Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-03-07

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Mar 7
● Final114 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
3,002 head
▲ 2,803 vs last sale 199▲ 1,714 vs year ago 1,288 · +133.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
268 head
▼ 212 vs last sale 480▼ 178 vs year ago 446 · −39.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
88 head
▼ 103 vs last sale 191▼ 43 vs year ago 131 · −32.8%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

The last feeder special was February 15th all feeder comparisons are to that sale. Feeder steers under 500 lbs sold steady to firm; steers 500-749 lbs sold mostly 10.00 higher; steers over 750 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Heifers under 500 lbs sold mostly steady to firm; heifers 500-749 lbs sold mostly 10.00-15.00 higher; heifers over 750 lbs were too lightly tested last feeder special to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this sale was mixed from plain to attractive. Most offerings sold moderate size packages this sale with several partial load lots seen. Demand for all feeders was good to very good. Offerings were moderate to heavy. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings, most steers 500-750 lbs and heifers 475-650 lbs were purchased for that purpose. CME positions showed some strength throughout the week as higher cash bids for slaughter cattle improved demand throughout the week. The March feeder cattle contract closed today at 251.025, while the April closed at 256.30, 2.025 and 2.575 higher respectfully than last Thursdays close. Market activity was very active this week. Bidding today was noticeably urgent as buyers bid rapidly over offerings and started bidding at the auctioneer's opening bid ask. Weigh up cows sold on very good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cow comparisons are to last weeks sale which featured mostly weigh up cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher on all offerings in a narrow comparison. Most offerings sold to feed this week. Quality was mostly average to attractive. Demand for feeding cows was very good. Feeding cows sold mostly 4.00-7.00 higher. Weigh up conditions were mixed this sale. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 10.00-12.00 higher. Demand for this class was very good. Many sets of young heifers were purchased to feed. Some of these offerings sold higher than yearling prices late last fall.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $311.76/cwt on 582 head. That ranks 1 of 23 comparable sales and sits −99.86 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$311.76
582 head · 545 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,699
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$384
per head · Medium 1 over Medium 2
$47.50/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+2.50
vs MT average
+39.85 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1580317.501,8425thin
Medium and Large 1545313.211,706533
Medium and Large 1-2545294.131,60343
Medium 2540270.001,4581thin
One grade step is worth $47.50/cwt here — about $384 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 500–600 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale582 hd
311.76
—
MT average2 barns · 667 hd
309.27
+2.50
National average176 barns · 15,352 hd
271.91
+39.85
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−99.86
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

23 sales
483428373319median 411.6203/0504/3006/1109/2410/29
Heifers 500–600 lb: high $469.35, low $332.50, median $411.62 across 23 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

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—Average1,719127.212,18725
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,699125.002,1248thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,521124.461,89351
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,375122.581,68553
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,106111.341,23178

Every lot

114 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 · Steers40 lots · lightest first
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned316360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,1387
Steers300–350Medium 1349357.50/cwt357.50–357.501,2485
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2375378.00/cwt378.00–378.001,4182
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1386387.25/cwt384.00–388.001,49535
Steers400–450Large 1412360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,4833
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1424374.01/cwt367.00–380.001,58632
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned432342.50/cwt342.50–342.501,48012
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2442356.15/cwt352.50–367.501,5748
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned453374.00/cwt374.00–374.001,6946
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2458300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,3743
Steers450–500Large 1473320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,5143
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2484341.82/cwt325.00–347.001,65430
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1488361.65/cwt349.50–370.001,765110
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Value Added508369.00/cwt369.00–369.001,87569
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2513330.57/cwt325.00–331.001,69639
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned520320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,6643
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1529352.47/cwt338.00–358.001,86571
Steers550–600Large 1558314.00/cwt312.00–317.001,7525
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1584331.08/cwt323.50–340.001,934101
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2586312.69/cwt312.00–315.001,83213
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned589331.00/cwt331.00–331.001,95025
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned600307.50/cwt307.50–307.501,8452
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Value Added602325.00/cwt325.00–325.001,95717
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed603311.00/cwt311.00–311.001,87512
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1625316.90/cwt306.00–329.001,981261
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2639301.09/cwt298.00–303.001,92419
Steers650–700Large 1658269.00/cwt269.00–269.001,7703
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2667275.00/cwt275.00–275.001,8343
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1680294.70/cwt280.00–307.002,004180
Steers700–750Large 1700252.00/cwt252.00–252.001,7641
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1719270.38/cwt269.00–273.001,94429
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2727263.41/cwt263.00–264.001,9155
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1Fleshy749261.00/cwt261.00–261.001,95530
Steers750–800Large 1758257.57/cwt251.00–259.501,9529
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2762255.05/cwt253.00–258.001,94313
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1782256.00/cwt256.00–256.002,00223
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1810250.00/cwt250.00–250.002,0251
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2826238.47/cwt237.00–242.001,97012
Steers800–850Large 1838231.00/cwt231.00–231.001,9363
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1876236.41/cwt234.00–242.002,07141
Feeder Cattle · Heifers31 lots · lightest first
Heifers350–400Medium 1374325.16/cwt320.00–327.001,21624
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2380325.53/cwt320.00–337.501,23716
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned394315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,24121
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2420311.47/cwt310.00–315.001,30820
Heifers400–450Medium 1428316.00/cwt316.00–316.001,35211
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1445320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,42412
Heifers450–500Medium 1465310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,44211
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1469325.40/cwt317.50–329.501,52699
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2470309.23/cwt300.00–317.001,45318
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Value Added503340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,71079
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1521313.80/cwt300.00–328.001,635176
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2526298.05/cwt295.00–301.001,56829
Heifers500–550Medium 2540270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,4581
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1564304.04/cwt286.00–315.501,715171
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Value Added579313.00/cwt313.00–313.001,81270
Heifers550–600Medium 1580317.50/cwt317.50–317.501,8425
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2584286.00/cwt286.00–286.001,67014
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Replacement592296.00/cwt296.00–296.001,75237
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2612268.13/cwt267.00–269.001,6417
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1618282.14/cwt267.00–289.001,74462
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Replacement628290.84/cwt285.00–294.001,826150
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1678261.48/cwt252.00–267.501,77370
Heifers650–700Large 1687250.00/cwt250.00–250.001,7186
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2693250.00/cwt250.00–250.001,7332
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1Replacement702259.00/cwt259.00–259.001,81812
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1729244.99/cwt241.25–254.001,78648
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2738239.40/cwt231.00–241.501,76725
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1790238.11/cwt237.00–242.001,88191
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1830236.78/cwt228.00–240.501,9657
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1872222.79/cwt218.00–223.001,94348
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1925216.11/cwt215.00–217.001,99911
Feeder Cattle · Bulls12 lots · lightest first
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1490329.55/cwt325.00–334.001,6152
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1529328.46/cwt320.00–330.001,73813
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1577314.98/cwt314.00–317.001,8173
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1635305.00/cwt305.00–305.001,9373
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1678281.57/cwt280.00–293.001,9098
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1728256.87/cwt246.00–259.001,8706
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1815214.46/cwt212.50–222.001,7485
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1850219.00/cwt219.00–219.001,8621
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1979211.34/cwt209.00–216.002,0693
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 11,029207.99/cwt207.00–209.002,1404
Bulls1050–1100Medium and Large 11,090212.00/cwt212.00–212.002,3111
Bulls1250–1300Large 1-21,268130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,6482
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,03593.50/cwt93.50–93.509681
Bulls——Return to Feed1,271115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,4624
Bulls——1,553117.84/cwt113.00–125.001,8305
Bulls——1,751130.74/cwt124.00–137.002,2898
Bulls——2,155141.65/cwt140.00–144.003,0537
Slaughter Cattle · Cows20 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight93498.10/cwt92.00–100.009169
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight96079.00/cwt79.00–79.007581
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight970105.99/cwt104.00–110.001,0283
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,075109.20/cwt105.50–110.001,17418
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,102104.05/cwt95.00–110.001,1478
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,154122.21/cwt120.00–128.001,4107
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,156116.91/cwt112.00–119.001,35111
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,190121.19/cwt120.00–123.001,4426
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,192115.89/cwt111.00–118.001,38115
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,340119.00/cwt119.00–119.001,5951
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,365104.00/cwt104.00–104.001,4201
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,368124.58/cwt123.00–127.001,70433
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,387119.09/cwt114.00–122.001,65214
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,401123.77/cwt123.00–124.001,7344
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,476127.28/cwt126.00–127.501,87929
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,526121.23/cwt119.00–122.001,85011
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,560126.95/cwt125.50–128.501,9806
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,660107.19/cwt101.00–110.501,7793
Cows—Premium White 65-75%1,699125.00/cwt125.00–125.002,1248
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,815119.81/cwt118.00–122.002,1752
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1583245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,4282
Stock Cows—Large 1910140.00/cwt140.00–140.001,2741
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1953187.29/cwt153.00–231.001,78513
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,065161.61/cwt121.00–181.001,72144
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,075154.00/cwt154.00–154.001,6561
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,161124.27/cwt113.00–139.001,44319

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.