Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-01-30

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jan 30
● Final103 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
765 head
▼ 973 vs last sale 1,738▲ 543 vs year ago 222 · +244.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
628 head
▲ 487 vs last sale 141▼ 44 vs year ago 672 · −6.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
221 head
▲ 112 vs last sale 109▲ 18 vs year ago 203 · +8.9%
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 500 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Steers 500 lbs and heavier sold steady to 10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Heifer calves under 550 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Heifers over 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Demand remains good to very good. Offerings were light. Quality this week was mostly plain to average with a few consignments of attractive cattle noted. Demand for feeder cattle helped keep prices steady to higher despite a smaller and lower quality offering. Most calves were in light flesh. Package sizes were mostly small to moderate with many singles in the offering. Market activity was active this sale with bidders both ringside and over the internet actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Packers picked around to try to put together a load of slaughter cows, however demand from feeding buyers kept packers from purchasing many cows for immediate harvest. Most cows were purchased for feed this week. Feeding cows sold on good to very good demand, fueled by strong demand from both packers and private feeders. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00 to 5.00 higher on high quality cow suitable to feed to premium white. Short term feeding cows sold generally steady to firm. Slaughter bulls sold 5.00-10.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Demand for bulls was very good this week as packers competed over limited offerings. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was average to attractive and similar to last week. Many young cows were purchased to feed again this week.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $320.77/cwt on 131 head. That ranks 1 of 23 comparable sales and sits −90.85 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$320.77
131 head · 537 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,722
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$115
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$41.77/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−5.39
vs MT average
+16.13 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1536321.771,725122
Medium 1543318.001,7275thin
Medium and Large 1-2523307.421,6082thin
Medium and Large 2575280.001,6102thin
One grade step is worth $41.77/cwt here — about $115 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 sale131 hd
320.77
—
MT average3 barns · 640 hd
326.17
−5.39
National average182 barns · 24,858 hd
304.64
+16.13
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−90.85
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—High1,745161.402,81646
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,531140.102,14573
CowsPremium White 65-75%Low1,730139.502,4131thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,405135.171,899246
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,166124.571,452167

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)1,204$2,3619
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,268$2,2907
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,094$2,0506
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,430$2,0001thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,165$2,0001thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,310$1,89416
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)(<2 yrs)1,000$2,2503thin

Every lot

103 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
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2346440.00/cwt440.00–440.001,5228
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2350395.00/cwt395.00–395.001,3834
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned353424.05/cwt415.00–430.001,4975
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2400370.00/cwt370.00–370.001,4802
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned415415.00/cwt415.00–415.001,7222
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2427352.50/cwt352.50–352.501,5053
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1445420.00/cwt420.00–420.001,8691
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1459390.00/cwt390.00–390.001,79013
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned476379.87/cwt357.00–392.501,80822
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2483352.58/cwt345.00–382.001,70315
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2492337.00/cwt337.00–337.001,6583
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1512382.42/cwt360.00–392.001,95857
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2532320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,7023
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2542352.50/cwt352.50–352.501,9113
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1564353.55/cwt331.00–367.001,99438
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1626327.96/cwt320.00–337.002,05330
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2641297.33/cwt292.00–308.001,9066
Steers600–650Large 1645307.54/cwt300.00–319.001,98410
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2675293.00/cwt293.00–293.001,9785
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1679317.65/cwt316.00–318.002,15717
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1711297.35/cwt294.00–299.002,1146
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2715290.00/cwt290.00–290.002,0744
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1773288.60/cwt288.00–290.002,23113
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2810267.67/cwt267.00–268.002,1683
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1850273.00/cwt273.00–273.002,3211
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1902253.00/cwt253.00–253.002,2823
Feeder Cattle · Heifers20 lots · lightest first
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned324390.00/cwt390.00–390.001,2644
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2382372.01/cwt360.00–385.001,4217
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2431346.40/cwt340.00–352.001,49317
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1483341.87/cwt335.00–344.501,65120
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned488327.00/cwt327.00–327.001,5963
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2490323.58/cwt310.00–327.001,58615
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1504329.20/cwt323.50–336.001,65953
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2523307.42/cwt305.00–310.001,6082
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned527316.00/cwt316.00–316.001,6659
Heifers500–550Medium 1543318.00/cwt318.00–318.001,7275
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1566316.08/cwt308.00–320.001,78960
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2575280.00/cwt280.00–280.001,6102
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2616276.76/cwt275.00–282.001,7054
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1628295.86/cwt287.50–304.001,85877
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2668264.00/cwt264.00–264.001,7644
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1681281.57/cwt278.00–284.001,91744
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2708252.00/cwt252.00–252.001,78421
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1712271.66/cwt271.00–272.001,9343
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1770266.00/cwt266.00–266.002,0482
Heifers1100–1150Large 1-21,121206.77/cwt203.00–208.002,3184
Feeder Cattle · Bulls12 lots · lightest first
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2505320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,6162
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1585310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,8141
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1663295.00/cwt295.00–295.001,9563
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1763270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,0602
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1-2790250.00/cwt250.00–250.001,9753
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1910253.00/cwt253.00–253.002,3023
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1-2910234.00/cwt234.00–234.002,1291
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1978237.84/cwt225.00–241.002,3265
Bulls1100–1150Large 11,148214.00/cwt214.00–214.002,4574
Bulls1150–1200Large 11,173209.00/cwt209.00–209.002,4522
Bulls1200–1250Large 1-21,210180.00/cwt180.00–180.002,1782
Bulls1300–1350Large 11,300162.50/cwt162.50–162.502,1131
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,260130.50/cwt130.50–130.501,6441
Bulls——Return to Feed1,283135.82/cwt130.00–142.001,7432
Bulls——Return to Feed1,452160.76/cwt157.00–175.002,33411
Bulls——1,667150.47/cwt139.00–158.002,50812
Bulls——1,874161.73/cwt158.00–169.003,03110
Bulls——2,171183.10/cwt179.00–190.003,97510
Slaughter Cattle · Cows20 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight897107.37/cwt96.00–115.009633
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,14093.06/cwt84.00–99.001,0615
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,167129.27/cwt124.00–132.501,50998
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,171119.48/cwt107.50–123.501,39942
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,186112.32/cwt107.00–119.001,33210
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,200128.00/cwt128.00–128.001,5362
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,211135.68/cwt135.00–138.001,6437
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,390134.87/cwt126.00–143.001,875150
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,405142.00/cwt142.00–142.001,9952
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,415121.93/cwt108.00–126.001,72536
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,431149.39/cwt144.00–150.252,13844
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,438118.54/cwt118.00–119.001,7052
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,450128.17/cwt127.00–129.001,8586
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,462141.59/cwt139.00–144.002,07049
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,465128.22/cwt121.00–134.501,87812
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,565139.41/cwt136.00–141.002,1827
Cows—Premium White 65-75%1,730139.50/cwt139.50–139.502,4131
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,750131.39/cwt129.00–134.002,2992
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,821143.42/cwt143.00–146.002,6127
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,120138.86/cwt136.00–142.002,9442
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows10 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0642,450.00/head2,450.00–2,450.002,4505
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0942,050.00/head2,050.00–2,050.002,0506
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1652,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,2101,650.00/head1,650.00–1,650.001,6502
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2632,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2722,431.96/head2,400.00–2,450.002,4324
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2931,850.00/head1,850.00–1,850.001,8507
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3562,007.32/head2,000.00–2,025.002,0077
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3792,250.00/head2,250.00–2,250.002,2504
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,4302,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0001
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1750172.50/cwt170.00–175.001,2942
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2951167.33/cwt145.00–185.001,59112
Stock Cows—Medium 1968133.00/cwt133.00–133.001,2872
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,060183.51/cwt152.00–229.501,94569
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,129138.22/cwt127.50–145.001,56113
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,166127.41/cwt124.00–128.001,48613
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,170154.21/cwt139.50–200.001,80446
Stock Cows—Large 11,410161.00/cwt161.00–161.002,2701
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0002,250.00/head2,250.00–2,250.002,2503

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.