Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-06-05

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jun 5
● Final88 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
244 head
▼ 868 vs last sale 1,112▼ 147 vs year ago 391 · −37.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
469 head
▲ 282 vs last sale 187▼ 16 vs year ago 485 · −3.3%
Replacement Cattle receipts
189 head
▼ 512 vs last sale 701▼ 110 vs year ago 299 · −36.8%
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 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 classPick one — the panels below update

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 23 comparable sales and sits −62.52 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
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 / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1517359.141,85712thin
Large 1580345.002,0012thin
Medium and Large 1-2575320.001,8402thin
Medium and Large 2580295.001,7111thin
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.

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 median23 sales
411.62
−62.52
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—High1,815187.323,40064
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,413156.622,213186
CowsLean 85-90%High1,172151.471,77599
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,669147.392,46025
Dairy Bulls—Low1,480147.002,1761thin
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Low1,155115.001,3281thin

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)1,365$2,8002thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,545$2,5001thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,635$2,5001thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,485$2,4001thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,518$2,4005
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,181$2,1254thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,568$2,9003thin

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. 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 1Unweaned375430.00/cwt430.00–430.001,6131
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1435435.00/cwt435.00–435.001,8921
Steers500–550Small and Medium 2515180.00/cwt180.00–180.009273
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2569357.28/cwt352.50–360.002,03311
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1639360.62/cwt358.00–375.002,30414
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1670343.00/cwt343.00–343.002,2981
Steers650–700Small and Medium 2676165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,1158
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1781317.00/cwt317.00–317.002,4764
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1804304.00/cwt304.00–304.002,4441
Steers800–850Medium and Large 2845287.50/cwt287.50–287.502,4292
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2987261.80/cwt250.00–267.502,5843
Feeder Cattle · Heifers14 lots · lightest first
Heifers200–250Medium and Large 1Unweaned200825.00/head825.00–825.008251
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1443385.00/cwt385.00–385.001,7062
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1462365.00/cwt365.00–365.001,6863
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned470370.00/cwt370.00–370.001,7396
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1517359.14/cwt355.00–360.001,85712
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2575320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,8402
Heifers550–600Large 1580345.00/cwt345.00–345.002,0012
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2580295.00/cwt295.00–295.001,7111
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2628315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,9782
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1667304.85/cwt301.00–307.002,03322
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2668294.19/cwt290.00–295.001,9656
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1728287.00/cwt287.00–287.002,0892
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1763277.00/cwt277.00–277.002,11426
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2779271.54/cwt264.00–274.002,1154
Feeder Cattle · Bulls13 lots · lightest first
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2455390.00/cwt390.00–390.001,7752
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned493355.00/cwt355.00–355.001,7506
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned617330.00/cwt330.00–330.002,0367
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1692320.00/cwt320.00–320.002,2143
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1877278.00/cwt278.00–278.002,4387
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1945267.00/cwt267.00–267.002,5232
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1991270.00/cwt270.00–270.002,6768
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 11,012263.52/cwt247.50–274.002,66711
Bulls1050–1100Large 11,080245.89/cwt242.00–254.002,6563
Bulls1100–1150Large 11,130243.14/cwt241.00–244.002,7477
Bulls1150–1200Large 11,165236.87/cwt230.00–240.002,7609
Bulls1200–1250Large 11,230212.26/cwt209.00–219.002,6113
Bulls1200–1250Large 1-21,238187.00/cwt187.00–187.002,3152
Feeder Cattle · Dairy Steers1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Steers700–750Large 3740120.00/cwt120.00–120.008882
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,320147.88/cwt140.00–156.001,9522
Bulls——Return to Feed1,613179.76/cwt173.00–183.502,90019
Bulls——Return to Feed1,640176.00/cwt176.00–176.002,8862
Bulls——1,860172.00/cwt172.00–172.003,1991
Bulls——1,896187.05/cwt177.00–192.003,54618
Bulls——1,898185.00/cwt185.00–185.003,5112
Bulls——1,980196.00/cwt196.00–196.003,8811
Bulls——1,991201.07/cwt195.00–211.004,00319
Slaughter Cattle · Cows18 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight953113.41/cwt111.00–117.001,0813
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,120137.94/cwt110.00–148.001,54510
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,123138.46/cwt135.00–147.001,5554
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,156127.20/cwt107.50–135.001,4708
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,180162.58/cwt160.00–168.001,91828
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,199155.49/cwt151.00–159.001,86446
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,348161.92/cwt161.00–166.002,18351
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,420129.00/cwt129.00–129.001,8321
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,422153.00/cwt153.00–153.002,1763
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,430149.00/cwt149.00–149.002,1311
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,432156.26/cwt149.00–160.002,238114
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,479145.20/cwt139.00–149.002,14816
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,505163.00/cwt163.00–163.002,4531
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,643145.00/cwt145.00–145.002,3822
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,646145.18/cwt140.50–146.502,39013
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,690159.00/cwt159.00–159.002,6871
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,729148.34/cwt147.00–154.002,5657
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,740147.00/cwt147.00–147.002,5581
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%1,155115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,3281
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Bulls1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Bulls——1,480147.00/cwt147.00–147.002,1761
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1680265.00/cwt265.00–265.001,8021
Stock Cows—Medium 2940187.50/cwt187.50–187.501,7631
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2955214.37/cwt170.00–255.002,04718
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,041230.55/cwt189.00–275.002,40059
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,043177.26/cwt165.00–192.501,8496
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,154191.64/cwt161.00–226.002,21237
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,221171.34/cwt164.00–176.002,09216
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,340201.49/cwt184.00–217.002,7002
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows12 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1001,900.00/head1,900.00–1,900.001,9001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,140203.00/cwt203.00–203.002,3141
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2082,200.00/head2,200.00–2,200.002,2003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,245211.15/cwt205.00–214.002,6295
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3652,800.00/head2,800.00–2,800.002,8002
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,483172.85/cwt170.00–179.002,5633
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,4852,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,490156.00/cwt156.00–156.002,3241
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,5182,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4005
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5452,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,545165.00/cwt165.00–165.002,5491
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,6352,500.00/head2,500.00–2,500.002,5001
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 21,5682,900.00/head2,900.00–2,900.002,9003

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.