Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2026-02-12

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Feb 12
● Final102 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
2,413 head
▼ 149 vs last sale 2,562▲ 696 vs year ago 1,717 · +40.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
132 head
▼ 47 vs last sale 179▲ 66 vs year ago 66 · +100.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
151 head
▼ 54 vs last sale 205▲ 104 vs year ago 47 · +221.3%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (2-05-26): Feeder sold generally steady to 5.00 higher on all weight classes. Feeder heifers under 500 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher, all other weights of heifers sold generally steady, with the exception of 600-649 lbs heifers which sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. 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 with several order buyers buying for packers noticed. Cattle overall were more fleshy this week as most large offerings were out of backgrounding lots. Cattle were very clean as weather conditions have been mostly dry with little to no snow. Market activity was very active with rapid bidding seen. A smaller buyer pool was noticed this week, however demand was similar to last week. 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. Feeding cows sold mostly steady. 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. Slaughter cows were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this week. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher in a very 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 were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average. Demand for replacement cows was very good as buyers showed willingness to buy older cows to try and rebreed.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $508.50/cwt on 257 head. That ranks 20 of 22 comparable sales and sits +65.55 against this barn's trailing median of $442.94.
Average price
$508.50
257 head · 546 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,776
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$254
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$35.70/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+9.03
vs MT average
+30.11 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1546510.402,787243
Large 1574477.502,7414thin
Medium and Large 1-2534474.702,53210thin
One grade step is worth $35.70/cwt here — about $254 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 600–700 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 sale257 hd
508.50
—
MT average3 barns · 402 hd
499.47
+9.03
National average184 barns · 16,706 hd
478.39
+30.11
This barn, trailing median22 sales
442.94
+65.55
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—High1,816189.503,44121
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,435167.782,40820
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,610165.582,66515
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,119146.261,63730

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)1,200$3,5502thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,225$3,1503thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,350$3,1502thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,492$2,8005
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,354$2,2757

Every lot

102 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 · Steers34 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 2276550.00/cwt550.00–550.001,5187
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2310625.31/cwt590.00–645.001,9386
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2378568.78/cwt552.50–585.002,15063
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1400605.00/cwt605.00–605.002,4201
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2438578.78/cwt525.00–589.002,53563
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1476568.00/cwt468.00–595.002,70486
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2483562.50/cwt562.50–562.502,7172
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2508496.14/cwt490.00–505.002,5205
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1519530.78/cwt500.00–556.002,755132
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2559453.25/cwt440.00–472.502,5345
Steers550–600Large 1574477.50/cwt477.50–477.502,7414
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1578486.16/cwt465.00–491.002,810111
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2628432.08/cwt428.00–435.002,71321
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1637452.18/cwt447.50–467.502,88033
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1673427.93/cwt416.00–450.002,88033
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2678401.12/cwt380.00–419.002,72015
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Fleshy690390.55/cwt385.00–396.002,69510
Steers650–700Large 1694374.00/cwt374.00–374.002,5965
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1720395.49/cwt384.00–413.002,84871
Steers700–750Medium 1720350.00/cwt350.00–350.002,5202
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1Fleshy735370.60/cwt367.50–380.002,72424
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1768379.72/cwt374.00–382.002,91697
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1Fleshy794356.00/cwt356.00–356.002,8275
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1821362.72/cwt360.00–369.002,97868
Steers800–850Large 1828356.00/cwt356.00–356.002,9482
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1Fleshy840341.24/cwt340.00–345.002,8664
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1Fleshy868349.00/cwt349.00–349.003,0294
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1-2878343.00/cwt343.00–343.003,01218
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1880365.00/cwt365.00–365.003,212121
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1910360.00/cwt360.00–360.003,27660
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1-2929329.68/cwt323.00–331.003,0636
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1Fleshy931338.00/cwt338.00–338.003,14722
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1Fleshy965340.00/cwt340.00–340.003,2813
Steers950–1000Large 1974339.00/cwt339.00–339.003,30210
Feeder Cattle · Heifers29 lots · lightest first
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2363518.10/cwt500.00–540.001,88112
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1365558.46/cwt552.50–580.002,03846
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1421526.69/cwt520.00–540.002,21753
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2421501.69/cwt500.00–505.002,1129
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1470510.17/cwt495.00–522.502,39860
Heifers450–500Medium 1478460.00/cwt460.00–460.002,1993
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2496475.51/cwt472.50–489.002,35948
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1532469.88/cwt460.00–490.002,500139
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2539423.95/cwt420.00–450.002,28522
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2568416.26/cwt405.00–422.502,3649
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1591430.27/cwt425.00–460.002,543187
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 2608362.00/cwt350.00–370.002,2015
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1617416.91/cwt407.00–426.002,57265
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2641399.00/cwt399.00–399.002,5586
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2678320.00/cwt320.00–320.002,1702
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1680379.68/cwt368.00–385.002,58265
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2686364.15/cwt357.50–365.002,49826
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2705354.00/cwt354.00–354.002,49614
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1724358.64/cwt354.00–364.002,59751
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1Fleshy737348.00/cwt348.00–348.002,5653
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1Fleshy766344.90/cwt344.00–347.002,64210
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2772348.00/cwt348.00–348.002,68716
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2810324.00/cwt324.00–324.002,6247
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1826343.99/cwt338.00–347.002,84199
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy837310.00/cwt310.00–310.002,5953
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1Fleshy840325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,73019
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1882330.00/cwt330.00–330.002,91130
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 2908303.00/cwt303.00–303.002,7514
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy911275.00/cwt275.00–275.002,5054
Feeder Cattle · Bulls10 lots · lightest first
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1487490.09/cwt487.50–505.002,38713
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1522511.41/cwt510.00–515.002,67011
Bulls500–550Medium 1-2525405.00/cwt405.00–405.002,12615
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2540485.00/cwt485.00–485.002,6192
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2578400.00/cwt400.00–400.002,3124
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1625405.00/cwt405.00–405.002,5312
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1671385.21/cwt370.00–401.002,5854
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1-2798312.50/cwt312.50–312.502,4942
Bulls1250–1300Large 11,253235.00/cwt235.00–235.002,9452
Bulls1450–1500Large 11,465210.00/cwt210.00–210.003,0773
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,220156.00/cwt156.00–156.001,9031
Bulls——1,535174.51/cwt171.00–178.002,6792
Bulls——Return to Feed1,624191.25/cwt189.00–193.503,1067
Bulls——2,035192.97/cwt190.00–197.003,92710
Bulls——2,130206.00/cwt206.00–206.004,3881
Slaughter Cattle · Cows9 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight965135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,3031
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,077116.25/cwt112.50–123.001,2524
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,082139.79/cwt135.00–154.001,51312
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,178162.34/cwt162.00–166.001,91213
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,434167.35/cwt160.00–170.002,40019
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,455176.00/cwt176.00–176.002,5611
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,572168.67/cwt164.00–173.002,65112
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,685148.82/cwt145.00–152.002,5082
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,910162.00/cwt162.00–162.003,0941
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1-2800225.00/cwt225.00–225.001,8001
Stock Cows—Medium 1882265.00/cwt265.00–265.002,3373
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2960273.31/cwt230.00–285.002,6245
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,043281.06/cwt212.50–315.002,93132
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,126249.04/cwt207.00–285.002,80423
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,183197.71/cwt181.00–215.002,3399
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,260170.39/cwt168.00–178.002,1474
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,316178.25/cwt170.50–183.002,34612
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows7 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2003,550.00/head3,550.00–3,550.003,5502
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2253,150.00/head3,150.00–3,150.003,1503
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,300161.00/cwt161.00–161.002,0933
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3503,150.00/head3,150.00–3,150.003,1502
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3542,275.00/head2,275.00–2,275.002,2757
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,4772,712.32/head2,700.00–2,725.002,7124
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5503,150.00/head3,150.00–3,150.003,1501

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.