Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-01-18

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2024-01-18
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-01-18

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jan 18

● Final42 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Jan 11Jan 18Jan 25 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

94 head

▼ 3,662 vs last sale 3,756▼ 404 vs year ago 498 · −81.1%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

261 head

▲ 163 vs last sale 98▼ 46 vs year ago 307 · −15.0%

Replacement Cattle receipts

75 head

▼ 9 vs last sale 84▼ 26 vs year ago 101 · −25.7%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Extreme cold has been seen over the last week, with actual temperatures well below 0 and wind chills 40-60 below 0. Today and yesterday saw warmer temperatures but some light snowfall across the region. This has slowed the volume of cattle being marketed. Very light receipts were seen today. Not enough feeder cattle sold to develop any market trend. Demand was light to moderate for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and mostly offered in small groups or as singles. Market activity was mostly moderate to active today. A small crowd was on hand for todays sale. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Packers showed very good demand for slaughter cows. Many sales were canceled in the upper planes this past week due to weather and extreme cold. This had packers searching for offerings for immediate harvest as offerings available to the packer have been tight. Slaughter cows sold mostly 6.00-10.00 higher on breaking and boning cows, lean cows sold mostly 10.00-12.00 higher. Feeding cow buyers were aggressive as well. They bit aggressively against packer buyers in a search to fill loads for the week. Feeding cows sold mostly 8.00-10.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00-4.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on light to moderate demand, no comparisons are available due to light receipts.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $226.70/cwt on 27 head.

Average price

$226.70

27 head · 710 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,609

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$84

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1

$65.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+14.06

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	579	260.00	1,505	5thin
Medium and Large 2	465	255.00	1,186	1thin
Medium and Large 1-2	742	221.16	1,641	18thin
Medium 1	815	195.00	1,589	3thin

One grade step is worth $65.00/cwt here — about −$84 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 sale27 hd

226.70

—

MT average2 barns · 69 hd

212.64

+14.06

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	1,762	115.63	2,038	13
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,576	102.66	1,618	7thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,436	101.00	1,451	70
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,134	90.82	1,030	142

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.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,102	$1,964	11
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,393	$1,875	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,268	$1,432	35

Every lot

42 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 · Steers6 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	583	283.73/cwt	283.00–285.00	1,654	8
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	630	252.50/cwt	252.50–252.50	1,591	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	687	234.48/cwt	230.00–237.00	1,611	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	705	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,657	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	828	225.52/cwt	224.00–227.00	1,867	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	910	214.00/cwt	214.00–214.00	1,947	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers8 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 2	465	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	1,186	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	579	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,505	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	629	249.00/cwt	249.00–249.00	1,566	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	680	216.99/cwt	215.00–221.00	1,476	6
Heifers	—	Medium 1	815	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	1,589	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	938	194.00/cwt	194.00–194.00	1,820	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	970	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	1,785	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,055	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,899	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,340	102.00/cwt	102.00–102.00	1,367	1
Bulls	—	—	1,645	104.02/cwt	101.00–106.00	1,711	3
Bulls	—	—	1,787	118.79/cwt	113.00–123.00	2,123	7
Bulls	—	—	2,063	128.79/cwt	125.00–132.00	2,657	2
Slaughter Cattle · Cows17 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	810	61.00/cwt	61.00–61.00	494	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	925	82.42/cwt	80.00–84.00	762	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	950	84.24/cwt	84.00–85.00	800	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,053	69.27/cwt	62.00–72.00	729	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,098	85.66/cwt	77.00–88.00	941	46
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,125	107.50/cwt	107.50–107.50	1,209	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,160	89.00/cwt	89.00–89.00	1,032	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,175	95.15/cwt	93.50–98.00	1,118	71
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,202	97.50/cwt	92.00–100.00	1,172	10
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,240	106.50/cwt	106.50–106.50	1,321	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,322	105.15/cwt	105.00–106.00	1,390	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,327	102.14/cwt	94.00–104.75	1,355	10
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,395	87.32/cwt	79.00–90.00	1,218	8
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,474	107.50/cwt	107.50–107.50	1,585	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,487	101.92/cwt	93.00–104.00	1,516	40
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,493	99.00/cwt	99.00–99.00	1,478	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,609	104.13/cwt	103.50–104.50	1,675	5
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2Non-Legible BANGS	1,046	1,925.00/head	1,925.00–1,925.00	1,925	6
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,170	2,010.00/head	2,010.00–2,010.00	2,010	5
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	1,232	1,375.12/head	1,360.00–1,385.00	1,375	15
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,295	1,475.00/head	1,475.00–1,475.00	1,475	20
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,393	1,875.00/head	1,875.00–1,875.00	1,875	3
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows2 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	992	110.08/cwt	106.00–122.50	1,092	9
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,030	158.25/cwt	127.50–179.00	1,630	4

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 18, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 94Last week 3,756Year ago 498

Slaughter CattleReceipts 261Last week 98Year ago 307

Replacement CattleReceipts 75Last week 84Year ago 101

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	815	195.00	195.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	579	260.00	260.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	629	249.00	249.00
6	—	680	215.00–221.00	216.99
2	—	970	184.00	184.00
1	—	1,055	180.00	180.00
2	—	938	194.00	194.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	465	255.00	255.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	705	235.00	235.00
7	—	687	230.00–237.00	234.48
2	—	630	252.50	252.50
2	—	910	214.00	214.00
8	—	583	283.00–285.00	283.73

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	828	224.00–227.00	225.52

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Non-Legible BANGS$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	6	—	1,046	1,925.00	1,925.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	20	—	1,295	1,475.00	1,475.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	15	—	1,232	1,360.00–1,385.00	1,375.12

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	3	—	1,393	1,875.00	1,875.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	5	—	1,170	2,010.00	2,010.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,030	127.50–179.00	158.25
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	9	—	992	106.00–122.50	110.08

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,340	102.00	102.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	2,063	125.00–132.00	128.79
3	—	1,645	101.00–106.00	104.02
7	—	1,787	113.00–123.00	118.79

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,160	89.00	89.00
1	—	1,125	107.50	107.50
71	—	1,175	93.50–98.00	95.15

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
46	—	1,098	77.00–88.00	85.66
1	—	1,240	106.50	106.50
10	—	1,202	92.00–100.00	97.50
4	—	1,053	62.00–72.00	69.27

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,609	103.50–104.50	104.13
2	—	1,493	99.00	99.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
40	—	1,487	93.00–104.00	101.92
7	—	1,322	105.00–106.00	105.15
8	—	1,395	79.00–90.00	87.32

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	950	84.00–85.00	84.24
1	—	810	61.00	61.00
3	—	925	80.00–84.00	82.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,474	107.50	107.50
10	—	1,327	94.00–104.75	102.14

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.