Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-03-28

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2024-03-28
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-03-28

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Mar 28

● Final68 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Mar 14Mar 28Apr 4 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

165 head

▼ 74 vs last sale 239▼ 3,833 vs year ago 3,998 · −95.9%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

328 head

▲ 81 vs last sale 247▲ 212 vs year ago 116 · +182.8%

Replacement Cattle receipts

134 head

▲ 25 vs last sale 109▼ 117 vs year ago 251 · −46.6%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale(3-14-24): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on both steer and heifers of like quality. Quality this week was mostly plain. Package sizes were small this week with many singles in the offering. Demand for all feeders was moderate to good for light offerings. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings. CME Feeder cattle contracts have sold off for much of the week. The March feeder cattle contract closed today at 247.75, while the April closed at 247.125, the May contract closed at 248.70. Market activity was mostly moderate this week. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Packers pushed to own as much of the cow offering as possible as cow and bull supplies remain tight. Slaughter cows sold 6.00-12.00 higher on all classes this week. High quality cows sold on very good demand as both packers and private feeding buyers pushed these offerings sharply higher in order to secure offerings. Feeding cows sold sharply higher compared to last week with most sales 10.00-12.00 higher. Quality was mostly average to attractive this week. Weigh up conditions were average this sale. Slaughter bulls sold sharply higher in a narrow comparison, most bulls sold 12.00-16.00 than last week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Quality was mostly average this week.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $333.94/cwt on 34 head. That ranks 1 of 22 comparable sales and sits −109.00 against this barn's trailing median of $442.94.

Average price

$333.94

34 head · 562 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,876

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$126

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

$1.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+2.88

vs MT average

+23.68 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	564	334.00	1,884	32
Medium and Large 1-2	528	333.00	1,758	2thin

One grade step is worth $1.00/cwt here — about $126 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 300–400 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 sale34 hd

333.94

—

MT average2 barns · 39 hd

331.06

+2.88

National average156 barns · 8,291 hd

310.26

+23.68

This barn, trailing median22 sales

442.94

−109.00

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

22 sales

Steers 500–600 lb: high $525.97, low $398.08, median $442.94 across 22 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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Low	1,702	140.80	2,396	56
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,592	131.62	2,095	31
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,379	130.49	1,799	100
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,094	117.69	1,288	107

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)	1,215	$2,700	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,304	$2,001	8
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,083	$1,900	5
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,483	$2,300	3thin

Every lot

68 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 · Steers14 lots · lightest first
Steers	350–400	Medium 1	360	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	1,350	2
Steers	350–400	Medium 1-2	383	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,149	3
Steers	400–450	Medium 1	403	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,451	2
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	421	339.69/cwt	337.50–342.00	1,430	6
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	470	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,645	4
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	528	333.00/cwt	333.00–333.00	1,758	2
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	564	334.00/cwt	334.00–334.00	1,884	32
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	623	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,807	2
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	660	272.00/cwt	272.00–272.00	1,795	1
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	715	268.00/cwt	268.00–268.00	1,916	6
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	778	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	1,984	16
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	823	241.00/cwt	241.00–241.00	1,983	2
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1-2	838	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	1,886	2
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	843	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	1,989	2
Feeder Cattle · Heifers9 lots · lightest first
Heifers	300–350	Medium 1	335	335.00/cwt	335.00–335.00	1,122	2
Heifers	400–450	Medium 1	412	322.29/cwt	321.00–324.00	1,328	7
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	422	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,350	3
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	477	321.00/cwt	321.00–321.00	1,531	22
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	596	272.00/cwt	272.00–272.00	1,621	4
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	685	242.50/cwt	242.50–242.50	1,661	2
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	691	262.00/cwt	262.00–262.00	1,810	5
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	789	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,815	4
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	917	200.50/cwt	200.50–200.50	1,839	3
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	510	313.00/cwt	313.00–313.00	1,596	2
Bulls	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	640	284.00/cwt	284.00–284.00	1,818	3
Bulls	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	785	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,806	1
Bulls	800–850	Medium and Large 1-2	845	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	1,859	2
Bulls	900–950	Medium and Large 1	935	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	2,057	1
Bulls	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	965	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	2,075	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,325	128.51/cwt	123.00–132.00	1,703	3
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,508	143.27/cwt	135.00–149.00	2,161	11
Bulls	—	—	1,705	120.23/cwt	113.00–125.00	2,050	8
Bulls	—	—	1,751	143.42/cwt	132.00–152.50	2,511	28
Bulls	—	—	2,009	157.62/cwt	156.00–159.50	3,167	6
Slaughter Cattle · Cows21 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	839	85.34/cwt	84.00–92.00	716	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	918	117.00/cwt	117.00–117.00	1,074	9
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	995	104.00/cwt	103.00–105.00	1,035	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,038	91.07/cwt	91.00–92.00	945	14
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,090	128.50/cwt	128.50–128.50	1,401	29
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,151	108.46/cwt	101.00–112.00	1,248	7
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,179	120.57/cwt	114.00–124.50	1,422	8
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,192	127.83/cwt	118.00–131.00	1,524	31
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,240	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	1,637	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,354	129.71/cwt	123.00–136.00	1,756	28
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,360	116.48/cwt	109.00–119.50	1,584	13
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,371	128.50/cwt	122.00–133.00	1,762	15
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,375	118.67/cwt	118.00–120.00	1,632	6
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,390	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	1,988	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,407	138.39/cwt	136.50–145.00	1,947	37
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,522	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	2,100	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,529	133.21/cwt	131.00–140.00	2,037	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,555	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	2,224	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,590	124.09/cwt	116.00–128.00	1,973	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,614	132.80/cwt	130.00–134.00	2,143	17
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,633	120.14/cwt	114.00–126.00	1,962	3
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1	660	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	1,188	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	929	191.00/cwt	155.00–207.50	1,774	35
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	940	166.37/cwt	155.00–180.00	1,564	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,007	140.80/cwt	117.00–162.50	1,418	5
Stock Cows	—	Large 1	1,022	171.54/cwt	160.00–178.00	1,753	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,108	154.48/cwt	132.50–177.00	1,712	35
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,123	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	1,482	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,410	141.00/cwt	141.00–141.00	1,988	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,083	1,900.00/head	1,900.00–1,900.00	1,900	5
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,215	2,700.00/head	2,700.00–2,700.00	2,700	1
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,243	2,336.46/head	2,300.00–2,400.00	2,336	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,340	1,800.00/head	1,800.00–1,800.00	1,800	5
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs	—	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	1,483	2,300.00/head	2,300.00–2,300.00	2,300	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 Mar 28, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 165Last week 239Year ago 3,998

Slaughter CattleReceipts 328Last week 247Year ago 116

Replacement CattleReceipts 134Last week 109Year ago 251

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	400–450	421	337.50–342.00	339.69
2	500–550	528	333.00	333.00
2	600–650	623	290.00	290.00
1	650–700	660	272.00	272.00
6	700–750	715	268.00	268.00
2	800–850	838	225.00	225.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	450–500	470	350.00	350.00
32	550–600	564	334.00	334.00
16	750–800	778	255.00	255.00
2	800–850	823	241.00	241.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	350–400	383	300.00	300.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	360	375.00	375.00
2	400–450	403	360.00	360.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
2	800–850	843	236.00	236.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
22	450–500	477	321.00	321.00
5	650–700	691	262.00	262.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	400–450	422	320.00	320.00
4	550–600	596	272.00	272.00
2	650–700	685	242.50	242.50
4	750–800	789	230.00	230.00
3	900–950	917	200.50	200.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	300–350	335	335.00	335.00
7	400–450	412	321.00–324.00	322.29

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	900–950	935	220.00	220.00
1	950–1000	965	215.00	215.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	500–550	510	313.00	313.00
3	600–650	640	284.00	284.00
1	750–800	785	230.00	230.00
2	800–850	845	220.00	220.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

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	2	—	940	155.00–180.00	166.37
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	5	—	1,007	117.00–162.50	140.80

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,123	132.00	132.00
(<2 yrs)	Open	35	—	929	155.00–207.50	191.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	35	—	1,108	132.50–177.00	154.48
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,410	141.00	141.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	660	180.00	180.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,022	160.00–178.00	171.54

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	3	—	1,243	2,300.00–2,400.00	2,336.46
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	5	—	1,083	1,900.00	1,900.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	1	—	1,215	2,700.00	2,700.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	5	—	1,340	1,800.00	1,800.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cow-Calf Pairs — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	Open	3	—	1,483	2,300.00	2,300.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,325	123.00–132.00	128.51
11	—	1,508	135.00–149.00	143.27

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	2,009	156.00–159.50	157.62
8	—	1,705	113.00–125.00	120.23
28	—	1,751	132.00–152.50	143.42

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	995	103.00–105.00	104.00
9	—	918	117.00	117.00
6	—	839	84.00–92.00	85.34

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
37	—	1,407	136.50–145.00	138.39
6	—	1,375	118.00–120.00	118.67
28	—	1,354	123.00–136.00	129.71

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,390	143.00	143.00
13	—	1,360	109.00–119.50	116.48
15	—	1,371	122.00–133.00	128.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
29	—	1,090	128.50	128.50
14	—	1,038	91.00–92.00	91.07
8	—	1,179	114.00–124.50	120.57
7	—	1,151	101.00–112.00	108.46

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,240	132.00	132.00
31	—	1,192	118.00–131.00	127.83

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,555	143.00	143.00
3	—	1,590	116.00–128.00	124.09
4	—	1,529	131.00–140.00	133.21

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,633	114.00–126.00	120.14
3	—	1,522	138.00	138.00
17	—	1,614	130.00–134.00	132.80

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.