Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-06-12

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jun 12
● Final123 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
699 head
▲ 455 vs last sale 244▲ 452 vs year ago 247 · +183.0%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
479 head
▲ 10 vs last sale 469▲ 77 vs year ago 402 · +19.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
1,103 head
▲ 914 vs last sale 189▲ 409 vs year ago 694 · +58.9%
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 to sharply higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. 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 comprised of fall calves. Most calves were weaned from 45-60 days. Demand improved significantly as additional buyers entered the market and started loads. This led to wide price spreads at times. Demand for black hided calves was very good. Demand for cutting bulls remains 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 1.00-3.00 higher. Cow quality this week was mostly average to attractive and similar to last week. Weigh up conditions were mixed this week, but overall cows offered buyers an average to above average weigh up. Slaughter bulls sold on mostly moderate to good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter bulls sold mostly steady to 3.00 lower. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly 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 generally steady. Demand for young feeding cows was very good this sale as several buyers were looking for large offerings with some flesh to finish quickly. Several large consignments of bred cows and pairs was seen this week. Demand for all replacement stock was good to very good. Quality was average to attractive.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $397.54/cwt on 112 head. That ranks 12 of 23 comparable sales and sits −14.09 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$397.54
112 head · 567 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,254
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$608
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$84.92/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+9.36
vs MT average
+56.62 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1570405.752,31199
Medium and Large 1-2563360.002,0273thin
Large 1558337.501,8834thin
Medium and Large 2531320.831,7036thin
One grade step is worth $84.92/cwt here — about $608 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 sale112 hd
397.54
—
MT average3 barns · 173 hd
388.17
+9.36
National average161 barns · 10,769 hd
340.92
+56.62
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−14.09
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—Low1,879184.343,46353
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,414160.622,271193
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,665154.292,56936
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,198151.441,81472

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 Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,193$3,22532
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,183$3,1006
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,550$2,95416
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,025$2,9001thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,638$2,9002thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,275$2,9003thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,318$2,8754thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,125$2,81918
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,635$2,7501thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,041$3,0007
Bred Heifers2nd Stage (4-6 mo)(<2 yrs)1,275$2,7003thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,195$4,400140
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,433$4,3508
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,432$4,18816
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,622$3,84945
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,585$3,50980
Heifer PairsOpen(<2 yrs)1,051$4,16785
Stock CowsOpen(<2 yrs)528$1,06311

Every lot, as filed

123 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 · Steers21 lots · lightest first
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2408450.00/cwt450.00–450.001,8362
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2417422.50/cwt422.50–422.501,7629
Steers450–500Large 1-2475380.00/cwt380.00–380.001,8052
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2475371.06/cwt355.00–402.501,7639
Steers500–550Large 1505387.50/cwt387.50–387.501,9574
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2519327.60/cwt325.00–335.001,7004
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1528401.44/cwt400.00–410.002,1209
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2535380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,0338
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1579401.46/cwt381.00–414.502,32479
Steers550–600Large 1587380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,23111
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2635354.00/cwt354.00–354.002,2482
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1655366.87/cwt340.00–371.002,40314
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2680333.22/cwt331.00–340.002,2664
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2710317.50/cwt317.50–317.502,2542
Steers700–750Large 1718311.00/cwt311.00–311.002,2332
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1731337.00/cwt337.00–337.002,4636
Steers700–750Medium and Large 2748280.00/cwt280.00–280.002,0943
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1799326.00/cwt326.00–326.002,60521
Steers800–850Large 1811292.00/cwt292.00–292.002,3688
Steers800–850Medium and Large 2825280.00/cwt280.00–280.002,3101
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1971285.00/cwt285.00–285.002,76713
Feeder Cattle · Heifers29 lots · lightest first
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2373411.93/cwt400.00–422.501,5362
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 2391365.00/cwt365.00–365.001,42714
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 2Unweaned391325.00/cwt325.00–325.001,2718
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned474382.50/cwt382.50–382.501,8137
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2481359.23/cwt350.00–365.001,7288
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1482407.50/cwt407.50–407.501,96410
Heifers450–500Large 1-2485315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,5282
Heifers450–500Medium 1498375.00/cwt375.00–375.001,8685
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2521322.50/cwt322.50–322.501,6805
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1527397.98/cwt390.00–400.002,09719
Heifers550–600Large 1558337.50/cwt337.50–337.501,8834
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2563360.00/cwt360.00–360.002,0273
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1572400.38/cwt380.00–411.002,29049
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2580312.50/cwt312.50–312.501,8131
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Fancy592419.00/cwt419.00–419.002,48031
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2610330.00/cwt330.00–330.002,0136
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 2615305.00/cwt305.00–305.001,8761
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1618358.44/cwt350.00–395.002,215104
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2650317.50/cwt317.50–317.502,0642
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 2660274.98/cwt272.50–280.001,8153
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1680330.41/cwt317.00–354.002,24719
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2708308.00/cwt308.00–308.002,1812
Heifers700–750Large 1710310.00/cwt310.00–310.002,2014
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1753325.95/cwt305.00–329.002,4548
Heifers750–800Large 1780281.00/cwt281.00–281.002,1923
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2788289.00/cwt289.00–289.002,2773
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2825264.00/cwt264.00–264.002,1783
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1835282.50/cwt282.50–282.502,35925
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1853284.00/cwt284.00–284.002,4232
Feeder Cattle · Bulls12 lots · lightest first
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1-2542357.50/cwt357.50–357.501,9385
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2618320.00/cwt320.00–320.001,9783
Bulls700–750Large 1732305.00/cwt305.00–305.002,2336
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1935263.00/cwt263.00–263.002,4591
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1985262.00/cwt262.00–262.002,5811
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1-2985254.00/cwt254.00–254.002,5021
Bulls1050–1100Large 11,068254.64/cwt252.50–255.002,7207
Bulls1200–1250Large 1Fancy1,240216.00/cwt216.00–216.002,6781
Bulls1200–1250Large 11,245201.00/cwt201.00–201.002,5021
Bulls1250–1300Large 1-21,260182.50/cwt182.50–182.502,3001
Bulls1350–1400Large 1-21,350184.00/cwt184.00–184.002,4841
Bulls1350–1400Large 11,355200.00/cwt200.00–200.002,7101
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,210135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,6341
Bulls——Return to Feed1,395164.62/cwt159.00–168.002,2966
Bulls——1,460167.00/cwt167.00–167.002,4381
Bulls——Return to Feed1,725182.00/cwt182.00–182.003,1402
Bulls——1,914183.25/cwt175.00–188.003,50724
Bulls——1,985197.27/cwt191.00–213.003,91615
Bulls——2,090201.00/cwt201.00–201.004,2011
Bulls——2,428186.00/cwt186.00–186.004,5163
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight940108.17/cwt105.00–115.001,0174
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,050107.50/cwt107.50–107.501,1291
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,113124.46/cwt117.50–137.001,3854
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,206145.94/cwt139.00–150.501,76012
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,213162.21/cwt159.00–166.001,96819
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,233157.26/cwt152.00–160.001,93932
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,381142.62/cwt130.00–150.001,97012
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,398159.06/cwt152.00–163.002,22486
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,430163.00/cwt163.00–163.002,3311
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,432165.42/cwt163.00–170.002,36991
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,462130.82/cwt130.00–132.501,9133
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,608166.31/cwt161.00–168.002,6749
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,617156.09/cwt153.00–157.002,5249
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,703150.48/cwt150.00–153.002,5638
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,729144.91/cwt140.00–150.002,50510
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs4 lots · lightest first
Heifer Pairs—Medium 11,0224,069.08/head3,850.00–4,250.004,06944
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 11,0714,450.00/head4,450.00–4,450.004,45027
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 11,1014,300.00/head4,300.00–4,300.004,30010
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,1193,000.00/head3,000.00–3,000.003,0004
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs12 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,1263,800.00/head3,800.00–3,800.003,8004
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,1494,155.22/head4,000.00–4,300.004,15512
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,1974,483.06/head4,350.00–4,550.004,483119
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,2783,750.00/head3,750.00–3,750.003,7503
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,3874,300.00/head4,300.00–4,300.004,30013
Cow-Calf Pairs—Large 11,3903,100.00/head3,100.00–3,100.003,1002
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,4334,350.00/head4,350.00–4,350.004,3508
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,5363,098.36/head3,000.00–3,200.003,09816
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5383,300.00/head3,300.00–3,300.003,3002
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5993,621.66/head3,350.00–3,750.003,62262
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,6223,848.90/head3,650.00–4,050.003,84945
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,6253,700.00/head3,700.00–3,700.003,7003
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows12 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,0252,900.00/head2,900.00–2,900.002,9001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1252,818.55/head2,700.00–2,825.002,81918
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1833,100.00/head3,100.00–3,100.003,1006
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1933,225.00/head3,225.00–3,225.003,22532
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2752,900.00/head2,900.00–2,900.002,9003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3182,875.00/head2,875.00–2,875.002,8754
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,398160.90/cwt153.00–165.002,2493
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,415168.00/cwt168.00–168.002,3772
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,4302,400.00/head2,400.00–2,400.002,4001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,5582,990.68/head2,600.00–3,200.002,99115
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,6352,750.00/head2,750.00–2,750.002,7501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,6382,900.00/head2,900.00–2,900.002,9002
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers2 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,0413,000.00/head3,000.00–3,000.003,0007
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,2752,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,7003
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Small 2-35281,063.29/head1,000.00–1,150.001,06311
Stock Cows—Medium 1765252.50/cwt252.50–252.501,9321
Stock Cows—Large 1885232.50/cwt232.50–232.502,0581
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,045203.96/cwt180.00–242.502,1319
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,049225.97/cwt190.00–270.002,37060
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,068180.07/cwt160.00–200.001,92320
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,148189.76/cwt161.00–250.002,178111
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,170172.50/cwt172.50–172.502,0181

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.