Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2026-06-11
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-06-11

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (6-04-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive with lots of variation noticed. Demand for fall calves was mostly good. Demand for replacement heifers was mostly good with several ranchers and order buyers in the stands looking for heifers to turn out. Rain over the last couple weeks across dry portions of the Northern Plains has helped spur demand for cattle to turn out on summer pastures. Group sizes were small to moderate groups this week with a large portion of the feeder offering seen as singles. A moderate size crowd was on hand for todays sale. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand and moderate to heavy offerings. Demand for feeding cows was mostly moderate to good. Canadian buyers continue to be large buyers of feeding cows. American packers purchased some cows to hold for the upcoming 4th of July holiday week. Many of these cows were slightly blemished or slightly lame. Boning and lean flesh feeding cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower. Breaking flesh feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower as buyers showed lighter demand for heavily fleshed feeding cows. Cow quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Demand for slaughter cows was mostly light. Breaking cows sold mostly 4.00-5.00 lower, boning and lean cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower. Demand for feeding bulls was mostly light to moderate. Too few feeding bulls were seen to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on a significantly lower quality offering. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average today as most cows and bulls were pushing moderate to heavy amounts of fill. Young age offerings suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly steady in a narrow comparison. Demand for young rebreed cows improved this week as rains helped improve pasture and range conditions across the plains. A large offering of Cow/calf pairs and bred cows were seen this week. Demand for both cow/calf pairs and bred cows improved significantly this week as rains helped improve pasture and range conditions throughout Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska. Pair quality this week was average to very attractive.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $424.70/cwt on 46 head, down $6.67 from the prior sale (only 11 head in that comparison). That ranks 7 of 21 comparable sales and sits −9.17 against this barn's trailing median of $433.86.

Average price

$424.70

▼ 6.67 vs prior sale

46 head · 549 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,333

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$265

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

$70.00/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+12.59

vs MT average

+24.18 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	525	435.00	2,283	8thin
Large 1	558	432.28	2,411	29
Medium and Large 1	580	430.00	2,494	1thin
Medium 1	528	407.50	2,152	4thin
Medium and Large 2	553	365.00	2,018	4thin

One grade step is worth $70.00/cwt here — about $265 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 sale46 hd

424.70

—

MT average2 barns · 65 hd

412.11

+12.59

National average163 barns · 8,321 hd

400.52

+24.18

This barn, trailing median21 sales

433.86

−9.17

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	1,937	209.14	4,050	39
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,400	179.17	2,508	238
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,650	175.12	2,890	81
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,151	163.24	1,879	70

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)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,541	$3,950	8
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,349	$3,914	20
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,549	$3,821	30
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,433	$3,436	40
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,018	$3,400	2thin
Bred Heifers	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,363	$3,950	2thin
Bred Heifers	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,095	$3,400	2thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,428	$5,498	100
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,680	$5,185	201
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,691	$4,918	24
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,223	$4,600	5
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,575	$4,363	77
Heifer Pairs	Open	(<2 yrs)	1,230	$5,550	33

Every lot, as filed

121 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
Stock Cows	Medium 1	—	872	291.65/cwt	285.00–305.00	2,543	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,123	164.48/cwt	164.00–165.00	1,847	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,138	128.33/cwt	120.00–142.50	1,460	9
Bulls	—	—	2,084	213.79/cwt	209.00–220.00	4,455	17
Heifers	Large 1	600–650	639	406.00/cwt	406.00–406.00	2,594	11
Heifers	Large 1	500–550	521	440.00/cwt	440.00–440.00	2,292	15
Bulls	Large 1	1150–1200	1,160	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	2,958	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,307	137.63/cwt	135.00–139.00	1,799	3
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,475	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	2,670	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	938	128.68/cwt	120.00–137.50	1,207	2
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,706	210.61/cwt	205.00–215.00	3,593	4
Bulls	—	—	2,040	226.14/cwt	222.00–232.00	4,613	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,193	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	2,267	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,393	186.71/cwt	185.00–189.00	2,601	7
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,395	182.39/cwt	175.00–185.00	2,544	180
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,810	168.76/cwt	168.50–169.00	3,055	2
Bulls	—	—	1,798	196.97/cwt	180.00–208.00	3,542	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,792	163.85/cwt	157.00–166.00	2,936	17
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight	—	2,230	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	3,635	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,406	170.03/cwt	150.00–178.00	2,391	41
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,540	192.85/cwt	189.00–197.50	2,970	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,712	172.00/cwt	172.00–172.00	2,945	3
Bulls	—Heavy Weight	—	2,578	224.00/cwt	224.00–224.00	5,775	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,154	166.30/cwt	152.50–177.00	1,919	22
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,205	180.55/cwt	177.00–185.00	2,176	27
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	1050–1100	1,075	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	3,010	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	950–1000	958	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	2,874	11
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	950–1000	981	318.00/cwt	318.00–318.00	3,120	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	580	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	2,494	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	710	405.00/cwt	405.00–405.00	2,876	1
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS	—	1,604	4,512.53/head	4,450.00–4,550.00	4,513	5
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,425	4,083.98/head	3,850.00–4,200.00	4,084	14
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,223	4,600.00/head	4,600.00–4,600.00	4,600	5
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,371	4,734.32/head	4,700.00–4,750.00	4,734	24
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	750–800	755	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	2,831	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	900–950	902	335.00/cwt	335.00–335.00	3,022	5
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,591	4,550.00/head	4,550.00–4,550.00	4,550	8
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,446	5,769.76/head	5,000.00–5,900.00	5,770	74
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,689	5,328.24/head	4,575.00–5,425.00	5,328	170
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,691	4,917.95/head	4,900.00–4,925.00	4,918	24
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,525	4,231.76/head	4,200.00–4,300.00	4,232	9
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,651	4,563.36/head	4,400.00–4,600.00	4,563	40
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,492	3,822.95/head	3,500.00–3,950.00	3,823	24
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,255	238.02/cwt	202.50–258.00	2,987	29
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,650	3,550.00/head	3,550.00–3,550.00	3,550	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,629	4,087.62/head	3,600.00–4,150.00	4,088	18
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,653	4,300.00/head	4,300.00–4,300.00	4,300	18
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,443	4,600.00/head	4,600.00–4,600.00	4,600	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,322	2,905.98/head	2,700.00–3,000.00	2,906	14
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,048	235.93/cwt	192.50–290.00	2,473	12
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,122	215.12/cwt	186.00–275.00	2,414	13
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,363	3,950.00/head	3,950.00–3,950.00	3,950	2
Heifer Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,230	5,550.00/head	5,550.00–5,550.00	5,550	33
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,351	4,002.31/head	3,900.00–4,150.00	4,002	10
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,167	229.66/cwt	186.00–285.00	2,680	41
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,090	262.81/cwt	210.00–310.00	2,865	64
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 2	—	985	225.00/cwt	225.00–225.00	2,216	1
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,095	3,400.00/head	3,400.00–3,400.00	3,400	2
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,542	4,156.42/head	3,700.00–4,250.00	4,156	14
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	1,505	2,500.00/head	2,500.00–2,500.00	2,500	2
Steers	Small and Medium 3	400–450	426	2,050.00/head	2,050.00–2,050.00	2,050	6
Heifers	Small and Medium 3	450–500	464	2,100.00/head	2,100.00–2,100.00	2,100	5
Steers	Small and Medium 3	500–550	513	2,100.00/head	2,100.00–2,100.00	2,100	14
Steers	Small and Medium 1Fleshy	600–650	606	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	988	10
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,355	3,379.26/head	3,300.00–3,400.00	3,379	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,323	188.57/cwt	186.00–190.00	2,495	10
Bulls	Small and Medium 3	300–350	313	1,950.00/head	1,950.00–1,950.00	1,950	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	855	107.28/cwt	97.50–111.00	917	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,400	151.11/cwt	145.00–157.00	2,116	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,275	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	1,951	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,570	185.60/cwt	185.00–187.00	2,914	5
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,574	181.47/cwt	176.00–184.00	2,856	45
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,698	164.08/cwt	153.00–170.00	2,786	11
Steers	Large 1-2	1150–1200	1,163	271.00/cwt	271.00–271.00	3,152	2
Steers	Large 1-2	600–650	605	395.00/cwt	395.00–395.00	2,390	2
Heifers	Large 1	700–750	730	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	2,592	3
Heifers	Large 1	550–600	597	424.00/cwt	424.00–424.00	2,531	14
Bulls	Large 1	1250–1300	1,260	237.50/cwt	237.50–237.50	2,993	1
Heifers	Medium 1-2	450–500	466	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	1,771	4
Steers	Medium 1	450–500	456	480.01/cwt	460.00–485.00	2,189	5
Heifers	Medium 1	500–550	528	407.50/cwt	407.50–407.50	2,152	4
Heifers	Medium 1Fleshy	850–900	868	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	2,213	9
Heifers	Medium 1Fleshy	650–700	663	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	2,254	6
Stock Cows	Medium 1-2	—	830	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	2,283	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,409	4,050.00/head	4,050.00–4,050.00	4,050	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	—	1,458	244.61/cwt	235.00–285.00	3,566	6
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,530	3,750.00/head	3,750.00–3,750.00	3,750	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,548	4,069.61/head	4,050.00–4,100.00	4,070	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,203	3,300.00/head	3,300.00–3,300.00	3,300	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,018	3,400.00/head	3,400.00–3,400.00	3,400	2
Steers	Medium and Large 2	750–800	770	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	2,541	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	550–600	570	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	2,166	1
Steers	Medium and Large 2	900–950	923	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	2,907	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	852	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	2,684	6
Steers	Medium and Large 2	800–850	803	352.50/cwt	352.50–352.50	2,831	4
Steers	Medium and Large 2	700–750	714	342.65/cwt	335.00–370.00	2,447	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	565	439.16/cwt	437.50–445.00	2,481	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	724	352.45/cwt	350.00–355.00	2,552	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	502	500.00/cwt	500.00–500.00	2,510	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	820	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	2,665	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	420	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	1,722	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	500–550	547	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,969	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	811	368.25/cwt	360.00–372.50	2,987	58
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	688	381.00/cwt	381.00–381.00	2,621	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	682	404.00/cwt	404.00–404.00	2,755	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	950–1000	970	332.00/cwt	332.00–332.00	3,220	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	600–650	605	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	2,208	1
Steers	Medium and Large 2	650–700	673	361.10/cwt	347.50–375.00	2,430	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	750–800	780	275.00/cwt	275.00–275.00	2,145	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	800–850	840	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	2,940	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	684	419.00/cwt	419.00–419.00	2,866	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	700–750	746	371.96/cwt	371.00–375.00	2,775	54
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	507	445.00/cwt	445.00–445.00	2,256	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	578	405.00/cwt	405.00–405.00	2,341	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	731	370.82/cwt	365.50–384.00	2,711	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	765	362.50/cwt	362.50–362.50	2,773	41
Steers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	645	442.50/cwt	442.50–442.50	2,854	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	1000–1050	1,036	259.00/cwt	259.00–259.00	2,683	28
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	950–1000	973	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	2,968	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	468	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	1,872	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,035	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	3,002	1

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 →