Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-09-04

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Sep 4
● Final116 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,337 head
▲ 454 vs last sale 883▲ 34 vs year ago 1,303 · +2.6%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
270 head
▼ 451 vs last sale 721▼ 83 vs year ago 353 · −23.5%
Replacement Cattle receipts
22 head
▼ 76 vs last sale 98▼ 82 vs year ago 104 · −78.8%
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 last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers over 950 lbs sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher. Heifers under 950 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop a full market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed on a much lighter offering. Too few light weight yearling heifers sold today for buyers to build loads which hindered demand. Demand was mostly very good for steers while heifer demand was mostly good. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. A few calves are starting to come to market and demand for limited offerings was very good. Too few calves were seen to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Demand for cutting bulls remains very good. Cutting bull quality today was mostly plain to average. Many blemished yearlings continue to come to market and even blemished offerings sold with moderate to good demand. 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 light offerings. Slaughter cows sold on mostly moderate demand. Very few cows were purchased for immediate slaughter this week. Only very blemished cows were purchased for slaughter this week as feeding demand continues to keep cow prices over slaughter cow orders. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeding cow demand remains very good this sale with most offerings being purchased to feed. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this week with most offerings pushing heavy amounts of fill due to the change of weather. Cow quality was mostly average this sale. Slaughter bulls sold on mostly good demand for moderate offerings. Slaughter bulls sold generally steady. Several packages of thin fleshed bulls continue to be purchased to feed. Feeding bulls sold generally steady. 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.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $442.09/cwt on 63 head. That ranks 12 of 22 comparable sales and sits −0.85 against this barn's trailing median of $442.94.
Average price
$442.09
63 head · 542 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,397
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$440
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium 2
$110.41/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+0.00
vs MT average
+25.56 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1529470.412,48841
Medium and Large 2535415.002,2206thin
Medium 1-2586395.002,3159thin
Medium 2569360.002,0487thin
One grade step is worth $110.41/cwt here — about $440 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 sale63 hd
442.09
—
MT average1 barns · 63 hd
442.09
+0.00
National average140 barns · 6,808 hd
416.53
+25.56
This barn, trailing median22 sales
442.94
−0.85
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

22 sales
540488436384median 442.9403/0504/3006/1109/2410/29
Steers 500–600 lb: high $525.97, low $398.08, median $442.94 across 22 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—Average1,762188.153,31598
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,613164.762,65838
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,462160.892,35249
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,141133.741,52627

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)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,345$2,4502thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,253$2,1044thin

Every lot, as filed

116 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 · Steers43 lots · lightest first
Steers200–250Medium and Large 1Unweaned240605.00/cwt605.00–605.001,4522
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned310555.00/cwt555.00–555.001,7211
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2403512.50/cwt512.50–512.502,0652
Steers400–450Large 1-2Unweaned436495.00/cwt495.00–495.002,1584
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned442514.96/cwt505.00–525.002,27620
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned458517.50/cwt517.50–517.502,3707
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned519482.66/cwt470.00–502.502,50534
Steers500–550Medium and Large 2535415.00/cwt415.00–415.002,2206
Steers550–600Medium 2569360.00/cwt360.00–360.002,0487
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned577410.93/cwt400.00–427.502,3717
Steers550–600Medium 1-2586395.00/cwt395.00–395.002,3159
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned612403.60/cwt400.00–412.502,47011
Steers600–650Medium 1-2620385.00/cwt385.00–385.002,3871
Steers600–650Medium 1633416.00/cwt416.00–416.002,6332
Steers650–700Medium 1-2654366.37/cwt345.00–370.002,39614
Steers650–700Medium 1656365.00/cwt365.00–365.002,3944
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1657417.12/cwt414.00–437.502,74055
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2665406.00/cwt406.00–406.002,7003
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned678370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,5099
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1728407.91/cwt406.00–415.002,97029
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2733386.00/cwt386.00–386.002,8299
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1759390.90/cwt388.00–398.002,96711
Steers750–800Medium 1764351.00/cwt351.00–351.002,6827
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2777357.25/cwt347.00–359.002,77612
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1824372.58/cwt355.00–383.503,07061
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2824355.29/cwt352.50–359.002,9287
Steers800–850Medium and Large 2843322.50/cwt322.50–322.502,7193
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1-2859343.50/cwt333.00–349.002,95114
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1866361.13/cwt351.00–367.003,12796
Steers900–950Medium and Large 2901302.00/cwt302.00–302.002,7215
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1912348.00/cwt348.00–348.003,1745
Steers900–950Medium and Large 1-2918332.06/cwt329.00–338.003,04810
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1962331.86/cwt331.00–332.003,19215
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2Full992319.00/cwt319.00–319.003,1643
Steers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2999316.20/cwt314.00–325.003,15910
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,026322.33/cwt319.00–326.003,30718
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,030307.00/cwt307.00–307.003,1621
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,034312.27/cwt310.00–313.003,2294
Steers1050–1100Large 11,056319.49/cwt312.00–320.003,37416
Steers1150–1200Large 1Full1,152291.00/cwt291.00–291.003,35210
Steers1150–1200Large 1Fleshy1,199273.50/cwt273.50–273.503,2794
Steers1350–1400Large 1-21,378230.77/cwt229.00–232.503,1802
Steers1450–1500Large 1Fleshy1,453220.00/cwt220.00–220.003,1976
Feeder Cattle · Heifers35 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 1Unweaned265510.00/cwt510.00–510.001,3522
Heifers350–400Medium 2Unweaned350385.00/cwt385.00–385.001,3481
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned389422.69/cwt400.00–435.001,6449
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned440430.00/cwt430.00–430.001,8921
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned466414.04/cwt400.00–425.001,92910
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned485380.00/cwt380.00–380.001,8431
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned519398.61/cwt395.00–410.002,06910
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned563356.69/cwt350.00–360.002,0083
Heifers600–650Medium 1-2605360.80/cwt347.50–361.002,18368
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned645332.50/cwt332.50–332.502,1455
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned661345.18/cwt333.00–357.002,28216
Heifers650–700Medium 1-2689345.00/cwt345.00–345.002,3775
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2708345.00/cwt345.00–345.002,4438
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1739369.90/cwt367.00–380.002,73423
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2753320.00/cwt320.00–320.002,4102
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1760347.50/cwt347.50–347.502,6416
Heifers750–800Medium 1778328.00/cwt328.00–328.002,55217
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1834332.30/cwt329.00–336.002,77113
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1Fleshy877311.00/cwt311.00–311.002,72713
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2891300.00/cwt300.00–300.002,6736
Heifers900–950Medium 1905305.00/cwt305.00–305.002,7604
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1906325.38/cwt322.00–327.002,94840
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2927295.59/cwt295.00–302.002,74012
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1961320.47/cwt314.00–323.003,08052
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2965315.00/cwt315.00–315.003,0403
Heifers950–1000Large 1966298.00/cwt298.00–298.002,87918
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1Full990291.00/cwt291.00–291.002,8811
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,008313.82/cwt299.00–322.003,16358
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,038275.00/cwt275.00–275.002,8555
Heifers1050–1100Medium and Large 11,050308.00/cwt308.00–308.003,23412
Heifers1050–1100Large 11,090297.22/cwt291.00–297.503,24022
Heifers1100–1150Large 1Fleshy1,116271.00/cwt271.00–271.003,02410
Heifers1100–1150Large 11,117290.33/cwt290.00–291.003,2433
Heifers1150–1200Large 1-2Fleshy1,175274.50/cwt274.50–274.503,2256
Heifers1200–1250Large 1Fleshy1,245244.00/cwt244.00–244.003,0383
Feeder Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned475432.50/cwt432.50–432.502,0541
Bulls500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned549415.00/cwt415.00–415.002,2785
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned591400.00/cwt400.00–400.002,36428
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1743360.00/cwt360.00–360.002,6752
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1822349.63/cwt341.00–352.502,8744
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1-2831323.00/cwt323.00–323.002,6845
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1971302.00/cwt302.00–302.002,9325
Bulls1150–1200Large 1-21,153274.00/cwt274.00–274.003,1592
Feeder Cattle · Beef/Dairy Heifers1 lot · lightest first
Beef/Dairy Heifers700–750Large 2-3720235.00/cwt235.00–235.001,6923
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Non-Traditional1,258169.82/cwt163.00–177.002,1362
Bulls——Return to Feed1,576180.92/cwt172.50–187.002,85125
Bulls——Return to Feed1,590187.73/cwt169.00–192.002,98514
Bulls——1,711185.67/cwt173.00–280.003,17717
Bulls——1,873190.93/cwt189.00–193.003,5762
Bulls——1,971192.36/cwt187.00–200.003,79131
Bulls——2,077206.63/cwt201.00–216.004,2927
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight645110.00/cwt110.00–110.007101
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight963127.17/cwt120.00–137.501,2253
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,168156.67/cwt156.00–157.001,8303
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,180130.56/cwt122.50–143.001,54117
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,233142.00/cwt142.00–142.001,7512
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,240146.00/cwt146.00–146.001,8101
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Non-Traditional1,305180.00/cwt180.00–180.002,3491
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,401172.34/cwt170.00–175.002,4148
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,420153.42/cwt148.00–158.002,17913
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,496165.23/cwt157.00–170.002,47221
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,505160.00/cwt160.00–160.002,4083
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,506140.14/cwt132.50–145.002,1114
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,593147.08/cwt141.00–153.002,3432
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,602168.02/cwt158.00–169.002,69225
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,670155.85/cwt148.00–161.502,6037
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,693165.08/cwt163.00–169.002,7953
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows2 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed1,2532,103.57/head2,000.00–2,200.002,1044
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3452,450.00/head2,450.00–2,450.002,4502
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows4 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,117228.57/cwt204.00–250.002,5533
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,240168.00/cwt168.00–168.002,0831
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,255182.00/cwt182.00–182.002,2841
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,328180.80/cwt179.00–182.002,4015

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.