Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-01-16

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jan 16
● Final112 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
534 head
▼ 3,414 vs last sale 3,948▲ 440 vs year ago 94 · +468.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
488 head
▲ 351 vs last sale 137▲ 227 vs year ago 261 · +87.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
289 head
▲ 248 vs last sale 41▲ 214 vs year ago 75 · +285.3%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder calves were all too lightly tested today to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed on like quality cattle. Demand remains good to very good. Offerings were light. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and significantly lower than last weeks offering. Many blemished cattle were seen today as buyers sold cattle prior to this weeks cold snap. Almost all calves were weaned over 50 days and were in mostly light flesh. Package sizes were mostly small with many singles in the offering. Buyers were forced to pick around to put together cattle of like quality. No load lots were seen this week. Market activity was active this sale. A noticeably smaller buyer pool was seen this week, however buyers continue to show very good demand and bid rapidly on all feeder calves. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows sold mostly 3.00-7.00 higher as feeding buyers and slaughter buys bid aggressively on all fleshy cows. Feeding cow sold on good to very good demand. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 higher. All cows were pushing moderate to heavy amounts of fill today. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was average to attractive and better overall than last week.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $351.61/cwt on 63 head. That ranks 1 of 22 comparable sales and sits −91.34 against this barn's trailing median of $442.94.
Average price
$351.61
63 head · 537 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,888
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$125
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$37.78/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−5.47
vs MT average
+9.16 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1536365.081,95631
Medium 1507355.001,80013thin
Medium and Large 1-2560327.301,83119thin
One grade step is worth $37.78/cwt here — about $125 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 sale63 hd
351.61
—
MT average3 barns · 419 hd
357.08
−5.47
National average190 barns · 32,836 hd
342.45
+9.16
This barn, trailing median22 sales
442.94
−91.34
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—Average1,944135.202,62926
CowsBreaker 75-80%Very Low1,653130.222,15270
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,385127.491,765206
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,150110.171,267130
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Low1,27080.001,0162thin

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)1,270$2,5501thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,335$2,3705
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,400$2,2001thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)997$2,1967
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,520$1,9003thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,343$1,8009
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,334$1,6568

Every lot

112 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 · Steers26 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1275530.00/cwt530.00–530.001,4581
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2338460.79/cwt445.00–475.001,5575
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2362465.00/cwt465.00–465.001,6833
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1420410.00/cwt410.00–410.001,7222
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2425345.00/cwt345.00–345.001,4663
Steers400–450Medium 2441270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,1914
Steers400–450Medium 1449375.00/cwt375.00–375.001,68415
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1461395.39/cwt385.00–405.001,82316
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2478362.71/cwt350.00–375.001,73418
Steers450–500Medium 1485345.00/cwt345.00–345.001,6732
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2490325.00/cwt325.00–325.001,5932
Steers500–550Medium 1507355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,80013
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1526371.11/cwt355.00–380.001,95222
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2537335.72/cwt330.00–355.001,8036
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1560350.34/cwt335.00–355.001,9629
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2570323.41/cwt320.00–329.001,84313
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1607329.00/cwt329.00–329.001,99722
Steers600–650Large 1615304.00/cwt304.00–304.001,8702
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2631299.82/cwt290.00–309.001,89215
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2650306.00/cwt306.00–306.001,9891
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1712308.00/cwt305.00–308.502,19341
Steers700–750Medium and Large 2741283.00/cwt283.00–283.002,0974
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2743285.00/cwt285.00–285.002,1182
Steers750–800Medium and Large 2797264.00/cwt264.00–264.002,1043
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1831266.00/cwt266.00–266.002,2106
Steers1150–1200Large 11,170222.00/cwt222.00–222.002,5973
Feeder Cattle · Heifers25 lots · lightest first
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1355400.00/cwt400.00–400.001,4201
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2368372.38/cwt370.00–375.001,3702
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1426358.41/cwt352.50–365.001,52715
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2439340.30/cwt320.00–345.001,49416
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1477347.71/cwt340.00–355.001,65941
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2493313.08/cwt305.00–325.001,5435
Heifers450–500Large 1499329.00/cwt329.00–329.001,6424
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2523317.50/cwt317.50–317.501,6612
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1524330.45/cwt321.00–332.001,73225
Heifers500–550Large 1540275.00/cwt275.00–275.001,4851
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1578310.15/cwt309.00–314.001,79321
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2597271.00/cwt271.00–271.001,6183
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 2608237.49/cwt233.00–255.001,4445
Heifers600–650Medium 1Fleshy625249.00/cwt249.00–249.001,5562
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2658261.00/cwt261.00–261.001,7172
Heifers650–700Large 1665263.00/cwt263.00–263.001,7491
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1679263.00/cwt263.00–263.001,7866
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Full698255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,7802
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2705234.00/cwt234.00–234.001,6504
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1730253.22/cwt253.00–254.001,8499
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1807252.00/cwt252.00–252.002,0343
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1949230.00/cwt230.00–230.002,1835
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1970233.00/cwt233.00–233.002,2601
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,023221.00/cwt221.00–221.002,2612
Heifers1050–1100Medium and Large 11,091156.66/cwt119.00–213.001,7095
Feeder Cattle · Bulls16 lots · lightest first
Bulls250–300Medium and Large 1270515.00/cwt515.00–515.001,3912
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned343465.00/cwt465.00–465.001,5956
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1360430.00/cwt430.00–430.001,5482
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2463345.00/cwt345.00–345.001,5974
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned517357.50/cwt357.50–357.501,8486
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1530340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,8025
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2570322.50/cwt322.50–322.501,8381
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2628290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,8213
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1671270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,8127
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1-2683268.15/cwt254.00–282.501,8314
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1717275.00/cwt275.00–275.001,9723
Bulls850–900Medium 1868244.00/cwt244.00–244.002,1183
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1869253.62/cwt252.00–256.002,20410
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1-2975226.00/cwt226.00–226.002,2041
Bulls1050–1100Medium and Large 1-21,050224.00/cwt224.00–224.002,3523
Bulls1200–1250Large 11,209199.00/cwt199.00–199.002,4066
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,315157.00/cwt157.00–157.002,0651
Bulls——1,872127.29/cwt116.00–134.002,38313
Bulls——1,945144.06/cwt140.00–150.002,8029
Bulls——2,405146.00/cwt146.00–146.003,5111
Bulls——2,415150.00/cwt150.00–150.003,6231
Bulls——Heavy Weight2,575111.00/cwt111.00–111.002,8581
Slaughter Cattle · Cows21 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight883100.02/cwt93.00–103.758833
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight92376.36/cwt75.00–79.007053
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight99092.50/cwt92.50–92.509161
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,08381.06/cwt67.50–86.0087810
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,12193.86/cwt87.00–103.001,05237
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,180125.38/cwt116.00–128.001,47960
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,218131.61/cwt130.00–133.501,6036
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,270110.42/cwt105.00–116.001,40210
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,356128.83/cwt119.00–133.001,747113
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,365102.52/cwt95.00–108.001,39913
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,412136.25/cwt134.00–139.001,92451
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,421112.15/cwt99.00–117.001,59418
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,491134.11/cwt126.00–140.502,0008
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,572111.00/cwt110.00–112.001,7453
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,60396.68/cwt92.00–101.001,5502
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,620116.72/cwt113.00–126.001,8916
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,623130.60/cwt127.00–136.502,12015
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,630142.66/cwt139.00–148.002,3258
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,658131.07/cwt127.00–135.002,17337
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,910140.00/cwt140.00–140.002,6741
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,125132.00/cwt132.00–132.002,8051
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%1,27080.00/cwt80.00–80.001,0162
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows10 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium 19432,025.00/head2,025.00–2,025.002,0254
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0702,425.00/head2,425.00–2,425.002,4253
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2502,250.00/head2,250.00–2,250.002,2501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2702,550.00/head2,550.00–2,550.002,5501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2871,625.00/head1,625.00–1,625.001,6256
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3431,800.00/head1,800.00–1,800.001,8009
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3562,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4004
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,4002,200.00/head2,200.00–2,200.002,2001
Bred Cows—Large 1Broken Mouth1,4751,750.00/head1,750.00–1,750.001,7502
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,5201,900.00/head1,900.00–1,900.001,9003
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1-2680190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,2921
Stock Cows—Medium 1695215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,4941
Stock Cows—Medium 2880152.50/cwt152.50–152.501,3421
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2928140.16/cwt134.00–155.001,30110
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,006159.70/cwt137.50–195.001,6074
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,059181.24/cwt150.00–206.001,919105
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,110154.07/cwt132.50–176.001,71018

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.