Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-02-29

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2024-02-29
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-02-29

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Feb 29

● Final60 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Feb 15Feb 29Mar 7 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

199 head

▼ 1,581 vs last sale 1,780▼ 3,589 vs year ago 3,788 · −94.7%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

480 head

▲ 245 vs last sale 235▲ 114 vs year ago 366 · +31.1%

Replacement Cattle receipts

191 head

▲ 2 vs last sale 189▲ 16 vs year ago 175 · +9.1%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Most offerings sold in small packages with many singles seen. Demand for all feeders was good for light offerings. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings. CME positions have soften slightly since the release of the cattle on feed report last Friday. The March feeder cattle contract closed today at 249.00, while the April closed at 253.725, 1.90 and 3.50 higher respectfully, than Thursday, two weeks ago. Market activity was mostly active this week. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher on all classes. Demand for feeding cows was very good as quality was very attractive. Several large consignments of open, one iron feeding cows were seen this week. Packer buyers and private feeders both bid aggressive on attractive feeding offerings. Feeding cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher on a higher quality offering. Weigh up conditions were average to above average. Many high dressing cows were seen this week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady to firm. Demand for this class was very good. Several sets of high quality calves off reputation ranches were noted this week.

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 $293.42/cwt on 68 head.

Average price

$293.42

68 head · 505 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,481

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$300

per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 1-2

$28.21/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+18.36

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	468	300.71	1,406	17thin
Medium and Large 1	526	292.56	1,540	47
Large 1-2	406	272.50	1,106	4thin

One grade step is worth $28.21/cwt here — about $300 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 sale68 hd

293.42

—

MT average4 barns · 2,724 hd

275.05

+18.36

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	—	High	1,742	121.38	2,115	61
Cows	Premium White 65-75%	Average	1,562	119.00	1,859	3thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,374	116.43	1,600	316
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,528	111.72	1,707	19
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,198	106.83	1,280	71

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	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,435	$2,550	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,090	$2,400	1thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,378	$1,750	3thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,372	$1,581	4thin

Every lot

60 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 · Steers11 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	325	387.50/cwt	387.50–387.50	1,259	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	417	370.81/cwt	370.00–372.50	1,546	3
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	420	341.00/cwt	341.00–341.00	1,432	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	484	327.55/cwt	317.50–340.00	1,585	6
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	495	348.00/cwt	348.00–348.00	1,723	14
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	503	344.59/cwt	330.00–347.00	1,733	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	608	294.00/cwt	294.00–294.00	1,788	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	635	283.00/cwt	283.00–283.00	1,797	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	670	262.00/cwt	262.00–262.00	1,755	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	704	268.50/cwt	268.00–269.00	1,890	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	735	254.00/cwt	254.00–254.00	1,867	1
Feeder Cattle · Heifers10 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	398	317.00/cwt	317.00–317.00	1,262	2
Heifers	—	Large 1-2	406	272.50/cwt	272.50–272.50	1,106	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	429	312.00/cwt	311.00–313.00	1,338	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	431	318.00/cwt	318.00–318.00	1,371	6
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	460	313.33/cwt	312.00–315.00	1,441	18
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	493	303.00/cwt	303.00–303.00	1,494	7
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	562	283.93/cwt	280.00–288.00	1,596	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	565	242.50/cwt	242.50–242.50	1,370	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	601	268.00/cwt	268.00–268.00	1,611	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	656	252.88/cwt	249.50–254.00	1,659	8
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	545	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	1,717	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	735	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,764	10
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	750	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,838	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	965	218.00/cwt	218.00–218.00	2,104	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	1,015	210.00/cwt	209.00–211.00	2,132	2
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	1,160	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	2,111	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,253	98.00/cwt	98.00–98.00	1,228	2
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,373	111.40/cwt	109.00–114.00	1,530	2
Bulls	—	—	1,557	113.04/cwt	106.00–117.00	1,760	17
Bulls	—	—	1,808	124.28/cwt	118.00–136.00	2,247	34
Bulls	—	—	2,181	139.67/cwt	137.00–143.00	3,046	6
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,095	79.00/cwt	79.00–79.00	865	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,153	93.88/cwt	90.00–99.00	1,082	17
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,208	110.14/cwt	105.00–113.50	1,330	29
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,214	116.68/cwt	115.00–118.00	1,416	12
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,226	106.70/cwt	102.00–111.00	1,308	8
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,239	115.48/cwt	115.00–117.00	1,431	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,326	111.88/cwt	106.00–114.50	1,484	36
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,371	117.55/cwt	115.00–121.75	1,612	244
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,424	108.62/cwt	105.00–112.00	1,547	8
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,446	119.31/cwt	115.00–122.00	1,725	20
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,449	103.17/cwt	101.00–104.50	1,495	8
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,476	110.50/cwt	110.50–110.50	1,631	9
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,489	113.87/cwt	112.75–116.00	1,696	6
Cows	—	Premium White 65-75%	1,562	119.00/cwt	119.00–119.00	1,859	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,697	113.00/cwt	113.00–113.00	1,918	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,725	106.00/cwt	106.00–106.00	1,829	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,090	2,400.00/head	2,400.00–2,400.00	2,400	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	1,238	1,450.00/head	1,450.00–1,450.00	1,450	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,378	1,750.00/head	1,750.00–1,750.00	1,750	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,435	2,550.00/head	2,550.00–2,550.00	2,550	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,775	1,975.00/head	1,975.00–1,975.00	1,975	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1	769	177.98/cwt	170.00–185.00	1,369	4
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	810	112.50/cwt	112.50–112.50	911	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	908	115.52/cwt	115.00–116.00	1,049	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	930	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	1,497	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	960	175.52/cwt	160.00–191.00	1,685	49
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,095	144.19/cwt	117.50–172.50	1,579	98
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	1,170	159.50/cwt	159.50–159.50	1,866	3

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 Feb 29, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 199Last week 1,780Year ago 3,788

Slaughter CattleReceipts 480Last week 235Year ago 366

Replacement CattleReceipts 191Last week 189Year ago 175

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	3	—	1,378	1,750.00	1,750.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	1,435	2,550.00	2,550.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	1	—	1,090	2,400.00	2,400.00

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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	3	—	1,238	1,450.00	1,450.00

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)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	1,775	1,975.00	1,975.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	769	170.00–185.00	177.98

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	1	—	930	161.00	161.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	2	—	908	115.00–116.00	115.52

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	49	—	960	160.00–191.00	175.52
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	98	—	1,095	117.50–172.50	144.19

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	2	—	810	112.50	112.50

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,170	159.50	159.50

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	565	242.50	242.50
2	—	398	317.00	317.00
7	—	493	303.00	303.00
6	—	429	311.00–313.00	312.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	406	272.50	272.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	601	268.00	268.00
18	—	460	312.00–315.00	313.33
10	—	562	280.00–288.00	283.93
8	—	656	249.50–254.00	252.88
6	—	431	318.00	318.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	495	348.00	348.00
4	—	608	294.00	294.00
3	—	417	370.00–372.50	370.81
7	—	503	330.00–347.00	344.59
4	—	704	268.00–269.00	268.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	325	387.50	387.50
1	—	735	254.00	254.00
6	—	484	317.50–340.00	327.55
4	—	635	283.00	283.00
2	—	670	262.00	262.00
1	—	420	341.00	341.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	545	315.00	315.00
10	—	735	240.00	240.00
2	—	1,015	209.00–211.00	210.00
1	—	1,160	182.00	182.00
1	—	965	218.00	218.00
1	—	750	245.00	245.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	1,153	90.00–99.00	93.88
8	—	1,226	102.00–111.00	106.70
1	—	1,095	79.00	79.00
4	—	1,239	115.00–117.00	115.48

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,697	113.00	113.00
1	—	1,725	106.00	106.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
244	—	1,371	115.00–121.75	117.55
36	—	1,326	106.00–114.50	111.88

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,476	110.50	110.50
6	—	1,489	112.75–116.00	113.87

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
29	—	1,208	105.00–113.50	110.14
12	—	1,214	115.00–118.00	116.68

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,449	101.00–104.50	103.17
20	—	1,446	115.00–122.00	119.31
8	—	1,424	105.00–112.00	108.62

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Premium White 65-75%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,562	119.00	119.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	2,181	137.00–143.00	139.67
34	—	1,808	118.00–136.00	124.28
17	—	1,557	106.00–117.00	113.04

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,253	98.00	98.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,373	109.00–114.00	111.40

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.