Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2023-03-16

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Mar 16
● Final74 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
395 head
893 vs last sale 1,288 610 vs year ago 1,005 · 60.7%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
469 head
23 vs last sale 446 328 vs year ago 141 · +232.6%
Replacement Cattle receipts
421 head
290 vs last sale 131 253 vs year ago 168 · +150.6%
Also sold here(Mon)Thu Apr 16, 2026
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Steer and heifers calves were all too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering. Many crossbred calves were seen this week and buyers showed mostly good demand for all offerings. Buyers attempted to gather as many offering as possible as worry of shortness of supply takes hold. Quality today was mostly plain to average. All package sizes sold on good demand today. Market activity was active to very active with a very large crowd on hand for todays small sale. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for moderate offerings. Packer buyers showed good demand for cows for immediate harvest and to feed this week. Packers continued to purchase a few packages of high quality cows to feed. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00 to 3.00 higher on all classes. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold steady to firm, however high dressing bulls saw very good demand and sold sharply higher in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average this week and very attractive to buyers. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold with higher undertones. A very attractive, fancy set, of one iron cows off two ranches sold open and vet. checked safe to breed. These offerings were met with very good demand as most offerings in the consignment sold for over $1700 per head.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $210.52/cwt on 137 head.
Average price
$210.52
137 head · 582 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,225
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$201
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$36.17/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+2.11
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1598214.171,28197
Medium and Large 1-2547205.231,12234
Medium 1-2422185.007813thin
Medium and Large 2607178.001,0803thin
One grade step is worth $36.17/cwt here — about $201 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 sale137 hd
210.52
MT average3 barns · 546 hd
208.41
+2.11
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
BullsAverage1,716109.531,88042
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,52196.791,472142
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,36890.341,236181
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,18285.181,00789

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)1,480$1,71015
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,088$1,7003thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,408$1,6752thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,503$1,60375
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,224$1,5008

Every lot, as filed

74 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
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,48598.78/cwt98.00–100.501,46758
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,54696.41/cwt93.00–97.251,49067
BullsLarge 1Fleshy1,195111.00/cwt111.00–111.001,3262
BullsLarge 1Fleshy1,203109.00/cwt109.00–109.001,3112
BullsMedium and Large 1485240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,1642
BullsMedium and Large 1-2539239.00/cwt239.00–239.001,2887
BullsMedium and Large 1-2578210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,2142
BullsMedium and Large 1430262.00/cwt262.00–262.001,12714
SteersMedium and Large 1-2530236.68/cwt236.00–237.001,2546
SteersLarge 2492185.00/cwt185.00–185.009103
SteersMedium and Large 1-2623225.25/cwt223.00–229.001,40324
SteersMedium and Large 1548256.50/cwt256.50–256.501,40621
SteersMedium and Large 1-2470259.41/cwt252.00–270.001,21912
SteersMedium and Large 1-2389270.76/cwt270.00–280.001,05313
SteersMedium and Large 1-2588233.00/cwt233.00–233.001,3702
SteersMedium and Large 2460230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,0581
SteersMedium and Large 1575246.82/cwt240.00–250.001,41913
SteersMedium and Large 1479272.00/cwt272.00–272.001,3038
SteersMedium and Large 1805183.67/cwt181.00–185.001,4793
SteersMedium and Large 1-2407270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,0993
SteersMedium 2505155.00/cwt155.00–155.007832
HeifersMedium and Large 1682200.86/cwt198.00–202.001,37029
HeifersMedium and Large 1342257.50/cwt257.50–257.508817
SteersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy817165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,3483
SteersMedium and Large 1603237.00/cwt237.00–237.001,4292
SteersMedium 1452262.50/cwt262.50–262.501,1873
SteersMedium and Large 1-2735190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,3971
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2558209.01/cwt207.00–211.001,1668
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2385245.00/cwt245.00–245.009433
HeifersMedium and Large 1468234.00/cwt234.00–234.001,0954
HeifersMedium and Large 2607178.00/cwt178.00–178.001,0803
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2498215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,0716
HeifersMedium and Large 1Replacement701198.00/cwt198.00–198.001,38817
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy582185.00/cwt185.00–185.001,0775
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2539211.75/cwt209.00–214.001,1419
HeifersMedium and Large 1411237.00/cwt237.00–237.0097412
HeifersMedium and Large 1561225.85/cwt222.00–227.001,2676
BullsMedium and Large 1-2438245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,0732
BullsMedium and Large 1-2336247.50/cwt247.50–247.508324
CowsLean 85-90%1,22389.40/cwt86.00–94.001,09330
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight93981.85/cwt79.00–86.007694
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,27387.00/cwt87.00–87.001,1082
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,09482.57/cwt79.00–85.009039
Bulls1,753110.27/cwt106.00–117.001,9333
CowsBoner 80-85%1,38892.13/cwt87.00–96.501,27957
CowsBoner 80-85%1,36998.02/cwt97.00–104.001,34230
CowsLean 85-90%1,24097.00/cwt95.00–98.001,2035
CowsLean 85-90%1,18683.11/cwt76.00–85.0098633
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40493.08/cwt87.50–96.001,30724
CowsLean 85-90%1,17471.17/cwt70.00–73.008366
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,54491.50/cwt91.50–91.501,41317
CowsBoner 80-85%1,33083.56/cwt80.00–85.001,11160
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,38481.53/cwt74.00–84.001,1284
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,40497.65/cwt97.00–99.001,3716
Bulls1,73699.44/cwt90.00–103.001,72624
Bulls1,906133.22/cwt126.00–139.002,53910
BullsReturn to Feed1,219110.12/cwt105.00–114.001,3425
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,033111.29/cwt89.00–123.001,15067
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Fancy1,119154.59/cwt149.00–167.001,730170
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,0881,700.00/head1,700.00–1,700.001,7003
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,040128.62/cwt109.50–142.001,33838
Stock CowsMedium 1-2875111.36/cwt110.00–116.0097429
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4801,710.00/head1,710.00–1,710.001,71015
Stock CowsLarge 11,403105.00/cwt105.00–105.001,4732
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,3161,150.00/head1,150.00–1,150.001,1507
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5221,650.17/head1,525.00–1,675.001,65068
Stock CowsMedium 1683149.00/cwt149.00–149.001,0184
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2860130.00/cwt130.00–130.001,1181
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4081,675.00/head1,675.00–1,675.001,6752
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2241,500.00/head1,500.00–1,500.001,5008
HeifersMedium and Large 1626211.20/cwt205.00–217.501,32222
HeifersMedium 1-2422185.00/cwt185.00–185.007813
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2Fleshy740150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,1103
BullsMedium and Large 2372207.50/cwt207.50–207.507723

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.