Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock · usually sells Mondays

Sale of Monday, October 19, 2026

1,303 head sold ·Official USDA report · Price history in the app

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $436.98/cwt ≈ $1,993/hd at 456 lb · 37 head
light 5-weight M&L 1-2 heifers $364.52/cwt +2.52 vs last sale · ≈ $1,932/hd at 530 lb · 36 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $392.13/cwt ≈ $2,247/hd at 573 lb · 36 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,303 873 1,740
Feeder cattle 575 335 575
Slaughter cattle 577 399 755
Replacement cattle 151 139 410

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale (10-12-26): All feeder cattle were too lightly tested to develop any market trend, however higher undertones were noted. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly plain to average. Most feeders were offered in small packages with many singles noticed. Weigh up cows sold uneven; breaking and lean flesh cows sold 2.00 to 5.00 lower, while boning cows sold 5.00 higher. Weigh up cows sold on moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Cow quality this week was mixed from plain to average. Feeding cows sold with mostly moderate to good demand. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to 5.00 higher on breaking and boning cows, lean flesh cows sold 3.00 to 5.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold 3.00 to 4.00 lower. Feeding bulls sold steady to 1.00 lower. Quality was mostly average to attractive this week. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on moderate to good demand. Quality this week was mostly average. Steady to higher undertones were noted.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
300–315 unweaned 309 4 615.00–620.00 $616.21 $1,904 +56.21
350–355 unweaned 351 5 570.00–575.00 $573.99 $2,015 —
405–441 unweaned 428 13 465.00–485.00 $476.11 $2,038 —
450–485 unweaned 479 33 435.00–465.00 $451.56 $2,163 -5.94
505–536 unweaned 527 21 407.00–414.00 $410.64 $2,164 +8.64
553–597 unweaned 577 17 370.00–386.00 $378.00 $2,181 +4.70
613–648 636 9 365.00–368.00 $367.04 $2,334 —
655–665 660 4 352.50–354.00 $353.26 $2,332 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
339 unweaned 339 4 570.00 $570.00 $1,932 —
400–420 unweaned 408 23 500.00–516.00 $512.87 $2,093 —
555–587 unweaned 573 36 390.00–395.00 $392.13 $2,247 —
605–613 613 16 381.00–394.00 $393.20 $2,410 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
265 unweaned 265 1 555.00 $555.00 $1,471 +11.63
370–390 unweaned 384 4 490.00–535.00 $500.85 $1,923 +140.85
525–545 unweaned 533 6 365.00–385.00 $378.00 $2,015 —
593–595 unweaned 594 4 357.50–365.00 $359.38 $2,135 —
640 640 1 350.00 $350.00 $2,240 —
705–745 725 2 325.00–345.00 $334.72 $2,427 -0.28
770 770 1 310.00 $310.00 $2,387 -21.93
918 918 2 275.00 $275.00 $2,524 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310–345 unweaned 323 4 485.00–500.00 $491.45 $1,587 +44.45
373–380 unweaned 374 9 455.00–465.00 $456.13 $1,706 —
405–449 unweaned 430 32 421.00–436.00 $426.01 $1,832 +4.01
462–498 unweaned 480 9 390.00–415.00 $401.04 $1,925 +21.53
500–547 unweaned 530 36 357.50–377.50 $364.52 $1,932 +2.52
558–592 unweaned 583 16 345.00–352.50 $346.53 $2,020 +19.93
713 713 2 325.00 $325.00 $2,317 —
760–795 782 8 305.00–317.00 $315.54 $2,468 —
853 853 8 322.50 $322.50 $2,751 —
910–928 921 12 270.00–310.00 $296.44 $2,730 —
950–995 971 13 272.00–289.00 $280.64 $2,725 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
250 unweaned 250 1 555.00 $555.00 $1,388 —
308–315 unweaned 311 5 507.50–510.00 $508.51 $1,581 -26.49
378 unweaned 378 2 485.00 $485.00 $1,833 —
450–458 unweaned 456 37 434.00–440.00 $436.98 $1,993 —
507–528 unweaned 512 31 390.00–405.00 $392.68 $2,011 +17.68
550–590 unweaned 557 25 355.00–369.00 $365.81 $2,038 +15.81
910–938 926 12 317.00–325.00 $322.34 $2,985 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
338–345 unweaned 340 3 430.00–470.00 $443.52 $1,508 —
370–380 unweaned 375 6 435.00–445.00 $440.88 $1,653 —
415–432 unweaned 429 9 400.00–415.00 $406.14 $1,742 —
505 unweaned 505 1 350.00 $350.00 $1,768 —
633 633 2 325.00 $325.00 $2,057 —
695 695 2 312.50 $312.50 $2,172 —
860 860 1 299.00 $299.00 $2,571 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
400–430 unweaned 418 3 465.00–480.00 $474.92 $1,985 +42.42
488–490 unweaned 489 3 405.00–421.00 $415.65 $2,033 +45.65
630 630 2 355.00 $355.00 $2,236 —
685 685 2 340.00 $340.00 $2,329 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1070–1080 1077 3 270.00–273.00 $272.01 $2,930 —
1110–1130 1118 4 250.00–270.00 $259.36 $2,900 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
795 795 1 310.00 $310.00 $2,464 —
970 970 1 296.00 $296.00 $2,871 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 unweaned 310 1 605.00 $605.00 $1,876 —

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Slaughter Cows

Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
930 930 75-80% 1 112.00 $112.00 $1,042 —
1345–1585 1467 75-80% 91 140.00–154.00 $150.71 $2,211 —
1360–1695 1483 75-80% 10 128.00–136.00 $132.69 $1,968 —
1350–1620 1503 75-80% 37 140.00–150.00 $146.54 $2,202 —
1380–1900 1572 75-80% 26 97.50–121.00 $114.01 $1,792 —
1460–1805 1651 75-80% 11 121.00–130.50 $124.35 $2,053 -7.75
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1230–1390 1279 80-85% 17 114.00–126.00 $117.31 $1,500 —
1122–1405 1290 80-85% 23 109.00–122.00 $117.04 $1,510 —
1193–1390 1294 80-85% 17 157.00–162.00 $158.71 $2,054 —
1010–1405 1308 80-85% 12 134.00–145.00 $139.78 $1,828 —
1120–1450 1323 80-85% 47 141.00–155.00 $148.52 $1,965 —
1220–1490 1345 80-85% 54 146.50–152.50 $150.43 $2,023 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
790–945 879 85-90% 5 85.00–92.50 $89.38 $786 +0.71
995–998 997 85-90% 3 102.50–105.00 $104.17 $1,039 —
1015–1350 1178 85-90% 53 100.00–116.00 $108.08 $1,273 -1.67
1000–1275 1182 85-90% 12 120.00–132.50 $128.28 $1,516 +18.53
1135–1275 1186 85-90% 16 135.00–138.00 $136.45 $1,618 +26.70
1025–1310 1188 85-90% 22 85.00–97.50 $92.55 $1,099 -17.20
1065–1317 1188 85-90% 24 139.00–147.50 $142.44 $1,692 +32.69
1265–1385 1282 85-90% 15 149.00–150.00 $149.53 $1,917 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1185–2235 1405 11 190.00–207.50 $196.86 $2,766 —
1395–2165 1629 20 170.00–185.00 $175.30 $2,856 —
1384–2185 1648 12 178.00–185.00 $180.54 $2,975 —
1505–1850 1697 6 168.00–171.00 $170.04 $2,886 —
1245–2150 1699 11 160.00–168.00 $163.50 $2,778 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
893–1140 983 (<2 yrs)Open 42 270.00–310.00 $287.67 $2,828
910–1323 1177 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 16 210.00–227.00 $219.76 $2,587
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
803–1240 1098 (<2 yrs)Open 35 230.00–262.00 $245.53 $2,696
945–1345 1217 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 23 175.00–201.00 $187.57 $2,283

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1015–1130 1092 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 1,950.00–2,350.00 $2,226.03
970–1450 1130 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 3 1,900.00–2,300.00 $2,128.32
885–1433 1250 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 2,300.00–2,400.00 $2,323.59
1110–1580 1309 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 6 1,875.00–2,200.00 $2,060.98
1373 1373 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 2,200.00 $2,200.00
1220–1530 1375 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 1,900.00–2,400.00 $2,178.18
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
910–995 953 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 2 3,000.00–3,150.00 $3,071.65
1035–1085 1060 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 3,000.00–3,050.00 $3,025.59
1260 1260 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 2,475.00 $2,475.00
1300 1300 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 3,750.00 $3,750.00
1320 1320 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 2,900.00 $2,900.00
1605 1605 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 2,450.00 $2,450.00

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Price trend

high 470.00 low 353.52 Oct 2025 Oct 2026

550–599 lb Medium and Large 1-2 steers — head-weighted average $/cwt by sale date, last 12 months.

Reading this report

What does "Medium and Large 1" mean?

USDA feeder grades describe frame size and muscle thickness, not quality of the individual animal. "Medium and Large" is the frame score; the number is muscle (1 = heaviest muscled). "Medium and Large 1–2" pens mix both muscle scores — common across the Southeast.

What is $/cwt?

Dollars per hundredweight — per 100 lb of animal. A 500-lb calf at $450/cwt brings 5 × $450 = $2,250. Lighter cattle usually bring more per cwt but less per head.

Why are some prices per head?

Bred cows, cow-calf pairs, and some replacement classes sell by the head, not by weight. We show those exactly as USDA reports them — a $/head figure is never converted into $/cwt on this site.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock Market News — federal reporters at the sale. We publish each report in full and link the official USDA document at the top of the page.

← Previous sale (Oct 12, 2026)

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