Name: Billings Livestock Commission livestock auction prices — 2025-11-10
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2025-11-10

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last Mondays sale: Feeder cattle were not reported last week, so no trend is available. Feeder cattle quality was mostly plain to average this week. Heifer quality was better than steer quality. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows comprised most of the sale this week. Demand was mostly moderate to good for moderate to heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold 2.00-3.00 lower on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold 3.00-6.00 lower. Cow quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive. A large portion of the cow offering were lame or blemished this sale. Many blemished cows continue to be purchased to feed or turn out on stubble or cornstalks. High quality feeding cows suitable to feed to premium white sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower. Thin feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower on a lower quality offering. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average today. Slaughter bulls sold on moderate demand for light offerings. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Quality was mostly average this week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 10.00 lower on a lower quality offering.

Weight class

Heifers · summary 500–600 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

500–600 lb heifers averaged $382.17/cwt on 120 head.

Average price

$382.17

120 head · 526 lb average

Value per head Derived

$2,012

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

$181

per head · Medium and Large 1 over Large 1

$63.13/cwt at this weight

vs the market

+0.36

vs MT average

+18.21 vs national

What quality paid 500–600 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium and Large 1	524	388.13	2,034	105
Medium 1	536	353.21	1,895	7thin
Medium and Large 1-2	544	330.67	1,798	6thin
Large 1	570	325.00	1,853	2thin

One grade step is worth $63.13/cwt here — about $181 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 sale120 hd

382.17

—

MT average4 barns · 1,351 hd

381.80

+0.36

National average183 barns · 20,348 hd

363.96

+18.21

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	—	Average	1,659	176.95	2,936	72
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	High	1,561	169.61	2,648	136
Cows	Boner 80-85%	High	1,373	162.71	2,234	421
Cows	Lean 85-90%	High	1,175	140.60	1,652	370

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 Stage (4-6 mo)	Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)	1,068	$3,150	2thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	1,004	$3,137	14
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,469	$3,013	43
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Young (2-4 yrs)	860	$2,900	4thin
Bred Cows	2nd Stage (4-6 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,360	$2,718	43
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)	1,309	$2,685	6
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)	1,507	$2,613	4thin
Bred Cows	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	Aged (>8 yrs)	1,230	$2,320	17
Bred Heifers	1st Stage (1-3 mo)	(<2 yrs)	1,215	$3,000	6

Every lot, as filed

96 lots · USDA AMS · Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Mon)

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
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	600–650	600	324.00/cwt	324.00–324.00	1,944	8
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,416	175.32/cwt	175.00–177.00	2,483	27
Bulls	—	—	1,847	184.30/cwt	180.00–190.00	3,404	16
Bred Cows	Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,350	2,600.00/head	2,600.00–2,600.00	2,600	10
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	1,008	203.56/cwt	200.00–220.00	2,052	6
Bred Cows	Large 1	—	1,289	2,550.00/head	2,550.00–2,550.00	2,550	4
Stock Cows	Large 1	—	1,295	175.00/cwt	175.00–175.00	2,266	1
Bulls	—Light Weight	—	1,032	172.50/cwt	172.50–172.50	1,780	5
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,633	179.65/cwt	177.00–183.00	2,934	25
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,615	169.99/cwt	164.00–176.00	2,745	7
Bulls	—	—	2,085	182.00/cwt	182.00–182.00	3,795	2
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,433	119.21/cwt	110.00–128.00	1,708	20
Cows	Boner 80-85%	—	1,435	137.97/cwt	135.00–143.00	1,980	3
Bulls	—	—	1,717	165.97/cwt	157.50–176.00	2,850	15
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,349	158.42/cwt	130.00–163.50	2,137	145
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,895	177.50/cwt	177.50–177.50	3,364	1
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,129	174.51/cwt	170.00–185.00	1,970	5
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,199	133.29/cwt	132.50–135.00	1,598	6
Bulls	—Return to Feed	—	1,353	197.01/cwt	195.00–199.00	2,666	2
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	881	102.09/cwt	90.00–110.00	899	8
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,668	172.40/cwt	169.00–175.50	2,876	29
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,212	146.81/cwt	125.00–161.00	1,779	153
Cows	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	—	1,180	163.55/cwt	161.00–168.00	1,930	106
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	—	1,618	161.16/cwt	138.00–169.50	2,608	24
Cows	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	—	1,377	168.14/cwt	164.00–174.00	2,315	226
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,510	167.54/cwt	153.00–173.50	2,530	25
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,585	179.00/cwt	179.00–179.00	2,837	1
Cows	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	—	1,498	172.41/cwt	171.00–177.50	2,583	56
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,107	88.96/cwt	80.00–95.00	985	18
Cows	Lean 85-90%	—	1,144	110.27/cwt	100.00–126.00	1,261	73
Cows	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	—	915	85.00/cwt	85.00–85.00	778	1
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,323	180.32/cwt	172.00–185.00	2,386	3
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,085	229.36/cwt	172.00–305.00	2,489	142
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,068	3,150.00/head	3,150.00–3,150.00	3,150	2
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,291	178.00/cwt	178.00–178.00	2,298	14
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	964	278.48/cwt	211.00–322.50	2,685	70
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,438	2,650.00/head	2,650.00–2,650.00	2,650	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,177	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	1,907	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,367	2,800.00/head	2,800.00–2,800.00	2,800	5
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	1,053	205.72/cwt	171.00–250.00	2,166	17
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2	—	913	265.19/cwt	220.00–305.00	2,421	16
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Thin Fleshed	—	843	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	2,150	3
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,186	2,222.37/head	2,100.00–2,600.00	2,222	11
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,399	171.00/cwt	171.00–171.00	2,392	7
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,482	3,040.58/head	2,700.00–3,200.00	3,041	38
Stock Cows	Medium and Large 1Fleshy	—	1,100	237.56/cwt	200.00–271.00	2,613	10
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1-2Broken Mouth	—	1,152	2,500.00/head	2,500.00–2,500.00	2,500	7
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,575	2,575.00/head	2,575.00–2,575.00	2,575	2
Bulls	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	400–450	433	458.00/cwt	458.00–458.00	1,983	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	550–600	566	376.06/cwt	360.00–380.00	2,128	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500–550	517	390.14/cwt	388.00–391.00	2,017	90
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	450–500	485	390.56/cwt	390.00–401.00	1,894	20
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	350–400	394	487.50/cwt	487.50–487.50	1,921	4
Steers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	650–700	665	368.00/cwt	368.00–368.00	2,447	3
Heifers	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	600–650	622	334.08/cwt	329.00–338.00	2,078	9
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2	800–850	816	300.00/cwt	300.00–300.00	2,448	9
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	545	380.00/cwt	380.00–380.00	2,071	3
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	436	420.00/cwt	420.00–420.00	1,831	5
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	505	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,768	2
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	650–700	689	333.74/cwt	327.50–340.00	2,299	6
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	450–500	496	324.00/cwt	324.00–324.00	1,607	4
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	550–600	570	325.00/cwt	325.00–325.00	1,853	2
Heifers	Large 1Unweaned	350–400	357	400.00/cwt	400.00–400.00	1,428	17
Bulls	Large 1	1200–1250	1,248	255.00/cwt	255.00–255.00	3,182	2
Bred Cows	Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,248	2,200.00/head	2,200.00–2,200.00	2,200	3
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	550–600	565	337.50/cwt	337.50–337.50	1,907	3
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	450–500	459	377.50/cwt	377.50–377.50	1,733	21
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	400–450	418	435.00/cwt	435.00–435.00	1,818	5
Stock Cows	Medium 1	—	779	280.48/cwt	245.00–300.00	2,185	7
Stock Cows	Medium 1-2	—	770	270.00/cwt	270.00–270.00	2,079	1
Bred Cows	Medium 1	—	875	2,700.00/head	2,700.00–2,700.00	2,700	2
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,420	2,822.64/head	2,700.00–2,950.00	2,823	26
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1Broken Mouth	—	1,373	2,800.00/head	2,800.00–2,800.00	2,800	3
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	500–550	529	400.26/cwt	397.50–401.00	2,117	14
Heifers	Medium 1Unweaned	500–550	515	365.00/cwt	365.00–365.00	1,880	4
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	400–450	446	457.50/cwt	457.50–457.50	2,040	8
Steers	Medium 1Unweaned	450–500	475	425.00/cwt	425.00–425.00	2,019	4
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	423	437.44/cwt	420.00–441.00	1,850	12
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	450–500	475	352.00/cwt	352.00–352.00	1,672	2
Bred Heifers	Medium and Large 1	—	1,215	3,000.00/head	3,000.00–3,000.00	3,000	6
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	860	2,900.00/head	2,900.00–2,900.00	2,900	4
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,025	3,209.43/head	3,200.00–3,250.00	3,209	12
Bred Cows	Medium and Large 1	—	1,348	2,956.03/head	2,900.00–3,000.00	2,956	2
Heifers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	400–450	405	360.00/cwt	360.00–360.00	1,458	4
Steers	Medium and Large 2Unweaned	500–550	513	382.00/cwt	382.00–382.00	1,960	10
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	450–500	460	427.00/cwt	427.00–427.00	1,964	3
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	583	353.52/cwt	352.50–355.00	2,061	10
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	615	347.50/cwt	347.50–347.50	2,137	20
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	500–550	513	401.00/cwt	401.00–401.00	2,057	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	359	475.00/cwt	475.00–475.00	1,705	7
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	400–450	435	456.00/cwt	456.00–456.00	1,984	6
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	250–300	290	574.71/cwt	565.00–600.00	1,667	12
Bulls	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	350–400	360	510.00/cwt	510.00–510.00	1,836	1
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	250–300	277	530.00/cwt	530.00–530.00	1,468	8
Steers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	600–650	622	344.20/cwt	340.00–360.00	2,141	15
Heifers	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	550–600	563	321.00/cwt	321.00–321.00	1,807	4

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 →