Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2026-02-05

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Feb 5
● Final108 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
2,562 head
▲ 2,153 vs last sale 409▲ 1,453 vs year ago 1,109 · +131.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
179 head
▼ 70 vs last sale 249▼ 306 vs year ago 485 · −63.1%
Replacement Cattle receipts
205 head
▲ 9 vs last sale 196▲ 0 vs year ago 205 · +0.0%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (1-29-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Last weeks sale featured mostly weigh up cows and bulls, while this weeks sale featured mostly feeder cattle. Demand for all feeder cattle was good to very good on moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to very attractive with many home raised offerings seen. Most feeder cattle were offered in moderate sized groups this sale with a few load lots on offer as well. Demand for cattle too big to go to grass sold was mostly very good. Private feeders and order buyers buying for packers both showed very good demand for this weight of cattle. Heifer demand was very good as well with replacement and feeding buyers both pushing to fill loads. Market activity was very active with rapid bidding seen from a large buyer pool. Internet bidding was active again this week. Weigh up cows sold on good demand for light to moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand was good to very good with a larger buyer pool actively buying cows to feed. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Some buyers were active in buying replacement cows as they tried to purchase weigh cows to re-pregnancy check. Very few slaughter cows were purchased this week as feeding demand and replacement demand pushed cow prices over where slaughter buyers wanted to buy cows. Breaking slaughter cows sold generally steady, boning cows and lean cows sold steady to weak. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average with many full to very full offerings noticed. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Several buyers purchased feeding bulls this week and these offerings sold mostly 5.00 higher. Young age offerings suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady. Quality this week was mostly average.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $475.77/cwt on 202 head. That ranks 15 of 22 comparable sales and sits +32.82 against this barn's trailing median of $442.94.
Average price
$475.77
202 head · 575 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,737
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$678
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 2
$102.88/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−5.40
vs MT average
−7.26 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1570492.882,808109
Medium and Large 1-2584460.242,68987
Large 2546390.002,1296thin
One grade step is worth $102.88/cwt here — about $678 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 sale202 hd
475.77
—
MT average2 barns · 260 hd
481.17
−5.40
National average143 barns · 13,122 hd
483.03
−7.26
This barn, trailing median22 sales
442.94
+32.82
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—Average1,877182.933,43436
CowsBreaker 75-80%Very Low1,605159.962,56722
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,404158.732,22869
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,086138.491,50443
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Low975100.009751thin

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/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,464$3,75014
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,163$3,5859
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,308$3,2002thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,518$3,15423
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,456$3,11214
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,437$3,0009
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,243$2,6504thin

Every lot

108 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 · Steers27 lots · lightest first
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2325625.00/cwt625.00–625.002,0311
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1330680.00/cwt680.00–680.002,2442
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1370627.26/cwt605.00–650.002,32117
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2410506.55/cwt500.00–520.002,0776
Steers400–450Large 1423557.50/cwt557.50–557.502,3585
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2428559.54/cwt552.50–587.502,39520
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1430600.63/cwt592.50–607.502,5839
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2462558.18/cwt550.00–565.002,5799
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1483559.49/cwt540.00–592.502,70284
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2535495.00/cwt495.00–495.002,6486
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1536513.73/cwt507.00–542.502,7547
Steers500–550Large 2546390.00/cwt390.00–390.002,1296
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1572491.45/cwt465.00–506.502,811102
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2588457.67/cwt425.00–474.502,69181
Steers600–650Large 1-2601431.00/cwt431.00–431.002,59082
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1625448.55/cwt430.00–467.502,80371
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2634425.23/cwt417.50–430.002,69628
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1675421.18/cwt409.00–435.002,84374
Steers650–700Large 1678404.00/cwt404.00–404.002,7392
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2687399.18/cwt399.00–400.002,74211
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2708385.00/cwt385.00–385.002,7262
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1736393.92/cwt389.50–409.002,899105
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1752385.96/cwt380.00–392.502,902179
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1815367.68/cwt358.00–377.002,99772
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1865360.51/cwt350.00–361.503,118107
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1923358.00/cwt358.00–358.003,30463
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1966346.00/cwt346.00–346.003,34214
Feeder Cattle · Heifers29 lots · lightest first
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2307530.00/cwt530.00–530.001,6273
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1343590.00/cwt590.00–590.002,0242
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 2343490.00/cwt490.00–490.001,6812
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1372582.07/cwt574.00–592.502,16544
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2384537.17/cwt520.00–540.002,0637
Heifers400–450Large 1418450.00/cwt450.00–450.001,8814
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2427507.85/cwt465.00–520.002,16936
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1428524.53/cwt505.00–532.502,24540
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1484491.11/cwt480.00–502.502,37738
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2489464.48/cwt457.50–475.002,2715
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Replacement515457.00/cwt457.00–457.002,35431
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1522474.05/cwt455.00–480.002,47576
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2539414.30/cwt400.00–430.002,23324
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Replacement571446.00/cwt446.00–446.002,54776
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1577433.71/cwt432.50–435.002,50327
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2597404.00/cwt404.00–404.002,4126
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2616375.00/cwt375.00–375.002,31010
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1621409.05/cwt390.00–423.002,540105
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2660364.00/cwt364.00–364.002,4023
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1665380.03/cwt369.00–392.002,52770
Heifers650–700Large 1686365.00/cwt365.00–365.002,5044
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Fleshy697360.99/cwt360.00–363.002,51618
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1718362.70/cwt354.00–372.502,604130
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1Replacement723361.00/cwt361.00–361.002,6104
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2729350.36/cwt339.00–355.002,5547
Heifers700–750Large 1735353.00/cwt353.00–353.002,5952
Heifers750–800Large 1750369.00/cwt369.00–369.002,7682
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1783355.46/cwt347.00–359.002,78370
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1911325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,9618
Feeder Cattle · Bulls10 lots · lightest first
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1-2330630.00/cwt630.00–630.002,0791
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1340634.35/cwt632.50–640.002,1574
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1393627.50/cwt627.50–627.502,4662
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1423564.94/cwt520.00–575.002,39011
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1542455.00/cwt455.00–455.002,46610
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1620380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,3562
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1729362.50/cwt362.50–362.502,6434
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1845340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,8731
Bulls1000–1050Large 1-21,035270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,7951
Bulls1300–1350Large 11,315207.00/cwt207.00–207.002,7221
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,754167.97/cwt161.00–178.002,9464
Bulls——Return to Feed1,774185.59/cwt184.50–188.003,29214
Bulls——1,971190.73/cwt190.00–194.003,75913
Bulls——2,021167.19/cwt161.00–171.003,3795
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight806119.76/cwt117.50–125.009658
Cows—Boner 80-85%Light Weight945140.00/cwt140.00–140.001,3232
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight965125.00/cwt125.00–125.001,2061
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,060133.00/cwt133.00–133.001,4101
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,066140.06/cwt127.00–154.001,4936
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,121117.65/cwt105.00–124.001,3199
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,160165.04/cwt164.00–167.501,9147
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,20095.73/cwt95.00–97.501,1493
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,251174.69/cwt174.00–177.002,1858
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,358176.52/cwt176.00–177.002,3973
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,388124.97/cwt122.50–127.501,7352
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,404145.88/cwt144.00–149.002,04812
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,414136.10/cwt129.00–145.001,92410
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,428169.53/cwt164.00–172.002,42140
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,458163.00/cwt163.00–163.002,3773
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,460177.00/cwt177.00–177.002,5841
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,601160.94/cwt160.00–162.002,57712
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,698165.00/cwt163.00–167.002,8023
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,723142.28/cwt141.00–144.002,4513
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%975100.00/cwt100.00–100.009751
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1780295.00/cwt295.00–295.002,3011
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2903268.19/cwt260.00–275.002,4222
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2996215.18/cwt175.00–250.002,1439
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,005284.25/cwt240.00–310.002,85737
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,035165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,7081
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,058246.98/cwt130.00–315.002,61333
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,194222.05/cwt212.50–225.002,6515
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,382169.33/cwt155.00–175.002,34013
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows10 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Small and Medium 2-3763165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,25913
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1633,585.23/head3,350.00–3,625.003,5859
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2432,650.00/head2,650.00–2,650.002,6504
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3032,650.00/head2,650.00–2,650.002,6503
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3083,200.00/head3,200.00–3,200.003,2002
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3452,850.00/head2,850.00–2,850.002,8501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4373,000.00/head3,000.00–3,000.003,0009
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4563,111.55/head3,000.00–3,250.003,11214
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4643,750.00/head3,750.00–3,750.003,75014
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5613,250.00/head3,250.00–3,250.003,25019

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.