Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2026-05-28
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-05-28

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (5-21-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mixed from plain to very attractive. Overall quality was significantly higher than last week. Several high quality sets of heifers were seen this week that ranchers had slated to run as replacements, but sold today due to drought conditions. These heifers were in light flesh and very attractive overall. All of these heifers were purchased to feed today. Demand was mostly good to very good for light offerings. Most offerings were offered in moderate to small groups this week. A small to moderate size crowd was on hand for todays sale. A mix of ranchers and order buyers were noticed. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand for light offerings. Demand for feeding cows was mostly moderate and not as strong as last week. Fewer buyers were in the market this week buying cows to feed. Canadian buyers purchased mostly thin cows to feed this week. Cow quality this week was mostly plain to average and significantly lower than last week. Many cows were out of dry country and were thin as a result. Many of these thin cows were full as they tanked up on hay and water in the yards. Feeding cows sold 3.00-5.00 lower on breaking and boning flesh cows, while lean fleshed cows sold 3.00-6.00 lower on a lower quality offering. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly moderate. All slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady in a narrow comparison. Bull quality this week was mostly average to attractive, but not as attractive as last week. Demand for feeding bulls was very good again this sale. Feeding bulls sold mostly steady. Young age offerings suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mostly average.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $411.62/cwt on 44 head, down $0.19 from the prior sale. That ranks 4 of 21 comparable sales and sits −22.24 against this barn's trailing median of $433.86.

Average price

$411.62

▼ 0.19 vs prior sale

44 head · 560 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,307

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$474

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2

$106.35/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+3.03

vs MT average

+4.18 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	550	438.35	2,410	12thin
Medium and Large 1-2	562	411.55	2,312	28
Medium and Large 2	583	332.00	1,936	4thin

One grade step is worth $106.35/cwt here — about $474 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.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

21 sales

Heifers 500–600 lb: high $469.35, low $332.50, median $433.86 across 21 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale44 hd

411.62

—

MT average2 barns · 54 hd

408.59

+3.03

National average128 barns · 4,974 hd

407.44

+4.18

This barn, trailing median21 sales

433.86

−22.24

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Average	1,836	221.36	4,064	25
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,385	177.09	2,453	106
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,612	173.13	2,790	24
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,151	163.61	1,884	101

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.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,234	$3,964	6
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,340	$3,800	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,277	$3,500	6
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,477	$3,499	8
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,241	$3,122	9
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,419	$2,871	7
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,237	$2,675	4thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,400	$2,646	13
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,604	$4,740	41
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,456	$4,675	63
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,455	$4,412	75
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,522	$4,087	142
Heifer Pairs	Open	(<2 yrs)	1,211	$4,711	7

Every lot, as filed

113 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.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,688	2,800.00/head	2,800.00–2,800.00	2,800	3
Heifer Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,270	5,050.00/head	5,050.00–5,050.00	5,050	2
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,465	4,450.00/head	4,450.00–4,450.00	4,450	17
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,270	4,559.99/head	4,525.00–4,625.00	4,560	9
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,464	4,502.32/head	4,400.00–4,600.00	4,502	4
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,470	4,049.49/head	3,775.00–4,100.00	4,049	42
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,315	3,800.00/head	3,800.00–3,800.00	3,800	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	634	407.28/cwt	401.00–423.00	2,582	42
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	814	355.82/cwt	346.00–357.00	2,896	80
Steers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	823	363.43/cwt	360.00–367.00	2,991	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	548	442.50/cwt	442.50–442.50	2,425	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	773	363.75/cwt	360.00–368.00	2,812	50
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,472	3,803.58/head	3,800.00–3,825.00	3,804	48
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	719	377.65/cwt	367.00–382.50	2,715	78
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Full	650–700	668	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	2,605	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	675	421.07/cwt	420.00–437.50	2,842	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	551	435.38/cwt	432.50–442.50	2,399	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	681	383.72/cwt	381.00–387.00	2,613	11
Heifer Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,188	4,575.00/head	4,575.00–4,575.00	4,575	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	784	364.00/cwt	364.00–364.00	2,854	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	705	412.00/cwt	412.00–412.00	2,905	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	411	585.00/cwt	585.00–585.00	2,404	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	550	525.00/cwt	525.00–525.00	2,888	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	568	468.00/cwt	468.00–468.00	2,658	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	938	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	2,955	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	300–350	338	580.00/cwt	580.00–580.00	1,960	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	505	452.50/cwt	452.50–452.50	2,285	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	773	362.00/cwt	362.00–362.00	2,798	2
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,610	4,377.73/head	4,350.00–4,500.00	4,378	52
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,397	4,250.00/head	4,250.00–4,250.00	4,250	26
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,511	4,619.46/head	4,450.00–4,750.00	4,619	28
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,395	3,850.00/head	3,850.00–3,850.00	3,850	4
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 2	—	1,654	3,800.00/head	3,800.00–3,800.00	3,800	8
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 2Broken Mouth	—	1,132	2,500.00/head	2,500.00–2,500.00	2,500	3
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,572	4,631.87/head	4,600.00–4,650.00	4,632	6
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,476	4,970.68/head	4,900.00–5,010.00	4,971	31
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	—	1,318	4,575.00/head	4,575.00–4,575.00	4,575	9
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,637	4,821.08/head	4,525.00–4,975.00	4,821	35
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	1,581	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	3,636	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,670	3,300.00/head	3,300.00–3,300.00	3,300	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,600	3,000.00/head	3,000.00–3,000.00	3,000	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,247	3,158.02/head	3,150.00–3,200.00	3,158	6
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,340	3,800.00/head	3,800.00–3,800.00	3,800	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,325	3,200.00/head	3,200.00–3,200.00	3,200	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,477	3,498.54/head	3,400.00–3,600.00	3,499	8
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,027	252.36/cwt	212.00–287.00	2,592	17
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,096	225.58/cwt	200.00–277.50	2,472	16
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,207	2,500.00/head	2,500.00–2,500.00	2,500	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,030	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	2,678	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	1,314	2,600.00/head	2,600.00–2,600.00	2,600	10
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,780	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	3,097	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	2,090	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	3,031	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,412	167.93/cwt	161.00–172.00	2,371	26
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,098	121.58/cwt	120.00–127.50	1,335	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,155	166.28/cwt	160.00–172.50	1,921	76
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,515	181.80/cwt	179.00–185.00	2,754	8
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,618	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	2,799	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,330	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	1,955	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,584	219.17/cwt	214.50–224.50	3,472	7
Bulls	—	—	1,855	213.50/cwt	213.50–213.50	3,960	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,589	168.78/cwt	166.00–170.00	2,682	10
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,365	181.10/cwt	174.50–187.50	2,472	69
Bulls	—	—	2,047	226.04/cwt	225.00–228.00	4,627	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,698	169.00/cwt	169.00–169.00	2,870	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,325	189.74/cwt	189.00–190.00	2,514	4
Bulls	—	—	1,915	222.02/cwt	218.00–225.00	4,252	14
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,167	143.12/cwt	132.50–151.00	1,670	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,473	166.38/cwt	163.00–170.00	2,451	4
Steers	Large 1	600–650	623	452.27/cwt	450.00–462.50	2,818	16
Steers	Large 1	500–550	501	552.50/cwt	552.50–552.50	2,768	7
Bulls	Large 1	1050–1100	1,057	297.50/cwt	290.00–300.00	3,145	4
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	1,440	193.00/cwt	193.00–193.00	2,779	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,225	182.84/cwt	177.50–187.50	2,240	11
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	926	138.15/cwt	135.00–140.00	1,279	4
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,164	248.00/cwt	231.00–312.50	2,887	10
Bulls	Medium 1Unweaned	450–500	487	485.00/cwt	485.00–485.00	2,362	3
Stock Cows	Medium 1-2	—	892	282.50/cwt	282.50–282.50	2,520	3
Stock Cows	Medium 1	—	823	302.43/cwt	300.00–305.00	2,489	2
Steers	Large 1	550–600	565	477.00/cwt	477.00–477.00	2,695	18
Steers	Large 1	650–700	669	436.50/cwt	436.50–436.50	2,920	90
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	422	436.70/cwt	435.00–437.50	1,843	12
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,230	3,050.00/head	3,050.00–3,050.00	3,050	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,143	230.27/cwt	202.00–275.00	2,632	19
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,277	3,500.00/head	3,500.00–3,500.00	3,500	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,200	196.90/cwt	188.00–201.00	2,363	9
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,234	3,963.67/head	3,800.00–4,000.00	3,964	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	600–650	631	337.50/cwt	337.50–337.50	2,130	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	550–600	583	332.00/cwt	332.00–332.00	1,936	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	450–500	498	421.00/cwt	421.00–421.00	2,097	13
Steers	Medium and Large 2	650–700	661	397.50/cwt	397.50–397.50	2,627	4
Steers	Medium and Large 2	700–750	737	372.50/cwt	372.50–372.50	2,745	3
Steers	Medium and Large 2	500–550	545	480.00/cwt	480.00–480.00	2,616	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Spayed	600–650	608	337.00/cwt	337.00–337.00	2,049	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	833	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	2,957	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Spayed	800–850	808	327.50/cwt	327.50–327.50	2,646	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	341	476.49/cwt	475.00–490.00	1,625	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	622	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	2,426	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	696	379.00/cwt	379.00–379.00	2,638	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	470	521.74/cwt	510.00–530.00	2,452	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	500	422.50/cwt	422.50–422.50	2,113	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	450	417.50/cwt	417.50–417.50	1,879	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	395	445.00/cwt	445.00–445.00	1,758	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	752	341.60/cwt	341.00–342.50	2,569	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	653	425.00/cwt	425.00–425.00	2,775	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	474	490.00/cwt	490.00–490.00	2,323	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	714	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	2,749	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	731	354.00/cwt	354.00–354.00	2,588	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	503	525.00/cwt	525.00–525.00	2,641	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	596	405.46/cwt	402.00–417.50	2,417	18
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	900–950	920	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	2,898	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	360	615.00/cwt	615.00–615.00	2,214	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	1000–1050	1,012	304.00/cwt	304.00–304.00	3,076	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	950–1000	955	302.50/cwt	302.50–302.50	2,889	3

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.

Montana feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →