Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2023-11-30

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Nov 30
● Final112 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
3,299 head
▼ 1,480 vs last sale 4,779▼ 2,287 vs year ago 5,586 · −40.9%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
259 head
▲ 79 vs last sale 180▲ 100 vs year ago 159 · +62.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
142 head
▲ 75 vs last sale 67▲ 61 vs year ago 81 · +75.3%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold steady to 15.00 higher; Steers 450-599 lbs sold generally steady to weak; steer calves over 600 lbs sold mostly 8.00-10.00 lower. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold generally steady; heifer calves 500-650 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; heifer calves over 650 lbs were too lightly tested to trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly moderate to good this sale. Quality today was mixed from plain to attractive with lots of variation seen. Large price spreads continue to be seen between plain/average quality calves and high quality calves. CME positions have been very volatile over the last week with sharply higher and sharply lower prices seen. CME contracts sold off sharply today with triple digit losses seen on all contracts. The January contracts sold 2.25 lower to settle at 219.95, The March contract closed at 222.575 1.70 lower. Package sizes were mixed this week. Demand was good for load lots and large packages, however small packages sold at a discount. Calves with fall preconditioning shots sold with the best demand. Most calves with only one round of shots sold with a 5.00-12.00 discount. A few weaned calves were seen this week however very few weaned calves sold with any premium to fresh, clean, bloomy calves straight off the cow. 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 moderate to good demand for mostly light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows and feeding cows were too lightly tested last week to develop a full market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. 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 average to attractive. This class was too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however lower to sharply lower undertones were noticed.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $264.24/cwt on 1,512 head.
Average price
$264.24
1,512 head · 581 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,536
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$48
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$64.36/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−4.81
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1576270.091,5541,204
Medium and Large 1-2574253.561,456216
Medium 1-2492221.071,08714thin
Medium and Large 2591220.301,30329
Large 1779205.731,60249
One grade step is worth $64.36/cwt here — about −$48 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 sale1,512 hd
264.24
—
MT average4 barns · 2,415 hd
269.05
−4.81
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—Low1,762100.011,76217
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,54195.391,47016
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,36084.701,15285
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,18677.94924108

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 Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,344$1,5358
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,341$1,4504thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,380$1,3756

Every lot

112 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 · Steers45 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned295385.00/cwt385.00–385.001,1362
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned331380.09/cwt282.50–390.001,25814
Steers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned339303.34/cwt300.00–305.001,0286
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned348370.00/cwt370.00–370.001,2882
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned366389.77/cwt387.50–397.501,42713
Steers—Medium and Large 1366380.56/cwt375.00–387.501,3937
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned395350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,3831
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned413352.45/cwt337.50–358.001,45658
Steers—Medium 1-2Unweaned413235.00/cwt235.00–235.009718
Steers—Medium and Large 1414352.31/cwt349.00–356.001,45949
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned433333.64/cwt325.00–337.001,44525
Steers—Medium and Large 1473317.82/cwt295.00–330.001,50339
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned484304.87/cwt296.00–328.001,476113
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned494286.00/cwt286.00–286.001,4137
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned524283.89/cwt270.00–300.001,48864
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2524261.00/cwt258.00–265.001,36822
Steers—Medium and Large 1533274.80/cwt274.50–275.001,46540
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned541264.65/cwt261.00–268.001,43222
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned577256.19/cwt246.00–268.001,478400
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2580237.00/cwt237.00–237.001,37511
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned580235.78/cwt230.00–243.001,36856
Steers—Medium and Large 1584251.32/cwt247.00–256.501,46866
Steers—Medium 1-2Unweaned597202.50/cwt202.50–202.501,2096
Steers—Large 1Unweaned606215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,3037
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned611250.12/cwt239.50–255.001,52870
Steers—Medium and Large 2612190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,1636
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full637237.00/cwt237.00–237.001,5103
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned637232.38/cwt225.00–237.001,48051
Steers—Medium and Large 1640232.02/cwt230.50–245.001,48518
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2663226.00/cwt224.00–229.001,49810
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned668235.37/cwt224.00–240.001,572164
Steers—Medium and Large 1668230.50/cwt230.50–230.501,5406
Steers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned673201.68/cwt198.00–206.001,35717
Steers—Large 1Unweaned675218.60/cwt212.00–224.001,47611
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned680224.00/cwt224.00–224.001,5232
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned705214.00/cwt214.00–214.001,5093
Steers—Large 1Unweaned707209.50/cwt209.50–209.501,48112
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned714222.50/cwt220.00–224.001,58918
Steers—Medium and Large 1736224.36/cwt224.00–224.501,65118
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned761220.00/cwt220.00–220.001,6745
Steers—Large 1825203.00/cwt203.00–203.001,67511
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2954190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,8134
Steers—Medium and Large 11,022191.00/cwt191.00–191.001,9526
Steers—Medium and Large 11,064191.10/cwt191.00–192.502,03331
Steers—Large 11,117178.00/cwt178.00–178.001,9888
Feeder Cattle · Heifers37 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned325270.00/cwt270.00–270.0087812
Heifers—Medium 1373225.00/cwt225.00–225.0083911
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned390250.00/cwt250.00–250.0097513
Heifers—Medium 1401235.00/cwt235.00–235.009428
Heifers—Medium 2Unweaned404185.00/cwt185.00–185.0074719
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2406267.50/cwt267.50–267.501,08612
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned413232.50/cwt232.50–232.5096018
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned423268.50/cwt268.50–268.501,1363
Heifers—Medium and Large 1430282.50/cwt282.50–282.501,21524
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned435275.76/cwt270.00–287.001,20035
Heifers—Medium and Large 1450277.00/cwt277.00–277.001,2477
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned470273.52/cwt261.50–279.001,28681
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned485249.83/cwt245.00–253.001,21228
Heifers—Medium and Large 1502274.00/cwt274.00–274.001,37555
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned512230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,1783
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned519261.61/cwt252.00–272.001,35865
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned539243.71/cwt235.00–247.001,31454
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2548245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,3438
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned562233.00/cwt233.00–233.001,30910
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned566250.12/cwt242.00–256.001,416183
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned577227.25/cwt223.50–237.001,31168
Heifers—Medium and Large 1581241.89/cwt238.00–246.001,40524
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned624236.42/cwt234.00–244.001,47572
Heifers—Large 1Unweaned625226.00/cwt226.00–226.001,4131
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned659216.62/cwt215.00–223.001,42836
Heifers—Medium 2Unweaned685172.00/cwt172.00–172.001,17815
Heifers—Medium and Large 1776215.76/cwt213.00–220.001,67439
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2783209.00/cwt209.00–209.001,6362
Heifers—Medium and Large 1832209.70/cwt207.50–214.001,74546
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Fancy889215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,91161
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Full895199.00/cwt199.00–199.001,78110
Heifers—Medium and Large 1898208.00/cwt208.00–208.001,8689
Heifers—Medium and Large 1913200.36/cwt198.50–201.501,82953
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2941182.50/cwt182.50–182.501,7178
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2951183.00/cwt183.00–183.001,74010
Heifers—Medium and Large 1966195.00/cwt195.00–195.001,88418
Heifers—Medium and Large 11,038181.68/cwt181.50–182.001,8868
Feeder Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned472289.00/cwt289.00–289.001,3646
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned504285.00/cwt285.00–285.001,4367
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned601227.00/cwt227.00–227.001,36411
Bulls—Medium and Large 1689197.50/cwt197.50–197.501,36113
Bulls—Medium and Large 1724202.80/cwt202.50–203.001,4685
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,69196.80/cwt85.00–110.001,63714
Bulls——2,093115.00/cwt115.00–115.002,4073
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight90557.50/cwt57.50–57.505201
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight96576.00/cwt76.00–76.007331
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight98971.16/cwt71.00–72.007046
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,12671.10/cwt65.00–79.0080118
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,19083.87/cwt82.00–86.009987
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,20272.60/cwt65.00–79.0087325
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,23084.02/cwt80.00–86.501,03349
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,33058.00/cwt58.00–58.007711
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,34479.51/cwt73.00–83.001,06916
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,36387.43/cwt84.50–94.001,19249
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,36384.32/cwt84.00–86.001,1496
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,36581.22/cwt77.00–84.001,10914
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,48497.38/cwt97.00–99.001,44511
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,58586.00/cwt86.00–86.001,3631
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,65294.02/cwt92.00–96.001,5533
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,79087.00/cwt87.00–87.001,5571
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1988136.41/cwt100.50–152.001,34870
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,03597.00/cwt97.00–97.001,0041
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,08576.00/cwt76.00–76.008251
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,12895.34/cwt85.00–107.501,07542
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3411,450.00/head1,450.00–1,450.001,4504
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3441,535.27/head1,500.00–1,750.001,5358
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3801,375.00/head1,375.00–1,375.001,3756

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.