Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2023-09-28

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Sep 28
● Final113 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
2,312 head
▲ 2,070 vs last sale 242▼ 1,471 vs year ago 3,783 · −38.9%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
347 head
▲ 74 vs last sale 273▲ 347 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
122 head
▲ 52 vs last sale 70▲ 122 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Receipts were too light last week to make any market comparisons on calves or yearlings. Demand for all feeder offerings was mostly moderate to good. Quality this week was mixed. Load lots sold on very good demand along with large packages. Small packages and singles sold with lighter demand this week. Most calves were offered in small packages this sale. Several sets of home raised yearlings were seen this week. CME positions rebounded slightly today after being down sharply earlier in the week. The October traded 2.475 higher and the November 2.875 higher to close at 254.725 and 257.675 respectfully. Demand for light weight yearlings is very good as buyers look to late spring to market these as fed cattle. Market activity was mostly active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light offerings. Packers showed very good demand for feeding cows again today. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to firm. Slaughter cows sold generally steady on all offerings. Cow quality today was mixed from plain to attractive. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mixed with some cows and bulls offering buyers good weigh conditions, while others were pushing fill. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on very good demand today as rebreed buyers and feeding buyers both competed over offerings. Young age cows were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mostly 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 $243.78/cwt on 996 head.
Average price
$243.78
996 head · 740 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,803
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$1,209
per head · Medium and Large 2 over Large 1
$27.91/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−2.28
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 2298251.4175022
Medium and Large 1762246.611,878680
Medium 1735242.651,78334
Medium 1-2678241.301,63620
Medium and Large 1-2701237.171,664209
Large 1877223.501,95931
One grade step is worth $27.91/cwt here — about −$1,209 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 sale996 hd
243.78
—
MT average3 barns · 1,558 hd
246.05
−2.28
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—Low1,715112.611,93163
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,750109.651,91913
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,397102.871,43794
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,15294.071,08472

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 Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,324$1,9005
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,276$1,3006

Every lot

113 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 · Steers39 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned325351.00/cwt351.00–351.001,14110
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned379332.00/cwt332.00–332.001,25819
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned421328.09/cwt325.00–335.001,38124
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned434316.50/cwt316.50–316.501,37422
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned477293.89/cwt282.50–297.501,4028
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned478319.40/cwt298.00–327.001,52741
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned519298.76/cwt294.00–306.001,55127
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned537278.02/cwt262.50–290.001,49330
Steers—Medium 1Thin Fleshed548277.00/cwt277.00–277.001,51813
Steers—Large 1Unweaned552240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,3253
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned565284.86/cwt276.00–289.001,60922
Steers—Medium 1570270.67/cwt267.50–282.501,54314
Steers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed589281.00/cwt281.00–281.001,65544
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned590266.00/cwt266.00–266.001,5691
Steers—Medium and Large 1625276.00/cwt276.00–276.001,7255
Steers—Medium 1630269.75/cwt260.00–276.001,69923
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned633267.40/cwt254.00–277.001,69343
Steers—Medium 1-2647241.00/cwt241.00–241.001,55910
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned655239.00/cwt239.00–239.001,5653
Steers—Medium and Large 1658278.00/cwt278.00–278.001,82923
Steers—Medium 1678255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,7296
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned683265.00/cwt265.00–265.001,8106
Steers—Medium and Large 1710273.68/cwt273.00–275.001,94354
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2734256.35/cwt255.50–258.001,88212
Steers—Medium and Large 2741243.50/cwt243.50–243.501,8044
Steers—Medium 1749259.00/cwt259.00–259.001,9406
Steers—Medium 1753240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,8078
Steers—Medium and Large 1770265.76/cwt259.50–268.002,04672
Steers—Medium and Large 2778237.00/cwt237.00–237.001,8444
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2781252.17/cwt248.00–253.001,96938
Steers—Medium and Large 1806252.22/cwt250.00–257.002,03377
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2832245.75/cwt239.00–249.502,04523
Steers—Medium and Large 1876240.68/cwt237.00–247.002,10827
Steers—Medium and Large 1909238.48/cwt238.00–239.002,16829
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2914232.00/cwt232.00–232.002,12011
Steers—Medium and Large 1983233.00/cwt233.00–233.002,2902
Steers—Medium and Large 1-21,065218.50/cwt218.50–218.502,3272
Steers—Medium and Large 11,068221.00/cwt221.00–221.002,3604
Steers—Large 11,143205.00/cwt205.00–205.002,3432
Feeder Cattle · Heifers40 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned272251.00/cwt251.00–251.0068313
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned305320.00/cwt320.00–320.009761
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned323300.00/cwt300.00–300.009693
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned336252.00/cwt252.00–252.008479
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned377300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,1316
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned387259.67/cwt246.00–262.001,00525
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned410281.75/cwt275.00–300.001,15530
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned433262.00/cwt262.00–262.001,1344
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned473240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,13513
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned483284.84/cwt282.00–286.001,37626
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned518264.56/cwt259.00–272.001,37041
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned523244.00/cwt244.00–244.001,27612
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned550232.00/cwt232.00–232.001,2764
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned573245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,4043
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned576254.71/cwt250.00–258.001,46720
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned621247.83/cwt245.00–257.001,53917
Heifers—Medium 1623251.00/cwt251.00–251.001,5644
Heifers—Medium 1665263.00/cwt263.00–263.001,7492
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned673242.50/cwt242.50–242.501,6324
Heifers—Medium 1-2678241.30/cwt239.00–247.001,63620
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed686269.50/cwt269.50–269.501,84940
Heifers—Medium and Large 1729252.92/cwt249.50–260.001,844119
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2741243.89/cwt242.50–245.001,80739
Heifers—Medium 1756240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,81428
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed760258.50/cwt258.50–258.501,96518
Heifers—Medium and Large 1787248.91/cwt238.50–253.001,95995
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2793229.17/cwt225.00–238.001,81739
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2803227.29/cwt227.00–232.001,82536
Heifers—Medium and Large 1828234.73/cwt233.50–235.001,94422
Heifers—Large 1843225.00/cwt225.00–225.001,89710
Heifers—Medium and Large 1875230.80/cwt223.50–232.502,02088
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2884224.39/cwt224.00–226.001,98415
Heifers—Large 1886226.00/cwt225.00–228.502,00214
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2919219.00/cwt219.00–219.002,01317
Heifers—Medium and Large 1921224.29/cwt220.50–226.002,06686
Heifers—Medium and Large 1975220.12/cwt217.00–222.502,14628
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2995216.00/cwt216.00–216.002,1492
Heifers—Medium and Large 11,024218.30/cwt216.50–219.502,23535
Heifers—Medium and Large 11,050212.50/cwt212.50–212.502,2314
Heifers—Large 11,155194.88/cwt193.00–196.002,2514
Feeder Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned251262.50/cwt262.50–262.5065914
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned367292.50/cwt292.50–292.501,07313
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned430250.00/cwt250.00–250.001,07510
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned653225.00/cwt225.00–225.001,4693
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2925211.00/cwt211.00–211.001,9521
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,20087.00/cwt87.00–87.001,0441
Bulls——Return to Feed1,546108.97/cwt103.50–111.001,68513
Bulls——Return to Feed1,602115.36/cwt113.00–119.001,84813
Bulls——1,675108.02/cwt105.00–110.001,8098
Bulls——1,865114.51/cwt111.00–121.002,13626
Bulls——2,018124.71/cwt123.50–126.002,5172
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight89567.00/cwt67.00–67.006001
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight89884.02/cwt80.00–88.007548
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,07993.87/cwt92.50–96.001,0137
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,13192.13/cwt77.00–96.501,04226
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,218101.60/cwt99.00–102.001,2376
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,27598.84/cwt97.50–102.501,26024
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,35095.68/cwt93.00–99.501,29228
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,38394.54/cwt92.00–97.001,3072
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,408104.08/cwt100.50–108.001,4654
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,410104.10/cwt100.00–114.001,46848
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,452115.83/cwt113.00–118.001,68211
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,490114.00/cwt114.00–114.001,6991
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,629115.33/cwt114.00–116.001,8793
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,720115.74/cwt115.50–116.001,9912
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,786107.00/cwt107.00–107.001,9114
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,820105.00/cwt105.00–105.001,9114
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed915154.96/cwt146.00–160.001,4184
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,025158.94/cwt109.00–182.001,62959
Stock Cows—Large 11,040114.50/cwt114.50–114.501,1911
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,050120.70/cwt112.00–129.001,2672
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,130124.84/cwt112.00–153.001,41130
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2761,300.00/head1,300.00–1,300.001,3006
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3241,900.00/head1,900.00–1,900.001,9005

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.