Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2022-11-03

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Nov 3
● Final117 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
3,224 head
▼ 51 vs last sale 3,275▼ 183 vs year ago 3,407 · −5.4%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
244 head
▼ 53 vs last sale 297▼ 130 vs year ago 374 · −34.8%
Replacement Cattle receipts
260 head
▲ 62 vs last sale 198▲ 8 vs year ago 252 · +3.2%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifer were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on steers and higher undertones were noticed on heifers on a higher quality offering. Steer calves under 600 lbs sold mostly 5.00-20.00 lower. Steer calves over 600 lbs sold unevenly steady from 7.00 lower to 8.00 higher. Heifer calves all sold steady to 10.00 lower. Demand was uneven this week. Quality was plain to average with a very limited offering of attractive cattle. Quality was much lower compared to last weeks very attractive offering. Package sizes were mostly small to medium this week. Many sets of short weaned cattle were seen this week and these offerings were met with very light demand. Most short weaned calves looked stressed or on the verge of sick. Market activity was mostly moderate this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and offerings. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, steady undertones were noticed. Most cows were purchased to feed for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. These cows were most thin and would normally go to slaughter. Feeding cows sold with steady undertones. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady in a narrow comparison. The best demand continues to be for high quality rebreed type cows.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $202.77/cwt on 1,267 head.
Average price
$202.77
1,267 head · 573 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,162
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$9
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$36.46/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−4.29
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1584204.331,1921,051
Medium and Large 2427199.2585226
Medium and Large 1-2530198.221,050109
Medium 1491196.4696462
Large 1705167.871,18419thin
One grade step is worth $36.46/cwt here — about $9 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 sale1,267 hd
202.77
—
MT average5 barns · 4,294 hd
207.06
−4.29
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—Low1,75884.131,47812
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,56174.451,16218
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,40462.3287542
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,19656.2667370

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/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)735$1,25410
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,094$1,20211
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,435$1,0605
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,233$1,0329
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,379$1,00514
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,340$1,0001thin

Every lot

117 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 · Steers40 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned327290.02/cwt260.00–302.0094823
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned333253.77/cwt250.00–257.508458
Steers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned377221.00/cwt221.00–221.0083313
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned386252.47/cwt242.50–280.0097527
Steers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned417217.50/cwt217.50–217.509075
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned421251.14/cwt233.00–271.001,057113
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned428225.85/cwt221.00–230.0096733
Steers—Medium 1441216.81/cwt215.00–219.0095622
Steers—Medium 1450210.00/cwt210.00–210.0094511
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned473220.14/cwt207.00–240.001,04170
Steers—Medium and Large 1486211.50/cwt211.50–211.501,02814
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned486199.72/cwt199.00–201.009718
Steers—Medium 1Unweaned493175.00/cwt175.00–175.0086318
Steers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned516152.50/cwt152.50–152.507878
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned526205.21/cwt187.00–212.001,079195
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned526188.50/cwt188.50–188.509926
Steers—Medium and Large 1561190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,06620
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned561179.02/cwt176.00–182.001,00419
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned565194.55/cwt184.00–200.001,099128
Steers—Medium 1Unweaned595177.00/cwt177.00–177.001,0537
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned617187.14/cwt179.00–193.001,155120
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fancy631204.50/cwt204.50–204.501,29099
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned635171.74/cwt165.00–176.001,09127
Steers—Large 1Unweaned640170.00/cwt170.00–170.001,0882
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fancy655189.50/cwt189.50–189.501,24144
Steers—Medium and Large 1657176.00/cwt176.00–176.001,15623
Steers—Large 1Unweaned674169.35/cwt169.00–169.501,14113
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned676178.46/cwt169.00–183.001,20642
Steers—Medium 1684178.00/cwt178.00–178.001,2184
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned701167.00/cwt167.00–167.001,1714
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fancy712187.00/cwt187.00–187.001,3313
Steers—Medium and Large 1725179.99/cwt173.00–182.501,30518
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned756172.00/cwt172.00–172.001,3009
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy759172.00/cwt172.00–172.001,30510
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2825172.00/cwt172.00–172.001,4194
Steers—Medium and Large 1838182.75/cwt182.75–182.751,53124
Steers—Large 1839162.00/cwt162.00–162.001,3594
Steers—Medium and Large 1882178.50/cwt178.50–178.501,57426
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy887170.00/cwt170.00–170.001,50817
Steers—Medium and Large 1969162.50/cwt162.50–162.501,57526
Feeder Cattle · Heifers43 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned283245.00/cwt245.00–245.006936
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned322219.71/cwt200.00–227.5070717
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned343216.31/cwt215.00–219.007426
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2357202.50/cwt202.50–202.507233
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned381202.35/cwt200.00–204.007719
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned388214.60/cwt209.00–235.0083396
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned422160.00/cwt160.00–160.006754
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned426205.28/cwt200.00–211.0087455
Heifers—Medium 1-2Unweaned428153.79/cwt150.00–157.506586
Heifers—Medium and Large 1434199.00/cwt199.00–199.008644
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned437189.54/cwt187.00–195.0082814
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned442189.00/cwt189.00–189.008353
Heifers—Small and Medium 2Unweaned448110.00/cwt110.00–110.004936
Heifers—Medium 1Unweaned451187.00/cwt187.00–187.0084315
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned451182.00/cwt182.00–182.008216
Heifers—Medium 1-2Unweaned452152.50/cwt152.50–152.506897
Heifers—Medium and Large 1454184.50/cwt184.50–184.508384
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned473193.91/cwt184.00–203.00917248
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned484182.38/cwt182.00–184.0088320
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned515164.38/cwt155.00–172.0084718
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2517166.00/cwt166.00–166.0085829
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned523179.65/cwt172.50–188.0094099
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned525169.06/cwt165.00–175.0088821
Heifers—Medium 1-2Unweaned525145.00/cwt145.00–145.007616
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned554151.00/cwt151.00–151.008375
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned571178.18/cwt159.00–184.251,017133
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned583160.37/cwt159.00–160.5093522
Heifers—Large 1622150.00/cwt150.00–150.009333
Heifers—Medium and Large 1623169.00/cwt169.00–169.001,0539
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned623155.00/cwt155.00–155.009662
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned627169.26/cwt156.00–173.001,06151
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned628150.34/cwt149.00–151.009446
Heifers—Medium and Large 1661160.47/cwt158.00–161.001,06118
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned667156.60/cwt154.00–162.001,0453
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2715170.00/cwt170.00–170.001,2162
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned716154.11/cwt150.00–156.001,1038
Heifers—Medium 1723164.76/cwt158.50–167.001,19126
Heifers—Medium 1784160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,25411
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2793144.00/cwt144.00–144.001,1426
Heifers—Medium and Large 1808166.25/cwt166.25–166.251,34319
Heifers—Medium and Large 1855167.74/cwt165.00–170.001,43420
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy861160.25/cwt160.25–160.251,38037
Heifers—Medium and Large 1944161.50/cwt161.50–161.501,52528
Feeder Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned424232.24/cwt228.00–235.0098510
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned460210.00/cwt210.00–210.009662
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned511179.48/cwt177.00–181.5091717
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned580166.25/cwt164.00–169.0096417
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned670165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,1065
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,40080.00/cwt80.00–80.001,1202
Bulls——1,82984.95/cwt74.00–87.501,55410
Slaughter Cattle · Cows14 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight93251.03/cwt50.00–52.004768
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,19043.00/cwt43.00–43.005121
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,19862.70/cwt61.00–63.0075114
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,21953.38/cwt50.00–59.0065122
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,25156.48/cwt48.00–59.0070722
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,33264.15/cwt62.00–69.008543
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,37358.78/cwt56.00–62.0080722
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,41760.91/cwt57.00–64.508638
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,43869.50/cwt69.50–69.5099910
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,50384.50/cwt84.50–84.501,2702
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,52571.00/cwt71.00–71.001,0832
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,53273.81/cwt73.50–76.001,13110
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,59168.00/cwt68.00–68.001,0824
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,70080.50/cwt80.50–80.501,3692
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows8 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 17351,253.79/head1,225.00–1,275.001,25410
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,0001,150.00/head1,150.00–1,150.001,1504
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1481,232.15/head1,225.00–1,275.001,2327
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,191950.00/head950.00–950.009504
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2671,097.51/head1,025.00–1,150.001,0985
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3401,000.00/head1,000.00–1,000.001,0001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3791,005.08/head1,000.00–1,010.001,00514
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4351,060.00/head1,060.00–1,060.001,0605
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2854108.02/cwt100.00–114.009225
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1946114.92/cwt91.00–122.501,087122
Stock Cows—Large 11,01092.00/cwt92.00–92.009291
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,01076.21/cwt66.00–85.007704
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,03087.00/cwt63.00–99.0089656

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.