Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2023-10-26

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2023-10-26
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-10-26

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Oct 26

● Final59 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Oct 19Oct 26Nov 2 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

979 head

▼ 2,927 vs last sale 3,906▼ 2,296 vs year ago 3,275 · −70.1%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

89 head

▼ 132 vs last sale 221▼ 208 vs year ago 297 · −70.0%

Replacement Cattle receipts

145 head

▼ 17 vs last sale 162▼ 53 vs year ago 198 · −26.8%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. The best test for steer calves was for 550-599 lbs which sold 15.00-20.00 lower. All other steer calf weights were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however lower to sharply lower undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested last week to develop a full market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed. 500-549 lbs heifers offered the best test this week, these calves sold 15.00-20.00 lower in a narrow comparison; all other heifer calves were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, lower to sharply lower undertones were noticed. Quality today was mostly average to attractive despite light offerings. Demand for yearlings was mostly good to very good, while demand for calves was light to moderate. A winter storm kept receipts light for todays sale as very cold and snowy conditions were seen. Most cattle were offered in small to moderate size packages this sale, with one load lot of yearlings seen. CME positions sold off sharply from last week, the nearby October contract closed closed at 243.575, 3.025 lower than last Thursdays close. The November contract closed at 236.50, 8.00 lower than last Thursdays close. Market activity was mostly moderate today. Weigh up cows were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate trend, however steady undertones were noticed on both feeding and slaughter cows. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on good demand today as quality was mostly attractive. Young age cows sold steady to weak in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mostly attractive.

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 $243.17/cwt on 452 head.

Average price

$243.17

452 head · 657 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,598

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$340

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

$17.01/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−11.86

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	542	249.51	1,352	48
Medium and Large 1	674	242.57	1,636	398
Medium and Large 2	435	232.50	1,011	6thin

One grade step is worth $17.01/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 sale452 hd

243.17

—

MT average5 barns · 2,876 hd

255.03

−11.86

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	1,703	98.38	1,676	3thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,346	97.91	1,317	36
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,176	85.62	1,007	43

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	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	960	$1,700	2thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,355	$1,300	1thin

Every lot

59 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 · Steers19 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	249	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	921	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	252	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	945	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	294	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	956	9
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	332	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,129	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	362	338.56/cwt	320.00–351.00	1,226	30
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	443	310.06/cwt	306.00–332.00	1,374	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	445	324.41/cwt	324.00–327.50	1,444	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	467	300.90/cwt	282.00–317.00	1,405	73
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	470	288.00/cwt	288.00–288.00	1,354	3
Steers	—	Medium 2Unweaned	513	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,026	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	530	271.53/cwt	271.00–272.00	1,439	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	558	242.00/cwt	242.00–242.00	1,350	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	562	260.60/cwt	253.00–266.00	1,465	102
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	647	240.77/cwt	239.00–241.00	1,558	43
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	650	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,495	3
Steers	—	Large 1Unweaned	678	233.00/cwt	233.00–233.00	1,580	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	679	239.73/cwt	238.00–240.00	1,628	22
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	683	233.00/cwt	233.00–233.00	1,591	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	718	239.50/cwt	239.50–239.50	1,720	4
Feeder Cattle · Heifers21 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	265	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	782	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	316	323.00/cwt	323.00–323.00	1,021	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	327	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	932	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	328	262.50/cwt	262.50–262.50	861	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	373	282.94/cwt	280.00–285.00	1,055	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	381	299.04/cwt	299.00–300.00	1,139	49
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	430	268.19/cwt	260.00–272.50	1,153	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	459	260.13/cwt	257.50–261.00	1,194	17
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	490	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,176	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	517	246.49/cwt	240.00–250.00	1,274	90
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	542	202.50/cwt	202.50–202.50	1,098	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	573	238.55/cwt	237.50–240.00	1,367	30
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	618	234.00/cwt	233.00–235.00	1,446	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	756	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	1,610	17
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	818	207.00/cwt	207.00–207.00	1,693	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	839	226.83/cwt	225.00–227.00	1,903	68
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	888	220.37/cwt	220.00–220.50	1,957	15
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	893	210.00/cwt	210.00–210.00	1,875	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	907	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	1,932	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	961	211.95/cwt	211.50–212.50	2,037	80
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,058	190.50/cwt	190.50–190.50	2,015	9
Feeder Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	504	239.00/cwt	239.00–239.00	1,205	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	545	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	1,324	4
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,680	97.57/cwt	95.00–100.00	1,639	2
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,750	100.00/cwt	100.00–100.00	1,750	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows8 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,093	83.35/cwt	78.00–86.00	911	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,131	79.84/cwt	74.00–85.00	903	16
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,170	67.00/cwt	67.00–67.00	784	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,216	91.01/cwt	87.00–95.00	1,107	21
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,253	88.01/cwt	87.00–89.00	1,103	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,334	98.17/cwt	95.00–101.50	1,310	33
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,345	91.00/cwt	91.00–91.00	1,224	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,538	97.00/cwt	97.00–97.00	1,492	2
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	960	1,700.00/head	1,700.00–1,700.00	1,700	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,355	1,300.00/head	1,300.00–1,300.00	1,300	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	770	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	1,240	6
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	860	148.70/cwt	142.50–150.00	1,279	12
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,009	162.27/cwt	152.50–183.00	1,637	78
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,052	115.29/cwt	102.00–142.50	1,213	24
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,104	88.10/cwt	85.50–89.00	973	8

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 Oct 26, 2023

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 979Last week 3,906Year ago 3,275

Slaughter CattleReceipts 89Last week 221Year ago 297

Replacement CattleReceipts 145Last week 162Year ago 198

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	2	—	960	1,700.00	1,700.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	1	—	1,355	1,300.00	1,300.00

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	24	—	1,052	102.00–142.50	115.29
(<2 yrs)	Open	78	—	1,009	152.50–183.00	162.27

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	6	—	770	161.00	161.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	8	—	1,104	85.50–89.00	88.10
(<2 yrs)	Open	12	—	860	142.50–150.00	148.70

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	445	324.00–327.50	324.41
4	—	249	370.00	370.00
3	—	332	340.00	340.00
30	—	362	320.00–351.00	338.56
5	—	252	375.00	375.00
102	—	562	253.00–266.00	260.60
11	—	530	271.00–272.00	271.53
43	—	647	239.00–241.00	240.77
73	—	467	282.00–317.00	300.90
22	—	679	238.00–240.00	239.73

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	718	239.50	239.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	294	325.00	325.00
3	—	650	230.00	230.00
5	—	558	242.00	242.00
3	—	470	288.00	288.00
12	—	443	306.00–332.00	310.06

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	683	233.00	233.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	513	200.00	200.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	678	233.00	233.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	545	243.00	243.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	504	239.00	239.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	490	240.00	240.00
13	—	327	285.00	285.00
5	—	265	295.00	295.00
5	—	373	280.00–285.00	282.94

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	618	233.00–235.00	234.00
90	—	517	240.00–250.00	246.49
9	—	430	260.00–272.50	268.19
49	—	381	299.00–300.00	299.04
30	—	573	237.50–240.00	238.55
14	—	316	323.00	323.00
17	—	459	257.50–261.00	260.13

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	893	210.00	210.00
3	—	818	207.00	207.00
17	—	756	213.00	213.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	888	220.00–220.50	220.37
68	—	839	225.00–227.00	226.83
9	—	1,058	190.50	190.50
80	—	961	211.50–212.50	211.95
9	—	907	213.00	213.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	328	262.50	262.50
3	—	542	202.50	202.50

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,680	95.00–100.00	97.57

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,750	100.00	100.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,170	67.00	67.00
2	—	1,253	87.00–89.00	88.01
16	—	1,131	74.00–85.00	79.84

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,538	97.00	97.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	1,216	87.00–95.00	91.01
3	—	1,093	78.00–86.00	83.35

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
33	—	1,334	95.00–101.50	98.17
1	—	1,345	91.00	91.00

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.