Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-12-19

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Dec 19
● Final118 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,545 head
▼ 1,383 vs last sale 2,928▼ 325 vs year ago 1,870 · −17.4%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
574 head
▲ 23 vs last sale 551▲ 287 vs year ago 287 · +100.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
282 head
▼ 246 vs last sale 528▲ 59 vs year ago 223 · +26.5%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. Steers 450-549 lbs sold steady to weak in a narrow comparison; steers over 550 lbs sold 5.00-8.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Heifer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. Heifers 450-599 lbs sold steady to 3.00 lower. Heifers over 600 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however weak undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and significantly lower than last sale. Many blemished, frozen ears and or tails were seen today as consigners cleaned out pastures and pens. Demand for yearlings was mostly good this sale as buyers continue to show good demand for these offerings. Yearling quality was mostly plain to average. Demand for calves was mostly moderate and slightly lighter than last week; quality hampered demand. Offerings were light to moderate. Package sizes were mostly small to moderate with many singles in the mix. No load lots were seen this sale. Market activity was moderate to active this sale. Notably, a smaller buyer pool was seen this sale. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady to weak on all classes in a narrow comparison. All cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill today and most sold higher on a dressed basis as a result. Feeding cows sold with the best demand again this week. Feeding cows sold with steady to 3.00 higher on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Thin short term feeding cows sold generally steady to weak. Fill hindered demand at times as most of the thin cows on offer were very full. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady on a lower quality offering. Again, fill hindered demand for these offerings as well, as most young cows were very full.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $334.55/cwt on 135 head. That ranks 1 of 22 comparable sales and sits −108.39 against this barn's trailing median of $442.94.
Average price
$334.55
135 head · 538 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,801
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$358
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$53.75/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.84
vs MT average
+7.92 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1536340.751,825107
Medium and Large 1-2558316.041,76423
Medium and Large 2511287.001,4675thin
One grade step is worth $53.75/cwt here — about $358 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 sale135 hd
334.55
—
MT average4 barns · 602 hd
333.72
+0.84
National average173 barns · 17,754 hd
326.63
+7.92
This barn, trailing median22 sales
442.94
−108.39
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—Low1,866131.312,45043
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,669119.731,99910
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,426114.601,635211
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,174109.231,282277
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Low1,47082.001,2052thin

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/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,194$2,52710
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,044$2,3528
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,105$2,1004thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,348$2,0237
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,045$2,0002thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,325$1,75015

Every lot

118 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 · Steers34 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1277520.00/cwt520.00–520.001,4403
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned296505.00/cwt505.00–505.001,4954
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1307506.74/cwt500.00–510.001,5563
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned310507.34/cwt497.50–512.501,5733
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2333467.51/cwt460.00–485.001,55715
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned358465.00/cwt465.00–465.001,66511
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1378427.16/cwt420.00–440.001,6159
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2395413.21/cwt410.00–415.001,63211
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2408375.00/cwt375.00–375.001,53017
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1420401.00/cwt401.00–401.001,6843
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned421404.60/cwt392.50–405.001,70331
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2Unweaned422390.00/cwt390.00–390.001,6465
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Full434325.00/cwt325.00–325.001,4114
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2437365.43/cwt360.00–387.501,59743
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1472359.00/cwt359.00–359.001,69424
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2483340.55/cwt327.00–351.001,64552
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2490312.00/cwt312.00–312.001,52911
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2511287.00/cwt287.00–287.001,4675
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1523345.86/cwt340.00–350.001,80948
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2526325.73/cwt317.50–340.001,71310
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned531344.72/cwt343.00–347.501,83031
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1562327.61/cwt318.00–334.001,84128
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2580303.94/cwt300.00–312.001,7637
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned586314.00/cwt314.00–314.001,8406
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1609315.28/cwt307.00–318.001,92053
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2633287.48/cwt280.00–300.001,82023
Steers650–700Large 1650276.00/cwt276.00–276.001,7944
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1672292.58/cwt291.00–295.001,9665
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2674281.49/cwt278.50–296.001,89729
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1719301.53/cwt290.00–314.002,16842
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2740275.00/cwt275.00–275.002,0354
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2791249.00/cwt249.00–249.001,9704
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1819249.34/cwt244.00–250.002,04228
Steers1050–1100Medium and Large 11,078225.00/cwt225.00–225.002,4262
Feeder Cattle · Heifers36 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned263430.00/cwt430.00–430.001,1312
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1274417.02/cwt415.00–430.001,1438
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1-2290390.00/cwt390.00–390.001,1312
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1316382.50/cwt382.50–382.501,2094
Heifers300–350Medium 2334235.00/cwt235.00–235.007854
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned343365.00/cwt365.00–365.001,2525
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1366357.65/cwt352.50–360.001,30910
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned367360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,32113
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2372352.46/cwt350.00–355.001,3114
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned413345.00/cwt345.00–345.001,42525
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1413344.57/cwt340.00–352.501,42344
Heifers400–450Medium 1421315.62/cwt307.00–325.001,32910
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2424325.53/cwt310.00–339.001,38024
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1471335.84/cwt317.00–352.001,582101
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2474304.76/cwt292.50–310.001,44511
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned513318.14/cwt317.00–320.001,63221
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1530314.18/cwt308.00–321.001,66589
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2536291.33/cwt285.00–300.001,56216
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2568260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,4773
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1574288.95/cwt279.00–294.001,65922
Heifers550–600Large 1594270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,60416
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1624263.66/cwt260.00–268.001,64513
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2647254.00/cwt254.00–254.001,6435
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1667254.80/cwt253.00–256.001,7005
Heifers700–750Large 1710239.00/cwt239.00–239.001,6972
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1748237.00/cwt237.00–237.001,7734
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1773236.00/cwt236.00–236.001,8242
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2838234.00/cwt234.00–234.001,9615
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1884232.00/cwt232.00–232.002,0515
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2928215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,9952
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,038210.00/cwt210.00–210.002,1803
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,044202.00/cwt202.00–202.002,1096
Heifers1050–1100Large 11,085210.00/cwt210.00–210.002,2792
Heifers1100–1150Large 11,116203.38/cwt193.00–208.002,27010
Heifers1100–1150Large 1Fleshy1,120188.00/cwt188.00–188.002,1063
Heifers1250–1300Large 1Fleshy1,298179.00/cwt179.00–179.002,3235
Feeder Cattle · Bulls15 lots · lightest first
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1320470.00/cwt470.00–470.001,5041
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1405395.00/cwt395.00–395.001,6001
Bulls400–450Medium 1426365.00/cwt365.00–365.001,5554
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1483325.00/cwt325.00–325.001,5708
Bulls450–500Medium 1494335.00/cwt335.00–335.001,65510
Bulls500–550Medium 1545303.00/cwt303.00–303.001,65131
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1590296.50/cwt288.00–305.001,7494
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 2597245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,4633
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1641271.31/cwt262.50–275.001,73917
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1742240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,7813
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1928227.00/cwt227.00–227.002,1071
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1978215.00/cwt215.00–215.002,1033
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 11,015222.00/cwt222.00–222.002,2534
Bulls1050–1100Medium and Large 11,097211.00/cwt211.00–211.002,3153
Bulls1200–1250Large 11,226177.00/cwt177.00–177.002,1705
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,291117.50/cwt117.50–117.501,5173
Bulls——1,873131.59/cwt122.00–140.002,46537
Bulls——2,349141.66/cwt141.00–142.003,3283
Slaughter Cattle · Cows17 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight86572.00/cwt72.00–72.006233
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed98587.00/cwt87.00–87.008571
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,118106.00/cwt106.00–106.001,1854
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,13677.37/cwt65.00–83.0087921
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,150104.30/cwt90.00–115.001,199120
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,19987.76/cwt87.00–92.001,0527
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,213121.79/cwt115.00–127.001,477116
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,220129.61/cwt128.00–130.001,5815
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,38580.00/cwt80.00–80.001,1081
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,395105.01/cwt104.00–106.001,4652
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,417109.98/cwt95.00–116.001,55895
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,433119.58/cwt116.00–127.501,714110
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,51896.13/cwt91.00–102.001,4593
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,535120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,8421
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,538121.00/cwt121.00–121.001,8614
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,788112.59/cwt110.00–115.002,0132
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,810122.69/cwt121.00–124.002,2213
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%1,47082.00/cwt82.00–82.001,2052
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows7 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0442,352.37/head2,300.00–2,400.002,3528
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,0452,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0002
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS1,1052,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1004
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1942,527.35/head2,400.00–2,575.002,52710
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2842,153.27/head2,000.00–2,200.002,1534
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3251,750.00/head1,750.00–1,750.001,75015
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,4331,850.00/head1,850.00–1,850.001,8503
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed774195.00/cwt195.00–195.001,5096
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2907179.98/cwt160.00–195.001,6329
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1993192.71/cwt150.00–217.501,914106
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,060158.17/cwt132.00–180.001,67729
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,126130.17/cwt120.00–145.001,46615

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.