Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, November 12, 2020

4,846 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $152.70/cwt +3.64 vs last sale · ≈ $880/hd at 576 lb · 553 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $164.17/cwt +6.45 vs last sale · ≈ $845/hd at 515 lb · 398 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $148.25/cwt +2.88 vs last sale · ≈ $764/hd at 515 lb · 275 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,846 5,926 5,898
Feeder cattle 4,610 5,291 5,318
Slaughter cattle 179 434 110
Replacement cattle 57 201 470

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Unweaned steer calves under 400 lbs sold mostly sharply higher, with most sale 10.00-15.00 higher; 400-549 lbs sold mostly 5.00 higher; unweaned steers over 550 lbs sold mostly steady to 3.00 higher. Yearling heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market, however higher undertones were noticed. Unweaned heifers under 500 lbs sold mostly steady to firm. Unweaned heifers 500-549 lbs sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher, heifer calves over 550 sold steady to firm. Quality this sale was mostly average to attractive. Demand was mostly good for moderate to heavy offerings. Many sets of short weaned calves were seen this sale. Buyers offered no premium for most of these calves as many were full, dirty and not very eye appealing. The best demand seen this week was for cattle suitable to develop into yearlings. Market activity was mostly active this week. A large crowd was on hand with many buyers and bidders both ringside as well as on the internet. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light offerings. Packers continue to purchase cows for the upcoming holidays. All cows and bulls were very full this sale offering buyers mostly below average weigh up conditions. Slaughter cows sold sold 1.00-3.00 higher, however cows on a dressed basis were 4.00-6.00 higher than last week. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to trend, however steady undertones were noticed. 2-3 year olds sold steady in a narrow comparison.

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
274–299 unweaned 294 37 205.00 $205.00 $603 —
300–340 unweaned 322 11 201.00–209.00 $203.24 $654 +11.45
384 384 4 207.50 $207.50 $797 —
356–394 unweaned 387 202 192.00–208.00 $198.46 $768 +17.17
404–443 unweaned 423 125 180.00–199.00 $187.39 $793 +4.50
443 443 6 194.00 $194.00 $859 —
460–469 fancy 462 59 186.00–188.00 $187.69 $867 +1.69
453–491 unweaned 479 156 168.00–182.50 $175.20 $839 +4.86
481–484 483 28 169.00–169.50 $169.30 $818 —
500–548 unweaned 514 383 157.25–169.50 $164.31 $845 +6.61
528 528 15 160.50 $160.50 $847 +2.50
550–596 unweaned 575 477 147.00–158.00 $152.80 $879 +3.74
558–590 583 76 151.25–157.00 $152.08 $887 —
602–647 unweaned 621 142 144.00–149.50 $145.50 $904 +3.06
610–640 624 47 145.50–147.50 $147.05 $918 —
646 646 8 137.00 $137.00 $885 —
663 663 6 137.00 $137.00 $908 +0.75
651–694 unweaned 674 127 137.00–145.00 $141.04 $951 +1.76
707–723 unweaned 709 17 134.50–140.00 $138.93 $985 +2.70
719 719 20 144.00 $144.00 $1,035 —
765–795 unweaned 788 22 131.00–133.50 $131.55 $1,037 -4.95
802–813 805 13 134.50–135.00 $134.88 $1,086 -10.98
851–899 881 19 137.00–140.50 $138.25 $1,218 -4.76
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
257 unweaned 257 5 187.50 $187.50 $482 —
329–343 unweaned 334 13 190.00–192.50 $191.51 $640 +20.09
352–373 unweaned 356 21 187.50–190.00 $188.00 $669 +10.20
409–437 unweaned 420 29 170.00–179.00 $173.57 $729 +5.99
469 469 4 164.00 $164.00 $769 —
464–489 unweaned 477 30 160.00–165.00 $163.31 $779 +4.57
520 520 4 149.00 $149.00 $775 —
513–545 unweaned 537 10 150.00–156.00 $152.57 $819 +3.02
555–583 unweaned 579 41 144.50–147.00 $144.86 $839 +4.10
623–642 unweaned 637 7 138.00–143.50 $139.54 $889 +5.54
723 723 2 141.00 $141.00 $1,019 —
765 765 2 137.00 $137.00 $1,048 —
905–924 921 6 131.00–132.00 $131.84 $1,214 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
451 unweaned 451 50 144.00 $144.00 $649 -15.54
550 unweaned 550 4 146.00 $146.00 $803 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
480 unweaned 480 17 159.00 $159.00 $763 —
637 unweaned 637 3 140.00 $140.00 $892 —
814 unweaned 814 4 128.50 $128.50 $1,046 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
264 unweaned 264 6 170.00 $170.00 $449 -2.50
305–344 unweaned 326 95 156.00–167.50 $160.52 $523 -0.43
383 383 4 167.50 $167.50 $642 —
350–399 unweaned 384 74 156.00–167.00 $160.49 $616 +5.88
400–445 unweaned 419 149 149.00–159.00 $154.07 $646 +1.29
446 446 10 158.50 $158.50 $707 —
453–493 unweaned 478 219 145.00–153.00 $148.20 $708 -0.90
503 fancy 503 19 152.00 $152.00 $765 +2.75
513 513 2 147.00 $147.00 $754 —
501–530 unweaned 516 254 144.00–152.50 $147.98 $764 +3.69
551–599 unweaned 566 98 131.00–141.00 $134.85 $763 +0.17
584 584 8 126.00 $126.00 $736 —
585–596 590 69 135.00–136.00 $135.60 $800 —
600–647 unweaned 609 32 130.00–138.00 $135.75 $827 +2.53
628–648 633 51 134.00–139.00 $136.25 $862 —
650–687 unweaned 671 31 130.00–131.00 $130.22 $874 +2.92
700 700 53 134.75 $134.75 $943 +0.25
812–814 812 37 136.00–143.50 $137.22 $1,114 +4.72
902–903 902 8 123.50–131.00 $129.12 $1,165 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
403–442 unweaned 419 24 145.00–148.00 $146.16 $612 +5.67
462 462 6 142.00 $142.00 $656 —
450–478 unweaned 469 17 135.00–143.00 $140.07 $657 -1.46
511–534 521 9 139.00–141.00 $140.09 $730 —
515–546 unweaned 538 58 131.00–138.50 $136.09 $732 +2.33
590 590 2 111.00 $111.00 $655 —
636–643 unweaned 638 6 127.00 $127.00 $810 +0.50
844 844 6 129.50 $129.50 $1,093 +6.23
902 902 10 122.50 $122.50 $1,105 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
476 unweaned 476 18 142.00 $142.00 $676 —
535–545 unweaned 541 12 136.50–137.00 $136.79 $740 —
1000–1006 1005 11 118.00–118.50 $118.45 $1,190 —
1120 1120 1 108.00 $108.00 $1,210 —
1195 1195 3 109.00 $109.00 $1,303 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
430 unweaned 430 21 129.00 $129.00 $555 -17.00
700 700 6 127.00 $127.00 $889 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
441 unweaned 441 4 165.00 $165.00 $728 +4.00
510 unweaned 510 2 158.00 $158.00 $806 —
568–579 unweaned 571 20 133.00–143.00 $137.99 $788 -4.76
650–673 unweaned 665 6 129.00–134.00 $130.63 $869 —
684 684 7 131.00 $131.00 $896 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
697 697 5 114.00 $114.00 $795 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
905–970 950 85-90% 4 38.00–46.00 $40.28 $383 —
1090–1175 1133 85-90% 4 40.50–43.00 $41.80 $474 +4.71
1005–1183 1139 85-90% 8 38.00–42.50 $39.28 $447 +2.19
1020–1235 1162 85-90% 11 31.00–41.00 $38.17 $444 -8.05
1110–1238 1195 85-90% 3 49.00–54.00 $52.45 $627 +8.45
1079–1280 1197 85-90% 16 44.00–50.50 $48.75 $584 +4.75
1090–1260 1200 85-90% 49 51.00–57.00 $52.85 $634 +1.09
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1265 1265 80-85% 2 56.50 $56.50 $715 —
1248–1580 1340 80-85% 16 52.00–59.00 $55.78 $747 —
1310–1465 1388 80-85% 2 47.00–49.00 $48.06 $667 +3.06
1255–1580 1409 80-85% 5 45.00–48.00 $46.48 $655 -7.63
1463 1463 80-85% 2 65.00 $65.00 $951 +9.50
1505 1505 80-85% 1 39.00 $39.00 $587 -1.00
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1577–1780 1599 75-80% 17 53.00–63.00 $60.17 $962 —
1755 1755 75-80% 1 67.50 $67.50 $1,185 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1215–1595 1405 2 63.00–69.00 $66.41 $933 —
1495 1495 2 77.00 $77.00 $1,151 —
1390–2410 1856 6 65.00–74.50 $71.75 $1,332 -7.25
1985–2000 1993 2 76.50–81.00 $78.74 $1,569 —
YG3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2290 2290 1 48.50 $48.50 $1,111 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1013–1105 1066 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 27 59.00–68.00 $64.10 $683
900–1333 1122 (<2 yrs)Open 16 69.00–82.00 $75.04 $842

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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.