Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-11-24

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Mon, Nov 24
● Final66 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1775
Feeder Cattle receipts
52 head
▼ 260 vs last sale 312▲ 34 vs year ago 18 · +188.9%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
643 head
▲ 89 vs last sale 554▲ 217 vs year ago 426 · +50.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
1,222 head
▲ 924 vs last sale 298▼ 203 vs year ago 1,425 · −14.2%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Mondays sale: Feeder cattle were not tested this week as todays sale featured bred cows and weigh ups. A few tested open heifers were seen this week off bred consignments. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for mostly moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold 5.00-8.00 lower on breaking cows, boning and lean cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed. Order buyers buying lame cows to feed bid against packers all day as they tried to buy cows to feed. This pushed low yielding slaughter cows higher in places. High quality feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower. Thin feeding cows sold 2.00-4.00 lower on a lower quality offering. Many lame and blemished cows were purchased to feed this week Cow quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average today. Many full cows were noticed today with the change of weather seen. Slaughter bulls sold on light to moderate demand for light offerings. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 5.00 lower. Quality was mostly average this week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 5.00 higher. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive as many offerings sold tested open off todays bred cow offering. A heavy offering of bred cows were seen today with over 1100 pregnancy checked cows and heifers on offer. Demand was mostly good for all bred cows on offer. A large crowd was on hand for todays bred cow special and demand remained very consistent through out the sale. Market activity was mostly active for all bred cows on offer.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 800–900 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
800–900 lb heifers averaged $277.87/cwt on 21 head. That ranks 1 of 1 comparable sales and sits −27.69 against this barn's trailing median of $305.56.
Average price
$277.87
21 head · 872 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,423
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
—
single grade reported
vs the market
−10.37
vs MT average
−3.23 vs national

What quality paid 800–900 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2872277.872,42321
Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

How it compared 800–900 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale21 hd
277.87
—
MT average3 barns · 43 hd
288.24
−10.37
National average29 barns · 1,330 hd
281.10
−3.23
This barn, trailing median1 sales
305.56
−27.69
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

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—Low1,804171.203,08832
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,598159.072,54163
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,359154.172,095170
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,145145.131,661182

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)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,533$3,80011
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,242$3,759125
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,454$3,70016
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,443$3,53456
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,049$3,363107
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,260$3,17915
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,131$2,9477
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,151$2,9004thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,382$2,847131
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,595$2,7001thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,341$2,685265
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,291$2,49320
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,323$2,42168
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,313$2,1502thin
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)(<2 yrs)918$3,14911
Bred Heifers1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)(<2 yrs)910$2,99614
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,359$4,0257
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,225$3,80014

Every lot, as filed

66 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 · Heifers4 lots · lightest first
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2872277.87/cwt271.00–281.002,42321
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2945265.00/cwt265.00–265.002,50412
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2972262.31/cwt261.00–265.002,5509
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,038254.00/cwt254.00–254.002,6377
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,660175.00/cwt175.00–175.002,9051
Bulls——Return to Feed1,685176.76/cwt171.00–180.002,9786
Bulls——1,704161.50/cwt145.00–171.002,7526
Bulls——Return to Feed1,790167.39/cwt159.00–171.502,9965
Bulls——1,913174.06/cwt171.00–180.003,33014
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight790101.03/cwt100.00–102.007982
Cows—Lean 85-90%96095.00/cwt95.00–95.009121
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,123118.06/cwt107.50–123.001,3266
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,124133.53/cwt129.00–138.001,5014
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,143138.61/cwt120.00–154.501,584101
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,163158.05/cwt155.00–165.001,83859
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,165172.14/cwt170.00–172.502,0059
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,295116.96/cwt114.00–125.001,5154
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,347144.77/cwt129.00–154.001,95064
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,366160.98/cwt155.00–168.002,19989
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,367170.96/cwt169.00–173.002,33711
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,508134.04/cwt133.00–135.002,0212
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,535166.32/cwt164.00–168.002,55324
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,558152.99/cwt137.00–159.002,38418
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,562161.48/cwt161.00–162.002,5224
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,736154.71/cwt145.00–159.002,68617
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows28 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed8583,500.00/head3,500.00–3,500.003,5005
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed9712,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,70025
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0563,642.63/head3,300.00–3,800.003,64374
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,0732,774.94/head2,750.00–2,800.002,7752
Bred Cows—Large 11,1492,900.00/head2,900.00–2,900.002,9004
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1512,900.00/head2,900.00–2,900.002,9004
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1543,015.52/head2,850.00–3,100.003,0165
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1683,100.00/head3,100.00–3,100.003,1002
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,1902,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4006
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2322,852.88/head2,800.00–2,900.002,8538
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2472,845.96/head2,300.00–3,100.002,84611
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2534,029.01/head3,700.00–4,600.004,02988
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2702,524.42/head2,500.00–2,550.002,52416
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2743,191.05/head3,000.00–3,550.003,19113
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2782,078.39/head2,000.00–2,100.002,07813
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2893,080.24/head2,800.00–3,200.003,08028
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2942,051.26/head1,800.00–2,300.002,05118
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3132,150.00/head2,150.00–2,150.002,1502
Bred Cows—Large 1Broken Mouth1,3222,050.00/head2,050.00–2,050.002,05014
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3332,553.73/head2,450.00–2,625.002,55450
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3502,765.04/head2,450.00–3,000.002,765232
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3642,328.22/head1,900.00–2,550.002,32830
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3742,369.32/head2,300.00–2,450.002,3694
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3873,001.49/head2,700.00–3,600.003,001101
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4543,700.00/head3,700.00–3,700.003,70016
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4913,702.00/head3,200.00–3,925.003,70245
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5333,800.00/head3,800.00–3,800.003,80011
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5952,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,7001
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers5 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium 18232,750.00/head2,750.00–2,750.002,7505
Bred Heifers—Medium 18733,049.31/head2,750.00–3,200.003,0499
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 1-29502,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,8004
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 19663,400.00/head3,400.00–3,400.003,4005
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,1203,600.00/head3,600.00–3,600.003,6002
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1779260.93/cwt245.00–282.502,0336
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2964237.62/cwt205.00–270.002,29110
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1995284.73/cwt231.00–315.002,83314
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,041199.11/cwt171.00–250.002,0737
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,062248.91/cwt178.00–315.002,64369
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,118222.81/cwt210.00–236.502,4915
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs2 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,2253,800.00/head3,800.00–3,800.003,80014
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,3594,025.00/head4,025.00–4,025.004,0257

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.