Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-03-06

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Mar 6
● Final113 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
2,093 head
▲ 1,792 vs last sale 301▼ 909 vs year ago 3,002 · −30.3%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
341 head
▼ 118 vs last sale 459▲ 73 vs year ago 268 · +27.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
199 head
▼ 72 vs last sale 271▲ 111 vs year ago 88 · +126.1%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Oct 26, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steer calves were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on steers under 750 lbs. Steers over 750 lbs were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. All heifers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Demand was mostly good for moderate offerings. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. Lots of variation was seen in quality this week. Package sizes were mostly small to moderate this week with a large portion of the offering with packages of 10 head or less. Demand for heifers was stronger than demand for steers this week. Several buyers were looking for heifers light enough to run on grass this summer. Buyers were very cognizant of flesh as several sets of feeders had been in grow lots and showed some flesh and tag. Market activity was moderate to active this sale with bidders both ringside and over the internet actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Demand for slaughter cows was slightly lighter this week compared to last week as buyers focused on buying cows to feed instead of slaughter. Feeding cows sold generally steady on both high quality cows suitable to feed to premium white and on thin short term feeding cows. Slaughter cows sold steady to weak on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold unevenly steady as yielding conditions were mixed and buyers discounted very full cows heavily. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average today as most cows were very full. Slaughter bulls sold steady in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $352.07/cwt on 280 head. That ranks 1 of 22 comparable sales and sits −90.88 against this barn's trailing median of $442.94.
Average price
$352.07
280 head · 565 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,988
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$292
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$38.23/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−6.85
vs MT average
+2.79 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1569356.232,028225
Large 1538344.001,85119thin
Medium and Large 1-2550331.871,82532
Medium and Large 2546318.001,7364thin
One grade step is worth $38.23/cwt here — about $292 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 sale280 hd
352.07
—
MT average3 barns · 786 hd
358.92
−6.85
National average172 barns · 12,998 hd
349.28
+2.79
This barn, trailing median22 sales
442.94
−90.88
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

22 sales
540488436384median 442.9403/0504/3006/1109/2410/29
Steers 500–600 lb: high $525.97, low $398.08, median $442.94 across 22 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—Average1,972167.143,29622
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,642141.102,31728
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,399139.401,951133
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,173125.291,470122
Dairy Bulls—Low1,470143.002,1021thin

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)1,330$2,7001thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,252$2,6753thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,480$1,9501thin

Every lot

113 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 · Steers32 lots · lightest first
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2344460.00/cwt460.00–460.001,58210
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2354414.22/cwt400.00–420.001,4667
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned411390.00/cwt390.00–390.001,6035
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1412434.37/cwt415.00–440.001,79050
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2417370.00/cwt370.00–370.001,5438
Steers400–450Medium 1428370.00/cwt370.00–370.001,5842
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2434399.10/cwt388.00–410.001,7326
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1477393.34/cwt388.00–416.001,87621
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2482366.59/cwt350.00–380.001,76723
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2505342.66/cwt341.00–347.501,73012
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1524375.97/cwt365.00–385.001,97055
Steers500–550Large 1538344.00/cwt344.00–344.001,85119
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2546318.00/cwt318.00–318.001,7364
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2577325.39/cwt318.00–339.001,87820
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1584349.84/cwt341.00–357.502,043170
Steers600–650Large 1Thin Fleshed600331.00/cwt331.00–331.001,98648
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1605335.30/cwt333.00–343.002,02937
Steers600–650Medium 1Fleshy608267.50/cwt267.50–267.501,6262
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2631314.73/cwt300.00–323.001,98630
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1671321.26/cwt309.00–325.752,156190
Steers650–700Medium 1Fleshy677265.81/cwt265.00–267.501,80012
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2682293.32/cwt286.00–301.002,0008
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1720301.28/cwt286.00–305.002,16952
Steers700–750Medium and Large 2731273.50/cwt273.50–273.501,9995
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1Fleshy753255.00/cwt255.00–255.001,9203
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2770265.84/cwt265.00–267.002,0477
Steers750–800Medium 1784266.00/cwt266.00–266.002,0856
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1791273.25/cwt270.00–275.002,16117
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1Fleshy800267.00/cwt267.00–267.002,1362
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2843257.00/cwt257.00–257.002,1673
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1863272.26/cwt270.00–273.002,35021
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1Fleshy933253.00/cwt253.00–253.002,3604
Feeder Cattle · Heifers35 lots · lightest first
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2373380.94/cwt367.50–390.001,42114
Heifers350–400Medium 1375391.00/cwt391.00–391.001,46613
Heifers350–400Medium 1-2375365.00/cwt365.00–365.001,3693
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1429372.94/cwt367.50–384.001,60010
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2435345.57/cwt325.00–360.001,50312
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2444290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,2884
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1472354.87/cwt342.50–365.001,67552
Heifers450–500Medium 1474307.84/cwt302.50–310.001,4597
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2475337.00/cwt337.00–337.001,6015
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1521340.04/cwt330.00–349.001,77292
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2525270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,4185
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2526321.24/cwt312.00–326.001,6909
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Fleshy558312.00/cwt312.00–312.001,7416
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1563326.58/cwt318.00–330.001,839105
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2578309.89/cwt306.00–311.001,79114
Heifers550–600Large 1582313.86/cwt312.00–320.001,82717
Heifers550–600Medium 1583305.00/cwt305.00–305.001,7787
Heifers600–650Large 1-2628250.00/cwt250.00–250.001,5703
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1631302.30/cwt289.00–314.001,90896
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2636283.38/cwt277.00–285.001,80210
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Fleshy662277.74/cwt277.00–278.001,83912
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2673269.49/cwt268.00–273.001,81410
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1679281.71/cwt278.00–289.001,91351
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Replacement680294.00/cwt294.00–294.001,99921
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1716278.76/cwt277.00–283.001,99670
Heifers700–750Large 1716268.00/cwt268.00–268.001,9199
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1Fancy720290.00/cwt290.00–290.002,0886
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1Fleshy736270.15/cwt270.00–271.001,98848
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2743257.00/cwt257.00–257.001,9102
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1755274.77/cwt274.00–279.002,07520
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1Fleshy764260.99/cwt260.00–263.001,9949
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2785268.00/cwt268.00–268.002,1041
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1Fleshy808257.00/cwt257.00–257.002,0773
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1821272.41/cwt267.00–273.002,23658
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1Fleshy923237.44/cwt237.00–239.002,1929
Feeder Cattle · Bulls10 lots · lightest first
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2582295.00/cwt295.00–295.001,7173
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1583300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,7492
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1-2669284.00/cwt284.00–284.001,9006
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1685285.00/cwt285.00–285.001,9523
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1756258.00/cwt258.00–258.001,9509
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1-2833235.29/cwt232.50–238.001,9602
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1856253.03/cwt245.00–259.002,1667
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1934235.00/cwt235.00–235.002,1956
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1971235.01/cwt223.00–236.002,28213
Bulls1150–1200Large 11,186207.00/cwt207.00–207.002,4554
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,215137.50/cwt137.50–137.501,6711
Bulls——Return to Feed1,585145.00/cwt145.00–145.002,2981
Bulls——1,872152.62/cwt150.50–154.002,8573
Bulls——1,919166.49/cwt160.00–171.003,19510
Bulls——2,182187.31/cwt186.00–190.004,0873
Bulls——2,285184.00/cwt184.00–184.004,2041
Bulls——2,315175.27/cwt171.00–179.004,0583
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight885110.00/cwt110.00–110.009741
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight96882.50/cwt82.50–82.507992
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,095116.91/cwt116.00–130.001,28032
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,137146.00/cwt146.00–146.001,6603
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,183141.01/cwt136.00–145.001,66823
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,207142.00/cwt142.00–142.001,7143
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,225123.49/cwt116.00–135.001,51358
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,374149.59/cwt147.00–153.002,0557
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,374141.46/cwt136.00–146.001,94454
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,378153.52/cwt151.00–158.002,1166
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,409129.08/cwt115.00–135.001,81929
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,436144.02/cwt139.50–147.502,06830
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,440124.09/cwt118.50–136.001,7877
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,609144.33/cwt142.00–145.502,32219
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,673131.22/cwt126.00–139.502,1955
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,759138.08/cwt135.00–139.002,4294
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Bulls——1,470143.00/cwt143.00–143.002,1021
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows9 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1Thin Fleshed603200.00/cwt200.00–200.001,2062
Stock Cows—Medium 1776225.00/cwt225.00–225.001,7465
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2905203.37/cwt165.00–222.001,84029
Stock Cows—Large 1938172.50/cwt172.50–172.501,6182
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,005169.63/cwt142.50–191.001,70517
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,056207.06/cwt180.00–255.002,18743
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,060160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,6961
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,064191.80/cwt150.00–218.002,04172
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,268146.33/cwt142.00–150.001,8556
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2522,675.00/head2,675.00–2,675.002,6753
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3302,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,7001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,4801,950.00/head1,950.00–1,950.001,9501

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.