Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2026-10-01

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Oct 1
● Final95 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
665 head
▼ 1,053 vs last sale 1,718▲ 240 vs year ago 425 · +56.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
379 head
▲ 108 vs last sale 271▲ 121 vs year ago 258 · +46.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
241 head
▲ 123 vs last sale 118▲ 60 vs year ago 181 · +33.1%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (9-24-26): Feeder steers and heifer calves were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mixed from plain to average on calves and yearlings. Demand was mostly good to very good with several buyers actively bidding on offerings. Lots of variation in quality was noticed on both calves and yearlings. CME positions moved higher again today with most nearby contracts moving over 2.00 higher. Market activity was active with rapid bidding seen, despite a small buyer pool. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light demand and light to moderate offerings. Demand for feeding cows remains mostly light. Canadian buyers continue to show good demand for feeding cows however, with little resistance seen from American buyers, cows continue to soften. Feeding cows sold steady to 5.00 lower on breaking flesh cows. Boning and lean fleshed feeding cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 lower. Feeding cow quality remains mostly plain to average. Many blemished cows continue to be seen and many of these offerings were purchased to feed by private feeders this week, instead of going to slaughter like last week. Demand for slaughter cows was also light as packers all showed light demand for all classes of cows. Breaking cows were almost all purchased to feed this week, no trend is available. Boning and lean cows sold mostly 3.00-6.00 lower on a lower quality lower yielding offering compared to last week. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady. Demand for feeding bull was mostly moderate to good and forced packer buyers to compete over offerings. Feeding bulls sold generally steady. Young age cow offerings sold on good to very good demand this week with more buyers in the market. Young age offerings sold mostly 10.00 higher on a higher quality offering. A few ranch tested bred cows sold today, they were not re-tested at the yards and are in the report below as bred cows sold per cwt.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $387.62/cwt on 47 head, up $3.42 from the prior sale. That ranks 8 of 23 comparable sales and sits −24.00 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$387.62
▲ 3.42 vs prior sale
47 head · 549 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,129
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$142
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$20.20/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−0.65
vs MT average
+34.96 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1550390.202,14741
Medium and Large 1-2542370.002,0056thin
One grade step is worth $20.20/cwt here — about $142 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 500–600 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 sale47 hd
387.62
—
MT average3 barns · 94 hd
388.27
−0.65
National average184 barns · 12,638 hd
352.66
+34.96
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−24.00
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—Average1,703168.242,86542
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,572146.032,29636
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,401137.621,928183
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,169123.311,44278

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 Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,298$3,4507
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,094$3,0266
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,387$2,5003thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,441$2,3425
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,397$2,3006

Every lot

95 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 · Steers17 lots · lightest first
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned313601.79/cwt600.00–602.501,8847
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned373540.00/cwt540.00–540.002,0142
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned408485.33/cwt485.00–492.501,98024
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned410525.00/cwt525.00–525.002,1531
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned467456.56/cwt435.00–462.002,13210
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned469469.99/cwt463.00–480.002,20416
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2Unweaned507415.00/cwt415.00–415.002,1045
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned524437.00/cwt437.00–437.002,29025
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned559434.65/cwt427.00–442.502,43091
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned582396.91/cwt386.00–402.502,31017
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned610387.50/cwt387.50–387.502,3643
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned621401.81/cwt392.50–408.002,49523
Steers750–800Medium 1780335.00/cwt335.00–335.002,6134
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1-2891330.00/cwt330.00–330.002,94011
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1-2915325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,9742
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 21,018290.00/cwt290.00–290.002,9522
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,038302.00/cwt302.00–302.003,1355
Feeder Cattle · Heifers22 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium 1-2Unweaned269475.00/cwt475.00–475.001,2784
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned365480.00/cwt480.00–480.001,75215
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned394473.00/cwt473.00–473.001,8648
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned444442.50/cwt442.50–442.501,9657
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned488420.21/cwt395.00–429.002,05134
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned491410.00/cwt410.00–410.002,01325
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned539393.87/cwt382.50–401.002,12330
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned542370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,0056
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned581380.19/cwt375.00–395.002,20911
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned611382.50/cwt382.50–382.502,3377
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2734338.47/cwt337.50–339.002,48411
Heifers750–800Medium 1765322.50/cwt322.50–322.502,4672
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2785330.00/cwt330.00–330.002,5912
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1805329.19/cwt329.00–330.002,65032
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2806317.21/cwt310.00–322.002,55715
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1867322.39/cwt314.00–327.502,79523
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2868306.50/cwt305.00–308.002,6602
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1926308.44/cwt306.00–310.502,85624
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1982298.23/cwt297.00–299.002,92913
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,018294.51/cwt292.00–300.002,99813
Heifers1000–1050Large 11,028288.00/cwt288.00–288.002,9616
Heifers1150–1200Large 11,185270.00/cwt270.00–270.003,2001
Feeder Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned435495.00/cwt495.00–495.002,1532
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1987297.50/cwt297.50–297.502,93613
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1-2998260.00/cwt260.00–260.002,5952
Bulls1050–1100Medium and Large 11,050270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,8352
Bulls1050–1100Large 11,090265.00/cwt265.00–265.002,8891
Bulls1100–1150Large 1-21,140245.00/cwt245.00–245.002,7931
Bulls1150–1200Large 1-21,195220.00/cwt220.00–220.002,6291
Bulls1200–1250Large 11,218233.50/cwt232.50–235.002,8445
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,317170.00/cwt170.00–170.002,2393
Bulls——Return to Feed1,557173.57/cwt171.00–178.002,7028
Bulls——Return to Feed1,598164.28/cwt155.00–170.002,62516
Bulls——1,725159.56/cwt158.00–161.002,7526
Bulls——2,028175.75/cwt174.00–177.003,5647
Bulls——2,300183.00/cwt183.00–183.004,2091
Bulls——Heavy Weight2,690168.50/cwt168.50–168.504,5331
Slaughter Cattle · Cows17 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight875125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,0941
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,120134.15/cwt134.00–135.001,5027
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,156111.96/cwt104.00–119.001,29427
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,16094.92/cwt89.00–97.501,1014
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,163149.76/cwt149.00–150.001,7424
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,166119.68/cwt105.00–131.001,39510
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,172127.00/cwt122.00–130.001,4883
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,218135.22/cwt132.00–137.001,64722
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,335136.00/cwt136.00–136.001,8161
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,349153.07/cwt150.00–158.002,06524
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,395124.30/cwt112.00–135.001,73444
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,403117.33/cwt114.00–118.501,64618
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,415125.75/cwt120.00–130.001,7797
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,417145.09/cwt136.00–150.002,05689
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,559129.24/cwt125.00–135.002,0154
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,567148.59/cwt147.50–149.502,32831
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,790134.00/cwt134.00–134.002,3991
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows13 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium 19632,825.00/head2,825.00–2,825.002,8252
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1593,126.96/head3,100.00–3,200.003,1274
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,249181.21/cwt170.00–210.002,2637
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,289136.00/cwt136.00–136.001,7536
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2983,450.00/head3,450.00–3,450.003,4507
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3212,275.00/head2,275.00–2,275.002,2753
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,382144.50/cwt144.50–144.501,99721
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3872,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3982,375.00/cwt2,375.00–2,375.0033,2036
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4412,342.46/head2,300.00–2,400.002,3425
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,4722,325.00/head2,325.00–2,325.002,3253
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,488139.00/cwt139.00–139.002,0684
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,599143.00/cwt143.00–143.002,2876
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed839222.50/cwt222.50–222.501,8675
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2980247.93/cwt197.50–270.002,43011
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,023270.85/cwt190.00–307.502,77172
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,175205.18/cwt170.00–265.002,41114
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,198171.99/cwt152.00–195.002,0603
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,243182.50/cwt182.50–182.502,2683
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,253155.16/cwt153.00–157.501,9442
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,365158.00/cwt158.00–158.002,1572
Replacement Cattle · Open Heifers3 lots · lightest first
Open Heifers—Medium and Large 11,176256.37/cwt240.00–288.003,0157
Open Heifers—Medium and Large 1-21,240151.00/cwt151.00–151.001,8722
Open Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,620185.00/cwt185.00–185.002,9971

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.