Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-09-26

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Sep 26
● Final148 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
2,518 head
▲ 2,297 vs last sale 221▲ 206 vs year ago 2,312 · +8.9%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
354 head
▲ 205 vs last sale 149▲ 7 vs year ago 347 · +2.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
89 head
▲ 28 vs last sale 61▼ 33 vs year ago 122 · −27.0%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Feeder calves were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifer under 850 lbs and steady undertones were noticed on all offerings over 850 lbs. Demand was mostly good for light weight yearlings and mostly moderate for heavyweight yearlings. Demand for spring born calves was mostly moderate to good with the best demand noticed on very light weight calves suitable to develop into yearlings. Many of these offerings outsold their older, heavier weight mates. CME positions posted additional gains today as higher slaughter cattle prices were seen. Quality today was mixed from plain to very attractive. Many sets of yearlings were pushing heavy amounts of fill as warm temperatures were seen today this led to wide price spreads on many weight breaks. Package sizes were mixed this sale with a few loads and part loads noticed. Many small packages and singles were noted as well. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this sale. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand and offerings. Slaughter cows sold sharply lower than last week with all classes 10.00-12.00 lower. Feeding cows sold mostly 4.00-6.00 lower. Cow and bull quality was mixed this sale. Weigh up conditions were mixed today with emptier cows noticed in the morning. Cows and bulls both tanked up as the sale pushed into the morning and temperatures warmed. Bull quality this sale was mostly average. Demand for feeding bulls was light again this sale. Feeding bulls sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand for rebreed cows was mostly good this sale as several young cows were purchased for this purpose. Quality on young age cows was mostly average to attractive.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $246.01/cwt on 79 head. That ranks 1 of 23 comparable sales and sits −165.62 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$246.01
79 head · 551 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,356
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$12
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1
$11.77/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−2.60
vs MT average
+5.92 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1539249.021,34252
Medium 1-2596244.501,45711thin
Medium 1561237.251,33016thin
One grade step is worth $11.77/cwt here — about $12 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 sale79 hd
246.01
—
MT average2 barns · 106 hd
248.61
−2.60
National average173 barns · 10,203 hd
240.09
+5.92
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−165.62
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—Low1,705143.422,44550
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,395123.331,720111
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,569119.901,88148
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,169108.731,27294
Dairy CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,645115.001,8921thin

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)1,333$2,64717
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,568$2,1002thin
Bred Heifers1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)(<2 yrs)1,168$2,6024thin

Every lot

148 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 · Steers47 lots · lightest first
Steers150–200Medium and Large 1Unweaned195470.00/cwt470.00–470.009171
Steers200–250Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned208375.00/cwt375.00–375.007803
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned278457.49/cwt450.00–460.001,27211
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned287390.65/cwt385.00–405.001,12112
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned327350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,1453
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned333366.43/cwt350.00–410.001,22029
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned369301.00/cwt301.00–301.001,1115
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned373330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,2313
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned412316.32/cwt300.00–341.001,30328
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned442282.78/cwt274.00–290.001,25020
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned473284.00/cwt284.00–284.001,3434
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned488290.32/cwt290.00–291.001,4176
Steers450–500Medium 2493245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,2089
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned529281.59/cwt277.00–290.001,49059
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned535268.77/cwt266.00–277.501,4384
Steers500–550Medium 1548280.50/cwt280.50–280.501,53710
Steers550–600Medium 1Unweaned563239.00/cwt239.00–239.001,3469
Steers550–600Medium 2571235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,3424
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned578265.88/cwt260.00–279.001,53727
Steers550–600Medium 1593283.00/cwt283.00–283.001,6786
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned618261.53/cwt251.00–265.001,61649
Steers650–700Medium 1-2660250.95/cwt227.50–259.001,65620
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned668253.12/cwt245.00–265.001,69150
Steers650–700Medium 1675272.50/cwt268.00–274.501,83954
Steers650–700Medium 2684232.50/cwt232.50–232.501,5905
Steers650–700Large 1Full694222.00/cwt222.00–222.001,5414
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1Unweaned711248.00/cwt248.00–248.001,76310
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1719274.42/cwt268.00–276.501,973120
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2746257.00/cwt257.00–257.001,9179
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1758267.55/cwt258.00–269.002,02856
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2770240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,8482
Steers750–800Medium 1783242.00/cwt242.00–242.001,8954
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed821267.00/cwt267.00–267.002,19217
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2825243.24/cwt243.00–244.002,0078
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1830254.06/cwt247.50–261.502,10945
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1-2868233.00/cwt233.00–233.002,0222
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1885238.57/cwt236.00–248.002,11136
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1927226.96/cwt225.75–235.002,10432
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1-2944223.00/cwt223.00–223.002,1059
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1975222.56/cwt220.00–224.752,17055
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,020218.50/cwt218.50–218.502,2295
Steers1000–1050Large 11,038209.00/cwt209.00–209.002,1693
Steers1050–1100Medium and Large 11,092213.07/cwt212.75–217.502,32729
Steers1100–1150Large 11,103214.00/cwt214.00–214.002,36018
Steers1100–1150Large 1-21,123200.00/cwt200.00–200.002,2462
Steers1150–1200Large 1Full1,181202.50/cwt202.50–202.502,39210
Steers1250–1300Large 1Fleshy1,260186.00/cwt186.00–186.002,3442
Feeder Cattle · Heifers57 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Large 1Unweaned283320.00/cwt320.00–320.009062
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned292365.00/cwt365.00–365.001,0663
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned298334.01/cwt325.00–335.0099510
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned323312.50/cwt312.50–312.501,0095
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned329315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,0364
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned388323.35/cwt320.00–340.001,25511
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned395303.33/cwt302.00–305.001,1989
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned400319.51/cwt315.00–333.001,27824
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned427295.00/cwt295.00–295.001,2604
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned466286.83/cwt267.50–297.501,33710
Heifers450–500Medium 1-2496256.00/cwt256.00–256.001,2709
Heifers500–550Medium 1Unweaned502226.00/cwt226.00–226.001,1356
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned518258.40/cwt253.00–260.001,33928
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Full534234.00/cwt234.00–234.001,2505
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned571239.15/cwt236.00–244.001,36619
Heifers550–600Medium 1Unweaned593226.00/cwt226.00–226.001,3404
Heifers550–600Medium 1-2596244.50/cwt244.50–244.501,45711
Heifers550–600Medium 1598256.00/cwt256.00–256.001,5316
Heifers600–650Medium 1-2620244.83/cwt244.00–245.001,51837
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned622233.23/cwt231.00–234.001,45121
Heifers600–650Medium 1633257.00/cwt257.00–257.001,6278
Heifers650–700Medium 1-2654241.20/cwt240.00–243.001,57710
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned662239.00/cwt239.00–239.001,5825
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1672250.00/cwt250.00–250.001,68017
Heifers700–750Medium 1-2703212.50/cwt212.50–212.501,4944
Heifers700–750Medium 1715229.00/cwt229.00–229.001,63725
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1724245.57/cwt243.00–250.001,778116
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1Full730232.50/cwt232.50–232.501,69711
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1Fancy762253.00/cwt253.00–253.001,92842
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1774240.58/cwt230.00–246.001,86296
Heifers800–850Medium 1Fleshy809204.64/cwt202.00–205.001,65635
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1816230.83/cwt228.00–232.501,88450
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1Full833222.00/cwt216.00–222.251,84949
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2834205.36/cwt204.00–210.001,71313
Heifers800–850Medium 1844200.00/cwt200.00–200.001,6887
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1Fleshy858220.50/cwt220.50–220.501,89222
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2862221.50/cwt221.50–221.501,9093
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1Full873217.00/cwt217.00–217.001,89412
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1883224.10/cwt221.50–232.001,97997
Heifers900–950Large 1Full902202.00/cwt202.00–202.001,8223
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1907222.48/cwt216.00–226.002,01896
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2930190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,7671
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2Full937194.00/cwt194.00–194.001,8183
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1Full939208.73/cwt206.50–213.501,96023
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1970211.30/cwt209.00–213.502,05061
Heifers950–1000Large 1981208.00/cwt208.00–208.002,0406
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1Full984207.53/cwt207.50–208.002,04229
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1Fleshy986204.00/cwt204.00–204.002,01110
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 1Full1,025194.00/cwt194.00–194.001,9891
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,034201.11/cwt200.50–203.502,07933
Heifers1050–1100Medium and Large 11,053199.27/cwt199.00–200.002,09815
Heifers1050–1100Large 11,078201.00/cwt201.00–201.002,1672
Heifers1050–1100Large 1Fleshy1,088199.50/cwt199.50–199.502,1714
Heifers1100–1150Large 11,122195.50/cwt195.50–195.502,1947
Heifers1100–1150Large 1Fleshy1,123190.50/cwt190.50–190.502,1394
Heifers1150–1200Large 1Fleshy1,177184.50/cwt184.50–184.502,1726
Heifers1150–1200Large 1Full1,180187.00/cwt187.00–187.002,2072
Feeder Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned415260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,0791
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2Full495231.00/cwt231.00–231.001,14318
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned652230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,5003
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1-2900200.00/cwt200.00–200.001,8002
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1975200.00/cwt200.00–200.001,9501
Bulls1050–1100Medium and Large 11,050182.00/cwt182.00–182.001,9111
Bulls1100–1150Large 11,148184.50/cwt184.50–184.502,1182
Bulls1150–1200Large 1-21,158173.50/cwt173.50–173.502,0093
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,180136.00/cwt136.00–136.001,6051
Bulls——Light Weight1,272129.12/cwt127.00–131.001,6424
Bulls——Return to Feed1,502136.18/cwt126.00–143.002,0459
Bulls——Return to Feed1,666152.49/cwt149.50–153.002,5407
Bulls——1,830153.37/cwt149.00–158.002,80713
Bulls——1,871138.11/cwt123.00–144.002,58415
Bulls——1,935160.00/cwt160.00–160.003,0961
Slaughter Cattle · Cows21 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight87575.00/cwt75.00–75.006561
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight96594.49/cwt94.00–95.009122
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,13880.18/cwt60.00–86.009129
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,162107.31/cwt103.00–110.001,24723
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,163127.60/cwt126.00–129.001,48410
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,18096.05/cwt92.00–105.001,13311
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,193119.29/cwt117.00–125.001,42328
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,214109.41/cwt108.00–115.001,32810
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,371123.81/cwt116.00–127.501,69758
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,388113.69/cwt113.00–117.001,5789
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,395107.59/cwt98.00–111.001,5016
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,39589.67/cwt84.00–95.001,2513
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,402132.69/cwt129.50–133.001,86013
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,449132.73/cwt129.00–135.001,92318
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,460117.59/cwt116.00–119.501,7172
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,488114.25/cwt114.00–115.001,7004
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,553119.87/cwt118.00–121.001,86238
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,575125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,9691
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,577115.93/cwt114.00–117.001,8283
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,705123.50/cwt123.50–123.502,1062
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,828122.50/cwt122.50–122.502,2392
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,645115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,8921
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1969177.59/cwt157.00–198.001,72120
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,051161.28/cwt133.50–182.001,69522
Stock Cows—Large 11,267137.28/cwt136.00–140.001,7393
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1442,083.61/head1,900.00–2,225.002,0845
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Registered1,4122,882.02/head2,850.00–2,900.002,88212
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5682,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1002
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,1682,602.46/head2,550.00–2,650.002,6024

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.