Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

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

Sale of Thursday, October 22, 2026

3,119 head sold ·Official USDA report · Price history in the app

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $421.28/cwt -3.51 vs last sale · ≈ $2,398/hd at 569 lb · 393 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $469.16/cwt +5.65 vs last sale · ≈ $2,421/hd at 516 lb · 227 head
heavy 6-weight M&L 1 steers $390.03/cwt +11.31 vs last sale · ≈ $2,618/hd at 671 lb · 194 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,119 4,224 4,837
Feeder cattle 3,119 4,224 4,837

Compared to last sale (10-15-26): Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Steer calves under 400 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Steer calves 400-549 lbs sold mostly steady to 8.00 higher, steer calves 550 lbs and heavier sold generally steady. Heifer calves under 450 lbs were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed. 450-499 lbs heifer calves sold 5.00-10.00 higher, 500-549 lbs higher sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher, heifers over 550 lbs sold mostly 10.00 lower. Calves were offered in mostly small to moderate size packages this week with a no load lots seen. Buyers were forced to pick around as they bid on small packages to fill orders. Quality this week was mixed but mostly average to attractive. Overall quality was not as attractive as last week. Fewer heifer buyers were in the market, especially on heifers over 550 lbs. Many cut-back calves continue to be seen off summer video sales. Demand for light weight calves continues to strengthen as western buyers push to fill winter grazing. Demand for light weight calves did diminish as buyers filled loads and exited the market. Market activity was mostly active. Billings livestock commission will not sale cows or bulls again this fall on Thursdays. Cows will be sold on Mondays during the fall run.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
313–330 unweaned 318 16 625.00–680.00 $632.09 $2,010 +17.09
352–396 unweaned 375 37 570.00–635.00 $607.43 $2,278 +12.65
405–441 unweaned 428 72 515.00–575.00 $532.86 $2,281 +2.05
450–492 unweaned 475 117 482.50–525.00 $503.94 $2,394 +12.33
479 479 5 475.00 $475.00 $2,275 -25.00
500–548 unweaned 516 227 430.00–505.00 $469.16 $2,421 +5.65
562 562 15 396.00 $396.00 $2,226 -40.00
564 564 24 426.00 $426.00 $2,403 -10.00
550–591 unweaned 570 354 400.00–447.00 $422.03 $2,406 +1.37
603–647 unweaned 624 171 384.00–410.00 $399.83 $2,495 -0.80
657 657 15 375.00 $375.00 $2,464 +10.00
664 664 62 412.50 $412.50 $2,739 +47.50
658–690 unweaned 677 117 370.00–396.00 $380.05 $2,573 -1.55
705–723 unweaned 713 63 358.00–375.50 $367.48 $2,620 +4.74
785 unweaned 785 1 360.00 $360.00 $2,826 -5.00
910 910 12 329.00 $329.00 $2,994 —
963 963 46 325.00 $325.00 $3,130 —
1003 1003 10 305.00 $305.00 $3,059 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
283–293 unweaned 287 5 620.00–645.00 $630.21 $1,809 +30.21
343 unweaned 343 2 555.00 $555.00 $1,904 -36.75
375 unweaned 375 5 550.00 $550.00 $2,062 +11.86
420–448 unweaned 435 15 500.00–510.00 $507.34 $2,207 +15.42
475–496 unweaned 494 25 455.00–475.00 $456.54 $2,255 -4.15
511–545 unweaned 531 26 425.00–435.00 $429.39 $2,280 +6.53
543 543 3 410.00 $410.00 $2,226 —
575 575 3 390.00 $390.00 $2,242 —
584–587 unweaned 586 19 390.00–392.00 $390.42 $2,288 -6.40
603–646 unweaned 634 17 355.00–382.50 $371.76 $2,357 -4.23
705–715 unweaned 710 10 347.50–357.50 $351.88 $2,498 -3.12
877–896 887 11 317.00–330.00 $324.16 $2,875 -2.56
943 943 3 308.00 $308.00 $2,904 —
962–965 964 10 307.00–308.50 $307.75 $2,967 —
1023 1023 5 293.00 $293.00 $2,997 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
471–484 unweaned 479 50 440.00–471.00 $467.53 $2,239 —
506–526 unweaned 511 15 420.00–432.50 $429.07 $2,193 +1.57
592 unweaned 592 5 395.00 $395.00 $2,338 +10.77
710 710 5 347.50 $347.50 $2,467 —
816 816 5 325.00 $325.00 $2,652 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
522 unweaned 522 3 405.00 $405.00 $2,114 -21.00
584 unweaned 584 4 400.00 $400.00 $2,336 —
625 unweaned 625 4 382.00 $382.00 $2,388 —
1010 1010 7 299.00 $299.00 $3,020 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
310 unweaned 310 1 520.00 $520.00 $1,612 —
439 unweaned 439 6 430.00 $430.00 $1,888 -13.22
695 unweaned 695 2 330.00 $330.00 $2,294 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
735 735 3 347.50 $347.50 $2,554 —
760 760 5 325.00 $325.00 $2,470 —

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
255–295 unweaned 275 4 560.00–585.00 $572.93 $1,576 -67.07
357–379 unweaned 371 8 500.00–505.00 $501.81 $1,862 +4.24
365–389 383 13 460.00–475.00 $471.71 $1,807 —
403–443 unweaned 423 21 460.00–500.00 $477.48 $2,020 -4.24
450–495 unweaned 468 150 420.00–470.00 $449.41 $2,103 +11.21
475 475 11 445.00 $445.00 $2,114 —
506 506 5 385.00 $385.00 $1,948 —
502–542 unweaned 527 182 397.50–420.00 $406.24 $2,141 +2.52
550–594 unweaned 567 154 357.50–386.00 $373.40 $2,117 -11.90
569–597 589 14 321.00–355.00 $345.62 $2,036 —
609 609 9 340.00 $340.00 $2,071 —
603–649 unweaned 629 34 346.00–355.00 $349.39 $2,198 -20.35
653–673 unweaned 671 31 340.00–349.00 $347.58 $2,332 +1.20
786 786 52 353.00 $353.00 $2,775 —
841 841 7 341.00 $341.00 $2,868 —
853 853 8 341.00 $341.00 $2,909 —
909–930 923 29 310.00–317.00 $315.83 $2,915 —
980–983 982 15 290.00–294.00 $293.20 $2,879 —
1039 1039 5 287.00 $287.00 $2,982 +3.89
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
290–293 unweaned 292 5 515.00 $515.00 $1,504 +5.77
346 unweaned 346 4 460.00 $460.00 $1,592 -25.85
374–398 unweaned 387 22 460.00–480.00 $472.42 $1,828 -0.36
417 unweaned 417 3 445.00 $445.00 $1,856 +3.33
483 unweaned 483 8 416.00 $416.00 $2,009 +13.50
491–497 495 15 362.50–375.00 $365.80 $1,811 —
570–595 unweaned 589 35 325.00–349.00 $340.62 $2,006 -23.50
629–649 unweaned 639 8 342.50–349.00 $345.80 $2,210 —
763–787 779 27 326.00–346.00 $332.56 $2,591 —
868 868 5 330.00 $330.00 $2,864 +25.00
1008 1008 3 285.00 $285.00 $2,873 +9.00
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
858–885 872 4 320.00 $320.00 $2,790 —

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
363 unweaned 363 3 570.00 $570.00 $2,069 —
455 unweaned 455 1 507.50 $507.50 $2,309 —
535 unweaned 535 2 395.00 $395.00 $2,113 -21.00
595 unweaned 595 18 365.00 $365.00 $2,172 —
705 unweaned 705 1 315.00 $315.00 $2,221 —
927 927 5 295.00 $295.00 $2,735 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
583 unweaned 583 2 355.00 $355.00 $2,070 —
728 unweaned 728 4 302.50 $302.50 $2,202 —

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high 523.42 low 380.67 Oct 2025 Oct 2026

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

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 15, 2026)