Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2023-11-16

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Nov 16
● Final107 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
4,779 head
▼ 1,230 vs last sale 6,009▼ 825 vs year ago 5,604 · −14.7%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
180 head
▼ 75 vs last sale 255▼ 100 vs year ago 280 · −35.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
67 head
▼ 63 vs last sale 130▲ 32 vs year ago 35 · +91.4%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were both too lightly tested this week to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly 10.00-20.00 lower; Steers 450-549 lbs sold steady to 5.00 lower; steer calves over 550 lbs sold mostly 4.00-8.00 lower. Heifer calves under 400 lbs sold 10.00-15.00 higher; heifer calves 400-599 lbs sold mostly unevenly steady from 2.00 higher to 5.00 lower; heifer calves over 600 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 lower. Demand was mostly moderate to good this sale. Quality today was mixed from plain to very attractive. Several large consignments of calves were seen this sale and these offerings were met with good demand as buyers were able to buy load lot quantities of very attractive calves. Large price spreads were seen between plain/average quality calves and high quality calves this sale as fewer takers were seen for plain to average quality offerings. CME positions sold off sharply today with triple digit losses seen on all contracts. The nearby November is nearing expiration and sold near steady, however all differed contracts sold from 3.40 to 3.80 lower. The November contract closed at 229.375, while the January contract closed at 227.50. Package sizes were large again this week with several load lots of calves seen. Demand was good for both load lots and packages. Calves with fall preconditioning shots sold with the best demand and sold with strong premiums to calves with only spring shots. A few weaned calves were seen this week. Demand for weaned calves was moderate, however little to no premium was seen for weaned calves this week. Most weaned calves were pushing moderate amounts of fill and many were dirty or muddy. Market activity was mostly active today with a very large crowd on hand of both farmer feeders and order buyers noticed. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for mostly light offerings. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested this week to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. High quality feeding cows were too lightly tested to trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Thin feeding or turn out cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on light demand today. Quality was mostly plain to average and most offerings sold to feed. This class was too lightly tested to develop any market trend.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $299.62/cwt on 2,107 head.
Average price
$299.62
2,107 head · 500 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,497
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$238
per head · Medium 1 over Large 1-2
$74.18/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+5.39
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1357308.181,10114thin
Medium and Large 1489307.261,5041,722
Medium 1-2461287.771,32730
Medium and Large 1-2531273.701,453232
Large 1643236.581,52287
Medium and Large 2542235.861,27914thin
Large 1-2572234.001,3388thin
One grade step is worth $74.18/cwt here — about −$238 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 sale2,107 hd
299.62
—
MT average5 barns · 6,339 hd
294.23
+5.39
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—Average1,66597.141,6178thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,65891.041,5093thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,38081.381,12331
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,12273.9683066

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)1,027$1,8353thin

Every lot

107 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 · Steers41 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned283355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,0057
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned290381.00/cwt381.00–381.001,10540
Steers—Medium 1Unweaned306317.50/cwt317.50–317.5097211
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned342372.60/cwt370.00–390.001,274136
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned343341.00/cwt341.00–341.001,1708
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned384316.43/cwt315.00–317.501,2157
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned396348.94/cwt340.00–375.001,382308
Steers—Medium 1-2Unweaned399310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,2377
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2420317.50/cwt317.50–317.501,3346
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned422313.06/cwt308.00–315.001,32115
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned440328.80/cwt325.00–345.001,447313
Steers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned460260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,1964
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2463297.50/cwt297.50–297.501,3778
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned464310.59/cwt302.00–324.001,44176
Steers—Medium and Large 1464305.00/cwt305.00–305.001,4158
Steers—Medium 1-2Unweaned480281.00/cwt281.00–281.001,34923
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned483291.59/cwt284.00–296.001,40837
Steers—Medium and Large 1510289.17/cwt283.50–297.001,47542
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2522274.00/cwt274.00–274.001,4308
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned523293.63/cwt276.00–301.001,536354
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned538265.53/cwt261.00–274.001,42972
Steers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned538232.50/cwt232.50–232.501,2514
Steers—Medium 1Unweaned545274.00/cwt274.00–274.001,4933
Steers—Large 1-2Unweaned572234.00/cwt234.00–234.001,3388
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned574244.68/cwt242.00–250.001,40413
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned578256.85/cwt254.00–265.001,48594
Steers—Medium and Large 1588264.00/cwt264.00–264.001,5528
Steers—Large 1Unweaned591246.49/cwt246.00–248.001,45741
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full595245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,45828
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2598239.00/cwt239.00–239.001,4296
Steers—Medium and Large 2600222.00/cwt222.00–222.001,3326
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned619251.37/cwt245.00–257.001,556207
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned625237.31/cwt224.00–243.001,48331
Steers—Medium and Large 1637255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,62414
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned679240.55/cwt232.00–247.001,63341
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned685226.00/cwt226.00–226.001,5486
Steers—Large 1Unweaned688228.81/cwt225.00–229.001,57441
Steers—Large 1705219.00/cwt219.00–219.001,5445
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned714229.16/cwt219.00–232.001,63649
Steers—Medium and Large 1935212.49/cwt212.00–214.001,9874
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2985208.00/cwt208.00–208.002,0498
Feeder Cattle · Heifers43 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium 1-2Unweaned245280.00/cwt280.00–280.0068623
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned312254.43/cwt250.00–260.0079411
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned324340.37/cwt314.00–346.001,10386
Heifers—Medium 1Unweaned326310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,0117
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned338290.00/cwt290.00–290.009808
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned375316.36/cwt297.50–325.001,186286
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned377281.59/cwt275.00–286.001,06230
Heifers—Medium and Large 2389260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,0116
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned391225.00/cwt225.00–225.008807
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned414272.30/cwt272.00–272.501,12712
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned427291.08/cwt281.00–302.001,243221
Heifers—Medium and Large 1427281.26/cwt276.00–297.001,20127
Heifers—Medium 1Unweaned436255.38/cwt250.00–256.001,1139
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned451262.00/cwt262.00–262.001,18215
Heifers—Medium and Large 1454280.50/cwt280.50–280.501,2738
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned481235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,1306
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned482273.76/cwt269.00–286.001,320335
Heifers—Medium and Large 2500221.00/cwt221.00–221.001,1057
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fancy507278.00/cwt278.00–278.001,40945
Heifers—Medium and Large 1521260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,3557
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned521258.96/cwt249.00–272.001,349110
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2527227.98/cwt222.50–239.001,20120
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned528233.35/cwt227.00–245.001,23251
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned543244.10/cwt239.00–245.001,32519
Heifers—Medium 1Unweaned555227.00/cwt227.00–227.001,26013
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned571246.10/cwt240.00–257.001,40568
Heifers—Medium and Large 1576242.00/cwt242.00–242.001,39423
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned585202.77/cwt201.00–207.501,1867
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned591219.13/cwt217.50–222.001,29511
Heifers—Medium and Large 2591199.00/cwt199.00–199.001,1766
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned603214.00/cwt214.00–214.001,29010
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fancy612245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,49912
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Replacement614247.00/cwt247.00–247.001,51715
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned631226.80/cwt221.00–238.001,431142
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2648205.00/cwt205.00–205.001,3283
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned655221.29/cwt221.00–222.001,44917
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned715220.00/cwt220.00–220.001,5731
Heifers—Medium and Large 1808212.50/cwt212.50–212.501,7175
Heifers—Medium and Large 1888206.50/cwt206.50–206.501,8344
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full894193.00/cwt193.00–193.001,7256
Heifers—Medium and Large 11,009193.00/cwt193.00–193.001,94726
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,018193.00/cwt193.00–193.001,9653
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,055193.00/cwt193.00–193.002,03651
Feeder Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned458270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,2374
Bulls—Medium and Large 2593197.00/cwt197.00–197.001,1687
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned652194.00/cwt194.00–194.001,2659
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned710213.00/cwt213.00–213.001,5123
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned748170.00/cwt170.00–170.001,2723
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,63593.19/cwt84.00–104.001,5246
Bulls——1,753109.00/cwt109.00–109.001,9112
Slaughter Cattle · Cows12 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight89550.00/cwt50.00–50.004481
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,05674.81/cwt69.00–78.0079035
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,15559.98/cwt55.00–64.006935
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,18683.34/cwt81.00–88.509889
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,19578.00/cwt78.00–78.009323
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,24271.48/cwt65.00–73.0088813
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,27587.00/cwt87.00–87.001,1091
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,32390.95/cwt88.50–95.001,2036
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,34876.00/cwt76.00–76.001,0242
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,38779.29/cwt77.50–83.501,10021
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,65891.04/cwt89.00–92.001,5093
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,73073.00/cwt73.00–73.001,2631
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0271,835.00/head1,835.00–1,835.001,8353
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,021123.00/cwt95.00–125.001,25630
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,033107.98/cwt107.00–109.001,1154
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,03399.65/cwt92.00–103.501,02912

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.