Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, October 29, 2020

3,623 head sold ·Official USDA report

This is an archived report. See the latest Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction report →

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $156.23/cwt +8.31 vs last sale · ≈ $820/hd at 525 lb · 793 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $141.34/cwt +2.33 vs last sale · ≈ $731/hd at 517 lb · 318 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $146.47/cwt +6.57 vs last sale · ≈ $696/hd at 475 lb · 278 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,623 2,490 4,643
Feeder cattle 3,234 2,274 4,118
Slaughter cattle 274 140 108
Replacement cattle 115 76 417

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Unweaned steer calves under 450 lbs sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher; 450-599 lbs steers sold 7.00-10.00 higher; 600-749 lbs steers sold 3.00-8.00 higher. Unweaned heifers sold 2.00-5.00 higher on all weights. Demand was mostly moderate to good on moderate to heavy offerings. Warmer, dryer, weather was seen this week. CME positions pushed higher all week and buyers showed good demand as a result. Quality this week was average to attractive. A large crowd was on hand this week. Market activity was mostly active this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for light offerings. Not enough cows or bulls sold last week to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to lower undertones were noticed. Quality this week was mostly average. Weigh up conditions were below average as all cows and bulls were very full.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
275 unweaned 275 1 225.00 $225.00 $619 —
305–335 unweaned 325 25 205.00–215.00 $209.70 $682 +3.28
353–380 unweaned 360 52 187.50–205.00 $200.53 $722 +11.82
401–449 unweaned 421 114 171.00–185.00 $175.73 $740 +1.28
451 fancy 451 7 182.00 $182.00 $821 —
453 453 10 179.00 $179.00 $811 —
450–481 unweaned 466 97 161.00–177.00 $173.38 $808 +18.34
500–540 unweaned 525 793 149.00–161.00 $156.23 $820 +8.31
559–594 unweaned 574 215 143.50–149.75 $146.96 $844 +7.28
600–643 unweaned 616 185 139.00–148.75 $143.89 $886 +3.88
654–697 unweaned 682 31 138.00–148.75 $141.19 $963 +4.36
701–737 unweaned 718 56 138.00–146.00 $142.58 $1,024 +7.20
756–759 unweaned 758 19 137.00–139.00 $137.52 $1,042 +12.52
767–769 768 12 134.50–140.00 $137.71 $1,058 +0.71
868 868 22 130.50 $130.50 $1,133 +1.50
907 907 6 125.00–127.50 $126.25 $1,145 -3.35
971 971 9 128.50 $128.50 $1,248 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
344 unweaned 344 6 199.00 $199.00 $685 —
381–390 unweaned 387 13 172.00–181.00 $175.41 $679 -4.92
400–446 unweaned 428 13 167.00–168.00 $167.64 $717 +1.77
459–467 unweaned 463 18 155.00–157.00 $156.10 $723 +8.03
510–548 unweaned 523 34 145.00–149.50 $147.13 $769 +11.40
552–597 unweaned 578 46 135.00–140.50 $138.89 $803 +6.94
640–643 unweaned 641 17 134.50–137.00 $135.09 $866 +5.09
683–688 unweaned 686 5 133.00–134.00 $133.40 $915 —
729 unweaned 729 3 132.00 $132.00 $962 —
762 762 3 129.00 $129.00 $983 -2.00
848 848 3 127.00 $127.00 $1,077 +2.00
890 890 4 120.00 $120.00 $1,068 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1053–1096 1062 51 115.00–121.50 $120.04 $1,275 +8.54
1106 1106 4 114.50 $114.50 $1,266 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
548 unweaned 548 5 134.00 $134.00 $734 —
599 unweaned 599 8 135.00 $135.00 $809 —
619 unweaned 619 5 134.00 $134.00 $829 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
544 unweaned 544 12 123.00 $123.00 $669 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
272 unweaned 272 5 172.50 $172.50 $469 —
315–344 unweaned 333 22 160.00–170.00 $163.45 $544 -0.04
365–399 unweaned 385 59 153.00–165.00 $156.88 $604 -1.27
421 421 22 155.00 $155.00 $653 —
406–448 unweaned 429 100 146.00–157.00 $153.50 $659 +5.45
451–499 unweaned 475 278 140.50–150.00 $146.47 $696 +6.57
503 503 40 143.25 $143.25 $721 —
501–548 unweaned 519 278 135.00–145.25 $141.07 $732 +2.06
558–598 unweaned 578 108 129.00–139.00 $135.55 $783 +3.39
600–628 unweaned 619 52 131.50–133.50 $132.78 $822 +3.13
650–662 unweaned 653 36 129.50–134.00 $131.49 $859 +4.40
710 unweaned 710 3 130.50 $130.50 $927 —
730 730 15 135.00 $135.00 $986 —
793 793 18 132.50 $132.50 $1,051 +2.77
804–807 805 24 132.00–135.50 $133.61 $1,076 —
895 895 41 127.25 $127.25 $1,139 +0.50
957 957 5 119.00 $119.00 $1,139 ±0.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
247 unweaned 247 8 155.00 $155.00 $383 —
287 unweaned 287 9 162.00 $162.00 $465 —
355–363 unweaned 360 15 147.00–150.00 $148.82 $536 +3.82
425–433 unweaned 426 11 139.00–141.00 $139.37 $594 -1.72
488–493 unweaned 490 16 135.00–140.00 $138.81 $680 +4.41
510–548 unweaned 527 7 131.00–134.00 $133.17 $702 +4.17
581 unweaned 581 4 129.00 $129.00 $749 +2.05
778–793 782 8 122.00–128.00 $123.52 $966 -1.97
888–895 889 12 115.00–121.00 $115.50 $1,027 —
915–945 919 14 117.50–118.00 $117.57 $1,080 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
436 unweaned 436 9 122.00 $122.00 $532 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
845 845 3 113.00 $113.00 $955 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
468 unweaned 468 3 140.00 $140.00 $655 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045 1045 2 116.00 $116.00 $1,212 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
415–418 unweaned 418 7 172.00–175.00 $172.43 $721 +19.43
471–492 unweaned 482 32 142.00–145.00 $142.65 $688 —
560–563 unweaned 562 6 128.00–130.00 $129.00 $725 —
652 652 9 126.50 $126.50 $825 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
459 unweaned 459 4 131.00 $131.00 $601 —
507 unweaned 507 8 128.00 $128.00 $649 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1311–1433 1405 80-85% 36 47.50–49.00 $47.72 $670 —
1318–1525 1405 80-85% 8 62.00–67.00 $62.90 $884 —
1275–1730 1439 80-85% 37 49.50–59.50 $54.38 $783 -3.08
1300–1529 1453 80-85% 12 46.00–48.00 $47.15 $685 —
1342–1494 1455 80-85% 15 49.50–54.50 $51.99 $756 —
1410–1650 1483 80-85% 5 42.00–44.00 $43.36 $643 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
930–945 938 85-90% 2 42.00–43.00 $42.50 $399 —
942 942 85-90% 3 37.50 $37.50 $353 —
1175–1217 1200 85-90% 5 54.00–54.50 $54.20 $650 —
1148–1298 1207 85-90% 10 47.00–50.00 $48.49 $585 —
1100–1343 1241 85-90% 18 45.00–48.50 $45.59 $566 —
1060–1411 1297 85-90% 26 34.00–43.00 $39.87 $517 -9.91
1300 1300 85-90% 9 49.50 $49.50 $644 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1515–1583 1565 75-80% 12 57.00–62.50 $60.97 $954 —
1595 1595 75-80% 1 63.00 $63.00 $1,005 —
1620 1620 75-80% 1 48.00 $48.00 $778 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1045 1045 1 55.00 $55.00 $575 —
1115–1993 1642 9 78.00–85.00 $80.78 $1,326 —
1615–1745 1698 4 75.00–82.50 $78.92 $1,340 —
1750 1750 1 59.00 $59.00 $1,032 —
1940–2125 2005 3 71.00–74.00 $72.33 $1,450 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
918–1298 1027 (<2 yrs)Open 70 63.75–84.00 $76.40 $785
953–1285 1129 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 15 54.00–68.00 $56.26 $635

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1183–1270 1207 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 9 1,100.00–1,135.00 $1,108.04

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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.