Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2023-03-09

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2023-03-09
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-03-09

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Mar 9

● Final84 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Mar 2Mar 9Mar 16 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

1,288 head

▼ 2,500 vs last sale 3,788▲ 283 vs year ago 1,005 · +28.2%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

446 head

▲ 80 vs last sale 366▲ 305 vs year ago 141 · +216.3%

Replacement Cattle receipts

131 head

▼ 44 vs last sale 175▼ 37 vs year ago 168 · −22.0%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Steer calves under 700 lbs sold mostly 10.00-20.00 higher in a narrow comparison, Steers over 700 lbs sold steady to firm. Heifers under 700 lbs sold 10.00-15.00 higher, heifers over 700 lbs sold generally steady. Demand was mostly good to very good for light to moderate offerings. Quality today was mixed from plain to very attractive. Demand for thin to light fleshed cattle was very good today. Buyers continue to offer strong premiums for green cattle which consigners kept in thin flesh. Buyers purchased steers up to 760 lbs and heifers up to 675 to run on grass as long as they were in light flesh. All package sizes sold on good to very good demand. Market activity was active to very active today as demand outpaced supply and buyers bid aggressively on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Packer buyers showed good demand for cows for immediate harvest. Packers continued to purchase a few packages of high quality cows to feed. Slaughter cows sold steady to 2.00 lower on breaking and boning cows, lean cows sold steady. Feeding cows sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold steady to firm. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $216.80/cwt on 572 head.

Average price

$216.80

572 head · 564 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,223

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$80

per head · Medium 1 over Medium and Large 1-2

$21.49/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+5.22

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	421	222.83	938	16thin
Medium and Large 1	586	220.25	1,290	426
Large 1	519	209.54	1,087	54
Medium and Large 1-2	506	201.34	1,018	76

One grade step is worth $21.49/cwt here — about −$80 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 sale572 hd

216.80

—

MT average3 barns · 700 hd

211.58

+5.22

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Low	1,633	99.57	1,626	31
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,587	90.66	1,439	87
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,479	88.32	1,306	140
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,217	82.22	1,001	178

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.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,468	$1,375	2thin

Every lot

84 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.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers29 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	328	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	836	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	345	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	932	5
Steers	—	Large 1	379	277.50/cwt	277.50–277.50	1,052	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	427	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,153	3
Steers	—	Large 1	430	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	1,183	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	431	237.50/cwt	237.50–237.50	1,024	16
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	432	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,210	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	481	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	1,371	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	482	240.03/cwt	232.50–272.00	1,157	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	526	275.77/cwt	274.00–277.50	1,451	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	530	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,246	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	535	291.00/cwt	291.00–291.00	1,557	23
Steers	—	Large 1Thin Fleshed	539	274.00/cwt	274.00–274.00	1,477	16
Steers	—	Large 1	563	236.81/cwt	235.00–239.00	1,333	20
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	578	244.75/cwt	242.00–253.00	1,415	18
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	592	234.99/cwt	229.00–238.00	1,391	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	614	261.00/cwt	261.00–261.00	1,603	50
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	634	235.89/cwt	231.50–246.00	1,496	18
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	635	216.99/cwt	216.00–218.00	1,378	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	665	218.00/cwt	218.00–218.00	1,450	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	672	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	1,260	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	676	222.11/cwt	220.00–228.00	1,501	51
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	703	197.00/cwt	197.00–197.00	1,385	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	721	196.00/cwt	196.00–196.00	1,413	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 2	733	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,283	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	742	201.00/cwt	201.00–201.00	1,491	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	769	194.55/cwt	186.50–198.00	1,496	87
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	839	184.43/cwt	184.00–191.00	1,547	45
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	890	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	1,558	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers24 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium 1	368	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	868	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	379	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	929	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	410	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	861	27
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	428	235.96/cwt	233.00–240.00	1,010	41
Heifers	—	Large 1	430	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	957	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	457	209.68/cwt	205.00–223.00	958	19
Heifers	—	Large 1	466	212.50/cwt	212.50–212.50	990	7
Heifers	—	Medium 1	467	210.90/cwt	192.50–215.00	985	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	485	239.37/cwt	239.00–239.50	1,161	89
Heifers	—	Medium 1	520	201.00/cwt	201.00–201.00	1,045	1
Heifers	—	Large 1	531	208.50/cwt	208.50–208.50	1,107	45
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	535	236.50/cwt	224.00–238.00	1,265	104
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	543	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	1,140	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	562	228.66/cwt	224.00–229.50	1,285	20
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	595	196.86/cwt	177.50–207.00	1,171	12
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	618	215.33/cwt	207.50–222.00	1,331	38
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	626	187.57/cwt	180.00–195.00	1,174	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	672	203.23/cwt	187.00–209.00	1,366	50
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	742	180.45/cwt	176.00–184.50	1,339	21
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	752	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	1,128	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	783	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	1,378	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	801	174.50/cwt	174.50–174.50	1,398	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	885	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	1,513	30
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	932	162.50/cwt	162.50–162.50	1,515	5
Feeder Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	618	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,329	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	798	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	1,365	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	857	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	1,286	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	988	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	1,275	3
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,285	98.00/cwt	98.00–98.00	1,259	1
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,352	87.01/cwt	82.00–96.00	1,176	6
Bulls	—	—	1,701	101.62/cwt	85.00–105.00	1,729	21
Bulls	—	—	1,839	110.91/cwt	107.00–113.00	2,040	3
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	917	77.14/cwt	76.00–78.00	707	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,085	69.89/cwt	67.00–72.00	758	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,220	76.15/cwt	75.00–77.00	929	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,223	80.39/cwt	74.00–83.00	983	112
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,243	92.68/cwt	92.00–93.00	1,152	8
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,246	87.02/cwt	84.00–91.50	1,084	46
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,385	83.00/cwt	83.00–83.00	1,150	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,391	82.17/cwt	75.00–85.50	1,143	26
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,428	95.24/cwt	95.00–96.50	1,360	27
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,504	94.00/cwt	94.00–94.00	1,414	13
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,510	87.31/cwt	86.00–94.50	1,318	69
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,553	88.55/cwt	86.00–89.00	1,375	29
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,569	89.67/cwt	88.00–94.00	1,407	13
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,588	96.00/cwt	96.00–96.00	1,524	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,622	91.05/cwt	89.00–96.00	1,477	44
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight	2,120	91.00/cwt	91.00–91.00	1,929	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	890	126.35/cwt	119.00–136.00	1,125	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	926	83.11/cwt	76.50–105.00	770	9
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	949	138.87/cwt	130.00–146.00	1,318	45
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	978	111.93/cwt	87.00–142.00	1,095	56
Stock Cows	—	Large 1	1,018	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	1,354	4
Stock Cows	—	Large 1	1,070	112.00/cwt	112.00–112.00	1,198	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,468	1,375.00/head	1,375.00–1,375.00	1,375	2

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.

Montana feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Thu)

Thu Mar 9, 2023

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 1,288Last week 3,788Year ago 1,005

Slaughter CattleReceipts 446Last week 366Year ago 141

Replacement CattleReceipts 131Last week 175Year ago 168

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
69	—	1,510	86.00–94.50	87.31
27	—	1,428	95.00–96.50	95.24
26	—	1,391	75.00–85.50	82.17

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
46	—	1,246	84.00–91.50	87.02
5	—	1,085	67.00–72.00	69.89
112	—	1,223	74.00–83.00	80.39
8	—	1,243	92.00–93.00	92.68

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,120	91.00	91.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,220	75.00–77.00	76.15

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,504	94.00	94.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,569	88.00–94.00	89.67
1	—	1,385	83.00	83.00
4	—	1,588	96.00	96.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
29	—	1,553	86.00–89.00	88.55
44	—	1,622	89.00–96.00	91.05

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	917	76.00–78.00	77.14

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	1,701	85.00–105.00	101.62
3	—	1,839	107.00–113.00	110.91

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,352	82.00–96.00	87.01

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,285	98.00	98.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	988	129.00	129.00
2	—	798	171.00	171.00
5	—	857	150.00	150.00
3	—	618	215.00	215.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
104	—	535	224.00–238.00	236.50
38	—	618	207.50–222.00	215.33
50	—	672	187.00–209.00	203.23
9	—	783	176.00	176.00
30	—	885	171.00	171.00
21	—	742	176.00–184.50	180.45
89	—	485	239.00–239.50	239.37
20	—	562	224.00–229.50	228.66
9	—	801	174.50	174.50
41	—	428	233.00–240.00	235.96
5	—	932	162.50	162.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	368	236.00	236.00
7	—	467	192.50–215.00	210.90
1	—	520	201.00	201.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	379	245.00	245.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	466	212.50	212.50
2	—	430	222.50	222.50
45	—	531	208.50	208.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	457	205.00–223.00	209.68
12	—	595	177.50–207.00	196.86
6	—	626	180.00–195.00	187.57
27	—	410	210.00	210.00
6	—	752	150.00	150.00
6	—	543	210.00	210.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	427	270.00	270.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	328	255.00	255.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	563	235.00–239.00	236.81
10	—	430	275.00	275.00
12	—	379	277.50	277.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	890	175.00	175.00
12	—	526	274.00–277.50	275.77
4	—	481	285.00	285.00
18	—	578	242.00–253.00	244.75
18	—	634	231.50–246.00	235.89
51	—	676	220.00–228.00	222.11
45	—	839	184.00–191.00	184.43
9	—	742	201.00	201.00
87	—	769	186.50–198.00	194.55

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
23	—	535	291.00	291.00
50	—	614	261.00	261.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	539	274.00	274.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	665	218.00	218.00
5	—	345	270.00	270.00
2	—	530	235.00	235.00
13	—	482	232.50–272.00	240.03
6	—	592	229.00–238.00	234.99
17	—	432	280.00	280.00
2	—	703	197.00	197.00
6	—	635	216.00–218.00	216.99

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	733	175.00	175.00
8	—	672	187.50	187.50
16	—	431	237.50	237.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	721	196.00	196.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	890	119.00–136.00	126.35
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	9	—	926	76.50–105.00	83.11

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,070	112.00	112.00
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,018	133.00	133.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	56	—	978	87.00–142.00	111.93
(<2 yrs)	Open	45	—	949	130.00–146.00	138.87

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,468	1,375.00	1,375.00

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.