Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2019-05-09

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, May 9
● Final69 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
479 head
3,069 vs last sale 3,548 479 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
158 head
22 vs last sale 180 158 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
1,124 head
538 vs last sale 1,662 1,124 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Also sold here(Mon)Thu Apr 16, 2026
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: The best test for feeder steers was for 550-599 lbs which sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower, all other weights of steers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Feeder heifer 550-599 lbs offered the best test this week, selling steady in a narrow comparison. All other weights of feeder heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and mostly offered in small packages. Flesh was mostly light this week, however a few moderate plus to fleshy offerings were seen this week as well. CME positions continue to try to find footing after another week of volatile trading. Market activity this week was slow to moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for heavy offerings. Feeding buyers continue to be aggressive as they push to own all cows suitable to feed. Packers showed good demand for both slaughter and feeding cows today. With both packers and feeding buyers bidding aggressively on cows, offerings reached the highest prices so far this year. Slaughter cows sold 1.00-3.00 higher. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-4.00 higher. Notably, cows continue to push fill today as all offerings were pushing moderate to heavy amounts of fill. Cow quality this sale was average to very attractive. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week as very few bulls sold to kill. Bulls sold on mostly moderate to good demand today. Bulls, like cows were mostly full this week. Young age 2-4 year olds sold mostly 5.00-10.00 lower. Lighter demand was seen for feeding quality offerings as buyers reacted to lower CME live cattle contract prices. Demand for wet bagged cows remains moderate, with good demand seen on attractive offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive, however lower than last week.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $141.83/cwt on 133 head.
Average price
$141.83
133 head · 599 lb average
Value per head Derived
$850
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$11
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$9.04/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+4.73
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1583144.9584587
Medium and Large 1-2630135.9185646
One grade step is worth $9.04/cwt here — about −$11 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 0–100 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 0–100 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale133 hd
141.83
MT average3 barns · 470 hd
137.09
+4.73
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
BullsHigh1,86785.671,59932
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,43468.1497740
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,49767.121,0056thin
CowsLean 85-90%Very Low1,14460.8969750

Every lot, as filed

69 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.
ClassGrade / descriptionWeightAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Bulls2,01294.83/cwt93.00–98.501,9083
Bulls1,60086.50/cwt86.50–86.501,3841
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,03960.88/cwt58.00–64.506334
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-295370.71/cwt66.00–77.506742
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,24062.00/cwt62.00–62.007691
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,06358.08/cwt56.00–62.0061724
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,37169.85/cwt66.00–74.0095866
BullsLarge 11,076107.00/cwt106.00–111.001,1515
BullsLarge 11,020113.00/cwt113.00–113.001,1531
SteersMedium and Large 1639162.83/cwt160.00–170.001,04025
CowsLean 85-90%1,20048.06/cwt46.00–49.005773
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,44865.18/cwt64.50–65.509444
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,59571.00/cwt71.00–71.001,1322
CowsBoner 80-85%1,44568.46/cwt65.00–70.5098932
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40571.71/cwt71.00–72.501,0085
Bulls1,67778.85/cwt72.00–81.001,32210
BullsHeavy Weight2,62077.00/cwt77.00–77.002,0171
Bulls1,92488.52/cwt83.50–91.001,70317
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight90754.06/cwt53.00–54.504903
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight95565.00/cwt65.00–65.006211
CowsLean 85-90%1,15559.65/cwt54.50–63.5068928
CowsLean 85-90%1,15965.98/cwt64.00–69.0076512
CowsLean 85-90%1,23270.32/cwt69.50–71.508663
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2726125.00/cwt125.00–125.009088
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2637135.00/cwt135.00–135.008607
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2576143.00/cwt143.00–143.008245
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2494143.00/cwt143.00–143.007064
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2680135.00/cwt135.00–135.009182
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy901113.00/cwt113.00–113.001,0186
HeifersMedium and Large 1Unweaned459151.00/cwt151.00–151.0069319
HeifersMedium and Large 1100175.00/cwt175.00–175.001752
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,4251,675.00/cwt1,675.00–1,675.0023,8695
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,7061,600.00/cwt1,600.00–1,600.0027,2964
Dairy SteersLarge 393262.50/cwt62.50–62.5058310
SteersMedium and Large 1-2679146.98/cwt145.00–148.009986
SteersMedium and Large 1-2642151.00/cwt151.00–151.009696
CowsBoner 80-85%1,36258.76/cwt56.00–63.008003
HeifersMedium and Large 1712135.00/cwt135.00–135.0096118
HeifersMedium and Large 1634146.25/cwt146.25–146.259278
HeifersMedium and Large 1535151.00/cwt151.00–151.008084
HeifersMedium and Large 1690141.00/cwt141.00–141.009732
BullsMedium and Large 1-2428167.50/cwt167.50–167.507172
BullsMedium and Large 1120290.28/cwt275.00–325.003483
BullsMedium and Large 1200375.00/cwt375.00–375.007501
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,1811,733.25/cwt1,725.00–1,800.0020,47012
Stock CowsMedium and Large 198495.59/cwt77.00–109.00941185
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,35869.79/cwt66.00–72.2594877
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,20165.02/cwt62.50–71.50781162
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,1341,360.18/cwt1,325.00–1,400.0015,4246
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2111,565.41/cwt1,425.00–1,610.0018,95712
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4841,445.76/cwt1,410.00–1,475.0021,45547
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,7281,900.00/cwt1,900.00–1,900.0032,8327
SteersMedium and Large 1-2948121.00/cwt121.00–121.001,1472
SteersMedium and Large 1565173.48/cwt171.00–178.0098032
HeifersMedium and Large 1572146.00/cwt146.00–146.0083536
BullsMedium and Large 1993117.50/cwt117.00–118.001,1676
BullsMedium and Large 1603145.00/cwt145.00–145.008744
BullsMedium and Large 1510179.00/cwt179.00–179.009131
BullsLarge 11,168105.20/cwt105.00–106.001,22915
BullsLarge 11,143113.00/cwt113.00–113.001,29211
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,04082.68/cwt70.00–95.00860149
SteersMedium and Large 1727144.95/cwt143.00–149.001,05415
SteersMedium and Large 1762143.15/cwt142.00–144.001,09113
SteersMedium and Large 1507178.75/cwt177.50–179.009066
SteersMedium and Large 1970124.00/cwt124.00–124.001,2033
SteersMedium and Large 1Full580165.00/cwt165.00–165.0095711
SteersLarge 11,081115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,2435
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2505148.00/cwt148.00–148.0074714
BullsMedium and Large 1485173.00/cwt173.00–173.008399

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.