Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-12-05

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Dec 5
● Final151 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
6,162 head
▲ 3,241 vs last sale 2,921▲ 2,522 vs year ago 3,640 · +69.3%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
204 head
▼ 1 vs last sale 205▼ 106 vs year ago 310 · −34.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
91 head
▼ 11 vs last sale 102▼ 147 vs year ago 238 · −61.8%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale(11-21-24): Feeder steer calves under 600 lbs sold mostly 10.00-20.00 higher, steer calves over 600 lbs sold 3.00 to 5.00 higher. Heifer calves under 600 lbs sold mostly 8.00-15.00 higher; heifer calves over 600 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. 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 to very good for all calves on offer. Offerings were heavy. Quality today was mixed from plain to very attractive. Quality this week was higher than last sales offering. A very large buyer pool was on hand for todays sale as 16 feeder buyers purchased calves. A few farmer feeders were in the stands as well actively bidding on calves. Demand for weaned calves was good again this week, however buyers showed more interest in quality over vaccinations and weaning status. Package sizes varied greatly this week, however a good volume of load lots and partial load lots were seen. Demand for light weight calves suitable to go to grass was very good today. Buyers took calves up to 550 lbs for steers and 525 lbs for heifers to grass. Yearling demand was stronger this sale as well as cooperate buyers were very active in buying yearlings. Most yearlings were out of grow lots this sale and in moderate to moderate plus flesh. Market activity was active this sale with buyers rapidly bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand and light offerings. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend however, steady to higher undertones were noticed. Feeding cows sold with the best demand again this week. Feeding cows sold with steady to higher undertones. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. 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 $337.30/cwt on 1,056 head. That ranks 1 of 22 comparable sales and sits −105.65 against this barn's trailing median of $442.94.
Average price
$337.30
1,056 head · 544 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,836
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$700
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1-2
$113.92/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+4.00
vs MT average
+11.93 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1543343.921,868822
Medium and Large 1-2547322.951,765168
Medium 1558317.871,77445
Medium and Large 2556238.001,32312thin
Medium 1-2508230.001,1689thin
One grade step is worth $113.92/cwt here — about $700 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 500–600 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 sale1,056 hd
337.30
—
MT average4 barns · 1,373 hd
333.29
+4.00
National average187 barns · 33,494 hd
325.37
+11.93
This barn, trailing median22 sales
442.94
−105.65
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—Low1,745133.592,33212
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,646115.901,90715
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,390109.441,52252
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,05692.6397995

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)1,179$2,4004thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,294$1,80016
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,427$1,7003thin

Every lot

151 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 · Steers59 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1262513.87/cwt510.00–517.501,3467
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned303505.00/cwt505.00–505.001,5302
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1319494.35/cwt470.00–502.001,57727
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2331440.92/cwt437.50–450.001,45911
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned341456.37/cwt445.00–467.501,55622
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2372414.27/cwt413.00–415.001,54114
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned374441.59/cwt437.50–445.001,65215
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1381481.47/cwt437.50–495.001,83457
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2Unweaned409340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,3917
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1419420.38/cwt405.00–435.001,761125
Steers400–450Medium 1Full423340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,4383
Steers400–450Medium 1425325.00/cwt325.00–325.001,3817
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2426345.00/cwt345.00–345.001,47010
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned434419.73/cwt412.00–428.001,82271
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2438354.86/cwt340.00–385.001,55421
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2467339.56/cwt334.00–350.001,58614
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1477383.26/cwt366.00–406.001,828269
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned479382.00/cwt365.00–393.001,830102
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2479322.50/cwt322.50–322.501,5458
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned481349.25/cwt327.50–351.001,68038
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2Unweaned494295.00/cwt295.00–295.001,45743
Steers500–550Medium 1-2508230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,1689
Steers500–550Medium 1Unweaned509346.00/cwt346.00–346.001,76112
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1516357.12/cwt342.00–374.001,843170
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned522357.34/cwt339.00–366.001,865312
Steers500–550Medium 1523320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,6749
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned527325.00/cwt325.00–325.001,71313
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2534334.10/cwt319.00–341.001,784117
Steers550–600Medium and Large 2556238.00/cwt238.00–238.001,32312
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1576325.66/cwt309.00–342.501,876308
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned579318.63/cwt317.00–320.001,84532
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2592287.94/cwt282.00–315.001,70538
Steers550–600Medium 1Unweaned596303.00/cwt303.00–303.001,80624
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2602291.00/cwt291.00–291.001,75211
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1619300.42/cwt293.00–304.001,86051
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned631303.16/cwt293.00–313.501,913261
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned631283.00/cwt283.00–283.001,7865
Steers600–650Medium 1634285.78/cwt279.00–297.001,81222
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned655293.80/cwt274.00–297.001,92422
Steers650–700Medium 1656262.00/cwt262.00–262.001,7197
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned667272.76/cwt270.00–274.001,81910
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1674289.60/cwt275.00–296.001,95261
Steers650–700Large 1685251.00/cwt251.00–251.001,7198
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2693269.00/cwt269.00–269.001,8648
Steers700–750Large 1-2Unweaned706255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,80010
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1Unweaned726266.00/cwt266.00–266.001,93114
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1733274.62/cwt267.00–279.002,013100
Steers700–750Large 1744259.00/cwt259.00–259.001,9275
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2744249.00/cwt249.00–249.001,8534
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1Unweaned759258.00/cwt258.00–258.001,95828
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1781260.55/cwt251.00–264.002,03589
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy789233.00/cwt233.00–233.001,8385
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1824254.00/cwt254.00–254.002,09316
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1877248.00/cwt248.00–248.002,1753
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1Fleshy881245.50/cwt245.50–245.502,16314
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1Fleshy933237.00/cwt237.00–237.002,2118
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1954245.50/cwt245.50–245.502,34216
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy966225.00/cwt225.00–225.002,1746
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,013234.34/cwt227.00–235.502,37485
Feeder Cattle · Heifers55 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned294420.00/cwt420.00–420.001,2356
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1294415.00/cwt415.00–415.001,22017
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned310420.00/cwt420.00–420.001,3021
Heifers300–350Medium 1329364.01/cwt360.00–372.501,19829
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned345370.00/cwt370.00–370.001,2776
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1367372.35/cwt350.00–380.001,36752
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned372322.50/cwt322.50–322.501,20016
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned374370.41/cwt361.00–375.001,38519
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2381342.88/cwt340.00–345.001,3067
Heifers350–400Medium 1385336.92/cwt336.00–340.001,29728
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned404349.00/cwt349.00–349.001,4104
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2413322.71/cwt319.50–332.501,33340
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1423342.39/cwt331.00–355.001,448202
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed459358.00/cwt358.00–358.001,64317
Heifers450–500Large 1461314.00/cwt314.00–314.001,4488
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2466308.90/cwt300.00–310.001,43939
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned469330.56/cwt317.50–337.001,550134
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1477331.80/cwt321.00–349.001,583210
Heifers450–500Medium 1Unweaned482318.00/cwt318.00–318.001,5338
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2Unweaned486285.00/cwt285.00–285.001,38535
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned489313.00/cwt313.00–313.001,5317
Heifers450–500Medium 2Unweaned489241.00/cwt241.00–241.001,17823
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1514317.65/cwt307.00–325.001,633116
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2518297.10/cwt290.00–304.001,53930
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned521316.37/cwt305.00–323.001,64878
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned531283.35/cwt275.00–287.501,50534
Heifers550–600Large 1557280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,56014
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1568296.44/cwt280.00–309.501,684154
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned573297.80/cwt279.00–310.001,706212
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2588257.50/cwt257.50–257.501,5144
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned595264.91/cwt263.00–279.001,57691
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2600246.00/cwt246.00–246.001,4768
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned617273.81/cwt258.00–285.001,68931
Heifers600–650Large 1Unweaned617258.00/cwt258.00–258.001,59226
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Full638256.00/cwt256.00–256.001,6334
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1639272.34/cwt272.00–280.001,74045
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned642248.00/cwt248.00–248.001,5926
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1661261.72/cwt247.00–267.001,73078
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned681260.71/cwt250.00–267.001,77511
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1707244.00/cwt244.00–244.001,7253
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2707241.00/cwt241.00–241.001,7047
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1Unweaned709241.00/cwt241.00–241.001,70911
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1759251.63/cwt244.00–254.001,910123
Heifers750–800Medium 1798237.00/cwt237.00–237.001,8917
Heifers800–850Large 1808233.50/cwt233.50–233.501,8874
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1Fleshy816238.00/cwt238.00–238.001,94228
Heifers800–850Medium 1819236.00/cwt236.00–236.001,93312
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy824226.00/cwt226.00–226.001,86210
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2828222.00/cwt222.00–222.001,8387
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1869248.88/cwt248.50–249.252,163137
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2891226.50/cwt226.50–226.502,0185
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1910238.99/cwt235.00–239.502,175160
Heifers1050–1100Large 11,085208.00/cwt208.00–208.002,2574
Heifers1100–1150Large 11,118196.00/cwt196.00–196.002,1912
Heifers1150–1200Large 11,153193.93/cwt192.50–194.002,23663
Feeder Cattle · Bulls10 lots · lightest first
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1471349.00/cwt349.00–349.001,64412
Bulls450–500Medium 1498312.50/cwt312.50–312.501,55631
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2505316.00/cwt316.00–316.001,59613
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1573306.00/cwt306.00–306.001,75320
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned577302.46/cwt297.50–307.001,74515
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned618284.00/cwt284.00–284.001,75510
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned694247.00/cwt243.00–250.001,7147
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1920228.00/cwt228.00–228.002,0982
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 1-2Full1,015202.50/cwt202.50–202.502,0553
Bulls1100–1150Medium and Large 1-2Full1,120182.50/cwt182.50–182.502,0443
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,735132.88/cwt123.00–147.502,3057
Bulls——Return to Feed1,760134.59/cwt126.00–139.002,3695
Slaughter Cattle · Cows17 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight83375.39/cwt72.50–82.0062830
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight90089.50/cwt89.50–89.508061
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,09891.00/cwt91.00–91.009994
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,11077.46/cwt73.00–89.0086012
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,12895.27/cwt95.00–96.001,0754
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,182100.66/cwt92.00–103.001,19024
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,194117.92/cwt112.00–123.001,40820
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,310131.00/cwt131.00–131.001,7161
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,328105.00/cwt105.00–105.001,3942
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,345116.00/cwt116.00–116.001,5601
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,376105.82/cwt95.00–112.001,45620
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,381116.75/cwt113.00–126.001,61223
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,46989.71/cwt89.00–91.001,3183
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,54893.08/cwt91.50–95.001,4413
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,588105.00/cwt105.00–105.001,6674
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,675121.70/cwt121.00–126.502,0388
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,795114.45/cwt111.00–118.002,0542
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed750182.50/cwt182.50–182.501,3692
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2965160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,5441
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1988184.51/cwt150.00–205.001,82349
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,036147.71/cwt128.00–152.501,5309
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,453161.00/cwt161.00–161.002,3392
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1792,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4004
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,2941,800.00/head1,800.00–1,800.001,80016
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4271,700.00/head1,700.00–1,700.001,7003

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.