Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2023-04-06

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Apr 6
● Final63 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
310 head
3,688 vs last sale 3,998 64 vs year ago 374 · 17.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
410 head
294 vs last sale 116 99 vs year ago 509 · 19.4%
Replacement Cattle receipts
370 head
119 vs last sale 251 88 vs year ago 282 · +31.2%
Also sold here(Mon)Thu Apr 16, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Steers and heifers were too lightly tested today to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to firm undertones were noticed on all offerings. Quality this sale was mostly plain to average. Most lots were offered in small packages of as singles. Demand was good to very good. Sharply higher fat cattle sales were seen around the country this week, spurring higher CME live and feeder cattle contract prices. Market activity was active to very active despite light offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly good demand for moderate offerings. Packers showed good demand for both feeding and slaughter cows this sale. Slaughter cows sold generally steady on all offerings. Feeding cows sold steady to 1.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mixed as some cows offered buyers above average weigh conditions, while others offered below average conditions. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 10.00-15.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive. Most open rebreed type offerings sold for $1450-1700 per head.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $209.52/cwt on 121 head.
Average price
$209.52
121 head · 620 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,299
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$492
per head · Medium 1 over Large 1
$54.53/cwt at this weight
vs the market
7.82
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1388237.509226thin
Medium and Large 1587218.081,28069
Medium and Large 1-2588217.251,27712thin
Medium and Large 2397200.007943thin
Large 1773182.971,41431
One grade step is worth $54.53/cwt here — about −$492 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 sale121 hd
209.52
MT average3 barns · 361 hd
217.34
−7.82
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
BullsLow1,812113.822,06225
CowsPremium White 65-75%Average1,46396.751,41567
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,61695.321,54033
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,40093.211,305131
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,17885.891,012153

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)Young (2-4 yrs)1,288$1,8252thin

Every lot, as filed

63 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
CowsPremium White 65-75%1,46396.75/cwt96.75–96.751,41567
CowsLean 85-90%1,13481.91/cwt74.50–85.0092949
Bulls1,649102.06/cwt85.00–107.001,6838
Bulls2,063130.70/cwt124.00–136.002,6969
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,58492.82/cwt91.50–93.501,4705
BullsMedium and Large 1528242.50/cwt242.50–242.501,2803
BullsMedium and Large 1750178.00/cwt178.00–178.001,3354
BullsMedium 1395232.50/cwt232.50–232.509185
BullsMedium 1339248.00/cwt248.00–248.008414
BullsMedium and Large 1588253.00/cwt253.00–253.001,4885
HeifersMedium and Large 1533238.00/cwt238.00–238.001,26915
HeifersLarge 1700194.00/cwt194.00–194.001,35813
SteersMedium and Large 1972175.00/cwt175.00–175.001,70110
SteersMedium and Large 1-2680207.61/cwt205.00–211.001,4127
SteersMedium and Large 1767198.00/cwt198.00–198.001,5193
SteersLarge 1493266.00/cwt266.00–266.001,3113
SteersMedium and Large 1-2592235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,3913
HeifersMedium and Large 1585232.00/cwt232.00–232.001,3573
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2550217.50/cwt217.50–217.501,1962
HeifersMedium and Large 2397200.00/cwt200.00–200.007943
SteersMedium and Large 1728210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,5294
SteersMedium and Large 1913178.00/cwt178.00–178.001,6256
SteersMedium 1397237.00/cwt237.00–237.009413
HeifersMedium and Large 1441238.50/cwt238.50–238.501,05223
HeifersMedium and Large 1610224.00/cwt220.00–225.001,3665
HeifersMedium and Large 1790172.00/cwt172.00–172.001,3599
SteersMedium 1479266.00/cwt266.00–266.001,2749
SteersMedium and Large 1-2800177.00/cwt177.00–177.001,4163
SteersMedium and Large 1600245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,4702
HeifersLarge 1825175.00/cwt175.00–175.001,44418
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2648214.00/cwt214.00–214.001,3878
HeifersMedium 1388237.50/cwt237.50–237.509226
HeifersMedium and Large 1822174.00/cwt174.00–174.001,4303
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2385230.00/cwt230.00–230.008862
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,48393.91/cwt91.00–98.501,39320
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,760101.50/cwt101.50–101.501,7861
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,65496.17/cwt94.00–98.501,59123
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight96576.97/cwt73.00–80.007433
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,22388.51/cwt87.50–95.501,0828
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,08982.75/cwt82.75–82.7590117
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,44890.82/cwt89.00–92.001,3159
CowsBoner 80-85%1,389103.00/cwt100.00–105.001,4319
CowsBoner 80-85%1,38694.22/cwt88.00–99.501,30672
CowsBoner 80-85%1,35285.89/cwt81.00–88.001,16121
CowsLean 85-90%1,23899.49/cwt96.00–101.001,2326
CowsLean 85-90%1,24189.24/cwt86.00–96.001,10766
CowsLean 85-90%1,07370.00/cwt70.00–70.007513
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight96585.50/cwt85.50–85.508251
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,40192.00/cwt92.00–92.001,2894
Bulls2,270115.00/cwt115.00–115.002,6111
Bulls1,824113.42/cwt108.00–119.002,0694
BullsReturn to Feed1,315111.00/cwt111.00–111.001,4601
BullsLight Weight1,33086.48/cwt85.00–88.001,1502
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2972111.20/cwt101.00–137.501,08114
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2881,825.00/head1,825.00–1,825.001,8252
Bred CowsSmall 371554.85/cwt47.00–57.0039240
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,035125.00/cwt90.00–145.001,29495
Stock CowsMedium 1769162.80/cwt156.00–164.001,2526
Stock CowsLarge 1953157.82/cwt152.00–160.001,50424
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1960158.99/cwt122.00–178.001,526180
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,15092.91/cwt89.00–100.001,0686
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,023101.32/cwt91.00–112.001,0372
HeifersMedium and Large 1725191.46/cwt191.00–192.001,38811

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.