Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-05-29

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, May 29
● Final94 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,112 head
▲ 813 vs last sale 299▲ 205 vs year ago 907 · +22.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
187 head
▼ 310 vs last sale 497▼ 22 vs year ago 209 · −10.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
701 head
▲ 499 vs last sale 202▲ 600 vs year ago 101 · +594.1%
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 last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly good to very good for light to moderate offerings. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. The bulk of the feeder offering was offered in moderate size packages with a few load lots noticed. Demand for replacement heifers was very good this sale as quality was attractive. Market activity was active with good participation noticed both ringside and over the internet. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows sold on mostly moderate demand. Too few cows were purchased for slaughter to develop any market trend. Demand for feeding cows was good to very good. Feeding cows sold steady to firm in a narrow comparison The best demand for feeding cows was for lean cows. Buyers showed very good demand for thin offerings as these would gain quickly when put on feed. Cow quality this week was mostly average and not as attractive as last weeks sale. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week. Slaughter bulls sold on mostly good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, steady undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good to very good demand. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. 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 with higher undertones 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 $333.93/cwt on 27 head. That ranks 2 of 23 comparable sales and sits −77.69 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$333.93
27 head · 564 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,883
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$147
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 1-2
$9.71/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−2.51
vs MT average
+1.24 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1571336.451,92120
Medium and Large 1-2543326.741,7747thin
One grade step is worth $9.71/cwt here — about $147 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 sale27 hd
333.93
—
MT average3 barns · 59 hd
336.44
−2.51
National average127 barns · 6,029 hd
332.69
+1.24
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−77.69
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—Average1,724183.473,16324
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,393151.232,10787
CowsBreaker 75-80%High1,609144.242,32111
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,170141.581,65622

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)1,458$3,1424thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,760$2,9001thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,676$2,7006
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,230$2,4501thin
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,017$2,0235
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,834$4,3755
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,921$4,35019
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,252$4,12833
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,834$3,8754thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,539$3,42441
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,539$3,39176
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,573$3,2227
Heifer PairsOpen(<2 yrs)1,189$4,29975

Every lot, as filed

94 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 · Steers25 lots · lightest first
Steers200–250Medium and Large 12401,000.00/head1,000.00–1,000.001,0001
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1405470.00/cwt460.00–480.001,9042
Steers400–450Medium 1-2412405.00/cwt405.00–405.001,6693
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2434438.22/cwt435.00–445.001,90215
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned479375.00/cwt375.00–375.001,7967
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2491355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,7437
Steers500–550Medium 1504405.00/cwt405.00–405.002,0416
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1517438.40/cwt438.00–440.002,26745
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2540390.00/cwt390.00–390.002,1062
Steers500–550Large 1545382.50/cwt382.50–382.502,0853
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2548385.00/cwt385.00–385.002,1103
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1572392.66/cwt377.00–422.502,24669
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2606325.00/cwt325.00–325.001,9706
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1614370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,2728
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1684344.89/cwt344.50–349.002,359102
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2690315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,1742
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2705305.00/cwt305.00–305.002,1506
Steers700–750Large 1707314.00/cwt314.00–314.002,2208
Steers700–750Medium and Large 2730299.00/cwt299.00–299.002,1833
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1731333.90/cwt327.00–336.002,44113
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1766316.53/cwt310.00–318.002,42527
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2778306.00/cwt306.00–306.002,3812
Steers800–850Large 1800300.00/cwt300.00–300.002,4004
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1809313.00/cwt313.00–313.002,5329
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1880293.69/cwt287.00–298.002,58416
Feeder Cattle · Heifers22 lots · lightest first
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 2367365.00/cwt365.00–365.001,3403
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2439362.50/cwt345.00–375.001,59135
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned469355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,6656
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2475340.19/cwt330.00–345.001,61623
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1483376.97/cwt365.00–381.001,82151
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1523350.00/cwt350.00–350.001,8312
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2536328.28/cwt320.00–332.501,7606
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned563320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,8023
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1579337.93/cwt335.00–341.001,95715
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2585317.50/cwt317.50–317.501,8571
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2605300.00/cwt300.00–300.001,8152
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Fleshy608310.00/cwt310.00–310.001,88514
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2665299.00/cwt299.00–299.001,9883
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1683313.03/cwt310.00–316.002,13816
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1713300.02/cwt298.00–302.002,1392
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1Replacement724329.50/cwt329.50–329.502,38663
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2758270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,0472
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1782283.08/cwt281.00–285.002,21426
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1808280.00/cwt280.00–280.002,26242
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2837260.00/cwt260.00–260.002,1763
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1Fleshy880264.29/cwt263.00–267.002,32618
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1885276.66/cwt270.00–278.002,448120
Feeder Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls150–200Medium and Large 1160800.00/head800.00–800.008002
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2506382.50/cwt382.50–382.501,9355
Bulls500–550Medium 1542345.00/cwt345.00–345.001,8707
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1550372.50/cwt372.50–372.502,04920
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1695308.41/cwt308.00–312.502,14321
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1-2910247.50/cwt247.50–247.502,2521
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1995250.00/cwt250.00–250.002,4881
Bulls1100–1150Large 1-21,135222.50/cwt222.50–222.502,5251
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls4 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,238164.09/cwt160.00–167.502,0312
Bulls——Return to Feed1,444176.63/cwt174.00–182.502,5517
Bulls——1,897181.97/cwt172.00–189.003,4528
Bulls——1,946197.55/cwt194.00–207.003,8447
Slaughter Cattle · Cows12 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight990105.00/cwt105.00–105.001,0401
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,153150.61/cwt149.00–152.001,7372
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,159128.24/cwt105.00–138.001,4865
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,186146.57/cwt130.00–150.001,73813
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,230162.00/cwt162.00–162.001,9931
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,346143.31/cwt136.00–146.001,92915
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,401153.41/cwt147.00–160.002,14967
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,410162.00/cwt162.00–162.002,2841
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,435141.64/cwt138.00–145.002,0334
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,558145.25/cwt145.00–145.502,2632
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,573157.00/cwt157.00–157.002,4702
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,634140.30/cwt139.00–141.002,2937
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs12 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,2364,208.26/head4,200.00–4,210.004,20830
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,4173,325.00/head3,325.00–3,325.003,3253
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,4182,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,8002
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,5153,550.00/head3,550.00–3,550.003,5503
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5223,336.89/head3,250.00–3,500.003,33717
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5423,522.44/head3,500.00–3,550.003,52220
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5423,406.81/head3,100.00–3,600.003,40774
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,5963,300.00/head3,300.00–3,300.003,3004
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,6172,976.31/head2,600.00–3,300.002,9764
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,8344,375.00/head4,375.00–4,375.004,3755
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,8343,875.00/head3,875.00–3,875.003,8754
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Registered1,9214,349.71/head4,250.00–4,700.004,35019
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs2 lots · lightest first
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 11,1864,322.42/head4,100.00–4,450.004,32271
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,2393,887.14/head3,850.00–3,900.003,8874
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2302,450.00/head2,450.00–2,450.002,4501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4583,142.32/head2,950.00–3,200.003,1424
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,6762,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,7006
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,7602,900.00/head2,900.00–2,900.002,9001
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2885201.88/cwt182.50–212.501,7873
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1972263.49/cwt214.50–279.002,56118
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,077169.67/cwt164.50–173.001,82711
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,099197.16/cwt167.50–227.002,16717
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 1-21,0172,022.59/head1,950.00–2,150.002,0235

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.