Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2021-12-02

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Dec 2
● Final124 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
3,923 head
▼ 329 vs last sale 4,252▼ 944 vs year ago 4,867 · −19.4%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
192 head
▼ 194 vs last sale 386▼ 220 vs year ago 412 · −53.4%
Replacement Cattle receipts
99 head
▼ 113 vs last sale 212▼ 123 vs year ago 222 · −55.4%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago: Yearling steers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers sold mostly 5.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Demand however remains very good for all yearlings on offer. Steer calves under 400 lbs sold sharply higher, steers over 400 lbs sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher. Heifer calves under 400 lbs sold sharply higher, 400-599 lbs heifers sold steady to 3.00 higher. Heifer calves over 600 lbs sold 2.00-5.00 higher. Quality this week was average to very attractive for both calves and yearlings. Demand for calves was mostly moderate to good. The best demand continues to be for light weight calves suitable to develop into yearlings. CME positions have continued to inch higher since the last sale. Today, higher bids were seen on finished cattle which added additional fundamental support to the market. Calves were offered in mostly moderate size packages this week with a few light load lots seen. Market activity this sale was mostly active with a large buyer pool actively biding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand this sale. Packer buyers showed slightly stronger demand for cows for immediate harvest. Feeding cow buyers were active as well, bidding aggressively on todays light offering. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher on all classes in a narrow comparison. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop any market trend.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $151.76/cwt on 1,652 head.
Average price
$151.76
1,652 head · 603 lb average
Value per head Derived
$916
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$12
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$22.93/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−1.65
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1627153.389621,307
Medium 1476152.74727184
Medium and Large 1-2543140.63763104
Medium 1-2429137.5059011thin
Medium and Large 2507130.4766227
Large 1747130.4597419thin
One grade step is worth $22.93/cwt here — about −$12 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 sale1,652 hd
151.76
—
MT average4 barns · 2,552 hd
153.41
−1.65
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—Average1,65277.671,28330
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,63564.691,0585thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,42654.4177626
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,18644.2752584

Every lot

124 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 · Steers37 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1310230.00/cwt230.00–230.007133
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned381223.04/cwt210.00–233.0085037
Steers—Medium and Large 1389228.06/cwt227.50–229.0088713
Steers—Medium 1-2404162.50/cwt162.50–162.506577
Steers—Medium and Large 1413206.36/cwt202.00–214.0085230
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned427210.17/cwt205.00–225.0089747
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned436196.00/cwt190.00–197.508555
Steers—Medium 1Unweaned463150.00/cwt150.00–150.006958
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned466191.89/cwt187.50–192.5089425
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned473196.29/cwt191.00–204.0092859
Steers—Medium 1478155.00/cwt155.00–155.0074110
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2488175.00/cwt175.00–175.008542
Steers—Medium and Large 1517190.00/cwt190.00–190.0098210
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned517189.54/cwt181.00–195.00980242
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2534176.63/cwt165.00–179.0094336
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned536168.90/cwt149.50–179.0090516
Steers—Medium 1544160.00/cwt160.00–160.0087014
Steers—Medium and Large 1564168.33/cwt165.50–174.50949124
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2567154.00/cwt154.00–154.0087317
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned586170.51/cwt162.00–181.00999174
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned618167.62/cwt163.00–170.001,036157
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned623150.31/cwt149.50–159.0093640
Steers—Medium and Large 1629164.29/cwt163.00–174.501,03370
Steers—Large 1Unweaned630151.00/cwt151.00–151.009511
Steers—Medium and Large 2641141.00/cwt141.00–141.009044
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2660148.25/cwt145.00–154.0097811
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full671146.00/cwt146.00–146.0098013
Steers—Medium and Large 1674161.21/cwt159.00–163.001,08718
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned679161.46/cwt154.00–168.001,09641
Steers—Large 1690151.00/cwt151.00–151.001,0422
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy691150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,03710
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned718159.19/cwt152.00–164.501,14341
Steers—Medium and Large 1730161.93/cwt156.00–166.001,18244
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned824150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,2365
Steers—Medium and Large 1853164.67/cwt163.50–165.501,40541
Steers—Medium and Large 1912168.75/cwt168.75–168.751,539126
Steers—Large 11,068134.00/cwt134.00–134.001,43110
Feeder Cattle · Heifers53 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium 1320155.00/cwt155.00–155.004965
Heifers—Medium and Large 1327187.50/cwt187.50–187.506133
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned334190.00/cwt190.00–190.006354
Heifers—Medium 1Unweaned373175.00/cwt175.00–175.006532
Heifers—Medium 1-2374152.50/cwt152.50–152.505705
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned381189.33/cwt186.00–190.0072134
Heifers—Medium and Large 1385181.21/cwt179.00–188.0069823
Heifers—Medium 1409156.28/cwt154.00–160.0063994
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned412176.34/cwt172.00–180.0072720
Heifers—Medium and Large 1418167.34/cwt165.00–171.0069916
Heifers—Medium 1Unweaned419157.00/cwt157.00–157.0065815
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2460145.00/cwt145.00–145.0066711
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned470160.10/cwt155.00–168.00752146
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned475143.14/cwt139.00–152.0068026
Heifers—Medium 1-2475125.00/cwt125.00–125.005946
Heifers—Medium and Large 1479158.23/cwt149.00–165.0075831
Heifers—Medium and Large 2479133.55/cwt129.00–137.0064014
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full491132.00/cwt132.00–132.0064815
Heifers—Medium 1493142.00/cwt142.00–142.0070023
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned511150.90/cwt150.50–151.0077115
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned519129.00/cwt129.00–129.006707
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fancy524166.25/cwt166.25–166.2587166
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned524145.00/cwt145.00–145.007609
Heifers—Medium and Large 1534153.02/cwt149.50–154.0081726
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2536145.00/cwt145.00–145.0077712
Heifers—Medium 1Unweaned539142.50/cwt142.50–142.507689
Heifers—Large 1541131.00/cwt131.00–131.0070912
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fancy552157.00/cwt157.00–157.008679
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2553135.00/cwt135.00–135.007474
Heifers—Medium and Large 2559125.00/cwt125.00–125.006996
Heifers—Medium and Large 1575151.57/cwt147.00–153.00872137
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned575148.43/cwt142.00–155.00853137
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned579136.50/cwt135.00–140.0079030
Heifers—Medium 1583142.50/cwt142.50–142.508316
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full589136.00/cwt136.00–136.0080117
Heifers—Medium and Large 1613143.66/cwt137.00–147.5088182
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2618135.00/cwt135.00–135.008346
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned622146.65/cwt140.00–152.0091294
Heifers—Medium and Large 1656140.04/cwt137.00–146.0091917
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned679142.45/cwt137.00–145.0096716
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy688131.00/cwt131.00–131.009017
Heifers—Medium 1692151.00/cwt151.00–151.001,04530
Heifers—Medium and Large 1711148.52/cwt135.00–154.501,05654
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned711138.38/cwt135.00–139.0098413
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2769136.50/cwt136.50–136.501,0506
Heifers—Medium and Large 1770150.74/cwt131.00–156.001,16117
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned779136.00/cwt136.00–136.001,05910
Heifers—Medium and Large 1810151.56/cwt146.00–155.001,228101
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fancy855156.50/cwt156.50–156.501,33852
Heifers—Medium and Large 1871148.49/cwt146.00–149.001,29340
Heifers—Medium and Large 1910151.35/cwt145.00–153.001,37797
Heifers—Medium and Large 11,004135.50/cwt135.50–135.501,3608
Heifers—Large 11,099129.50/cwt129.50–129.501,4237
Feeder Cattle · Bulls12 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium 1Unweaned339180.00/cwt180.00–180.006104
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned393212.50/cwt212.50–212.508352
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned432194.13/cwt192.50–208.008399
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned462185.00/cwt185.00–185.008559
Bulls—Medium 1-2548133.00/cwt133.00–133.0072912
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned585156.00/cwt156.00–156.009132
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2666133.00/cwt133.00–133.0088624
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2718123.00/cwt123.00–123.008836
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2761131.00/cwt131.00–131.0099710
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2916100.00/cwt100.00–100.009164
Bulls—Medium and Large 1986135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,33122
Bulls—Large 11,096122.00/cwt122.00–122.001,3374
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,42380.00/cwt80.00–80.001,1388
Bulls——Return to Feed1,72282.00/cwt82.00–82.001,4123
Bulls——1,72782.75/cwt80.50–87.001,4296
Bulls——1,73471.43/cwt62.00–77.001,23912
Bulls——1,83590.50/cwt90.50–90.501,6611
Slaughter Cattle · Cows12 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,12334.36/cwt34.00–35.003865
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,13334.00/cwt34.00–34.0038514
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,19053.17/cwt52.50–55.0063322
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,20442.36/cwt38.00–50.0051027
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,21747.35/cwt45.50–50.5057616
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40456.23/cwt53.00–61.5078913
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,42564.86/cwt63.00–66.009243
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,44053.34/cwt53.00–54.007683
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,45052.50/cwt52.50–52.507611
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,46146.11/cwt42.00–49.006746
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,62565.82/cwt65.00–67.501,0703
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,65063.00/cwt63.00–63.001,0402
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 191193.77/cwt85.00–99.0085420
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,02362.22/cwt51.00–80.0063738
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,02647.77/cwt44.50–61.004905
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed975775.00/cwt775.00–775.007,5563
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1881,085.00/cwt1,085.00–1,085.0012,8904

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.