Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-10-31

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Oct 31
● Final111 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
4,598 head
▲ 1,557 vs last sale 3,041▲ 1,144 vs year ago 3,454 · +33.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
209 head
▼ 83 vs last sale 292▼ 25 vs year ago 234 · −10.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
88 head
▼ 54 vs last sale 142▲ 3 vs year ago 85 · +3.5%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Feeder steer calves under 400 lbs sold generally steady, steer calves 400-499 lbs sold 5.00 to 12.00 higher, steer calves over 500 lbs sold generally steady. Heifer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher, heifer calves 450-499 lbs sold fully steady, 500-599 lbs heifers sold generally steady to 5.00 lower; Heifer calves over 600 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers sold steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Demand was mostly good on both yearling and calves. Offerings were moderate to heavy. Most yearlings sold in load lots today. Demand was good as a result. Many small packages of calves continue to be seen. No load lots of calves sold this week. Quality today was mostly average to attractive for calves and yearlings. Quality was more attractive this week compared to last week. Large packages of calves sold with the best demand while small packages sold with a discount. Market activity was mostly active this sale. Todays buyer pool was larger than last week. Bidding was active both ringside as well as over the internet. Weigh up cows sold on light demand and offerings. Most cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill today. Slaughter cows sold lower as all cows were extremely full. Feeding cows sold mostly with the best demand. Feeding cows sold mostly steady on like quality offerings. Cow and bull quality was plain. Many thin cows were seen this week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly plain to average today. Buyers were more reserved as they bid on young cows as they accounted for excess fill.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $268.92/cwt on 380 head. That ranks 1 of 23 comparable sales and sits −142.71 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$268.92
380 head · 550 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,479
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$112
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1-2
$18.06/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−3.36
vs MT average
+8.46 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1550272.061,496313
Medium and Large 1-2556254.431,41534
Medium 1-2545254.001,38433
One grade step is worth $18.06/cwt here — about $112 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 sale380 hd
268.92
—
MT average5 barns · 1,135 hd
272.28
−3.36
National average194 barns · 26,693 hd
260.46
+8.46
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−142.71
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—Low1,806132.822,3996thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,730114.001,9721thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,384109.841,52150
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,131103.781,174110

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 Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,172$2,3504thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,042$1,9005
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,128$1,8003thin

Every lot

111 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 · Steers38 lots · lightest first
Steers200–250Medium and Large 1Unweaned241475.00/cwt475.00–475.001,1454
Steers200–250Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned245440.00/cwt440.00–440.001,0781
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned292440.00/cwt440.00–440.001,2853
Steers250–300Medium and Large 2Unweaned296390.00/cwt390.00–390.001,1545
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned322426.98/cwt420.00–435.001,37520
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned348385.00/cwt385.00–385.001,34016
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned362374.83/cwt362.00–382.501,35730
Steers350–400Medium and Large 2370350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,2959
Steers350–400Medium 1Unweaned380372.50/cwt372.50–372.501,4167
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned389390.17/cwt385.00–399.001,518103
Steers400–450Medium 1Unweaned423340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,4385
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned427375.56/cwt361.00–387.501,604162
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned442343.85/cwt330.00–353.001,52017
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned476345.90/cwt324.00–359.001,646224
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned476311.53/cwt298.00–321.001,48318
Steers450–500Medium 1Unweaned492297.50/cwt297.50–297.501,46411
Steers450–500Medium 1Full495281.00/cwt281.00–281.001,3917
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned517313.90/cwt300.00–325.001,623132
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned540290.49/cwt280.00–302.001,56949
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned575288.90/cwt282.00–297.001,661181
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned577279.06/cwt271.00–283.001,61069
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Full597260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,5529
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned623277.88/cwt258.00–288.001,731251
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned623263.06/cwt245.00–266.001,6397
Steers650–700Medium 1-2652253.00/cwt253.00–253.001,6506
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned669265.15/cwt253.00–272.001,77495
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned670256.00/cwt256.00–256.001,7153
Steers650–700Large 1Unweaned684251.00/cwt251.00–251.001,7175
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Full690245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,69110
Steers650–700Medium 1Unweaned694222.50/cwt222.50–222.501,5446
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2707249.00/cwt249.00–249.001,7603
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1Unweaned728260.00/cwt257.00–261.001,89343
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1Unweaned754245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,8475
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2797247.50/cwt247.50–247.501,9736
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1Fleshy818234.67/cwt232.00–236.001,9209
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1825259.50/cwt259.50–259.502,14168
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1861248.00/cwt248.00–248.002,13512
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,025228.96/cwt225.00–230.502,34730
Feeder Cattle · Heifers40 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned288396.52/cwt385.00–404.001,14227
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned290380.74/cwt370.00–392.001,10421
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned326375.34/cwt367.00–377.501,22456
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned375351.54/cwt335.00–368.001,318178
Heifers350–400Medium 1Unweaned380305.00/cwt305.00–305.001,1594
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned397326.15/cwt326.00–330.001,29525
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned425329.02/cwt316.00–340.001,398192
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned433301.20/cwt293.00–312.501,30457
Heifers450–500Medium 1Unweaned466255.92/cwt250.00–274.001,19346
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned474279.26/cwt255.00–295.001,32426
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned488303.20/cwt297.00–315.001,48085
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned524279.06/cwt265.00–285.001,462132
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned543257.11/cwt250.00–259.001,39624
Heifers500–550Medium 1-2545254.00/cwt254.00–254.001,38433
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned569266.96/cwt254.50–275.001,519181
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned587248.01/cwt246.00–250.001,45610
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned608239.31/cwt236.00–241.001,45515
Heifers600–650Medium 1-2621247.00/cwt247.00–247.001,5349
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned625247.91/cwt241.00–250.001,54960
Heifers600–650Medium 1Thin Fleshed629260.50/cwt260.50–260.501,639183
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Full660235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,5515
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned667240.27/cwt236.00–244.001,60329
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned672238.00/cwt238.00–238.001,5995
Heifers650–700Medium 1-2684232.50/cwt232.50–232.501,5908
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2706240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,69413
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1732248.00/cwt248.00–248.001,81532
Heifers700–750Medium 1746229.00/cwt229.00–229.001,7089
Heifers750–800Medium 1753226.50/cwt226.50–226.501,7066
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2771238.00/cwt238.00–238.001,83539
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1780244.08/cwt243.00–248.001,904119
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 2795220.50/cwt220.50–220.501,75311
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2814229.80/cwt226.00–232.001,871115
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1818237.55/cwt236.25–241.001,943204
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2851237.00/cwt237.00–237.002,0179
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1858237.10/cwt229.00–240.002,034195
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1912224.00/cwt224.00–224.002,04318
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2938215.00/cwt215.00–215.002,01724
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2973213.00/cwt213.00–213.002,0724
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1986224.28/cwt224.25–225.002,21127
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,033216.83/cwt216.50–218.002,2409
Feeder Cattle · Bulls10 lots · lightest first
Bulls200–250Medium and Large 1Unweaned217480.00/cwt480.00–480.001,0423
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1312437.00/cwt437.00–437.001,36316
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned385373.48/cwt345.00–394.001,43817
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 2Unweaned410290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,1893
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned493312.50/cwt312.50–312.501,5413
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1493303.00/cwt303.00–303.001,49410
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned503291.36/cwt280.00–297.001,4666
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned591247.00/cwt247.00–247.001,4606
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned616245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,5097
Bulls1200–1250Large 11,219185.00/cwt185.00–185.002,2555
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,638116.00/cwt116.00–116.001,9002
Bulls——Return to Feed1,825134.00/cwt134.00–134.002,4461
Bulls——1,912143.64/cwt143.00–145.002,7463
Slaughter Cattle · Cows11 lots · lightest first
Cows—Boner 80-85%Light Weight84095.00/cwt95.00–95.007981
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,116102.45/cwt95.00–112.001,14362
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,13786.00/cwt86.00–86.009788
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,14686.72/cwt85.50–90.009945
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,14979.25/cwt77.50–82.009113
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,156115.75/cwt111.00–122.501,33832
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,334119.43/cwt113.00–125.001,59316
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,410108.55/cwt99.00–114.501,53127
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,46891.63/cwt81.00–96.001,3455
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,63097.00/cwt97.00–97.001,5811
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,730114.00/cwt114.00–114.001,9721
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1828175.00/cwt175.00–175.001,4492
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,025174.37/cwt165.00–195.001,78744
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,028148.38/cwt128.00–170.001,52510
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,094157.99/cwt145.00–175.001,7285
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,165129.76/cwt127.50–136.001,5124
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0421,900.00/head1,900.00–1,900.001,9005
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1281,800.00/head1,800.00–1,800.001,8003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1722,350.00/head2,350.00–2,350.002,3504
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,535114.00/cwt114.00–114.001,7501

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.