Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2022-01-20

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jan 20
● Final102 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
2,897 head
▲ 1,609 vs last sale 1,288▲ 2,169 vs year ago 728 · +297.9%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
201 head
▼ 1,084 vs last sale 1,285▼ 193 vs year ago 394 · −49.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
130 head
▼ 499 vs last sale 629▼ 76 vs year ago 206 · −36.9%
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 week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed. Yearling quality was average to attractive. Demand was mostly good for all yearlings on offer. Steer calves under 550 lbs sold generally steady. Steer calves over 550 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Heifer calves under 800 lbs sold steady to firm, heifers over 800 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was average to attractive. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to run on grass. Most of this weeks offering were weaned for 45 days or longer. Some sets of weaned calves were showing some flesh this week and were discounted as a result. A large buyer pool was on hand again this week and market activity was mostly active as buyers pushed to fill orders throughout todays long sale. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers purchased most cows for immediate harvest this week as snow and cold have slowed down cattle available close to the plant. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher on all classes. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on a limited test. Slaughter bulls sold steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average and lower than last week. Demand for young age cows was light to moderate.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $180.73/cwt on 1,271 head.
Average price
$180.73
1,271 head · 620 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,120
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$11
per head · Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$12.80/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−9.08
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Large 1543186.151,01120
Medium 1-2399184.6073730
Medium and Large 1630181.251,1411,112
Medium and Large 1-2590173.351,022109
One grade step is worth $12.80/cwt here — about −$11 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 sale1,271 hd
180.73
—
MT average4 barns · 4,942 hd
189.81
−9.08
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—High1,81882.431,49825
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,56862.149759thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,37156.2177124
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,18652.1361882

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 · Steers28 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2363196.21/cwt195.00–205.007129
Steers—Medium 1-2391185.00/cwt185.00–185.0072324
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned411221.00/cwt221.00–221.0090810
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2414207.00/cwt207.00–207.008576
Steers—Medium 1-2431183.00/cwt183.00–183.007896
Steers—Medium and Large 1439219.07/cwt213.00–235.0096271
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2455202.00/cwt202.00–202.009195
Steers—Medium and Large 1472210.65/cwt207.50–216.0099437
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned475206.00/cwt206.00–206.009795
Steers—Large 1509192.00/cwt192.00–192.0097711
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2521181.69/cwt179.00–185.0094715
Steers—Medium and Large 1524200.98/cwt195.50–210.001,05351
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fancy557207.50/cwt207.50–207.501,15636
Steers—Medium and Large 1567194.31/cwt189.00–200.001,102184
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy574164.91/cwt164.00–165.5094723
Steers—Large 1585179.00/cwt179.00–179.001,0479
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2590173.30/cwt168.00–185.001,02238
Steers—Medium and Large 1620184.48/cwt175.00–189.001,144117
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned632175.00/cwt175.00–175.001,10631
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy645166.00/cwt166.00–166.001,07116
Steers—Medium and Large 1673169.91/cwt164.50–176.501,143221
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2688162.00/cwt162.00–162.001,11519
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2720149.63/cwt148.00–153.001,0776
Steers—Medium and Large 1723162.96/cwt160.00–167.001,178199
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2757146.00/cwt146.00–146.001,1055
Steers—Medium and Large 1766163.11/cwt156.00–166.001,24993
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Full806143.50/cwt143.50–143.501,1576
Steers—Medium and Large 1811160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,29818
Feeder Cattle · Heifers34 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium 1372172.00/cwt172.00–172.0064017
Heifers—Medium 1-2378150.93/cwt150.00–155.0057132
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2382162.55/cwt160.00–165.006216
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned395165.00/cwt165.00–165.006527
Heifers—Medium and Large 1426190.50/cwt190.50–190.5081232
Heifers—Large 1429168.00/cwt168.00–168.007215
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2436170.53/cwt157.50–179.0074432
Heifers—Medium 2455125.00/cwt125.00–125.0056916
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy463154.00/cwt154.00–154.007138
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned466171.00/cwt171.00–171.0079718
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2473163.41/cwt159.00–170.0077342
Heifers—Medium and Large 1485181.76/cwt175.00–185.50882164
Heifers—Large 1488168.00/cwt168.00–168.008208
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fancy508184.00/cwt184.00–184.00935105
Heifers—Large 1-2514154.00/cwt154.00–154.007929
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy532162.00/cwt162.00–162.008625
Heifers—Medium and Large 1533170.33/cwt165.00–174.00908103
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2573158.58/cwt156.00–162.0090912
Heifers—Medium and Large 1575169.62/cwt164.00–176.0097588
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy594154.00/cwt154.00–154.0091518
Heifers—Large 1598155.00/cwt155.00–155.009278
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy606153.50/cwt153.50–153.5093018
Heifers—Medium 1608155.00/cwt155.00–155.009426
Heifers—Medium and Large 1634159.69/cwt157.50–162.001,01292
Heifers—Medium and Large 1674153.57/cwt150.00–158.001,03565
Heifers—Medium and Large 1716150.86/cwt144.50–153.001,08066
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy741140.00/cwt140.00–140.001,03711
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2749135.50/cwt135.50–135.501,0155
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2781135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,05410
Heifers—Medium and Large 1805138.50/cwt138.50–138.501,1155
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full858135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,1583
Heifers—Large 1875140.00/cwt140.00–140.001,2254
Heifers—Medium and Large 1885139.42/cwt139.00–139.501,23424
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full925130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,2034
Feeder Cattle · Bulls15 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned385206.02/cwt202.00–207.0079315
Bulls—Medium and Large 1424195.00/cwt195.00–195.008274
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned459198.89/cwt191.00–200.0091326
Bulls—Medium and Large 1493175.00/cwt175.00–175.008634
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned538171.00/cwt171.00–171.009203
Bulls—Medium and Large 1545163.45/cwt162.00–172.508917
Bulls—Medium and Large 1565164.00/cwt164.00–164.009274
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2577149.70/cwt148.00–152.008649
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned618164.00/cwt164.00–164.001,0142
Bulls—Medium and Large 1633154.00/cwt154.00–154.009756
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2739143.00/cwt143.00–143.001,0578
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2922115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,0603
Bulls—Large 11,003131.00/cwt131.00–131.001,3144
Bulls—Large 11,101106.00/cwt106.00–106.001,1674
Bulls—Large 11,17594.00/cwt94.00–94.001,1052
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,42883.67/cwt81.00–86.001,1956
Bulls——1,76270.48/cwt66.00–76.001,2423
Bulls——1,83591.00/cwt91.00–91.001,6701
Bulls——1,95684.16/cwt82.00–86.501,64614
Bulls——2,36578.00/cwt78.00–78.001,8451
Slaughter Cattle · Cows10 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight95445.16/cwt44.00–47.004317
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,05543.00/cwt43.00–43.004541
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,14548.82/cwt44.00–51.0055923
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21653.65/cwt53.00–55.0065222
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,25655.59/cwt52.50–59.5069829
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,36958.09/cwt55.50–61.5079517
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,37651.66/cwt48.00–54.507117
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,51267.50/cwt67.50–67.501,0213
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,51861.00/cwt61.00–61.009262
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,63658.68/cwt54.00–63.509604
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Large 192269.87/cwt61.00–79.006446
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed92657.00/cwt57.00–57.005285
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-295545.00/cwt45.00–45.004301
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,02283.40/cwt71.00–100.0085226
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,02565.06/cwt58.00–82.0066716
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,174850.00/cwt850.00–850.009,9794
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,180685.00/cwt685.00–685.008,0836
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1861,250.00/cwt1,250.00–1,250.0014,82514
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,265725.00/cwt725.00–725.009,1716
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,489885.00/cwt885.00–885.0013,1784

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.