Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2026-08-27

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Aug 27
● Final87 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
655 head
▲ 342 vs last sale 313▼ 228 vs year ago 883 · −25.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
349 head
▼ 250 vs last sale 599▼ 372 vs year ago 721 · −51.6%
Replacement Cattle receipts
74 head
▼ 48 vs last sale 122▼ 24 vs year ago 98 · −24.5%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (8-13-26): Feeder steers were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeder heifers under 900 lbs sold generally steady in a narrow comparison, heifers over 900 lbs sold mostly 8.00-10.00 lower. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Several sets of yearlings coming off grass were seen this sale. Demand was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. Many moderate size packages were seen this sale as ranchers sold mostly tested open heifers out of their replacements. Calves were offered in mostly small packages with many singles noticed. CME positions moved higher today which helped provide some market support. Cooperate feeders were back in the market today, showing moderate to good demand for yearlings. Market activity was mostly moderate to active with a moderate size buyer pool noticed. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand and offerings. Demand for feeding cows was mostly moderate. Canadian buyers continue to buy cows to ship north and feed. All feeding buyers showed lighter demand for cows to feed with most buyers citing uncertainty going forward into fall. Feeding cows sold 3.00-6.00 lower on boning and lean cows. Breaking flesh feeding cows sold mostly 10.00 lower. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower to sharply lower undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 7.00-10.00 lower. Bull quality was mostly plain to average. Most bulls were average to low dressing this sale as most were coming out of breeding pastures. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Most offerings were fleshy coming off grass and many sold to feeding cow buyers as a result. A few bred offerings sold this sale. Demand for bred offerings was mostly light to moderate. Buyers continue to weigh the economics of keeping and maintaining cows from now till spring.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $345.00/cwt on 6 head, up $12.50 from the prior sale. That ranks 3 of 23 comparable sales and sits −66.62 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$345.00
▲ 12.50 vs prior sale
6 head · 540 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,864
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$65
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$7.50/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−8.00
vs MT average
+6.98 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1545350.001,9082thin
Medium and Large 1-2538342.501,8434thin
One grade step is worth $7.50/cwt here — about $65 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 900–1000 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale6 hd
345.00
—
MT average2 barns · 17 hd
353.00
−8.00
National average160 barns · 6,296 hd
338.02
+6.98
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−66.62
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

23 sales
483428373319median 411.6203/0504/3006/1109/2410/29
Heifers 500–600 lb: high $469.35, low $332.50, median $411.62 across 23 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

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—Low1,881189.103,557104
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,435161.192,31492
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,628154.922,52336
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,101134.331,47847
Dairy CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,420119.001,6901thin

Replacement cattle Per head

By class, stage and age
Bred stock and pairs are reported per head, not per hundredweight — these prices are never mixed with the $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,188$3,05113
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,477$2,9509
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,435$2,8001thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,548$2,6252thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,506$2,5004thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,807$3,5003thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,636$3,0005

Every lot

87 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 · Steers11 lots · lightest first
Steers200–250Medium and Large 2Unweaned208560.00/cwt560.00–560.001,1652
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2Unweaned400440.00/cwt440.00–440.001,7601
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned469425.01/cwt417.50–455.001,9935
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2507412.00/cwt412.00–412.002,0895
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned563410.00/cwt410.00–410.002,30814
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned606386.00/cwt386.00–386.002,3395
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1658391.00/cwt391.00–391.002,5739
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2680372.50/cwt372.50–372.502,5331
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned684358.00/cwt358.00–358.002,4495
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1769371.27/cwt366.00–375.002,85566
Steers850–900Medium and Large 2870323.00/cwt323.00–323.002,8103
Feeder Cattle · Heifers23 lots · lightest first
Heifers200–250Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned248480.00/cwt480.00–480.001,1902
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned344421.00/cwt421.00–421.001,4484
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned378420.00/cwt420.00–420.001,5883
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned415385.00/cwt385.00–385.001,5983
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned538342.50/cwt342.50–342.501,8434
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned545350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,9082
Heifers600–650Medium 1-2622337.50/cwt337.50–337.502,0993
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned670330.00/cwt330.00–330.002,2113
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2685325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,2263
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1726355.00/cwt355.00–355.002,57747
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1788341.22/cwt340.00–342.002,68913
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1814341.00/cwt341.00–341.002,7764
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2841320.89/cwt305.00–328.002,69914
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1866324.50/cwt318.00–330.502,81047
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2887297.00/cwt297.00–297.002,6345
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1Full897307.00/cwt307.00–307.002,7543
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1938304.92/cwt302.00–313.002,86041
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1Full940298.00/cwt298.00–298.002,8013
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2954280.50/cwt280.50–280.502,6764
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1973298.30/cwt294.00–309.002,902111
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,020290.58/cwt289.00–291.002,96424
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 1Full1,022281.95/cwt274.00–286.002,8826
Heifers1050–1100Large 11,061275.00/cwt275.00–275.002,91817
Feeder Cattle · Bulls15 lots · lightest first
Bulls250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned250680.00/cwt680.00–680.001,7001
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned326485.00/cwt485.00–485.001,5814
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned350460.00/cwt460.00–460.001,6102
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned428420.00/cwt420.00–420.001,7982
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned437475.00/cwt475.00–475.002,0763
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2478410.00/cwt410.00–410.001,9603
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned523380.00/cwt380.00–380.001,9873
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2537390.00/cwt390.00–390.002,0947
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1678370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,5092
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1792346.08/cwt345.00–347.002,74113
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1809348.00/cwt348.00–348.002,8155
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1-2930302.00/cwt302.00–302.002,8091
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1-2990275.00/cwt275.00–275.002,7231
Bulls1100–1150Large 11,125233.00/cwt233.00–233.002,6212
Bulls1200–1250Large 1-21,243205.00/cwt205.00–205.002,5483
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,200179.00/cwt179.00–179.002,1481
Bulls——Light Weight1,350173.44/cwt170.00–177.502,3412
Bulls——Return to Feed1,625181.15/cwt172.50–188.002,94413
Bulls——1,852183.44/cwt172.00–189.003,39743
Bulls——2,004197.31/cwt191.00–208.003,95442
Bulls——2,080214.48/cwt214.00–215.004,4612
Bulls——Heavy Weight2,630182.00/cwt182.00–182.004,7871
Slaughter Cattle · Cows18 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%490107.67/cwt105.00–110.005285
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight81097.50/cwt97.50–97.507901
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight930150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,3952
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight952123.68/cwt115.00–137.501,1775
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,211128.72/cwt115.00–141.001,55919
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,225172.00/cwt172.00–172.002,1071
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,255151.04/cwt135.00–157.001,89611
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,260162.00/cwt162.00–162.002,0411
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,275159.00/cwt159.00–159.002,0272
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,358135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,8332
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,428155.14/cwt142.00–162.502,21536
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,433167.92/cwt162.00–172.002,40650
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,495138.00/cwt138.00–138.002,0631
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,551165.22/cwt163.00–167.002,5639
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,597146.89/cwt143.00–150.002,3463
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,629152.22/cwt147.00–158.002,48019
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,710148.51/cwt142.00–152.502,5406
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,725153.50/cwt153.50–153.502,6482
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Boner 80-85%1,420119.00/cwt119.00–119.001,6901
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows6 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-29802,750.00/head2,750.00–2,750.002,7501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2053,076.40/head2,900.00–3,325.003,07612
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4352,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,8001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4772,950.00/head2,950.00–2,950.002,9509
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5062,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5004
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5482,625.00/head2,625.00–2,625.002,6252
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,033226.19/cwt200.00–250.002,3376
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,222227.16/cwt202.50–277.502,7765
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy1,263201.00/cwt201.00–201.002,5392
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,310175.00/cwt175.00–175.002,2931
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs2 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,6363,000.00/head3,000.00–3,000.003,0005
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,8073,500.00/head3,500.00–3,500.003,5003

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.