Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-02-08

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Feb 8
● Final109 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
3,375 head
▲ 3,153 vs last sale 222▲ 284 vs year ago 3,091 · +9.2%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
131 head
▼ 541 vs last sale 672▼ 88 vs year ago 219 · −40.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
159 head
▼ 44 vs last sale 203▲ 58 vs year ago 101 · +57.4%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

The last feeder special was two weeks ago (1/26/24) all feeder comparisons are to that sale. Feeder steers under 650 lbs sold mostly 12.00-18.00 higher, steers over 650 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 higher. Feeder heifers under 600 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher, heifers over 600 lbs sold 9.00-12.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive. Most offerings sold in moderate size packages, with a few load lots seen as well. Demand for all feeders was good to very good for moderate to heavy offerings. A heavy offering of backgrounded cattle were seen this week and despite most of these offerings pushing moderate flesh, demand was good. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings. Ranchers and order-buyers buying for packers were both very aggressive as they bid on high quality offerings to run on grass leases. CME positions continue to see upward momentum. The March contract closed at 246.85, while the April closed at 251.925, 1.975 and 1.40 higher respectfully, than last Thursdays close. Market activity was mostly active this week, as a large crowd of farmer feeders, ranchers and order-buyers were seen. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Too few cows were seen this week to make an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on slaughter cows, feeding cows and slaughter bulls. Packer buyers continue to be aggressively as they bid for both feeding cows and slaughter cow. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Demand for this class was very good as feeding demand continues to improve with higher live cattle contract prices. Many buyers continue to buy coming 2 and coming 3 year old heifers that haven't calved to feed as they hope to feed this class to choice.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $297.21/cwt on 1,782 head.
Average price
$297.21
1,782 head · 635 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,888
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$51
per head · Medium 1 over Medium and Large 2
$50.08/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−5.64
vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1423342.371,44749
Large 1539300.291,62035
Medium and Large 1654296.211,9371,412
Medium and Large 1-2601294.291,768255
Medium and Large 2512292.281,49831
One grade step is worth $50.08/cwt here — about −$51 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 sale1,782 hd
297.21
—
MT average3 barns · 2,918 hd
302.85
−5.64
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—Average1,577108.651,71413
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,678108.721,82412
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,367101.971,39441
CowsLean 85-90%High1,12596.061,08156

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 Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,060$1,9751thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,293$1,4218

Every lot

109 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 · Steers37 lots · lightest first
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2308355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,0932
Steers—Medium 1324360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,16622
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2358363.00/cwt363.00–363.001,3008
Steers—Medium and Large 1377370.90/cwt370.00–371.001,39848
Steers—Medium and Large 1418370.04/cwt367.00–374.001,54717
Steers—Medium and Large 2430318.14/cwt305.00–327.501,36820
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2440354.65/cwt342.00–357.501,56029
Steers—Medium and Large 1477358.78/cwt347.50–369.001,711191
Steers—Large 1482309.00/cwt309.00–309.001,48913
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2491330.24/cwt327.50–340.001,62150
Steers—Medium 1503328.00/cwt328.00–328.001,65027
Steers—Medium and Large 1523345.01/cwt337.00–352.001,804121
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2524320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,6774
Steers—Large 1533317.50/cwt317.50–317.501,69210
Steers—Medium and Large 1575324.95/cwt312.00–337.001,868117
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2582293.53/cwt288.00–311.001,70847
Steers—Large 1585293.00/cwt293.00–293.001,7146
Steers—Medium and Large 1616307.25/cwt298.00–318.001,893158
Steers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed619322.80/cwt320.00–324.501,99856
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2622285.79/cwt253.00–297.001,77833
Steers—Large 1629260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,6356
Steers—Medium and Large 2648272.00/cwt272.00–272.001,7635
Steers—Medium and Large 1Fleshy649281.00/cwt281.00–281.001,82415
Steers—Medium and Large 1672281.13/cwt267.00–300.001,889196
Steers—Medium and Large 2674223.00/cwt223.00–223.001,5036
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2676267.02/cwt267.00–267.501,80521
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2716247.46/cwt244.00–253.001,77211
Steers—Medium and Large 1717261.28/cwt255.00–269.001,87365
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2771236.00/cwt236.00–236.001,8206
Steers—Medium and Large 1783247.47/cwt244.25–255.001,938148
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy796236.00/cwt236.00–236.001,8794
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2810236.48/cwt232.00–237.501,91538
Steers—Medium and Large 1815241.28/cwt241.25–241.501,966143
Steers—Medium and Large 1859241.28/cwt241.00–242.502,07374
Steers—Medium and Large 1-2883225.00/cwt225.00–225.001,9872
Steers—Medium and Large 1937227.83/cwt227.00–228.002,13517
Steers—Medium and Large 1969219.11/cwt216.00–224.002,12346
Feeder Cattle · Heifers33 lots · lightest first
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2325320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,04016
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2353300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,0592
Heifers—Medium and Large 1374331.00/cwt331.00–331.001,23828
Heifers—Medium and Large 1413320.84/cwt317.00–325.001,32520
Heifers—Medium 1-2417274.13/cwt270.00–280.001,14317
Heifers—Large 1-2425267.00/cwt267.00–267.001,13512
Heifers—Large 1431306.00/cwt306.00–306.001,3198
Heifers—Medium 1435280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,2182
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2437295.00/cwt295.00–295.001,28925
Heifers—Large 1452292.50/cwt292.50–292.501,32217
Heifers—Medium and Large 2481276.00/cwt276.00–276.001,3284
Heifers—Medium and Large 1484309.85/cwt303.00–322.001,500138
Heifers—Medium 1485286.00/cwt286.00–286.001,38720
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2492296.47/cwt290.00–305.001,45930
Heifers—Medium 1501271.00/cwt271.00–271.001,35813
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2519281.97/cwt276.00–285.001,46326
Heifers—Medium and Large 1520307.39/cwt291.50–318.001,598164
Heifers—Large 1530261.00/cwt261.00–261.001,38310
Heifers—Medium and Large 2551230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,2674
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2556274.22/cwt273.50–278.001,52575
Heifers—Large 1559272.00/cwt272.00–272.001,5208
Heifers—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed562303.93/cwt299.00–305.501,70859
Heifers—Medium and Large 1567284.51/cwt278.00–291.001,613101
Heifers—Medium 1577262.00/cwt262.00–262.001,51221
Heifers—Medium and Large 2604211.00/cwt211.00–211.001,2748
Heifers—Medium and Large 1616274.68/cwt266.00–280.001,69276
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2631263.82/cwt262.00–266.001,66511
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2680232.01/cwt229.00–234.001,57828
Heifers—Medium and Large 1683249.32/cwt245.00–255.001,70344
Heifers—Medium and Large 2690241.00/cwt241.00–241.001,6632
Heifers—Medium and Large 1724237.46/cwt233.00–242.001,71991
Heifers—Medium and Large 1-2769218.50/cwt218.50–218.501,68011
Heifers—Medium and Large 1795219.56/cwt218.50–221.001,74621
Feeder Cattle · Bulls9 lots · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2380332.50/cwt332.50–332.501,26411
Bulls—Medium and Large 1456340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,5509
Bulls—Medium and Large 1530308.00/cwt308.00–308.001,6328
Bulls—Medium and Large 1620286.00/cwt286.00–286.001,7734
Bulls—Medium and Large 1659277.00/cwt277.00–277.001,8257
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2670220.00/cwt220.00–220.001,4745
Bulls—Medium and Large 1737230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,6954
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-2941194.48/cwt190.00–206.001,8307
Bulls—Medium and Large 1-21,070170.00/cwt170.00–170.001,8191
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,226111.31/cwt110.00–115.001,3654
Bulls——1,653102.24/cwt96.00–109.001,6906
Bulls——1,845120.00/cwt120.00–120.002,2141
Bulls——1,920116.88/cwt115.50–118.502,2442
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight99993.00/cwt93.00–93.009299
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,08687.90/cwt86.00–89.009555
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,131100.32/cwt93.00–103.001,1359
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,140103.00/cwt103.00–103.001,1741
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,14287.10/cwt83.00–92.0099510
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,168107.24/cwt106.50–111.001,2538
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,18097.73/cwt93.50–100.001,15314
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,348104.83/cwt101.00–106.001,41316
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,35289.54/cwt87.00–92.001,2117
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,370112.95/cwt112.50–114.001,5476
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,39999.93/cwt94.00–104.501,39812
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,517109.50/cwt109.50–109.501,6613
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,660107.04/cwt106.00–108.001,7772
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,67098.00/cwt98.00–98.001,6371
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,706111.52/cwt109.00–112.501,9035
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,065106.50/cwt106.50–106.502,1991
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1648182.50/cwt182.50–182.501,1832
Stock Cows—Medium 1727201.29/cwt187.00–207.001,4634
Stock Cows—Large 1857197.00/cwt197.00–197.001,6885
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2888105.81/cwt102.00–110.009402
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1897188.20/cwt147.00–214.001,68860
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2907161.79/cwt148.00–206.001,46728
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,017136.92/cwt109.50–152.001,39218
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,0601,975.00/head1,975.00–1,975.001,9751
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,2741,297.85/head1,250.00–1,325.001,2985
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3251,625.00/head1,625.00–1,625.001,6253

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.