Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2026-03-05

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Mar 5
● Final112 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
1,980 head
▲ 1,812 vs last sale 168▼ 113 vs year ago 2,093 · −5.4%
Slaughter Cattle receipts
323 head
▲ 194 vs last sale 129▼ 18 vs year ago 341 · −5.3%
Replacement Cattle receipts
308 head
▲ 216 vs last sale 92▲ 109 vs year ago 199 · +54.8%
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Oct 26, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (2-19-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Demand was mostly good to very good for moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Demand for cattle suitable to go to grass was good to very good, while demand for cattle too big to go to grass was mostly good. Most feeders were offered in small to moderate size packages this week. Market activity was active. A moderate crowd of ranchers buying grass calves and order buyers was noticed. Weigh up cows sold on good demand for light offerings. Feeding cow demand continues to drive the market. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to weak on a very full offering. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this week as a change in weather had all cows pushing heavy amounts of fill. A limited number of slaughter cows were purchased this week as feeding demand pushed cow prices over where slaughter buyers wanted to buy cows. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all offerings. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Young age offerings suitable to feed or rebreed sold 10.00-15.00 in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Demand for coming 2 year old heifers was very good this sale as several buyers showed good demand to feed these offerings. All cows that lost calves sold on good to very good demand this week which pushed all young offerings higher.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $446.55/cwt on 443 head. That ranks 19 of 23 comparable sales and sits +34.93 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$446.55
443 head · 565 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,524
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$411
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$36.12/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−0.90
vs MT average
+25.59 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1566450.562,550385
Medium 1543424.002,30220
Medium and Large 1-2586418.632,45430
Medium and Large 2516414.442,1398thin
One grade step is worth $36.12/cwt here — about $411 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 sale443 hd
446.55
—
MT average3 barns · 1,054 hd
447.45
−0.90
National average181 barns · 13,944 hd
420.96
+25.59
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
+34.93
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

23 sales
483428373319median 411.6203/0504/3006/1109/2410/29
Heifers 500–600 lb: high $469.35, low $332.50, median $411.62 across 23 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—Low1,643199.133,27189
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,551176.232,73381
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,401170.682,39191
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,179153.941,81626
Dairy CowsLean 85-90%Very Low680105.007141thin

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 Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,306$4,0004thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1,625$3,5501thin
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Aged (>8 yrs)1,645$3,4001thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,577$3,4003thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)(<2 yrs)945$4,07229
Bred Heifers2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)(<2 yrs)1,165$3,8001thin

Every lot, as filed

112 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 · Steers21 lots · lightest first
Steers350–400Medium and Large 2379575.00/cwt575.00–575.002,1794
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1403638.53/cwt630.00–640.002,5737
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2427577.16/cwt575.00–590.002,4647
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2451572.37/cwt520.00–575.002,58141
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1484565.07/cwt547.50–587.502,73562
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1531515.64/cwt502.50–534.002,73818
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2537500.00/cwt500.00–500.002,6853
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1577485.04/cwt474.00–488.002,799141
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2596461.17/cwt460.00–470.002,74917
Steers600–650Medium 1600432.50/cwt432.50–432.502,5952
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1627453.39/cwt442.00–464.002,84386
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2628432.41/cwt420.00–439.002,71620
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1664436.04/cwt424.00–440.002,89540
Steers650–700Medium 1683360.00/cwt360.00–360.002,4592
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1722412.72/cwt406.00–420.502,98055
Steers700–750Medium and Large 1-2733368.36/cwt365.00–375.002,7006
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1754395.13/cwt377.50–397.002,97911
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2797362.50/cwt362.50–362.502,8893
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1827365.07/cwt360.00–367.503,0196
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1Full842350.00/cwt350.00–350.002,94717
Steers800–850Medium and Large 1-2845350.00/cwt350.00–350.002,9582
Feeder Cattle · Heifers32 lots · lightest first
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 2351470.00/cwt470.00–470.001,6508
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2389515.00/cwt515.00–515.002,0034
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1Unweaned405495.00/cwt495.00–495.002,0053
Heifers400–450Medium 1439485.00/cwt485.00–485.002,1295
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2463460.00/cwt460.00–460.002,1303
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1474495.66/cwt487.50–500.002,34994
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2482479.03/cwt455.00–485.002,30923
Heifers450–500Medium 1-2489325.00/cwt325.00–325.001,5895
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2505460.00/cwt460.00–460.002,3232
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2516414.44/cwt405.00–417.502,1398
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1529472.17/cwt455.00–487.502,49865
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1Unweaned535440.00/cwt440.00–440.002,35410
Heifers500–550Medium 1543424.00/cwt424.00–424.002,30220
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1NHTC574456.00/cwt456.00–456.002,617118
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1575440.46/cwt425.00–454.002,533192
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2592415.67/cwt400.00–425.002,46128
Heifers600–650Medium 1618405.00/cwt405.00–405.002,5033
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2629395.10/cwt380.00–405.002,48510
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 2631348.09/cwt345.00–350.002,19624
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Fleshy632380.00/cwt380.00–380.002,4028
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1638421.89/cwt408.00–428.002,69286
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1Replacement644430.00/cwt430.00–430.002,76949
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1661398.24/cwt382.50–407.002,63237
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Fleshy674376.00/cwt376.00–376.002,53436
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1Replacement675419.12/cwt412.50–421.002,829137
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1707376.67/cwt367.00–381.002,66326
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2745360.00/cwt360.00–360.002,6822
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1761365.00/cwt365.00–365.002,7784
Heifers750–800Medium and Large 1-2770350.92/cwt348.00–357.002,7026
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1839348.31/cwt345.00–353.002,92249
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1866343.00/cwt343.00–343.002,9708
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1933334.00/cwt334.00–334.003,1168
Feeder Cattle · Bulls18 lots · lightest first
Bulls300–350Medium and Large 2338595.00/cwt595.00–595.002,0114
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1-2458510.00/cwt510.00–510.002,33613
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1Unweaned463530.00/cwt530.00–530.002,4542
Bulls450–500Medium and Large 1465559.87/cwt555.00–570.002,6036
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1Unweaned582460.00/cwt460.00–460.002,67710
Bulls550–600Medium 1587427.50/cwt427.50–427.502,5099
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2590427.99/cwt427.50–430.002,5255
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1634411.51/cwt410.00–412.502,6095
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1717367.24/cwt365.00–370.002,63325
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1824340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,8029
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1882340.00/cwt340.00–340.002,99922
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1937315.00/cwt315.00–315.002,9527
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1978311.67/cwt310.00–312.503,0483
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1-2990302.50/cwt302.50–302.502,99516
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,008285.00/cwt285.00–285.002,8732
Bulls1050–1100Large 11,051294.00/cwt294.00–294.003,09015
Bulls1050–1100Large 1-21,062282.00/cwt282.00–282.002,9953
Bulls1050–1100Large 1Fleshy1,071282.50/cwt282.50–282.503,02611
Feeder Cattle · Dairy Steers1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Steers650–700Large 3679270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,8334
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Light Weight1,362159.51/cwt147.50–175.002,1734
Bulls——Return to Feed1,391192.13/cwt183.00–199.502,67318
Bulls——Return to Feed1,434198.38/cwt194.00–204.002,84518
Bulls——1,601189.60/cwt171.00–199.003,03512
Bulls——Natural1,788210.00/cwt210.00–210.003,7556
Bulls——1,904208.32/cwt201.00–218.003,96623
Bulls——2,000215.00/cwt215.00–215.004,3007
Bulls——2,175224.00/cwt224.00–224.004,8721
Slaughter Cattle · Cows15 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight875110.00/cwt110.00–110.009631
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,175131.76/cwt129.00–135.001,5482
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,180156.28/cwt151.00–162.001,84414
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,210169.98/cwt168.00–172.002,0574
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,216152.21/cwt145.00–158.001,8515
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,279160.99/cwt156.00–163.002,0595
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,338154.30/cwt150.00–162.002,0658
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,343176.41/cwt170.00–189.002,3693
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,405176.92/cwt170.00–183.002,48653
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,406163.52/cwt152.50–167.502,29924
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,460158.06/cwt155.00–161.002,3083
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,483148.00/cwt148.00–148.002,1952
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,547180.26/cwt168.00–184.002,78961
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,575171.00/cwt171.00–171.002,6931
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,705166.66/cwt164.00–170.002,84212
Slaughter Cattle · Dairy Cows1 lot · lightest first
Dairy Cows—Lean 85-90%Light Weight680105.00/cwt105.00–105.007141
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows4 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3064,000.00/head4,000.00–4,000.004,0004
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,5773,400.00/head3,400.00–3,400.003,4003
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,6253,550.00/head3,550.00–3,550.003,5501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,6453,400.00/head3,400.00–3,400.003,4001
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows10 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium 1788305.61/cwt300.00–315.002,4083
Stock Cows—Medium 1-2810265.00/cwt265.00–265.002,1471
Stock Cows—Medium 1883311.20/cwt307.50–315.002,7482
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1977302.06/cwt231.00–341.002,951107
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,041269.39/cwt255.00–300.002,8049
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,126260.31/cwt197.00–335.002,93172
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,144229.26/cwt189.00–315.002,62317
Stock Cows—Large 11,220238.20/cwt237.00–242.002,9064
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,270193.09/cwt185.00–210.002,45220
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1Fleshy1,418221.63/cwt216.00–225.003,1436
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers2 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium 19454,072.41/head3,900.00–4,100.004,07229
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 11,1653,800.00/head3,800.00–3,800.003,8001

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.