Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2023-02-16

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Feb 16
● Final59 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
375 head
2,716 vs last sale 3,091 16 vs year ago 359 · +4.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
201 head
18 vs last sale 219 92 vs year ago 293 · 31.4%
Replacement Cattle receipts
125 head
24 vs last sale 101 163 vs year ago 288 · 56.6%
Also sold here(Mon)Thu Apr 16, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Steer calves were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Heifer calves were not well compared. Demand was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. Quality today was mostly plain to average and lower than last weeks attractive offering. Most calves were offered in small packages or as singles. Both quality was the biggest limiting factor affecting demand today. Market activity was mostly moderate today, with fewer market participants seen. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good to very good demand for mostly light offerings. Packers showed mostly very good demand for cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 4.00-7.00 higher on all offerings. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend, as most cows sold to slaughter buyers. Slaughter bulls sold 5.00-6.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Many young cow offerings continue to be sold to slaughter buyers as the cow market took another large jump higher.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $187.56/cwt on 214 head.
Average price
$187.56
214 head · 741 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,390
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$133
per head · Large 1 over Medium 1
$31.27/cwt at this weight
vs the market
9.98
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Large 1650202.701,31730
Medium and Large 1-2679187.831,27523
Medium and Large 1770185.301,427154
Medium 1690171.431,1837thin
One grade step is worth $31.27/cwt here — about $133 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 sale214 hd
187.56
MT average3 barns · 416 hd
197.53
−9.98
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
BullsAverage1,771106.021,87813
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,55492.061,43147
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,36688.041,20371
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,15682.6595562

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 Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,388$1,31627
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,378$1,30739

Every lot, as filed

59 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
SteersMedium 1438220.00/cwt220.00–220.009642
SteersLarge 11,030158.00/cwt158.00–158.001,6274
SteersMedium and Large 1-2478234.00/cwt234.00–234.001,1194
SteersMedium and Large 1959158.00/cwt158.00–158.001,5158
SteersMedium and Large 1528227.35/cwt226.00–230.001,2006
SteersMedium and Large 1627215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,3486
SteersMedium and Large 1690197.00/cwt197.00–197.001,35914
SteersLarge 1503226.00/cwt226.00–226.001,1379
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy774165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,2776
SteersMedium and Large 1708194.25/cwt193.00–195.001,37516
SteersLarge 1754185.00/cwt185.00–185.001,3957
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy840163.00/cwt163.00–163.001,3693
SteersMedium and Large 1Full839175.50/cwt175.50–175.501,47223
HeifersMedium 1555192.00/cwt192.00–192.001,0662
SteersMedium and Large 1-2654190.50/cwt187.00–192.001,24610
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy747180.00/cwt180.00–180.001,3455
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy832160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,3316
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy973154.00/cwt154.00–154.001,4983
SteersMedium and Large 1Fleshy694190.50/cwt189.00–195.501,32217
HeifersMedium and Large 1552191.00/cwt191.00–191.001,0543
SteersMedium and Large 1585219.00/cwt219.00–219.001,2812
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2419208.00/cwt208.00–208.008724
HeifersMedium 1-2405192.50/cwt192.50–192.507803
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2477199.18/cwt197.50–200.009506
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2664172.00/cwt172.00–172.001,1427
HeifersLarge 1417195.00/cwt195.00–195.008133
HeifersLarge 1498193.00/cwt193.00–193.0096112
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3781,306.91/head1,285.00–1,325.001,30739
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3881,315.98/head1,250.00–1,350.001,31627
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,070122.25/cwt116.00–132.001,3083
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,054107.00/cwt87.00–123.501,12846
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-286693.17/cwt78.00–110.008075
BullsReturn to Feed1,150107.00/cwt107.00–107.001,2311
Bulls1,903108.14/cwt104.00–112.002,0584
Bulls1,805115.25/cwt115.25–115.252,0802
Bulls1,680100.44/cwt96.00–103.001,6875
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight87575.22/cwt73.00–77.506582
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight90084.03/cwt83.00–85.007562
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,54896.00/cwt96.00–96.001,4864
Bulls2,255106.00/cwt106.00–106.002,3901
CowsLean 85-90%1,14979.09/cwt74.00–82.5090927
CowsLean 85-90%1,20286.16/cwt82.50–89.001,03621
CowsBoner 80-85%1,39995.16/cwt93.00–97.001,3317
CowsLean 85-90%1,12066.45/cwt65.00–68.007442
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,38587.00/cwt87.00–87.001,2051
CowsBoner 80-85%1,37789.03/cwt84.00–92.001,22648
CowsBoner 80-85%1,33782.64/cwt79.00–84.001,10514
CowsLean 85-90%1,19991.02/cwt90.00–94.001,0918
CowsBoner 80-85%1,00067.00/cwt67.00–67.006701
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,55591.69/cwt89.00–94.001,42643
SteersLarge 1556212.00/cwt212.00–212.001,17910
SteersMedium and Large 1815181.61/cwt178.00–182.251,48048
SteersMedium 1791152.00/cwt152.00–152.001,2025
HeifersMedium and Large 1725170.00/cwt170.00–170.001,23312
HeifersMedium and Large 1532204.00/cwt204.00–204.001,0857
HeifersMedium and Large 1Fleshy833150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,2502
BullsMedium and Large 1740172.00/cwt172.00–172.001,2736
BullsMedium and Large 1618198.00/cwt198.00–198.001,2243
BullsMedium and Large 1578195.00/cwt195.00–195.001,1273

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.