Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2024-06-13

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jun 13
● Final89 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
247 head
▼ 144 vs last sale 391▲ 65 vs year ago 182 · +35.7%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
402 head
▼ 83 vs last sale 485▼ 66 vs year ago 468 · −14.1%
Replacement Cattle receipts
694 head
▲ 395 vs last sale 299▲ 430 vs year ago 264 · +162.9%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Nov 2, 2026
View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand for feeders was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. Quality was mostly plain to average today. Most feeders were offered in small groups or as singles. Light offerings limited demand. Fewer feeder cattle buyers were seen this week as light offerings and todays quality limited buyer participation. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers showed moderate to good demand for both slaughter and feeding cows this week. Slaughter cows sold mostly steady on breaking and boning cows. Lean cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher as demand for feeding type cows helped push this class higher. The majority of the cow offering was purchased to feed again this week. Feeding cows sold mostly steady on high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white. Several sets of thin fleshed cows were purchased to hold for the upcoming 4th of July holiday. This pushed thin feeding cows 1.00 higher than last week. Quality was mostly average to attractive this sale. Weigh up conditions were mostly average. Many sets of cows were pushing moderate to heavy amounts of fill as temperatures heated into the 80s for todays sale and many cows were tanked up on water as a result. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher. Bull quality this sale was very good with many high dressing bulls in the offering. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold unevenly steady with higher prices seen on light weight offerings under 1100 lbs and lower prices seen on cows over 1100. Quality was mostly average to attractive this week. Demand was mostly good to very good with the best demand seen for cows which lost calves. A large crowd was on hand in the afternoon for the pair and bred portion of the sale. Demand was mostly good for all pairs on offer. Quality was average to attractive.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $292.10/cwt on 75 head. That ranks 1 of 23 comparable sales and sits −119.52 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$292.10
75 head · 557 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,626
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$240
per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium and Large 2
$28.20/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+5.34
vs MT average
+26.73 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1-2542295.851,60336
Medium and Large 1586294.061,72331
Medium and Large 2509267.651,3628thin
One grade step is worth $28.20/cwt here — about $240 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 600–700 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale75 hd
292.10
—
MT average3 barns · 80 hd
286.76
+5.34
National average154 barns · 8,969 hd
265.37
+26.73
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−119.52
A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

23 sales
483428373319median 411.6203/0504/3006/1109/2410/29
Heifers 500–600 lb: high $469.35, low $332.50, median $411.62 across 23 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

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
Bulls—Low1,783164.212,92878
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,626140.372,28221
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,419135.271,919195
CowsLean 85-90%High1,162128.641,49559

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)1,380$2,5502thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,425$2,3001thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,116$2,0106
BullsN/A(<2 yrs)1,293$3,4762thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,240$3,326114
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,487$3,23821
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,598$3,09122
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,450$2,59236
Heifer PairsOpen(<2 yrs)1,059$3,45863
Heifer PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,262$3,1005

Every lot

89 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. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Feeder Cattle · Steers9 lots · lightest first
Steers300–350Medium and Large 2341340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,1594
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1445360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,6023
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1481350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,6848
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1508345.00/cwt345.00–345.001,7536
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2634297.75/cwt290.00–301.001,8884
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2669270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,8063
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2765260.17/cwt257.00–262.001,99012
Steers750–800Large 1775250.00/cwt250.00–250.001,9385
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1990222.00/cwt222.00–222.002,1983
Feeder Cattle · Heifers18 lots · lightest first
Heifers150–200Medium and Large 1190700.00/head700.00–700.007001
Heifers200–250Medium and Large 1200600.00/head600.00–600.006001
Heifers350–400Medium 1-2370320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,1843
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2472295.00/cwt295.00–295.001,3923
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2474310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,4695
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2509267.65/cwt265.00–285.001,3628
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2521299.00/cwt299.00–299.001,55824
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2583289.55/cwt287.00–295.001,68812
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1586294.06/cwt294.00–295.001,72331
Heifers600–650Medium 1-2600278.00/cwt278.00–278.001,6683
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2645251.00/cwt251.00–251.001,6192
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2655264.00/cwt264.00–264.001,7294
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1658267.00/cwt267.00–267.001,7573
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2668240.00/cwt240.00–240.001,6033
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1702253.51/cwt250.00–257.001,7804
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2720241.97/cwt240.00–243.001,7423
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1805229.00/cwt229.00–229.001,8433
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1850221.00/cwt221.00–221.001,8795
Feeder Cattle · Bulls15 lots · lightest first
Bulls100–150Medium and Large 1-2130500.00/head500.00–500.005002
Bulls150–200Medium and Large 1155500.00/head500.00–500.005001
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1455315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,4331
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2585279.91/cwt275.00–285.001,6372
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2640290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,8561
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1Full753230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,7323
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1-2780230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,7941
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1-2823214.00/cwt213.00–217.001,7614
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1830232.50/cwt232.50–232.501,9301
Bulls1000–1050Large 11,020217.50/cwt217.50–217.502,2192
Bulls1050–1100Large 11,090220.00/cwt220.00–220.002,3981
Bulls1050–1100Medium and Large 11,090213.00/cwt213.00–213.002,3221
Bulls1100–1150Large 11,110212.50/cwt212.50–212.502,3591
Bulls1100–1150Large 1-21,128182.50/cwt182.50–182.502,0592
Bulls1200–1250Large 1-21,225150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,8381
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,270127.00/cwt127.00–127.001,6131
Bulls——Return to Feed1,371141.70/cwt135.00–149.001,9439
Bulls——Return to Feed1,415170.10/cwt167.50–174.002,4073
Bulls——Return to Feed1,530158.85/cwt153.00–165.002,43013
Bulls——1,620139.00/cwt139.00–139.002,2521
Bulls——1,807160.78/cwt152.00–167.002,90514
Bulls——2,011174.07/cwt168.00–185.003,50137
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight895122.50/cwt122.50–122.501,0961
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,046119.69/cwt111.00–125.001,2526
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,133138.14/cwt137.00–140.001,5657
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,168119.71/cwt109.00–125.001,39810
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,192130.89/cwt128.00–135.001,56024
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,199131.23/cwt128.00–136.001,57311
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,370130.33/cwt124.00–132.001,78620
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,373141.94/cwt141.00–143.001,9492
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,411136.27/cwt132.00–140.001,923147
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,430126.63/cwt125.00–128.001,8115
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,520134.12/cwt129.00–138.002,03920
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,545139.00/cwt139.00–139.002,1481
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,573145.50/cwt142.00–151.002,2895
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,590140.00/cwt140.00–140.002,22611
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,675131.50/cwt131.50–131.502,2031
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,777137.18/cwt136.00–138.502,4384
Replacement Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 11,2933,476.21/head3,450.00–3,500.003,4762
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs2 lots · lightest first
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 11,0593,458.06/head3,425.00–3,550.003,45863
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 11,2623,100.00/head3,100.00–3,100.003,1005
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs9 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,1992,875.00/head2,875.00–2,875.002,8757
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,2433,355.87/head3,250.00–3,525.003,356107
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed1,2602,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4006
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3542,248.13/head2,175.00–2,375.002,2483
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,3622,795.47/head2,700.00–2,850.002,7955
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,4332,559.87/head2,500.00–2,650.002,5605
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5032,673.09/head2,475.00–2,900.002,67327
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5263,376.40/head3,075.00–3,500.003,37616
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,6473,246.74/head2,800.00–3,425.003,24717
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1162,009.53/head1,800.00–2,300.002,0106
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3802,550.00/head2,550.00–2,550.002,5502
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4252,300.00/head2,300.00–2,300.002,3001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,593140.00/cwt140.00–140.002,2302
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1755192.50/cwt192.50–192.501,4531
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed762208.00/cwt208.00–208.001,5855
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,022194.80/cwt149.00–224.001,99159
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,037168.20/cwt150.00–175.001,7448
Stock Cows—Large 11,075156.17/cwt150.00–163.001,6792
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,142135.06/cwt134.00–137.001,5423
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,173159.31/cwt136.00–210.001,86935
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,309140.65/cwt137.00–146.001,8415

This sale against other markets

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.