Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-04-04

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2024-04-04
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-04-04

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Apr 4

● Final78 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Mar 28Apr 4Apr 11 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

4,966 head

▲ 4,801 vs last sale 165▲ 4,656 vs year ago 310 · +1,501.9%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

105 head

▼ 223 vs last sale 328▼ 305 vs year ago 410 · −74.4%

Replacement Cattle receipts

172 head

▲ 38 vs last sale 134▼ 198 vs year ago 370 · −53.5%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Oct 26, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to a week ago: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed on all offerings. Quality this sale was mixed from plain to very attractive. Several load lots were seen this sale and all sold on good to very good demand. Packages sold on mostly good demand as buyers were able to piece together loads of like quality cattle. Demand for grass cattle and replacement quality heifers was very good. Replacement heifer buyers and buyers looking for attractive grass heifers both showed good to very good demand. Market activity was active to very active for todays spring N.I.L.E. special. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light to offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher on all classes of slaughter cows. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold with steady undertones. Quality this week was average to attractive.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $292.83/cwt on 890 head. That ranks 1 of 23 comparable sales and sits −118.79 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.

Average price

$292.83

890 head · 563 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,648

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$381

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

$57.86/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−0.32

vs MT average

+22.24 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	567	301.57	1,710	688
Medium and Large 1-2	548	269.10	1,475	154
Medium and Large 2	546	243.72	1,329	48

One grade step is worth $57.86/cwt here — about $381 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 sale890 hd

292.83

—

MT average3 barns · 970 hd

293.15

−0.32

National average179 barns · 13,329 hd

270.59

+22.24

This barn, trailing median23 sales

411.62

−118.79

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

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	High	1,780	167.00	2,973	1thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,365	129.83	1,772	17
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,446	129.27	1,869	7thin

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 Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	852	$1,325	3thin
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,150	$1,100	4thin

Every lot

78 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 · Steers27 lots · lightest first
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1	374	401.28/cwt	400.00–404.00	1,501	16
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	380	367.71/cwt	356.00–380.00	1,397	18
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	419	360.77/cwt	340.00–370.00	1,512	16
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 2	425	318.38/cwt	310.00–330.00	1,353	7
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	437	392.75/cwt	382.00–407.00	1,716	49
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	469	379.56/cwt	365.00–386.00	1,780	75
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	471	352.15/cwt	327.00–373.00	1,659	32
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 2	490	314.34/cwt	312.00–325.00	1,540	17
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	530	352.15/cwt	335.00–368.00	1,866	293
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	535	317.99/cwt	290.00–335.00	1,701	43
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	569	334.71/cwt	320.00–343.00	1,904	171
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	577	315.72/cwt	306.00–323.00	1,822	35
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 2	607	212.59/cwt	210.00–220.00	1,290	20
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	627	315.18/cwt	296.00–324.00	1,976	419
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	645	293.26/cwt	276.00–298.00	1,892	24
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	675	276.99/cwt	265.00–290.00	1,870	41
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	679	297.63/cwt	280.00–304.00	2,021	219
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 2	682	239.56/cwt	227.00–252.00	1,634	10
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	720	250.53/cwt	241.00–255.00	1,804	13
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	731	268.50/cwt	262.00–281.00	1,963	68
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1Fancy	750	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	2,100	87
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 2	765	213.92/cwt	208.00–220.00	1,636	4
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	786	229.27/cwt	222.00–234.00	1,802	17
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	789	252.20/cwt	248.00–258.00	1,990	107
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1-2	825	221.34/cwt	217.00–225.00	1,826	11
Steers	850–900	Medium and Large 1	888	234.19/cwt	232.00–236.00	2,080	11
Steers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	944	217.59/cwt	214.00–219.00	2,054	7
Feeder Cattle · Heifers34 lots · lightest first
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2	327	330.71/cwt	326.00–340.00	1,081	6
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 2	335	308.48/cwt	307.00–310.00	1,033	4
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1	357	345.23/cwt	342.00–350.00	1,232	5
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 2	373	314.30/cwt	310.00–315.00	1,172	14
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	385	335.15/cwt	322.00–344.00	1,290	33
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	430	333.61/cwt	325.00–344.00	1,435	169
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	432	316.22/cwt	305.00–329.00	1,366	54
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	478	296.63/cwt	282.00–306.00	1,418	33
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	483	321.70/cwt	313.00–331.00	1,554	199
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 2	485	275.21/cwt	270.00–290.00	1,335	24
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 2	514	245.43/cwt	245.00–247.00	1,262	24
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	521	311.82/cwt	292.00–320.00	1,625	100
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	527	266.35/cwt	255.00–280.00	1,404	90
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	575	299.83/cwt	288.00–315.00	1,724	588
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 2	577	242.00/cwt	237.00–262.00	1,396	24
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	578	272.97/cwt	254.00–284.00	1,578	64
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	608	285.10/cwt	277.00–297.00	1,733	214
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	615	270.57/cwt	257.00–279.00	1,664	78
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 2	621	236.73/cwt	215.00–250.00	1,470	11
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2Replacement	630	1,894.59/head	1,835.00–1,900.00	1,895	370
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2Replacement	672	1,910.00/head	1,910.00–1,910.00	1,910	21
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	673	271.43/cwt	259.00–290.00	1,827	166
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	676	254.65/cwt	240.00–262.00	1,721	38
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 2	690	227.25/cwt	215.00–233.00	1,568	13
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2Replacement	710	2,000.66/head	1,960.00–2,025.00	2,001	158
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	716	264.24/cwt	252.00–270.00	1,892	123
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	727	246.15/cwt	237.00–260.00	1,790	28
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	757	256.86/cwt	246.00–270.00	1,944	38
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	781	243.04/cwt	234.00–253.00	1,898	31
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2Replacement	789	2,098.47/head	1,950.00–2,185.00	2,098	141
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 2	789	206.43/cwt	200.00–217.00	1,629	8
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	808	233.54/cwt	225.00–237.00	1,887	7
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1-2Replacement	832	2,203.10/head	2,200.00–2,210.00	2,203	125
Heifers	850–900	Medium and Large 1-2Replacement	854	2,075.00/head	2,075.00–2,075.00	2,075	8
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	377	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	1,414	14
Bulls	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	476	337.65/cwt	320.00–340.00	1,607	43
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	526	291.43/cwt	290.00–305.00	1,533	10
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	578	276.23/cwt	275.00–277.00	1,597	5
Bulls	600–650	Medium and Large 1	609	309.00/cwt	309.00–309.00	1,882	14
Bulls	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	739	253.00/cwt	253.00–253.00	1,870	8
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,780	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	2,973	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows6 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,085	129.23/cwt	127.00–131.00	1,402	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,307	128.77/cwt	121.00–137.00	1,683	10
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,446	129.27/cwt	122.00–135.00	1,869	7
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,580	122.49/cwt	122.00–123.00	1,935	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,595	139.49/cwt	137.00–142.00	2,225	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,610	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	2,206	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows2 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	874	191.67/cwt	185.00–193.00	1,675	6
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	912	175.89/cwt	167.00–184.00	1,604	13
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers2 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	852	1,325.15/head	1,100.00–1,750.00	1,325	3
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,150	1,100.00/head	1,100.00–1,100.00	1,100	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 Apr 4, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 4,966Last week 165Year ago 310

Slaughter CattleReceipts 105Last week 328Year ago 410

Replacement CattleReceipts 172Last week 134Year ago 370

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Replacement$ per head · actual wt
370	600–650	630	1,835.00–1,900.00	1,894.59
21	650–700	672	1,910.00	1,910.00
158	700–750	710	1,960.00–2,025.00	2,000.66
141	750–800	789	1,950.00–2,185.00	2,098.47
125	800–850	832	2,200.00–2,210.00	2,203.10
8	850–900	854	2,075.00	2,075.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	300–350	327	326.00–340.00	330.71
33	350–400	385	322.00–344.00	335.15
54	400–450	432	305.00–329.00	316.22
33	450–500	478	282.00–306.00	296.63
90	500–550	527	255.00–280.00	266.35
64	550–600	578	254.00–284.00	272.97
78	600–650	615	257.00–279.00	270.57
38	650–700	676	240.00–262.00	254.65
28	700–750	727	237.00–260.00	246.15
31	750–800	781	234.00–253.00	243.04

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	350–400	357	342.00–350.00	345.23
169	400–450	430	325.00–344.00	333.61
199	450–500	483	313.00–331.00	321.70
100	500–550	521	292.00–320.00	311.82
588	550–600	575	288.00–315.00	299.83
214	600–650	608	277.00–297.00	285.10
166	650–700	673	259.00–290.00	271.43
123	700–750	716	252.00–270.00	264.24
38	750–800	757	246.00–270.00	256.86
7	800–850	808	225.00–237.00	233.54

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	300–350	335	307.00–310.00	308.48
14	350–400	373	310.00–315.00	314.30
24	450–500	485	270.00–290.00	275.21
24	500–550	514	245.00–247.00	245.43
24	550–600	577	237.00–262.00	242.00
11	600–650	621	215.00–250.00	236.73
13	650–700	690	215.00–233.00	227.25
8	750–800	789	200.00–217.00	206.43

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
18	350–400	380	356.00–380.00	367.71
16	400–450	419	340.00–370.00	360.77
32	450–500	471	327.00–373.00	352.15
43	500–550	535	290.00–335.00	317.99
35	550–600	577	306.00–323.00	315.72
24	600–650	645	276.00–298.00	293.26
41	650–700	675	265.00–290.00	276.99
13	700–750	720	241.00–255.00	250.53
17	750–800	786	222.00–234.00	229.27
11	800–850	825	217.00–225.00	221.34
7	900–950	944	214.00–219.00	217.59

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
16	350–400	374	400.00–404.00	401.28
49	400–450	437	382.00–407.00	392.75
75	450–500	469	365.00–386.00	379.56
293	500–550	530	335.00–368.00	352.15
171	550–600	569	320.00–343.00	334.71
419	600–650	627	296.00–324.00	315.18
219	650–700	679	280.00–304.00	297.63
68	700–750	731	262.00–281.00	268.50
107	750–800	789	248.00–258.00	252.20
11	850–900	888	232.00–236.00	234.19

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
87	750–800	750	280.00	280.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	400–450	425	310.00–330.00	318.38
17	450–500	490	312.00–325.00	314.34
20	600–650	607	210.00–220.00	212.59
10	650–700	682	227.00–252.00	239.56
4	750–800	765	208.00–220.00	213.92

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
14	350–400	377	375.00	375.00
43	450–500	476	320.00–340.00	337.65
10	500–550	526	290.00–305.00	291.43
5	550–600	578	275.00–277.00	276.23
8	700–750	739	253.00	253.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
14	600–650	609	309.00	309.00

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
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	13	—	912	167.00–184.00	175.89
(<2 yrs)	Open	6	—	874	185.00–193.00	191.67

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	4	—	1,150	1,100.00	1,100.00
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	3	—	852	1,100.00–1,750.00	1,325.15

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,580	122.00–123.00	122.49
1	—	1,610	137.00	137.00
10	—	1,307	121.00–137.00	128.77

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,595	137.00–142.00	139.49
2	—	1,085	127.00–131.00	129.23

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,446	122.00–135.00	129.27

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,780	167.00	167.00

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.