Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-10-10

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Oct 10
● Final123 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
2,980 head
▲ 2,563 vs last sale 417▲ 1,168 vs year ago 1,812 · +64.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
267 head
▼ 107 vs last sale 374▲ 119 vs year ago 148 · +80.4%
Replacement Cattle receipts
144 head
▼ 17 vs last sale 161▲ 26 vs year ago 118 · +22.0%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Feeder calves were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on all calves on offer. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly good on both yearling and calves. Offerings were moderate. Spring born calves are approaching prices not seen since the July video sale, with a few eclipsing prices seen this summer. CME positions traded mixed higher today with triple digit gains seen on all contracts through May 2025. Quality today was mixed from plain to attractive. Package sizes were mixed today, however many small packages were seen. A couple light loads were seen today. Market activity was mostly active this sale. A large buyer pool was noticed with many bidders seen both ringside as well as over the internet. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light offerings. Feeding cow demand was mostly good and most cows sold to feeding buyers this week. Packers competed with private feeders as they tried to fill loads for the week. Very few cows were purchased to slaughter this sale. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Cow and bull quality was plain to average. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average today as most cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill. Bull quality this sale was mostly average. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to weak. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 10.00 higher. Demand for rebreed cows was mostly good to very good this sale. 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 $270.85/cwt on 294 head. That ranks 1 of 23 comparable sales and sits −140.77 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$270.85
294 head · 546 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,480
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$80
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1-2
$34.56/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.63
vs MT average
+18.17 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1543275.561,495219
Large 1553261.431,44621
Medium and Large 1-2551259.681,43133
Medium and Large 2505257.501,3001thin
Medium 1568253.211,43812thin
Large 1-2587241.001,4158thin
One grade step is worth $34.56/cwt here — about $80 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 sale294 hd
270.85
—
MT average4 barns · 544 hd
270.22
+0.63
National average183 barns · 16,319 hd
252.68
+18.17
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−140.77
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—Low1,848137.832,54816
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,708123.342,10717
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,424119.301,69880
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,167107.401,25342

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 Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,441$1,8447
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,234$1,8386
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,187$1,8003thin

Every lot

123 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 · Steers43 lots · lightest first
Steers200–250Medium and Large 1Unweaned235445.00/cwt445.00–445.001,0461
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned295417.50/cwt417.50–417.501,2327
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned312397.60/cwt380.00–405.001,24118
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned337412.88/cwt408.00–450.001,39144
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned362371.40/cwt330.00–390.001,34435
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned366405.30/cwt390.00–411.001,48331
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned419355.01/cwt340.00–370.001,48781
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned440327.22/cwt325.00–337.501,44019
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned461305.34/cwt291.00–310.001,40834
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned480328.80/cwt307.00–335.001,578199
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2Unweaned498290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,44414
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned518311.67/cwt304.00–321.501,614105
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2Unweaned519258.79/cwt250.00–266.001,3439
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned529298.60/cwt295.00–302.501,58051
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned579290.60/cwt284.00–304.001,683186
Steers550–600Medium 1580279.00/cwt279.00–279.001,6188
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned582276.07/cwt272.00–277.001,60722
Steers550–600Large 1Unweaned590274.00/cwt274.00–274.001,6173
Steers550–600Medium and Large 2Unweaned595247.00/cwt247.00–247.001,4703
Steers600–650Large 1Unweaned604261.79/cwt260.00–263.001,5815
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned605269.40/cwt269.00–270.001,6305
Steers600–650Large 1606266.00/cwt266.00–266.001,6129
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned618280.02/cwt271.50–291.001,73147
Steers600–650Medium 1645266.00/cwt266.00–266.001,7166
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned655246.00/cwt246.00–246.001,6114
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned663268.64/cwt266.00–270.501,78129
Steers650–700Large 1Unweaned690256.09/cwt255.00–258.001,76711
Steers650–700Medium 1695273.00/cwt273.00–273.001,89715
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2705255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,7982
Steers700–750Medium 1705242.50/cwt242.50–242.501,7101
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1723270.57/cwt268.00–277.001,95635
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1Unweaned724255.74/cwt253.00–256.501,85214
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1Full743260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,93262
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2765254.00/cwt254.00–254.001,9437
Steers750–800Large 1Unweaned775253.00/cwt253.00–253.001,9614
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1787269.72/cwt269.50–272.002,12356
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1815256.06/cwt253.00–257.002,08713
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1Full837248.00/cwt248.00–248.002,0763
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1902249.00/cwt249.00–249.002,24618
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1-2949231.00/cwt231.00–231.002,1924
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2955228.00/cwt228.00–228.002,1774
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1999229.44/cwt228.50–231.002,2928
Steers1150–1200Large 11,185201.00/cwt201.00–201.002,3821
Feeder Cattle · Heifers47 lots · lightest first
Heifers200–250Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned245350.00/cwt350.00–350.008582
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned278372.41/cwt360.00–400.001,03516
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned315351.43/cwt340.00–370.001,10734
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned328332.63/cwt315.00–340.001,09126
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned383333.52/cwt322.50–349.001,27786
Heifers350–400Medium 1Unweaned389324.00/cwt324.00–324.001,26014
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned423316.50/cwt310.00–323.001,33939
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned439297.56/cwt280.00–307.001,30670
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2Unweaned439270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,18510
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Fancy451318.00/cwt318.00–318.001,43431
Heifers450–500Large 1Unweaned454288.00/cwt288.00–288.001,3087
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned468304.69/cwt287.50–316.001,426208
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned479287.95/cwt277.00–290.001,37964
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2487210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,0235
Heifers450–500Medium 1-2499256.00/cwt256.00–256.001,2775
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2Unweaned505257.50/cwt257.50–257.501,3001
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned522281.80/cwt276.00–294.001,471135
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned530265.78/cwt264.00–274.001,40919
Heifers500–550Large 1Unweaned538266.00/cwt266.00–266.001,43113
Heifers550–600Medium 1Unweaned566253.00/cwt253.00–253.001,4327
Heifers550–600Medium 1571253.50/cwt253.50–253.501,4475
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned574265.07/cwt258.50–275.001,52271
Heifers550–600Large 1578254.00/cwt254.00–254.001,4688
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned580251.40/cwt241.00–258.001,45814
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1585268.00/cwt268.00–268.001,56813
Heifers550–600Large 1-2Unweaned587241.00/cwt241.00–241.001,4158
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned617258.30/cwt253.00–262.001,59422
Heifers600–650Medium 1621247.00/cwt247.00–247.001,53410
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1665252.77/cwt252.00–255.001,68120
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Fleshy669222.00/cwt222.00–222.001,4857
Heifers650–700Medium 1686246.25/cwt245.00–247.001,68931
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1725248.50/cwt248.50–248.501,8027
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2756245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,8525
Heifers750–800Medium 1760240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,8247
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1780249.01/cwt246.50–252.001,942113
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1823243.50/cwt243.50–243.502,0048
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy830210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,7433
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1Full843230.50/cwt230.50–230.501,9434
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1881233.00/cwt233.00–233.002,0538
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1Fancy904240.00/cwt240.00–240.002,17021
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1908230.73/cwt224.00–234.502,095110
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2910225.00/cwt225.00–225.002,0482
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1993217.00/cwt217.00–217.002,1557
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,016220.50/cwt220.50–220.502,2407
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 1Full1,043196.00/cwt196.00–196.002,0444
Heifers1050–1100Large 11,095205.00/cwt205.00–205.002,2451
Heifers1150–1200Large 1-21,187184.00/cwt184.00–184.002,1843
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned370345.49/cwt342.50–355.001,2788
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned413336.00/cwt336.00–336.001,3888
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned530306.00/cwt306.00–306.001,62227
Bulls600–650Large 1Unweaned645241.00/cwt241.00–241.001,55412
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1-2662232.50/cwt232.50–232.501,5397
Bulls1250–1300Large 1-21,258171.00/cwt171.00–171.002,1513
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,810134.73/cwt129.00–144.002,43913
Bulls——2,015151.28/cwt147.00–156.003,0483
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight97077.50/cwt77.50–77.507523
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,12077.50/cwt77.50–77.508681
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,154131.87/cwt127.00–138.001,52210
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,17293.69/cwt92.00–95.001,0989
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,203102.14/cwt99.00–115.001,22913
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,208118.51/cwt116.00–124.001,4326
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,336137.94/cwt135.00–143.001,8439
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,416128.80/cwt120.00–135.001,82423
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,427113.05/cwt107.00–120.001,61334
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,43596.48/cwt92.00–103.001,3847
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,535117.26/cwt114.00–118.001,8007
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,570119.50/cwt119.50–119.501,8762
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,600124.00/cwt124.00–124.001,9841
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,732124.60/cwt122.00–129.002,15813
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,785114.00/cwt114.00–114.002,0351
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1572,050.00/head2,050.00–2,050.002,0503
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1871,800.00/head1,800.00–1,800.001,8003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3101,625.00/head1,625.00–1,625.001,6253
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4411,843.51/head1,800.00–1,850.001,8447
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,531106.00/cwt106.00–106.001,6235
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed850190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,61524
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1965194.88/cwt179.00–208.001,88173
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,126144.17/cwt132.50–180.001,62312
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,145133.00/cwt133.00–133.001,5231
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,158140.00/cwt140.00–140.001,6212

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.