Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-05-22

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, May 22
● Final92 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
299 head
▲ 104 vs last sale 195▼ 92 vs year ago 391 · −23.5%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
497 head
▼ 350 vs last sale 847▲ 44 vs year ago 453 · +9.7%
Replacement Cattle receipts
202 head
▼ 212 vs last sale 414▼ 17 vs year ago 219 · −7.8%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Oct 26, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: 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 to average. 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 offerings. Slaughter cows sold on mostly moderate demand as packers pushed gather supplies prior to the memorial day holiday. Demand for slaughter cows was stronger this week as a result. Slaughter cows sold 1.00-2.00 higher on breaking cows, boning cows sold 2.00-5.00 higher, while lean cows sold steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Demand for feeding cows remains good to very good. Feeding cows sold steady to firm. Cow quality this week was average to very attractive and similar to 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 moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher. 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 offerings. Young age cows sold generally steady on like quality offerings.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $308.93/cwt on 66 head. That ranks 1 of 23 comparable sales and sits −102.69 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$308.93
66 head · 540 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,668
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$258
per head · Medium 1 over Medium 1-2
$69.38/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−1.84
vs MT average
−25.33 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium 1509334.381,70312thin
Medium and Large 1-2564314.921,77625
Medium and Large 2524310.491,62618thin
Medium 1-2545265.001,44411thin
One grade step is worth $69.38/cwt here — about $258 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 sale66 hd
308.93
—
MT average2 barns · 71 hd
310.77
−1.84
National average158 barns · 12,726 hd
334.26
−25.33
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−102.69
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—High1,772187.253,31893
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,422152.692,171196
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,641146.192,39946
CowsLean 85-90%Average1,171138.761,62486
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Low995115.001,1441thin

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)1,327$3,11514
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,134$2,9374thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,533$2,8006
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,520$2,6714thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,200$2,6501thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,335$2,6072thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,435$2,6007
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,625$2,5001thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,314$2,0323thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,257$1,8759
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,893$3,5002thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,400$2,9505

Every lot, as filed

92 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 · Steers11 lots · lightest first
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2393430.00/cwt430.00–430.001,6904
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1433424.79/cwt420.00–430.001,83917
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1473415.00/cwt415.00–415.001,9632
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1510408.89/cwt399.00–412.002,08534
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2512395.00/cwt395.00–395.002,0223
Steers500–550Large 1-2524331.00/cwt331.00–331.001,7345
Steers600–650Medium and Large 2635307.00/cwt307.00–307.001,9492
Steers650–700Medium and Large 2652290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,8913
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1668330.00/cwt330.00–330.002,2042
Steers750–800Medium and Large 2760282.50/cwt282.50–282.502,1471
Steers1150–1200Large 1Fleshy1,190236.00/cwt236.00–236.002,8082
Feeder Cattle · Heifers17 lots · lightest first
Heifers200–250Medium and Large 1200450.00/cwt450.00–450.009001
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 2Unweaned348345.00/cwt345.00–345.001,2015
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2490327.73/cwt317.50–334.001,60613
Heifers500–550Medium 1505335.00/cwt335.00–335.001,69211
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2515312.74/cwt305.00–325.001,61116
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2527317.50/cwt317.50–317.501,6733
Heifers500–550Medium 1-2545265.00/cwt265.00–265.001,44411
Heifers550–600Medium 1555327.50/cwt327.50–327.501,8181
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2569314.57/cwt303.00–322.501,79022
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2593292.50/cwt292.50–292.501,7352
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1603325.94/cwt325.00–329.001,96513
Heifers600–650Large 1615301.00/cwt301.00–301.001,8512
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 2617284.00/cwt284.00–284.001,7523
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2639290.00/cwt290.00–290.001,8535
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2673297.34/cwt289.00–299.002,0016
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1743280.00/cwt280.00–280.002,0802
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2750270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,0251
Feeder Cattle · Bulls11 lots · lightest first
Bulls100–150Medium and Large 1105775.00/head775.00–775.007754
Bulls200–250Medium and Large 1200470.00/cwt470.00–470.009401
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 2420385.00/cwt385.00–385.001,6171
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2510342.50/cwt342.50–342.501,7472
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1-2767273.33/cwt272.50–275.002,0963
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1961255.00/cwt255.00–255.002,4518
Bulls1050–1100Medium and Large 1-21,083239.00/cwt239.00–239.002,5882
Bulls1050–1100Large 11,095233.00/cwt233.00–233.002,5512
Bulls1100–1150Large 11,129227.75/cwt226.00–229.002,5714
Bulls1150–1200Large 11,193219.00/cwt219.00–219.002,6132
Bulls1250–1300Large 11,290201.00/cwt201.00–201.002,5932
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls11 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,429158.22/cwt150.00–162.502,2615
Bulls——Natural1,544170.79/cwt161.00–175.002,6379
Bulls——Return to Feed1,622188.00/cwt188.00–188.003,0493
Bulls——Natural1,635186.37/cwt185.00–192.003,0476
Bulls——Return to Feed1,639174.30/cwt171.00–182.002,8579
Bulls——Natural1,803198.70/cwt198.00–199.003,58319
Bulls——1,822183.01/cwt177.00–191.003,33418
Bulls——1,900168.00/cwt168.00–168.003,1921
Bulls——1,920200.00/cwt200.00–200.003,8401
Bulls——1,964200.65/cwt191.00–207.503,94121
Bulls——2,195184.00/cwt184.00–184.004,0391
Slaughter Cattle · Cows20 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight818120.00/cwt120.00–120.009822
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight985106.00/cwt106.00–106.001,0442
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,148158.42/cwt157.00–160.001,8192
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,149119.71/cwt115.00–128.001,37512
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,159134.90/cwt120.00–145.001,56326
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,178134.77/cwt128.00–142.001,58810
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,221152.29/cwt145.00–156.001,85932
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,325101.00/cwt101.00–101.001,3382
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,365136.69/cwt125.00–145.001,86619
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,407128.54/cwt117.50–132.001,8095
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,409154.61/cwt145.00–159.002,17896
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,412158.10/cwt150.50–160.002,2326
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,430162.21/cwt160.00–169.002,32050
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,440151.00/cwt151.00–151.002,1742
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,546143.57/cwt135.00–148.002,22018
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,550144.00/cwt144.00–144.002,2323
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,552158.71/cwt155.00–162.002,4637
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,653150.00/cwt150.00–150.002,4802
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,679142.60/cwt132.50–147.002,39431
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,725159.00/cwt159.00–159.002,7431
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%995115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,1441
Replacement Cattle · Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Bulls—Medium and Large 11,420179.77/cwt163.00–201.002,5533
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows11 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1342,937.05/head2,900.00–2,950.002,9374
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2002,650.00/head2,650.00–2,650.002,6501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2571,875.00/head1,875.00–1,875.001,8759
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3142,032.43/head2,000.00–2,050.002,0323
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3273,115.13/head3,100.00–3,300.003,11514
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3352,607.12/head2,500.00–2,700.002,6072
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4352,600.00/head2,600.00–2,600.002,6007
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,4802,744.89/head2,700.00–2,825.002,7453
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5332,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,8006
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,6252,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,6402,450.00/head2,450.00–2,450.002,4501
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs2 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,4002,950.00/head2,950.00–2,950.002,9505
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,8933,500.00/head3,500.00–3,500.003,5002
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows7 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1920204.42/cwt195.00–240.001,8814
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,001181.71/cwt169.00–202.001,8199
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,055224.24/cwt195.00–270.002,36639
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,095191.86/cwt179.00–222.002,1015
Stock Cows—Large 11,179191.00/cwt191.00–191.002,2525
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,215180.37/cwt160.00–220.002,19138
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,407189.00/cwt189.00–189.002,6592

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.