Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-08-22

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2024-08-22
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-08-22

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Aug 22

● Final79 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Aug 8Aug 22Sep 5 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

265 head

▲ 75 vs last sale 190▼ 38 vs year ago 303 · −12.5%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

397 head

▼ 135 vs last sale 532▼ 4 vs year ago 401 · −1.0%

Replacement Cattle receipts

91 head

▲ 33 vs last sale 58▲ 63 vs year ago 28 · +225.0%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower to sharply lower undertones were noticed. CME positions have traded sharply lower since the last sale and feeder prices mirrored the lower movement of feeder contracts. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly light to moderate for light offerings. Quality today was mostly plain to average on steers and average to attractive on heifers with several packages of tested open yearling heifers on offer. Most feeders were offered in small groups with many singles noted as well. Demand for cutting bulls remains very good with several buyers looking for this class of cattle. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold generally steady to weak on boning and lean cows, breaking cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher. Feeding cows sold on lighter demand this week as fewer buyers were in the market actively bidding on offerings. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-4.00 lower. Cow quality was mostly average this week and lower than last week. Most cows and bulls are starting to show significantly lighter body condition as dry weather and big calves are pulling cows down. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week with many very full cows noticed. Bull quality this sale was mostly average. Many bulls have been turned out and were in light flesh. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested this sale to develop any market trend. Quality was mostly average this week.

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 $231.07/cwt on 16 head. That ranks 1 of 23 comparable sales and sits −180.55 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.

Average price

$231.07

16 head · 540 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,247

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$308

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

$40.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+0.00

vs MT average

−13.34 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	559	245.00	1,370	4thin
Medium 1-2	536	230.71	1,237	10thin
Medium 2	518	205.00	1,062	2thin

One grade step is worth $40.00/cwt here — about $308 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 400–500 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 sale16 hd

231.07

—

MT average1 barns · 16 hd

231.07

+0.00

National average171 barns · 9,778 hd

244.41

−13.34

This barn, trailing median23 sales

411.62

−180.55

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	1,757	157.03	2,759	109
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,599	141.42	2,261	12
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,421	134.26	1,908	96
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,184	124.31	1,472	96

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	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,330	$2,200	2thin

Every lot

79 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 · Steers16 lots · lightest first
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	457	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,234	12
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	536	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,286	11
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	538	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,399	2
Steers	550–600	Medium 1-2	588	242.50/cwt	242.50–242.50	1,426	2
Steers	600–650	Medium 1	645	254.00/cwt	254.00–254.00	1,638	6
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	662	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,721	3
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	683	227.00/cwt	227.00–227.00	1,550	5
Steers	650–700	Medium 1	688	231.00/cwt	231.00–231.00	1,589	2
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	715	253.00/cwt	253.00–253.00	1,809	1
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	719	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,726	9
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 2	720	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	1,699	4
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	755	244.00/cwt	243.00–244.50	1,842	3
Steers	900–950	Medium and Large 1	923	228.00/cwt	228.00–228.00	2,104	2
Steers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	925	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	2,058	1
Steers	1150–1200	Large 1	1,192	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	2,193	5
Steers	1200–1250	Large 1	1,205	186.00/cwt	186.00–186.00	2,241	1
Feeder Cattle · Heifers17 lots · lightest first
Heifers	400–450	Medium 2Unweaned	418	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	794	3
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	431	237.00/cwt	237.00–237.00	1,021	7
Heifers	500–550	Medium 2	518	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	1,062	2
Heifers	500–550	Medium 1-2	536	230.71/cwt	230.00–232.50	1,237	10
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	559	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,370	4
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	630	242.00/cwt	242.00–242.00	1,525	4
Heifers	650–700	Medium 1	687	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,614	16
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	726	224.00/cwt	224.00–224.00	1,626	8
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	781	217.00/cwt	217.00–217.00	1,695	4
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	838	213.00/cwt	213.00–213.00	1,785	2
Heifers	850–900	Medium and Large 1	884	211.79/cwt	209.50–213.50	1,872	10
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1	932	208.00/cwt	208.00–208.00	1,939	12
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	940	201.00/cwt	201.00–201.00	1,889	1
Heifers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1Full	993	197.50/cwt	197.50–197.50	1,961	4
Heifers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	997	202.00/cwt	202.00–202.00	2,014	10
Heifers	1000–1050	Medium and Large 1	1,010	201.11/cwt	193.00–204.00	2,031	10
Heifers	1050–1100	Large 1	1,081	196.21/cwt	192.00–200.00	2,121	9
Feeder Cattle · Bulls15 lots · lightest first
Bulls	300–350	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	303	327.50/cwt	327.50–327.50	992	2
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	565	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,413	3
Bulls	700–750	Large 2	705	197.00/cwt	197.00–197.00	1,389	3
Bulls	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	776	232.50/cwt	232.50–232.50	1,804	4
Bulls	800–850	Medium and Large 1	825	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	1,836	1
Bulls	850–900	Medium and Large 1	877	220.71/cwt	217.00–224.00	1,936	5
Bulls	900–950	Medium and Large 1	945	209.00/cwt	209.00–209.00	1,975	1
Bulls	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	945	201.00/cwt	201.00–201.00	1,899	1
Bulls	950–1000	Medium and Large 1-2	955	202.00/cwt	202.00–202.00	1,929	1
Bulls	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	981	207.00/cwt	207.00–207.00	2,031	5
Bulls	1000–1050	Medium and Large 1Fancy	1,013	216.00/cwt	216.00–216.00	2,188	5
Bulls	1000–1050	Medium and Large 1-2	1,015	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	1,903	1
Bulls	1000–1050	Medium and Large 1	1,025	202.00/cwt	202.00–202.00	2,071	1
Bulls	1050–1100	Medium and Large 1	1,093	194.49/cwt	193.00–205.00	2,126	8
Bulls	1100–1150	Large 1	1,120	195.00/cwt	195.00–195.00	2,184	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,554	147.87/cwt	140.00–156.00	2,298	17
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,592	158.41/cwt	153.00–165.00	2,522	27
Bulls	—	—	1,717	149.39/cwt	132.00–155.00	2,565	18
Bulls	—	—	1,833	169.80/cwt	168.00–172.00	3,112	4
Bulls	—	—	1,934	162.04/cwt	154.50–167.50	3,134	42
Bulls	—	—Heavy Weight	2,650	151.00/cwt	151.00–151.00	4,002	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows20 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	955	130.00/cwt	130.00–130.00	1,242	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	959	113.00/cwt	113.00–113.00	1,084	4
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,073	99.46/cwt	90.00–107.00	1,067	7
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,149	129.54/cwt	126.00–138.00	1,488	6
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,162	122.29/cwt	118.00–124.00	1,421	29
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,218	141.42/cwt	141.00–143.00	1,722	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,219	121.35/cwt	116.00–124.00	1,479	14
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,253	130.87/cwt	125.00–138.00	1,640	30
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,398	139.17/cwt	134.00–144.00	1,946	40
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,409	123.63/cwt	119.00–132.00	1,742	13
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,416	146.35/cwt	145.00–150.00	2,072	8
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,419	123.72/cwt	115.00–127.50	1,756	21
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,485	148.21/cwt	145.00–152.00	2,201	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,509	137.45/cwt	129.00–142.00	2,074	12
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,555	152.50/cwt	152.50–152.50	2,371	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,563	133.00/cwt	133.00–133.00	2,079	4
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,595	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	2,377	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,605	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	2,247	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,618	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	2,346	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,647	144.51/cwt	143.50–145.00	2,380	3
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	968	166.33/cwt	163.00–172.50	1,610	4
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,090	168.28/cwt	141.00–179.00	1,834	47
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,100	141.32/cwt	141.00–142.00	1,555	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,214	150.34/cwt	143.00–157.00	1,825	8
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,330	2,200.00/head	2,200.00–2,200.00	2,200	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 Aug 22, 2024

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

Feeder CattleReceipts 265Last week 190Year ago 303

Slaughter CattleReceipts 397Last week 532Year ago 401

Replacement CattleReceipts 91Last week 58Year ago 28

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	600–650	645	254.00	254.00
2	650–700	688	231.00	231.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	650–700	662	260.00	260.00
1	700–750	715	253.00	253.00
2	900–950	923	228.00	228.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	500–550	538	260.00	260.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	700–750	719	240.00	240.00
3	750–800	755	243.00–244.50	244.00
1	900–950	925	222.50	222.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
12	450–500	457	270.00	270.00
11	500–550	536	240.00	240.00
5	650–700	683	227.00	227.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	700–750	720	236.00	236.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
5	1150–1200	1,192	184.00	184.00
1	1200–1250	1,205	186.00	186.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	550–600	588	242.50	242.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	800–850	825	222.50	222.50
5	850–900	877	217.00–224.00	220.71
1	900–950	945	209.00	209.00
5	950–1000	981	207.00	207.00
1	1000–1050	1,025	202.00	202.00
8	1050–1100	1,093	193.00–205.00	194.49

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
5	1000–1050	1,013	216.00	216.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	550–600	565	250.00	250.00
4	750–800	776	232.50	232.50
1	900–950	945	201.00	201.00
1	950–1000	955	202.00	202.00
1	1000–1050	1,015	187.50	187.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
2	300–350	303	327.50	327.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	700–750	705	197.00	197.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1100–1150	1,120	195.00	195.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
4	950–1000	993	197.50	197.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	900–950	940	201.00	201.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	600–650	630	242.00	242.00
8	700–750	726	224.00	224.00
4	750–800	781	217.00	217.00
2	800–850	838	213.00	213.00
10	850–900	884	209.50–213.50	211.79
12	900–950	932	208.00	208.00
10	950–1000	997	202.00	202.00
10	1000–1050	1,010	193.00–204.00	201.11

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	500–550	518	205.00	205.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	400–450	418	190.00	190.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	500–550	536	230.00–232.50	230.71

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
16	650–700	687	235.00	235.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	1050–1100	1,081	192.00–200.00	196.21

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
7	400–450	431	237.00	237.00
4	550–600	559	245.00	245.00

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	3	—	1,100	141.00–142.00	141.32
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	968	163.00–172.50	166.33

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	8	—	1,214	143.00–157.00	150.34
(<2 yrs)	Open	47	—	1,090	141.00–179.00	168.28

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)	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	2	—	1,330	2,200.00	2,200.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
13	—	1,409	119.00–132.00	123.63
8	—	1,416	145.00–150.00	146.35
40	—	1,398	134.00–144.00	139.17

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
21	—	1,419	115.00–127.50	123.72
12	—	1,509	129.00–142.00	137.45
2	—	1,485	145.00–152.00	148.21

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,218	141.00–143.00	141.42
6	—	1,149	126.00–138.00	129.54
14	—	1,219	116.00–124.00	121.35
7	—	1,073	90.00–107.00	99.46

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
29	—	1,162	118.00–124.00	122.29
30	—	1,253	125.00–138.00	130.87

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,595	149.00	149.00
4	—	1,563	133.00	133.00
2	—	1,618	145.00	145.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,605	140.00	140.00
3	—	1,647	143.50–145.00	144.51
1	—	1,555	152.50	152.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	959	113.00	113.00
1	—	955	130.00	130.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,650	151.00	151.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,833	168.00–172.00	169.80
42	—	1,934	154.50–167.50	162.04
18	—	1,717	132.00–155.00	149.39

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
27	—	1,592	153.00–165.00	158.41
17	—	1,554	140.00–156.00	147.87

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.