Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-05-08

Billings Livestock Commission

Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2025-05-08
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-05-08

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, May 8

● Final80 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777

← May 1May 8May 15 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

455 head

▼ 2,070 vs last sale 2,525▲ 209 vs year ago 246 · +85.0%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

385 head

▲ 258 vs last sale 127▲ 116 vs year ago 269 · +43.1%

Replacement Cattle receipts

333 head

▲ 259 vs last sale 74▲ 93 vs year ago 240 · +38.8%

Also sold here(Mon)Mon Oct 26, 2026

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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last reported sale(5-1-25): Feeder steer and heifer calves were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Demand was mostly moderate to good for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain. Many cattle were cutback cattle out of grow lots. A large portion of the feeder cattle offering was comprised of blemished offerings this week. A few offerings of fall calves were on offer this week and these offerings were met with mostly good demand. Feeder cattle were offered in mostly small packages or as singles. Market activity was moderate to active with good participation noticed both ringside and on the internet. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold on mostly light demand as packers continue to try and buy cattle lower. Very few cows were purchased for immediate harvest again this week as feeding demand remains stronger than slaughter demand. Breaking cows sold mostly 10.00 lower in a narrow comparison, boning and lean cows sold 5.00-10.00 lower. Feeding cows sold generally steady on high quality boning and lean cows, while poorer quality feeding cows sold 4.00-6.00 lower. Many poorer quality feeding cows were slightly blemished. As packers pulled back on slaughter cow prices this allowed poorer quality feeding cows to fall off in price and were mostly purchased by feeding buyers as a result. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average this week. Slaughter bulls sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good to very good demand. Too few young cow offerings sold last week to develop any market trend. Quality this week was mixed.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $290.62/cwt on 45 head. That ranks 1 of 23 comparable sales and sits −121.00 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.

Average price

$290.62

45 head · 562 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,634

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$345

per head · Medium and Large 1-2 over Medium 2

$80.31/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−10.84

vs MT average

−42.20 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1-2	545	330.31	1,800	19thin
Medium 1	540	321.00	1,733	2thin
Large 1-2	558	290.00	1,618	4thin
Medium 2	582	250.00	1,455	20

One grade step is worth $80.31/cwt here — about $345 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 500–600 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 sale45 hd

290.62

—

MT average3 barns · 69 hd

301.45

−10.84

National average172 barns · 12,542 hd

332.82

−42.20

This barn, trailing median23 sales

411.62

−121.00

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

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.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Low	1,748	175.36	3,065	45
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,385	152.79	2,115	128
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,182	146.43	1,731	123
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,650	141.96	2,343	26
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,135	122.25	1,388	2thin

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	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,250	$3,415	7
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,495	$2,934	3thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,497	$2,771	3thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,268	$2,500	3thin

Every lot, as filed

80 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.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers19 lots · lightest first
Steers	350–400	Medium 1-2	388	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	1,416	4
Steers	350–400	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	393	435.00/cwt	435.00–435.00	1,710	14
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	443	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	1,816	2
Steers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	445	415.00/cwt	415.00–415.00	1,847	2
Steers	450–500	Medium 2-3	456	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	1,231	8
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	461	407.00/cwt	407.00–407.00	1,876	9
Steers	450–500	Medium and Large 1-2	470	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	1,880	1
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	559	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	2,096	9
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	570	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	1,938	4
Steers	550–600	Medium and Large 1	580	371.52/cwt	360.00–377.50	2,155	3
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	620	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	2,201	1
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	626	341.00/cwt	341.00–341.00	2,135	14
Steers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	628	330.33/cwt	327.50–333.00	2,074	2
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1	680	327.00/cwt	327.00–327.00	2,224	10
Steers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	695	312.00/cwt	309.00–315.00	2,168	2
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	729	316.52/cwt	314.00–318.00	2,307	8
Steers	700–750	Medium and Large 1-2	743	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	2,303	2
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 2Fleshy	821	250.51/cwt	249.00–254.00	2,057	13
Steers	800–850	Medium and Large 1-2	847	279.00/cwt	279.00–279.00	2,363	5
Feeder Cattle · Heifers17 lots · lightest first
Heifers	300–350	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	318	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	1,049	5
Heifers	350–400	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	375	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,144	3
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	410	352.50/cwt	352.50–352.50	1,445	23
Heifers	400–450	Medium and Large 1-2	423	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,523	2
Heifers	450–500	Medium and Large 2	476	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	1,428	12
Heifers	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	527	334.47/cwt	322.50–338.00	1,763	8
Heifers	500–550	Medium 1	540	321.00/cwt	321.00–321.00	1,733	2
Heifers	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	558	327.28/cwt	325.00–330.00	1,826	11
Heifers	550–600	Large 1-2	558	290.00/cwt	290.00–290.00	1,618	4
Heifers	550–600	Medium 2	582	250.00/cwt	250.00–250.00	1,455	20
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1-2	617	317.24/cwt	297.50–326.00	1,957	8
Heifers	600–650	Medium and Large 1	619	328.12/cwt	324.00–340.00	2,031	18
Heifers	650–700	Medium and Large 1-2	663	302.53/cwt	291.00–306.00	2,006	13
Heifers	700–750	Medium and Large 1	725	296.30/cwt	296.00–297.00	2,148	23
Heifers	750–800	Medium and Large 1	783	272.00/cwt	272.00–272.00	2,130	6
Heifers	850–900	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	853	242.00/cwt	242.00–242.00	2,064	3
Heifers	850–900	Medium and Large 1-2	887	241.00/cwt	241.00–241.00	2,138	3
Feeder Cattle · Bulls9 lots · lightest first
Bulls	300–350	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	313	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	1,346	4
Bulls	500–550	Medium and Large 1-2	500	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	1,725	10
Bulls	550–600	Medium and Large 1-2	578	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,850	4
Bulls	800–850	Medium and Large 1	830	267.00/cwt	267.00–267.00	2,216	1
Bulls	900–950	Medium and Large 1-2	917	235.00/cwt	235.00–235.00	2,155	3
Bulls	950–1000	Medium and Large 1-2	968	202.00/cwt	202.00–202.00	1,955	3
Bulls	1100–1150	Large 1	1,125	221.58/cwt	219.00–224.00	2,493	15
Bulls	1200–1250	Large 1	1,247	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	2,556	5
Bulls	1250–1300	Large 1	1,283	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	2,309	2
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,461	166.17/cwt	159.00–167.00	2,428	10
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,531	172.18/cwt	169.00–181.00	2,636	17
Bulls	—	—	1,979	177.73/cwt	170.00–186.00	3,517	10
Bulls	—	—	2,157	195.09/cwt	192.00–199.00	4,208	5
Bulls	—	—	2,272	166.00/cwt	166.00–166.00	3,772	1
Bulls	—	—Heavy Weight	2,585	199.50/cwt	199.50–199.50	5,157	1
Bulls	—	—	2,595	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	4,775	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	913	119.77/cwt	107.50–130.00	1,094	2
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,078	102.74/cwt	100.00–106.00	1,108	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,177	161.74/cwt	159.50–166.00	1,904	29
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,181	123.01/cwt	117.00–129.00	1,453	12
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,193	154.48/cwt	150.00–157.50	1,843	51
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,201	131.70/cwt	116.00–147.50	1,582	22
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,201	130.26/cwt	130.00–131.00	1,564	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,369	162.78/cwt	161.00–166.00	2,228	21
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,371	157.24/cwt	149.00–161.00	2,156	75
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,419	123.67/cwt	118.00–131.50	1,755	6
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,422	138.63/cwt	124.00–146.00	1,971	24
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,503	138.33/cwt	135.00–141.00	2,079	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,526	149.25/cwt	144.00–153.00	2,278	7
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,688	140.13/cwt	140.00–141.00	2,365	16
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,739	134.67/cwt	134.00–135.00	2,342	3
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows2 lots · lightest first
Dairy Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,040	117.50/cwt	117.50–117.50	1,222	1
Dairy Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,230	127.00/cwt	127.00–127.00	1,562	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium 1	768	232.03/cwt	229.00–235.00	1,782	2
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	942	257.92/cwt	192.00–280.00	2,430	145
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	974	214.52/cwt	181.00–237.50	2,089	8
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	1,045	172.56/cwt	160.00–205.00	1,803	17
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,129	196.78/cwt	161.00–245.00	2,222	70
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,218	162.68/cwt	162.00–165.00	1,981	4
Stock Cows	—	Large 1	1,243	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	2,188	2
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,250	3,414.62/head	3,350.00–3,475.00	3,415	7
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,268	2,500.00/head	2,500.00–2,500.00	2,500	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,495	2,934.15/head	2,850.00–3,100.00	2,934	3
Bred Cows	—	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	1,497	2,771.44/head	2,700.00–2,850.00	2,771	3

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 →

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Thu)

Thu May 8, 2025

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 455Last week 2,525Year ago 246

Slaughter CattleReceipts 385Last week 127Year ago 269

Replacement CattleReceipts 333Last week 74Year ago 240

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	913	107.50–130.00	119.77

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
4	—	1,201	130.00–131.00	130.26
12	—	1,181	117.00–129.00	123.01
3	—	1,078	100.00–106.00	102.74

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
22	—	1,201	116.00–147.50	131.70
29	—	1,177	159.50–166.00	161.74
51	—	1,193	150.00–157.50	154.48

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	1,419	118.00–131.50	123.67
2	—	1,503	135.00–141.00	138.33

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
16	—	1,688	140.00–141.00	140.13
7	—	1,526	144.00–153.00	149.25

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,739	134.00–135.00	134.67

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
75	—	1,371	149.00–161.00	157.24
24	—	1,422	124.00–146.00	138.63
21	—	1,369	161.00–166.00	162.78

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,230	127.00	127.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Dairy Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,040	117.50	117.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
10	—	1,461	159.00–167.00	166.17
17	—	1,531	169.00–181.00	172.18

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Heavy Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,585	199.50	199.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	2,595	184.00	184.00
5	—	2,157	192.00–199.00	195.09
10	—	1,979	170.00–186.00	177.73
1	—	2,272	166.00	166.00

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
10	500–550	500	345.00	345.00
4	550–600	578	320.00	320.00
3	900–950	917	235.00	235.00
3	950–1000	968	202.00	202.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
4	300–350	313	430.00	430.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
1	800–850	830	267.00	267.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
15	1100–1150	1,125	219.00–224.00	221.58
5	1200–1250	1,247	205.00	205.00
2	1250–1300	1,283	180.00	180.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	400–450	445	415.00	415.00
1	450–500	470	400.00	400.00
4	550–600	570	340.00	340.00
2	600–650	628	327.50–333.00	330.33
2	650–700	695	309.00–315.00	312.00
2	700–750	743	310.00	310.00
5	800–850	847	279.00	279.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
14	350–400	393	435.00	435.00
2	400–450	443	410.00	410.00
9	450–500	461	407.00	407.00
9	550–600	559	375.00	375.00
14	600–650	626	341.00	341.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	550–600	580	360.00–377.50	371.52
1	600–650	620	355.00	355.00
10	650–700	680	327.00	327.00
8	700–750	729	314.00–318.00	316.52

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 2-3$ per cwt · actual wt
8	450–500	456	270.00	270.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	350–400	388	365.00	365.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
13	800–850	821	249.00–254.00	250.51

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
2	400–450	423	360.00	360.00
8	500–550	527	322.50–338.00	334.47
11	550–600	558	325.00–330.00	327.28
8	600–650	617	297.50–326.00	317.24
13	650–700	663	291.00–306.00	302.53
3	850–900	887	241.00	241.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	300–350	318	330.00	330.00
3	350–400	375	305.00	305.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2 · Fleshy$ per cwt · actual wt
3	850–900	853	242.00	242.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
23	400–450	410	352.50	352.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
18	600–650	619	324.00–340.00	328.12
23	700–750	725	296.00–297.00	296.30
6	750–800	783	272.00	272.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
4	550–600	558	290.00	290.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 2$ per cwt · actual wt
20	550–600	582	250.00	250.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	500–550	540	321.00	321.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 2$ per cwt · actual wt
12	450–500	476	300.00	300.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	145	—	942	192.00–280.00	257.92
Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,218	162.00–165.00	162.68
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	70	—	1,129	161.00–245.00	196.78

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	768	229.00–235.00	232.03

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	2	—	1,243	176.00	176.00

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	17	—	1,045	160.00–205.00	172.56
(<2 yrs)	Open	8	—	974	181.00–237.50	214.52

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per head · actual wt
Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	3	—	1,495	2,850.00–3,100.00	2,934.15
Young (2-4 yrs)	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	3	—	1,268	2,500.00	2,500.00
Young (2-4 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	7	—	1,250	3,350.00–3,475.00	3,414.62

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bred Cows — Medium and Large 1 · Broken Mouth$ per head · actual wt
Aged (>8 yrs)	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	3	—	1,497	2,700.00–2,850.00	2,771.44

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.