Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-05-01

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, May 1
● Final96 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
2,525 head
▲ 2,247 vs last sale 278▲ 231 vs year ago 2,294 · +10.1%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
127 head
▼ 302 vs last sale 429▼ 8 vs year ago 135 · −5.9%
Replacement Cattle receipts
74 head
▼ 248 vs last sale 322▼ 53 vs year ago 127 · −41.7%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Oct 26, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last reported sale (4-10-25): Feeder steer and heifer calves were all too lightly tested last reported sale to develop any accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Demand was mostly good to very good for light to moderate offerings. Quality this week was mixed with lots of variation noticed. Front end high quality feeder cattle of both sexes sold on very good demand, while demand for average quality cattle was moderate to good. Many feeder cattle were out of backgrounding lots this sale, however flesh conditions were mostly light as many cattle were developed specifically for grass. Cattle were offered in mostly moderate size packages or larger. Serval load lots and partial load lots were noticed as well. Cattle too big to go to grass sold on very good as packer and private feeders both showed need to fill pen space. Demand for steers was stronger than demand for heifers this week as steer quality was overall better than heifer quality. A few consignments of replacement heifers were seen today, however most offerings were purchased to feed. A moderate sized crowd was on hand for todays sale. Market activity was very active with good participation noticed both ringside and on the internet. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light offerings. Very few cows were purchased for immediate harvest as feeding demand was stronger than slaughter demand. Slaughter cattle were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Feeding cows sold steady to 3.00 higher than the last reported sale on April 10th. Cow quality today was mostly plain to average. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average with many full offerings noticed. Slaughter bulls sold on mostly good demand for light offerings. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good demand. Most offerings sold 5.00-10.00 higher than last reported sale in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mostly average.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $342.09/cwt on 357 head. That ranks 3 of 23 comparable sales and sits −69.53 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$342.09
357 head · 542 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,853
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$231
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$45.04/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.70
vs MT average
+12.75 vs national

Price by quality 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1543351.111,908226
Medium and Large 1-2534334.901,79093
Medium and Large 2548306.071,67738
One grade step is worth $45.04/cwt here — about $231 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 700–800 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 sale357 hd
342.09
—
MT average3 barns · 405 hd
341.39
+0.70
National average176 barns · 11,721 hd
329.34
+12.75
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−69.53
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—Low1,571176.452,77210
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,440153.552,21233
CowsLean 85-90%High1,151149.101,71644
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,682143.622,41519

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)1,210$3,1502thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,486$2,8315
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,022$2,5003thin

Every lot

96 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 · Steers28 lots · lightest first
Steers300–350Medium and Large 2313430.00/cwt430.00–430.001,3463
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2325461.89/cwt460.00–465.001,5015
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2391460.60/cwt459.00–467.001,80129
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2433442.90/cwt431.00–450.001,91823
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1480436.56/cwt435.00–437.502,09595
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2483409.65/cwt395.00–425.001,97914
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1505422.59/cwt418.50–438.002,13438
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2516390.06/cwt370.00–407.502,01319
Steers500–550Medium 2521312.50/cwt312.50–312.501,6286
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2535355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,8993
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Fleshy559355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,9844
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1577394.72/cwt376.00–404.502,278120
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2579371.82/cwt370.00–375.002,15315
Steers550–600Large 1585334.58/cwt326.00–352.501,9579
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1611370.84/cwt350.00–378.002,266152
Steers600–650Medium 2626290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,8158
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2650310.00/cwt310.00–310.002,0151
Steers650–700Medium and Large 2653265.00/cwt265.00–265.001,7306
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1681340.84/cwt332.00–344.002,321139
Steers700–750Large 1722296.00/cwt296.00–296.002,1373
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1725329.39/cwt328.00–335.002,38810
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2746308.00/cwt308.00–308.002,2986
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1777302.07/cwt299.00–304.502,34764
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1841297.92/cwt297.75–306.002,506195
Steers850–900Large 1875274.00/cwt274.00–274.002,3981
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1884284.00/cwt281.00–300.002,51161
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1936271.00/cwt271.00–271.002,5374
Steers1100–1150Large 1Fleshy1,104237.00/cwt237.00–237.002,61610
Feeder Cattle · Heifers33 lots · lightest first
Heifers300–350Medium 1-2348330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,1488
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2417367.29/cwt367.00–367.501,53219
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2440340.00/cwt340.00–340.001,4964
Heifers450–500Large 1470355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,6693
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2470350.21/cwt350.00–351.001,64640
Heifers450–500Medium 1-2476312.50/cwt312.50–312.501,48820
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2485297.98/cwt290.00–315.001,44512
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1514356.46/cwt352.00–361.001,832100
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2529335.78/cwt330.00–342.001,77684
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2544305.39/cwt280.00–315.001,66135
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1564350.37/cwt340.00–355.001,976114
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2585326.64/cwt324.00–332.001,9119
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2593314.00/cwt314.00–314.001,8623
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Fleshy593313.63/cwt300.00–327.501,86012
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 2609283.68/cwt282.50–284.001,72815
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1630326.77/cwt314.00–336.502,05946
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2641305.31/cwt297.00–310.001,95745
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1662308.04/cwt303.00–319.002,03972
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2664296.00/cwt296.00–296.001,9654
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 2Fleshy713222.50/cwt222.50–222.501,5865
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1719297.10/cwt292.50–303.502,136169
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 2726258.00/cwt258.00–258.001,8739
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1Fleshy728273.58/cwt273.00–280.001,99224
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2737278.00/cwt278.00–278.002,0493
Heifers700–750Large 1742282.00/cwt282.00–282.002,09217
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1764291.33/cwt285.00–292.002,22652
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2766276.62/cwt266.00–280.002,11925
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1Replacement817285.48/cwt284.00–286.002,33223
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1824272.12/cwt267.00–278.002,24250
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2834253.00/cwt253.00–253.002,1107
Heifers850–900Medium 1853258.00/cwt258.00–258.002,2012
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1Replacement870269.00/cwt269.00–269.002,34030
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1878266.00/cwt266.00–266.002,3353
Feeder Cattle · Bulls11 lots · lightest first
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2540335.00/cwt335.00–335.001,8092
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2643325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,0905
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1807272.00/cwt272.00–272.002,19516
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1-2847230.00/cwt230.00–230.001,9486
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1890265.00/cwt265.00–265.002,35917
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1915249.00/cwt249.00–249.002,2781
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,037227.50/cwt227.50–227.502,3597
Bulls1050–1100Large 11,052239.00/cwt239.00–239.002,5142
Bulls1150–1200Large 1-21,162205.00/cwt205.00–205.002,3823
Bulls1150–1200Large 11,175217.50/cwt217.50–217.502,5561
Bulls1200–1250Large 11,205209.00/cwt209.00–209.002,51810
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,338181.78/cwt181.00–183.002,4325
Bulls——Return to Feed1,455162.50/cwt162.50–162.502,3641
Bulls——1,853169.03/cwt167.00–170.003,1323
Bulls——2,005186.00/cwt186.00–186.003,7291
Slaughter Cattle · Cows13 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,052160.00/cwt160.00–160.001,6833
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,134142.00/cwt134.00–148.001,61014
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,140150.00/cwt150.00–150.001,7101
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,146158.63/cwt157.00–159.001,81812
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,172152.13/cwt149.00–160.001,78310
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,248129.38/cwt122.00–145.001,6154
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,295164.00/cwt164.00–164.002,1241
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,430141.07/cwt135.00–148.002,0177
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,436158.54/cwt150.00–162.002,27723
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,598134.58/cwt132.00–137.502,1512
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,610163.00/cwt163.00–163.002,6241
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,667144.32/cwt133.00–149.002,40612
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,723139.00/cwt139.00–139.002,3956
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows3 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0222,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2103,150.00/head3,150.00–3,150.003,1502
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,4862,831.29/head2,800.00–2,850.002,8315
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2927220.65/cwt217.50–233.002,0455
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2949192.72/cwt160.00–212.501,82915
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,005239.24/cwt200.00–264.002,40411
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,136196.41/cwt173.00–242.002,23117

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.