Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-09-05

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Sep 5
● Final108 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,303 head
▲ 1,038 vs last sale 265▲ 169 vs year ago 1,134 · +14.9%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
353 head
▼ 44 vs last sale 397▼ 109 vs year ago 462 · −23.6%
Replacement Cattle receipts
104 head
▲ 13 vs last sale 91▲ 89 vs year ago 15 · +593.3%
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 last sale to develop any market trend. CME positions continue to see downward pressure and have moved lower since the last reported sale. Feeder prices mirrored the lower movement of feeder contracts. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate for light to moderate offerings. Quality today was mostly average on steers and average to attractive on heifers with several packages of tested open replacement heifers on offer. One full load lot of heifers off grass were seen these offerings were met with mostly good demand. Most cattle were offered in small to moderate size packages. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this week. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-6.00 lower on all classes. Feeding cows sold steady to 5.00 lower. Cow and bull quality was mostly average this week and lower than last sale. Most cows continue to show lighter body condition scores 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. Demand for feeding bulls was slightly lighter this sale as buyers searched for bulls to meet quality and weight requirements. Feeding bulls sold generally steady to weak. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower. 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 classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $257.43/cwt on 55 head. That ranks 1 of 23 comparable sales and sits −154.20 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$257.43
55 head · 572 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,473
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$196
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$14.00/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.00
vs MT average
+16.74 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1591260.501,54032
Medium 1522255.001,33111thin
Medium 1-2584255.001,4897thin
Medium and Large 1-2545246.501,3435thin
One grade step is worth $14.00/cwt here — about $196 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 1100–1200 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 sale55 hd
257.43
—
MT average1 barns · 55 hd
257.43
+0.00
National average148 barns · 7,025 hd
240.69
+16.74
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−154.20
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—Average1,772150.712,67171
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,619134.232,17341
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,425127.181,812104
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,190115.611,376106
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Low1,020115.001,1731thin

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 $/cwt figures above.
ClassStageAgeAvg wt$/headHead
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,098$2,36245

Every lot

108 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 · Steers33 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned258370.00/cwt370.00–370.009556
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned300390.00/cwt390.00–390.001,1701
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned368330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,2142
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned371314.77/cwt309.00–320.001,16810
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned400317.50/cwt317.50–317.501,2701
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned432324.80/cwt324.00–327.501,40317
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned455329.00/cwt329.00–329.001,4976
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned490280.18/cwt275.00–282.001,37322
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned500292.00/cwt292.00–292.001,4602
Steers500–550Large 1-2Unweaned510245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,2502
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned526276.01/cwt260.00–283.001,4529
Steers550–600Medium 1-2553274.00/cwt274.00–274.001,5152
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned589257.50/cwt257.50–257.501,51711
Steers600–650Medium and Large 2Unweaned633233.00/cwt233.00–233.001,4753
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2645254.00/cwt254.00–254.001,6383
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned659249.00/cwt249.00–249.001,6415
Steers650–700Medium 2Unweaned660210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,3864
Steers650–700Medium 1-2673250.49/cwt246.00–257.001,68616
Steers650–700Medium 1695274.50/cwt274.50–274.501,90818
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2729251.50/cwt251.50–251.501,8335
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1739265.00/cwt265.00–265.001,9585
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1776249.15/cwt247.00–256.001,93370
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2793241.00/cwt241.00–241.001,9114
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1814248.82/cwt243.00–250.002,0256
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2831234.47/cwt231.00–237.001,9488
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1858240.93/cwt232.00–243.502,06757
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1-2858228.00/cwt228.00–228.001,9562
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1915228.19/cwt227.00–229.002,08839
Steers900–950Large 1925225.00/cwt225.00–225.002,0816
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1-2935223.20/cwt223.00–223.502,08710
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1974221.76/cwt218.00–223.502,16041
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2993214.00/cwt214.00–214.002,1252
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,027210.00/cwt210.00–210.002,15711
Feeder Cattle · Heifers32 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned255350.00/cwt350.00–350.008935
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned338305.00/cwt305.00–305.001,0313
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned377304.57/cwt300.00–310.001,1488
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned431264.41/cwt263.00–265.001,1407
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned440288.27/cwt286.00–290.001,26830
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned473255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,2063
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2484255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,2346
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned485245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,1882
Heifers500–550Medium 1522255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,33111
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2545246.50/cwt246.50–246.501,3435
Heifers550–600Medium 1-2584255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,4897
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1591260.50/cwt260.00–262.001,54032
Heifers600–650Medium 1626251.24/cwt251.00–253.001,57317
Heifers600–650Large 1-2Unweaned635240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,5242
Heifers650–700Medium 1-2676231.00/cwt231.00–231.001,56215
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1679251.90/cwt250.00–253.501,7109
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1759242.77/cwt234.00–245.001,84315
Heifers750–800Medium 1780222.50/cwt222.50–222.501,73643
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1836228.37/cwt224.50–229.501,90945
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1Full841218.00/cwt218.00–218.001,8338
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2843217.66/cwt216.00–221.001,83521
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2877217.00/cwt217.00–217.001,9035
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1878222.44/cwt218.00–223.001,953275
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1915218.71/cwt217.00–219.502,00114
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2915212.00/cwt212.00–212.001,9402
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1Full930211.86/cwt211.00–212.001,97021
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1970209.17/cwt205.00–215.002,02915
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2995195.00/cwt195.00–195.001,9403
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,021200.73/cwt196.00–208.502,04934
Heifers1050–1100Large 11,078192.74/cwt187.50–201.502,0788
Heifers1100–1150Large 11,125194.00/cwt194.00–194.002,1832
Heifers1100–1150Large 1-21,140160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,8243
Feeder Cattle · Bulls12 lots · lightest first
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned477250.00/cwt250.00–250.001,1933
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned537240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,28912
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1-2810205.00/cwt205.00–205.001,6611
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1873223.00/cwt223.00–223.001,9478
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1-2910212.50/cwt212.50–212.501,9341
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1913215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,9633
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1-2965210.00/cwt210.00–210.002,0271
Bulls1050–1100Large 1-21,085180.00/cwt180.00–180.001,9531
Bulls1050–1100Medium and Large 11,090212.50/cwt212.50–212.502,3161
Bulls1100–1150Large 1-21,120187.50/cwt187.50–187.502,1001
Bulls1150–1200Large 1-21,190185.00/cwt185.00–185.002,2021
Bulls1200–1250Medium and Large 11,200187.00/cwt187.00–187.002,2441
Feeder Cattle · Dairy Steers2 lots · lightest first
Dairy Steers550–600Large 3563167.50/cwt167.50–167.509433
Dairy Steers650–700Large 3678167.00/cwt167.00–167.001,13214
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,534148.94/cwt132.00–154.002,2855
Bulls——Return to Feed1,567158.30/cwt151.00–161.002,4819
Bulls——1,685142.63/cwt127.50–152.002,40328
Bulls——1,925155.79/cwt152.00–162.002,99926
Bulls——2,130167.54/cwt165.00–170.003,5692
Bulls——Heavy Weight2,545152.00/cwt152.00–152.003,8681
Slaughter Cattle · Cows18 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight94597.00/cwt97.00–97.009172
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight965108.97/cwt107.00–111.001,0523
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,118100.28/cwt95.00–103.001,1219
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,206131.80/cwt126.00–135.501,59014
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,206117.23/cwt110.00–123.001,41438
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,209112.29/cwt105.00–116.001,35837
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,278125.56/cwt120.00–131.001,6053
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,405141.13/cwt140.50–142.001,9838
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,408132.94/cwt126.00–139.001,87240
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,420140.00/cwt140.00–140.001,9882
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,420124.20/cwt120.00–125.001,76427
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,424117.43/cwt111.00–122.001,67219
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,485102.18/cwt99.00–105.001,5173
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,535126.97/cwt125.00–133.001,9497
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,589135.68/cwt133.00–138.502,15610
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,629132.23/cwt130.00–133.502,15416
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,641136.14/cwt134.00–138.002,23410
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,725129.84/cwt126.00–132.502,2403
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%1,020115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,1731
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,001167.27/cwt140.00–179.501,67418
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,066165.19/cwt155.00–173.001,76119
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,155134.36/cwt133.00–136.001,5522
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0982,361.87/head2,350.00–2,375.002,36245

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.