Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-11-10

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Mon, Nov 10
● Final96 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1775
Feeder Cattle receipts
640 head
▲ 19 vs last sale 621▼ 208 vs year ago 848 · −24.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
1,082 head
▲ 103 vs last sale 979▼ 127 vs year ago 1,209 · −10.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
510 head
▲ 64 vs last sale 446▼ 25 vs year ago 535 · −4.7%
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Mondays sale: Feeder cattle were not reported last week, so no trend is available. Feeder cattle quality was mostly plain to average this week. Heifer quality was better than steer quality. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of the sale this week. Demand was mostly moderate to good for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold 2.00-3.00 lower on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold 3.00-6.00 lower. Cow quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. A large portion of the cow offering were lame or blemished this sale. Many blemished cows continue to be purchased to feed or turn out on stubble or cornstalks. High quality feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower. Thin feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower on a lower quality offering. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average today. Slaughter bulls sold on moderate demand for light offerings. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly average this week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 10.00 lower on a lower quality offering.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $382.17/cwt on 120 head. That ranks 4 of 3 comparable sales and sits +22.66 against this barn's trailing median of $359.50.
Average price
$382.17
120 head · 526 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,012
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$181
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1
$63.13/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.36
vs MT average
+18.21 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1524388.132,034105
Medium 1536353.211,8957thin
Medium and Large 1-2544330.671,7986thin
Large 1570325.001,8532thin
One grade step is worth $63.13/cwt here — about $181 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 400–500 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 sale120 hd
382.17
—
MT average4 barns · 1,351 hd
381.80
+0.36
National average183 barns · 20,348 hd
363.96
+18.21
This barn, trailing median3 sales
359.50
+22.66
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

3 sales
384366348329median 359.5010/1210/1210/1910/2610/26
Heifers 500–600 lb: high $370.05, low $343.45, median $359.50 across 3 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—Average1,659176.952,93672
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,561169.612,648136
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,373162.712,234421
CowsLean 85-90%High1,175140.601,652370

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/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,068$3,1502thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,004$3,13714
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,469$3,01343
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)860$2,9004thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,360$2,71843
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,309$2,6856
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,507$2,6134thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,230$2,32017
Bred Heifers1st Stage (1-3 mo)(<2 yrs)1,215$3,0006

Every lot, as filed

96 lots · USDA AMS · Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Mon)
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 · Steers13 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned290574.71/cwt565.00–600.001,66712
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned359475.00/cwt475.00–475.001,7057
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned435456.00/cwt456.00–456.001,9846
Steers400–450Medium 1Unweaned446457.50/cwt457.50–457.502,0408
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned460427.00/cwt427.00–427.001,9643
Steers450–500Medium 1Unweaned475425.00/cwt425.00–425.002,0194
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned513401.00/cwt401.00–401.002,0576
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2Unweaned513382.00/cwt382.00–382.001,96010
Steers500–550Medium 1Unweaned529400.26/cwt397.50–401.002,11714
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned583353.52/cwt352.50–355.002,06110
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned622344.20/cwt340.00–360.002,14115
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned665368.00/cwt368.00–368.002,4473
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned689333.74/cwt327.50–340.002,2996
Feeder Cattle · Heifers20 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned277530.00/cwt530.00–530.001,4688
Heifers350–400Large 1Unweaned357400.00/cwt400.00–400.001,42817
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned394487.50/cwt487.50–487.501,9214
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2Unweaned405360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,4584
Heifers400–450Medium 1Unweaned418435.00/cwt435.00–435.001,8185
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned423437.44/cwt420.00–441.001,85012
Heifers450–500Medium 1Unweaned459377.50/cwt377.50–377.501,73321
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2Unweaned475352.00/cwt352.00–352.001,6722
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned485390.56/cwt390.00–401.001,89420
Heifers450–500Large 1Unweaned496324.00/cwt324.00–324.001,6074
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned505350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,7682
Heifers500–550Medium 1Unweaned515365.00/cwt365.00–365.001,8804
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned517390.14/cwt388.00–391.002,01790
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned563321.00/cwt321.00–321.001,8074
Heifers550–600Medium 1Unweaned565337.50/cwt337.50–337.501,9073
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned566376.06/cwt360.00–380.002,12815
Heifers550–600Large 1Unweaned570325.00/cwt325.00–325.001,8532
Heifers600–650Large 1Unweaned600324.00/cwt324.00–324.001,9448
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned622334.08/cwt329.00–338.002,0789
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2816300.00/cwt300.00–300.002,4489
Feeder Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned360510.00/cwt510.00–510.001,8361
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned433458.00/cwt458.00–458.001,9832
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned436420.00/cwt420.00–420.001,8315
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned545380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,0713
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned615347.50/cwt347.50–347.502,13720
Bulls1200–1250Large 11,248255.00/cwt255.00–255.003,1822
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,032172.50/cwt172.50–172.501,7805
Bulls——Return to Feed1,353197.01/cwt195.00–199.002,6662
Bulls——Return to Feed1,615169.99/cwt164.00–176.002,7457
Bulls——Return to Feed1,633179.65/cwt177.00–183.002,93425
Bulls——1,717165.97/cwt157.50–176.002,85015
Bulls——1,847184.30/cwt180.00–190.003,40416
Bulls——2,085182.00/cwt182.00–182.003,7952
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight881102.09/cwt90.00–110.008998
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight91585.00/cwt85.00–85.007781
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,10788.96/cwt80.00–95.0098518
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,129174.51/cwt170.00–185.001,9705
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,144110.27/cwt100.00–126.001,26173
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,180163.55/cwt161.00–168.001,930106
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,199133.29/cwt132.50–135.001,5986
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,212146.81/cwt125.00–161.001,779153
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,349158.42/cwt130.00–163.502,137145
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,377168.14/cwt164.00–174.002,315226
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,416175.32/cwt175.00–177.002,48327
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,433119.21/cwt110.00–128.001,70820
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,435137.97/cwt135.00–143.001,9803
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,498172.41/cwt171.00–177.502,58356
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,510167.54/cwt153.00–173.502,53025
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,585179.00/cwt179.00–179.002,8371
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,618161.16/cwt138.00–169.502,60824
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,668172.40/cwt169.00–175.502,87629
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,895177.50/cwt177.50–177.503,3641
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows18 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 18602,900.00/head2,900.00–2,900.002,9004
Bred Cows—Medium 18752,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,7002
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0253,209.43/head3,200.00–3,250.003,20912
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0683,150.00/head3,150.00–3,150.003,1502
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,1522,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5007
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,177162.00/cwt162.00–162.001,9072
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,1862,222.37/head2,100.00–2,600.002,22211
Bred Cows—Large 1Broken Mouth1,2482,200.00/head2,200.00–2,200.002,2003
Bred Cows—Large 11,2892,550.00/head2,550.00–2,550.002,5504
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3482,956.03/head2,900.00–3,000.002,9562
Bred Cows—Large 1Broken Mouth1,3502,600.00/head2,600.00–2,600.002,60010
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3672,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,8005
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3732,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,8003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,399171.00/cwt171.00–171.002,3927
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4202,822.64/head2,700.00–2,950.002,82326
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,4382,650.00/head2,650.00–2,650.002,6502
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4823,040.58/head2,700.00–3,200.003,04138
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5752,575.00/head2,575.00–2,575.002,5752
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows12 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1-2770270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,0791
Stock Cows—Medium 1779280.48/cwt245.00–300.002,1857
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed843255.00/cwt255.00–255.002,1503
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2913265.19/cwt220.00–305.002,42116
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1964278.48/cwt211.00–322.502,68570
Stock Cows—Large 11,008203.56/cwt200.00–220.002,0526
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,053205.72/cwt171.00–250.002,16617
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,085229.36/cwt172.00–305.002,489142
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,100237.56/cwt200.00–271.002,61310
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,291178.00/cwt178.00–178.002,29814
Stock Cows—Large 11,295175.00/cwt175.00–175.002,2661
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,323180.32/cwt172.00–185.002,3863
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,2153,000.00/head3,000.00–3,000.003,0006

How this sale compares

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.