Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2023-07-28

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Fri, Jul 28
● Final63 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
334 head
169 vs last sale 165 256 vs year ago 590 · 43.4%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
229 head
290 vs last sale 519 130 vs year ago 359 · 36.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
66 head
30 vs last sale 96 21 vs year ago 45 · +46.7%
Also sold here(Mon)Thu Apr 16, 2026
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Only one sale was held this week as auctions continue with summer sale schedules. This weeks only sale was held at Billings Livestock commission, please check that sale report for current market commentary.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $234.65/cwt on 76 head.
Average price
$234.65
76 head · 809 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,899
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$534
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Large 1
$69.46/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.00
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2618266.461,64722
Medium 1757241.811,83124
Medium 1-2658232.501,5302thin
Medium and Large 2763222.501,6983thin
Medium and Large 1953208.001,98210thin
Large 11,107197.002,18115thin
One grade step is worth $69.46/cwt here — about −$534 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 sale76 hd
234.65
MT average1 barns · 76 hd
234.65
+0.00
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
BullsAverage1,750119.392,08945
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,650113.231,8685thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,352112.381,52082
CowsLean 85-90%High1,201104.481,25449

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
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,716$2,7256
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,710$2,4001thin

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
BullsLarge 11,090160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,7441
BullsLarge 11,138157.50/cwt154.00–159.001,7924
BullsLarge 1-21,035155.00/cwt155.00–155.001,6041
Dairy SteersLarge 1-2870214.00/cwt214.00–214.001,86211
Dairy HeifersLarge 2630205.00/cwt205.00–205.001,2924
Dairy HeifersLarge 2966187.00/cwt187.00–187.001,8061
Dairy HeifersLarge 1-2772208.18/cwt207.00–209.001,60724
Dairy HeifersLarge 1-2861204.00/cwt204.00–204.001,7568
Dairy SteersLarge 3966110.00/cwt110.00–110.001,0637
Dairy SteersLarge 3785116.00/cwt116.00–116.009116
SteersLarge 11,107197.00/cwt197.00–197.002,18115
Dairy SteersLarge 1-2759244.00/cwt244.00–244.001,85215
Dairy SteersLarge 1-2924201.00/cwt201.00–201.001,85710
SteersMedium 1-2658232.50/cwt232.50–232.501,5302
SteersMedium and Large 2763222.50/cwt222.50–222.501,6983
SteersMedium and Large 1-2600267.50/cwt267.50–267.501,6051
SteersMedium and Large 1828228.00/cwt228.00–228.001,8882
SteersMedium and Large 1-2772241.38/cwt240.00–243.501,8634
SteersMedium and Large 1984203.00/cwt203.00–203.001,9988
HeifersLarge 11,013194.00/cwt194.00–194.001,9654
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2605240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,4521
HeifersMedium and Large 1928202.16/cwt200.00–206.501,87615
SteersMedium and Large 1-2732243.00/cwt243.00–243.001,7793
SteersMedium and Large 1-2490285.00/cwt285.00–285.001,3971
SteersMedium and Large 1-2517275.00/cwt275.00–275.001,4223
HeifersMedium and Large 2457215.00/cwt215.00–215.009833
HeifersMedium 1-2556275.00/cwt275.00–275.001,5295
HeifersLarge 11,181170.00/cwt170.00–170.002,0084
CowsBoner 80-85%1,34099.00/cwt99.00–99.001,3271
CowsBoner 80-85%1,347113.95/cwt113.00–116.501,53523
CowsBoner 80-85%1,363106.06/cwt102.00–109.001,44611
Bulls1,807122.16/cwt116.00–127.002,20724
Bulls2,120118.00/cwt118.00–118.002,5021
CowsLean 85-90%1,246112.42/cwt112.00–113.001,40110
CowsLean 85-90%1,234104.23/cwt100.00–107.001,28628
CowsLean 85-90%1,12990.93/cwt80.00–94.001,0277
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,292109.39/cwt106.00–112.501,4137
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed977112.20/cwt110.00–116.001,0963
BullsLight Weight1,238104.43/cwt90.00–110.001,2933
Bulls1,637110.55/cwt106.50–114.001,8109
Bulls2,025132.10/cwt129.00–136.002,6756
BullsReturn to Feed1,323110.86/cwt107.00–114.001,4672
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,7102,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4001
Cow-Calf PairsMedium and Large 11,7162,725.00/head2,725.00–2,725.002,7256
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2990132.00/cwt132.00–132.001,3071
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,168127.91/cwt119.50–148.001,49440
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,019164.55/cwt148.00–188.001,67711
HeifersMedium and Large 1868207.67/cwt205.00–212.001,80321
HeifersMedium 2540150.00/cwt150.00–150.008104
HeifersMedium and Large 1655240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,5723
HeifersMedium 1726226.46/cwt224.00–229.001,6446
HeifersMedium and Large 1820217.68/cwt213.00–220.001,7853
HeifersLarge 11,050193.50/cwt193.50–193.502,0327
SteersMedium 1769240.50/cwt240.50–240.501,84921
SteersMedium 1675251.00/cwt251.00–251.001,6943
SteersMedium and Large 1-2567279.00/cwt279.00–279.001,58210
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,650112.54/cwt111.00–114.501,8574
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight980104.00/cwt104.00–104.001,0191
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,650116.00/cwt116.00–116.001,9141
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,363114.07/cwt113.00–116.001,55540
BullsMedium and Large 1-2853202.00/cwt202.00–202.001,7232
BullsMedium and Large 1-2413260.00/cwt260.00–260.001,0742
BullsMedium and Large 1-2833215.73/cwt209.00–222.501,7972

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.