Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2026-01-15

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Jan 15
● Final121 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
4,324 head
▲ 1,038 vs last sale 3,286▲ 3,790 vs year ago 534 · +709.7%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
356 head
▲ 167 vs last sale 189▼ 132 vs year ago 488 · −27.0%
Replacement Cattle receipts
99 head
▼ 11 vs last sale 110▼ 190 vs year ago 289 · −65.7%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Oct 26, 2026
View

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 classPick one — the panels below update

Steers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb steers averaged $501.86/cwt on 650 head. That ranks 20 of 22 comparable sales and sits +58.92 against this barn's trailing median of $442.94.
Average price
$501.86
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 / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Large 1517515.322,66245
Medium and Large 1546503.812,750523
Medium and Large 1-2535487.322,60778
Medium 2540380.002,0524thin
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.

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 median22 sales
442.94
+58.92
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—High1,946172.643,36026
CowsBreaker 75-80%Average1,606161.592,59533
CowsBoner 80-85%High1,361154.832,10795
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,100131.031,44249
Dairy CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,823131.002,3886thin
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Low1,425120.001,7101thin
Dairy CowsBoner 80-85%Low1,531114.001,7456thin

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 Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,392$2,2505

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. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.
ClassWeightGrade / descriptionAvg wtPriceRangePer headHead
Feeder Cattle · Steers43 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1285740.00/cwt740.00–740.002,1091
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1306701.99/cwt700.00–710.002,1485
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1-2332679.17/cwt660.00–685.002,2556
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1375671.85/cwt655.00–690.002,51917
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned379632.28/cwt630.00–635.002,39623
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2389606.06/cwt525.00–635.002,35821
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1426611.38/cwt595.00–652.502,60435
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2428430.00/cwt430.00–430.001,8406
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2429576.28/cwt565.00–605.002,47223
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned434605.00/cwt605.00–605.002,6266
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1Thin Fleshed450630.00/cwt630.00–630.002,8353
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1478578.40/cwt550.00–594.002,76598
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2482535.80/cwt510.00–550.002,58318
Steers450–500Large 1488572.50/cwt572.50–572.502,79422
Steers500–550Large 1513519.06/cwt480.00–535.002,66343
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1519526.10/cwt500.00–550.002,730218
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2519513.86/cwt462.50–531.002,66749
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned527499.29/cwt497.50–500.002,63129
Steers500–550Medium 2540380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,0524
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2562442.47/cwt427.50–445.002,48729
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1569486.67/cwt460.00–501.002,769276
Steers550–600Large 1595435.00/cwt435.00–435.002,5882
Steers600–650Medium and Large 2605365.00/cwt365.00–365.002,2082
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1617445.28/cwt429.00–458.002,747277
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2631416.76/cwt410.00–432.002,63053
Steers600–650Large 1640421.74/cwt418.00–424.002,6998
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned647407.00/cwt407.00–407.002,63310
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1668417.16/cwt405.00–430.002,787132
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1Unweaned681404.00/cwt404.00–404.002,7518
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2695391.24/cwt388.00–403.002,71974
Steers650–700Large 1695388.67/cwt388.00–390.002,70112
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1718397.41/cwt387.00–411.002,85391
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2720380.42/cwt375.00–385.002,73917
Steers700–750Large 1Fleshy735370.00/cwt370.00–370.002,7203
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1774381.02/cwt370.00–394.002,949162
Steers750–800Large 1778367.00/cwt367.00–367.002,8553
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1810370.66/cwt369.00–371.003,00212
Steers800–850Large 1840355.00/cwt355.00–355.002,9822
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1Fleshy843347.00/cwt347.00–347.002,92522
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1882343.24/cwt340.50–347.003,02726
Steers850–900Large 1Fleshy892338.00/cwt338.00–338.003,01524
Steers900–950Large 1946321.00/cwt321.00–321.003,0375
Steers1000–1050Medium and Large 11,010312.00/cwt312.00–312.003,1515
Feeder Cattle · Heifers39 lots · lightest first
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned303485.00/cwt485.00–485.001,4707
Heifers300–350Medium and Large 1321568.40/cwt565.00–575.001,8256
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1Unweaned376485.00/cwt485.00–485.001,82416
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1385534.15/cwt530.00–550.002,05640
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 2385422.50/cwt422.50–422.501,6275
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2391512.68/cwt510.00–525.002,00530
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1-2424490.45/cwt442.50–505.002,08052
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1426520.32/cwt510.00–530.002,21727
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned430530.00/cwt530.00–530.002,2795
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2443380.00/cwt380.00–380.001,6834
Heifers400–450Large 1-2448425.00/cwt425.00–425.001,9048
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1475499.81/cwt485.00–506.002,37491
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2477446.26/cwt430.00–467.502,12982
Heifers450–500Large 1479466.76/cwt450.00–480.002,23680
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned496450.00/cwt450.00–450.002,23222
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned498425.00/cwt425.00–425.002,1175
Heifers500–550Large 1-2505395.00/cwt395.00–395.001,99523
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Fancy509503.20/cwt500.00–504.002,56115
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2529420.56/cwt402.50–435.002,22564
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1533461.30/cwt440.00–490.002,459190
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned534472.50/cwt472.50–472.502,5237
Heifers500–550Large 1535420.00/cwt420.00–420.002,2472
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2544388.69/cwt380.00–390.002,11423
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 2560380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,1283
Heifers550–600Medium 1Unweaned573412.50/cwt412.50–412.502,3644
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1575428.27/cwt412.00–440.002,463306
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2579400.15/cwt390.00–410.002,31752
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Fancy606426.15/cwt426.00–427.502,58241
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1617404.77/cwt387.50–411.002,497100
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Unweaned626426.00/cwt426.00–426.002,6675
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2629381.64/cwt380.00–382.002,40111
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Fancy656396.00/cwt396.00–396.002,59869
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1667371.50/cwt368.00–391.002,478129
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1-2668356.02/cwt342.00–370.002,37826
Heifers650–700Large 1670366.07/cwt363.00–367.002,4539
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1715366.52/cwt363.00–371.002,62155
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1763350.00/cwt350.00–350.002,6716
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2767347.00/cwt347.00–347.002,6618
Heifers800–850Large 1Fleshy839331.00/cwt331.00–331.002,7774
Feeder Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1586443.27/cwt420.00–455.002,59812
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1661391.49/cwt385.00–397.502,58816
Bulls650–700Medium and Large 1-2676380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,5694
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1728380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,7664
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1760367.94/cwt360.00–372.502,79611
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1913316.00/cwt316.00–316.002,8852
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1963295.00/cwt295.00–295.002,8413
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls5 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,787171.24/cwt164.00–175.003,0603
Bulls——1,882161.18/cwt151.00–176.003,03311
Bulls——1,974180.05/cwt176.00–184.003,5548
Bulls——2,162191.85/cwt189.00–197.504,1483
Bulls——2,255186.00/cwt186.00–186.004,1941
Slaughter Cattle · Cows17 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight86567.07/cwt60.00–70.005803
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight882113.36/cwt110.00–115.001,0003
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,080132.15/cwt127.50–136.001,4275
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,084142.58/cwt130.00–152.001,54614
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,10380.06/cwt75.00–85.008832
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,125138.00/cwt138.00–138.001,5531
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,138111.72/cwt103.00–120.001,2719
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,211159.89/cwt157.00–165.001,93612
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,228173.00/cwt173.00–173.002,1242
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,347150.11/cwt142.00–158.002,02230
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,363163.40/cwt158.00–169.002,22751
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,371132.92/cwt125.00–142.001,8228
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,488115.69/cwt109.00–122.501,7214
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,565163.01/cwt158.00–168.002,55115
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,631162.78/cwt161.00–168.002,65516
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,655154.00/cwt154.00–154.002,5491
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,765129.00/cwt129.00–129.002,2771
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows3 lots · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%1,425120.00/cwt120.00–120.001,7101
Dairy Cows—Boner 80-85%1,531114.00/cwt114.00–114.001,7456
Dairy Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,823131.00/cwt131.00–131.002,3886
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows6 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Large 1899212.50/cwt212.50–212.501,91010
Stock Cows—Large 1-2948170.00/cwt170.00–170.001,6125
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1991244.97/cwt210.00–290.002,42825
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,051203.75/cwt165.00–225.002,14114
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,298170.00/cwt170.00–170.002,2079
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,325180.00/cwt180.00–180.002,3851
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows1 lot · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth1,3922,250.00/head2,250.00–2,250.002,2505

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.