Sale reports / Montana / Billings Livestock Commission / 2026-04-16

Billings Livestock Commission

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Thu, Apr 16
● Final118 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1777
Feeder Cattle receipts
334 head
▲ 115 vs last sale 219▲ 334 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Slaughter Cattle receipts
402 head
▲ 170 vs last sale 232▲ 402 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Replacement Cattle receipts
275 head
▼ 53 vs last sale 328▲ 275 vs year ago 0 · no sale a year ago
Also sold here(Mon)Mon Oct 26, 2026
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Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale (4-9-26): Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend however higher undertones were noted on feeder steers and bulls, while steady to lower undertones were noted on feeder heifers. Demand was mostly good for light offerings. Feeders were offered in mostly small packages or as singles. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Weigh up cows and bulls sold on good to very good demand for heavier offerings. Slaughter cows sold uneven; leans and breakers sold 4.00 to 8.00 lower, while boners sold 6.00 higher. Slaughter bulls sold 3.00 lower. Feeding cows and bulls overall sold 2.00 to 5.00 higher. Young age offerings suitable to feed or rebreed comprised a large portion of the sale this week. Buyers were willing to take up to middle age cows to turn out and rebreed. Young cow offerings were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive.

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot
500–600 lb heifers averaged $424.32/cwt on 45 head, down $36.49 from the prior sale. That ranks 14 of 23 comparable sales and sits +12.70 against this barn's trailing median of $411.62.
Average price
$424.32
▼ 36.49 vs prior sale
45 head · 557 lb average
Value per head Derived
$2,365
Price × average weight ÷ 100
Grade differential Derived
$847
per head · Medium and Large 1 over Medium and Large 2
$119.81/cwt at this weight
vs the market
−36.39
vs MT average
−3.07 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade
Frame / muscleAvg wt$/cwt$/headHead
Medium and Large 1563447.092,51632
Large 1555430.002,3871thin
Medium and Large 1-2564382.662,1577thin
Large 1-2517341.451,7653thin
Medium and Large 2510327.281,6692thin
One grade step is worth $119.81/cwt here — about $847 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 sale45 hd
424.32
—
MT average3 barns · 344 hd
460.71
−36.39
National average182 barns · 12,591 hd
427.39
−3.07
This barn, trailing median23 sales
411.62
+12.70
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—Average1,540230.363,54872
CowsBoner 80-85%Average1,326180.682,397113
CowsBreaker 75-80%Low1,541178.242,747109
CowsLean 85-90%Low1,170166.991,95359

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)Young (2-4 yrs)1,379$4,46912
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,297$4,2305
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,352$3,8533thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,382$3,8534thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,125$3,5501thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,282$3,3058
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,218$3,2154thin
Bred Cows1st Stage (1-3 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,133$3,1522thin
Bred Cows2nd Stage (4-6 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,208$2,8756
Bred Cows3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,215$2,7001thin
Bred Cows1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo)Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,235$2,5044thin
Bred Cows2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,163$2,4582thin
Bred Heifers3rd Stage (7-9 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,005$3,7501thin
Bred Heifers1st Stage (1-3 mo)Young (2-4 yrs)1,040$3,3001thin
Bred Heifers2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo)(<2 yrs)930$2,8512thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)1,280$4,2432thin
Cow-Calf PairsOpenYoung/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1,401$3,6346
Cow-Calf PairsOpenMiddle Aged (5-8 yrs)1,342$3,4034thin
Heifer PairsOpenYoung (2-4 yrs)936$4,2007

Every lot, as filed

118 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 · Steers23 lots · lightest first
Steers250–300Medium and Large 1290710.00/cwt710.00–710.002,0591
Steers300–350Medium and Large 1340660.00/cwt660.00–660.002,2441
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1363662.38/cwt645.00–680.002,4042
Steers350–400Medium and Large 1-2393559.92/cwt550.00–580.002,2003
Steers350–400Medium and Large 2393494.90/cwt480.00–510.001,9452
Steers400–450Medium and Large 2410420.00/cwt420.00–420.001,7222
Steers400–450Medium and Large 1-2438525.00/cwt525.00–525.002,3002
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1-2472458.86/cwt425.00–480.002,1664
Steers450–500Medium and Large 1480542.04/cwt535.00–545.002,6027
Steers450–500Medium and Large 2480400.00/cwt400.00–400.001,9201
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1-2528437.75/cwt420.00–455.002,3112
Steers500–550Medium and Large 1533512.32/cwt500.00–525.002,7312
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1-2550470.00/cwt470.00–470.002,5851
Steers550–600Medium and Large 1555500.46/cwt490.00–510.002,77812
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1600485.00/cwt485.00–485.002,9102
Steers600–650Medium and Large 1-2605423.33/cwt420.00–425.002,5613
Steers600–650Medium and Large 2630333.77/cwt332.50–335.002,1032
Steers600–650Large 1646352.50/cwt352.50–352.502,2777
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1-2654353.12/cwt342.50–390.002,30920
Steers650–700Medium and Large 1674430.33/cwt412.50–431.502,90016
Steers750–800Medium and Large 1-2775320.00/cwt320.00–320.002,4801
Steers850–900Medium and Large 1-2880322.50/cwt322.50–322.502,8381
Steers1000–1050Large 11,028315.00/cwt315.00–315.003,2382
Feeder Cattle · Heifers28 lots · lightest first
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1373518.39/cwt515.00–520.001,9343
Heifers350–400Medium and Large 1-2390485.45/cwt450.00–520.001,8932
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 1415474.07/cwt470.00–482.501,9673
Heifers400–450Medium and Large 2439341.61/cwt305.00–360.001,5003
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 2475362.55/cwt360.00–365.001,7222
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1482492.50/cwt492.50–492.502,37412
Heifers450–500Medium and Large 1-2487401.26/cwt400.00–410.001,9548
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 2510327.28/cwt305.00–350.001,6692
Heifers500–550Large 1-2517341.45/cwt335.00–355.001,7653
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1-2523410.00/cwt410.00–410.002,1442
Heifers500–550Medium and Large 1529452.75/cwt447.50–470.002,39514
Heifers550–600Large 1555430.00/cwt430.00–430.002,3871
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1-2580371.73/cwt355.00–407.502,1565
Heifers550–600Medium and Large 1589442.69/cwt420.00–460.002,60718
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 1-2623345.43/cwt342.50–347.502,1525
Heifers600–650Medium and Large 2625270.00/cwt270.00–270.001,6881
Heifers650–700Medium and Large 1671389.49/cwt387.50–390.002,6135
Heifers650–700Large 1682367.92/cwt356.00–380.002,5097
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1721388.36/cwt358.00–400.002,8007
Heifers700–750Medium and Large 1-2733331.13/cwt315.00–335.002,4275
Heifers800–850Large 1805325.00/cwt325.00–325.002,6161
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1830336.48/cwt335.00–342.502,7935
Heifers800–850Medium and Large 1-2840327.50/cwt327.50–327.502,7511
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1869345.43/cwt339.00–357.503,0026
Heifers850–900Medium and Large 1-2873292.41/cwt260.00–325.002,5532
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1-2925305.00/cwt305.00–305.002,8211
Heifers900–950Medium and Large 1931349.18/cwt325.00–352.503,25110
Heifers950–1000Medium and Large 1988330.00/cwt330.00–330.003,2603
Feeder Cattle · Bulls14 lots · lightest first
Bulls200–250Medium and Large 1-2225560.00/cwt560.00–560.001,2601
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1-2560436.93/cwt435.00–440.002,4478
Bulls550–600Medium and Large 1597435.00/cwt435.00–435.002,5973
Bulls600–650Medium and Large 1629409.74/cwt400.00–430.002,5774
Bulls700–750Medium and Large 1730385.00/cwt385.00–385.002,8113
Bulls750–800Medium and Large 1760357.50/cwt357.50–357.502,7171
Bulls800–850Medium and Large 1830354.88/cwt345.00–365.002,9462
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1860345.00/cwt345.00–345.002,9671
Bulls850–900Medium and Large 1-2885317.50/cwt317.50–317.502,8101
Bulls900–950Medium and Large 1930327.05/cwt312.50–330.003,0426
Bulls950–1000Medium and Large 1973315.00/cwt315.00–315.003,0652
Bulls1000–1050Medium and Large 11,023300.42/cwt272.50–307.503,0735
Bulls1050–1100Medium and Large 11,085286.26/cwt284.00–300.003,1067
Bulls1150–1200Medium and Large 11,190260.00/cwt260.00–260.003,0942
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls7 lots · lightest first
Bulls——Return to Feed1,138260.74/cwt257.50–266.002,96715
Bulls——1,379245.55/cwt233.00–250.003,3867
Bulls——1,538215.85/cwt212.00–220.003,32017
Bulls——Return to Feed1,664219.02/cwt215.00–221.003,64422
Bulls——Return to Feed1,909229.52/cwt227.00–234.004,3828
Bulls——Return to Feed1,980208.34/cwt207.50–209.004,1252
Bulls——2,200215.00/cwt215.00–215.004,7301
Slaughter Cattle · Cows16 lots · lightest first
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,051141.77/cwt137.50–146.001,4907
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,131123.46/cwt117.50–127.501,3964
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,147153.90/cwt149.00–157.501,76510
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,178178.66/cwt174.00–182.502,10513
Cows—Lean 85-90%Return to Feed1,212183.37/cwt181.00–187.502,22220
Cows—Lean 85-90%1,222167.40/cwt165.00–171.002,0465
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,311183.76/cwt175.00–187.502,40986
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,343166.93/cwt163.00–175.002,24215
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,383165.36/cwt165.00–166.002,2873
Cows—Boner 80-85%Return to Feed1,398190.96/cwt188.00–196.002,6706
Cows—Boner 80-85%1,486155.91/cwt151.00–159.002,3173
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,496188.39/cwt185.50–191.002,81832
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,513181.03/cwt177.00–184.002,73940
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,536163.29/cwt161.00–164.002,50810
Cows—Breaker 75-80%1,549143.91/cwt137.50–150.002,2294
Cows—Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed1,655171.75/cwt166.00–175.502,84223
Replacement Cattle · Cow-Calf Pairs4 lots · lightest first
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 1-21,2652,750.00/head2,750.00–2,750.002,7501
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,2804,243.16/head4,000.00–4,500.004,2432
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,3673,620.13/head3,550.00–3,650.003,6203
Cow-Calf Pairs—Medium and Large 11,4013,633.62/head3,600.00–3,700.003,6346
Replacement Cattle · Bred Cows14 lots · lightest first
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1253,550.00/head3,550.00–3,550.003,5501
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,1333,151.55/head3,050.00–3,250.003,1522
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1582,716.20/head2,600.00–2,800.002,7162
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,1632,458.06/head2,300.00–2,600.002,4582
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2032,499.34/head2,375.00–2,550.002,4993
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2123,250.39/head3,000.00–3,400.003,2503
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2152,700.00/head2,700.00–2,700.002,7001
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2183,215.23/head3,000.00–3,400.003,2154
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,2352,503.80/head2,400.00–2,600.002,5044
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,2974,230.41/head4,150.00–4,400.004,2305
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3233,501.61/head3,400.00–3,550.003,5026
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,3523,853.21/head3,700.00–3,950.003,8533
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3794,469.37/head4,300.00–4,485.004,46912
Bred Cows—Medium and Large 11,3823,853.02/head3,800.00–3,900.003,8534
Replacement Cattle · Heifer Pairs1 lot · lightest first
Heifer Pairs—Medium and Large 19364,200.00/head4,200.00–4,200.004,2007
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows8 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1978316.32/cwt310.00–320.003,09411
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-2981304.51/cwt304.00–305.002,98714
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,032292.05/cwt282.50–303.003,01424
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,125255.96/cwt234.00–278.002,88091
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 11,162234.65/cwt220.00–247.002,72713
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 21,207219.81/cwt215.00–228.002,65314
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 1-21,207204.78/cwt195.00–212.502,47226
Stock Cows—Medium and Large 21,301188.63/cwt185.00–191.002,4546
Replacement Cattle · Bred Heifers3 lots · lightest first
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 1-29302,851.08/head2,750.00–2,950.002,8512
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 1-21,0053,750.00/head3,750.00–3,750.003,7501
Bred Heifers—Medium and Large 1-21,0403,300.00/head3,300.00–3,300.003,3001

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.