Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2025-09-25
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-09-25

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last reported sale (9-11-25): All feeder cattle were too lightly tested last sale to develop any market trend. Yearlings and calves both sold on uneven demand for moderate offerings. CME positions traded lower today and buyers showed some caution as they bid on offerings. Demand did improved as buyers started loads. Quality was mixed from plain to attractive with lots of variation noticed. Feeders were mixed for package size. A few load lots of yearlings sold today and these offerings were met with mostly good to very good demand. Packages of feeders sold on lighter demand as buyers had to pick through offerings to find like quality cattle. Market activity was moderate to active. A large crowd was on hand for todays sale with many order buyers and farmer feeders noticed. Weigh up cows sold on good to very good demand for light to moderate offerings. Slaughter cows were to lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed. Feeding demand was so strong packers only purchased very blemished cows for harvest. Feeding cow demand was very good this sale. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher on boning flesh cows. Lean feeding cows sold sharply higher with most sales 8.00-10.00 higher. These cows had the most compensatory gain and buyers showed good demand for these offerings as a result. Weigh up conditions were mostly average this week. Cow quality was mostly average to attractive this sale. Slaughter bulls sold on mostly moderate demand for light offerings. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Several packages of thin fleshed bulls continue to be purchased to feed. Feeding bulls sold unevenly steady. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly 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 to attractive. Too few offerings were seen to develop an accurate market trend, however sharply higher undertones were noticed.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $386.08/cwt on 124 head. That ranks 3 of 21 comparable sales and sits −47.78 against this barn's trailing median of $433.86.

Average price

$386.08

124 head · 532 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,056

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$116

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

$48.65/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−0.05

vs MT average

+20.23 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	533	401.15	2,136	68
Medium 1	502	397.00	1,993	12thin
Large 1	510	367.50	1,874	10thin
Medium and Large 1-2	535	360.68	1,931	21
Medium 1-2	573	352.50	2,020	13thin

One grade step is worth $48.65/cwt here — about $116 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 300–400 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 sale124 hd

386.08

—

MT average3 barns · 136 hd

386.13

−0.05

National average172 barns · 11,458 hd

365.85

+20.23

This barn, trailing median21 sales

433.86

−47.78

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	—	Low	1,793	182.12	3,265	47
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,393	171.99	2,397	326
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,591	165.91	2,640	32
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,166	155.62	1,814	86

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
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,292	$3,214	29
Bred Cows	3rd Stage (7-9 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,533	$3,100	3thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,393	$2,834	39
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,733	$4,192	28
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,569	$4,170	7
Cow-Calf Pairs	Open	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,471	$3,319	14

Every lot, as filed

144 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
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	950–1000	979	304.92/cwt	293.00–309.00	2,985	8
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	624	397.00/cwt	397.00–397.00	2,477	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	287	597.16/cwt	560.00–640.00	1,714	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	888	333.27/cwt	328.50–343.00	2,959	26
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	954	314.00/cwt	314.00–314.00	2,996	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	1050–1100	1,063	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	3,242	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	444	512.42/cwt	500.00–530.00	2,275	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	326	615.83/cwt	595.00–617.50	2,008	28
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	458	436.00/cwt	436.00–436.00	1,997	15
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	468	461.30/cwt	445.00–470.00	2,159	18
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	572	402.00/cwt	402.00–402.00	2,299	26
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	691	367.59/cwt	367.00–370.00	2,540	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	663	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	2,486	6
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	900–950	908	329.00/cwt	323.00–337.00	2,987	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	620	416.28/cwt	397.00–421.00	2,581	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	200–250	215	700.00/cwt	700.00–700.00	1,505	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	340	548.54/cwt	545.00–560.00	1,865	13
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	282	627.32/cwt	625.00–630.00	1,769	18
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	350–400	399	480.00/cwt	480.00–480.00	1,915	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	725	409.00/cwt	409.00–409.00	2,965	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	250–300	270	660.00/cwt	660.00–660.00	1,782	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,000	312.00/cwt	312.00–312.00	3,120	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	855	352.14/cwt	350.00–353.00	3,011	14
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	393	525.00/cwt	525.00–525.00	2,063	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	905	356.79/cwt	351.00–358.00	3,229	76
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	755	357.00/cwt	357.00–357.00	2,695	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	558	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	2,009	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	380	540.00/cwt	540.00–540.00	2,052	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	460	402.50/cwt	402.50–402.50	1,852	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	984	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	3,247	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,023	303.55/cwt	300.00–311.00	3,105	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	582	400.06/cwt	382.50–409.00	2,328	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	446	492.57/cwt	460.00–505.00	2,197	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	538	411.96/cwt	404.00–420.00	2,216	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	726	371.22/cwt	370.00–380.00	2,695	24
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	1000–1050	1,031	312.00/cwt	312.00–312.00	3,217	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	850–900	879	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	2,813	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	923	330.23/cwt	321.00–334.00	3,048	127
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	724	378.11/cwt	372.00–379.00	2,738	73
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	327	577.73/cwt	560.00–582.50	1,889	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	470	422.06/cwt	410.00–455.00	1,984	27
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	372	516.09/cwt	500.00–535.00	1,920	13
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	511	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	2,197	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	528	451.27/cwt	430.00–466.00	2,383	64
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	833	338.46/cwt	332.00–345.00	2,819	187
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	1000–1050	1,041	290.47/cwt	287.50–295.00	3,024	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	582	362.52/cwt	347.50–369.00	2,110	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	520	413.71/cwt	406.00–425.00	2,151	52
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	419	480.93/cwt	457.50–503.00	2,015	77
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	700–750	711	388.00/cwt	388.00–388.00	2,759	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	470	490.10/cwt	475.00–515.00	2,303	54
Steers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	778	388.98/cwt	385.00–393.00	3,026	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	974	314.26/cwt	309.00–318.00	3,061	210
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	562	357.50/cwt	357.50–357.50	2,009	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	653	417.00/cwt	417.00–417.00	2,723	13
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	573	426.99/cwt	421.00–431.00	2,447	48
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	374	566.26/cwt	562.50–595.00	2,118	46
Steers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	618	420.00/cwt	420.00–420.00	2,596	12
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Non-Legible BANGS	—	1,612	3,850.00/head	3,850.00–3,850.00	3,850	6
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,569	4,169.90/head	4,150.00–4,200.00	4,170	7
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,495	3,700.00/head	3,700.00–3,700.00	3,700	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,095	245.39/cwt	191.00–276.00	2,687	16
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,292	3,213.74/head	3,050.00–3,400.00	3,214	29
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,533	3,100.00/head	3,100.00–3,100.00	3,100	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,419	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	2,455	4
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,467	3,255.22/head	3,150.00–3,450.00	3,255	12
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,173	162.40/cwt	155.00–166.00	1,905	23
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,195	146.24/cwt	145.00–147.50	1,748	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,574	165.00/cwt	162.00–169.00	2,597	16
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,501	173.88/cwt	173.00–174.00	2,610	9
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,775	137.00/cwt	137.00–137.00	2,432	1
Bulls	—	—	1,883	176.89/cwt	170.00–183.00	3,331	2
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,738	169.01/cwt	161.00–184.00	2,937	22
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	810	105.00/cwt	105.00–105.00	851	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,184	124.29/cwt	110.00–139.00	1,472	22
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,762	154.77/cwt	149.00–158.00	2,727	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,650	169.00/cwt	169.00–169.00	2,789	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,855	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	3,061	1
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,493	153.79/cwt	153.00–154.50	2,296	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,430	155.89/cwt	141.00–162.00	2,229	19
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,369	171.40/cwt	163.00–175.00	2,346	167
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,398	137.23/cwt	135.00–140.00	1,918	3
Bulls	—	—	2,200	193.00/cwt	193.00–193.00	4,246	1
Bulls	—	—	2,120	186.00/cwt	186.00–186.00	3,943	1
Heifers	Large 1	1050–1100	1,070	301.50/cwt	290.00–307.50	3,226	48
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,159	171.48/cwt	164.00–173.50	1,987	38
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,569	192.78/cwt	186.00–196.00	3,025	11
Bulls	—	—	2,118	202.74/cwt	199.00–205.00	4,294	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,417	176.03/cwt	175.00–177.00	2,494	135
Bulls	—	—	2,017	194.90/cwt	191.00–197.00	3,931	5
Heifers	Large 1Full	1250–1300	1,280	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	3,264	4
Heifers	Large 1	1150–1200	1,150	281.00/cwt	281.00–281.00	3,232	7
Heifers	Large 1	350–400	362	427.50/cwt	427.50–427.50	1,548	5
Heifers	Large 1	850–900	865	308.00/cwt	308.00–308.00	2,664	3
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	450–500	484	427.50/cwt	427.50–427.50	2,069	17
Heifers	Large 1	500–550	510	367.50/cwt	367.50–367.50	1,874	10
Steers	Large 1	800–850	838	335.00/cwt	335.00–335.00	2,807	2
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	500–550	540	435.00/cwt	435.00–435.00	2,349	2
Heifers	Large 1	1100–1150	1,123	283.49/cwt	277.00–285.00	3,184	27
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	350–400	377	530.00/cwt	530.00–530.00	1,998	6
Steers	Large 1	600–650	610	402.50/cwt	402.50–402.50	2,455	17
Bulls	Large 1	1050–1100	1,075	262.50/cwt	262.50–262.50	2,822	2
Heifers	Medium 1	500–550	502	397.00/cwt	397.00–397.00	1,993	12
Heifers	Medium 1	650–700	659	369.44/cwt	360.00–370.00	2,435	18
Heifers	Medium 1	750–800	778	333.00/cwt	333.00–333.00	2,591	6
Stock Cows	Medium 1	—	785	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	2,002	1
Steers	Large 1	950–1000	970	314.00/cwt	314.00–314.00	3,046	27
Steers	Large 1	850–900	870	337.00/cwt	337.00–337.00	2,932	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	365	455.43/cwt	420.00–475.00	1,662	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	900–950	923	298.00/cwt	298.00–298.00	2,751	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	496	390.00/cwt	390.00–390.00	1,934	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	530	360.84/cwt	353.00–374.00	1,912	17
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	842	308.64/cwt	303.00–311.00	2,599	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	743	360.63/cwt	353.00–362.00	2,679	13
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	800–850	849	311.00/cwt	311.00–311.00	2,640	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	700–750	725	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	2,683	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	591	385.00/cwt	385.00–385.00	2,275	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	502	410.00/cwt	410.00–410.00	2,058	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	346	575.00/cwt	575.00–575.00	1,990	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	473	433.32/cwt	425.00–450.00	2,050	9
Steers	Medium and Large 2	650–700	693	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	2,495	7
Steers	Medium and Large 2	750–800	778	360.64/cwt	354.00–367.50	2,806	4
Steers	Medium and Large 2	800–850	828	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	2,650	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	436	443.77/cwt	420.00–447.50	1,935	19
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	750–800	762	371.00/cwt	371.00–371.00	2,827	7
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	476	445.00/cwt	445.00–445.00	2,118	8
Cow-Calf Pairs	Medium and Large 1	—	1,766	4,285.00/head	4,285.00–4,285.00	4,285	22
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	750–800	779	310.00/cwt	310.00–310.00	2,415	8
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	450–500	493	445.00/cwt	445.00–445.00	2,194	2
Steers	Medium and Large 2	700–750	730	346.08/cwt	342.00–350.00	2,526	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	858	312.00/cwt	312.00–312.00	2,677	3
Steers	Medium and Large 2	950–1000	993	316.00/cwt	316.00–316.00	3,138	3
Heifers	Medium 1-2	600–650	632	349.21/cwt	347.50–352.50	2,207	6
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,393	2,834.48/head	2,800.00–2,850.00	2,834	39
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,473	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	3,005	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	984	290.65/cwt	265.00–296.00	2,860	6
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,153	201.94/cwt	182.00–227.50	2,328	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	985	232.50/cwt	232.50–232.50	2,290	1
Steers	Medium 1Full	650–700	662	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	2,449	6
Heifers	Medium 1	600–650	634	380.72/cwt	373.00–383.50	2,414	31
Steers	Medium 1	650–700	669	388.06/cwt	371.00–400.00	2,596	10
Steers	Medium 1	500–550	546	427.19/cwt	420.00–429.00	2,332	20
Steers	Medium 1	550–600	569	420.69/cwt	420.00–421.00	2,394	26
Heifers	Medium 1-2	550–600	573	352.50/cwt	352.50–352.50	2,020	13

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 →