Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-02-01

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Feb 1
● Final68 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
222 head
4,006 vs last sale 4,228 474 vs year ago 696 · 68.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
672 head
192 vs last sale 480 458 vs year ago 214 · +214.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
203 head
70 vs last sale 133 115 vs year ago 88 · +130.7%
Also sold here(Mon)Thu Apr 16, 2026
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested today to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on like quality offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average and lower than last weeks very attractive offering. Demand for all feeders was moderate to good for light offerings. The best demand continues to be for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings. CME positions saw triple digit gains again today as prices continue to press higher following yesterdays cattle inventory report, which showed cattle and calves on US farms down 2% at 87.2 million head. The March contract closed at 244.875, while the April closed at 250.525, 6.70 higher and 6.60 higher than last Thursdays close. Market activity was mostly active this week. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cow demand was good to very good, as packer buyers bid against private feeders in an attempt to secure offerings. Slaughter cow offerings sold steady to 3.00 higher on all classes. Feeding cow buyers remain very aggressive as they push to buy as many cows as possible. Feeding cows sold generally steady to 3.00 higher as well with good demand seen for all offerings. Slaughter bulls sold steady in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were not well compared. More heifers that lost calves were seen this week making comparisons difficult. Demand for this class was very good as feeding demand continues to improve with higher live cattle contract prices. Many buyers continue to buy coming 2 and coming 3 year old heifers that haven't calved to feed as they hope to feed this class to choice.

Weight class

Steers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
0–100 lb steers averaged $304.92/cwt on 104 head.
Average price
$304.92
104 head · 539 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,643
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
−$426
per head · Medium 1-2 over Medium and Large 2
$20.00/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+4.85
vs MT average

What quality paid 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1-2323310.001,0018thin
Medium and Large 1565307.251,73563
Medium and Large 1-2547300.171,64230
Medium and Large 2492290.001,4273thin
One grade step is worth $20.00/cwt here — about −$426 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 sale104 hd
304.92
MT average3 barns · 1,922 hd
300.07
+4.85
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
BullsHigh1,773106.481,88828
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,579103.771,63926
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,38999.841,387133
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,18193.761,107391

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 Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,145$2,0002thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,098$1,8002thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,347$1,6206
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,292$1,52310
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,240$1,5002thin

Every lot, as filed

68 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 1-2648220.00/cwt220.00–220.001,4262
HeifersMedium and Large 1562265.93/cwt264.00–268.001,49519
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1995177.77/cwt143.00–191.501,76935
Stock CowsMedium and Large 11,180102.99/cwt96.00–105.001,2155
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,0981,800.00/head1,800.00–1,800.001,8002
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,1452,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0002
HeifersMedium 1-2380295.00/cwt295.00–295.001,1213
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2730216.00/cwt216.00–216.001,5777
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2579258.58/cwt255.00–262.001,4978
HeifersMedium and Large 1661244.00/cwt244.00–244.001,6137
HeifersMedium and Large 2392292.50/cwt292.50–292.501,1477
HeifersMedium and Large 2548245.00/cwt245.00–245.001,3432
HeifersMedium and Large 1466295.00/cwt295.00–295.001,37510
SteersMedium and Large 2492290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,4273
SteersMedium 1-2323310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,0018
HeifersMedium and Large 1741241.58/cwt241.00–244.001,7905
SteersMedium and Large 1523326.86/cwt323.00–331.001,70916
SteersMedium and Large 1650272.00/cwt272.00–272.001,7681
SteersMedium and Large 1724254.00/cwt254.00–254.001,8395
SteersMedium and Large 1460340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,5642
SteersMedium and Large 1578302.16/cwt301.50–305.001,74636
HeifersMedium and Large 1318320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,0182
SteersMedium and Large 1-2341350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,1945
SteersMedium and Large 1-2589293.67/cwt289.00–294.001,73015
SteersMedium and Large 1-2442330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,4593
SteersMedium and Large 1402342.50/cwt342.50–342.501,3773
SteersMedium and Large 1-2677256.67/cwt255.00–260.001,7386
SteersMedium and Large 1-2480320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,5361
HeifersMedium and Large 1-2443300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,3292
HeifersMedium and Large 1Full860215.00/cwt215.00–215.001,8492
BullsMedium and Large 1-2945175.00/cwt175.00–175.001,6542
BullsMedium and Large 11,033180.00/cwt180.00–180.001,8592
BullsMedium and Large 1840217.00/cwt217.00–217.001,8231
BullsMedium and Large 1627255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,5993
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,385100.74/cwt95.00–105.001,39590
CowsLean 85-90%1,20095.50/cwt92.00–98.501,14624
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,56398.00/cwt98.00–98.001,5322
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,427106.18/cwt105.00–106.501,51511
Bulls1,979120.71/cwt119.50–122.002,3894
CowsLean 85-90%1,03575.27/cwt73.00–78.007796
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,490104.50/cwt104.50–104.501,5572
CowsLean 85-90%1,14485.60/cwt79.00–93.0097966
CowsBoner 80-85%1,505110.10/cwt106.50–113.001,6572
CowsBoner 80-85%1,30490.27/cwt87.00–93.001,1777
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,18896.22/cwt93.00–100.001,143253
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,559103.00/cwt103.00–103.001,6064
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight93052.50/cwt52.50–52.504882
CowsLean 85-90%Light Weight98592.00/cwt92.00–92.009061
CowsBoner 80-85%Return to Feed1,34893.01/cwt91.00–94.001,25410
CowsBoner 80-85%1,44497.10/cwt93.00–104.501,40213
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,618107.83/cwt106.50–109.001,7458
CowsBreaker 75-80%1,55798.31/cwt95.50–100.001,5316
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,229102.23/cwt102.00–105.001,25618
CowsLean 85-90%1,285103.00/cwt102.50–104.001,3243
CowsBreaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,609107.13/cwt106.50–108.001,7244
CowsLean 85-90%Return to Feed1,21887.69/cwt86.00–92.001,06818
Bulls1,813103.47/cwt95.00–109.001,87615
Bulls1,920113.51/cwt111.00–117.002,1794
BullsLight Weight1,37398.48/cwt94.00–103.001,3525
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-21,2951,575.00/head1,575.00–1,575.001,5754
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,4501,710.00/head1,710.00–1,710.001,7102
Bred CowsMedium and Large 11,2401,500.00/head1,500.00–1,500.001,5002
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1976139.67/cwt102.00–163.001,363100
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2864161.37/cwt120.00–185.001,39410
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,0931,100.00/head1,100.00–1,100.001,1002
Stock CowsMedium and Large 1-2985105.00/cwt105.00–105.001,0341
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3421,628.88/head1,610.00–1,700.001,6298
Bred CowsMedium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,289109.00/cwt109.00–109.001,40524

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.