Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2026-06-04

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jun 4
● Final97 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
255 head
▼ 467 vs last sale 722▲ 11 vs year ago 244 · +4.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
412 head
▲ 56 vs last sale 356▼ 57 vs year ago 469 · −12.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
212 head
▼ 709 vs last sale 921▲ 23 vs year ago 189 · +12.2%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (5-28-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on steers and steady undertones were noticed on heifers on a lower quality offering. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive, but overall was not as attractive as last week. CME Feeder cattle futures hit the 10.75 limit today after USDA confirmed the first U.S. case of New World screwworm. Recent rainfall across dry northern Plains areas also helped boost demand as buyers purchased some cattle to turn out on summer pastures. Demand was mostly good to very good for light offerings. Most offerings were offered in small groups this week. A small to moderate size crowd was on hand for todays sale. Market activity was mostly active. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand and offerings. Demand for feeding cows was mostly moderate to good. Canadian buyers were back in the market this week. American packers tried to buy cows lower but with Canadian and private feeders both in the market, feeding cows sold fully steady on all classes. Cow quality this week was mostly average. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly light. Too few slaughter cows were seen to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Demand for blemished or slightly lame feeding cows was good and most offerings sold over slaughter cow orders this week. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower on lighter demand from all packer buyers. Demand for feeding bull was good to very good. Some feeding bulls sold higher than slaughter bulls on a dressed basis as feeding bull buyers continue to purchase thin and lower yielding bulls to put on feed to improve yield. Bull quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Feeding bulls sold mostly steady to weak due to lighter demand from packers. Young age offerings suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average. Demand for young rebreed cows improved this week as rains helped improve pasture and range conditions across the plains.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $431.36/cwt on 11 head, up $19.74 from the prior sale. That ranks 16 of 23 comparable sales and sits +19.74 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$431.36
▲ 19.74 vs prior sale
11 head · 572 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,467
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$348
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1
$32.50/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+18.24
vs MT average
+26.60 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1582440.002,5618thin
Medium and Large 1-2550410.002,2551thin
Medium 1543407.502,2132thin
One grade step is worth $32.50/cwt here — about $348 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 sale11 hd
431.36
—
MT average3 barns · 24 hd
413.13
+18.24
National average170 barns · 11,904 hd
404.76
+26.60
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
+19.74
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—High1,845216.263,99155
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,402183.292,569132
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,625178.672,90348
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,135164.301,86489

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 Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,364$3,5986
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,312$3,5833thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,415$3,5001thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,340$3,4751thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,610$3,4502thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,433$3,3355
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,455$3,2001thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,428$3,0504thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,215$2,7001thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,514$2,7004thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,345$2,6001thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,405$3,6001thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,280$3,5493thin
BullsN/A(<2 yrs)1,313$4,2003thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,695$4,3252thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,370$4,3001thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,505$4,0001thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,668$3,9504thin

Every lot

97 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 · Steers14 lots · lightest first
Steers350–400Medium 1-2375470.00/cwt470.00–470.001,7633
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1509546.00/cwt546.00–546.002,77923
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1569493.06/cwt482.50–501.002,80614
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2648430.00/cwt430.00–430.002,7862
Steers650–700Medium and Large 2655355.00/cwt355.00–355.002,3251
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1662445.00/cwt445.00–445.002,94626
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2680405.00/cwt405.00–405.002,7541
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1701423.50/cwt415.00–427.002,9696
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2730385.00/cwt385.00–385.002,8111
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1805386.00/cwt386.00–386.003,1074
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2835357.00/cwt357.00–357.002,9811
Steers850–900Medium and Large 2875315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,7561
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1-2915310.00/cwt310.00–310.002,8371
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,010308.00/cwt308.00–308.003,1111
Feeder Cattle · Heifers11 lots · lightest first
Heifers500–550Medium 1543407.50/cwt407.50–407.502,2132
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2550410.00/cwt410.00–410.002,2551
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1582440.00/cwt432.50–441.002,5618
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1641390.19/cwt388.00–407.002,50117
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1717379.00/cwt379.00–379.002,7173
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2736354.85/cwt325.00–361.002,6129
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2773340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,6285
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1778362.63/cwt347.00–367.002,82131
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1812348.00/cwt348.00–348.002,8263
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2828325.22/cwt316.00–334.002,6934
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2867335.00/cwt335.00–335.002,9047
Feeder Cattle · Bulls15 lots · lightest first
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned300555.00/cwt555.00–555.001,6652
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2466472.60/cwt470.00–480.002,2024
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2590400.00/cwt400.00–400.002,3601
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2603385.00/cwt385.00–385.002,3223
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1609407.50/cwt407.50–407.502,4826
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1-2675373.17/cwt371.00–380.002,5194
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1760367.50/cwt367.50–367.502,7932
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1-2798328.00/cwt328.00–328.002,6172
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1-2835322.47/cwt312.50–327.502,6933
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1-2888318.00/cwt318.00–318.002,8242
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1920321.00/cwt321.00–321.002,9531
Bulls1100–1150Large 11,142275.00/cwt275.00–275.003,1415
Bulls1150–1200Large 11,155263.00/cwt263.00–263.003,0381
Bulls1250–1300Large 11,257232.17/cwt232.00–232.502,9183
Bulls1350–1400Large 11,383232.00/cwt232.00–232.003,2093
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,425189.58/cwt180.00–200.002,7022
Bulls——Return to Feed1,618216.33/cwt212.50–221.003,50021
Bulls——Return to Feed1,703206.88/cwt201.00–210.003,5233
Bulls——1,705185.00/cwt185.00–185.003,1541
Bulls——1,972216.55/cwt215.00–219.004,27015
Bulls——2,162225.35/cwt221.00–239.004,87212
Bulls——2,330214.00/cwt214.00–214.004,9861
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight81598.79/cwt85.00–105.008053
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight908131.72/cwt124.00–137.501,1967
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight960162.19/cwt157.00–164.001,5574
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,090120.24/cwt117.50–122.001,3113
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,138128.37/cwt126.00–130.001,4617
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,153171.89/cwt156.00–176.501,98223
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,161150.60/cwt147.00–161.001,7485
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,199183.48/cwt179.00–186.502,20033
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,230188.50/cwt188.00–189.002,3192
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,377188.13/cwt186.50–193.002,59155
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,383178.78/cwt172.50–184.002,4732
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,415168.40/cwt158.00–174.002,38318
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,417183.61/cwt179.00–186.502,60258
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,501188.57/cwt185.00–196.002,83010
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,613179.85/cwt176.00–184.002,90120
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,615166.00/cwt166.00–166.002,6811
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,647175.02/cwt174.00–176.002,8837
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,741170.05/cwt166.00–174.502,96110
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,785168.00/cwt168.00–168.002,9991
Replacement Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 11,3134,200.00/head4,200.00–4,200.004,2003
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs5 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,3704,300.00/head4,300.00–4,300.004,3001
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,5054,000.00/head4,000.00–4,000.004,0001
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,6543,900.00/head3,900.00–3,900.003,9003
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,6954,325.00/head4,325.00–4,325.004,3252
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,7104,100.00/head4,100.00–4,100.004,1001
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows14 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,2152,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,7001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2253,650.00/head3,650.00–3,650.003,6501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2403,673.89/head3,650.00–3,700.003,6742
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3213,646.26/head3,600.00–3,700.003,6464
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3403,475.00/head3,475.00–3,475.003,4751
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3452,600.00/head2,600.00–2,600.002,6001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4153,500.00/head3,500.00–3,500.003,5001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4283,050.00/head3,050.00–3,050.003,0504
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4333,334.77/head3,200.00–3,500.003,3355
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,4553,400.00/head3,400.00–3,400.003,4001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,4553,200.00/head3,200.00–3,200.003,2001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5142,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,7004
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,6103,450.00/head3,450.00–3,450.003,4502
Bred Cows—Large 11,6753,350.00/head3,350.00–3,350.003,3501
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers3 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,1703,800.00/head3,800.00–3,800.003,8001
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 1-21,3353,422.75/head3,350.00–3,500.003,4232
Bred Heifers—Large 11,4053,600.00/head3,600.00–3,600.003,6001
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1818317.11/cwt310.00–325.002,5942
Stock Cows—Medium 1-2818273.13/cwt265.00–282.502,2342
Stock Cows—Medium 1-2875216.21/cwt205.00–230.001,8922
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2919274.27/cwt203.00–305.002,5215
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,056286.23/cwt201.00–337.503,02358
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,108210.92/cwt190.00–270.002,33714
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,132245.54/cwt192.00–310.002,78032
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,252193.70/cwt189.00–202.002,42510

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.