Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2023-06-15

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jun 15
● Final66 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
182 head
368 vs last sale 550 243 vs year ago 425 · 57.2%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
468 head
29 vs last sale 439 27 vs year ago 441 · +6.1%
Replacement Cattle receipts
264 head
230 vs last sale 494 100 vs year ago 164 · +61.0%
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 last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Quality this sale was mostly plain to average. No load lots were seen today. Cattle were mostly offered in small packages or as singles. Demand for limited feeder cattle remains good. A good crowd was on hand for todays sale, with several ranchers in the stands buying grass feeders and pair offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand and offerings. Packers showed moderate demand for slaughter cows today. Slaughter cows sold steady to 3.00 lower on all classes. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mixed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to firm. Several buyers looking for turn out cows showed stronger demand this week and pushed this class higher. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb heifers averaged $233.23/cwt on 65 head.
Average price
$233.23
65 head · 586 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,366
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$169
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2
$28.91/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+2.86
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2487239.291,16614thin
Medium and Large 1643236.111,51742
Medium and Large 2474210.389969thin
One grade step is worth $28.91/cwt here — about $169 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 sale65 hd
233.23
MT average3 barns · 116 hd
230.37
+2.86
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
BullsLow1,772118.522,10072
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,585105.721,67631
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,37299.341,362127
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,19395.901,144170

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)1,235$1,6632thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,555$1,6502thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,525$1,4501thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,176$1,4253thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,285$1,7001thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,275$1,7003thin

Every lot, as filed

66 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
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-21,012106.07/cwt92.00–120.001,0738
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,25797.96/cwt90.00–102.501,23129
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,080125.96/cwt100.00–160.001,36074
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,5551,650.00/head1,650.00–1,650.001,6502
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,5251,450.00/head1,450.00–1,450.001,4501
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1761,425.00/head1,425.00–1,425.001,4253
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,1551,650.00/head1,650.00–1,650.001,6501
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2551,800.00/head1,800.00–1,800.001,8002
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3151,500.00/head1,500.00–1,500.001,5001
HeifersMedium and Large 1755211.00/cwt211.00–211.001,5931
HeifersMedium and Large 1Full580246.00/cwt246.00–246.001,4274
BullsLarge 1965169.00/cwt169.00–169.001,6312
BullsMedium and Large 1-2475235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,1161
BullsLarge 1-21,153144.00/cwt144.00–144.001,6602
BullsMedium and Large 1705211.71/cwt202.00–215.001,4934
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2467240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,12112
HeifersMedium and Large 2459206.82/cwt200.00–220.009496
HeifersMedium and Large 2503217.50/cwt217.50–217.501,0943
HeifersMedium and Large 1633239.50/cwt239.50–239.501,51631
HeifersMedium and Large 1652230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,5003
HeifersMedium and Large 1813194.00/cwt194.00–194.001,5772
SteersMedium and Large 1663268.27/cwt265.00–275.001,7793
SteersLarge 1785227.00/cwt227.00–227.001,7821
SteersMedium and Large 1731257.01/cwt255.00–265.001,87910
SteersMedium and Large 1-2565265.00/cwt265.00–265.001,4976
HeifersMedium and Large 1705219.00/cwt219.00–219.001,5441
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2608235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,4292
SteersMedium and Large 1-2840212.50/cwt212.50–212.501,7854
BullsMedium 1403220.00/cwt220.00–220.008873
BullsLarge 1-21,077156.34/cwt156.00–157.001,6846
BullsMedium and Large 1-2518242.45/cwt240.00–245.001,2564
BullsMedium and Large 1-2579228.47/cwt220.00–232.501,3235
BullsLarge 11,060161.00/cwt161.00–161.001,7071
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,12388.69/cwt85.00–91.0099623
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,191104.95/cwt100.00–116.501,25037
BullsLarge 11,033165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,7044
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,23296.42/cwt91.00–99.001,18845
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,515103.50/cwt103.50–103.501,5682
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,541110.00/cwt110.00–110.001,69515
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,655104.50/cwt104.50–104.501,7291
CowsBoner 80-85%1,38396.12/cwt94.00–99.501,32916
CowsLean 85-90%1,02081.00/cwt81.00–81.008261
CowsLean 85-90%1,21294.35/cwt89.00–97.501,14455
CowsBoner 80-85%1,34189.61/cwt85.00–93.001,2028
CowsLean 85-90%1,210100.23/cwt99.00–104.001,2134
CowsLean 85-90%1,00062.50/cwt62.50–62.506251
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight97579.00/cwt79.00–79.007702
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,426106.79/cwt104.00–111.001,52334
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,46890.96/cwt90.00–93.001,3353
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,33897.78/cwt94.00–103.001,30865
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,65497.60/cwt95.00–99.001,6147
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,628105.44/cwt103.00–108.001,7176
CowsBoner 80-85%1,470102.00/cwt102.00–102.001,4991
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight98575.00/cwt75.00–75.007392
Bulls1,710108.13/cwt97.00–113.001,84919
Bulls1,940127.22/cwt125.00–130.002,46818
Bulls1,787119.40/cwt112.00–125.002,13430
BullsReturn to Feed1,365119.00/cwt119.00–119.001,6241
BullsReturn to Feed1,375103.00/cwt103.00–103.001,4162
BullsReturn to Feed1,213141.00/cwt141.00–141.001,7102
Stock CowsLarge 11,123109.00/cwt109.00–109.001,2242
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2924140.17/cwt120.00–158.001,29516
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1977161.93/cwt129.00–200.001,58284
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1Fleshy1,202132.54/cwt129.00–137.501,59326
Bred HeifersMedium and Large 11,2851,700.00/head1,700.00–1,700.001,7001
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,3151,675.00/head1,675.00–1,675.001,6751

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.