Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2022-12-15

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Dec 15
● Final119 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
3,158 head
▼ 1,041 vs last sale 4,199▲ 638 vs year ago 2,520 · +25.3%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
429 head
▲ 61 vs last sale 368▼ 55 vs year ago 484 · −11.4%
Replacement Cattle receipts
185 head
▲ 2 vs last sale 183▼ 42 vs year ago 227 · −18.5%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifer were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings was mostly moderate. Yearling cattle were mostly plain to average in quality. Steer calves all sold unevenly steady. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold 2.00-5.00 higher, heifers over 500 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower. Quality this week was mixed and varied greatly, much like last week. Demand for calves mostly moderate. A huge snow storm which hit much of the upper plains and corn belt limited demand this week as some buyers were out of the market due to transportation issues. Most long weaned calves were met with good demand this week. Weaned calf quality was mixed and varied greatly. High quality cattle sold mostly higher, while plain to average quality cattle were met with light demand. A large buyer pool was on hand this sale and market activity was mostly active as a result. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers showed stronger demand this week for cows for immediate harvest. The large winter storm that hit the upper plains and corn belt had packers searching for cows for immediate harvest as producers will spend several days if not weeks trying to dig out from the upwards of 2 feet of snow that fell in some locations. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher as a result. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 higher. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold with lower undertones in a narrow comparison.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $203.92/cwt on 1,345 head.
Average price
$203.92
1,345 head · 577 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,176
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$150
per head · Medium 1 over Large 1
$68.71/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+3.34
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1460230.301,059103
Medium and Large 1582205.751,1971,038
Medium and Large 1-2573193.631,110125
Medium and Large 2530162.3586128
Large 1748161.591,20951
One grade step is worth $68.71/cwt here — about −$150 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 sale1,345 hd
203.92
—
MT average4 barns · 2,644 hd
200.58
+3.34
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—Average1,81487.251,58378
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,53164.0198019
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,40362.57878200
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,18656.0566582

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)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,478$9757

Every lot

119 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 · Steers47 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1277289.00/cwt289.00–289.008013
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned328257.50/cwt257.50–257.508452
Steers—Medium and Large 1329272.83/cwt262.50–290.0089830
Steers—Medium 1337260.00/cwt260.00–260.0087612
Steers—Medium and Large 1369270.46/cwt260.00–274.0099823
Steers—Medium and Large 2391202.00/cwt202.00–202.007907
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned392248.74/cwt242.50–252.0097514
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2392229.00/cwt229.00–229.0089821
Steers—Medium 1395256.50/cwt256.50–256.501,01331
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2403240.00/cwt240.00–240.009674
Steers—Medium and Large 1414246.81/cwt241.00–253.001,02247
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned424241.98/cwt235.00–250.001,02626
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned428227.50/cwt227.50–227.509743
Steers—Medium 1431256.00/cwt256.00–256.001,10312
Steers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned456143.32/cwt140.00–150.006549
Steers—Medium and Large 1465227.85/cwt220.00–235.001,06083
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned481223.02/cwt208.00–227.001,073126
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2486210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,0214
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned493198.21/cwt195.00–199.0097715
Steers—Medium 1519205.00/cwt205.00–205.001,06441
Steers—Medium and Large 1529214.19/cwt209.00–222.001,13354
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned531205.59/cwt193.00–209.001,09234
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2531177.50/cwt177.50–177.509434
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned540182.98/cwt180.00–191.0098825
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned554199.62/cwt183.00–202.001,106115
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2577179.17/cwt177.50–180.001,0349
Steers—Medium and Large 1582201.60/cwt194.00–207.001,17358
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned600170.00/cwt170.00–170.001,0202
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fancy609198.00/cwt198.00–198.001,20613
Steers—Medium and Large 1623189.18/cwt178.00–199.001,17937
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned626187.77/cwt177.50–193.001,17588
Steers—Large 1634162.00/cwt162.00–162.001,02732
Steers—Medium and Large 2642152.00/cwt152.00–152.009766
Steers—Medium 1661167.50/cwt167.50–167.501,1077
Steers—Medium and Large 1664183.44/cwt177.50–186.501,21879
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned670175.06/cwt165.00–178.501,17345
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2689169.74/cwt168.00–170.001,17015
Steers—Medium and Large 2693155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,0746
Steers—Medium and Large 1704176.00/cwt176.00–176.001,23938
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned727170.44/cwt170.00–171.001,23932
Steers—Medium and Large 1781168.00/cwt168.00–168.001,3124
Steers—Medium and Large 1837178.00/cwt178.00–178.001,49013
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2867173.38/cwt170.00–174.751,50321
Steers—Large 1871169.00/cwt169.00–169.001,4728
Steers—Medium and Large 1953173.69/cwt169.50–174.501,65569
Steers—Large 1990155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,53511
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full999160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,5987
Feeder Cattle · Heifers45 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned323195.00/cwt195.00–195.0063010
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2338195.00/cwt195.00–195.006595
Heifers—Medium 1349187.38/cwt185.00–190.0065421
Heifers—Medium 1-2351145.22/cwt142.50–167.5051046
Heifers—Medium 1373187.50/cwt187.50–187.506994
Heifers—Medium and Large 1374199.00/cwt199.00–199.0074413
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2375190.00/cwt190.00–190.007132
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned380186.04/cwt185.00–188.0070718
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned388215.03/cwt210.00–215.5083433
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2422176.54/cwt165.00–182.5074515
Heifers—Medium 1428185.00/cwt185.00–185.0079216
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned429207.02/cwt204.00–215.0088829
Heifers—Medium and Large 1448214.00/cwt214.00–214.0095910
Heifers—Medium 1454165.39/cwt162.50–184.0075192
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned455205.90/cwt192.50–208.0093797
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2455162.20/cwt159.00–180.0073828
Heifers—Medium and Large 1460196.57/cwt191.00–210.0090443
Heifers—Medium 1Unweaned466175.00/cwt175.00–175.008164
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned474174.00/cwt174.00–174.0082513
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned493175.00/cwt175.00–175.008638
Heifers—Medium and Large 2493149.00/cwt149.00–149.007358
Heifers—Medium 1-2Unweaned496155.00/cwt155.00–155.007695
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2520160.65/cwt154.00–165.0083529
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned528193.95/cwt175.00–196.501,024145
Heifers—Medium and Large 1539185.95/cwt172.00–194.501,00284
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned543162.00/cwt162.00–162.008803
Heifers—Medium and Large 1560178.33/cwt167.50–185.0099969
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned563173.21/cwt168.00–180.5097549
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy575162.00/cwt162.00–162.009322
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned583166.00/cwt166.00–166.0096818
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2592156.00/cwt156.00–156.0092412
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2617150.00/cwt150.00–150.009265
Heifers—Medium and Large 1621168.41/cwt162.50–170.001,04687
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy628153.00/cwt153.00–153.009614
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned630162.59/cwt162.00–164.001,02433
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned657159.00/cwt159.00–159.001,04523
Heifers—Medium 1-2667150.50/cwt150.50–150.501,00425
Heifers—Medium and Large 1679160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,0865
Heifers—Medium 1697148.00/cwt148.00–148.001,0325
Heifers—Medium and Large 1739173.00/cwt173.00–173.001,27873
Heifers—Medium and Large 1894165.25/cwt164.00–166.501,4776
Heifers—Medium and Large 1981151.71/cwt151.50–152.001,48830
Heifers—Large 1-21,044142.00/cwt142.00–142.001,4825
Heifers—Large 11,069141.29/cwt137.00–144.001,51023
Heifers—Large 11,191131.39/cwt131.00–133.001,56515
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium 2391212.50/cwt212.50–212.508315
Bulls—Medium and Large 2514147.50/cwt147.50–147.507586
Bulls—Medium 2535130.00/cwt130.00–130.0069615
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,65488.61/cwt87.50–90.001,4669
Bulls——Return to Feed1,69878.96/cwt75.00–83.001,34124
Bulls——1,82791.00/cwt88.00–95.501,66314
Bulls——1,85976.36/cwt75.00–77.001,4203
Bulls——Natural1,94192.74/cwt90.00–94.001,80026
Bulls——2,12099.44/cwt99.00–100.002,1082
Slaughter Cattle · Cows13 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight78335.49/cwt34.00–40.002785
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight94751.89/cwt51.00–54.004913
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,10062.94/cwt59.00–65.0069215
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,17071.47/cwt71.00–72.008362
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,24454.94/cwt47.00–59.0068316
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,24744.23/cwt44.00–45.005524
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,26260.09/cwt58.00–61.0075812
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,26555.96/cwt52.00–59.0070825
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,39368.97/cwt65.00–75.0096180
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,40656.34/cwt51.00–59.5079244
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,41159.45/cwt54.00–63.5083976
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,50562.57/cwt60.00–67.0094216
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,66971.66/cwt71.00–73.001,1963
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-278072.50/cwt72.50–72.505661
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 198299.49/cwt80.00–115.0097776
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,05881.00/cwt81.00–81.008572
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,12570.33/cwt7.00–87.5079151
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,478975.00/head975.00–975.009757

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.