Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2023-12-14

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Dec 14
● Final108 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,870 head
▼ 1,770 vs last sale 3,640▼ 1,288 vs year ago 3,158 · −40.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
287 head
▼ 23 vs last sale 310▼ 142 vs year ago 429 · −33.1%
Replacement Cattle receipts
223 head
▼ 15 vs last sale 238▲ 38 vs year ago 185 · +20.5%
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 500 lbs sold mostly steady to firm; Steers 500-599 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; steer calves over 600 lbs sold mostly mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Heifer calves under 400 lbs were not well compared; heifer calves 400-499 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher; heifer calves 500-549 lbs sold mostly 5.00 lower on a lower quality offering; 550-649 lbs heifers were not well compared; Heifers over 650 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Demand was mostly moderate to good this sale. Quality today was mixed from plain to very attractive. A large portion 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 take heavier weights of calves to grass this week. Most calves were offered in small groups this sale with very few partial loads seen and no load lots seen. CME positions improved throughout much of the week and buyers showed stronger demand for all offerings as a result. Today, the January contract closed at 219.35, which is 9.325 higher than last Thursdays close, while the March contract closed at 220.125, up 8.95 from last Thursdays close. Market activity was mostly active today with a large crowd on hand. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for mostly light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher on boning and lean cows, Breaking cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. High quality feeding cows sold 1.00-2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Thin feeding cows sold 2.00-4.00 higher on a higher quality and better yielding offering. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Weigh up conditions were mixed today. 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 mostly steady.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $250.09/cwt on 779 head.
Average price
$250.09
779 head · 533 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,333
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$330
per head · Medium 1 over Medium 1-2
$72.77/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+2.08
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1380260.2799074
Medium and Large 1560252.671,415542
Medium and Large 1-2495244.821,213128
Medium and Large 2464224.001,03915thin
Large 1608206.001,2529thin
Medium 1-2704187.501,32011thin
One grade step is worth $72.77/cwt here — about −$330 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 sale779 hd
250.09
—
MT average5 barns · 1,696 hd
248.01
+2.08
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—High1,751115.892,03016
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,56893.781,4706thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,40387.891,233102
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,14580.01916103

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)1,199$1,7004thin
Bred Heifers1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)(<2 yrs)907$1,5503thin

Every lot

108 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 · Steers32 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2321321.00/cwt321.00–321.001,0305
Steers—Medium 1327335.00/cwt335.00–335.001,09529
Steers—Medium 1Unweaned366310.02/cwt302.00–315.001,13510
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned368320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,1782
Steers—Medium and Large 1388330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,2803
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2398317.86/cwt315.00–320.001,2657
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2411307.50/cwt307.50–307.501,26410
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned422333.02/cwt325.00–336.001,40515
Steers—Medium and Large 1428330.10/cwt320.00–340.001,41320
Steers—Medium 1440300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,3201
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned457308.92/cwt292.50–317.501,4126
Steers—Medium and Large 1477308.27/cwt297.00–325.001,47069
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2482279.83/cwt255.00–287.501,34935
Steers—Medium and Large 1507302.78/cwt289.00–305.001,53532
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned520296.53/cwt293.00–300.001,54234
Steers—Medium and Large 1572270.26/cwt264.00–282.001,54619
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned581263.43/cwt255.00–269.001,53155
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2585253.00/cwt253.00–253.001,4804
Steers—Medium and Large 1620254.75/cwt249.00–263.501,57975
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned633251.61/cwt251.50–254.001,59369
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2638235.47/cwt227.00–240.001,50221
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned663244.29/cwt233.00–249.001,62044
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned667232.00/cwt232.00–232.001,5475
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2676229.64/cwt225.00–232.001,5528
Steers—Medium and Large 1678232.00/cwt232.00–232.001,5735
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2703215.00/cwt211.00–221.001,5116
Steers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned719234.77/cwt234.00–236.001,68813
Steers—Medium and Large 1724236.31/cwt232.00–237.001,7117
Steers—Medium and Large 1761220.83/cwt215.00–223.501,68123
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy813198.00/cwt198.00–198.001,6104
Steers—Medium and Large 1871209.00/cwt209.00–209.001,82013
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2926203.00/cwt203.00–203.001,88015
Feeder Cattle · Heifers41 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2297270.00/cwt270.00–270.008023
Heifers—Medium 1307274.91/cwt270.00–276.0084422
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2340269.94/cwt265.00–272.5091817
Heifers—Medium 1354270.00/cwt270.00–270.0095640
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned374280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,0475
Heifers—Medium and Large 1376284.17/cwt280.00–285.001,06819
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2382264.61/cwt264.00–265.001,01117
Heifers—Medium and Large 2393235.00/cwt235.00–235.009242
Heifers—Medium and Large 1411289.67/cwt276.00–295.001,19150
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned413270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,1154
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2417275.05/cwt272.50–277.001,1477
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned431284.21/cwt279.00–290.001,22541
Heifers—Medium and Large 2453220.00/cwt220.00–220.009973
Heifers—Medium and Large 2Unweaned455225.00/cwt225.00–225.001,0246
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned463277.19/cwt271.00–281.001,2838
Heifers—Medium and Large 1466277.05/cwt263.00–291.001,291128
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2484250.83/cwt242.00–255.001,21421
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned515251.66/cwt244.00–256.001,29615
Heifers—Medium and Large 2521220.00/cwt220.00–220.001,1464
Heifers—Medium and Large 1525253.82/cwt246.00–255.001,33352
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2539235.51/cwt220.00–242.001,26933
Heifers—Medium 1539223.00/cwt223.00–223.001,2024
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned573237.53/cwt230.00–250.001,36131
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2585206.00/cwt206.00–206.001,2052
Heifers—Medium and Large 1592231.90/cwt228.00–241.001,37327
Heifers—Large 1608206.00/cwt206.00–206.001,2529
Heifers—Medium 1633190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,2038
Heifers—Medium and Large 1638231.67/cwt229.00–232.501,47842
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned639230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,47018
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Unweaned665222.86/cwt212.00–230.501,48217
Heifers—Medium and Large 1670224.10/cwt215.00–228.001,50122
Heifers—Medium and Large 1700221.93/cwt221.00–222.001,55428
Heifers—Medium 1-2704187.50/cwt187.50–187.501,32011
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2757188.71/cwt180.00–190.001,42916
Heifers—Medium and Large 1833195.00/cwt195.00–195.001,6246
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2857188.00/cwt188.00–188.001,6113
Heifers—Medium and Large 1893193.00/cwt193.00–193.001,72313
Heifers—Medium and Large 1925188.00/cwt188.00–188.001,7392
Heifers—Medium and Large 1960188.00/cwt188.00–188.001,8055
Heifers—Medium and Large 11,028186.50/cwt186.50–186.501,91716
Heifers—Medium and Large 11,143176.00/cwt176.00–176.002,0122
Feeder Cattle · Bulls10 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned318305.00/cwt305.00–305.009705
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned390285.00/cwt285.00–285.001,1124
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned436305.33/cwt300.00–310.001,33111
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned515279.49/cwt267.50–283.001,43913
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned559270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,5098
Bulls—Medium and Large 1627236.00/cwt236.00–236.001,4805
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned645225.00/cwt225.00–225.001,4516
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2694205.00/cwt205.00–205.001,4234
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned714209.00/cwt209.00–209.001,4924
Bulls—Medium and Large 1Unweaned808205.00/cwt205.00–205.001,6562
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,230119.00/cwt119.00–119.001,4642
Bulls——1,58594.00/cwt94.00–94.001,4901
Bulls——1,812116.08/cwt111.00–120.002,10310
Bulls——1,952120.50/cwt120.50–120.502,3523
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight73867.37/cwt65.00–70.004972
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight79053.89/cwt52.50–55.004262
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,08459.59/cwt56.00–62.506464
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,11179.18/cwt70.00–82.0088029
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,17884.95/cwt82.00–90.001,00150
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,18471.69/cwt66.00–80.008499
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,25081.64/cwt81.00–82.501,0217
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,35685.99/cwt85.00–89.001,1664
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,38182.80/cwt77.00–86.001,14329
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,39989.85/cwt86.50–95.501,25762
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,45582.19/cwt81.00–83.501,1962
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,51587.00/cwt87.00–87.001,3181
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,55094.92/cwt94.00–97.501,4714
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,58997.00/cwt97.00–97.001,5415
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,69096.00/cwt96.00–96.001,6221
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2881119.68/cwt111.00–126.501,0549
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1905134.28/cwt102.50–145.001,21599
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-294393.73/cwt82.00–110.008842
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,003111.06/cwt85.00–123.001,11431
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 19071,550.00/head1,550.00–1,550.001,5503
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1991,700.00/head1,700.00–1,700.001,7004

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.