Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2024-09-26
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2024-09-26

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Feeder calves were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifer under 850 lbs and steady undertones were noticed on all offerings over 850 lbs. Demand was mostly good for light weight yearlings and mostly moderate for heavyweight yearlings. Demand for spring born calves was mostly moderate to good with the best demand noticed on very light weight calves suitable to develop into yearlings. Many of these offerings outsold their older, heavier weight mates. CME positions posted additional gains today as higher slaughter cattle prices were seen. Quality today was mixed from plain to very attractive. Many sets of yearlings were pushing heavy amounts of fill as warm temperatures were seen today this led to wide price spreads on many weight breaks. Package sizes were mixed this sale with a few loads and part loads noticed. Many small packages and singles were noted as well. Market activity was mostly moderate to active this sale. Weigh up cows sold on light to moderate demand and offerings. Slaughter cows sold sharply lower than last week with all classes 10.00-12.00 lower. Feeding cows sold mostly 4.00-6.00 lower. Cow and bull quality was mixed this sale. Weigh up conditions were mixed today with emptier cows noticed in the morning. Cows and bulls both tanked up as the sale pushed into the morning and temperatures warmed. Bull quality this sale was mostly average. Demand for feeding bulls was light again this sale. Feeding bulls sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand for rebreed cows was mostly good this sale as several young cows were purchased for this purpose. Quality on young age cows was mostly average to attractive.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $246.01/cwt on 79 head. That ranks 1 of 21 comparable sales and sits −187.86 against this barn's trailing median of $433.86.

Average price

$246.01

79 head · 551 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,356

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$12

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 1

$11.77/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−2.60

vs MT average

+5.92 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	539	249.02	1,342	52
Medium 1-2	596	244.50	1,457	11thin
Medium 1	561	237.25	1,330	16thin

One grade step is worth $11.77/cwt here — about $12 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 400–500 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

21 sales

Heifers 500–600 lb: high $469.35, low $332.50, median $433.86 across 21 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale79 hd

246.01

—

MT average2 barns · 106 hd

248.61

−2.60

National average173 barns · 10,203 hd

240.09

+5.92

This barn, trailing median21 sales

433.86

−187.86

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Low	1,705	143.42	2,445	50
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,395	123.33	1,720	111
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,569	119.90	1,881	48
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,169	108.73	1,272	94
Dairy Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,645	115.00	1,892	1thin

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.

Class	Stage	Age	Avg wt	$/head	Head
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,333	$2,647	17
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,568	$2,100	2thin
Bred Heifers	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,168	$2,602	4thin

Every lot, as filed

148 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.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	950–1000	984	207.53/cwt	207.50–208.00	2,042	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	578	265.88/cwt	260.00–279.00	1,537	27
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	333	366.43/cwt	350.00–410.00	1,220	29
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	700–750	730	232.50/cwt	232.50–232.50	1,697	11
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	652	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	1,500	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	415	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,079	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	900–950	939	208.73/cwt	206.50–213.50	1,960	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	150–200	195	470.00/cwt	470.00–470.00	917	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	719	274.42/cwt	268.00–276.50	1,973	120
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	975	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,950	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	500–550	534	234.00/cwt	234.00–234.00	1,250	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	950–1000	986	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	2,011	10
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,051	161.28/cwt	133.50–182.00	1,695	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	373	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,231	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	278	457.49/cwt	450.00–460.00	1,272	11
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,568	2,100.00/head	2,100.00–2,100.00	2,100	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	750–800	762	253.00/cwt	253.00–253.00	1,928	42
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Full	450–500	495	231.00/cwt	231.00–231.00	1,143	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	862	221.50/cwt	221.50–221.50	1,909	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	969	177.59/cwt	157.00–198.00	1,721	20
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,168	2,602.46/head	2,550.00–2,650.00	2,602	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	868	233.00/cwt	233.00–233.00	2,022	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	900–950	944	223.00/cwt	223.00–223.00	2,105	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	427	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	1,260	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	200–250	208	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	780	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,144	2,083.61/head	1,900.00–2,225.00	2,084	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Registered	—	1,412	2,882.02/head	2,850.00–2,900.00	2,882	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	250–300	287	390.65/cwt	385.00–405.00	1,121	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	442	282.78/cwt	274.00–290.00	1,250	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	250–300	298	334.01/cwt	325.00–335.00	995	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	327	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,145	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	323	312.50/cwt	312.50–312.50	1,009	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	395	303.33/cwt	302.00–305.00	1,198	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	770	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	1,848	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	900–950	930	190.00/cwt	190.00–190.00	1,767	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	900–950	900	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,800	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	834	205.36/cwt	204.00–210.00	1,713	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	388	323.35/cwt	320.00–340.00	1,255	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	800–850	821	267.00/cwt	267.00–267.00	2,192	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	488	290.32/cwt	290.00–291.00	1,417	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	758	267.55/cwt	258.00–269.00	2,028	56
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	412	316.32/cwt	300.00–341.00	1,303	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	618	261.53/cwt	251.00–265.00	1,616	49
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	1000–1050	1,025	194.00/cwt	194.00–194.00	1,989	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,020	218.50/cwt	218.50–218.50	2,229	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	529	281.59/cwt	277.00–290.00	1,490	59
Steers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	885	238.57/cwt	236.00–248.00	2,111	36
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	850–900	873	217.00/cwt	217.00–217.00	1,894	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1	1050–1100	1,092	213.07/cwt	212.75–217.50	2,327	29
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	518	258.40/cwt	253.00–260.00	1,339	28
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	668	253.12/cwt	245.00–265.00	1,691	50
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	774	240.58/cwt	230.00–246.00	1,862	96
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	466	286.83/cwt	267.50–297.50	1,337	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	329	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	1,036	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	816	230.83/cwt	228.00–232.50	1,884	50
Steers	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	975	222.56/cwt	220.00–224.75	2,170	55
Steers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	830	254.06/cwt	247.50–261.50	2,109	45
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	850–900	858	220.50/cwt	220.50–220.50	1,892	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	1050–1100	1,053	199.27/cwt	199.00–200.00	2,098	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	883	224.10/cwt	221.50–232.00	1,979	97
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	1050–1100	1,050	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	1,911	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	927	226.96/cwt	225.75–235.00	2,104	32
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	700–750	711	248.00/cwt	248.00–248.00	1,763	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	400	319.51/cwt	315.00–333.00	1,278	24
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	672	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,680	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	622	233.23/cwt	231.00–234.00	1,451	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	571	239.15/cwt	236.00–244.00	1,366	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	724	245.57/cwt	243.00–250.00	1,778	116
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,371	123.81/cwt	116.00–127.50	1,697	58
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,402	132.69/cwt	129.50–133.00	1,860	13
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,502	136.18/cwt	126.00–143.00	2,045	9
Bulls	—	—	1,871	138.11/cwt	123.00–144.00	2,584	15
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,180	136.00/cwt	136.00–136.00	1,605	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,666	152.49/cwt	149.50–153.00	2,540	7
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,395	107.59/cwt	98.00–111.00	1,501	6
Dairy Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,645	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	1,892	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	965	94.49/cwt	94.00–95.00	912	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,193	119.29/cwt	117.00–125.00	1,423	28
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	875	75.00/cwt	75.00–75.00	656	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,163	127.60/cwt	126.00–129.00	1,484	10
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,272	129.12/cwt	127.00–131.00	1,642	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,138	80.18/cwt	60.00–86.00	912	9
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,705	123.50/cwt	123.50–123.50	2,106	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,180	96.05/cwt	92.00–105.00	1,133	11
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,395	89.67/cwt	84.00–95.00	1,251	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,388	113.69/cwt	113.00–117.00	1,578	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,162	107.31/cwt	103.00–110.00	1,247	23
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,460	117.59/cwt	116.00–119.50	1,717	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,449	132.73/cwt	129.00–135.00	1,923	18
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,828	122.50/cwt	122.50–122.50	2,239	2
Bulls	—	—	1,830	153.37/cwt	149.00–158.00	2,807	13
Bulls	—	—	1,935	160.00/cwt	160.00–160.00	3,096	1
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	250–300	283	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	906	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,577	115.93/cwt	114.00–117.00	1,828	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,488	114.25/cwt	114.00–115.00	1,700	4
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,214	109.41/cwt	108.00–115.00	1,328	10
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,575	125.00/cwt	125.00–125.00	1,969	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,553	119.87/cwt	118.00–121.00	1,862	38
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	1,267	137.28/cwt	136.00–140.00	1,739	3
Steers	Large 1Fleshy	1250–1300	1,260	186.00/cwt	186.00–186.00	2,344	2
Steers	Large 1	1100–1150	1,103	214.00/cwt	214.00–214.00	2,360	18
Heifers	Large 1	1100–1150	1,122	195.50/cwt	195.50–195.50	2,194	7
Heifers	Large 1Full	1150–1200	1,180	187.00/cwt	187.00–187.00	2,207	2
Heifers	Large 1	950–1000	981	208.00/cwt	208.00–208.00	2,040	6
Steers	Large 1Full	1150–1200	1,181	202.50/cwt	202.50–202.50	2,392	10
Bulls	Large 1-2	1150–1200	1,158	173.50/cwt	173.50–173.50	2,009	3
Steers	Large 1-2	1100–1150	1,123	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	2,246	2
Heifers	Large 1Fleshy	1050–1100	1,088	199.50/cwt	199.50–199.50	2,171	4
Heifers	Large 1Fleshy	1150–1200	1,177	184.50/cwt	184.50–184.50	2,172	6
Heifers	Large 1Fleshy	1100–1150	1,123	190.50/cwt	190.50–190.50	2,139	4
Heifers	Medium 1	600–650	633	257.00/cwt	257.00–257.00	1,627	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	746	257.00/cwt	257.00–257.00	1,917	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	825	243.24/cwt	243.00–244.00	2,007	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	800–850	833	222.00/cwt	216.00–222.25	1,849	49
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,034	201.11/cwt	200.50–203.50	2,079	33
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	369	301.00/cwt	301.00–301.00	1,111	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Full	900–950	937	194.00/cwt	194.00–194.00	1,818	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	473	284.00/cwt	284.00–284.00	1,343	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	535	268.77/cwt	266.00–277.50	1,438	4
Steers	Medium 1	650–700	675	272.50/cwt	268.00–274.50	1,839	54
Heifers	Medium 1Fleshy	800–850	809	204.64/cwt	202.00–205.00	1,656	35
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	292	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	1,066	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	662	239.00/cwt	239.00–239.00	1,582	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	970	211.30/cwt	209.00–213.50	2,050	61
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	907	222.48/cwt	216.00–226.00	2,018	96
Heifers	Medium 1-2	550–600	596	244.50/cwt	244.50–244.50	1,457	11
Heifers	Medium 1-2	450–500	496	256.00/cwt	256.00–256.00	1,270	9
Heifers	Medium 1	800–850	844	200.00/cwt	200.00–200.00	1,688	7
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	550–600	593	226.00/cwt	226.00–226.00	1,340	4
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	550–600	563	239.00/cwt	239.00–239.00	1,346	9
Steers	Medium 1	500–550	548	280.50/cwt	280.50–280.50	1,537	10
Steers	Medium 1-2	650–700	660	250.95/cwt	227.50–259.00	1,656	20
Heifers	Medium 1-2	700–750	703	212.50/cwt	212.50–212.50	1,494	4
Steers	Medium 2	550–600	571	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	1,342	4
Steers	Medium 2	450–500	493	245.00/cwt	245.00–245.00	1,208	9
Heifers	Medium 1-2	650–700	654	241.20/cwt	240.00–243.00	1,577	10
Steers	Medium 2	650–700	684	232.50/cwt	232.50–232.50	1,590	5
Heifers	Medium 1	700–750	715	229.00/cwt	229.00–229.00	1,637	25
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	500–550	502	226.00/cwt	226.00–226.00	1,135	6
Steers	Medium 1	750–800	783	242.00/cwt	242.00–242.00	1,895	4
Steers	Medium 1	550–600	593	283.00/cwt	283.00–283.00	1,678	6
Heifers	Medium 1	550–600	598	256.00/cwt	256.00–256.00	1,531	6
Heifers	Medium 1-2	600–650	620	244.83/cwt	244.00–245.00	1,518	37
Steers	Large 1	1000–1050	1,038	209.00/cwt	209.00–209.00	2,169	3
Steers	Large 1Full	650–700	694	222.00/cwt	222.00–222.00	1,541	4
Bulls	Large 1	1100–1150	1,148	184.50/cwt	184.50–184.50	2,118	2
Heifers	Large 1Full	900–950	902	202.00/cwt	202.00–202.00	1,822	3
Heifers	Large 1	1050–1100	1,078	201.00/cwt	201.00–201.00	2,167	2

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.

Montana feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →