Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-09-25

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Sep 25
● Final144 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
2,428 head
▲ 2,109 vs last sale 319▼ 90 vs year ago 2,518 · −3.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
590 head
▲ 321 vs last sale 269▲ 236 vs year ago 354 · +66.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
202 head
▲ 114 vs last sale 88▲ 113 vs year ago 89 · +127.0%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last reported sale (9-11-25): All feeder cattle were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Yearlings and calves both sold on uneven demand for moderate offerings. CME positions traded lower today and buyers showed some caution as they bid on offerings. Demand did improved as buyers started loads. Quality was mixed from plain to attractive with lots of variation noticed. Feeders were mixed for package size. A few load lots of yearlings sold today and these offerings were met with mostly good to very good demand. Packages of feeders sold on lighter demand as buyers had to pick through offerings to find like quality cattle. Market activity was moderate to active. A large crowd was on hand for todays sale with many order buyers and farmer feeders noticed. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows were to lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed. Feeding demand was so strong packers only purchased very blemished cows for harvest. Feeding cow demand was very good this sale. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher on boning flesh cows. Lean feeding cows sold sharply higher with most sales 8.00-10.00 higher. These cows had the most compensatory gain and buyers showed good demand for these offerings as a result. Weigh up conditions were mostly average this week. Cow quality was mostly average to attractive this sale. Slaughter bulls sold on mostly moderate demand for light offerings. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Several packages of thin fleshed bulls continue to be purchased to feed. Feeding bulls sold unevenly steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly very good demand. Some older offerings are being purchased to rebreed for fall calving. Additionally, some cows are being sold as exposed and are bringing strong premiums to feeding cows. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Too few offerings were seen to develop an accurate market trend, however sharply higher undertones were noticed.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $386.08/cwt on 124 head. That ranks 8 of 23 comparable sales and sits −25.54 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$386.08
124 head · 532 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,056
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$116
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1-2
$48.65/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−0.05
vs MT average
+20.23 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1533401.152,13668
Medium 1502397.001,99312thin
Large 1510367.501,87410thin
Medium and Large 1-2535360.681,93121
Medium 1-2573352.502,02013thin
One grade step is worth $48.65/cwt here — about $116 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 sale124 hd
386.08
—
MT average3 barns · 136 hd
386.13
−0.05
National average172 barns · 11,458 hd
365.85
+20.23
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−25.54
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—Low1,793182.123,26547
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,393171.992,397326
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,591165.912,64032
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,166155.621,81486

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 Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,292$3,21429
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,533$3,1003thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,393$2,83439
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,733$4,19228
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,569$4,1707
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,471$3,31914

Every lot

144 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 · Steers44 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned270660.00/cwt660.00–660.001,7821
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned326615.83/cwt595.00–617.502,00828
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned346575.00/cwt575.00–575.001,9908
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned374566.26/cwt562.50–595.002,11846
Steers350–400Large 1Unweaned377530.00/cwt530.00–530.001,9986
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned380540.00/cwt540.00–540.002,0521
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned444512.42/cwt500.00–530.002,27521
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned446492.57/cwt460.00–505.002,19723
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned470490.10/cwt475.00–515.002,30354
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned473433.32/cwt425.00–450.002,0509
Steers450–500Large 1Unweaned484427.50/cwt427.50–427.502,06917
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2Unweaned493445.00/cwt445.00–445.002,1942
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned528451.27/cwt430.00–466.002,38364
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned538411.96/cwt404.00–420.002,2164
Steers500–550Large 1Unweaned540435.00/cwt435.00–435.002,3492
Steers500–550Medium 1546427.19/cwt420.00–429.002,33220
Steers550–600Medium 1569420.69/cwt420.00–421.002,39426
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned573426.99/cwt421.00–431.002,44748
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned582400.06/cwt382.50–409.002,32817
Steers600–650Large 1610402.50/cwt402.50–402.502,45517
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1618420.00/cwt420.00–420.002,59612
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned620416.28/cwt397.00–421.002,5815
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1653417.00/cwt417.00–417.002,72313
Steers650–700Medium 1Full662370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,4496
Steers650–700Medium 1669388.06/cwt371.00–400.002,59610
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned691367.59/cwt367.00–370.002,5405
Steers650–700Medium and Large 2693360.00/cwt360.00–360.002,4957
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1Full711388.00/cwt388.00–388.002,75919
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1725409.00/cwt409.00–409.002,9653
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2726371.22/cwt370.00–380.002,69524
Steers700–750Medium and Large 2730346.08/cwt342.00–350.002,5268
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned762371.00/cwt371.00–371.002,8277
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1778388.98/cwt385.00–393.003,02634
Steers750–800Medium and Large 2778360.64/cwt354.00–367.502,8064
Steers800–850Medium and Large 2828320.00/cwt320.00–320.002,6503
Steers800–850Large 1838335.00/cwt335.00–335.002,8072
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1-2855352.14/cwt350.00–353.003,01114
Steers850–900Large 1870337.00/cwt337.00–337.002,93210
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1905356.79/cwt351.00–358.003,22976
Steers950–1000Large 1970314.00/cwt314.00–314.003,04627
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1984330.00/cwt330.00–330.003,24717
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 2993316.00/cwt316.00–316.003,1383
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,031312.00/cwt312.00–312.003,2174
Steers1050–1100Medium and Large 1Full1,063305.00/cwt305.00–305.003,2423
Feeder Cattle · Heifers46 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned287597.16/cwt560.00–640.001,71430
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned327577.73/cwt560.00–582.501,88934
Heifers350–400Large 1362427.50/cwt427.50–427.501,5485
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned365455.43/cwt420.00–475.001,6623
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned372516.09/cwt500.00–535.001,92013
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1399480.00/cwt480.00–480.001,91521
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned419480.93/cwt457.50–503.002,01577
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned436443.77/cwt420.00–447.501,93519
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1458436.00/cwt436.00–436.001,99715
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned460402.50/cwt402.50–402.501,8521
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned470422.06/cwt410.00–455.001,98427
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2496390.00/cwt390.00–390.001,9348
Heifers500–550Medium 1502397.00/cwt397.00–397.001,99312
Heifers500–550Large 1510367.50/cwt367.50–367.501,87410
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned520413.71/cwt406.00–425.002,15152
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned530360.84/cwt353.00–374.001,91217
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned558360.00/cwt360.00–360.002,0094
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1562357.50/cwt357.50–357.502,0097
Heifers550–600Medium 1-2573352.50/cwt352.50–352.502,02013
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned582362.52/cwt347.50–369.002,1109
Heifers600–650Medium 1-2632349.21/cwt347.50–352.502,2076
Heifers600–650Medium 1634380.72/cwt373.00–383.502,41431
Heifers650–700Medium 1659369.44/cwt360.00–370.002,43518
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1663375.00/cwt375.00–375.002,4866
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1724378.11/cwt372.00–379.002,73873
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2743360.63/cwt353.00–362.002,67913
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1755357.00/cwt357.00–357.002,69516
Heifers750–800Medium 1778333.00/cwt333.00–333.002,5916
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 2779310.00/cwt310.00–310.002,4158
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1833338.46/cwt332.00–345.002,819187
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2842308.64/cwt303.00–311.002,59910
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy849311.00/cwt311.00–311.002,6405
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2858312.00/cwt312.00–312.002,6773
Heifers850–900Large 1865308.00/cwt308.00–308.002,6643
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1Full879320.00/cwt320.00–320.002,8137
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1888333.27/cwt328.50–343.002,95926
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1923330.23/cwt321.00–334.003,048127
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2923298.00/cwt298.00–298.002,7514
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1974314.26/cwt309.00–318.003,061210
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1Full979304.92/cwt293.00–309.002,9858
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,023303.55/cwt300.00–311.003,10512
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 1Full1,041290.47/cwt287.50–295.003,0245
Heifers1050–1100Large 11,070301.50/cwt290.00–307.503,22648
Heifers1100–1150Large 11,123283.49/cwt277.00–285.003,18427
Heifers1150–1200Large 11,150281.00/cwt281.00–281.003,2327
Heifers1250–1300Large 1Full1,280255.00/cwt255.00–255.003,2644
Feeder Cattle · Bulls16 lots · lightest first
Bulls200–250Medium and Large 1Unweaned215700.00/cwt700.00–700.001,5052
Bulls250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned282627.32/cwt625.00–630.001,76918
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned340548.54/cwt545.00–560.001,86513
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned393525.00/cwt525.00–525.002,0636
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned468461.30/cwt445.00–470.002,15918
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned476445.00/cwt445.00–445.002,1188
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned502410.00/cwt410.00–410.002,0583
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned511430.00/cwt430.00–430.002,1975
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned572402.00/cwt402.00–402.002,29926
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned591385.00/cwt385.00–385.002,2754
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned624397.00/cwt397.00–397.002,4775
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned725370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,6832
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1908329.00/cwt323.00–337.002,9877
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1954314.00/cwt314.00–314.002,9967
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 11,000312.00/cwt312.00–312.003,1203
Bulls1050–1100Large 11,075262.50/cwt262.50–262.502,8222
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,569192.78/cwt186.00–196.003,02511
Bulls——Return to Feed1,738169.01/cwt161.00–184.002,93722
Bulls——1,883176.89/cwt170.00–183.003,3312
Bulls——2,017194.90/cwt191.00–197.003,9315
Bulls——2,118202.74/cwt199.00–205.004,2945
Bulls——2,120186.00/cwt186.00–186.003,9431
Bulls——2,200193.00/cwt193.00–193.004,2461
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight810105.00/cwt105.00–105.008511
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,159171.48/cwt164.00–173.501,98738
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,173162.40/cwt155.00–166.001,90523
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,184124.29/cwt110.00–139.001,47222
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,195146.24/cwt145.00–147.501,7482
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,369171.40/cwt163.00–175.002,346167
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,398137.23/cwt135.00–140.001,9183
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,417176.03/cwt175.00–177.002,494135
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,430155.89/cwt141.00–162.002,22919
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,493153.79/cwt153.00–154.502,2962
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,501173.88/cwt173.00–174.002,6109
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,574165.00/cwt162.00–169.002,59716
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,650169.00/cwt169.00–169.002,7892
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,762154.77/cwt149.00–158.002,7273
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,775137.00/cwt137.00–137.002,4321
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,855165.00/cwt165.00–165.003,0611
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs5 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,4673,255.22/head3,150.00–3,450.003,25512
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4953,700.00/head3,700.00–3,700.003,7002
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5694,169.90/head4,150.00–4,200.004,1707
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS1,6123,850.00/head3,850.00–3,850.003,8506
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,7664,285.00/head4,285.00–4,285.004,28522
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1785255.00/cwt255.00–255.002,0021
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1984290.65/cwt265.00–296.002,8606
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2985232.50/cwt232.50–232.502,2901
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,095245.39/cwt191.00–276.002,68716
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,153201.94/cwt182.00–227.502,3282
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,419173.00/cwt173.00–173.002,4554
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,473204.00/cwt204.00–204.003,0052
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2923,213.74/head3,050.00–3,400.003,21429
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3932,834.48/head2,800.00–2,850.002,83439
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5333,100.00/head3,100.00–3,100.003,1003

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.