Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-11-18

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Nov 18
● Final136 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
4,252 head
▼ 875 vs last sale 5,127▼ 1,738 vs year ago 5,990 · −29.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
386 head
▲ 58 vs last sale 328▲ 74 vs year ago 312 · +23.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
212 head
▲ 98 vs last sale 114▲ 80 vs year ago 132 · +60.6%
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 last to develop any accurate market trend. Steer calves under 500lbs sold 5.00-10.00 higher with moderate to good demand; Steers 450-599 lbs sold 5.00; steers over 600 lbs

sold mostly steady to 6.00 higher. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold 5.00 to 8.00 higher, while heifers over 500 lbs sold 3.00-8.00 higher. Calf quality this week was average to attractive, with a few consignments of attractive cattle. Calves were offered in mostly small to medium packages today that sold with moderate demand, with a few load lots on offer that sold with good demand for both steers and heifers. Demand remains limited due to limited trucks. 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 with moderate to heavy receipts of feeder cattle. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. The majority of cows recorded this week were purchased for feed. Primarily very lame or severely blemished cows were purchased for immediate harvest. Lower undertones were noticed on all classes of slaughter cows on a light test this and last week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady on a light comparison, with no comparison for bred replacement cows or heifers. Demand was mostly light. Quality for this class of cows was plain to average this week.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $153.15/cwt on 2,045 head.
Average price
$153.15
2,045 head · 571 lb average
Value per head Derived
$875
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$237
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1
$29.04/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+2.09
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1589156.389201,628
Medium and Large 1-2482143.45692290
Large 1564139.1078470
Medium 1537127.3468357
One grade step is worth $29.04/cwt here — about $237 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 sale2,045 hd
153.15
—
MT average5 barns · 4,608 hd
151.05
+2.09
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—Average1,51183.031,25520
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,60052.718437thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,32846.5761928
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,16436.8842963

Every lot

136 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 · Steers47 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned276185.00/cwt185.00–185.005114
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned286219.41/cwt200.00–222.506289
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned325206.31/cwt205.00–208.006717
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned327186.00/cwt186.00–186.006083
Steers—Medium and Large 1355202.61/cwt194.00–205.0071928
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned373164.00/cwt164.00–164.006123
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned377212.58/cwt200.00–219.0080144
Steers—Medium and Large 1425200.00/cwt200.00–200.008507
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Full426132.50/cwt132.50–132.5056410
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned433200.28/cwt189.00–213.00867180
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned436178.00/cwt178.00–178.0077625
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned465196.26/cwt185.50–203.00913168
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned476166.82/cwt150.00–176.0079431
Steers—Medium and Large 1480181.74/cwt161.00–186.5087248
Steers—Medium 1493165.00/cwt165.00–165.008132
Steers—Medium 1Unweaned507164.00/cwt164.00–164.008313
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned524176.03/cwt164.00–183.50922364
Steers—Medium and Large 1528171.30/cwt167.50–173.0090477
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned541145.98/cwt140.00–159.0079017
Steers—Medium 1Full545130.00/cwt130.00–130.007094
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Full553125.00/cwt125.00–125.0069112
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned578168.78/cwt159.00–172.00976261
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned587149.85/cwt141.00–158.508808
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2590148.49/cwt145.00–149.0087622
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2600139.00/cwt139.00–139.008344
Steers—Medium 1Unweaned617137.50/cwt137.50–137.508486
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned620145.00/cwt145.00–145.008993
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned623158.03/cwt148.00–165.0098591
Steers—Medium and Large 1633152.93/cwt145.00–165.5096827
Steers—Large 1Unweaned634155.50/cwt155.50–155.5098619
Steers—Large 1Unweaned652132.50/cwt132.50–132.508643
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned657137.46/cwt135.50–144.0090313
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned667161.80/cwt136.00–165.501,07981
Steers—Medium and Large 1698158.00/cwt158.00–158.001,1032
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned711136.00/cwt136.00–136.009674
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned712153.37/cwt147.00–155.501,09225
Steers—Medium and Large 1733150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,1003
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned758135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,0232
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned773141.00/cwt141.00–141.001,0903
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full783136.00/cwt136.00–136.001,0652
Steers—Medium and Large 1831143.19/cwt134.00–152.001,1904
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned848160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,35723
Steers—Medium and Large 1862151.50/cwt151.50–151.501,30610
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2864134.50/cwt134.50–134.501,1624
Steers—Medium and Large 1916144.01/cwt139.00–152.001,3198
Steers—Medium and Large 1977152.50/cwt152.50–152.501,4903
Steers—Medium and Large 11,064136.50/cwt136.50–136.501,4525
Feeder Cattle · Heifers57 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned155155.00/cwt155.00–155.002406
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned280190.00/cwt190.00–190.005324
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned290170.00/cwt170.00–170.004931
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned314179.30/cwt175.00–190.0056315
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned335157.97/cwt152.50–165.0052924
Heifers—Medium 1Unweaned335156.00/cwt156.00–156.005232
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned366154.18/cwt147.50–156.0056425
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned370163.03/cwt160.00–180.0060330
Heifers—Medium and Large 1371170.00/cwt170.00–170.0063123
Heifers—Medium 1Unweaned374133.64/cwt130.00–135.005007
Heifers—Medium and Large 1412163.34/cwt161.00–168.0067312
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned418173.03/cwt165.00–181.50723142
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned425148.73/cwt130.00–159.0063277
Heifers—Medium 1Unweaned434128.23/cwt126.00–130.0055710
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned435154.00/cwt154.00–154.006703
Heifers—Large 1Full455115.00/cwt115.00–115.0052311
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned474157.02/cwt148.00–167.00744242
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned481144.70/cwt142.00–151.0069623
Heifers—Medium and Large 1484158.24/cwt142.00–162.0076652
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2484140.01/cwt135.00–145.006784
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Full488132.00/cwt132.00–132.006443
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned503130.00/cwt130.00–130.006542
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full516141.00/cwt141.00–141.0072825
Heifers—Medium 1Unweaned522137.73/cwt131.00–146.007197
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned525149.70/cwt140.00–156.50786361
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned526137.39/cwt125.00–145.0072342
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2534141.00/cwt141.00–141.0075311
Heifers—Medium and Large 1535146.09/cwt140.00–152.0078240
Heifers—Medium 1535137.00/cwt137.00–137.007338
Heifers—Medium and Large 1550154.00/cwt154.00–154.008475
Heifers—Medium 1Unweaned555122.50/cwt122.50–122.506803
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned558133.00/cwt133.00–133.0074223
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2561125.00/cwt125.00–125.007017
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned566152.70/cwt147.50–158.50864146
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned574148.83/cwt146.50–150.0085443
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned613136.65/cwt136.00–140.0083813
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full616126.00/cwt126.00–126.007764
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned620145.28/cwt133.00–149.0090142
Heifers—Medium 1Unweaned620121.21/cwt118.00–132.007529
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned624127.00/cwt127.00–127.007927
Heifers—Medium and Large 1639138.77/cwt134.00–142.5088738
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned657134.49/cwt133.00–135.0088412
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned697150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,0465
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned700115.00/cwt115.00–115.008053
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned705149.70/cwt144.00–150.501,05520
Heifers—Medium 1Full707110.00/cwt110.00–110.0077811
Heifers—Medium and Large 1718160.50/cwt160.50–160.501,15223
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2720130.32/cwt123.00–135.5093814
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned720129.50/cwt129.50–129.509325
Heifers—Medium and Large 1754161.50/cwt161.50–161.501,21863
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full810120.00/cwt120.00–120.009722
Heifers—Medium and Large 1837162.50/cwt162.50–162.501,360252
Heifers—Medium and Large 1859155.85/cwt152.00–158.501,33964
Heifers—Medium and Large 1942142.00/cwt142.00–142.001,3387
Heifers—Medium and Large 1979131.71/cwt128.00–133.501,2896
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned1,001133.50/cwt133.50–133.501,3365
Heifers—Large 11,010116.00/cwt116.00–116.001,1721
Feeder Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned298210.00/cwt210.00–210.006264
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned389213.00/cwt213.00–213.008294
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned524143.00/cwt143.00–143.007495
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned599135.50/cwt135.50–135.5081223
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned627143.00/cwt143.00–143.008975
Bulls—Medium and Large 1695134.00/cwt134.00–134.009313
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned784138.00/cwt138.00–138.001,0824
Bulls—Medium and Large 1925117.00/cwt117.00–117.001,0821
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,23289.00/cwt89.00–89.001,09611
Bulls——Return to Feed1,70470.65/cwt66.00–72.001,2044
Bulls——Return to Feed1,84576.00/cwt76.00–76.001,4022
Bulls——2,05582.31/cwt81.00–83.001,6913
Slaughter Cattle · Cows13 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,07526.43/cwt23.50–29.502842
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,09531.19/cwt31.00–31.503423
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,12747.89/cwt45.00–50.0054018
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,14230.15/cwt25.50–37.0034426
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,21858.32/cwt57.50–59.007108
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,24436.87/cwt35.50–40.0045911
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,35642.53/cwt40.00–47.0057716
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,42241.81/cwt40.50–45.005953
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,43739.24/cwt39.00–39.505644
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,45559.00/cwt59.00–59.008581
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,56051.00/cwt51.00–51.007962
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,60051.00/cwt51.00–51.008163
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,82555.00/cwt55.00–55.001,0041
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-287466.65/cwt53.00–75.005833
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 194378.13/cwt51.00–88.00737109
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-295550.00/cwt50.00–50.004782
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 197687.04/cwt68.00–97.0085036
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,06555.00/cwt55.00–55.005865
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,07549.00/cwt49.00–49.005271
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1820750.00/cwt750.00–750.006,1501

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.