Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-08-28

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Aug 28
● Final132 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
883 head
▲ 488 vs last sale 395▲ 883 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
721 head
▲ 364 vs last sale 357▲ 721 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
98 head
▲ 0 vs last sale 98▲ 98 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Oct 26, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: Feeder steers were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers over 950 lbs sold mostly 8.00-14.00 higher in a very narrow comparison. Heifers under 950 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop a full market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed. Light weight yearling heifers under 850 lbs sold on very good demand as several buyers were looking for this class of cattle. Demand for feeders overall was very good for light to moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive and overall more attractive than last week with larger consignments of cattle seen. A few calves are starting to come to market and demand for limited offerings was good to very good. Demand for cutting bulls remains very good as several buyers were searching for bulls to cut and make steers. Cutting bulls sold with higher undertones in a narrow comparison. Market activity was active with rapid, aggressive bidding noticed both ringside and over the internet. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter cows sold on mostly moderate demand. Very few cows were purchased for immediate slaughter this week as feeding buyers continue to keep feeding cow prices above slaughter cow orders. Slaughter cows sold unevenly steady in a narrow comparison. Feeding cow demand was very good this sale with most offerings being purchased to feed. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher on all offerings. Demand for thin fleshed cows that will gain quickly on feed remains very good. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this week. Quality was mostly average for cows this sale. Slaughter bulls sold on mostly good demand for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Several packages of thin fleshed bulls continue to be purchased to feed. Feeding bulls sold generally steady on a thinner lower yielding offering. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Quality this week was mostly average. Too few offerings were seen to develop any market trend. Demand from feeding buyers was very good.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $320.49/cwt on 20 head. That ranks 1 of 23 comparable sales and sits −91.14 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$320.49
20 head · 533 lb average
Value per head Derived
$1,707
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$1,054
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Small 2-3
$182.49/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−26.56
vs MT average
−49.32 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1537392.492,1064thin
Medium and Large 1-2510380.001,9382thin
Large 1575363.262,0893thin
Medium 1543323.331,7546thin
Small 2-3501210.001,0525thin
One grade step is worth $182.49/cwt here — about $1,054 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 sale20 hd
320.49
—
MT average2 barns · 39 hd
347.04
−26.56
National average160 barns · 10,603 hd
369.81
−49.32
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
−91.14
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—Average1,811190.213,445131
CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,360163.792,228201
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,590162.392,58282
CowsPremium White 65-75%Low1,555161.322,50930
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,176153.151,801147
Dairy CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,975157.003,1012thin
Dairy CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,593136.182,16911

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 Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,202$2,96311
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,300$2,7502thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenAged (>8 yrs)1,843$4,2006
Cow-Calf Pairs1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,622$3,83010

Every lot, as filed

132 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 · Steers23 lots · lightest first
Steers200–250Large 1Unweaned233520.00/cwt520.00–520.001,2122
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned297495.00/cwt495.00–495.001,4703
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned362522.04/cwt520.00–525.001,8905
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned364493.71/cwt490.00–505.001,7974
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned463467.95/cwt465.00–475.002,1677
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned465454.79/cwt392.50–472.502,11519
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned516431.38/cwt430.00–450.002,22614
Steers500–550Large 1Unweaned545375.00/cwt375.00–375.002,0442
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned559400.00/cwt400.00–400.002,2369
Steers550–600Medium 1-2564365.00/cwt365.00–365.002,0594
Steers550–600Medium 1584384.00/cwt384.00–384.002,2434
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Full613380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,32914
Steers600–650Medium 1637380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,4213
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned644343.00/cwt343.00–343.002,2096
Steers650–700Medium 1-2664359.00/cwt359.00–359.002,3844
Steers700–750Medium and Large 2746362.50/cwt362.50–362.502,7044
Steers800–850Small and Medium 1-2Fleshy845222.50/cwt222.50–222.501,8803
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1-2860350.00/cwt350.00–350.003,0104
Steers850–900Medium and Large 2887339.86/cwt337.00–341.003,0157
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy900317.00/cwt317.00–317.002,8533
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1-2927333.53/cwt333.00–337.503,09212
Steers1050–1100Large 11,065311.00/cwt311.00–311.003,3121
Steers1100–1150Large 11,147302.00/cwt302.00–302.003,4643
Feeder Cattle · Heifers42 lots · lightest first
Heifers150–200Medium and Large 1Unweaned175585.00/cwt585.00–585.001,0243
Heifers200–250Medium and Large 1Unweaned238515.00/cwt515.00–515.001,2262
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned290490.00/cwt490.00–490.001,4213
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned346490.00/cwt490.00–490.001,6955
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned368462.24/cwt450.00–475.001,7012
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1386455.00/cwt455.00–455.001,7565
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2Unweaned405395.00/cwt395.00–395.001,6002
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned410459.28/cwt405.00–465.001,88313
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned423415.00/cwt415.00–415.001,7556
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned464437.93/cwt420.00–440.002,03210
Heifers500–550Small 2-3501210.00/cwt210.00–210.001,0525
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned503429.98/cwt425.00–435.002,1632
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned510380.00/cwt380.00–380.001,9382
Heifers500–550Medium 1Full535315.00/cwt315.00–315.001,6855
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned570355.00/cwt355.00–355.002,0242
Heifers550–600Large 1Unweaned575363.26/cwt355.00–380.002,0893
Heifers550–600Medium 1580365.00/cwt365.00–365.002,1171
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned614345.00/cwt345.00–345.002,1184
Heifers600–650Medium 1639372.98/cwt372.00–375.002,38312
Heifers650–700Medium 1-2680360.00/cwt360.00–360.002,4482
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2713357.50/cwt357.50–357.502,5493
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1730372.00/cwt372.00–372.002,7161
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1757369.33/cwt365.00–376.002,79641
Heifers750–800Medium 1767360.50/cwt360.50–360.502,7653
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2791354.10/cwt354.00–355.002,80110
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2838325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,7242
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1840336.20/cwt335.50–343.002,82421
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed857344.00/cwt344.00–344.002,94832
Heifers850–900Medium 1860325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,7951
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1879335.19/cwt332.00–336.502,94628
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2882328.00/cwt328.00–328.002,8933
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1907332.72/cwt325.00–334.003,018111
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2930311.58/cwt310.00–318.002,8985
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1Full949313.50/cwt313.50–313.502,9754
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1980311.59/cwt307.00–317.003,05434
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2988311.00/cwt311.00–311.003,0733
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,017308.45/cwt301.00–315.003,13755
Heifers1050–1100Large 11,077298.42/cwt297.50–299.003,21423
Heifers1050–1100Large 1Fancy1,093306.00/cwt306.00–306.003,34529
Heifers1050–1100Large 1Fleshy1,097286.50/cwt286.50–286.503,1433
Heifers1100–1150Large 11,129292.83/cwt285.00–294.003,30611
Heifers1150–1200Large 11,162280.50/cwt280.50–280.503,25919
Feeder Cattle · Bulls19 lots · lightest first
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned385495.00/cwt495.00–495.001,9064
Bulls350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned392485.00/cwt485.00–485.001,9013
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1403470.00/cwt470.00–470.001,8946
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned409475.00/cwt475.00–475.001,9435
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned447440.00/cwt440.00–440.001,9673
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned463385.00/cwt385.00–385.001,7832
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned660360.00/cwt360.00–360.002,3761
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1-2883334.00/cwt334.00–334.002,9493
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1960335.00/cwt335.00–335.003,2164
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1-2Full990298.00/cwt298.00–298.002,9506
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 11,020287.50/cwt287.50–287.502,9331
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,031283.00/cwt283.00–283.002,9184
Bulls1050–1100Large 1-2Full1,070260.00/cwt260.00–260.002,7821
Bulls1050–1100Large 11,093286.00/cwt286.00–286.003,1262
Bulls1100–1150Large 11,135282.50/cwt282.50–282.503,2061
Bulls1150–1200Large 11,175265.67/cwt260.00–277.003,1223
Bulls1150–1200Large 1-21,180257.00/cwt257.00–257.003,0331
Bulls1200–1250Large 1-21,210217.50/cwt217.50–217.502,6321
Bulls1200–1250Large 11,220262.48/cwt261.00–264.003,2022
Feeder Cattle · Beef/Dairy Steers3 lots · lightest first
Beef/Dairy Steers750–800Large 2763336.00/cwt336.00–336.002,5642
Beef/Dairy Steers850–900Large 1-2889332.50/cwt332.50–332.502,9569
Beef/Dairy Steers950–1000Large 1-2950325.00/cwt325.00–325.003,08819
Feeder Cattle · Beef/Dairy Heifers2 lots · lightest first
Beef/Dairy Heifers750–800Large 1-2773356.00/cwt356.00–356.002,7528
Beef/Dairy Heifers850–900Large 1-2874326.00/cwt326.00–326.002,84933
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,507180.32/cwt167.00–184.002,71715
Bulls——Return to Feed1,594188.52/cwt185.00–194.503,00532
Bulls——1,730181.30/cwt174.00–187.003,13617
Bulls——1,947192.68/cwt187.00–200.003,75147
Bulls——2,088193.82/cwt189.00–196.004,0474
Bulls——2,105205.00/cwt205.00–205.004,3151
Bulls——2,122205.59/cwt198.00–209.004,36314
Bulls——Heavy Weight2,555184.00/cwt184.00–184.004,7011
Slaughter Cattle · Cows21 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight955126.00/cwt126.00–126.001,2033
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,060115.00/cwt115.00–115.001,2191
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,116140.45/cwt124.00–147.001,56731
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,193160.49/cwt155.00–164.501,91598
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,243138.41/cwt121.00–146.001,72014
Cows—Boner 80-85%Non-Traditional1,320191.00/cwt191.00–191.002,5211
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,328165.74/cwt157.50–168.002,201134
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,372141.73/cwt141.00–142.001,9454
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,420169.90/cwt169.00–174.002,41327
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,425163.00/cwt163.00–163.002,3231
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,430152.32/cwt141.00–157.002,17828
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,470156.47/cwt152.50–160.502,3006
Cows—Premium White 65-75%1,555161.32/cwt155.50–164.502,50930
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,563163.66/cwt161.00–167.002,55848
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,575157.71/cwt154.00–161.002,48415
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,582151.95/cwt150.00–153.002,4047
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Non-Traditional1,590190.00/cwt190.00–190.003,0211
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,615172.01/cwt171.00–174.002,7785
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,705171.00/cwt171.00–171.002,9161
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,819162.09/cwt161.50–164.002,9484
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Heavy Weight2,020162.00/cwt162.00–162.003,2721
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows3 lots · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Boner 80-85%1,564133.00/cwt133.00–133.002,0809
Dairy Cows—Boner 80-85%1,723150.50/cwt150.50–150.502,5932
Dairy Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,975157.00/cwt157.00–157.003,1012
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs3 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,5723,950.00/head3,950.00–3,950.003,9506
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,6963,650.00/head3,650.00–3,650.003,6504
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth1,8434,200.00/head4,200.00–4,200.004,2006
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,118231.39/cwt206.00–292.002,58713
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,135182.47/cwt173.00–220.002,07112
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,145202.50/cwt202.50–202.502,3191
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,263181.38/cwt175.00–186.002,2916
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,268197.22/cwt180.00–240.002,5018
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,325155.50/cwt155.50–155.502,0602
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2022,962.99/head2,800.00–3,000.002,96311
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3002,750.00/head2,750.00–2,750.002,7502

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.