Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2025-11-06
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-11-06

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Demand for yearlings was light to moderate as quality was plain to average. Steer calves under 550 lbs sold mostly 5.00-8.00 lower. Steer calves over 550 lbs sold mostly 5.00 lower, with a few load lots selling fully steady. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold steady to 15.00 lower, heifers 500-599 lbs sold 5.00 to 8.00 lower, heifers over 600 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Demand for calves was mostly moderate to good for heavy offerings. Calf quality this week was mixed, but mostly average to attractive. Demand for lightweight offerings suitable to develop into yearlings remains good with several sets selling at or very close to steady with last weeks prices. Offerings were heavy this week and demand remained very consistent throughout the sale which stretched late into the evening. Several sets of weaned cattle were seen however very few buyers were willing to give premiums for these cattle. Many sets of calves were short weaned and sold with a discount to fresh calves straight off the cow. Demand for load lots was good this sale, while demand for packages was moderate to good. Demand for heifers which could be developed into replacements was mostly good and the price difference between feeding heifers and replacement heifers was very large this week. CME positions traded lower again today and despite lower movement, buyers still showed need for cattle to fill pen space as fat cattle remain profitable for many. Market activity was active with a larger crowd on hand for todays sale compared to last week. Internet bidding remains sluggish as many buyers remain sidelined following lower CME contract movement. This has caused large price gaps between front end calves and average to plain calves. No cows will be sold on Thursdays in the fall.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $413.51/cwt on 770 head. That ranks 2 of 21 comparable sales and sits −74.27 against this barn's trailing median of $487.78.

Average price

$413.51

770 head · 567 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,343

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$2

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

$32.58/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−14.76

vs MT average

−5.59 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	523	433.00	2,265	27
Large 1	542	421.44	2,284	70
Medium and Large 1	571	412.99	2,360	615
Medium and Large 1-2	566	400.42	2,266	58

One grade step is worth $32.58/cwt here — about −$2 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 200–300 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

This barn's trailing prices 500–600 lb

21 sales

Steers 500–600 lb: high $525.97, low $398.08, median $487.78 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 sale770 hd

413.51

—

MT average3 barns · 1,706 hd

428.27

−14.76

National average195 barns · 36,957 hd

419.10

−5.59

This barn, trailing median21 sales

487.78

−74.27

A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

Every lot, as filed

94 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 1	650–700	665	329.29/cwt	320.00–333.00	2,190	38
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	700–750	720	316.00/cwt	316.00–316.00	2,275	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	580	408.91/cwt	401.00–412.00	2,372	39
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	550–600	599	386.00/cwt	386.00–386.00	2,312	38
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	360	560.00/cwt	560.00–560.00	2,016	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	349	602.00/cwt	602.00–602.00	2,101	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	418	525.80/cwt	481.00–547.50	2,198	325
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	572	413.35/cwt	400.00–429.00	2,364	505
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	363	488.17/cwt	470.00–492.50	1,772	130
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	679	330.00/cwt	330.00–330.00	2,241	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	700–750	720	368.14/cwt	361.00–371.00	2,651	111
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	671	375.01/cwt	366.00–381.00	2,516	175
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	621	390.92/cwt	380.00–402.00	2,428	363
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	489	483.10/cwt	463.00–494.00	2,362	728
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	475	417.39/cwt	397.00–440.00	1,983	212
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	750–800	770	321.00/cwt	321.00–321.00	2,472	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Fleshy	1000–1050	1,036	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	2,486	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	650–700	681	338.68/cwt	330.00–369.00	2,306	46
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	250–300	285	615.00/cwt	615.00–615.00	1,753	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	200–250	235	640.00/cwt	640.00–640.00	1,504	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	573	373.44/cwt	356.00–383.00	2,140	243
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	527	388.75/cwt	375.00–407.50	2,049	246
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	431	492.50/cwt	492.50–492.50	2,123	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	447	437.13/cwt	430.00–450.00	1,954	179
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	566	394.29/cwt	385.00–398.00	2,232	34
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	720	331.00/cwt	331.00–331.00	2,383	30
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	762	319.16/cwt	317.50–320.00	2,432	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	484	450.00/cwt	450.00–450.00	2,178	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	700–750	720	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	2,340	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Replacement	600–650	613	369.52/cwt	369.00–370.00	2,265	39
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	335	501.79/cwt	500.00–505.00	1,681	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	550–600	571	346.00/cwt	346.00–346.00	1,976	39
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	600–650	632	324.00/cwt	324.00–324.00	2,048	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	900–950	939	296.49/cwt	296.00–301.00	2,784	69
Steers	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	950	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	2,898	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	450–500	455	460.00/cwt	460.00–460.00	2,093	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	863	308.33/cwt	305.00–309.00	2,661	41
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	650–700	675	361.29/cwt	354.00–367.50	2,439	9
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	500–550	511	427.50/cwt	427.50–427.50	2,185	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	506	432.00/cwt	432.00–432.00	2,186	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	700–750	713	316.00/cwt	316.00–316.00	2,253	3
Heifers	Medium 1Fleshy	950–1000	985	240.00/cwt	240.00–240.00	2,364	12
Heifers	Large 1-2	1150–1200	1,165	247.00/cwt	247.00–247.00	2,878	3
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	500–550	542	421.44/cwt	412.00–422.00	2,284	70
Heifers	Large 1	1050–1100	1,054	262.00/cwt	262.00–262.00	2,761	4
Heifers	Large 1Fleshy	1050–1100	1,076	232.50/cwt	232.50–232.50	2,502	4
Steers	Large 1Unweaned	400–450	410	532.50/cwt	532.50–532.50	2,183	10
Heifers	Medium 1	450–500	467	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	1,705	11
Steers	Medium 1	500–550	523	433.00/cwt	433.00–433.00	2,265	27
Heifers	Medium 1	700–750	727	314.00/cwt	314.00–314.00	2,283	3
Steers	Medium 1	400–450	439	472.50/cwt	472.50–472.50	2,074	9
Heifers	Medium 1	500–550	519	351.00/cwt	351.00–351.00	1,822	14
Heifers	Medium 1	400–450	422	415.00/cwt	415.00–415.00	1,751	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	800–850	848	301.00/cwt	301.00–301.00	2,552	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	500–550	509	417.50/cwt	417.50–417.50	2,125	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	650–700	651	395.50/cwt	395.50–395.50	2,575	105
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	450–500	492	447.50/cwt	447.50–447.50	2,202	13
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	550–600	554	353.00/cwt	353.00–353.00	1,956	10
Heifers	Medium 1	600–650	647	340.00/cwt	340.00–340.00	2,200	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	531	367.50/cwt	367.50–367.50	1,951	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	779	311.00/cwt	311.00–311.00	2,423	19
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	326	459.92/cwt	455.00–480.00	1,499	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Full	450–500	482	381.51/cwt	375.00–400.00	1,839	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1Full	400–450	425	480.00/cwt	480.00–480.00	2,040	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	850–900	850	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	2,380	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Full	450–500	463	315.00/cwt	315.00–315.00	1,458	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Full	600–650	628	314.00/cwt	314.00–314.00	1,972	5
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	507	375.00/cwt	375.00–375.00	1,901	6
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	300–350	315	450.00/cwt	450.00–450.00	1,418	2
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	250–300	275	550.00/cwt	550.00–550.00	1,513	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	535	415.00/cwt	415.00–415.00	2,220	14
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	900–950	920	312.00/cwt	312.00–312.00	2,870	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Full	500–550	511	343.18/cwt	326.00–352.50	1,754	23
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	629	337.65/cwt	334.00–351.00	2,124	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	678	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	2,204	10
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	389	441.78/cwt	432.00–449.00	1,719	74
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	1000–1050	1,016	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	2,743	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	950–1000	982	280.01/cwt	279.00–283.00	2,750	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	834	303.26/cwt	301.00–305.00	2,529	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	200–250	205	790.00/cwt	790.00–790.00	1,620	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	382	575.00/cwt	575.00–575.00	2,197	11
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	423	419.38/cwt	400.00–427.50	1,774	54
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	615	311.79/cwt	300.00–324.00	1,918	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	468	381.00/cwt	381.00–381.00	1,783	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	538	417.46/cwt	414.00–420.00	2,246	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	526	450.84/cwt	435.00–470.00	2,371	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	300–350	337	581.11/cwt	574.00–610.00	1,958	53
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	386	529.58/cwt	525.00–530.00	2,044	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	486	453.72/cwt	363.00–462.50	2,205	38
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	336	526.97/cwt	515.00–550.00	1,771	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	641	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	2,372	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	404	465.00/cwt	465.00–465.00	1,879	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	590	387.65/cwt	380.00–396.00	2,287	32
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	580	343.31/cwt	339.00–347.50	1,991	10

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 →