Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2026-01-08

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jan 8
● Final109 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
3,286 head
▲ 1,966 vs last sale 1,320▼ 662 vs year ago 3,948 · −16.8%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
189 head
▼ 543 vs last sale 732▲ 52 vs year ago 137 · +38.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
110 head
▼ 579 vs last sale 689▲ 69 vs year ago 41 · +168.3%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (12-18-25): Steer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however sharply higher undertones were noticed. 450-550 lbs sold 25.00-30.00 higher, steers 550-649 lbs sold 15.00-20.00 higher, steer calves over 650 lbs were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Heifer calves under 650 lbs all sold 35.00-50.00 higher, heifers over 650 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand for all classes and weights of feeder cattle was good to very good on moderate offerings. A large buyer pool was on hand for the first feeder special of 2026 and buyers came with orders and ready to buy! Demand for all offerings was good to very good, especially for cattle light enough to go to grass and develop into yearlings. Demand for heifers was very good with several buyers purchasing heifers for replacements. Quality this week was average to attractive. No full load lots on offer this sale. Many partial loads were offered this sale with the bulk of packages ranging from 25-50 head. Small packages and singles sold with moderate to good demand as well, as buyers showed good demand for all cattle on offer. Market activity was active with a large crowd on hand actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cows sold on mostly good demand as buyers pushed to fill loads for the week. Compared to three weeks ago feeding cows sold 1.00-3.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00 higher on breaking cows, while boning and lean cows sold steady to 3.00 higher. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly moderate demand for light offerings. These offerings sold generally steady in a narrow comparison.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $484.17/cwt on 399 head. That ranks 15 of 22 comparable sales and sits +41.23 against this barn's trailing median of $442.94.
Average price
$484.17
399 head · 550 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,664
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$94
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$18.14/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+2.49
vs MT average
+17.84 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1551487.602,687322
Medium 1543470.002,55252
Medium and Large 1-2552469.462,59325
One grade step is worth $18.14/cwt here — about $94 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 sale399 hd
484.17
—
MT average3 barns · 486 hd
481.68
+2.49
National average195 barns · 28,890 hd
466.33
+17.84
This barn, trailing median22 sales
442.94
+41.23
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—Low1,914175.643,3617thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,560171.162,67027
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,419160.622,27986
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,163143.861,67353
Dairy CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,225128.001,5681thin

Every lot

109 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 · Steers42 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1280720.00/cwt720.00–720.002,0162
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2303665.00/cwt665.00–665.002,0152
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1343700.00/cwt700.00–700.002,4013
Steers350–400Medium 1363585.00/cwt585.00–585.002,12415
Steers350–400Medium and Large 2375445.00/cwt445.00–445.001,6693
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1383655.59/cwt640.00–680.002,51116
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2384610.00/cwt610.00–610.002,3429
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2421568.91/cwt555.00–590.002,39512
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned423605.03/cwt595.00–620.002,55910
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1428603.28/cwt589.00–635.002,58267
Steers400–450Medium 1430562.50/cwt562.50–562.502,41929
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1477557.87/cwt536.00–590.002,661123
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned485552.50/cwt552.50–552.502,68012
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2491515.54/cwt500.00–520.002,53117
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1525507.61/cwt485.00–540.002,665151
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned531520.00/cwt520.00–520.002,76114
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2543478.08/cwt475.00–487.502,59620
Steers500–550Medium 1543470.00/cwt470.00–470.002,55252
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned555480.00/cwt480.00–480.002,66418
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1581463.59/cwt445.00–482.502,693139
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2590434.97/cwt427.50–440.002,5665
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned613412.50/cwt412.50–412.502,5296
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1630439.69/cwt424.00–456.002,770133
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned632438.04/cwt434.00–445.002,768113
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2635405.87/cwt395.00–422.002,57715
Steers650–700Large 1650365.00/cwt365.00–365.002,3734
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned656367.50/cwt367.50–367.502,4115
Steers650–700Medium 1674342.50/cwt342.50–342.502,3085
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2675378.19/cwt355.00–392.502,55318
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1676413.29/cwt400.00–426.002,794164
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1Unweaned710389.00/cwt389.00–389.002,7622
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2716375.47/cwt375.00–377.002,68813
Steers700–750Medium and Large 2723355.00/cwt355.00–355.002,5672
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1737391.56/cwt383.00–400.002,88666
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1Fancy755400.00/cwt400.00–400.003,02061
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1776371.22/cwt368.00–380.002,88138
Steers750–800Large 1778356.00/cwt356.00–356.002,7706
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2779359.53/cwt352.00–361.002,8016
Steers800–850Large 1829345.00/cwt345.00–345.002,8607
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2840348.33/cwt346.00–349.002,92644
Steers850–900Large 1860343.00/cwt343.00–343.002,9503
Steers900–950Large 1935329.00/cwt329.00–329.003,0765
Feeder Cattle · Heifers36 lots · lightest first
Heifers200–250Medium and Large 1-2232550.00/cwt550.00–550.001,2765
Heifers250–300Medium 1278520.00/cwt520.00–520.001,4463
Heifers300–350Medium 1314590.00/cwt590.00–590.001,8535
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2329545.87/cwt530.00–560.001,7964
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1333577.07/cwt565.00–580.001,9225
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2358525.00/cwt525.00–525.001,8802
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1380544.60/cwt537.50–550.002,06914
Heifers350–400Medium 1391525.00/cwt525.00–525.002,05333
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 2393500.00/cwt500.00–500.001,9653
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1416511.29/cwt500.00–530.002,12763
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned417503.60/cwt500.00–530.002,10024
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2446482.30/cwt480.00–492.502,15117
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2464425.79/cwt420.00–430.001,9767
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2470462.28/cwt453.00–470.002,17330
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1478484.79/cwt475.00–500.002,31773
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned480484.04/cwt457.50–495.002,32329
Heifers500–550Large 1520432.50/cwt432.50–432.502,2493
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1524453.15/cwt435.00–479.002,375160
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed533488.42/cwt485.00–490.002,60361
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2534420.97/cwt397.00–435.002,24851
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned541419.00/cwt419.00–419.002,26717
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1577430.45/cwt420.00–436.002,48467
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2581407.73/cwt365.00–417.502,36941
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Fleshy585350.00/cwt350.00–350.002,0484
Heifers550–600Medium 1588330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,9404
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned604419.00/cwt419.00–419.002,53126
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1618399.58/cwt380.00–416.002,469122
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Replacement623408.69/cwt388.00–423.002,54633
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2628378.52/cwt322.50–396.002,37765
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2662333.93/cwt332.50–340.002,21116
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1674372.88/cwt350.00–382.002,51327
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2690325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,2432
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Replacement694369.46/cwt368.50–390.002,564122
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1Fleshy708322.50/cwt322.50–322.502,2839
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1719354.13/cwt350.00–361.002,54613
Heifers750–800Large 1757315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,3853
Feeder Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1447480.00/cwt480.00–480.002,1463
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2541410.00/cwt410.00–410.002,2188
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1564412.30/cwt400.00–420.002,32510
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2619385.00/cwt385.00–385.002,3837
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,779168.62/cwt167.00–171.003,0004
Bulls——1,805187.00/cwt187.00–187.003,3751
Bulls——1,860184.00/cwt184.00–184.003,4221
Bulls——Heavy Weight2,615184.00/cwt184.00–184.004,8121
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight869125.79/cwt122.50–130.001,0934
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight984100.62/cwt100.00–102.509904
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,197130.25/cwt125.00–133.001,5596
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,204161.84/cwt150.00–163.001,94932
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,214108.39/cwt102.50–125.001,3167
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,360125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,7001
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,365136.24/cwt127.50–139.001,86013
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,416173.57/cwt172.00–177.002,45831
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,427139.84/cwt128.00–150.001,9968
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,442164.18/cwt154.00–171.002,36733
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,496175.25/cwt173.00–175.502,62221
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,580138.00/cwt138.00–138.002,1801
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,690148.00/cwt148.00–148.002,5011
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,725166.33/cwt161.00–171.002,8693
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,258156.00/cwt156.00–156.003,5221
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Boner 80-85%1,225128.00/cwt128.00–128.001,5681
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1795217.50/cwt217.50–217.501,7291
Stock Cows—Large 1860240.00/cwt240.00–240.002,0641
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2936228.71/cwt214.00–240.002,1415
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 21,000190.28/cwt185.00–195.001,9032
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,102242.52/cwt190.00–315.002,67374
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,211177.75/cwt177.00–181.002,15311
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,265162.06/cwt158.00–166.002,0502

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.