Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2026-10-19

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Mon, Oct 19
● Final95 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1775
Feeder Cattle receipts
575 head
▲ 240 vs last sale 335▲ 0 vs year ago 575 · +0.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
577 head
▲ 178 vs last sale 399▼ 178 vs year ago 755 · −23.6%
Replacement Cattle receipts
151 head
▲ 12 vs last sale 139▼ 259 vs year ago 410 · −63.2%
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (10-12-26): All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend, however higher undertones were noted. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Most feeders were offered in small packages with many singles noticed. Weigh up cows sold uneven; breaking and lean flesh cows sold 2.00 to 5.00 lower, while boning cows sold 5.00 higher. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Cow quality this week was mixed from plain to average. Feeding cows sold with mostly moderate to good demand. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher on breaking and boning cows, lean flesh cows sold 3.00 to 5.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold 3.00 to 4.00 lower. Feeding bulls sold steady to 1.00 lower. Quality was mostly average to attractive this week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on moderate to good demand. Quality this week was mostly average. Steady to higher undertones were noted.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $370.05/cwt on 109 head, up $26.60 from the prior sale. That ranks 3 of 3 comparable sales and sits +10.55 against this barn's trailing median of $359.50.
Average price
$370.05
▲ 26.60 vs prior sale
109 head · 539 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,993
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$258
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$30.68/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−23.66
vs MT average
−6.97 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1532380.682,02656
Medium and Large 1-2546358.981,96152
Medium and Large 2505350.001,7681thin
One grade step is worth $30.68/cwt here — about $258 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 sale109 hd
370.05
—
MT average4 barns · 1,093 hd
393.72
−23.66
National average186 barns · 22,034 hd
377.02
−6.97
This barn, trailing median3 sales
359.50
+10.55
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

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—Average1,611177.612,86260
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,317142.151,872170
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,499141.522,122176
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,179119.391,408150

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)1,300$3,7501thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,131$2,6235
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,102$2,4875
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,605$2,4501thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,355$2,4333thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,159$2,3265
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,375$2,1782thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,309$2,0616

Every lot, as filed

95 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 · Steers20 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 2Unweaned265555.00/cwt555.00–555.001,4711
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned309616.21/cwt615.00–620.001,9044
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned339570.00/cwt570.00–570.001,9324
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned351573.99/cwt570.00–575.002,0155
Steers350–400Medium and Large 2Unweaned384500.85/cwt490.00–535.001,9234
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned408512.87/cwt500.00–516.002,09323
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned428476.11/cwt465.00–485.002,03813
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned479451.56/cwt435.00–465.002,16333
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned527410.64/cwt407.00–414.002,16421
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2Unweaned533378.00/cwt365.00–385.002,0156
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned573392.13/cwt390.00–395.002,24736
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned577378.00/cwt370.00–386.002,18117
Steers550–600Medium and Large 2Unweaned594359.38/cwt357.50–365.002,1354
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1613393.20/cwt381.00–394.002,41016
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2636367.04/cwt365.00–368.002,3349
Steers600–650Medium and Large 2640350.00/cwt350.00–350.002,2401
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2660353.26/cwt352.50–354.002,3324
Steers700–750Medium and Large 2725334.72/cwt325.00–345.002,4272
Steers750–800Medium and Large 2770310.00/cwt310.00–310.002,3871
Steers900–950Medium and Large 2918275.00/cwt275.00–275.002,5252
Feeder Cattle · Heifers25 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned250555.00/cwt555.00–555.001,3881
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned311508.51/cwt507.50–510.001,5815
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned323491.45/cwt485.00–500.001,5874
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 2Unweaned340443.52/cwt430.00–470.001,5083
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned374456.13/cwt455.00–465.001,7069
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 2Unweaned375440.88/cwt435.00–445.001,6536
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned378485.00/cwt485.00–485.001,8332
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2Unweaned429406.14/cwt400.00–415.001,7429
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned430426.01/cwt421.00–436.001,83232
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned456436.98/cwt434.00–440.001,99337
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned480401.04/cwt390.00–415.001,9259
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2Unweaned505350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,7681
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned512392.68/cwt390.00–405.002,01131
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned530364.52/cwt357.50–377.501,93236
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned557365.81/cwt355.00–369.002,03825
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned583346.53/cwt345.00–352.502,02016
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 2633325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,0572
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2695312.50/cwt312.50–312.502,1722
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2713325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,3172
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2782315.54/cwt305.00–317.002,4688
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2853322.50/cwt322.50–322.502,7518
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 2860299.00/cwt299.00–299.002,5711
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2921296.44/cwt270.00–310.002,73012
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1926322.34/cwt317.00–325.002,98512
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2971280.64/cwt272.00–289.002,72513
Feeder Cattle · Bulls9 lots · lightest first
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned310605.00/cwt605.00–605.001,8761
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned418474.92/cwt465.00–480.001,9853
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned489415.65/cwt405.00–421.002,0333
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2630355.00/cwt355.00–355.002,2372
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1-2685340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,3292
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 2795310.00/cwt310.00–310.002,4651
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 2970296.00/cwt296.00–296.002,8711
Bulls1050–1100Large 1-21,077272.01/cwt270.00–273.002,9303
Bulls1100–1150Large 1-21,118259.36/cwt250.00–270.002,9004
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,405196.86/cwt190.00–207.502,76611
Bulls——1,629175.30/cwt170.00–185.002,85620
Bulls——Return to Feed1,648180.54/cwt178.00–185.002,97512
Bulls——Return to Feed1,697170.04/cwt168.00–171.002,8866
Bulls——1,699163.50/cwt160.00–168.002,77811
Slaughter Cattle · Cows20 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight87989.38/cwt85.00–92.507865
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Light Weight930112.00/cwt112.00–112.001,0421
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight997104.17/cwt102.50–105.001,0393
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,178108.08/cwt100.00–116.001,27353
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,182128.28/cwt120.00–132.501,51612
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,186136.45/cwt135.00–138.001,61816
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,188142.44/cwt139.00–147.501,69224
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,18892.55/cwt85.00–97.501,09922
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,279117.31/cwt114.00–126.001,50017
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,282149.53/cwt149.00–150.001,91715
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,290117.04/cwt109.00–122.001,51023
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,294158.71/cwt157.00–162.002,05417
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,308139.78/cwt134.00–145.001,82812
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,323148.52/cwt141.00–155.001,96547
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,345150.43/cwt146.50–152.502,02354
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,467150.71/cwt140.00–154.002,21191
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,483132.69/cwt128.00–136.001,96810
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,503146.54/cwt140.00–150.002,20237
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,572114.01/cwt97.50–121.001,79226
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,651124.35/cwt121.00–130.502,05311
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows12 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 19533,071.65/head3,000.00–3,150.003,0722
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0603,025.59/head3,000.00–3,050.003,0262
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,0922,226.03/head1,950.00–2,350.002,2263
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1302,128.32/head1,900.00–2,300.002,1283
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2502,323.59/head2,300.00–2,400.002,3243
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2602,475.00/head2,475.00–2,475.002,4752
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3003,750.00/head3,750.00–3,750.003,7501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3092,060.98/head1,875.00–2,200.002,0616
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3202,900.00/head2,900.00–2,900.002,9001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3732,200.00/head2,200.00–2,200.002,2002
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3752,178.18/head1,900.00–2,400.002,1782
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,6052,450.00/head2,450.00–2,450.002,4501
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1983287.67/cwt270.00–310.002,82842
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,098245.53/cwt230.00–262.002,69635
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,177219.76/cwt210.00–227.002,58716
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,217187.57/cwt175.00–201.002,28323

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.