Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2023-03-30

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Mar 30
● Final103 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
3,998 head
▲ 3,603 vs last sale 395▼ 1,205 vs year ago 5,203 · −23.2%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
116 head
▼ 353 vs last sale 469▼ 128 vs year ago 244 · −52.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
251 head
▼ 170 vs last sale 421▼ 474 vs year ago 725 · −65.4%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to two weeks ago: Steers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed on all offerings. Heifers under 550 lbs sold generally steady, heifers over 550 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Quality this sale was mixed from plain to very attractive. Several load lots were seen this sale and all sold on good to very good demand. Packages sold on mostly good demand as buyers were able to piece together loads of like quality cattle. Demand for grass cattle and replacement quality heifers was very good. Replacement heifer buyers and buyers looking for attractive grass heifers both showed good to very good demand and bid very aggressively on attractive offerings. Market activity was active to very active with a very large crowd on hand for todays spring N.I.L.E. special. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Western packers showed very good demand for cows for immediate harvest, while eastern Packers purchased most offerings to feed this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00 to 4.00 higher on all classes of slaughter cows. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady to higher undertones were noticed. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week as most cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold with steady undertones. Quality this week was average to attractive.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $208.08/cwt on 1,894 head.
Average price
$208.08
1,894 head · 656 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,364
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$251
per head · Medium 1 over Large 1
$25.36/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−0.64
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1479221.041,059102
Medium and Large 1-2563211.001,188318
Medium and Large 1688206.881,4241,431
Large 1669195.681,31043
One grade step is worth $25.36/cwt here — about −$251 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 sale1,894 hd
208.08
—
MT average3 barns · 2,047 hd
208.71
−0.64
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—Average1,494107.471,60512
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,62493.171,51313
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,41492.351,30547
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,18885.991,02119

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)Young (2-4 yrs)1,250$2,02416
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,373$2,00667
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,449$1,98922
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,353$1,46044

Every lot

103 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 · Steers29 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2379258.09/cwt252.00–270.0097812
Steers—Medium and Large 1396271.00/cwt271.00–271.001,0735
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2427267.21/cwt264.00–270.001,14117
Steers—Medium and Large 1442270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,19317
Steers—Medium 1443263.00/cwt263.00–263.001,1656
Steers—Medium and Large 1480266.08/cwt261.00–272.001,27798
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2485246.56/cwt240.00–260.001,19651
Steers—Medium and Large 2512223.00/cwt223.00–223.001,1428
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2525248.83/cwt245.00–251.001,30637
Steers—Medium 1527233.67/cwt225.00–246.001,23112
Steers—Medium and Large 1534259.36/cwt258.00–268.001,38588
Steers—Medium and Large 2558212.00/cwt212.00–212.001,1834
Steers—Medium and Large 1Value Added581260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,51131
Steers—Medium and Large 1582254.22/cwt247.00–256.001,48074
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2587232.92/cwt222.00–239.001,367149
Steers—Medium and Large 1Value Added602260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,56596
Steers—Medium and Large 1623239.18/cwt231.00–248.001,490189
Steers—Medium 1636208.61/cwt200.00–211.001,32741
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2639217.55/cwt210.00–225.001,39077
Steers—Large 1645220.00/cwt220.00–220.001,4192
Steers—Medium and Large 2646203.00/cwt203.00–203.001,31116
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2669202.68/cwt202.00–204.001,3566
Steers—Medium and Large 1672223.81/cwt215.00–229.001,50490
Steers—Medium and Large 1721209.41/cwt201.00–214.001,510206
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2728198.37/cwt196.00–199.001,44429
Steers—Medium and Large 1778195.50/cwt188.00–200.501,52198
Steers—Large 1811170.00/cwt170.00–170.001,3794
Steers—Medium and Large 1865174.00/cwt174.00–174.001,5052
Steers—Medium and Large 1913170.13/cwt169.00–172.001,55324
Feeder Cattle · Heifers38 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium 1355244.00/cwt244.00–244.008663
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2380228.00/cwt228.00–228.008664
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned406200.00/cwt200.00–200.008127
Heifers—Medium and Large 1413234.66/cwt234.00–237.5096926
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2422230.85/cwt230.00–231.0097435
Heifers—Medium 1428228.76/cwt228.00–229.0097954
Heifers—Large 1467229.00/cwt229.00–229.001,0693
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2479228.27/cwt226.00–229.501,09342
Heifers—Medium and Large 1492230.43/cwt230.25–231.001,13475
Heifers—Medium and Large 1520229.85/cwt226.00–235.001,19543
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2531222.43/cwt211.00–225.001,18146
Heifers—Medium 1542210.68/cwt209.00–215.001,14235
Heifers—Medium 1571208.69/cwt205.00–211.001,19210
Heifers—Medium and Large 1579230.51/cwt221.50–234.001,335161
Heifers—Large 1591215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,27114
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2593209.56/cwt206.00–215.001,243110
Heifers—Large 1600208.50/cwt208.50–208.501,2512
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fancy614229.00/cwt229.00–229.001,40628
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2626201.08/cwt194.00–207.001,25942
Heifers—Medium and Large 1637217.15/cwt209.00–225.001,383263
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fancy652218.48/cwt217.00–224.001,42424
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2655194.00/cwt194.00–194.001,2712
Heifers—Medium and Large 1679213.56/cwt204.00–219.001,450254
Heifers—Large 1684191.65/cwt189.00–196.001,3118
Heifers—Medium and Large 1727193.13/cwt186.00–199.001,40470
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2730168.67/cwt167.00–171.001,23122
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement735201.55/cwt200.50–218.001,48193
Heifers—Large 1737177.50/cwt177.50–177.501,30814
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement777194.20/cwt186.00–197.501,509127
Heifers—Medium and Large 1788176.85/cwt172.00–185.001,39475
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2809161.50/cwt161.50–161.501,3078
Heifers—Medium and Large 1825169.42/cwt169.00–169.501,3986
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy847161.79/cwt161.50–162.001,37034
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement858189.43/cwt181.00–198.501,62546
Heifers—Medium and Large 1894168.04/cwt166.00–171.001,50249
Heifers—Medium and Large 1958160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,5332
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy967157.75/cwt157.75–157.751,52555
Heifers—Large 1Fleshy1,060141.00/cwt141.00–141.001,4952
Feeder Cattle · Bulls11 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1478232.50/cwt232.50–232.501,1117
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2485220.00/cwt220.00–220.001,0674
Bulls—Medium and Large 1500230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,1502
Bulls—Medium and Large 1580225.00/cwt225.00–225.001,3053
Bulls—Medium and Large 1610210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,2813
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2640157.50/cwt157.50–157.501,0081
Bulls—Medium and Large 1731195.39/cwt191.00–196.001,4288
Bulls—Medium and Large 1885151.00/cwt151.00–151.001,3361
Bulls—Medium and Large 1940156.00/cwt156.00–156.001,4664
Bulls—Large 11,130121.00/cwt121.00–121.001,3676
Bulls—Large 11,185122.00/cwt122.00–122.001,4461
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,17593.00/cwt93.00–93.001,0931
Bulls——Return to Feed1,195111.25/cwt110.00–116.001,3295
Bulls——1,73299.21/cwt85.00–108.001,7183
Bulls——1,859114.27/cwt113.00–115.002,1243
Slaughter Cattle · Cows12 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,16184.10/cwt82.00–85.0097612
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,22076.00/cwt76.00–76.009271
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,23691.44/cwt88.50–93.501,1306
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,38394.89/cwt93.00–98.001,31220
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,42888.53/cwt80.00–93.001,26418
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,43193.52/cwt90.00–95.001,3385
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,443101.27/cwt101.00–101.501,4612
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,51889.46/cwt86.00–93.001,3582
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,53889.00/cwt89.00–89.001,3692
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,61297.33/cwt97.00–97.501,5693
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,620100.00/cwt100.00–100.001,6202
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,66090.21/cwt88.00–92.001,4976
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1738145.00/cwt145.00–145.001,0702
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2865142.00/cwt142.00–142.001,2281
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1989140.43/cwt125.00–150.001,38944
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,160104.81/cwt95.00–117.001,21633
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2502,023.52/head2,000.00–2,050.002,02416
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,2641,291.99/head1,150.00–1,350.001,2927
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3701,491.75/head1,425.00–1,650.001,49237
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3732,005.85/head1,700.00–2,050.002,00667
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4491,989.12/head1,900.00–2,025.001,98922

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.