Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-01-11

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2024-01-11
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-01-11

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jan 11

● Final98 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Dec 14Jan 11Jan 18 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

3,756 head

▲ 1,886 vs last sale 1,870▲ 3,010 vs year ago 746 · +403.5%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

98 head

▼ 189 vs last sale 287▼ 407 vs year ago 505 · −80.6%

Replacement Cattle receipts

84 head

▼ 139 vs last sale 223▼ 128 vs year ago 212 · −60.4%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last report: The last feeder special was one month ago so no comparisons can be made, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed on steer calves under 550 lbs and higher undertones were noticed on all steers over 550 lbs. All weights of heifers sold with higher undertones. Quality this week was mixed from average to very attractive. Package sizes this week were mostly moderate with several partial loads on offer. Buyers showed very good demand for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings. Buyers purchased heavier weight cattle this week to send to grass this week. Steers up to 660 lbs and heifers up to 625 lbs were purchased for this purpose. Flesh conditions were mixed this week. Some backgrounded cattle out of grow yards were carrying more flesh, and consequently more tag. Calves that were hay fed and weaned on pasture were very green and in light flesh, these offerings were met with very good demand. Quality today was mixed from plain to very attractive. Most of the offering was comprised of weaned calves this week. Most calves were weaned 50-100 days. CME positions improved throughout the day, helping spur buyer demand. The January contract closed at 226.275, 1.65 higher than yesterdays close. The March contract closed at 227.40, up 1.275 than yesterdays close. Market activity was mostly active to very active today with a large crowd on hand. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for mostly light offerings. All cows were last tested over a month ago so no comparisons can be made, however higher undertones were noticed on both slaughter and feeding cows. Packers, in a surprising move, purchased several packages of thin cows to feed. These offerings are usually only purchased in November and December, however packers opted to put this class of cows away on feed in the event supplies tighten. Slaughter bulls sold with higher undertones as well. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on light to moderate demand, no comparisons are available.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb steers averaged $282.72/cwt on 1,507 head.

Average price

$282.72

1,507 head · 611 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,727

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$756

per head · Medium 1-2 over Large 1

$73.96/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−1.37

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1-2	324	312.00	1,011	21
Medium and Large 1	605	289.65	1,752	1,134
Medium 1	591	273.08	1,615	38
Medium and Large 1-2	622	263.38	1,639	234
Large 1	742	238.04	1,767	80

One grade step is worth $73.96/cwt here — about −$756 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 sale1,507 hd

282.72

—

MT average3 barns · 2,823 hd

284.10

−1.37

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	1,898	108.62	2,061	16
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,458	90.45	1,318	36
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,822	89.83	1,636	3thin
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,144	76.74	878	43

Every lot

98 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 · Steers39 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium 1-2	324	312.00/cwt	312.00–312.00	1,011	21
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	339	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	1,237	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	356	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	1,371	9
Steers	—	Medium 1	408	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,387	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	423	328.71/cwt	320.00–346.00	1,390	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	425	366.07/cwt	349.00–387.00	1,556	108
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	456	362.00/cwt	362.00–362.00	1,651	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	475	340.44/cwt	325.00–355.00	1,617	92
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	476	309.23/cwt	300.00–312.50	1,472	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	531	312.25/cwt	302.00–325.00	1,658	60
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	534	290.40/cwt	286.00–298.00	1,551	22
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	549	298.00/cwt	298.00–298.00	1,636	27
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	559	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	1,761	40
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	566	274.03/cwt	267.00–282.00	1,551	18
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	582	299.05/cwt	286.00–313.00	1,740	238
Steers	—	Medium 1	582	277.00/cwt	277.00–277.00	1,612	25
Steers	—	Large 1	586	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,582	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	620	273.70/cwt	267.00–276.00	1,697	85
Steers	—	Medium 1	628	256.00/cwt	256.00–256.00	1,608	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	629	256.14/cwt	240.00–264.00	1,611	105
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	630	254.00/cwt	254.00–254.00	1,600	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	660	247.00/cwt	247.00–247.00	1,630	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	668	260.19/cwt	250.00–266.50	1,738	231
Steers	—	Medium 1	678	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,661	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	684	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,710	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	688	238.70/cwt	235.00–246.50	1,642	21
Steers	—	Large 1	699	242.00/cwt	242.00–242.00	1,692	43
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	702	233.28/cwt	231.00–236.00	1,638	11
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	723	246.28/cwt	243.00–252.00	1,781	140
Steers	—	Large 1	746	236.50/cwt	236.50–236.50	1,764	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	753	247.50/cwt	247.50–247.50	1,864	12
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	788	227.25/cwt	227.25–227.25	1,791	26
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	803	224.00/cwt	224.00–224.00	1,799	6
Steers	—	Large 1	820	226.00/cwt	226.00–226.00	1,853	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	822	222.64/cwt	221.00–224.00	1,830	22
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	875	221.00/cwt	221.00–221.00	1,934	10
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	892	213.50/cwt	213.50–213.50	1,904	18
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	922	214.50/cwt	214.50–214.50	1,978	5
Steers	—	Large 1Fleshy	1,147	174.50/cwt	174.50–174.50	2,002	10
Feeder Cattle · Heifers36 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	335	231.00/cwt	231.00–231.00	774	19
Heifers	—	Medium 1	364	278.86/cwt	261.00–280.00	1,015	73
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	425	234.95/cwt	230.00–245.00	999	38
Heifers	—	Medium 1	456	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,231	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	472	266.41/cwt	241.00–276.00	1,257	31
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	480	285.18/cwt	276.00–292.00	1,369	80
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	517	299.00/cwt	299.00–299.00	1,546	35
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	520	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	1,157	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	523	281.92/cwt	271.00–289.00	1,474	113
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	533	260.20/cwt	248.00–268.00	1,387	43
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	536	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,447	6
Heifers	—	Medium 1	538	262.00/cwt	262.00–262.00	1,410	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	556	288.00/cwt	288.00–288.00	1,601	20
Heifers	—	Large 1	565	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,413	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	584	264.78/cwt	258.00–276.00	1,546	138
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	594	251.44/cwt	250.00–255.00	1,494	35
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fancy	600	266.00/cwt	266.00–266.00	1,596	31
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Replacement	609	266.00/cwt	266.00–266.00	1,620	24
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	617	246.00/cwt	246.00–246.00	1,518	49
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	618	254.62/cwt	247.00–261.00	1,574	256
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	624	242.12/cwt	236.00–246.00	1,511	15
Heifers	—	Large 1	629	237.00/cwt	237.00–237.00	1,491	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	639	241.00/cwt	241.00–241.00	1,540	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	664	235.50/cwt	235.50–235.50	1,564	73
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	680	242.17/cwt	236.00–251.75	1,647	124
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	680	227.31/cwt	222.00–231.00	1,546	14
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	681	219.00/cwt	219.00–219.00	1,491	11
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	713	232.72/cwt	229.00–238.50	1,659	128
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	716	210.78/cwt	210.00–212.00	1,509	5
Heifers	—	Large 1	723	211.00/cwt	211.00–211.00	1,526	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	730	219.00/cwt	219.00–219.00	1,599	33
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	754	219.00/cwt	219.00–219.00	1,651	8
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	862	188.87/cwt	186.00–194.00	1,628	26
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	987	199.00/cwt	199.00–199.00	1,964	13
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,005	179.00/cwt	179.00–179.00	1,799	6
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,095	181.50/cwt	181.50–181.50	1,987	5
Feeder Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	344	361.00/cwt	361.00–361.00	1,242	44
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	426	349.00/cwt	349.00–349.00	1,487	53
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	487	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,485	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	640	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,472	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	805	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	1,642	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,788	101.98/cwt	88.00–106.00	1,823	8
Bulls	—	—	1,868	114.84/cwt	110.50–121.00	2,145	6
Bulls	—	—	2,330	107.00/cwt	107.00–107.00	2,493	1
Bulls	—	—Heavy Weight	2,520	126.00/cwt	126.00–126.00	3,175	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows11 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	945	64.00/cwt	64.00–64.00	605	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,075	63.00/cwt	63.00–63.00	677	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,138	78.02/cwt	75.50–82.00	888	19
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,161	75.89/cwt	68.00–81.00	881	15
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,201	85.21/cwt	85.00–86.00	1,023	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,338	91.22/cwt	86.00–93.50	1,221	10
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,365	83.00/cwt	83.00–83.00	1,133	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,420	80.52/cwt	78.00–82.00	1,143	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,526	92.33/cwt	88.50–95.50	1,409	21
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,795	85.50/cwt	85.50–85.50	1,535	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,875	98.50/cwt	98.50–98.50	1,847	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	828	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	994	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	946	146.93/cwt	110.00–187.00	1,390	74
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,035	120.16/cwt	92.00–135.00	1,244	7

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 Jan 11, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 3,756Last week 1,870Year ago 746

Slaughter CattleReceipts 98Last week 287Year ago 505

Replacement CattleReceipts 84Last week 223Year ago 212

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	678	245.00	245.00
2	—	408	340.00	340.00
7	—	628	256.00	256.00
25	—	582	277.00	277.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	356	385.00	385.00
231	—	668	250.00–266.50	260.19
108	—	425	349.00–387.00	366.07
10	—	875	221.00	221.00
6	—	803	224.00	224.00
140	—	723	243.00–252.00	246.28
60	—	531	302.00–325.00	312.25
92	—	475	325.00–355.00	340.44
238	—	582	286.00–313.00	299.05
12	—	753	247.50	247.50
85	—	620	267.00–276.00	273.70

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	922	214.50	214.50
105	—	629	240.00–264.00	256.14
11	—	702	231.00–236.00	233.28
13	—	423	320.00–346.00	328.71
11	—	476	300.00–312.50	309.23
18	—	566	267.00–282.00	274.03
22	—	822	221.00–224.00	222.64
22	—	534	286.00–298.00	290.40
6	—	339	365.00	365.00
21	—	688	235.00–246.50	238.70

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	549	298.00	298.00
18	—	892	213.50	213.50
7	—	660	247.00	247.00
26	—	788	227.25	227.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,147	174.50	174.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
43	—	699	242.00	242.00
6	—	820	226.00	226.00
4	—	746	236.50	236.50
17	—	586	270.00	270.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	324	312.00	312.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
40	—	559	315.00	315.00
13	—	456	362.00	362.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	630	254.00	254.00
5	—	684	250.00	250.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	536	270.00	270.00
8	—	639	241.00	241.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	456	270.00	270.00
73	—	364	261.00–280.00	278.86
6	—	538	262.00	262.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	565	250.00	250.00
6	—	629	237.00	237.00
5	—	1,095	181.50	181.50
5	—	723	211.00	211.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
113	—	523	271.00–289.00	281.92
8	—	754	219.00	219.00
13	—	987	199.00	199.00
124	—	680	236.00–251.75	242.17
138	—	584	258.00–276.00	264.78
128	—	713	229.00–238.50	232.72
256	—	618	247.00–261.00	254.62
80	—	480	276.00–292.00	285.18

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
20	—	556	288.00	288.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
73	—	664	235.50	235.50
49	—	617	246.00	246.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	716	210.00–212.00	210.78
35	—	594	250.00–255.00	251.44
6	—	1,005	179.00	179.00
31	—	472	241.00–276.00	266.41
43	—	533	248.00–268.00	260.20
15	—	624	236.00–246.00	242.12
26	—	862	186.00–194.00	188.87
14	—	680	222.00–231.00	227.31

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
31	—	600	266.00	266.00
35	—	517	299.00	299.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
11	—	681	219.00	219.00
6	—	520	222.50	222.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
33	—	730	219.00	219.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
38	—	425	230.00–245.00	234.95
19	—	335	231.00	231.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Replacement$ per cwt · actual wt
24	—	609	266.00	266.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	805	204.00	204.00
5	—	487	305.00	305.00
1	—	640	230.00	230.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
44	—	344	361.00	361.00
53	—	426	349.00	349.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,795	85.50	85.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	945	64.00	64.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
19	—	1,138	75.50–82.00	78.02

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	1,526	88.50–95.50	92.33
1	—	1,365	83.00	83.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,338	86.00–93.50	91.22
4	—	1,420	78.00–82.00	80.52

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
15	—	1,161	68.00–81.00	75.89
3	—	1,075	63.00	63.00
5	—	1,201	85.00–86.00	85.21

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,875	98.50	98.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,788	88.00–106.00	101.98
1	—	2,330	107.00	107.00
6	—	1,868	110.50–121.00	114.84

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,520	126.00	126.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

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	7	—	1,035	92.00–135.00	120.16
(<2 yrs)	Open	74	—	946	110.00–187.00	146.93

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	3	—	828	120.00	120.00

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.