Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2025-09-11
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-09-11

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale: All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. CME positions traded limit lower on Tuesday causing buyers since then to take pause as they bid on cattle. Too few offerings were seen today for buyers to build loads which also hindered demand. Additionally many offerings today were pushing heavy amounts of fill which also hindered demand. Demand was mostly light to moderate as a result. Offerings were light. Quality this week was mostly average. Market activity was moderate with fewer buyers in the stands this sale. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light offerings. Slaughter cows were to lightly tested to develop any market trend. Feeding demand was so strong packers only purchased very blemished cows for harvest. Many cows were extremely lame as even slightly lame cows were purchased to feed this week. Feeding cow demand was very good this sale. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. The largest increase in price came from lean cows which had freshly weaned calves. These cows had the most compensatory gain and buyers showed good demand for these offerings as a result. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this week with most offerings pushing some fill. Cow quality was mostly average this sale. Slaughter bulls sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00-4.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Several packages of thin fleshed bulls continue to be purchased to feed. Feeding bulls sold mostly 3.00 lower. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good to very good demand. Some older offerings are being purchased to rebreed for fall calving. Additionally, some cows are being sold as exposed and are bringing strong premiums to feeding cows. Quality this week was mostly average. Too few offerings were seen to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $362.38/cwt on 19 head. That ranks 3 of 21 comparable sales and sits −71.48 against this barn's trailing median of $433.86.

Average price

$362.38

19 head · 545 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,975

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$37

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

$19.43/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−26.37

vs MT average

−5.96 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Large 1	543	364.43	1,979	17thin
Medium and Large 1-2	563	345.00	1,942	2thin

One grade step is worth $19.43/cwt here — about $37 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 600–700 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 sale19 hd

362.38

—

MT average2 barns · 44 hd

388.76

−26.37

National average171 barns · 13,169 hd

368.34

−5.96

This barn, trailing median21 sales

433.86

−71.48

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	—	Average	1,817	184.89	3,360	52
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,446	164.13	2,373	109
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,616	160.76	2,598	16
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Average	1,182	149.45	1,767	58
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	730	140.00	1,022	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
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,787	$4,350	6

Every lot, as filed

71 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
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	607	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	2,246	6
Steers	Medium and Large 2	850–900	883	338.00/cwt	338.00–338.00	2,985	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	735	329.56/cwt	325.00–335.00	2,422	21
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	1000–1050	1,028	290.34/cwt	285.00–293.00	2,985	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	900–950	913	304.47/cwt	302.00–307.00	2,780	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,156	222.14/cwt	172.00–260.00	2,568	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	908	334.00/cwt	334.00–334.00	3,033	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	850–900	850	292.50/cwt	292.50–292.50	2,486	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	373	518.26/cwt	515.00–520.00	1,933	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	950–1000	969	295.41/cwt	291.00–300.00	2,863	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	1000–1050	1,033	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	2,686	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	563	345.00/cwt	345.00–345.00	1,942	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	750–800	778	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	2,801	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	427	519.93/cwt	515.00–530.00	2,220	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	448	425.00/cwt	425.00–425.00	1,904	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	980	322.00/cwt	322.00–322.00	3,156	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,010	314.00/cwt	314.00–314.00	3,171	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	512	465.00/cwt	465.00–465.00	2,381	8
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,258	215.45/cwt	209.00–216.00	2,710	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	982	311.19/cwt	308.00–312.50	3,056	17
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	900–950	920	317.50/cwt	317.50–317.50	2,921	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	700–750	730	329.00/cwt	329.00–329.00	2,402	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	750–800	795	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	2,544	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	1000–1050	1,035	298.00/cwt	298.00–298.00	3,084	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	923	310.40/cwt	310.00–312.00	2,865	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	800–850	815	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	2,649	32
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,063	225.12/cwt	200.00–261.00	2,393	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,060	177.50/cwt	177.50–177.50	1,882	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,403	188.14/cwt	187.50–197.00	2,640	21
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,554	157.02/cwt	156.00–159.00	2,440	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,683	158.56/cwt	157.50–159.00	2,669	3
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,457	148.97/cwt	143.00–158.00	2,170	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,095	147.00/cwt	147.00–147.00	1,610	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,216	150.51/cwt	143.00–155.50	1,830	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,149	129.42/cwt	125.00–136.00	1,487	20
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,477	164.49/cwt	159.00–172.00	2,430	40
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,440	175.27/cwt	173.00–180.00	2,524	43
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,120	118.00/cwt	118.00–118.00	1,322	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,408	149.72/cwt	145.00–152.00	2,108	6
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,580	167.00/cwt	167.00–167.00	2,639	1
Bulls	—	—	2,365	190.78/cwt	190.00–191.50	4,512	2
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,426	177.86/cwt	155.00–182.00	2,536	10
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,233	172.03/cwt	171.00–178.00	2,121	7
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,692	184.68/cwt	184.00–190.00	3,125	10
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,191	162.20/cwt	161.00–169.00	1,932	21
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,618	162.05/cwt	160.50–164.50	2,622	9
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,095	163.00/cwt	163.00–163.00	1,785	1
Bulls	—	—	2,019	191.14/cwt	184.00–198.00	3,859	18
Bulls	—	—	1,823	178.33/cwt	174.00–182.00	3,251	8
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%Light Weight	—	730	140.00/cwt	140.00–140.00	1,022	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,367	139.57/cwt	136.00–144.00	1,908	11
Bulls	—Heavy Weight	—	2,720	176.00/cwt	176.00–176.00	4,787	1
Bulls	—	—	1,923	200.49/cwt	199.00–202.00	3,855	2
Steers	Large 1	1050–1100	1,080	306.50/cwt	306.50–306.50	3,310	3
Heifers	Large 1	1050–1100	1,074	295.82/cwt	295.00–296.00	3,177	11
Heifers	Large 1	1000–1050	1,020	299.50/cwt	299.50–299.50	3,055	2
Bulls	Large 1	1150–1200	1,180	256.00/cwt	256.00–256.00	3,021	2
Bulls	Large 1	1200–1250	1,210	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	2,904	1
Heifers	Large 1Full	1150–1200	1,164	284.00/cwt	284.00–284.00	3,306	6
Steers	Medium 1	650–700	678	389.15/cwt	385.00–390.00	2,638	6
Steers	Medium 1-2Unweaned	400–450	413	420.00/cwt	420.00–420.00	1,735	2
Heifers	Medium 1	600–650	608	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	2,158	9
Bulls	Large 1-2	1050–1100	1,085	232.50/cwt	232.50–232.50	2,523	1
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	500–550	541	433.00/cwt	433.00–433.00	2,343	9
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	500–550	543	364.43/cwt	362.50–365.00	1,979	17
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,787	4,350.00/head	4,350.00–4,350.00	4,350	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,090	228.14/cwt	185.00–275.00	2,487	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	1,310	159.00/cwt	159.00–159.00	2,083	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,174	174.00/cwt	174.00–174.00	2,043	7
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,166	188.15/cwt	165.00–212.50	2,194	4
Heifers	Medium 2	650–700	669	317.00/cwt	317.00–317.00	2,121	8

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 →