Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2025-10-02
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-10-02

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested today to develop any market trend. Calves of both sexes sold with higher undertones in a narrow comparison. Demand was moderate to good for light offerings. Quality hampered demand this week as yearling offerings were mostly plain to average and offered in small packages. Demand for calves was mostly good to very good. Calf quality this week was average to attractive. CME positions traded sharply lower today with all contracts showing triple digit lower movement. Market activity was moderate to active with a good crowd on hand and several buyers actively bidding over on the internet. 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 firm undertones were noticed. Feeding cow demand was good to very good this sale. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to weak on a poorer quality offering. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average this week. Many very full offerings were seen this week. A large portion of the cow offering was comprised of fleshy boning and breaking cows this week. Many of these offerings were off summer pasture and fleshy from being on grass all summer. Slaughter bulls sold 1.00 to 2.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Several packages of thin fleshed bulls continue to be purchased to feed. Feeding bull demand was good to very good this week which helped push all bull prices higher. Feeding bulls were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on very good demand. 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 steady to higher undertones were noticed.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $416.56/cwt on 12 head. That ranks 6 of 21 comparable sales and sits −17.30 against this barn's trailing median of $433.86.

Average price

$416.56

12 head · 524 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,183

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

—

single grade reported

vs the market

−5.46

vs MT average

+47.65 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	524	416.56	2,183	12thin

Only one grade was reported at this weight, so there is no spread to compute.

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 sale12 hd

416.56

—

MT average3 barns · 161 hd

422.02

−5.46

National average182 barns · 13,299 hd

368.91

+47.65

This barn, trailing median21 sales

433.86

−17.30

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	—	High	1,929	192.89	3,721	19
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,465	165.20	2,421	89
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,671	162.61	2,718	39
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,188	158.85	1,887	47

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/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,236	$3,187	5
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,213	$3,100	8
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,315	$3,050	1thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,360	$3,000	1thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,445	$2,746	4thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,675	$2,650	1thin
Bred Cows	1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,230	$2,590	5

Every lot, as filed

84 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 1Unweaned	450–500	456	439.64/cwt	435.00–450.00	2,005	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	950–1000	993	299.00/cwt	299.00–299.00	2,969	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	628	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	2,229	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	460	504.88/cwt	480.00–515.00	2,322	11
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	348	600.00/cwt	600.00–600.00	2,088	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	445	520.00/cwt	520.00–520.00	2,314	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	618	361.63/cwt	360.00–365.00	2,235	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	382	505.00/cwt	505.00–505.00	1,929	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	552	432.50/cwt	432.50–432.50	2,387	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	850–900	896	319.00/cwt	319.00–319.00	2,858	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	765	360.50/cwt	360.50–360.50	2,758	32
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	915	316.55/cwt	313.00–321.00	2,896	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	506	468.85/cwt	455.00–485.00	2,372	15
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	678	384.00/cwt	384.00–384.00	2,604	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	353	568.40/cwt	565.00–575.00	2,006	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	855	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	3,078	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	700–750	733	332.50/cwt	332.50–332.50	2,437	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	353	585.00/cwt	585.00–585.00	2,065	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,000	318.00/cwt	318.00–318.00	3,180	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	524	416.56/cwt	411.00–435.00	2,183	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	836	333.22/cwt	332.00–338.00	2,786	24
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	987	317.74/cwt	315.00–318.00	3,136	23
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	850–900	895	335.00/cwt	335.00–335.00	2,998	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	750–800	799	341.50/cwt	341.50–341.50	2,729	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	817	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	2,982	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	887	321.50/cwt	321.50–321.50	2,852	8
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,250	3,250.00/head	3,250.00–3,250.00	3,250	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,438	194.00/cwt	194.00–194.00	2,790	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,316	181.76/cwt	174.00–186.00	2,392	6
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,227	3,246.84/head	3,200.00–3,300.00	3,247	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,360	3,000.00/head	3,000.00–3,000.00	3,000	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,111	198.16/cwt	175.00–230.00	2,202	11
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,315	3,050.00/head	3,050.00–3,050.00	3,050	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	995	228.65/cwt	210.00–240.00	2,275	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,358	187.50/cwt	187.50–187.50	2,546	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,012	282.38/cwt	243.00–307.00	2,858	27
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,182	123.34/cwt	122.00–125.00	1,458	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,504	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	2,632	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,145	141.21/cwt	137.00–149.00	1,617	6
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,090	111.00/cwt	111.00–111.00	1,210	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,724	155.41/cwt	149.00–158.50	2,679	11
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,688	165.00/cwt	165.00–165.00	2,785	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,218	173.69/cwt	172.50–176.00	2,116	14
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,173	167.12/cwt	159.00–172.00	1,960	17
Cows	Lean 85-90%Non-Traditional	—	1,185	152.50/cwt	152.50–152.50	1,807	1
Bulls	—	—	2,060	206.00/cwt	206.00–206.00	4,244	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,296	149.57/cwt	142.00–152.00	1,938	4
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,696	166.50/cwt	166.50–166.50	2,824	9
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,430	181.00/cwt	181.00–181.00	2,588	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,649	154.79/cwt	154.00–156.00	2,552	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,631	164.35/cwt	163.00–165.00	2,681	7
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,456	168.26/cwt	162.00–172.00	2,450	64
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,445	140.55/cwt	138.00–144.00	2,031	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,367	146.11/cwt	145.00–147.00	1,997	5
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,563	185.00/cwt	185.00–185.00	2,892	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	975	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	1,112	1
Bulls	—	—	1,913	181.82/cwt	179.00–184.00	3,478	2
Bulls	—	—	2,083	196.29/cwt	186.00–203.00	4,089	11
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,395	175.84/cwt	174.00–177.00	2,453	5
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,595	157.19/cwt	155.00–158.00	2,507	3
Heifers	Medium 1-2	650–700	668	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	2,271	2
Bulls	Medium 1Unweaned	400–450	421	449.69/cwt	440.00–465.00	1,893	5
Beef/Dairy Heifers	Large 1-2	450–500	495	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	1,832	3
Bulls	Large 1	1100–1150	1,103	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	2,868	7
Heifers	Large 1	1050–1100	1,060	299.45/cwt	292.00–304.00	3,174	16
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,865	204.00/cwt	204.00–204.00	3,805	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,230	2,590.42/head	2,500.00–2,700.00	2,590	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,152	2,850.00/head	2,850.00–2,850.00	2,850	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,270	2,950.00/head	2,950.00–2,950.00	2,950	1
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,445	2,746.19/head	2,650.00–2,850.00	2,746	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,675	2,650.00/head	2,650.00–2,650.00	2,650	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,144	233.32/cwt	180.50–315.00	2,669	67
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	250–300	275	600.00/cwt	600.00–600.00	1,650	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	385	505.00/cwt	505.00–505.00	1,944	1
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	571	368.00/cwt	368.00–368.00	2,101	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	480	461.70/cwt	460.00–465.00	2,216	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	700–750	709	335.00/cwt	335.00–335.00	2,375	11
Steers	Medium and Large 2	800–850	811	339.00/cwt	339.00–339.00	2,749	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	459	406.66/cwt	385.00–410.00	1,867	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	333	500.00/cwt	500.00–500.00	1,665	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	773	349.00/cwt	349.00–349.00	2,698	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	534	425.00/cwt	425.00–425.00	2,270	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	335	605.00/cwt	605.00–605.00	2,027	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	610	402.11/cwt	397.00–407.00	2,453	30

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 →