Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-08-05

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Aug 5
● Final119 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,846 head
▼ 608 vs last sale 2,454▲ 1,643 vs year ago 203 · +809.4%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
1,239 head
▲ 247 vs last sale 992▲ 706 vs year ago 533 · +132.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
885 head
▼ 24 vs last sale 909▲ 480 vs year ago 405 · +118.5%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago(7-22-21): Yearling steers under 900 lbs sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher, steers over 900 lbs sold mostly 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Yearling heifers under 800 lbs sold unevenly steady, while heifers over 800 lbs sold mostly 5.00-6.00 higher. Demand was mostly good to very good for all yearlings on offer. This week was the first test of spring born calves. Demand for high quality calves was light to moderate. Many sets of spring born calves were of plain to average quality. Many calves were very green and much lighter in weight than usual. Drought conditions continues to drive these offerings to market. With hot dry and dusty conditions being experienced across a large region many buyers passed on these offerings over health concerns. Several sets of replacement heifers continue to be marketed and consigners continue to offer to abort the heifers at their cost if the buyer wishes to feed them. Market activity was mostly active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for heavy offerings. Packers are fighting both feeding buyers and buyers looking for cows which are bred and selling as weigh ups. This helped support the entire cow market this week. Slaughter cows sold steady to firm, while feeding cows sold steady to 1.00 higher. Cow quality this sale was mostly average to very attractive. Many long strings of cows were on offer this sale. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 3.00 higher. Demand from rebreed buyers was stronger this sale. Buyers were actively purchasing cows to rebreed for fall calving in southern states. Demand for cow calf pairs was mostly good this sale. Quality was average to attractive.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $147.05/cwt on 991 head.
Average price
$147.05
991 head · 728 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,071
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$271
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$15.99/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−0.12
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1733148.611,089700
Medium 1579147.8685798
Medium and Large 1-2619147.62914103
Small and Medium 1483143.006917thin
Large 11,025132.621,35983
One grade step is worth $15.99/cwt here — about −$271 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 sale991 hd
147.05
—
MT average2 barns · 1,188 hd
147.18
−0.12
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—Average1,75790.691,59371
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,52375.581,15189
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,42471.581,019190
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,15665.2275496

Every lot

119 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 · Steers33 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned204200.00/cwt200.00–200.0040816
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned255187.88/cwt187.50–188.0047913
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned323187.00/cwt187.00–187.0060420
Steers—Medium and Large 2342150.00/cwt150.00–150.005133
Steers—Medium and Large 2373147.50/cwt147.50–147.505506
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned380180.09/cwt177.50–185.0068422
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned423176.11/cwt171.00–180.0074522
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned466145.00/cwt145.00–145.006767
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned477171.82/cwt160.00–173.5082025
Steers—Medium 1481165.00/cwt165.00–165.0079412
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2487156.00/cwt156.00–156.007608
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned518145.00/cwt145.00–145.007515
Steers—Medium 1572170.13/cwt169.00–171.009739
Steers—Medium 2616131.00/cwt131.00–131.0080710
Steers—Medium and Large 1623177.35/cwt171.00–183.001,10524
Steers—Medium 1639166.66/cwt164.50–169.001,06522
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2651168.50/cwt168.50–168.501,09711
Steers—Medium and Large 1672171.50/cwt171.50–171.501,15212
Steers—Medium 1691163.00/cwt163.00–163.001,12613
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2720163.00/cwt163.00–163.001,1745
Steers—Medium and Large 1732166.77/cwt163.50–174.001,22171
Steers—Medium and Large 1769163.23/cwt158.00–164.501,25541
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2771149.27/cwt145.00–155.001,1517
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full777150.23/cwt147.50–153.001,16714
Steers—Medium and Large 2788127.00/cwt127.00–127.001,0013
Steers—Medium 1822139.00/cwt139.00–139.001,1433
Steers—Medium and Large 1848152.00/cwt152.00–152.001,2896
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2855135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,1541
Steers—Medium and Large 1874150.87/cwt147.50–155.001,31930
Steers—Medium and Large 1921151.14/cwt145.75–153.001,39284
Steers—Medium and Large 1963139.50/cwt139.50–139.501,3433
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full987133.00/cwt133.00–133.001,3137
Steers—Large 11,034133.42/cwt133.00–136.001,3807
Feeder Cattle · Heifers34 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2239165.00/cwt165.00–165.003947
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2293155.00/cwt155.00–155.004549
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned315155.00/cwt155.00–155.004885
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned370160.00/cwt160.00–160.0059214
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2399145.50/cwt145.50–145.5058112
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned429156.15/cwt150.00–158.5067073
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned460159.18/cwt150.50–159.5073261
Heifers—Medium 1481152.00/cwt152.00–152.0073115
Heifers—Small and Medium 1483143.00/cwt143.00–143.006917
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned535150.53/cwt148.00–151.5080518
Heifers—Medium 1542144.00/cwt144.00–144.007809
Heifers—Medium 1580151.68/cwt151.00–152.5088040
Heifers—Medium 1632142.57/cwt141.00–150.0090134
Heifers—Medium and Large 1648156.00/cwt156.00–156.001,01115
Heifers—Medium and Large 1674153.82/cwt151.00–155.501,03774
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2691149.70/cwt147.50–150.001,03440
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2722146.84/cwt146.00–147.501,0606
Heifers—Medium and Large 1735151.90/cwt150.00–154.001,11627
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full754143.00/cwt143.00–143.001,0784
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2765140.32/cwt139.00–143.001,07325
Heifers—Medium and Large 1780148.83/cwt145.50–150.501,16165
Heifers—Medium and Large 1806146.63/cwt146.50–147.001,18238
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full827141.00/cwt141.00–141.001,1666
Heifers—Medium and Large 1873145.01/cwt141.00–147.501,266206
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fancy901143.00/cwt143.00–143.001,28824
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2903133.00/cwt133.00–133.001,2014
Heifers—Medium and Large 1928136.00/cwt134.50–138.001,26232
Heifers—Medium and Large 1976133.29/cwt130.00–134.251,30134
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full978129.00/cwt129.00–129.001,2624
Heifers—Large 11,012133.47/cwt130.00–134.501,35165
Heifers—Large 1Fancy1,031135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,3929
Heifers—Large 11,062127.59/cwt116.00–133.501,3553
Heifers—Large 11,110128.00/cwt128.00–128.001,4214
Heifers—Large 11,195111.00/cwt111.00–111.001,3262
Feeder Cattle · Bulls9 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1378160.00/cwt160.00–160.006053
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned550160.00/cwt160.00–160.008801
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2969128.00/cwt128.00–128.001,2406
Bulls—Large 11,000122.00/cwt122.00–122.001,2201
Bulls—Large 11,096116.14/cwt116.00–117.001,2737
Bulls—Large 1Fancy1,115120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,3384
Bulls—Large 11,129111.70/cwt108.00–115.001,26114
Bulls—Large 11,185103.49/cwt100.00–107.001,2262
Bulls—Large 11,20095.00/cwt95.00–95.001,1404
Feeder Cattle · Dairy Steers3 lots · lightest first
Dairy Steers—Large 3-442060.00/cwt60.00–60.002523
Dairy Steers—Large 351366.00/cwt66.00–66.0033919
Dairy Steers—Large 371067.00/cwt67.00–67.0047614
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,33785.35/cwt83.00–90.001,1413
Bulls——1,58280.73/cwt78.00–83.001,2775
Bulls——1,66887.94/cwt84.00–91.501,46735
Bulls——1,94496.48/cwt92.00–104.501,87628
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight91566.00/cwt66.00–66.006041
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight92854.62/cwt51.00–60.005076
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,14778.29/cwt70.00–79.5089825
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,15047.00/cwt47.00–47.005411
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,17559.25/cwt54.50–62.0069638
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,20164.47/cwt62.00–66.0077425
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,37368.95/cwt66.00–72.5094745
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,40866.61/cwt64.00–69.5093846
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,44574.71/cwt71.00–78.001,08013
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,45476.27/cwt74.50–79.501,10979
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,47662.33/cwt62.00–63.009207
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,48476.01/cwt73.00–77.501,12870
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,58063.50/cwt63.50–63.501,0031
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,66079.25/cwt78.00–81.501,31610
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,68168.75/cwt66.00–72.001,1568
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs8 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,2341,765.03/cwt1,485.00–1,900.0021,78059
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,4221,699.06/cwt1,675.00–1,725.0024,16122
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,4751,507.75/cwt1,460.00–1,550.0022,23924
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4961,325.00/cwt1,325.00–1,325.0019,8227
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,6381,408.94/cwt1,300.00–1,435.0023,07814
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,6451,435.00/cwt1,435.00–1,435.0023,60613
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,7501,375.00/cwt1,375.00–1,375.0024,0632
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,8521,800.00/cwt1,800.00–1,800.0033,33614
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-293569.00/cwt69.00–69.006451
Stock Cows—Large 11,03584.00/cwt84.00–84.008691
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,12081.45/cwt73.00–101.0091261
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,12569.84/cwt62.00–79.0078629
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,12762.20/cwt58.00–63.007016
Stock Cows—Large 11,27378.90/cwt66.00–80.001,00411
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,36663.00/cwt63.00–63.008615
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0201,275.00/cwt1,275.00–1,275.0013,00511
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0991,000.00/cwt1,000.00–1,000.0010,9906
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,23862.00/cwt62.00–62.007683
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2961,257.54/cwt1,000.00–1,300.0016,29816
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4261,275.00/cwt1,275.00–1,275.0018,18217
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 18821,338.16/cwt1,235.00–1,475.0011,80385

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.