Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2026-09-24

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Sep 24
● Final122 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,718 head
▲ 977 vs last sale 741▼ 710 vs year ago 2,428 · −29.2%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
271 head
▲ 60 vs last sale 211▼ 319 vs year ago 590 · −54.1%
Replacement Cattle receipts
118 head
▲ 56 vs last sale 62▼ 84 vs year ago 202 · −41.6%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (9-17-26): Feeder steers and heifer calves were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed. Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested either this week or last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Demand was mostly good to very good with several buyers actively bidding on offerings. Many tested open heifers out of replacements were seen again this sale. Lots of variation in quality was noticed on both calves and yearlings. CME positions moved higher to start the day before selling off late in the trading session. Market activity was active with rapid bidding seen, despite a small buyer pool. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light demand and light to moderate offerings. Demand for feeding cows was mostly light especially from American packers and private feeders. Canadian buyers continue to show good demand for feeding cows and with little resistance from American buyers. Feeding cows sold steady to 5.00 lower. Demand for slaughter cows was also light as packers all showed light demand for all classes of cows. Breaking cows sold mostly 8.00-10.00 lower, boning and lean cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 10.00 lower. Demand for feeding bull was mostly moderate and forced packer buyers to compete over offerings. Feeding bulls sold generally steady. Young age cow offerings were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly moderate and stronger than last week.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $384.20/cwt on 66 head, down $11.61 from the prior sale. That ranks 5 of 23 comparable sales and sits −27.43 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$384.20
▼ 11.61 vs prior sale
66 head · 551 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,117
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$105
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$33.21/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+1.62
vs MT average
+28.10 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1550385.712,12163
Medium and Large 1-2572352.502,0163thin
One grade step is worth $33.21/cwt here — about $105 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 sale66 hd
384.20
—
MT average2 barns · 73 hd
382.58
+1.62
National average179 barns · 11,869 hd
356.10
+28.10
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−27.43
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—High1,793172.933,10154
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,444141.912,04992
CowsBreaker 75-80%Very Low1,668134.432,24240
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,226125.031,53361

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 Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,351$3,2885
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,410$3,1502thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,233$3,05613
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,352$2,50612

Every lot

122 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 · Steers39 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned252680.00/cwt680.00–680.001,7143
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned297550.00/cwt550.00–550.001,6347
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned372564.49/cwt557.50–567.502,10010
Steers350–400Medium and Large 2Unweaned384465.00/cwt465.00–465.001,7865
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned390490.26/cwt475.00–535.001,91220
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1391561.00/cwt561.00–561.002,1947
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned427521.77/cwt490.00–540.002,22825
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2447477.50/cwt477.50–477.502,1343
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned448472.50/cwt472.50–472.502,1174
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned470475.00/cwt475.00–475.002,2332
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned479473.02/cwt457.50–495.002,26638
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1510480.00/cwt480.00–480.002,44814
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned518449.65/cwt447.50–450.002,32938
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned530445.00/cwt445.00–445.002,3591
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned572413.50/cwt394.00–442.502,36529
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1588411.00/cwt411.00–411.002,41711
Steers550–600Medium 1Unweaned588382.50/cwt382.50–382.502,2493
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned591385.69/cwt367.50–392.502,2798
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned622391.87/cwt384.00–396.002,43765
Steers650–700Medium 1-2656368.00/cwt368.00–368.002,4145
Steers650–700Medium 1685365.00/cwt365.00–365.002,50024
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned688375.60/cwt373.00–378.002,58413
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1Unweaned714359.00/cwt359.00–359.002,5635
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1725371.91/cwt365.00–379.002,69627
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2743363.00/cwt363.00–363.002,6975
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1781369.36/cwt369.00–370.002,8858
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2792355.75/cwt355.00–363.002,81851
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1Unweaned795338.00/cwt338.00–338.002,68710
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1832368.78/cwt363.00–371.003,06829
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1-2860340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,9243
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1883344.86/cwt342.00–350.003,04553
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1-2Full921321.00/cwt321.00–321.002,9564
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1928328.42/cwt328.00–331.003,04814
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1957325.00/cwt325.00–325.003,1105
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1Fleshy999307.00/cwt307.00–307.003,0675
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,029306.00/cwt306.00–306.003,1494
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 21,038285.00/cwt285.00–285.002,9583
Steers1100–1150Large 1Fleshy1,119276.91/cwt274.50–279.003,09934
Steers1150–1200Large 1Fleshy1,189268.50/cwt268.50–268.503,19224
Feeder Cattle · Heifers36 lots · lightest first
Heifers200–250Medium and Large 1Unweaned228545.00/cwt545.00–545.001,2433
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned310501.41/cwt500.00–505.001,55411
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned349457.00/cwt457.00–457.001,59511
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned369470.00/cwt470.00–470.001,7346
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned379436.87/cwt420.00–445.001,6569
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned412439.68/cwt430.00–457.501,81125
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned434457.00/cwt450.00–460.001,98316
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned482380.50/cwt370.00–415.001,8348
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned485424.33/cwt417.50–430.002,05827
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned541384.97/cwt382.00–405.002,08335
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned561386.63/cwt375.00–390.002,16928
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned572352.50/cwt352.50–352.502,0163
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned619367.17/cwt362.50–372.002,2738
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned650355.00/cwt355.00–355.002,3084
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned674339.00/cwt339.00–339.002,2857
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1710350.09/cwt347.00–350.502,48630
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2731340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,4859
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2789342.97/cwt340.00–346.002,7066
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1Fancy807351.00/cwt351.00–351.002,8337
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2829325.62/cwt324.00–330.002,69915
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1834334.73/cwt332.50–336.002,79225
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2857305.00/cwt305.00–305.002,6143
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1881320.78/cwt312.00–329.502,82652
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1927310.10/cwt305.00–312.502,875140
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2941294.28/cwt292.00–297.002,76910
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1977302.63/cwt295.00–308.002,957111
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1Full977289.73/cwt289.50–290.002,83115
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,039280.57/cwt280.00–281.002,9157
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,040292.38/cwt291.00–293.003,04113
Heifers1050–1100Large 11,063295.15/cwt291.00–300.003,13748
Heifers1050–1100Large 1Full1,082262.43/cwt252.00–284.002,8399
Heifers1100–1150Large 11,105279.00/cwt279.00–279.003,0836
Heifers1100–1150Large 1Full1,108266.00/cwt266.00–266.002,94731
Heifers1150–1200Large 1Full1,171258.50/cwt258.50–258.503,0275
Heifers1150–1200Large 11,177274.22/cwt273.00–275.003,22813
Heifers1200–1250Large 11,200255.00/cwt255.00–255.003,0605
Feeder Cattle · Bulls14 lots · lightest first
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned356515.00/cwt515.00–515.001,8334
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned416530.00/cwt530.00–530.002,2054
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned488460.00/cwt460.00–460.002,2452
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned499437.50/cwt437.50–437.502,1835
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned633367.50/cwt367.50–367.502,3262
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1928312.50/cwt312.50–312.502,9003
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1-2985295.00/cwt295.00–295.002,9061
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,035260.00/cwt260.00–260.002,6911
Bulls1100–1150Large 11,130259.16/cwt257.50–260.002,9293
Bulls1150–1200Large 1-21,170230.00/cwt230.00–230.002,6911
Bulls1200–1250Large 11,221240.00/cwt240.00–240.002,93013
Bulls1250–1300Large 1-21,268215.00/cwt215.00–215.002,7263
Bulls1250–1300Large 11,279216.00/cwt216.00–216.002,7638
Bulls1400–1450Large 11,421213.00/cwt213.00–213.003,0274
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,527164.62/cwt159.00–169.002,51411
Bulls——Return to Feed1,660174.39/cwt169.00–182.502,89510
Bulls——1,717163.57/cwt158.00–169.002,8087
Bulls——Return to Feed1,775185.00/cwt185.00–185.003,2841
Bulls——1,964175.64/cwt173.00–182.003,45019
Bulls——2,014187.31/cwt183.00–191.503,7725
Bulls——2,265180.00/cwt180.00–180.004,0771
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,105141.00/cwt141.00–141.001,5581
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,118160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,7892
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,173130.36/cwt128.00–133.501,5294
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,231111.50/cwt102.50–116.001,37325
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,232129.16/cwt128.00–144.001,59123
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,278147.68/cwt144.00–149.001,8876
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,420139.27/cwt128.00–146.001,97823
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,428118.99/cwt107.50–127.501,69913
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,435132.56/cwt128.00–136.001,9027
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,460150.56/cwt147.50–152.002,19849
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,515148.66/cwt148.50–149.002,2523
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,530134.00/cwt134.00–134.002,0501
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,595115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,8341
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,678136.24/cwt133.50–141.002,28626
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,714126.67/cwt120.00–130.502,1719
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows6 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1712,550.00/head2,550.00–2,550.002,5506
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2283,077.62/head2,700.00–3,300.003,07812
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2982,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,8001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3513,287.71/head3,200.00–3,350.003,2885
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4103,150.00/head3,150.00–3,150.003,1502
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,5322,461.54/head2,400.00–2,525.002,4626
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows5 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,000239.44/cwt217.50–262.502,3942
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,101230.38/cwt183.00–283.002,5368
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,148237.87/cwt200.00–287.502,73136
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,183162.51/cwt158.00–170.001,92217
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,235154.00/cwt154.00–154.001,9023

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.