Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-10-17

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Oct 17
● Final101 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
4,775 head
▲ 1,795 vs last sale 2,980▲ 869 vs year ago 3,906 · +22.2%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
193 head
▼ 74 vs last sale 267▼ 28 vs year ago 221 · −12.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
65 head
▼ 79 vs last sale 144▼ 97 vs year ago 162 · −59.9%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Feeder steer calves sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher, with the exception of 500-549 lbs steers which sold steady to 5.00 lower. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly 5.00 higher, heifer calves over 450 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on a larger offering. Demand was mostly good on both yearlings and calves. Offerings were moderate. Lots of packages of calves sold today with lots of quality variation seen. Demand did improve as the sale progressed and more buyers started loads. CME positions traded near steady today with the front two months selling firm and the differed months trading weak. Quality today was mixed from plain to attractive. Most load lots on offer today were yearling cattle. Market activity was mostly active this sale. A large buyer pool was noticed again this week with many bidders seen both ringside as well as over the internet. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light offerings. Most cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill today. Fleshy breaking cows sold with the best demand as both feeding and slaughter buyers competed over these offerings. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on limited offerings. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher. Cow and bull quality was plain to average. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average today. Bull quality this sale was mostly average. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality was mostly plain to average today.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $297.43/cwt on 766 head. That ranks 1 of 22 comparable sales and sits −145.52 against this barn's trailing median of $442.94.
Average price
$297.43
766 head · 541 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,610
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$340
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$50.32/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−1.42
vs MT average
−1.90 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1542300.321,627652
Medium and Large 1-2534286.271,52991
Medium 1597270.001,61211thin
Medium and Large 2515250.001,28812thin
One grade step is worth $50.32/cwt here — about $340 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 sale766 hd
297.43
—
MT average5 barns · 2,175 hd
298.85
−1.42
National average188 barns · 32,793 hd
299.33
−1.90
This barn, trailing median22 sales
442.94
−145.52
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

22 sales
540488436384median 442.9403/0504/3006/1109/2410/29
Steers 500–600 lb: high $525.97, low $398.08, median $442.94 across 22 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—Low1,714139.272,38750
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,716138.282,37320
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,354121.881,65049
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,170102.271,19745

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 Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,233$2,1002thin

Every lot

101 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 · Steers44 lots · lightest first
Steers200–250Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned248445.00/cwt445.00–445.001,1046
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned277432.86/cwt432.50–450.001,19947
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned287421.63/cwt420.00–425.001,2103
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned327426.42/cwt415.00–432.501,39430
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned338384.93/cwt382.50–410.001,30136
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned371403.35/cwt390.00–417.501,496112
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned387362.57/cwt340.00–387.501,40377
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned425374.02/cwt354.00–400.001,590167
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2Unweaned431290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,2507
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned432348.00/cwt348.00–348.001,50320
Steers400–450Medium 2Unweaned436260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,13413
Steers400–450Medium 1-2Unweaned449312.50/cwt312.50–312.501,40310
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned467331.78/cwt314.00–356.001,549254
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2467282.50/cwt282.50–282.501,3193
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1470321.41/cwt306.00–343.001,51123
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2Unweaned490260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,2745
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned493292.45/cwt285.00–295.001,44294
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1502308.00/cwt308.00–308.001,54631
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2Unweaned515250.00/cwt250.00–250.001,28812
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned525305.66/cwt294.50–313.001,605328
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned534286.27/cwt275.00–294.001,52991
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned565293.53/cwt287.00–298.751,658293
Steers550–600Medium 1Unweaned597270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,61211
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned629284.09/cwt275.00–290.001,787118
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Fancy633300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,8994
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned633267.36/cwt262.00–268.001,6929
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1643280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,80025
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned662276.06/cwt266.00–285.001,828110
Steers650–700Medium 1688265.00/cwt265.00–265.001,8234
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Fleshy692257.00/cwt257.00–257.001,77811
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1706274.00/cwt274.00–274.001,93435
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1Unweaned733255.76/cwt247.00–263.001,87517
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1762258.00/cwt258.00–258.001,96619
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2763249.89/cwt247.00–250.001,90756
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1Unweaned783252.00/cwt252.00–252.001,9738
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1843257.06/cwt253.00–258.002,167106
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1850254.00/cwt254.00–254.002,1591
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1Unweaned857244.00/cwt244.00–244.002,0915
Steers850–900Large 1862244.00/cwt244.00–244.002,10313
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1-2862242.50/cwt242.50–242.502,0903
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2960225.00/cwt225.00–225.002,1602
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1974240.00/cwt236.50–240.252,338245
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,011218.00/cwt218.00–218.002,2044
Steers1100–1150Large 11,120215.25/cwt215.25–215.252,41124
Feeder Cattle · Heifers33 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned287383.15/cwt381.00–390.001,10023
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned310363.93/cwt347.50–370.001,12824
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned346330.76/cwt330.00–335.001,14426
Heifers350–400Medium 1Unweaned372313.00/cwt313.00–313.001,16413
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned374310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,1594
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned377338.69/cwt331.00–345.001,277127
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2410310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,2714
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned423319.37/cwt308.00–330.001,351158
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2Unweaned429283.79/cwt282.50–285.001,21710
Heifers400–450Medium 1Unweaned433303.89/cwt300.00–307.501,31634
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned444294.55/cwt293.00–305.001,30864
Heifers450–500Medium 1Unweaned473282.00/cwt282.00–282.001,3342
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned478278.87/cwt260.00–286.001,33342
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned481302.03/cwt293.00–310.501,453216
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned517285.51/cwt270.00–295.001,476253
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned536267.00/cwt267.00–267.001,4316
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1546265.00/cwt265.00–265.001,4479
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned570267.51/cwt261.00–273.501,525131
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned607258.25/cwt252.00–261.001,56847
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1625259.25/cwt258.00–264.001,62014
Heifers600–650Medium 1646245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,5837
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned662249.49/cwt247.00–250.001,65219
Heifers650–700Medium 1Thin Fleshed691255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,76222
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1752243.75/cwt242.00–246.001,83348
Heifers750–800Large 1764241.00/cwt241.00–241.001,8415
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1864234.50/cwt234.50–234.502,02663
Heifers900–950Large 1908235.75/cwt235.75–235.752,14188
Heifers950–1000Large 1999222.00/cwt222.00–222.002,21818
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,043211.00/cwt211.00–211.002,20110
Heifers1000–1050Large 11,045208.00/cwt208.00–208.002,1742
Heifers1050–1100Large 11,051207.75/cwt205.00–210.002,18310
Heifers1050–1100Large 1Full1,096190.00/cwt190.00–190.002,0825
Heifers1250–1300Large 11,266192.00/cwt192.00–192.002,4315
Feeder Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned373375.00/cwt375.00–375.001,3995
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned451280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,2635
Bulls1200–1250Large 1Fleshy1,210160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,9363
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,629134.80/cwt132.00–139.002,19623
Bulls——1,679150.00/cwt150.00–150.002,5196
Bulls——1,816141.11/cwt135.00–144.002,56321
Slaughter Cattle · Cows12 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight99887.00/cwt87.00–87.008684
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,11595.21/cwt93.00–97.001,06210
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,19887.00/cwt87.00–87.001,0426
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,202126.00/cwt126.00–126.001,5153
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,215109.18/cwt91.00–116.001,32722
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,346124.90/cwt116.00–132.001,68134
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,370113.17/cwt108.00–115.501,55014
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,395141.00/cwt141.00–141.001,9671
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,601137.00/cwt137.00–137.002,19311
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,733132.00/cwt132.00–132.002,2883
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,890130.00/cwt130.00–130.002,4571
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,925146.50/cwt146.50–146.502,8205
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2332,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1002
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,447117.00/cwt117.00–117.001,6933
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2935143.73/cwt140.00–150.001,3449
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1962156.03/cwt136.00–171.001,50135
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1965184.07/cwt145.00–190.001,7769
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2970152.78/cwt142.00–167.501,4822

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.