Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-10-28

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Oct 28
● Final106 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
5,327 head
▼ 1,183 vs last sale 6,510▲ 2,093 vs year ago 3,234 · +64.7%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
285 head
▼ 129 vs last sale 414▲ 11 vs year ago 274 · +4.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
185 head
▲ 63 vs last sale 122▲ 70 vs year ago 115 · +60.9%
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 last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand for yearlings was mostly good. Steer calves under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, lower undertones were noticed. 400-599 lbs steers sold steady to 5.00 higher, steer calves over 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves under 400 lbs sold mostly 10.00 lower, 400-549 lbs heifers sold steady to 8.00 lower, heifers over 550 lbs sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive. Demand for calves remains uneven. Transportation remains the biggest factor limiting demand as buyers continue to struggle to find trucks. Much like last week 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. After buyers exhausted the trucks they had available many exited the market. Prices declined as buyers filled trucks, as many of these offerings would have to remain in the yards until buyers can find transportation. Weaned calves have started to sell at a premium as some buyers have reported some health issues with un-weaned calves as nights are getting colder and days remain unseasonably warm. Market activity this week was moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for light offerings. The additional packer buyer seen last week was not at the sale this week. All cows sold lower as less buying power was on hand for todays sale. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower. Weigh up conditions this week were below average with many very full cows on offer. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on boning and lean cows, breaking cows sold with lower undertones. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Demand was mostly light to moderate. Quality for this class of cows was average 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 $163.68/cwt on 2,234 head.
Average price
$163.68
2,234 head · 547 lb average
Value per head Derived
$895
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$46
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1
$8.99/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−5.02
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1557164.939181,872
Medium and Large 2388160.3662350
Medium 1-2403158.0063725
Medium and Large 1-2503156.95790184
Medium 1559155.94872103
One grade step is worth $8.99/cwt here — about $46 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 sale2,234 hd
163.68
—
MT average4 barns · 5,900 hd
168.70
−5.02
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—Average1,81875.571,3746thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,59955.838936thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,40550.1470558
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,21143.1452270

Every lot

106 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 · Steers46 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned280205.00/cwt205.00–205.005741
Steers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned293172.50/cwt172.50–172.505056
Steers—Medium and Large 1337197.50/cwt197.50–197.5066610
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned338197.83/cwt187.50–210.0066925
Steers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned365166.50/cwt166.50–166.5060822
Steers—Medium 1Unweaned373162.00/cwt162.00–162.006043
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned374202.46/cwt197.00–212.0075715
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned374172.93/cwt167.50–180.0064711
Steers—Medium 1398170.00/cwt170.00–170.0067714
Steers—Medium 1-2Unweaned403158.00/cwt158.00–158.0063725
Steers—Medium and Large 1408214.37/cwt195.00–215.0087566
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned425189.09/cwt182.00–195.00804118
Steers—Medium and Large 2430153.00/cwt153.00–153.0065820
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned433177.56/cwt168.00–180.0076946
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2442161.00/cwt161.00–161.0071219
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fancy454196.42/cwt196.00–197.0089217
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned470173.07/cwt167.00–189.00813157
Steers—Medium and Large 1484183.67/cwt179.00–193.0088945
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned495160.75/cwt160.00–161.0079612
Steers—Medium and Large 1511163.68/cwt163.00–165.0083621
Steers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned515130.00/cwt130.00–130.006702
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2517140.00/cwt140.00–140.007243
Steers—Medium 1Unweaned519156.50/cwt154.00–158.0081231
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned524162.40/cwt155.00–171.00851371
Steers—Medium 1540156.00/cwt156.00–156.0084218
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned541148.32/cwt140.00–155.0080236
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fancy569166.97/cwt166.50–167.0095065
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned571140.32/cwt135.00–150.0080141
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned575154.48/cwt148.50–163.00888476
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2594144.00/cwt144.00–144.0085511
Steers—Medium and Large 1602152.00/cwt152.00–152.009153
Steers—Medium 1Unweaned604126.00/cwt126.00–126.007614
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned622155.35/cwt150.00–164.00966229
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned660145.00/cwt145.00–145.009575
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full664146.50/cwt146.50–146.5097312
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned668158.86/cwt144.00–163.501,061119
Steers—Medium 1687152.50/cwt152.50–152.501,04833
Steers—Medium and Large 1693147.00/cwt147.00–147.001,0198
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned728158.33/cwt157.00–159.001,15312
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full730143.00/cwt143.00–143.001,0443
Steers—Medium and Large 1745149.25/cwt144.00–150.501,11226
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned753144.00/cwt144.00–144.001,08414
Steers—Medium and Large 1755148.00/cwt148.00–148.001,1173
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned804141.50/cwt141.50–141.501,1386
Steers—Medium and Large 1840159.50/cwt159.50–159.501,34020
Steers—Medium and Large 1864156.50/cwt156.50–156.501,35230
Feeder Cattle · Heifers32 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned289170.00/cwt170.00–170.004915
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned303141.00/cwt141.00–141.0042713
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned324173.58/cwt170.00–180.0056241
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned331167.50/cwt167.50–167.505547
Heifers—Medium and Large 1343186.00/cwt186.00–186.0063812
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned376166.62/cwt158.00–175.0062654
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned378165.00/cwt165.00–165.006249
Heifers—Medium 1-2384130.00/cwt130.00–130.004994
Heifers—Medium and Large 1390174.00/cwt174.00–174.0067919
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned393144.00/cwt144.00–144.0056644
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned432159.87/cwt150.00–165.00691208
Heifers—Medium and Large 1436170.50/cwt170.50–170.5074358
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Full445141.00/cwt141.00–141.0062726
Heifers—Medium and Large 1453159.56/cwt148.00–160.5072328
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned469136.00/cwt136.00–136.006384
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned481152.01/cwt145.00–164.50731331
Heifers—Small and Medium 1Unweaned496121.00/cwt121.00–121.0060012
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement516154.50/cwt154.50–154.5079790
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned525143.60/cwt139.00–150.00754438
Heifers—Medium and Large 1536145.00/cwt145.00–145.0077756
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned541141.00/cwt141.00–141.0076312
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned571140.61/cwt131.00–144.00803265
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned591129.61/cwt129.50–130.007669
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned616138.33/cwt132.50–141.7585275
Heifers—Medium and Large 1650139.00/cwt139.00–139.0090410
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned662139.73/cwt127.00–142.0092534
Heifers—Medium and Large 1739128.50/cwt128.50–128.509508
Heifers—Medium and Large 1776151.82/cwt149.00–153.501,17862
Heifers—Medium and Large 1872146.66/cwt142.00–149.001,2799
Heifers—Medium and Large 1900137.00/cwt137.00–137.001,2332
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2940130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,2222
Heifers—Medium and Large 1966134.81/cwt128.50–137.001,30212
Feeder Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned353180.00/cwt180.00–180.006356
Bulls—Medium and Large 2400129.00/cwt129.00–129.005167
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned407168.00/cwt168.00–168.006845
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned491149.52/cwt147.00–158.0073422
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned500148.00/cwt148.00–148.007403
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned552147.00/cwt147.00–147.008113
Bulls—Large 1592130.00/cwt130.00–130.0077010
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned625145.00/cwt145.00–145.009066
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,43580.50/cwt80.50–80.501,1551
Bulls——1,85973.04/cwt72.00–75.001,3583
Bulls——1,94876.90/cwt76.00–78.001,4982
Slaughter Cattle · Cows14 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,07636.85/cwt36.00–39.003975
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,11332.91/cwt32.00–34.0036611
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,17548.00/cwt48.00–48.005641
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,19441.62/cwt39.00–45.004979
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,24145.05/cwt40.50–47.0055938
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,33956.50/cwt56.50–56.507576
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,37555.96/cwt55.00–59.5076917
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,41247.20/cwt44.00–49.0066634
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,42865.00/cwt65.00–65.009282
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,43539.50/cwt39.50–39.505671
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,46145.62/cwt43.00–49.006674
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,52564.00/cwt64.00–64.009761
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,53556.00/cwt56.00–56.008602
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,66753.00/cwt53.00–53.008843
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-292973.18/cwt71.00–75.006805
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 196693.54/cwt70.00–99.5090474
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,02870.25/cwt55.00–93.0072252

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.