Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2025-12-11

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Dec 11
● Final136 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
2,774 head
▲ 973 vs last sale 1,801▼ 154 vs year ago 2,928 · −5.3%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
192 head
▲ 160 vs last sale 32▼ 359 vs year ago 551 · −65.2%
Replacement Cattle receipts
149 head
▲ 143 vs last sale 6▼ 379 vs year ago 528 · −71.8%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Oct 26, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on a larger offering of yearlings. Yearling quality was mostly average this week with several packages of heavy weight backgrounded offerings noticed. Steer calves under 500 lbs sold generally steady to firm, steers 500-599 lbs sold mostly 8.00 to 12.00 higher, steer calves over 600 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 higher. Heifer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Heifers 450-549 lbs sold sharply higher with most sales 15.00-20.00 higher; heifers over 550 lbs sold generally steady to firm in a narrow comparison. Demand for light weight cattle suitable to develop into yearlings was good to very good. Buyers pushed to fill loads early in the sale as they wanted to get them on the road ahead of this evenings snowstorm. Demand for cattle to heavy to go to grass was mostly good this week with many buyers noticed. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive, with lots of variation noticed. Large packages of calves sold on mostly good to very good demand with small packages selling on moderate to good demand. Many small packages of calves were seen this week as buyers cleaned up offerings as only 2 sales are left at Billings livestock commission for the year. CME positions traded sharply higher several days over the last few weeks which help support all calf prices. Several ranchers were in the stands buying grass cattle this week. Market activity was active with a larger crowd on hand. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for light offerings. Slaughter and feeding cows were both too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on slaughter cows and steady undertones were noticed on feeding cows. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly good demand as buyers pushed to finish loads for the week. Young offerings were too lightly tested last week 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 $442.95/cwt on 392 head. That ranks 12 of 22 comparable sales and sits +0.01 against this barn's trailing median of $442.94.
Average price
$442.95
392 head · 552 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,445
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$325
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$58.11/cwt at this weight
vs the market
+5.70
vs MT average
+12.32 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1562453.112,545247
Large 1598432.502,5866thin
Medium and Large 1-2530426.992,264130
Medium 1580415.002,4073thin
Medium and Large 2562395.002,2206thin
One grade step is worth $58.11/cwt here — about $325 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.

How it compared 500–600 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only
This sale392 hd
442.95
—
MT average3 barns · 632 hd
437.25
+5.70
National average179 barns · 20,601 hd
430.63
+12.32
This barn, trailing median22 sales
442.94
+0.01
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—Average1,882168.793,1764thin
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,715153.002,6241thin
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,364150.982,05963
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,167139.251,62478

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/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,133$3,2695
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,018$2,6502thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,280$2,5253thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,130$2,2501thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,248$1,9002thin

Every lot, as filed

136 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 · Steers48 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1275690.00/cwt690.00–690.001,8982
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1Unweaned310665.00/cwt665.00–665.002,0621
Steers300–350Medium and Large 2-3322465.86/cwt455.00–490.001,50013
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1332608.05/cwt600.00–625.002,0198
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2343630.00/cwt630.00–630.002,1614
Steers300–350Medium and Large 2347565.00/cwt565.00–565.001,9616
Steers300–350Medium 1348560.00/cwt560.00–560.001,94915
Steers350–400Medium and Large 2-3361422.83/cwt405.00–455.001,52633
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned368612.50/cwt612.50–612.502,2542
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2372608.11/cwt605.00–610.002,26215
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1383621.73/cwt615.00–645.002,38116
Steers350–400Medium and Large 2392537.87/cwt530.00–547.502,1089
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned398595.00/cwt595.00–595.002,3686
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1410576.65/cwt530.00–590.002,36421
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned410533.78/cwt525.00–540.002,1885
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2421460.00/cwt460.00–460.001,93714
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2425508.55/cwt455.00–550.002,16149
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned435560.00/cwt560.00–560.002,4367
Steers450–500Medium 1455490.00/cwt490.00–490.002,2303
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2457410.67/cwt370.00–440.001,87725
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned467534.00/cwt534.00–534.002,49413
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2476480.48/cwt467.50–495.002,28757
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1478505.34/cwt492.50–526.002,41649
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned487481.46/cwt480.00–485.002,34524
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned527455.00/cwt455.00–455.002,39810
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2528425.45/cwt412.50–455.002,246113
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1531466.46/cwt460.00–482.502,47725
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned535467.98/cwt460.00–490.002,50419
Steers550–600Medium and Large 2562395.00/cwt395.00–395.002,2206
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned567453.04/cwt421.00–463.002,569103
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1569447.02/cwt421.00–461.002,544100
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2570411.75/cwt400.00–430.002,3477
Steers550–600Medium 1580415.00/cwt415.00–415.002,4073
Steers550–600Large 1598432.50/cwt432.50–432.502,5866
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned615423.50/cwt422.00–426.002,60546
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1625413.69/cwt408.00–424.002,58679
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2635391.86/cwt372.00–395.002,48829
Steers650–700Large 1Unweaned665371.00/cwt371.00–371.002,4672
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1670398.29/cwt389.00–407.002,66973
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned680396.70/cwt386.00–405.002,69876
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2681337.04/cwt332.50–370.002,2958
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1Unweaned708381.09/cwt374.00–383.002,69834
Steers700–750Large 1Unweaned732368.00/cwt368.00–368.002,6943
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1745367.10/cwt365.00–380.002,73543
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1Unweaned750369.00/cwt369.00–369.002,7687
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1754366.40/cwt364.00–368.002,76315
Steers800–850Large 1842331.00/cwt331.00–331.002,7875
Steers1000–1050Large 11,004291.00/cwt291.00–291.002,9229
Feeder Cattle · Heifers47 lots · lightest first
Heifers250–300Medium and Large 2-3293430.00/cwt430.00–430.001,2605
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1310537.40/cwt525.00–555.001,66610
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned321471.61/cwt465.00–480.001,5147
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 3321375.00/cwt375.00–375.001,2047
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2349495.00/cwt495.00–495.001,7285
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned362490.62/cwt480.00–495.001,7767
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1362475.52/cwt460.00–477.501,72139
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2380450.72/cwt425.00–500.001,71316
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned389485.00/cwt485.00–485.001,8875
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2405395.50/cwt385.00–410.001,60219
Heifers400–450Medium 1409440.00/cwt440.00–440.001,80036
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2414440.10/cwt435.00–455.001,82239
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1428455.00/cwt455.00–455.001,94724
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned430455.00/cwt455.00–455.001,9575
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned439462.14/cwt460.00–470.002,02911
Heifers450–500Medium 1457370.00/cwt370.00–370.001,6915
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned459433.21/cwt427.50–450.001,98815
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2464414.63/cwt362.50–470.001,92428
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1471462.31/cwt435.00–492.502,177125
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned482360.00/cwt360.00–360.001,7353
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2496354.05/cwt350.00–367.501,75613
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2510395.00/cwt395.00–395.002,0153
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1511426.69/cwt405.00–442.002,180144
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned516367.50/cwt367.50–367.501,8966
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2521385.00/cwt385.00–385.002,0066
Heifers500–550Medium 1522385.00/cwt385.00–385.002,0106
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned530405.59/cwt400.00–420.002,15032
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2Full543332.50/cwt332.50–332.501,8053
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2559325.42/cwt310.00–347.501,81932
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1577378.10/cwt370.00–380.002,18244
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned583372.38/cwt367.00–381.002,17137
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Full600330.00/cwt330.00–330.001,9805
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2606328.07/cwt311.00–338.001,98817
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned613341.00/cwt341.00–341.002,0903
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1617365.87/cwt345.00–377.002,25783
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned623370.74/cwt365.00–377.502,31073
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Replacement655350.00/cwt350.00–350.002,2936
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2660302.50/cwt302.50–302.501,9973
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned671331.84/cwt329.00–335.002,22716
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned673334.00/cwt334.00–334.002,2482
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1685331.00/cwt331.00–331.002,26721
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1Unweaned755315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,3781
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1879300.16/cwt300.00–301.002,6386
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2939287.00/cwt287.00–287.002,6955
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1-2985280.00/cwt280.00–280.002,7584
Heifers1000–1050Medium and Large 1-21,014281.50/cwt281.50–281.502,85415
Heifers1150–1200Large 1Fleshy1,171252.52/cwt248.00–253.002,95742
Feeder Cattle · Bulls13 lots · lightest first
Bulls400–450Medium and Large 1413580.00/cwt580.00–580.002,3954
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned450450.00/cwt450.00–450.002,0251
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2483420.00/cwt420.00–420.002,02914
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned558415.00/cwt415.00–415.002,3162
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2594367.54/cwt342.50–392.502,18310
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1608401.43/cwt392.00–407.502,44113
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1-2613337.50/cwt337.50–337.502,0694
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned628370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,3242
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1668363.00/cwt363.00–363.002,4253
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1Unweaned712342.50/cwt342.50–342.502,4395
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1-2726290.00/cwt290.00–290.002,1054
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1740327.00/cwt327.00–327.002,4202
Bulls1050–1100Medium and Large 11,050267.00/cwt267.00–267.002,8041
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls3 lots · lightest first
Bulls——1,618156.58/cwt151.00–162.502,5332
Bulls——Return to Feed1,865181.00/cwt181.00–181.003,3761
Bulls——2,425181.00/cwt181.00–181.004,3891
Slaughter Cattle · Cows12 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight82575.00/cwt75.00–75.006192
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,075110.00/cwt110.00–110.001,1832
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,090138.72/cwt137.50–140.001,5122
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,138123.16/cwt112.00–132.501,40216
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,193155.27/cwt150.00–160.001,85229
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,193138.54/cwt127.50–151.001,65327
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,345133.54/cwt132.00–135.001,7962
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,350159.62/cwt154.00–164.002,15533
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,357141.60/cwt129.00–152.001,92225
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,420135.00/cwt135.00–135.001,9171
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,665151.00/cwt151.00–151.002,5142
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,715153.00/cwt153.00–153.002,6241
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows5 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,0182,650.00/head2,650.00–2,650.002,6502
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1302,250.00/head2,250.00–2,250.002,2501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1333,269.47/head3,250.00–3,300.003,2695
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2481,900.00/head1,900.00–1,900.001,9002
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2802,525.00/head2,525.00–2,525.002,5253
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1-2733200.00/cwt200.00–200.001,4662
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1921317.26/cwt247.00–332.502,92261
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 2970165.00/cwt165.00–165.001,6011
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,007235.89/cwt167.00–270.002,37511
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,040196.66/cwt162.00–237.502,0459
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,088254.20/cwt192.00–297.502,76619
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,380181.00/cwt181.00–181.002,4981
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,590212.00/cwt212.00–212.003,3714

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.