Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-10-21

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Oct 21
● Final109 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
6,510 head
▲ 2,245 vs last sale 4,265▲ 4,236 vs year ago 2,274 · +186.3%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
414 head
▲ 44 vs last sale 370▲ 274 vs year ago 140 · +195.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
122 head
▼ 81 vs last sale 203▲ 46 vs year ago 76 · +60.5%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearlings were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings was mostly moderate. Steer calves under 400 lbs were too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, sharply lower undertones were noticed. 400-449 lbs steers sold steady to weak, 450 lbs and up sold mostly 3.00-6.00 lower with instances of steady seen on very attractive steers. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold steady to firm, 450-599 lbs heifers sold steady to 5.00 lower, heifers over 600 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, steady to lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Many long strings off reputation ranches were seen this week. Demand for calves was uneven, as average quality calves sold on light to moderate demand, while high quality cattle sold on moderate to good demand. Transportation continue to be the biggest factor limiting demand. Trucks are very tight and several buyers left as soon as they filled the trucks they had available. Buyers were not willing to buy un-weaned calves without wheels to get them to their final destination. Buyers focused on buying front end calves, especially ones with two rounds of vaccinations and passed or discounted average quality calves or calves with only spring shots. Price spreads for 50 lbs increments reached 20.00 cwt in many instances. Heavy discounts were seen on plain or average quality cattle. Some cattle showed some dirt this week as trucks have been running nearly around the clock and some pens remain dirty after last weeks rain. The best demand seen this week was for high quality cattle suitable to run as yearlings. California is expected to get 3 inches of rain in the nearby forecast and demand for light grass calves remains good as a result. Market activity this week was mostly moderate to active. Weight up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. An additional packer buyer was on hand this week and packers were aggressive as they fought over market share. Slaughter cows sold mostly 5.00 higher on boning cows, lean cows sold steady to 3.00 higher. Feeding cows sold with the best demand this week as both packers and feeding buyers showed good demand as they competed over offerings. Feeding cows sold mostly 4.00-7.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week as all cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady to higher undertones were seen on a higher quality offering this week.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $167.84/cwt on 2,609 head.
Average price
$167.84
2,609 head · 523 lb average
Value per head Derived
$878
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$532
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Small and Medium 2-3
$77.01/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−3.57
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1532172.019161,977
Medium and Large 2394159.4962983
Medium 1545158.8586653
Medium and Large 1-2506157.01795420
Large 1534148.7279456
Small and Medium 2-340495.0038420
One grade step is worth $77.01/cwt here — about $532 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 sale2,609 hd
167.84
—
MT average4 barns · 5,701 hd
171.41
−3.57
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—Low1,51274.851,13224
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,51160.009076thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,41852.4974489
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,17243.28507144

Every lot

109 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 · Steers39 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned262200.00/cwt200.00–200.005249
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned291211.87/cwt210.00–212.5061731
Steers—Medium 1308187.00/cwt187.00–187.0057613
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned327207.78/cwt200.00–215.0067929
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned370206.09/cwt195.00–213.00763112
Steers—Medium and Large 2379162.00/cwt162.00–162.0061457
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned386187.97/cwt183.00–193.0072626
Steers—Small and Medium 2-3Unweaned40495.00/cwt95.00–95.0038420
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned418200.07/cwt187.00–209.00836239
Steers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned428154.00/cwt154.00–154.0065926
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned429172.89/cwt165.00–180.0074239
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2453162.00/cwt162.00–162.0073441
Steers—Medium 1462150.00/cwt150.00–150.006935
Steers—Medium 1Unweaned464162.00/cwt162.00–162.007528
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned483178.99/cwt170.00–190.50865223
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned487159.61/cwt150.00–166.00777102
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2505144.00/cwt144.00–144.007274
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned529169.16/cwt155.00–175.00895310
Steers—Medium and Large 1534165.25/cwt164.00–169.0088289
Steers—Large 1Unweaned534148.72/cwt147.00–149.0079456
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned536148.49/cwt144.00–150.0079658
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Full544139.00/cwt139.00–139.0075610
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned566145.54/cwt141.00–150.00824102
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned571161.39/cwt150.00–166.00922547
Steers—Medium and Large 1578170.00/cwt170.00–170.0098338
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned624152.85/cwt148.50–160.50954210
Steers—Medium and Large 1624150.00/cwt150.00–150.0093613
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned625145.69/cwt144.00–147.0091119
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned670148.88/cwt144.00–156.0099737
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fancy683160.75/cwt160.75–160.751,09838
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned684142.00/cwt142.00–142.009716
Steers—Medium 1699146.00/cwt146.00–146.001,02127
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full726134.00/cwt134.00–134.009734
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned738130.00/cwt130.00–130.009592
Steers—Medium and Large 1741138.00/cwt138.00–138.001,0236
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned742147.50/cwt147.50–147.501,0948
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2805145.00/cwt145.00–145.001,1672
Steers—Medium and Large 1817153.58/cwt149.00–154.001,25537
Steers—Medium and Large 1908147.00/cwt147.00–147.001,3356
Feeder Cattle · Heifers35 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned248185.00/cwt185.00–185.004596
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned285190.76/cwt190.00–195.0054412
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned289186.20/cwt182.50–187.0053823
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned308150.00/cwt150.00–150.004628
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned317176.79/cwt175.00–177.5056049
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned343181.80/cwt180.00–190.0062422
Heifers—Medium and Large 1345188.00/cwt188.00–188.006494
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2363155.00/cwt155.00–155.005638
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned370180.28/cwt172.00–189.00667193
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned389159.93/cwt155.00–170.0062257
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned424137.50/cwt137.50–137.5058316
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned435167.65/cwt160.00–175.25729336
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned437149.25/cwt145.00–151.0065241
Heifers—Medium 1449150.00/cwt150.00–150.006745
Heifers—Medium and Large 1472157.97/cwt153.00–163.0074641
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned475153.12/cwt145.00–162.50727423
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned480139.59/cwt139.00–142.0067010
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned515138.00/cwt138.00–138.0071135
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned519149.34/cwt139.00–155.75775500
Heifers—Medium and Large 1520150.00/cwt150.00–150.0078031
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned544134.24/cwt127.50–135.0073028
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned564139.53/cwt130.00–142.50787274
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned571128.50/cwt126.00–130.0073422
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2587127.13/cwt127.00–129.0074615
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned606137.28/cwt130.00–139.00832129
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned658135.28/cwt130.00–139.0089029
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned738122.00/cwt122.00–122.009003
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned779125.00/cwt125.00–125.009746
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full812132.50/cwt132.50–132.501,07617
Heifers—Medium and Large 1826137.57/cwt136.50–138.501,13652
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2839133.00/cwt133.00–133.001,1164
Heifers—Medium and Large 1871135.50/cwt135.50–135.501,1809
Heifers—Medium and Large 1946130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,2309
Heifers—Medium and Large 1999130.50/cwt130.50–130.501,3046
Heifers—Large 11,055125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,3193
Feeder Cattle · Bulls11 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned259200.00/cwt200.00–200.005184
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned367186.00/cwt186.00–186.0068325
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned406174.71/cwt167.00–178.0070920
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned469153.10/cwt151.50–167.5071832
Bulls—Medium and Large 1543152.00/cwt152.00–152.0082534
Bulls—Large 1Unweaned589132.00/cwt132.00–132.007776
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned626134.91/cwt134.00–136.0084513
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned684128.00/cwt128.00–128.008766
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned723122.00/cwt122.00–122.008822
Bulls—Large 11,08094.00/cwt94.00–94.001,0151
Bulls—Large 11,13790.56/cwt90.00–92.001,03014
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,20774.38/cwt67.00–76.008989
Bulls——Light Weight1,43674.50/cwt74.50–74.501,0705
Bulls——1,79674.71/cwt70.00–77.001,3429
Bulls——2,09082.00/cwt82.00–82.001,7141
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight96833.47/cwt25.00–35.003248
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,11048.00/cwt48.00–48.005331
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,17344.83/cwt39.00–47.0052662
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,17743.47/cwt41.00–44.005129
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,17735.98/cwt32.00–37.0042320
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,18032.99/cwt30.00–37.003899
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21149.40/cwt47.00–53.0059835
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,29061.98/cwt61.00–63.008003
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40668.04/cwt65.00–71.5095711
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40850.56/cwt45.50–57.0071252
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,45835.00/cwt35.00–35.005102
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,46147.81/cwt45.50–53.0069917
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,47356.30/cwt55.00–58.008294
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,47754.00/cwt54.00–54.007984
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,58072.00/cwt72.00–72.001,1382
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 195790.78/cwt69.00–101.0086933
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,02353.00/cwt53.00–53.005424
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,03876.52/cwt69.00–82.5079434
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,16950.00/cwt50.00–50.005855
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 141,000.00/cwt1,000.00–1,000.00404

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.