927
Heifers—Medium and Large 1778150.36/cwt145.00–153.001,170217
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement794150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,19199
Heifers—Medium and Large 1815146.56/cwt140.00–148.251,194374
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement827143.00/cwt143.00–143.001,18339
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2844133.68/cwt124.00–139.501,1288
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full868124.51/cwt121.50–130.501,08121
Heifers—Medium and Large 1878134.63/cwt134.00–140.001,182120
Heifers—Medium and Large 1910131.70/cwt129.00–132.001,19860
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement921136.00/cwt136.00–136.001,25318
Heifers—Medium and Large 1963131.89/cwt131.25–133.501,27022
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full988120.27/cwt116.00–122.001,18835
Heifers—Large 1Fancy1,006130.50/cwt130.50–130.501,31322
Heifers—Large 11,033126.92/cwt121.00–129.001,31117
Heifers—Large 11,076123.99/cwt122.50–125.501,33414
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-21,107111.00/cwt111.00–111.001,2296
Heifers—Large 1Full1,144106.00/cwt106.00–106.001,2135
Feeder Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1681135.50/cwt135.50–135.5092315
Bulls—Medium and Large 1731136.00/cwt136.00–136.0099416
Bulls—Large 11,021118.00/cwt118.00–118.001,2057
Bulls—Large 11,155114.00/cwt114.00–114.001,3174
Bulls—Large 11,245102.00/cwt102.00–102.001,2701
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,31276.75/cwt74.00–79.001,00711
Bulls——Return to Feed1,32393.00/cwt93.00–93.001,2302
Bulls——Return to Feed1,33582.46/cwt81.00–84.001,1012
Bulls——1,44181.96/cwt81.00–83.001,1815
Bulls——1,73487.11/cwt83.50–91.501,51029
Bulls——1,97395.55/cwt91.00–102.001,88518
Bulls——Natural2,04594.50/cwt94.50–94.501,9332
Slaughter Cattle · Cows14 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight85752.61/cwt52.50–53.004515
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,14464.90/cwt64.00–65.0074221
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,14658.12/cwt53.00–61.0066617
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,22064.13/cwt62.00–68.0078221
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,22060.00/cwt60.00–60.007325
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,38668.03/cwt66.50–72.0094338
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,44062.93/cwt60.00–64.2590628
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,44769.00/cwt69.00–69.009983
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,48366.53/cwt64.00–69.5098743
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,51174.53/cwt71.00–76.501,12636
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,52473.69/cwt69.50–77.501,1235
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,58078.00/cwt78.00–78.001,2322
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,59574.04/cwt71.00–77.001,18110
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,61781.62/cwt79.00–84.501,32013
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs9 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,291950.00/cwt950.00–950.0012,2655
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,4701,395.85/cwt1,300.00–1,450.0020,51926
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4881,100.00/cwt1,100.00–1,100.0016,3688
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5031,699.43/cwt1,525.00–1,760.0025,54226
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5551,250.00/cwt1,250.00–1,250.0019,4385
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5901,251.72/cwt1,100.00–1,275.0019,90245
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,6151,425.00/cwt1,425.00–1,425.0023,01415
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,6551,250.00/cwt1,250.00–1,250.0020,6884
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,7401,625.00/cwt1,625.00–1,625.0028,2751
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed89368.69/cwt62.00–70.006137
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 194278.33/cwt70.00–101.0073848
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,11566.03/cwt63.50–73.0073634
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs3 lots · lightest first
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 11,2061,525.00/cwt1,525.00–1,525.0018,3928
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,2201,325.00/cwt1,325.00–1,325.0016,1653
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 11,2911,667.17/cwt1,600.00–1,725.0021,52335
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Large 11,1721,110.00/cwt1,110.00–1,110.0013,00930
Bred Cows—Large 11,20666.50/cwt66.50–66.508028
Bred Cows—Large 11,23968.50/cwt68.50–68.508497
Bred Cows—Large 11,2401,046.25/cwt1,000.00–1,075.0012,97461
Bred Cows—Large 1Broken Mouth1,30065.11/cwt64.50–65.75846202

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.