Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-05-15

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, May 15
● Final93 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
195 head
▼ 260 vs last sale 455▼ 122 vs year ago 317 · −38.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
847 head
▲ 462 vs last sale 385▲ 136 vs year ago 711 · +19.1%
Replacement Cattle receipts
414 head
▲ 81 vs last sale 333▼ 101 vs year ago 515 · −19.6%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Oct 26, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last reported sale(5-8-25): 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 continues to be comprised of very plain or unreportable, blemished offerings. Many producers continue to clean out pens and bring odd offerings to town. Feeder cattle were offered in mostly small packages or as singles this sale. Demand for cutting bulls was very good as several buyers were looking for bulls to cut and make steers. Market activity was moderate to active with good participation noticed both ringside and over the internet. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold on mostly light demand as packers continue to try and buy cattle lower. A heavy offering of cows allowed packer buyers to buy slaughter cows lower, especially late in the sale as feeding buyers filled loads. A larger portion of the cow offering was purchased for slaughter this week. Slaughter cows sold steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold 1.00-3.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Feeding demand remains stronger than slaughter demand. Feeding demand was uneven as buyers entered and exited the market before the entire sale was over. Feeding cows sold steady to 3.00 lower on all cows purchased to feed. Demand for cows was lighter late in the sale as buyers filled loads. Cow quality this week was average to very attractive and overall more attractive than last weeks sale. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to above average this week as many cows are starting to empty out due to being turned out on grass. Slaughter bulls sold on mostly good demand for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good to very good demand. Quality this week was mixed. Many young cows which never calved continue to be seen. These offerings are selling at a discount to wet bagged offerings. Very few true wet bagged offerings are being seen. True wet bag offerings sell at similar prices for 2 or 3 year old offerings.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $311.68/cwt on 12 head. That ranks 1 of 23 comparable sales and sits −99.94 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$311.68
12 head · 567 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,766
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$152
per head · Large 1 over Large 1-2
$72.50/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−15.54
vs MT average
−28.20 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Large 1512350.001,7923thin
Medium and Large 1-2580316.041,8335thin
Large 1-2591277.501,6404thin
One grade step is worth $72.50/cwt here — about $152 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 sale12 hd
311.68
—
MT average3 barns · 107 hd
327.23
−15.54
National average164 barns · 12,891 hd
339.88
−28.20
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−99.94
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—Average1,805178.333,21866
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,397151.582,117322
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,659147.622,44989
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,178142.321,677155
Dairy CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,475136.412,0123thin
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Low955107.001,0221thin

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)1,272$3,08720
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,220$2,9564thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,583$2,92112
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,272$2,7256
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,184$2,68913
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,381$2,6598
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,210$2,0001thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,185$1,7251thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,037$2,99311
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)(<2 yrs)1,295$2,9501thin
Bred Heifers2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)(<2 yrs)910$2,4005
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,530$3,5505
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,455$2,8751thin

Every lot, as filed

93 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 · Steers14 lots · lightest first
Steers350–400Medium and Large 2378430.00/cwt430.00–430.001,6255
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2438415.00/cwt415.00–415.001,8182
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1455450.00/cwt450.00–450.002,0481
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2509339.36/cwt327.50–385.001,7275
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1560375.00/cwt375.00–375.002,1003
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2590340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,0061
Steers550–600Large 1-2590334.00/cwt334.00–334.001,9714
Steers600–650Medium and Large 2623315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,9622
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1651341.00/cwt341.00–341.002,2206
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2653313.00/cwt313.00–313.002,0442
Steers650–700Large 1658312.00/cwt312.00–312.002,0533
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2703303.85/cwt302.00–307.502,1363
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1723330.00/cwt330.00–330.002,3862
Steers700–750Medium and Large 2725285.00/cwt285.00–285.002,0661
Feeder Cattle · Heifers11 lots · lightest first
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2432367.52/cwt365.00–370.001,5884
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1439377.50/cwt377.50–377.501,6577
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1484372.50/cwt372.50–372.501,8034
Heifers500–550Large 1512350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,7923
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2580316.04/cwt310.00–320.001,8335
Heifers550–600Large 1-2591277.50/cwt277.50–277.501,6404
Heifers600–650Medium 1609300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,8278
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2615302.63/cwt302.50–303.001,8614
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1669316.49/cwt316.00–318.002,1174
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1719292.53/cwt289.00–293.002,10317
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1Fleshy726270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,9605
Feeder Cattle · Bulls14 lots · lightest first
Bulls150–200Medium and Large 1175800.00/head800.00–800.008001
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1810263.00/cwt263.00–263.002,1301
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1864268.49/cwt255.00–271.002,32010
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1917250.34/cwt247.00–252.002,2963
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1975254.00/cwt254.00–254.002,4771
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1-2987232.07/cwt226.00–238.002,2914
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 11,032238.13/cwt237.00–240.002,4587
Bulls1050–1100Large 11,065239.14/cwt239.00–240.002,5477
Bulls1100–1150Large 1-21,115197.00/cwt197.00–197.002,1972
Bulls1100–1150Medium and Large 11,136221.00/cwt221.00–221.002,5115
Bulls1150–1200Large 11,153228.99/cwt225.00–233.002,6402
Bulls1200–1250Large 11,245201.50/cwt201.50–201.502,5091
Bulls1350–1400Large 11,362196.50/cwt196.50–196.502,6763
Bulls1350–1400Large 1Fancy1,387199.00/cwt199.00–199.002,7605
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,451159.71/cwt147.50–169.002,31712
Bulls——Return to Feed1,646172.72/cwt169.00–180.002,84316
Bulls——Return to Feed1,835193.00/cwt193.00–193.003,5421
Bulls——1,888180.56/cwt175.00–187.003,40918
Bulls——1,930171.00/cwt171.00–171.003,3002
Bulls——2,054194.23/cwt189.00–199.503,98916
Bulls——Heavy Weight2,810197.00/cwt197.00–197.005,5361
Slaughter Cattle · Cows20 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight780117.50/cwt117.50–117.509171
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight98597.00/cwt97.00–97.009551
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,150104.00/cwt104.00–104.001,1961
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,168131.60/cwt114.00–141.001,53741
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,170118.36/cwt112.00–127.501,38515
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,180151.04/cwt144.00–158.001,78275
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,226160.52/cwt159.00–164.001,96816
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,231134.62/cwt129.00–141.001,6575
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,369141.72/cwt125.00–149.001,94057
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,376153.92/cwt144.00–159.002,118145
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,422161.06/cwt159.00–163.002,29069
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,436126.32/cwt112.50–130.001,8147
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,444137.76/cwt131.00–148.001,98927
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,471158.49/cwt149.00–159.502,33117
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,556157.41/cwt154.00–161.002,44914
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,620157.00/cwt157.00–157.002,5438
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,626149.61/cwt144.00–154.502,43330
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,717138.32/cwt131.00–143.002,3759
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,730139.56/cwt133.00–143.002,41424
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,783148.92/cwt144.00–152.002,6554
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows2 lots · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%955107.00/cwt107.00–107.001,0221
Dairy Cows—Boner 80-85%1,475136.41/cwt135.00–137.002,0123
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers4 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium 1Non-Legible BANGS9102,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4005
Bred Heifers—Medium 1Non-Legible BANGS9722,925.00/head2,925.00–2,925.002,9255
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS1,0913,050.00/head3,050.00–3,050.003,0506
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,2952,950.00/head2,950.00–2,950.002,9501
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows11 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Non-Legible BANGS1,1252,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,8001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1842,688.88/head2,650.00–2,750.002,68913
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1851,725.00/head1,725.00–1,725.001,7251
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,2102,000.00/head2,000.00–2,000.002,0001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2202,955.56/head2,900.00–3,125.002,9564
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2402,850.00/head2,850.00–2,850.002,8505
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2803,101.80/head2,825.00–3,300.003,10219
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,3082,825.00/head2,825.00–2,825.002,8254
Bred Cows—Large 11,4302,100.00/head2,100.00–2,100.002,1001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,4532,493.74/head2,450.00–2,575.002,4944
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5832,920.53/head2,700.00–3,050.002,92112
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed735207.50/cwt207.50–207.501,5251
Stock Cows—Medium 1787243.80/cwt235.00–250.001,9194
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2930222.65/cwt181.00–253.002,07114
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1989237.87/cwt183.00–282.502,353151
Stock Cows—Large 11,040215.00/cwt215.00–215.002,2361
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,054174.44/cwt153.00–217.001,83922
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,156188.24/cwt164.00–203.002,1765
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,184188.10/cwt162.50–245.002,22798
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs2 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4552,875.00/head2,875.00–2,875.002,8751
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5303,550.00/head3,550.00–3,550.003,5505

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.