Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2023-03-02

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Mar 2
● Final114 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
3,788 head
▲ 3,413 vs last sale 375▲ 2,090 vs year ago 1,698 · +123.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
366 head
▲ 165 vs last sale 201▼ 370 vs year ago 736 · −50.3%
Replacement Cattle receipts
175 head
▲ 50 vs last sale 125▼ 424 vs year ago 599 · −70.8%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago: Steer and heifer calves were all too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly good to very good for heavy offerings. Quality today was mostly average to very attractive. Several load lots of feeders were seen this week, and these offerings were met with good to very good demand. Packages sold with mostly good demand as buyers were able to piece together loads of like quality cattle. Demand for one iron, home-raised cattle was good today for all weight classes. Flesh conditions were mixed this sale as some cattle were out of grow lots while others were weaned in open pastures. Grow lot cattle were mostly in moderate flesh, however a few fleshy offerings were seen. Most grow lot cattle were pushing light to moderate amounts of tag. The best demand seen today was for cattle suitable to run on grass. Buyers offered strong premiums for green cattle which consigners kept in thin flesh. A very large crowd was on hand for todays sale. Market activity was mostly active for todays sale and remained active with strong demand throughout the sale which stretched late into the evening. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Packer buyers showed good demand for cows for immediate harvest. Packers opted to feed a few offerings as several packages of cows which had been started on feed were seen. Slaughter cows sold generally steady with last sale on all offerings. Feeding cows were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Packer buyers continue to buy some young cow offerings away from feeding and replacement buyers as long as they fit their orders.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $212.75/cwt on 1,859 head.
Average price
$212.75
1,859 head · 690 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,469
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$340
per head · Medium 1 over Large 1
$66.45/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−1.19
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1485239.501,16110thin
Medium 1-2447226.251,01112thin
Medium and Large 1-2588221.951,305154
Medium and Large 1695213.461,4841,608
Large 1867173.051,50075
One grade step is worth $66.45/cwt here — about −$340 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 sale1,859 hd
212.75
—
MT average3 barns · 3,080 hd
213.95
−1.19
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—Average1,65999.591,65341
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,50392.931,39778
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,39990.731,270108
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,19078.58935131

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 Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,410$1,3107
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,343$1,2854thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,138$1,23212
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,213$1,2104thin

Every lot

114 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 · Steers38 lots · lightest first
Steers—Large 1408250.00/cwt250.00–250.001,0203
Steers—Medium and Large 1431276.02/cwt270.00–281.001,19036
Steers—Medium 1-2435230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,0016
Steers—Medium 1-2459222.50/cwt222.50–222.501,0216
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2466256.82/cwt237.50–265.001,19741
Steers—Medium 1466250.00/cwt250.00–250.001,1657
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned471229.00/cwt229.00–229.001,07917
Steers—Medium and Large 1494273.94/cwt272.50–274.001,35348
Steers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed521278.50/cwt278.50–278.501,45189
Steers—Medium 1528215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,1353
Steers—Medium and Large 1529263.37/cwt259.00–272.001,393118
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2538246.27/cwt243.00–252.501,32514
Steers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed559259.00/cwt259.00–259.001,44829
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned560219.00/cwt219.00–219.001,2265
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2578229.00/cwt229.00–229.001,3243
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy584218.00/cwt218.00–218.001,2734
Steers—Medium and Large 1587242.56/cwt232.50–255.001,424119
Steers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed603240.50/cwt240.50–240.501,45020
Steers—Medium and Large 1626219.98/cwt214.00–232.001,377142
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2627210.69/cwt202.00–214.001,32112
Steers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed661224.00/cwt224.00–224.001,4815
Steers—Medium and Large 1670206.10/cwt199.50–219.001,381126
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2681197.95/cwt188.00–204.001,34847
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy693187.00/cwt187.00–187.001,29610
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2720185.67/cwt185.00–186.001,3373
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy731189.00/cwt189.00–189.001,38210
Steers—Medium and Large 1740194.51/cwt193.50–204.001,439297
Steers—Medium and Large 1770189.89/cwt184.00–195.001,462108
Steers—Large 1781180.00/cwt180.00–180.001,40615
Steers—Medium and Large 1809185.53/cwt180.00–186.501,501193
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2809178.24/cwt174.50–179.501,44212
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fancy811187.00/cwt187.00–187.001,51737
Steers—Large 1836171.87/cwt169.00–174.501,43725
Steers—Medium and Large 1854182.89/cwt181.50–183.001,562163
Steers—Large 1876169.28/cwt166.00–172.501,48312
Steers—Medium and Large 1906179.20/cwt177.00–179.751,62439
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy984156.00/cwt156.00–156.001,53515
Steers—Large 11,034160.03/cwt159.50–165.001,65520
Feeder Cattle · Heifers34 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned374225.00/cwt225.00–225.008427
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned376190.00/cwt190.00–190.0071411
Heifers—Medium and Large 1384227.86/cwt227.00–229.0087521
Heifers—Large 1390222.50/cwt222.50–222.508685
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2391215.00/cwt215.00–215.008418
Heifers—Medium 1417215.76/cwt212.00–220.0090023
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned423230.00/cwt230.00–230.0097333
Heifers—Medium 1451211.00/cwt211.00–211.0095210
Heifers—Medium and Large 1467230.01/cwt223.00–234.001,07453
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2467213.36/cwt209.00–221.0099650
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned486213.46/cwt213.00–214.501,03720
Heifers—Medium and Large 1520227.22/cwt217.50–228.501,18242
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2527203.11/cwt199.00–215.501,07037
Heifers—Medium 1539208.00/cwt208.00–208.001,1214
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed568225.83/cwt224.00–228.001,28347
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2573200.34/cwt190.00–206.001,14820
Heifers—Medium and Large 1579212.44/cwt208.00–222.501,23065
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed611216.64/cwt214.00–217.501,32412
Heifers—Medium and Large 1619199.39/cwt190.00–212.001,234173
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2623188.00/cwt188.00–188.001,1714
Heifers—Large 1651174.00/cwt174.00–174.001,1337
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed655209.00/cwt209.00–209.001,36961
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2680177.03/cwt172.00–183.001,20432
Heifers—Medium and Large 1686188.11/cwt185.50–189.501,29053
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fancy717188.50/cwt188.50–188.501,35221
Heifers—Medium and Large 1728181.47/cwt175.00–186.501,321278
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy775147.00/cwt147.00–147.001,13911
Heifers—Large 1778170.50/cwt170.50–170.501,32617
Heifers—Medium and Large 1786171.88/cwt169.50–177.501,35177
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2795168.00/cwt168.00–168.001,3361
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2800153.00/cwt153.00–153.001,2243
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy844144.00/cwt144.00–144.001,2158
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy867143.00/cwt143.00–143.001,24013
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy889141.00/cwt141.00–141.001,2534
Feeder Cattle · Bulls12 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1388230.84/cwt230.00–232.008967
Bulls—Medium and Large 1488217.50/cwt217.50–217.501,0612
Bulls—Medium and Large 1538213.09/cwt205.00–217.001,14618
Bulls—Medium and Large 1562202.34/cwt191.00–208.001,13716
Bulls—Medium and Large 1633191.00/cwt191.00–191.001,2094
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2645162.00/cwt162.00–162.001,0455
Bulls—Medium and Large 1720175.00/cwt175.00–175.001,2603
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2852131.00/cwt131.00–131.001,1165
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Fleshy878143.00/cwt143.00–143.001,2562
Bulls—Medium and Large 1980154.00/cwt154.00–154.001,5091
Bulls—Large 11,040130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,3521
Bulls—Large 1-21,063126.00/cwt126.00–126.001,3392
Feeder Cattle · Dairy Steers1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Steers—Large 473850.00/cwt50.00–50.003693
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,26578.00/cwt78.00–78.009871
Bulls——Return to Feed1,29593.00/cwt93.00–93.001,2041
Bulls——1,60195.99/cwt87.00–105.001,53727
Bulls——1,854110.05/cwt107.00–113.002,04012
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight85584.00/cwt84.00–84.007181
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight96074.00/cwt74.00–74.007101
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,08167.91/cwt61.00–69.5073417
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,20078.60/cwt70.00–84.0094389
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,25586.13/cwt84.00–92.001,08122
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,26091.00/cwt91.00–91.001,1471
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,37690.85/cwt86.00–95.001,25065
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,41081.94/cwt78.00–85.001,15516
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,44592.00/cwt92.00–92.001,3295
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,44696.33/cwt95.00–97.001,39314
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,45696.75/cwt96.75–96.751,4098
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,48693.25/cwt93.25–93.251,38664
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,53597.00/cwt97.00–97.001,4891
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,57990.66/cwt88.00–92.001,43212
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,68595.50/cwt95.50–95.501,6091
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1972121.96/cwt113.00–136.001,18559
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,07583.30/cwt82.50–84.008952
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,080102.17/cwt83.00–112.001,10364
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,095115.67/cwt111.00–121.001,2676
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fancy1,168116.00/cwt116.00–116.001,3553
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1381,232.24/head1,150.00–1,350.001,23212
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Non-Legible BANGS1,2131,210.00/head1,210.00–1,210.001,2104
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3431,285.00/head1,285.00–1,285.001,2854
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,36687.50/cwt87.50–87.501,19510
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4101,310.00/head1,310.00–1,310.001,3107

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.