Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-11-04

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Nov 4
● Final102 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
3,407 head
▼ 1,920 vs last sale 5,327▼ 1,884 vs year ago 5,291 · −35.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
374 head
▲ 89 vs last sale 285▼ 60 vs year ago 434 · −13.8%
Replacement Cattle receipts
252 head
▲ 67 vs last sale 185▲ 51 vs year ago 201 · +25.4%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop any accurate market trend. Demand for yearlings was mostly moderate to good. Yearling quality was average to attractive. Steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, steady to higher undertones were noticed. Steers 450-599 lbs sold unevenly steady from 3.00 lower to 5.00 higher; steers over 600 lbs sold mostly 7.00-10.00 lower. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher, while heifers over 500 lbs sold steady to frim. Calf quality this week was mostly average, with a few consignments of attractive cattle. Calves were offered in mostly small packages today with no load lots on offer. Demand remains limited due to limited trucks. Several buyers filled loads and exited the market. Calf prices declined as the sale progressed. Wide price spreads continue to be seen as buyers continue to focus on buying front end calves and calves with two rounds of vaccinations. Market activity this week was moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packer and feeder buyers both showed good demand for cows this week which helped improve prices. The majority of cows this week were purchased for feed. Only very lame or severely blemished cows were purchased for immediate harvest. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend. Higher undertones were noticed on breaking cows, while steady to weak undertones were noticed on boning and lean cows. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 3.00-6.00 lower. Demand was mostly light. Quality for this class of cows was plain to 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 $159.57/cwt on 1,593 head.
Average price
$159.57
1,593 head · 554 lb average
Value per head Derived
$885
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$250
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$35.20/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−5.99
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1564165.009311,168
Medium and Large 1-2530149.60793249
Medium 1474147.6770075
Medium 1-2446135.006025thin
Large 1639130.0083139
Medium and Large 2524129.8068057
One grade step is worth $35.20/cwt here — about $250 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 sale1,593 hd
159.57
—
MT average3 barns · 3,047 hd
165.56
−5.99
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—Low2,23884.001,8802thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,72562.791,08319
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,38851.10709128
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,20142.08505111

Every lot

102 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 · Steers42 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned277203.48/cwt200.00–210.0056411
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned312207.22/cwt205.00–212.5064718
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned327187.71/cwt180.00–200.006145
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2353185.00/cwt185.00–185.006534
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned379180.71/cwt180.00–181.5068520
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned383197.46/cwt189.00–209.50756117
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned425194.60/cwt189.00–197.508276
Steers—Medium 1425152.50/cwt152.50–152.506488
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned437162.19/cwt152.00–165.0070917
Steers—Medium 1Unweaned439145.00/cwt145.00–145.0063735
Steers—Medium 1-2446135.00/cwt135.00–135.006025
Steers—Medium 1474164.50/cwt164.50–164.507807
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned478176.90/cwt164.00–189.50846226
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned481155.56/cwt146.50–163.0074826
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2493156.00/cwt156.00–156.007694
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2500137.50/cwt137.50–137.506883
Steers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned507129.54/cwt110.00–138.0065747
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full510147.00/cwt147.00–147.0075010
Steers—Medium 1Unweaned521149.16/cwt148.00–150.0077712
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned523148.77/cwt140.00–156.0077855
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned533162.04/cwt155.00–166.50864141
Steers—Medium 1556141.45/cwt137.00–148.5078613
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned575160.09/cwt150.75–164.50921166
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned588139.33/cwt134.50–145.0081976
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2588133.00/cwt133.00–133.0078210
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fancy603163.00/cwt163.00–163.0098325
Steers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned605131.00/cwt131.00–131.0079310
Steers—Large 1622133.00/cwt133.00–133.0082724
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned626138.41/cwt127.00–143.0086618
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned627147.81/cwt143.00–152.50927200
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2653134.00/cwt134.00–134.008753
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned658149.76/cwt145.50–150.5098541
Steers—Large 1665122.00/cwt122.00–122.0081112
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned668140.51/cwt138.00–143.009398
Steers—Medium and Large 1670150.66/cwt143.50–153.001,00938
Steers—Large 1Unweaned672138.00/cwt138.00–138.009273
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned711148.90/cwt136.50–153.001,05958
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full725144.00/cwt144.00–144.001,0447
Steers—Medium and Large 1745163.50/cwt163.50–163.501,21867
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned753152.50/cwt152.50–152.501,14824
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned805133.00/cwt133.00–133.001,0713
Steers—Medium and Large 1939145.00/cwt145.00–145.001,36210
Feeder Cattle · Heifers30 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned276192.72/cwt175.00–197.5053212
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned319174.00/cwt174.00–174.0055512
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned335164.00/cwt164.00–164.005491
Heifers—Medium 1Unweaned370160.00/cwt160.00–160.0059224
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned383140.00/cwt140.00–140.0053610
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned387172.09/cwt169.00–176.0066636
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned400147.00/cwt147.00–147.005882
Heifers—Medium 1420144.00/cwt144.00–144.006057
Heifers—Medium and Large 1421165.00/cwt165.00–165.0069510
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned428165.00/cwt150.00–170.5070692
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned431147.50/cwt147.50–147.506364
Heifers—Medium 1Unweaned440142.00/cwt142.00–142.006253
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned482149.92/cwt148.00–168.5072381
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fancy483173.00/cwt173.00–173.0083620
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned483140.87/cwt139.00–142.0068044
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned490124.00/cwt124.00–124.006085
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned509105.00/cwt105.00–105.005345
Heifers—Medium and Large 2514120.00/cwt120.00–120.006178
Heifers—Medium and Large 1517144.34/cwt140.00–150.0074655
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned519144.55/cwt136.50–148.50750300
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned540132.02/cwt131.00–139.5071363
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned564130.63/cwt118.00–134.0073744
Heifers—Medium and Large 1572142.76/cwt140.00–145.2581765
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned576141.56/cwt137.00–146.00815185
Heifers—Medium and Large 1606135.50/cwt135.50–135.5082125
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned609137.95/cwt133.00–142.0084042
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned660127.00/cwt127.00–127.008384
Heifers—Medium and Large 1929139.50/cwt139.50–139.501,29622
Heifers—Large 1-21,000120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,2003
Heifers—Large 11,010130.19/cwt125.00–131.501,31515
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium 1369155.00/cwt155.00–155.005727
Bulls—Medium 1492129.00/cwt129.00–129.006359
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned595118.50/cwt118.50–118.507056
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls——2,10592.50/cwt92.50–92.501,9471
Bulls——2,37075.50/cwt75.50–75.501,7891
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight86836.50/cwt36.50–36.503172
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,19735.81/cwt33.00–37.0042916
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,20043.87/cwt40.50–48.5052672
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,20451.06/cwt50.00–53.006155
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,22338.55/cwt37.50–39.504712
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,25438.15/cwt37.50–38.5047814
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,35349.00/cwt44.50–57.0066371
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,39565.50/cwt65.50–65.509141
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,43258.63/cwt57.50–62.0084031
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,43346.72/cwt40.50–53.5066924
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,44058.00/cwt58.00–58.008351
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,55066.00/cwt66.00–66.001,0232
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,56567.50/cwt67.50–67.501,0561
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,72369.50/cwt69.50–69.501,1972
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,76065.50/cwt65.50–65.501,1531
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,76260.69/cwt59.00–63.001,06913
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-295065.00/cwt65.00–65.006182
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 196386.83/cwt66.00–96.0083654
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed97046.00/cwt46.00–46.004461
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,05667.40/cwt50.50–82.0071289
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1091,063.44/cwt1,060.00–1,075.0011,7949
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,259625.00/cwt625.00–625.007,86912
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2651,075.00/cwt1,075.00–1,075.0013,5993
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,315775.00/cwt775.00–775.0010,19112
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,364788.90/cwt760.00–800.0010,76118

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.