Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2023-12-07

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Dec 7
● Final126 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
3,640 head
▲ 341 vs last sale 3,299▼ 559 vs year ago 4,199 · −13.3%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
310 head
▲ 51 vs last sale 259▼ 58 vs year ago 368 · −15.8%
Replacement Cattle receipts
238 head
▲ 96 vs last sale 142▲ 55 vs year ago 183 · +30.1%
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 this week to develop any market trend. Steer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly 10.00-15.00 lower; Steers 450-499 lbs sold generally steady; steer calves 500-649 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher; steers over 650 lbs were not well compared steady to weak undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; heifer calves 450-549 lbs sold mostly steady to 8.00 lower; heifer calves over 550 lbs sold mostly 6.00-8.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Demand was mostly moderate to good this sale. Quality today was mixed from plain to very attractive. Much more of the offering was comprised of weaned calves this week. Demand for long weaned calves was mostly good. Many sets of calves were weaned over 50 days. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings, and buyers were willing to buy heavier weights of calves to take to grass this week. Large price spreads continue to be seen between plain/average quality calves and high quality calves as less takers and lighter demand was seen for plain/average quality cattle. CME positions continue to show lots of volatility with many triple digit swings higher and lower seen. Today, CME positions started the day higher before selling off mid trading secession. The January contract closed at 210.025, while the March contract closed at 211.175, up 0.125 and down 0.575 respectfully from yesterdays close. Package sizes were mixed this week. No load lots were seen, however several partial loads were seen and these calves were met with the best demand. Market activity was mostly active today with a very large crowd on hand. 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 cows sold with lower undertones as well. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average today with most offerings pushing heavy amounts of fill. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on light to moderate demand today. Quality was mostly average and most offerings sold to feed. This class sold steady to firm on a slightly higher quality offering.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $277.03/cwt on 1,781 head.
Average price
$277.03
1,781 head · 539 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,492
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$556
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2
$95.77/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+1.15
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1545278.271,5161,309
Medium and Large 1-2521275.551,437310
Medium 1517274.671,419143
Medium and Large 2479262.571,2597thin
Large 1619234.001,4488thin
Medium 2526182.509604thin
One grade step is worth $95.77/cwt here — about $556 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 sale1,781 hd
277.03
—
MT average4 barns · 3,181 hd
275.88
+1.15
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—Low1,752107.671,88613
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,69388.291,4948thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,35385.461,15742
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,13772.07819160

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/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,234$1,70510
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,193$1,5752thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,068$1,3003thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,136$1,2755
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,239$1,2508
Bred Heifers2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,018$1,8002thin

Every lot

126 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 · Steers43 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned318357.50/cwt357.50–357.501,1374
Steers—Medium 1320334.00/cwt334.00–334.001,06912
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned334368.63/cwt367.00–375.001,23133
Steers—Medium and Large 1337371.77/cwt360.00–375.001,2536
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned363358.02/cwt355.00–361.001,3004
Steers—Medium and Large 1376358.03/cwt350.00–375.001,34645
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2380344.15/cwt335.00–346.001,30818
Steers—Medium and Large 1419333.11/cwt320.00–352.001,39681
Steers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned420310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,3023
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned423331.37/cwt319.00–340.001,40236
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2423320.40/cwt315.00–325.001,35534
Steers—Medium 1433317.50/cwt317.50–317.501,3753
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned445302.08/cwt294.00–308.001,34421
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned456307.36/cwt290.00–313.001,40233
Steers—Medium and Large 1462306.73/cwt301.00–317.501,417106
Steers—Medium 1469298.00/cwt298.00–298.001,39815
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2485292.21/cwt277.50–298.001,41743
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned489283.82/cwt275.00–293.001,38818
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned519267.51/cwt255.00–275.001,38838
Steers—Medium and Large 1Full519267.00/cwt267.00–267.001,3865
Steers—Medium and Large 2524227.00/cwt227.00–227.001,1894
Steers—Medium and Large 1525284.62/cwt278.00–295.001,494121
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2526266.68/cwt264.00–272.501,40353
Steers—Medium 2526182.50/cwt182.50–182.509604
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned537290.25/cwt280.00–292.001,559108
Steers—Medium 1546264.13/cwt260.00–273.001,442113
Steers—Medium and Large 1564266.74/cwt251.00–280.001,504245
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned568235.38/cwt230.00–242.501,3377
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned569262.31/cwt252.00–279.001,49398
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2589240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,41414
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned603236.00/cwt236.00–236.001,4232
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned616244.14/cwt238.00–249.501,504182
Steers—Large 1619234.00/cwt234.00–234.001,4488
Steers—Medium and Large 1620247.38/cwt245.00–253.001,53446
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2633231.14/cwt229.00–234.001,46335
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned663224.00/cwt224.00–224.001,4856
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned667234.69/cwt228.00–240.001,56556
Steers—Medium and Large 1667233.98/cwt224.00–239.001,56146
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2679223.00/cwt223.00–223.001,5147
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned717221.92/cwt217.00–226.001,59136
Steers—Medium and Large 1718222.18/cwt214.00–227.001,59518
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned768215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,6514
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2825211.00/cwt211.00–211.001,74110
Feeder Cattle · Heifers42 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned278270.00/cwt270.00–270.0075110
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2298270.00/cwt270.00–270.008053
Heifers—Medium and Large 1315310.00/cwt310.00–310.009771
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2315270.00/cwt270.00–270.008515
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned322287.00/cwt287.00–287.0092432
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned346305.00/cwt305.00–305.001,0558
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2362280.15/cwt265.00–295.001,01426
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned365265.00/cwt265.00–265.009673
Heifers—Medium 1368280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,0303
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned370301.69/cwt297.50–310.001,11623
Heifers—Medium and Large 1388299.76/cwt297.00–301.001,16335
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2400265.00/cwt265.00–265.001,0608
Heifers—Medium and Large 1425284.77/cwt274.00–306.001,210131
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned431283.12/cwt281.00–286.001,22018
Heifers—Medium 2Unweaned438150.00/cwt150.00–150.006574
Heifers—Medium and Large 2442210.00/cwt210.00–210.009286
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned444250.00/cwt244.00–267.501,11021
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned462245.22/cwt240.00–259.001,13326
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2481254.05/cwt244.00–262.001,22230
Heifers—Medium and Large 1483265.90/cwt260.00–272.001,284121
Heifers—Medium and Large 2485222.00/cwt222.00–222.001,0774
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned491265.23/cwt263.00–267.501,30276
Heifers—Medium and Large 1524260.20/cwt253.00–268.001,363124
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned526260.13/cwt252.00–265.001,36877
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned530244.65/cwt237.00–253.001,29710
Heifers—Large 1568188.00/cwt188.00–188.001,0688
Heifers—Medium and Large 1576249.93/cwt236.50–256.501,440112
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned578223.40/cwt221.00–224.001,29125
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned581234.95/cwt224.50–246.001,36587
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2588226.93/cwt226.00–227.501,3348
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned605232.24/cwt224.00–236.001,40519
Heifers—Medium and Large 1611225.26/cwt218.00–228.501,37628
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2627213.00/cwt213.00–213.001,33615
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2652202.00/cwt202.00–202.001,3173
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned682211.81/cwt209.00–214.001,44531
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned724208.00/cwt208.00–208.001,5068
Heifers—Medium and Large 1726206.00/cwt206.00–206.001,4967
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2819192.90/cwt192.50–194.001,58023
Heifers—Medium and Large 1882197.47/cwt191.00–199.501,74256
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2898180.00/cwt180.00–180.001,6163
Heifers—Medium and Large 1966186.43/cwt185.50–190.001,80124
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-21,048171.00/cwt171.00–171.001,7922
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2399315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,2576
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2492253.52/cwt242.00–264.001,24725
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned503270.11/cwt270.00–271.001,3599
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned597234.00/cwt234.00–234.001,39714
Bulls—Medium and Large 1653194.00/cwt194.00–194.001,2679
Bulls—Medium and Large 11,013174.00/cwt174.00–174.001,7632
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,37292.59/cwt87.50–100.001,2703
Bulls——1,495105.00/cwt105.00–105.001,5701
Bulls——Return to Feed1,558109.00/cwt109.00–109.001,6982
Bulls——1,904119.00/cwt119.00–119.002,2663
Bulls——2,032111.65/cwt109.00–115.002,2693
Bulls——2,240107.00/cwt107.00–107.002,3971
Slaughter Cattle · Cows18 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight89651.07/cwt42.50–55.004587
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight98067.33/cwt62.00–72.506602
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,08056.94/cwt52.50–61.006153
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,10060.00/cwt60.00–60.006601
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,12869.97/cwt62.50–78.0078993
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,16169.82/cwt67.50–72.0081112
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,18394.50/cwt94.50–94.501,1186
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,18583.72/cwt83.00–85.009923
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,19089.00/cwt89.00–89.001,0591
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,20481.84/cwt78.00–85.0098537
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21095.00/cwt95.00–95.001,1501
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,30987.50/cwt87.50–87.501,14510
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,35988.43/cwt85.00–92.501,20213
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,44775.88/cwt74.00–79.001,0983
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,46477.02/cwt73.00–80.001,12810
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,58391.00/cwt91.00–91.001,4412
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,64090.09/cwt89.50–91.001,4773
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,81884.68/cwt84.50–85.001,5393
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows6 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0681,300.00/head1,300.00–1,300.001,3003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1361,275.00/head1,275.00–1,275.001,2755
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1931,575.00/head1,575.00–1,575.001,5752
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2111,650.00/head1,650.00–1,650.001,6506
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2391,250.00/head1,250.00–1,250.001,2508
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2691,788.04/head1,775.00–1,800.001,7884
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2925116.33/cwt102.50–127.501,07625
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-295589.00/cwt89.00–89.008501
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1995128.06/cwt107.50–142.001,27443
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,058102.08/cwt80.00–127.501,08053
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0181,800.00/head1,800.00–1,800.001,8002

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.