Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2025-06-05
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-06-05

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Feeder steer and heifer calves were all too lightly tested this week to develop any market trend. Demand was mostly good for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. The bulk of the feeder offering was offered in small packages or as singles. Quality was overall not as attractive as this week compared to last weeks sale. A portion of this weeks was comprised of fall calves. Some offerings were weaned while others were not. CME positions pushed sharply higher today which provided very good market support for feeder cattle despite limited offerings. Demand for cutting bulls was very good as several buyers were searching for bulls to cut and make steers. Market activity was 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 light to moderate demand. Too few cows were purchased for slaughter to develop any market trend. Demand for feeding cows was good to very good which kept cow prices mostly above slaughter ticket prices. Feeding cows sold steady to 2.00 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 to attractive and were overall better in quality compared to last week. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week. Slaughter bulls sold on mostly good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher. 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 were seen again this week. True wet bag offerings sell at similar prices for 2 or 3 year offerings. Young age cows sold unevenly steady as quality limited demand at times. Demand for young feeding cows was very good this sale as several buyers were looking for large offerings with some flesh to finish quickly.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $349.10/cwt on 17 head. That ranks 3 of 21 comparable sales and sits −84.76 against this barn's trailing median of $433.86.

Average price

$349.10

17 head · 535 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,867

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$146

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

$64.14/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+15.90

vs MT average

+10.86 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	517	359.14	1,857	12thin
Large 1	580	345.00	2,001	2thin
Medium and Large 1-2	575	320.00	1,840	2thin
Medium and Large 2	580	295.00	1,711	1thin

One grade step is worth $64.14/cwt here — about $146 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.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

21 sales

Heifers 500–600 lb: high $469.35, low $332.50, median $433.86 across 21 sales. Sales under 10 head in this class are excluded, so a thin day cannot swing the median or the ranking.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale17 hd

349.10

—

MT average3 barns · 68 hd

333.20

+15.90

National average164 barns · 13,536 hd

338.24

+10.86

This barn, trailing median21 sales

433.86

−84.76

A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

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	—	High	1,815	187.32	3,400	64
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,413	156.62	2,213	186
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,172	151.47	1,775	99
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,669	147.39	2,460	25
Dairy Bulls	—	Low	1,480	147.00	2,176	1thin
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,155	115.00	1,328	1thin

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)	1,365	$2,800	2thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,545	$2,500	1thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,635	$2,500	1thin
Bred Cows	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,485	$2,400	1thin
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,518	$2,400	5
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,181	$2,125	4thin
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,568	$2,900	3thin

Every lot, as filed

88 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.

Class	Grade / description	Weight	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	763	277.00/cwt	277.00–277.00	2,114	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	728	287.00/cwt	287.00–287.00	2,089	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	550–600	580	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	1,711	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	569	357.28/cwt	352.50–360.00	2,033	11
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	670	343.00/cwt	343.00–343.00	2,298	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	435	435.00/cwt	435.00–435.00	1,892	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	991	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	2,676	8
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	493	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	1,750	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	950–1000	987	261.80/cwt	250.00–267.50	2,584	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	470	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,739	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	517	359.14/cwt	355.00–360.00	1,857	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	462	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	1,686	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	639	360.62/cwt	358.00–375.00	2,304	14
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,012	263.52/cwt	247.50–274.00	2,667	11
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	455	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	1,775	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	781	317.00/cwt	317.00–317.00	2,476	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	900–950	945	267.00/cwt	267.00–267.00	2,523	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	850–900	877	278.00/cwt	278.00–278.00	2,438	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	443	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	1,706	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,221	171.34/cwt	164.00–176.00	2,092	16
Steers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	804	304.00/cwt	304.00–304.00	2,444	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	667	304.85/cwt	301.00–307.00	2,033	22
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,483	172.85/cwt	170.00–179.00	2,563	3
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 2	—	1,568	2,900.00/head	2,900.00–2,900.00	2,900	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,154	191.64/cwt	161.00–226.00	2,212	37
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,208	2,200.00/head	2,200.00–2,200.00	2,200	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	200–250	200	825.00/head	825.00–825.00	825	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	650–700	692	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	2,214	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,365	2,800.00/head	2,800.00–2,800.00	2,800	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,041	230.55/cwt	189.00–275.00	2,400	59
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,043	177.26/cwt	165.00–192.50	1,849	6
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,100	1,900.00/head	1,900.00–1,900.00	1,900	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,140	203.00/cwt	203.00–203.00	2,314	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,490	156.00/cwt	156.00–156.00	2,324	1
Steers	Small and Medium 2	500–550	515	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	927	3
Steers	Small and Medium 2	650–700	676	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	1,115	8
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	955	214.37/cwt	170.00–255.00	2,047	18
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,340	201.49/cwt	184.00–217.00	2,700	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,740	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	2,558	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,729	148.34/cwt	147.00–154.00	2,565	7
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,505	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	2,453	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,479	145.20/cwt	139.00–149.00	2,148	16
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,180	162.58/cwt	160.00–168.00	1,918	28
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,156	127.20/cwt	107.50–135.00	1,470	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,120	137.94/cwt	110.00–148.00	1,545	10
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,199	155.49/cwt	151.00–159.00	1,864	46
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	953	113.41/cwt	111.00–117.00	1,081	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,432	156.26/cwt	149.00–160.00	2,238	114
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,646	145.18/cwt	140.50–146.50	2,390	13
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,155	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	1,328	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,690	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	2,687	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,348	161.92/cwt	161.00–166.00	2,183	51
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,123	138.46/cwt	135.00–147.00	1,555	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,422	153.00/cwt	153.00–153.00	2,176	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,430	149.00/cwt	149.00–149.00	2,131	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,420	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	1,832	1
Bulls	—	—	1,980	196.00/cwt	196.00–196.00	3,881	1
Bulls	—	—	1,896	187.05/cwt	177.00–192.00	3,546	18
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,320	147.88/cwt	140.00–156.00	1,952	2
Bulls	—	—	1,860	172.00/cwt	172.00–172.00	3,199	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,640	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	2,886	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,643	145.00/cwt	145.00–145.00	2,382	2
Bulls	Large 1	1100–1150	1,130	243.14/cwt	241.00–244.00	2,747	7
Bulls	Large 1	1200–1250	1,230	212.26/cwt	209.00–219.00	2,611	3
Dairy Bulls	—	—	1,480	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	2,176	1
Bulls	—	—	1,991	201.07/cwt	195.00–211.00	4,003	19
Bulls	—	—	1,898	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	3,511	2
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,613	179.76/cwt	173.00–183.50	2,900	19
Stock Cows	Medium 1	—	680	265.00/cwt	265.00–265.00	1,802	1
Bulls	Large 1-2	1200–1250	1,238	187.00/cwt	187.00–187.00	2,315	2
Dairy Steers	Large 3	700–750	740	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	888	2
Heifers	Large 1	550–600	580	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	2,001	2
Bulls	Large 1	1050–1100	1,080	245.89/cwt	242.00–254.00	2,656	3
Bulls	Large 1	1150–1200	1,165	236.87/cwt	230.00–240.00	2,760	9
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,245	211.15/cwt	205.00–214.00	2,629	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,485	2,400.00/head	2,400.00–2,400.00	2,400	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,545	2,500.00/head	2,500.00–2,500.00	2,500	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,545	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	2,549	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,635	2,500.00/head	2,500.00–2,500.00	2,500	1
Stock Cows	Medium 2	—	940	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	1,763	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	668	294.19/cwt	290.00–295.00	1,965	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	575	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,840	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	628	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	1,978	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	779	271.54/cwt	264.00–274.00	2,115	4
Steers	Medium and Large 2	800–850	845	287.50/cwt	287.50–287.50	2,429	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,518	2,400.00/head	2,400.00–2,400.00	2,400	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	375	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	1,613	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	617	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	2,036	7

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 →