Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2023-04-13

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Apr 13
● Final70 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
229 head
81 vs last sale 310 185 vs year ago 414 · 44.7%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
577 head
167 vs last sale 410 455 vs year ago 122 · +373.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
345 head
25 vs last sale 370 240 vs year ago 105 · +228.6%
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 higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Quality this sale was mostly plain to average. Most lots were offered in small packages or as singles. Demand was good to very good, despite light offerings. Higher CME live and feeder cattle contract prices continue to add support to the market. Demand for cattle suitable to run on grass was very good as order buyers and ranchers competed over offerings. Market activity was active to very active. 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 to firm on breaking and boning cows, lean cows sold unevenly steady. Feeding cows sold 1.00-2.00 higher on very good demand from packer buyers. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00-4.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mixed today as both full and empty offerings were seen. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold 5.00-10.00 higher. Quality this week was average to very attractive. Most open rebreed type offerings sold for $1550-1750 per head, few fancy offerings up to $1800 per head.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $219.13/cwt on 75 head.
Average price
$219.13
75 head · 590 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,294
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$517
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2-3
$91.86/cwt at this weight
vs the market
3.83
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1598231.861,38644
Medium and Large 1-2536228.231,22315thin
Medium 1643204.001,3126thin
Medium 2600171.001,0266thin
Medium 2-3621140.008694thin
One grade step is worth $91.86/cwt here — about $517 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 sale75 hd
219.13
MT average3 barns · 1,657 hd
222.96
−3.83
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
BullsHigh1,690114.301,93248
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,62897.291,58453
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,40594.241,324197
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,19389.761,071205

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)1,310$1,9753thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,208$1,7853thin

Every lot, as filed

70 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
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2440255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,1221
HeifersMedium 1643204.00/cwt204.00–204.001,3126
HeifersMedium and Large 1768190.00/cwt190.00–190.001,4592
BullsLarge 1795172.00/cwt172.00–172.001,3671
BullsLarge 11,225139.50/cwt139.00–140.001,7092
BullsMedium and Large 1-2505235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,1871
HeifersMedium and Large 1625218.50/cwt218.50–218.501,3664
HeifersMedium and Large 1563236.14/cwt225.00–239.501,3299
HeifersMedium and Large 1525257.41/cwt244.00–260.001,35117
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2512232.04/cwt220.00–240.001,18810
HeifersMedium 2-3621140.00/cwt140.00–140.008694
HeifersMedium 2600171.00/cwt171.00–171.001,0266
HeifersMedium and Large 1673206.30/cwt204.00–213.001,3888
HeifersMedium and Large 1724199.00/cwt199.00–199.001,4414
SteersMedium and Large 1-2465285.00/cwt285.00–285.001,3251
SteersMedium and Large 1-2375295.00/cwt295.00–295.001,1061
SteersMedium and Large 1-2428273.23/cwt270.00–280.001,1693
SteersMedium and Large 1389325.00/cwt325.00–325.001,26410
SteersMedium and Large 1430315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,3551
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2619212.00/cwt212.00–212.001,3124
SteersMedium and Large 1481289.48/cwt285.00–291.001,3928
SteersMedium and Large 1688228.00/cwt228.00–228.001,5692
SteersMedium and Large 1-2520264.17/cwt260.00–272.501,3743
SteersMedium and Large 1626253.48/cwt250.00–259.001,58713
SteersMedium and Large 1710217.00/cwt217.00–217.001,5415
SteersMedium and Large 1530282.50/cwt282.50–282.501,4971
SteersMedium and Large 1-2870171.75/cwt170.00–177.001,4944
SteersMedium and Large 1-2565235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,3281
SteersMedium and Large 1591268.34/cwt265.00–274.001,5868
BullsMedium and Large 1612236.00/cwt236.00–236.001,4443
BullsLarge 11,025165.70/cwt155.00–167.001,6989
BullsLarge 11,140143.00/cwt143.00–143.001,6302
BullsMedium and Large 1726193.00/cwt193.00–193.001,4014
BullsMedium and Large 1919168.23/cwt164.00–171.001,5465
BullsMedium and Large 1783188.00/cwt188.00–188.001,4722
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2081,785.00/head1,785.00–1,785.001,7853
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3101,975.00/head1,975.00–1,975.001,9753
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Fancy893195.62/cwt190.00–205.001,74742
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-288496.89/cwt87.00–116.0085712
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,031159.92/cwt120.00–187.001,649141
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,009134.03/cwt119.00–156.001,3525
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,135118.24/cwt93.50–160.001,34293
BullsReturn to Feed1,305124.00/cwt124.00–124.001,6181
BullsReturn to Feed1,312103.57/cwt96.00–108.001,3598
BullsHeavy Weight1,552111.00/cwt111.00–111.001,7233
BullsReturn to Feed1,308112.46/cwt112.00–113.001,4712
Bulls1,864142.00/cwt131.00–144.002,6478
Bulls1,859115.45/cwt114.00–119.002,1467
CowsLean 85-90%1,22090.24/cwt85.00–94.001,10142
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,63792.48/cwt89.00–94.001,51412
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,39795.42/cwt90.00–99.001,33372
CowsBoner 80-85%1,40794.50/cwt88.00–99.251,33084
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,377104.98/cwt96.00–108.001,44614
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,53092.00/cwt92.00–92.001,4081
CowsBreaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,03798.50/cwt98.50–98.502,0063
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight92586.00/cwt86.00–86.007961
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight87577.47/cwt74.00–82.006783
CowsLean 85-90%1,11681.31/cwt74.00–85.5090750
CowsLean 85-90%1,273101.96/cwt97.00–104.501,29812
CowsBoner 80-85%1,39587.76/cwt86.00–91.001,22419
CowsBoner 80-85%1,428101.50/cwt100.00–103.001,4498
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,59498.40/cwt96.00–100.501,56832
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,678102.17/cwt101.50–103.001,7143
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21592.07/cwt86.00–95.501,11969
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,488102.00/cwt102.00–102.001,5182
Bulls1,724103.39/cwt94.00–111.001,78216
Bulls2,178125.88/cwt123.00–131.002,7423
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,11384.30/cwt81.00–87.5093814
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,440101.99/cwt100.00–104.001,4693
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,42588.39/cwt87.00–90.001,26011

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.