Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-09-30

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Sep 30
● Final61 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
432 head
▼ 4,081 vs last sale 4,513▼ 2,962 vs year ago 3,394 · −87.3%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
1,826 head
▲ 1,053 vs last sale 773▲ 1,255 vs year ago 571 · +219.8%
Replacement Cattle receipts
1,345 head
▲ 1,143 vs last sale 202▲ 1,190 vs year ago 155 · +767.7%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and all calves were scarcely traded this week thus no trend is available. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Demand for yearlings was mostly light for very light offerings. Market activity was slow. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for heavy offerings. Todays sale was comprised mostly of cows, with around 3,000 on offer. A large portion of the cows on offer were bred today. Many were tested at the yards with some selling as ranch tested bred. Cow quality this sale was mixed from plain to very attractive. Demand for cows was mixed today. Packers showed stronger demand for slaughter cows to start the sale, however demand diminished as heavy offerings were seen. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 lower on boning and lean cows, breaking cows sold steady to firm. Feeding cows sold very uneven today as buyers filled orders and traded loads as the sale progressed. Feeding cows sold uneven from 2.00 higher to 4.00 lower, however the bulk of the trade was steady to 3.00 lower. A large portion of the cow offering was destined for feed today as packers and other feeding buyers put many bred or exposed cows on feed. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Bred cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Demand for young cows was very good this sale and most of these offerings were purchased by buyers out of the state. All cows were very full this sale as many filled up on fresh, clean water and good hay while in the yards. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average today. Many cows continue to sell in very thin body condition as drought conditions are widespread. Young age cows sold on good to very good demand today. Several buyers were looking for this class of cow. Young age open cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher on a very attractive offering.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $145.30/cwt on 105 head.
Average price
$145.30
105 head · 736 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,069
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$139
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$22.00/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−12.84
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1744147.501,09771
Medium 1-2673143.3196429
Medium and Large 1-2985125.501,2365thin
One grade step is worth $22.00/cwt here — about −$139 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 sale105 hd
145.30
—
MT average3 barns · 1,680 hd
158.14
−12.84
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—Low1,75181.681,43050
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,68173.201,23124
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,41460.37853495
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,20151.57619690

Every lot

61 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 · Steers5 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium 1716155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,11035
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2780145.00/cwt145.00–145.001,13111
Steers—Medium 1835144.50/cwt144.50–144.501,2075
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full961135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,2975
Steers—Large 1Full1,060133.00/cwt133.00–133.001,4102
Feeder Cattle · Heifers5 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium 1-2644146.00/cwt146.00–146.0094023
Heifers—Medium and Large 1723149.00/cwt149.00–149.001,07765
Heifers—Medium 1-2783133.00/cwt133.00–133.001,0416
Heifers—Medium and Large 1969131.30/cwt128.00–133.001,2726
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2985125.50/cwt125.50–125.501,2365
Feeder Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls—Large 11,173101.67/cwt99.00–103.001,1939
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,62081.01/cwt79.50–81.501,3126
Bulls——1,62775.83/cwt69.00–79.501,2347
Bulls——Return to Feed1,63576.99/cwt72.00–79.501,25914
Bulls——1,87483.74/cwt80.00–88.001,56913
Bulls——1,91990.08/cwt88.50–93.001,72910
Slaughter Cattle · Cows20 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight87238.80/cwt33.00–41.0033810
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight91949.79/cwt44.00–52.004584
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,16043.15/cwt41.00–47.0050196
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,19251.56/cwt47.50–53.50615331
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21168.13/cwt67.50–70.008255
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,22952.89/cwt51.00–54.50650124
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,26354.73/cwt54.00–57.0069148
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,26459.22/cwt56.00–63.0074972
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,30547.00/cwt47.00–47.006132
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,37955.25/cwt53.00–58.00762171
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,39459.53/cwt57.00–64.0083034
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,40552.92/cwt50.50–57.0074461
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,42362.47/cwt58.00–69.50889149
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,47074.00/cwt74.00–74.001,0881
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,48774.20/cwt73.00–78.001,10376
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,56580.00/cwt80.00–80.001,2521
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,59071.00/cwt71.00–71.001,1292
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,69268.72/cwt64.00–71.001,16310
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,69880.26/cwt79.50–81.001,3632
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,70075.50/cwt74.00–78.001,28410
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows16 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium 19561,156.64/cwt1,150.00–1,160.0011,0579
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,0551,107.84/cwt985.00–1,175.0011,68818
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,0961,000.00/cwt1,000.00–1,000.0010,9606
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1791,554.24/cwt1,275.00–1,610.0018,324144
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,20751.17/cwt50.00–52.0061827
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,214685.00/cwt685.00–685.008,31640
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2181,394.02/cwt1,100.00–1,500.0016,97985
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,259742.35/cwt700.00–775.009,34661
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2611,054.49/cwt875.00–1,175.0013,29793
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,28155.07/cwt54.50–56.0070534
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,294881.87/cwt825.00–950.0011,411139
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,298800.00/cwt800.00–800.0010,3848
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,38355.00/cwt55.00–55.007614
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,385900.00/cwt900.00–900.0012,46514
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,41955.50/cwt55.50–55.5078812
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4281,175.00/cwt1,175.00–1,175.0016,77913
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 197396.08/cwt76.50–109.00935161
Stock Cows—Large 11,03586.00/cwt86.00–86.008902
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,06780.92/cwt56.00–95.00863126
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,10269.00/cwt69.00–69.0076015
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,10374.29/cwt68.00–79.008195
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,17055.00/cwt55.00–55.006441
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers3 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0081,333.56/cwt1,160.00–1,385.0013,44244
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0151,225.00/cwt1,225.00–1,225.0012,4347
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0471,385.00/cwt1,385.00–1,385.0014,50113

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.