Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-01-23

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2025-01-23
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-01-23

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jan 23

● Final89 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← Jan 16Jan 23Jan 30 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

1,738 head

▲ 1,204 vs last sale 534▼ 2,490 vs year ago 4,228 · −58.9%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

141 head

▼ 347 vs last sale 488▼ 339 vs year ago 480 · −70.6%

Replacement Cattle receipts

109 head

▼ 180 vs last sale 289▼ 24 vs year ago 133 · −18.0%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Oct 26, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steer calves under 700 lbs sold generally steady in a narrow comparison; steers over 700 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Heifer calves were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand remains good to very good. Offerings were light to moderate. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Almost all calves were weaned over 50 days and were in mostly light flesh. Package sizes were mostly small to moderate with a few partial load lots on offer. Market activity was active this sale. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 4.00-8.00 higher on all classes. Packers opted to send all cows to slaughter this week as they showed very good demand for cows and bulls for immediate harvest. Feeding cows sold on good to very good demand this week as well. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00 to 6.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold 5.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was average to attractive and similar to last week. Many young cows were purchased to feed again this week.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $309.51/cwt on 319 head. That ranks 1 of 23 comparable sales and sits −102.11 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.

Average price

$309.51

319 head · 568 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,758

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$141

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2

$9.44/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−8.40

vs MT average

+5.09 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	581	313.43	1,820	182
Large 1	535	308.73	1,652	9thin
Medium and Large 1-2	552	304.00	1,678	128

One grade step is worth $9.44/cwt here — about $141 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 300–400 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 sale319 hd

309.51

—

MT average4 barns · 1,201 hd

317.92

−8.40

National average149 barns · 17,148 hd

304.42

+5.09

This barn, trailing median23 sales

411.62

−102.11

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

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Low	2,026	147.32	2,984	12
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,647	140.61	2,316	23
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,383	131.06	1,813	41
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,193	113.70	1,356	58

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.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	950	$1,975	2thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,389	$1,900	5
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,420	$1,800	1thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,293	$1,725	2thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,258	$1,600	5

Every lot

89 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.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers34 lots · lightest first
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	368	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	1,509	3
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1	369	440.00/cwt	440.00–440.00	1,624	16
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	426	412.28/cwt	405.00–437.50	1,756	9
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	439	382.92/cwt	372.00–390.00	1,681	12
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 2	466	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	1,445	4
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	486	383.27/cwt	373.00–393.00	1,863	44
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	488	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	1,781	2
Steers	500–550	Large 1	512	341.65/cwt	337.50–342.50	1,749	6
Steers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	524	369.48/cwt	345.00–379.00	1,936	72
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	575	342.15/cwt	335.00–352.00	1,967	73
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	591	322.44/cwt	319.00–328.00	1,906	24
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	627	319.26/cwt	314.00–330.00	2,002	25
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 2	634	292.50/cwt	292.50–292.50	1,854	8
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	640	294.00/cwt	294.00–294.00	1,882	2
Steers	600–650	Large 1	646	277.50/cwt	277.50–277.50	1,793	7
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	654	298.42/cwt	295.00–299.00	1,952	7
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 2	657	267.50/cwt	267.50–267.50	1,757	6
Steers	650–700	Large 1	663	287.00/cwt	287.00–287.00	1,903	12
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	684	304.45/cwt	300.00–313.00	2,082	68
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	713	301.73/cwt	293.00–304.50	2,151	44
Steers	700–750	Large 1	722	268.10/cwt	260.00–281.00	1,936	14
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	737	279.48/cwt	276.00–286.00	2,060	9
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	752	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	2,068	3
Steers	750–800	Large 1	782	271.29/cwt	261.00–275.50	2,121	24
Steers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	785	281.47/cwt	274.00–287.50	2,210	79
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1	812	275.07/cwt	268.00–280.50	2,234	54
Steers	800–850	Large 1	835	266.00/cwt	266.00–266.00	2,221	3
Steers	850–900	Medium and Large 1Fancy	851	278.50/cwt	278.50–278.50	2,370	49
Steers	850–900	Medium and Large 1	893	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	2,277	3
Steers	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	914	249.00/cwt	249.00–249.00	2,276	5
Steers	900–950	Medium and Large 1	940	247.00/cwt	247.00–247.00	2,322	4
Steers	950–1000	Large 1	987	236.00/cwt	236.00–236.00	2,329	3
Steers	1100–1150	Large 1-2	1,109	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	2,495	9
Steers	1250–1300	Large 1	1,296	193.50/cwt	193.50–193.50	2,508	4
Feeder Cattle · Heifers26 lots · lightest first
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1	375	393.16/cwt	390.00–400.00	1,474	3
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2	383	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	1,455	10
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 2	393	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,297	4
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	408	353.40/cwt	342.50–355.00	1,442	18
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1	424	384.08/cwt	350.00–397.00	1,628	30
Heifers	400–450	Medium 1	439	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,493	4
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	463	320.83/cwt	312.00–340.00	1,485	33
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 1	477	358.14/cwt	339.00–377.00	1,708	169
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	512	317.06/cwt	299.00–320.00	1,623	41
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1	518	329.67/cwt	327.50–331.00	1,708	17
Heifers	500–550	Large 1	535	308.73/cwt	307.00–323.00	1,652	9
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	571	297.84/cwt	294.50–311.00	1,701	87
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	587	311.76/cwt	309.00–322.00	1,830	165
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	623	295.74/cwt	281.00–300.00	1,842	26
Heifers	650–700	Large 1	664	262.53/cwt	259.00–265.00	1,743	4
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	678	276.78/cwt	268.00–284.00	1,877	94
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	719	267.87/cwt	259.00–273.00	1,926	54
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1-2	775	251.00/cwt	251.00–251.00	1,945	2
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	777	259.14/cwt	259.00–259.50	2,014	46
Heifers	750–800	Large 1	787	238.48/cwt	235.00–242.00	1,877	6
Heifers	800–850	Medium and Large 1Fancy	815	263.00/cwt	263.00–263.00	2,143	15
Heifers	900–950	Medium and Large 1	905	237.00/cwt	237.00–237.00	2,145	9
Heifers	950–1000	Medium and Large 1	999	228.00/cwt	228.00–228.00	2,278	5
Heifers	1000–1050	Medium and Large 1	1,003	217.00/cwt	217.00–217.00	2,177	2
Heifers	1100–1150	Large 1-2	1,110	201.00/cwt	201.00–201.00	2,231	1
Heifers	1250–1300	Large 1	1,257	191.00/cwt	191.00–191.00	2,401	6
Feeder Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls	400–450	Medium and Large 1	425	395.00/cwt	395.00–395.00	1,679	1
Bulls	600–650	Medium and Large 1	627	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,881	3
Bulls	800–850	Medium and Large 1	825	246.00/cwt	246.00–246.00	2,030	2
Bulls	1000–1050	Large 1	1,020	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	2,295	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls2 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,979	139.14/cwt	137.00–142.00	2,754	4
Bulls	—	—	2,049	151.41/cwt	147.00–153.00	3,102	8
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	990	72.00/cwt	72.00–72.00	713	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,102	81.49/cwt	75.00–87.00	898	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,190	100.21/cwt	96.00–109.00	1,192	5
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,199	116.53/cwt	108.00–124.00	1,397	36
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,224	132.11/cwt	123.00–134.50	1,617	9
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,270	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	1,461	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,348	131.57/cwt	124.00–134.00	1,774	28
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,430	112.72/cwt	108.00–117.00	1,612	2
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,463	138.01/cwt	136.00–142.00	2,019	8
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,468	119.98/cwt	118.00–123.00	1,761	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,498	138.32/cwt	138.00–139.00	2,072	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,505	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	2,047	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,575	144.50/cwt	144.50–144.50	2,276	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,590	141.50/cwt	141.50–141.50	2,250	1
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,689	141.01/cwt	140.00–141.50	2,382	17
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	934	188.70/cwt	172.00–201.00	1,762	4
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,083	182.46/cwt	150.00–214.00	1,976	50
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,192	153.51/cwt	132.00–210.00	1,830	30
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium 1	950	1,975.00/head	1,975.00–1,975.00	1,975	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	1,258	1,600.00/head	1,600.00–1,600.00	1,600	5
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,293	1,725.00/head	1,725.00–1,725.00	1,725	2
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,389	1,900.00/head	1,900.00–1,900.00	1,900	5
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,420	1,800.00/head	1,800.00–1,800.00	1,800	1

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.

Montana feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Thu)

Thu Jan 23, 2025

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 1,738Last week 534Year ago 4,228

Slaughter CattleReceipts 141Last week 488Year ago 480

Replacement CattleReceipts 109Last week 289Year ago 133

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
6	500–550	512	337.50–342.50	341.65
7	600–650	646	277.50	277.50
12	650–700	663	287.00	287.00
14	700–750	722	260.00–281.00	268.10
24	750–800	782	261.00–275.50	271.29
3	800–850	835	266.00	266.00
3	950–1000	987	236.00	236.00
4	1250–1300	1,296	193.50	193.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
16	350–400	369	440.00	440.00
9	400–450	426	405.00–437.50	412.28
44	450–500	486	373.00–393.00	383.27
72	500–550	524	345.00–379.00	369.48
73	550–600	575	335.00–352.00	342.15
25	600–650	627	314.00–330.00	319.26
68	650–700	684	300.00–313.00	304.45
44	700–750	713	293.00–304.50	301.73
79	750–800	785	274.00–287.50	281.47
54	800–850	812	268.00–280.50	275.07
3	850–900	893	255.00	255.00
4	900–950	940	247.00	247.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	350–400	368	410.00	410.00
12	400–450	439	372.00–390.00	382.92
2	450–500	488	365.00	365.00
24	550–600	591	319.00–328.00	322.44
2	600–650	640	294.00	294.00
7	650–700	654	295.00–299.00	298.42
9	700–750	737	276.00–286.00	279.48
3	750–800	752	275.00	275.00
5	900–950	914	249.00	249.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
9	1100–1150	1,109	225.00	225.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	450–500	466	310.00	310.00
8	600–650	634	292.50	292.50
6	650–700	657	267.50	267.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
49	850–900	851	278.50	278.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	350–400	393	330.00	330.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	350–400	375	390.00–400.00	393.16
30	400–450	424	350.00–397.00	384.08
169	450–500	477	339.00–377.00	358.14
17	500–550	518	327.50–331.00	329.67
165	550–600	587	309.00–322.00	311.76
26	600–650	623	281.00–300.00	295.74
94	650–700	678	268.00–284.00	276.78
54	700–750	719	259.00–273.00	267.87
46	750–800	777	259.00–259.50	259.14
9	900–950	905	237.00	237.00
5	950–1000	999	228.00	228.00
2	1000–1050	1,003	217.00	217.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	350–400	383	380.00	380.00
18	400–450	408	342.50–355.00	353.40
33	450–500	463	312.00–340.00	320.83
41	500–550	512	299.00–320.00	317.06
87	550–600	571	294.50–311.00	297.84
2	750–800	775	251.00	251.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1100–1150	1,110	201.00	201.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
9	500–550	535	307.00–323.00	308.73
4	650–700	664	259.00–265.00	262.53
6	750–800	787	235.00–242.00	238.48
6	1250–1300	1,257	191.00	191.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
4	400–450	439	340.00	340.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
15	800–850	815	263.00	263.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	1000–1050	1,020	225.00	225.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	400–450	425	395.00	395.00
3	600–650	627	300.00	300.00
2	800–850	825	246.00	246.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	50	—	1,083	150.00–214.00	182.46
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	30	—	1,192	132.00–210.00	153.51

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	934	172.00–201.00	188.70

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	2	—	1,293	1,725.00	1,725.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	1	—	1,420	1,800.00	1,800.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	5	—	1,389	1,900.00	1,900.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1-2 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	5	—	1,258	1,600.00	1,600.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium 1$ per head · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	2	—	950	1,975.00	1,975.00

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
17	—	1,689	140.00–141.50	141.01
1	—	1,575	144.50	144.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,590	141.50	141.50
3	—	1,498	138.00–139.00	138.32
1	—	1,505	136.00	136.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,463	136.00–142.00	138.01
3	—	1,468	118.00–123.00	119.98

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,224	123.00–134.50	132.11
36	—	1,199	108.00–124.00	116.53

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,430	108.00–117.00	112.72
28	—	1,348	124.00–134.00	131.57

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,190	96.00–109.00	100.21
2	—	1,270	115.00	115.00
5	—	1,102	75.00–87.00	81.49

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	990	72.00	72.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,979	137.00–142.00	139.14
8	—	2,049	147.00–153.00	151.41

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.