Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-05-23

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2024-05-23
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-05-23

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, May 23

● Final83 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← May 16May 23May 30 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

391 head

▲ 74 vs last sale 317▼ 928 vs year ago 1,319 · −70.4%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

453 head

▼ 258 vs last sale 711▲ 224 vs year ago 229 · +97.8%

Replacement Cattle receipts

219 head

▼ 296 vs last sale 515▲ 16 vs year ago 203 · +7.9%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for feeders was mostly moderate to good despite light offerings. Quality was mostly plain to average today. Most feeders were offered in small packages or as singles. CME Feeder and live cattle contracts closed slightly lower today. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for moderate offerings. Packers showed good demand for all cows on offer. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on all cows on offer. Feeding cows sold steady boning and breaking flesh cows. Thin fleshed cows sold steady to weak with fewer buyers this week buying thin fleshed cows. Quality was mostly average to very attractive this week. Private feeding cow buyers were very aggressive again this week as the bid against packer buyers over high quality offerings. Packers purchased more cows to feed this week as they are starting to put cows away for the 4th of July holiday. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average as many cows which were out on grass were very empty come sale time. Slaughter bulls sold unevenly steady. Bull quality was mostly attractive today. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Quality was mostly attractive to very attractive this week. Demand was mostly good to very good with the best demand seen for cows which lost calves.

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 $230.14/cwt on 21 head. That ranks 1 of 23 comparable sales and sits −181.48 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.

Average price

$230.14

21 head · 549 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,264

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$721

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

$133.88/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−23.10

vs MT average

−46.32 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	545	283.88	1,547	9thin
Medium and Large 2	553	248.00	1,371	3thin
Medium 1-2	558	242.00	1,350	2thin
Medium 2	551	150.00	827	7thin

One grade step is worth $133.88/cwt here — about $721 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 sale21 hd

230.14

—

MT average2 barns · 33 hd

253.24

−23.10

National average163 barns · 12,702 hd

276.46

−46.32

This barn, trailing median23 sales

411.62

−181.48

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	—	Average	1,789	154.12	2,757	65
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,635	139.89	2,287	23
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,438	137.14	1,971	211
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,202	124.47	1,496	137
Dairy Bulls	—	Low	920	110.00	1,012	1thin

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)	1,350	$2,344	3thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,360	$2,250	2thin
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,138	$2,253	2thin

Every lot

83 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 · Steers13 lots · lightest first
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	459	334.00/cwt	334.00–334.00	1,533	7
Steers	450–500	Large 2	498	182.50/cwt	182.50–182.50	909	8
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	513	302.92/cwt	291.00–325.00	1,554	3
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	524	341.00/cwt	341.00–341.00	1,787	4
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	565	296.41/cwt	292.00–310.00	1,675	6
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	586	332.00/cwt	332.00–332.00	1,946	30
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	662	286.68/cwt	280.00–300.00	1,898	6
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	665	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,729	1
Steers	750–800	Medium 2	752	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	1,361	3
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	767	257.00/cwt	257.00–257.00	1,971	10
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	779	251.00/cwt	251.00–251.00	1,955	5
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 2	817	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	1,818	3
Steers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	998	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	2,246	3
Feeder Cattle · Heifers20 lots · lightest first
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	350	311.00/cwt	311.00–311.00	1,089	4
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 2	431	297.50/cwt	297.50–297.50	1,282	6
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	478	292.50/cwt	292.50–292.50	1,398	4
Heifers	450–500	Medium 2	480	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	888	3
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	521	294.57/cwt	287.50–296.00	1,535	6
Heifers	550–600	Medium 2	551	150.00/cwt	150.00–150.00	827	7
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 2	553	248.00/cwt	248.00–248.00	1,371	3
Heifers	550–600	Medium 1-2	558	242.00/cwt	242.00–242.00	1,350	2
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	593	262.50/cwt	262.50–262.50	1,557	3
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	618	279.00/cwt	279.00–279.00	1,724	6
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	626	259.97/cwt	259.00–269.00	1,627	10
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 2	640	227.50/cwt	227.50–227.50	1,456	6
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	681	250.92/cwt	242.00–260.50	1,709	21
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	738	247.50/cwt	247.50–247.50	1,827	19
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	738	238.00/cwt	238.00–238.00	1,756	6
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	767	239.00/cwt	239.00–239.00	1,833	3
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 2	786	221.00/cwt	221.00–221.00	1,737	13
Heifers	850–900	Medium and Large 1-2	865	217.50/cwt	217.50–217.50	1,881	1
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	907	216.00/cwt	216.00–216.00	1,959	19
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	948	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,896	2
Feeder Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	350	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,190	2
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	566	272.53/cwt	270.00–277.50	1,543	6
Bulls	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	664	247.50/cwt	247.50–247.50	1,643	4
Bulls	800–850	Medium and Large 1-2	813	232.50/cwt	232.50–232.50	1,890	4
Bulls	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	980	216.50/cwt	215.00–218.00	2,122	2
Bulls	1100–1150	Large 1	1,100	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	2,244	2
Bulls	1200–1250	Large 1	1,205	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	2,259	1
Bulls	1250–1300	Large 1	1,280	172.50/cwt	172.50–172.50	2,208	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Light Weight	1,320	135.00/cwt	135.00–135.00	1,782	1
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,323	148.26/cwt	145.00–151.00	1,961	5
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,525	141.41/cwt	138.00–143.00	2,157	7
Bulls	—	—	1,568	135.48/cwt	127.00–141.00	2,124	6
Bulls	—	—	1,740	144.00/cwt	144.00–144.00	2,506	1
Bulls	—	—	1,797	156.25/cwt	148.00–160.00	2,808	22
Bulls	—	—	2,020	163.60/cwt	160.00–169.00	3,305	22
Bulls	—	—Heavy Weight	2,565	158.00/cwt	158.00–158.00	4,053	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows21 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	935	111.77/cwt	107.50–116.00	1,045	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	980	134.00/cwt	134.00–134.00	1,313	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,130	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	961	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,131	115.43/cwt	104.00–121.00	1,306	26
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,211	126.87/cwt	121.00–132.00	1,536	14
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,216	119.26/cwt	111.00–123.00	1,450	16
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,230	128.80/cwt	124.00–133.00	1,584	62
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,248	136.13/cwt	133.00–139.00	1,699	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,260	136.01/cwt	134.50–142.00	1,714	11
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,349	126.04/cwt	125.00–127.00	1,700	10
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,413	135.45/cwt	129.00–140.00	1,914	78
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,452	132.97/cwt	127.00–139.00	1,931	30
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,454	141.92/cwt	140.00–145.50	2,064	86
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,530	143.00/cwt	143.00–143.00	2,188	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,530	132.00/cwt	132.00–132.00	2,020	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,567	139.41/cwt	138.00–141.00	2,185	10
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,572	142.36/cwt	140.00–146.50	2,238	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,574	122.61/cwt	117.00–125.00	1,930	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,658	143.47/cwt	142.50–145.50	2,379	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,675	146.00/cwt	146.00–146.00	2,446	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,909	135.74/cwt	135.00–136.00	2,591	4
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Bulls	—	—Light Weight	920	110.00/cwt	110.00–110.00	1,012	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,350	2,343.84/head	2,250.00–2,385.00	2,344	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,360	2,250.00/head	2,250.00–2,250.00	2,250	2
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows9 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1Thin Fleshed	793	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	1,269	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	888	189.73/cwt	182.00–200.00	1,685	6
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	904	175.66/cwt	171.00–180.00	1,588	29
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1-2	910	155.00/cwt	155.00–155.00	1,411	1
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1-2	959	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,247	6
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	996	201.36/cwt	156.00–232.00	2,006	51
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,076	173.82/cwt	137.00–224.00	1,870	56
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,077	149.89/cwt	132.00–181.00	1,614	9
Stock Cows	—	Large 1	1,300	142.00/cwt	142.00–142.00	1,846	1
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	1,138	2,252.69/head	2,150.00–2,325.00	2,253	2

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 May 23, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 391Last week 317Year ago 1,319

Slaughter CattleReceipts 453Last week 711Year ago 229

Replacement CattleReceipts 219Last week 515Year ago 203

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
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	3	—	1,350	2,250.00–2,385.00	2,343.84
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,360	2,250.00	2,250.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	56	—	1,076	137.00–224.00	173.82
(<2 yrs)	Open	51	—	996	156.00–232.00	201.36

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	29	—	904	171.00–180.00	175.66

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	9	—	1,077	132.00–181.00	149.89
(<2 yrs)	Open	6	—	888	182.00–200.00	189.73

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	1,300	142.00	142.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1 · Thin Fleshed$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	793	160.00	160.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	6	—	959	130.00	130.00
(<2 yrs)	Open	1	—	910	155.00	155.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	2	—	1,138	2,150.00–2,325.00	2,252.69

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	950–1000	980	215.00–218.00	216.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	350–400	350	340.00	340.00
6	550–600	566	270.00–277.50	272.53
4	650–700	664	247.50	247.50
4	800–850	813	232.50	232.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	1100–1150	1,100	204.00	204.00
1	1200–1250	1,205	187.50	187.50
1	1250–1300	1,280	172.50	172.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	500–550	524	341.00	341.00
30	550–600	586	332.00	332.00
6	650–700	662	280.00–300.00	286.68
10	750–800	767	257.00	257.00
3	950–1000	998	225.00	225.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	450–500	459	334.00	334.00
3	500–550	513	291.00–325.00	302.92
6	550–600	565	292.00–310.00	296.41
1	650–700	665	260.00	260.00
5	750–800	779	251.00	251.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	800–850	817	222.50	222.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	750–800	752	181.00	181.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	450–500	498	182.50	182.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
2	900–950	948	200.00	200.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	600–650	618	279.00	279.00
19	700–750	738	247.50	247.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	350–400	350	311.00	311.00
4	450–500	478	292.50	292.50
6	500–550	521	287.50–296.00	294.57
3	550–600	593	262.50	262.50
10	600–650	626	259.00–269.00	259.97
21	650–700	681	242.00–260.50	250.92
6	700–750	738	238.00	238.00
3	750–800	767	239.00	239.00
1	850–900	865	217.50	217.50
19	900–950	907	216.00	216.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	550–600	558	242.00	242.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	450–500	480	185.00	185.00
7	550–600	551	150.00	150.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
6	400–450	431	297.50	297.50
3	550–600	553	248.00	248.00
6	600–650	640	227.50	227.50
13	750–800	786	221.00	221.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,740	144.00	144.00
6	—	1,568	127.00–141.00	135.48
22	—	2,020	160.00–169.00	163.60
22	—	1,797	148.00–160.00	156.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	1,525	138.00–143.00	141.41
5	—	1,323	145.00–151.00	148.26

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,320	135.00	135.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,565	158.00	158.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	935	107.50–116.00	111.77
1	—	980	134.00	134.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
62	—	1,230	124.00–133.00	128.80
11	—	1,260	134.50–142.00	136.01
16	—	1,216	111.00–123.00	119.26

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,909	135.00–136.00	135.74
3	—	1,658	142.50–145.50	143.47
10	—	1,567	138.00–141.00	139.41

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	1,131	104.00–121.00	115.43
2	—	1,248	133.00–139.00	136.13
14	—	1,211	121.00–132.00	126.87
3	—	1,130	85.00	85.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,530	132.00	132.00
1	—	1,675	146.00	146.00
4	—	1,530	143.00	143.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
30	—	1,452	127.00–139.00	132.97
4	—	1,574	117.00–125.00	122.61
3	—	1,572	140.00–146.50	142.36

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
86	—	1,454	140.00–145.50	141.92
10	—	1,349	125.00–127.00	126.04
78	—	1,413	129.00–140.00	135.45

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Bulls — Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	920	110.00	110.00

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.