Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2026-01-15
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2026-01-15

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (1-08-26): Steer calves under 400 lbs were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. 400-599 lbs steers sold 8.00-15.00 higher, steers 600-699 lbs sold steady to firm, steer calves over 700 lbs sold mostly 5.00-10.00 higher. Heifer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. Heifers 450-549 lbs sold mostly 15.00 higher, 550-649 lbs heifers sold steady to 5.00 higher, heifers over 650 lbs sold mostly 10.00 higher. Demand for all classes and weights of feeder cattle was good to very good on heavy offerings. Demand for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings was very good and saw the largest increase in price again this week. Demand for cattle too large to go to grass was very good as several order buyers buying for packers had orders for this weight of feeders. Demand increased as the sale progressed and remain good throughout the day and late into the evening. Demand for plain offerings was very good this week with more takers for this class of cattle. Demand for feeding heifers was very good with most offerings being purchased to feed. Quality this week was average to very attractive with many large consignments of home raised feeders on offer. Market activity was mostly active with a large buyer pool noticed. Weigh up cows sold on good demand for moderate offerings. Feeding cow demand was good to very good early in the sale buy moderated as buyers filled loads and exited the market. Feeding cows sold steady to 3.00 higher. Slaughter cows sold generally steady on all classes. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this sale with many full offerings noticed. Young age offerings suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on a lower quality offering and fewer buyers in the stands.

Weight class

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb steers averaged $501.86/cwt on 650 head, up $17.69 from the prior sale. That ranks 16 of 21 comparable sales and sits +14.08 against this barn's trailing median of $487.78.

Average price

$501.86

▲ 17.69 vs prior sale

650 head · 542 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,722

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$610

per head · Large 1 over Medium 2

$135.32/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+5.91

vs MT average

+29.88 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Large 1	517	515.32	2,662	45
Medium and Large 1	546	503.81	2,750	523
Medium and Large 1-2	535	487.32	2,607	78
Medium 2	540	380.00	2,052	4thin

One grade step is worth $135.32/cwt here — about $610 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 400–500 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 sale650 hd

501.86

—

MT average2 barns · 1,058 hd

495.96

+5.91

National average187 barns · 29,067 hd

471.98

+29.88

This barn, trailing median21 sales

487.78

+14.08

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	1,946	172.64	3,360	26
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Average	1,606	161.59	2,595	33
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,361	154.83	2,107	95
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,100	131.03	1,442	49
Dairy Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,823	131.00	2,388	6thin
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	Low	1,425	120.00	1,710	1thin
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	Low	1,531	114.00	1,745	6thin

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	2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,392	$2,250	5

Every lot, as filed

121 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
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	429	576.28/cwt	565.00–605.00	2,472	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	700–750	720	380.42/cwt	375.00–385.00	2,739	17
Steers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	569	486.67/cwt	460.00–501.00	2,769	276
Steers	Medium and Large 1	800–850	810	370.66/cwt	369.00–371.00	3,002	12
Steers	Medium and Large 1	350–400	375	671.85/cwt	655.00–690.00	2,519	17
Steers	Large 1	450–500	488	572.50/cwt	572.50–572.50	2,794	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	800–850	843	347.00/cwt	347.00–347.00	2,925	22
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	519	513.86/cwt	462.50–531.00	2,667	49
Steers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	426	611.38/cwt	595.00–652.50	2,604	35
Steers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	428	430.00/cwt	430.00–430.00	1,840	6
Steers	Medium and Large 2	600–650	605	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	2,208	2
Steers	Large 1Fleshy	700–750	735	370.00/cwt	370.00–370.00	2,720	3
Steers	Large 1Fleshy	850–900	892	338.00/cwt	338.00–338.00	3,015	24
Steers	Large 1	900–950	946	321.00/cwt	321.00–321.00	3,037	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	631	416.76/cwt	410.00–432.00	2,630	53
Steers	Large 1	650–700	695	388.67/cwt	388.00–390.00	2,701	12
Steers	Medium 2	500–550	540	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	2,052	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	496	450.00/cwt	450.00–450.00	2,232	22
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	550–600	573	412.50/cwt	412.50–412.50	2,364	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	300–350	303	485.00/cwt	485.00–485.00	1,470	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	695	391.24/cwt	388.00–403.00	2,719	74
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	626	426.00/cwt	426.00–426.00	2,667	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	498	425.00/cwt	425.00–425.00	2,117	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	763	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	2,671	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	350–400	385	534.15/cwt	530.00–550.00	2,056	40
Heifers	Large 1	650–700	670	366.07/cwt	363.00–367.00	2,453	9
Steers	Large 1	600–650	640	421.74/cwt	418.00–424.00	2,699	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	534	472.50/cwt	472.50–472.50	2,523	7
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	376	485.00/cwt	485.00–485.00	1,824	16
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	667	371.50/cwt	368.00–391.00	2,478	129
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	350–400	389	606.06/cwt	525.00–635.00	2,358	21
Steers	Medium and Large 1	300–350	306	701.99/cwt	700.00–710.00	2,148	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	1000–1050	1,010	312.00/cwt	312.00–312.00	3,151	5
Steers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	718	397.41/cwt	387.00–411.00	2,853	91
Steers	Medium and Large 1	250–300	285	740.00/cwt	740.00–740.00	2,109	1
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	300–350	332	679.17/cwt	660.00–685.00	2,255	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	562	442.47/cwt	427.50–445.00	2,487	29
Steers	Large 1	500–550	513	519.06/cwt	480.00–535.00	2,663	43
Steers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	617	445.28/cwt	429.00–458.00	2,747	277
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	527	499.29/cwt	497.50–500.00	2,631	29
Steers	Medium and Large 1	750–800	774	381.02/cwt	370.00–394.00	2,949	162
Steers	Medium and Large 1	850–900	882	343.24/cwt	340.50–347.00	3,027	26
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	482	535.80/cwt	510.00–550.00	2,583	18
Steers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	519	526.10/cwt	500.00–550.00	2,730	218
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	379	632.28/cwt	630.00–635.00	2,396	23
Steers	Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed	450–500	450	630.00/cwt	630.00–630.00	2,835	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1	650–700	668	417.16/cwt	405.00–430.00	2,787	132
Steers	Large 1	550–600	595	435.00/cwt	435.00–435.00	2,588	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	478	578.40/cwt	550.00–594.00	2,765	98
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	647	407.00/cwt	407.00–407.00	2,633	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	434	605.00/cwt	605.00–605.00	2,626	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	681	404.00/cwt	404.00–404.00	2,751	8
Steers	Large 1	750–800	778	367.00/cwt	367.00–367.00	2,855	3
Steers	Large 1	800–850	840	355.00/cwt	355.00–355.00	2,982	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	650–700	661	391.49/cwt	385.00–397.50	2,588	16
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	750–800	760	367.94/cwt	360.00–372.50	2,796	11
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	700–750	728	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	2,766	4
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	900–950	913	316.00/cwt	316.00–316.00	2,885	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	550–600	586	443.27/cwt	420.00–455.00	2,598	12
Bulls	Medium and Large 1	950–1000	963	295.00/cwt	295.00–295.00	2,841	3
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,565	163.01/cwt	158.00–168.00	2,551	15
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,228	173.00/cwt	173.00–173.00	2,124	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,363	163.40/cwt	158.00–169.00	2,227	51
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,347	150.11/cwt	142.00–158.00	2,022	30
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,084	142.58/cwt	130.00–152.00	1,546	14
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	865	67.07/cwt	60.00–70.00	580	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	882	113.36/cwt	110.00–115.00	1,000	3
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,080	132.15/cwt	127.50–136.00	1,427	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,138	111.72/cwt	103.00–120.00	1,271	9
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,103	80.06/cwt	75.00–85.00	883	2
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,631	162.78/cwt	161.00–168.00	2,655	16
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,765	129.00/cwt	129.00–129.00	2,277	1
Dairy Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,425	120.00/cwt	120.00–120.00	1,710	1
Dairy Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,823	131.00/cwt	131.00–131.00	2,388	6
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,488	115.69/cwt	109.00–122.50	1,721	4
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,371	132.92/cwt	125.00–142.00	1,822	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,125	138.00/cwt	138.00–138.00	1,553	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,655	154.00/cwt	154.00–154.00	2,549	1
Dairy Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,531	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	1,745	6
Bulls	—	—	2,162	191.85/cwt	189.00–197.50	4,148	3
Bulls	—	—	1,882	161.18/cwt	151.00–176.00	3,033	11
Bulls	—	—	1,974	180.05/cwt	176.00–184.00	3,554	8
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,211	159.89/cwt	157.00–165.00	1,936	12
Bulls	—	—	2,255	186.00/cwt	186.00–186.00	4,194	1
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,787	171.24/cwt	164.00–175.00	3,060	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,325	180.00/cwt	180.00–180.00	2,385	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,298	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	2,207	9
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	991	244.97/cwt	210.00–290.00	2,428	25
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	899	212.50/cwt	212.50–212.50	1,910	10
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,051	203.75/cwt	165.00–225.00	2,141	14
Heifers	Large 1-2	500–550	505	395.00/cwt	395.00–395.00	1,995	23
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	400–450	426	520.32/cwt	510.00–530.00	2,217	27
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	430	530.00/cwt	530.00–530.00	2,279	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	300–350	321	568.40/cwt	565.00–575.00	1,825	6
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	600–650	617	404.77/cwt	387.50–411.00	2,497	100
Heifers	Large 1-2	400–450	448	425.00/cwt	425.00–425.00	1,904	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	750–800	767	347.00/cwt	347.00–347.00	2,661	8
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	350–400	391	512.68/cwt	510.00–525.00	2,005	30
Heifers	Large 1	450–500	479	466.76/cwt	450.00–480.00	2,236	80
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	450–500	477	446.26/cwt	430.00–467.50	2,129	82
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	700–750	715	366.52/cwt	363.00–371.00	2,621	55
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	550–600	560	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	2,128	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	400–450	424	490.45/cwt	442.50–505.00	2,080	52
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	500–550	529	420.56/cwt	402.50–435.00	2,225	64
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	450–500	475	499.81/cwt	485.00–506.00	2,374	91
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	668	356.02/cwt	342.00–370.00	2,378	26
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	550–600	579	400.15/cwt	390.00–410.00	2,317	52
Heifers	Large 1Fleshy	800–850	839	331.00/cwt	331.00–331.00	2,777	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	500–550	533	461.30/cwt	440.00–490.00	2,459	190
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	400–450	443	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	1,683	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1	550–600	575	428.27/cwt	412.00–440.00	2,463	306
Heifers	Large 1	500–550	535	420.00/cwt	420.00–420.00	2,247	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	600–650	629	381.64/cwt	380.00–382.00	2,401	11
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2	650–700	676	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	2,569	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	600–650	606	426.15/cwt	426.00–427.50	2,582	41
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	500–550	544	388.69/cwt	380.00–390.00	2,114	23
Heifers	Medium and Large 2	350–400	385	422.50/cwt	422.50–422.50	1,627	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	650–700	656	396.00/cwt	396.00–396.00	2,598	69
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Fancy	500–550	509	503.20/cwt	500.00–504.00	2,561	15
Stock Cows	Large 1-2	—	948	170.00/cwt	170.00–170.00	1,612	5
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,392	2,250.00/head	2,250.00–2,250.00	2,250	5

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 →