Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2022-03-31

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Mar 31
● Final128 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
5,203 head
▲ 4,198 vs last sale 1,005▼ 2,137 vs year ago 7,340 · −29.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
244 head
▲ 103 vs last sale 141▲ 166 vs year ago 78 · +212.8%
Replacement Cattle receipts
725 head
▲ 557 vs last sale 168▲ 660 vs year ago 65 · +1,015.4%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last reported sale(3/10/22): Feeder steers under 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher, 550-799 lbs steers sold 5.00-10.00 higher, steers over 800 lbs were not well compared, higher undertones were noticed. Feeder heifers under 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher, heifers over 550 lbs sold mostly 8.00-10.00 higher. Demand was mostly good to very good with the best demand seen for cattle suitable to run on grass and for high quality replacement heifers. Quality this sale was good to very good, with many long strings of high quality one iron home-raised cattle on offer. Many load lots of cattle were seen today as offerings were heavy. Cattle suitable to run on grass were in mostly light flesh, while heavier weight backgrounded cattle were in moderate to fleshy condition. Heifer demand was very good today and many high quality heifers which were slated to be kept as replacements sold to grass cattle buyers this sale. A select portion of the heifer offering was purchased to keep as replacements. Quality and demand for these offerings was very good as a portion of these offerings were sired by prominent AI bulls. A large crowd was on hand today with both order-buyers as well as ranchers actively bidding on offerings.. Market activity was active and bidders were active market participants throughout the sale which stretched late into the evening. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand and offerings. Comparisons are to three weeks ago as this was the last test of the market. Slaughter cows sold generally steady in a narrow comparison on boning and breaking cows, lean cows sold mostly steady to 1.00 higher. Feeding cows saw the greatest advancement as they sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher. All cows were very full this sale and offered buyers below average weigh up conditions. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to 5.00 lower. These offerings were of average to attractive quality this week. A portion of the cow offering this week was comprised of bred cows. These cows were of average to attractive quality and sold on mostly moderate demand.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $180.87/cwt on 2,237 head.
Average price
$180.87
2,237 head · 681 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,231
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$96
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 1-2
$52.22/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−0.94
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2588186.251,095444
Medium and Large 1685182.631,2521,669
Medium and Large 2796146.001,16320
Large 11,014137.441,39473
Large 1-2889134.031,19231
One grade step is worth $52.22/cwt here — about −$96 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 sale2,237 hd
180.87
—
MT average3 barns · 2,363 hd
181.81
−0.94
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—High1,75399.581,74628
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,62779.521,29319
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,44478.991,14142
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,18670.89841102

Every lot

128 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 · Steers46 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned303226.50/cwt226.50–226.506866
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned364205.00/cwt205.00–205.007466
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2376216.00/cwt216.00–216.0081214
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned379212.72/cwt210.00–224.0080620
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned402208.50/cwt208.50–208.5083810
Steers—Medium and Large 1434225.34/cwt224.00–226.0097830
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2436213.78/cwt205.00–216.0093265
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned448192.00/cwt192.00–192.008609
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2473210.69/cwt210.50–211.0099733
Steers—Medium and Large 1486217.31/cwt214.00–218.501,056140
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned489205.35/cwt203.50–206.501,00456
Steers—Medium and Large 2518176.00/cwt176.00–176.009125
Steers—Medium and Large 1519214.34/cwt209.00–219.001,112130
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2520191.52/cwt186.00–198.0099618
Steers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed558216.00/cwt216.00–216.001,2054
Steers—Large 1566189.00/cwt189.00–189.001,0707
Steers—Medium and Large 1575198.88/cwt197.00–210.001,14480
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2587187.62/cwt178.00–193.501,101135
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned588185.00/cwt185.00–185.001,08818
Steers—Medium and Large 1628195.68/cwt184.00–197.001,229386
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2639181.62/cwt177.00–187.001,16113
Steers—Medium and Large 1Natural640199.50/cwt199.50–199.501,27724
Steers—Medium and Large 1665191.62/cwt189.00–193.501,27464
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2681174.05/cwt171.00–178.501,18587
Steers—Medium and Large 1Natural694190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,31954
Steers—Medium and Large 1709177.86/cwt170.00–180.001,26181
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2718158.14/cwt154.00–166.001,13535
Steers—Medium and Large 1769161.06/cwt158.00–164.501,23951
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2817139.50/cwt139.50–139.501,14016
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy824147.38/cwt145.00–148.001,21443
Steers—Medium and Large 1829151.14/cwt150.00–157.001,25396
Steers—Large 1-2835138.00/cwt138.00–138.001,15224
Steers—Medium and Large 1869151.74/cwt151.50–152.501,31937
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2869143.00/cwt143.00–143.001,2436
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy878137.00/cwt137.00–137.001,2037
Steers—Medium and Large 2889136.00/cwt136.00–136.001,20915
Steers—Medium and Large 1905146.60/cwt146.50–149.001,327178
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy912138.69/cwt133.00–140.001,26559
Steers—Large 1949135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,2818
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy958133.77/cwt131.50–139.001,28233
Steers—Medium and Large 1979142.51/cwt141.00–147.501,39569
Steers—Large 1Fleshy1,028134.25/cwt134.25–134.251,38031
Steers—Large 1-2Fleshy1,042109.00/cwt109.00–109.001,1363
Steers—Large 1Fleshy1,060132.83/cwt131.00–133.501,40815
Steers—Large 1-2Fleshy1,099129.00/cwt129.00–129.001,4184
Steers—Large 1Fleshy1,227123.00/cwt123.00–123.001,50912
Feeder Cattle · Heifers42 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned344191.00/cwt191.00–191.006576
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2366186.90/cwt180.00–191.0068411
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned394176.50/cwt176.50–176.5069519
Heifers—Medium and Large 1397193.00/cwt193.00–193.007669
Heifers—Medium 1399180.00/cwt180.00–180.007185
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2422185.96/cwt184.00–190.0078513
Heifers—Medium and Large 1433190.73/cwt190.00–191.0082629
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned439176.50/cwt176.50–176.5077531
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned455170.00/cwt170.00–170.007742
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2477177.97/cwt175.00–180.0084927
Heifers—Medium and Large 1486189.24/cwt180.00–194.00920172
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned491175.50/cwt175.50–175.5086221
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2516175.62/cwt172.50–181.0090615
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fancy517197.00/cwt197.00–197.001,0187
Heifers—Medium and Large 1527185.40/cwt182.50–193.00977166
Heifers—Medium and Large 1571180.66/cwt171.50–186.001,032122
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2590166.88/cwt165.00–167.0098531
Heifers—Medium and Large 1617168.72/cwt166.50–172.501,041320
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2632162.68/cwt157.00–164.001,02816
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement661173.76/cwt170.00–175.001,149138
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2665154.00/cwt154.00–154.001,0245
Heifers—Medium and Large 1679166.66/cwt165.00–169.001,13268
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2705148.01/cwt147.00–149.001,04312
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement711174.00/cwt174.00–174.001,23755
Heifers—Medium and Large 1717159.42/cwt154.00–163.001,143200
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement7451,175.00/cwt1,175.00–1,175.008,75435
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy745137.00/cwt137.00–137.001,02111
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement757167.50/cwt167.50–167.501,26874
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement7601,235.65/cwt1,235.00–1,250.009,39147
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2773141.56/cwt140.50–143.501,09414
Heifers—Medium and Large 1779151.82/cwt149.00–158.001,183114
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy781142.74/cwt140.00–145.001,11522
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement818157.00/cwt157.00–157.001,28417
Heifers—Medium and Large 1827145.95/cwt144.50–148.501,20794
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy846132.00/cwt132.00–132.001,11739
Heifers—Medium and Large 1865145.00/cwt145.00–145.001,25410
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy890138.26/cwt134.00–140.501,23132
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement8931,400.00/cwt1,400.00–1,400.0012,50245
Heifers—Medium and Large 1910137.00/cwt137.00–137.001,2479
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy923131.00/cwt131.00–131.001,20927
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy977132.22/cwt130.50–134.001,29216
Heifers—Medium and Large 1979135.69/cwt135.00–136.001,32819
Feeder Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1383215.00/cwt215.00–215.008235
Bulls—Medium and Large 1461207.47/cwt202.50–210.009569
Bulls—Medium and Large 1663152.50/cwt152.50–152.501,0114
Bulls—Medium and Large 1944125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,1807
Bulls—Medium and Large 11,068111.00/cwt111.00–111.001,1856
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,21593.00/cwt93.00–93.001,1301
Bulls——1,54991.36/cwt90.00–95.001,4159
Bulls——1,869103.58/cwt99.00–109.251,93617
Bulls——2,155112.00/cwt112.00–112.002,4141
Slaughter Cattle · Cows14 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight96069.00/cwt69.00–69.006622
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,03862.67/cwt62.00–64.006519
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,11968.35/cwt67.50–75.0076517
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,21871.12/cwt68.00–77.5086660
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,25978.56/cwt76.50–81.0098914
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,35177.00/cwt77.00–77.001,0405
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,38079.23/cwt77.00–81.501,0932
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40782.98/cwt79.50–86.001,16812
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,45873.32/cwt70.00–76.501,06917
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,49882.00/cwt82.00–82.001,2286
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,58088.67/cwt87.00–89.001,4016
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,62978.00/cwt78.00–78.001,2717
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,72877.36/cwt74.00–79.001,3375
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,87586.00/cwt86.00–86.001,6131
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-281387.00/cwt87.00–87.007072
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,006117.82/cwt98.00–127.001,18593
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,02368.50/cwt68.50–68.507012
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,04994.85/cwt80.00–121.5099519
Stock Cows—Large 11,117100.00/cwt100.00–100.001,1176
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows9 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0291,175.00/cwt1,175.00–1,175.0012,09113
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0431,197.52/cwt1,150.00–1,250.0012,49025
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1191,505.42/cwt1,400.00–1,550.0016,84670
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1931,025.00/cwt1,025.00–1,025.0012,2286
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,240960.00/cwt960.00–960.0011,90425
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2901,444.02/cwt1,200.00–1,525.0018,628120
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3321,350.00/cwt1,350.00–1,350.0017,9827
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4071,265.95/cwt1,175.00–1,400.0017,81288
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,49679.50/cwt79.50–79.501,1894
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers3 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium 19221,257.97/cwt1,210.00–1,335.0011,59853
Bred Heifers—Medium 1Non-Legible BANGS9431,275.00/cwt1,275.00–1,275.0012,0237
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0271,400.91/cwt1,375.00–1,460.0014,387155

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.