Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2022-10-20

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2022-10-20
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2022-10-20

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Oct 20

● Final78 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Oct 13Oct 20Oct 27 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

3,604 head

▲ 1,114 vs last sale 2,490▼ 2,906 vs year ago 6,510 · −44.6%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

303 head

▼ 185 vs last sale 488▼ 111 vs year ago 414 · −26.8%

Replacement Cattle receipts

142 head

▼ 20 vs last sale 162▲ 20 vs year ago 122 · +16.4%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers under 950 lbs sold steady to firm, heifers over 950 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold sharply higher, with most sales 20.00-25.00 higher, 450-549 lbs steers sold mostly 8.00-10.00 higher, 550-599 lbs steers sold unevenly steady, steers over 600 lbs sold 4.00-6.00 lower. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold steady to firm, heifer calves over 500 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower. Demand for all feeders was moderate to good this sale. Overall, quality was mostly average to attractive. The best demand was for light calves suitable to develop into yearlings. Buyers were willing to buy steers up to 560 lbs and heifers up to 500 lbs for that purpose. Package sizes were mostly medium this week with a couple of load lots on offer. Calves with two rounds of vaccinations sold with the best demand today and brought a strong premium to cattle with only one round of vaccinations. Cold and wet conditions are expected this weekend for cattle which sold locally and cattle destined for the corn belt expect a few more days in the 80s before cold and wet conditions arrive. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for moderate offerings. Weigh up conditions were the limiting factor affecting demand today as all cows and bulls were full to extremely full as temperatures reached the low 80s and cows and bulls tanked up on water. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold 1.00-4.00 lower. Feeding cows sold generally steady. Demand for feeding cows was mostly good as several private buyers as well as packers were actively purchasing cows to feed. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 5.00 higher. Quality was average to attractive this week.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $205.35/cwt on 1,584 head.

Average price

$205.35

1,584 head · 530 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,088

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$603

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$40.82/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+2.50

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	530	206.32	1,094	1,419
Medium 1	471	203.83	960	24
Medium and Large 1-2	518	197.14	1,021	135
Large 1	1,025	165.50	1,696	6thin

One grade step is worth $40.82/cwt here — about −$603 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 sale1,584 hd

205.35

—

MT average5 barns · 3,888 hd

202.85

+2.50

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Low	1,702	83.78	1,426	16
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,608	75.92	1,221	11
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Very Low	1,438	63.64	915	92
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,283	54.21	695	68

Every lot

78 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.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers26 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	251	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	615	4
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	299	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	748	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	331	257.50/cwt	257.50–257.50	852	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	368	226.53/cwt	214.00–235.00	834	22
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	370	256.19/cwt	244.00–263.00	948	75
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	400	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	890	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	425	236.98/cwt	231.00–247.00	1,007	153
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	431	222.52/cwt	219.00–224.00	959	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	466	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	951	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	486	212.48/cwt	206.00–239.00	1,033	348
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	529	189.59/cwt	180.00–191.00	1,003	60
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	531	203.38/cwt	194.00–212.50	1,080	343
Steers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	546	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	1,010	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	576	190.74/cwt	182.50–202.00	1,099	248
Steers	—	Medium 1	591	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	1,011	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	593	174.60/cwt	166.00–181.00	1,035	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	621	183.64/cwt	176.00–188.50	1,140	128
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	627	173.50/cwt	173.50–173.50	1,088	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	664	175.43/cwt	170.00–181.00	1,165	62
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	738	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	1,277	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	763	170.50/cwt	170.50–170.50	1,301	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	768	175.50/cwt	175.50–175.50	1,348	16
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	768	166.25/cwt	162.00–171.00	1,277	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	843	170.50/cwt	170.50–170.50	1,437	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	938	174.50/cwt	174.50–174.50	1,637	19
Steers	—	Large 1	1,025	165.50/cwt	165.50–165.50	1,696	6
Feeder Cattle · Heifers29 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	282	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	592	3
Heifers	—	Medium 1Unweaned	294	202.50/cwt	202.50–202.50	595	16
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	334	212.05/cwt	210.00–216.00	708	61
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	364	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	728	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	381	207.97/cwt	205.00–214.00	792	52
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	417	203.69/cwt	196.00–210.00	849	113
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	434	190.12/cwt	181.00–193.00	825	118
Heifers	—	Large 1Unweaned	452	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	814	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	484	187.38/cwt	181.00–193.00	907	148
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	492	176.75/cwt	174.00–179.50	870	31
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	521	180.83/cwt	169.50–186.00	942	356
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	548	164.00/cwt	164.00–164.00	899	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	561	172.07/cwt	164.00–175.50	965	117
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	575	158.50/cwt	158.50–158.50	911	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	581	154.78/cwt	152.00–157.00	899	23
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	613	164.67/cwt	155.00–170.00	1,009	55
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	616	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	930	6
Heifers	—	Medium 1	643	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	1,035	6
Heifers	—	Medium 1	723	166.50/cwt	166.50–166.50	1,204	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	744	167.50/cwt	167.50–167.50	1,246	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	765	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	1,239	3
Heifers	—	Medium 1	795	150.50/cwt	150.50–150.50	1,196	17
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	817	169.32/cwt	167.00–170.00	1,383	22
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	883	162.89/cwt	162.00–167.00	1,438	45
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	925	164.31/cwt	162.00–168.00	1,520	51
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	960	156.93/cwt	156.00–159.50	1,507	33
Heifers	—	Large 1Full	1,005	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	1,497	12
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,018	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	1,568	5
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,126	142.50/cwt	142.50–142.50	1,605	10
Feeder Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	368	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	883	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	478	190.80/cwt	190.00–200.00	912	12
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	560	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	913	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	722	157.00/cwt	157.00–157.00	1,134	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	850	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	1,114	2
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,676	82.77/cwt	72.00–92.00	1,387	13
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,710	85.50/cwt	85.50–85.50	1,462	2
Bulls	—	—	2,030	93.50/cwt	93.50–93.50	1,898	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows12 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,060	62.00/cwt	62.00–62.00	657	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,218	58.91/cwt	53.00–63.00	718	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,243	69.97/cwt	65.00–73.00	870	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,253	48.01/cwt	41.00–49.00	602	20
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,319	54.59/cwt	50.50–58.50	720	37
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,423	72.44/cwt	69.00–78.50	1,031	24
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,428	57.60/cwt	52.50–67.50	823	18
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,448	61.74/cwt	56.50–67.00	894	49
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,530	54.00/cwt	54.00–54.00	826	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,545	81.50/cwt	81.50–81.50	1,259	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,608	75.35/cwt	73.00–77.50	1,212	9
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,670	75.50/cwt	75.50–75.50	1,261	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	946	114.94/cwt	102.00–123.50	1,087	39
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,058	83.99/cwt	82.00–92.50	889	15
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,099	86.36/cwt	75.00–93.00	949	42

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.

Montana feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Thu)

Thu Oct 20, 2022

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 3,604Last week 2,490Year ago 6,510

Slaughter CattleReceipts 303Last week 488Year ago 414

Replacement CattleReceipts 142Last week 162Year ago 122

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
113	—	417	196.00–210.00	203.69
3	—	282	210.00	210.00
117	—	561	164.00–175.50	172.07
61	—	334	210.00–216.00	212.05
356	—	521	169.50–186.00	180.83
148	—	484	181.00–193.00	187.38
55	—	613	155.00–170.00	164.67
52	—	381	205.00–214.00	207.97
3	—	765	162.00	162.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	548	164.00	164.00
5	—	364	200.00	200.00
118	—	434	181.00–193.00	190.12
31	—	492	174.00–179.50	176.75
23	—	581	152.00–157.00	154.78

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	294	202.50	202.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,005	149.00	149.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	744	167.50	167.50
45	—	883	162.00–167.00	162.89
22	—	817	167.00–170.00	169.32
33	—	960	156.00–159.50	156.93
51	—	925	162.00–168.00	164.31

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	723	166.50	166.50
17	—	795	150.50	150.50
6	—	643	161.00	161.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,018	154.00	154.00
10	—	1,126	142.50	142.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	575	158.50	158.50
6	—	616	151.00	151.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	452	180.00	180.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,025	165.50	165.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	591	171.00	171.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	368	214.00–235.00	226.53
12	—	431	219.00–224.00	222.52
7	—	627	173.50	173.50
4	—	251	245.00	245.00
60	—	529	180.00–191.00	189.59
10	—	593	166.00–181.00	174.60

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	843	170.50	170.50
8	—	763	170.50	170.50
7	—	466	204.00	204.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	938	174.50	174.50
16	—	768	175.50	175.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	331	257.50	257.50
10	—	768	162.00–171.00	166.25
248	—	576	182.50–202.00	190.74
153	—	425	231.00–247.00	236.98
348	—	486	206.00–239.00	212.48
343	—	531	194.00–212.50	203.38
128	—	621	176.00–188.50	183.64
62	—	664	170.00–181.00	175.43
75	—	370	244.00–263.00	256.19
3	—	738	173.00	173.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	299	250.00	250.00
6	—	546	185.00	185.00
6	—	400	222.50	222.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	850	131.00	131.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	478	190.00–200.00	190.80
5	—	368	240.00	240.00
3	—	722	157.00	157.00
1	—	560	163.00	163.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
37	—	1,319	50.50–58.50	54.59
1	—	1,060	62.00	62.00
20	—	1,253	41.00–49.00	48.01

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,670	75.50	75.50
1	—	1,545	81.50	81.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,218	53.00–63.00	58.91
5	—	1,243	65.00–73.00	69.97

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,530	54.00	54.00
18	—	1,428	52.50–67.50	57.60

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,608	73.00–77.50	75.35

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
49	—	1,448	56.50–67.00	61.74
24	—	1,423	69.00–78.50	72.44

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,676	72.00–92.00	82.77
1	—	2,030	93.50	93.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,710	85.50	85.50

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	39	—	946	102.00–123.50	114.94
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	42	—	1,099	75.00–93.00	86.36

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	15	—	1,058	82.00–92.50	83.99

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.