Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, December 3, 2020

5,501 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $192.86/cwt +19.83 vs last sale · ≈ $909/hd at 472 lb · 618 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $172.21/cwt +12.08 vs last sale · ≈ $903/hd at 524 lb · 504 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $162.74/cwt +5.82 vs last sale · ≈ $701/hd at 431 lb · 312 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,501 6,434 6,096
Feeder cattle 4,867 5,990 5,873
Slaughter cattle 412 312 94
Replacement cattle 222 132 129

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Good demand was seen for all yearlings on offer. Yearling quality was average to attractive. Unweaned steer calves under 550 lbs sold 10.00-15.00 higher; unweaned steers 550-599 lbs steer sold 6.00-9.00 higher; steers over 600 lbs sold 1.00-4.00 higher. Unweaned heifers under 450 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher; 450-499 lbs heifers sold 1.00-2.00 higher; 500-599 lbs heifers sold 3.00-6.00 higher; heifers over 600 lbs sold steady to weak. Demand was mostly good this sale with very good demand seen at times. Several very large consignments of very attractive, reputation calves were seen this week. Quality overall was mostly attractive. The cattle selection overall was better this week compared to the last sale two weeks ago. Weaned calves over 600 lbs showed a slight premium to unweaned cattle this week, however lighter weight calves offered little to no premium. The best demand continues to be seen for calves under 500 lbs which can be developed into yearlings. Many of these calves sold for more dollars per head than their heavyweight siblings. Market activity this week was mostly active with many bidders and buyers in the stands actively bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. Packers were more aggressive this sale as they purchased cows for immediate harvest. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher than two weeks ago on boning and lean cows. Breaking cows continue to be purchased to feed. Feeding cows sold steady to firm. Cows were of mostly average to very attractive quality this sale. 2 year old to young age cows sold on mostly very good demand. One load lot of very attractive 2 coming 3 year olds were the highlight of the sale. These cows were of very attractive quality and all off one ranch. These offerings sold sharply higher on a significantly higher quality offering compared to last sale.

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
305–339 unweaned 332 68 210.00–213.00 $210.57 $699 +18.07
408–447 unweaned 412 212 190.00–216.00 $212.90 $877 +29.49
444 444 7 204.00 $204.00 $906 —
460 fancy 460 88 197.50 $197.50 $908 —
461–499 unweaned 473 499 176.00–195.00 $192.83 $912 +19.80
468–496 480 31 175.00–187.50 $180.15 $865 —
510–542 unweaned 524 407 167.00–178.00 $172.91 $906 +12.69
507–534 525 97 164.00–174.00 $169.27 $889 +12.27
550–592 unweaned 577 89 150.00–160.00 $153.72 $887 +5.65
558–598 584 56 153.00–159.50 $157.01 $917 +12.01
608–638 618 19 143.00–155.00 $150.61 $931 +0.21
600–644 unweaned 620 240 143.00–155.00 $149.97 $930 +7.44
654–690 unweaned 664 22 137.00–150.00 $144.98 $963 +4.39
650–692 683 23 140.00–140.50 $140.40 $959 -2.35
706–740 unweaned 720 13 133.00–138.00 $137.60 $991 +6.60
706–734 721 53 140.00–144.00 $142.87 $1,030 +4.65
756–777 764 74 136.00–139.50 $139.26 $1,064 +9.76
843 843 4 133.00 $133.00 $1,121 —
891 891 8 126.00 $126.00 $1,123 -10.64
958 958 8 133.00 $133.00 $1,274 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
322 unweaned 322 9 175.00 $175.00 $564 -9.57
381 381 10 176.00 $176.00 $671 —
406–445 unweaned 423 42 175.00–189.00 $186.22 $788 +13.07
415–443 431 19 169.00–185.00 $177.87 $767 —
540 540 43 155.00 $155.00 $837 —
542 unweaned 542 10 159.50 $159.50 $864 +10.46
557–576 unweaned 567 17 146.00–147.00 $146.46 $830 +4.46
571 571 9 146.00 $146.00 $834 —
638–648 unweaned 646 12 134.00–138.00 $137.34 $887 +2.84
656 656 4 135.00 $135.00 $886 —
650–689 unweaned 679 8 135.00–136.75 $135.42 $920 +2.42
753 753 7 134.00 $134.00 $1,009 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
756 756 25 134.25 $134.25 $1,015 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
546 546 19 134.00 $134.00 $732 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
630 630 6 138.00 $138.00 $869 —
1019 1019 4 127.00 $127.00 $1,294 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
323 unweaned 323 48 175.00 $175.00 $565 +11.95
355 355 2 168.00 $168.00 $596 —
366–395 unweaned 384 175 160.00–177.50 $173.18 $665 +9.74
416–433 420 36 154.00–160.50 $159.01 $668 —
413–439 unweaned 432 276 151.00–167.00 $163.23 $705 +6.31
450–496 unweaned 474 109 147.00–155.00 $150.88 $715 +1.44
471–499 487 197 148.00–158.00 $152.95 $745 —
507–536 527 86 144.00–152.00 $150.05 $791 -5.95
513–542 unweaned 529 124 145.00–154.50 $148.95 $788 +6.74
572–596 583 92 135.50–145.00 $142.66 $832 +13.69
570–592 unweaned 585 69 135.00–140.50 $138.93 $813 +2.58
603–649 unweaned 618 48 133.00–134.00 $133.85 $827 -1.79
614–641 633 69 129.00–137.50 $132.57 $839 -3.49
655–697 unweaned 680 5 129.00–133.00 $131.46 $894 +0.77
665–690 680 23 132.50–140.00 $134.68 $916 +2.68
762 762 16 128.00 $128.00 $975 —
800–845 805 105 131.00–137.00 $131.96 $1,062 +0.46
835 835 26 124.50 $124.50 $1,040 -7.00
870–888 880 11 132.00–133.00 $132.45 $1,166 —
911 911 7 130.00 $130.00 $1,184 +7.00
903–923 fancy 914 99 136.50 $136.50 $1,248 —
958 958 5 127.00 $127.00 $1,217 +8.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
358 358 4 155.00 $155.00 $555 —
415–428 422 18 145.00–149.00 $147.25 $621 —
434–442 unweaned 438 38 146.00–149.00 $147.33 $645 +3.33
450–497 unweaned 481 9 138.00–146.00 $140.49 $676 +3.38
581 581 4 131.00 $131.00 $761 —
586 unweaned 586 5 132.00 $132.00 $774 +4.02
809 809 8 127.00 $127.00 $1,027 —
952 952 3 117.00 $117.00 $1,114 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1028 1028 3 122.50 $122.50 $1,259 —
1090 1090 1 120.50 $120.50 $1,313 +6.00
1113 1113 6 100.00 $100.00 $1,113 —
1117 1117 9 110.50 $110.50 $1,234 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
733 733 14 125.00 $125.00 $916 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
363 unweaned 363 2 190.00 $190.00 $690 —
605 unweaned 605 2 135.00 $135.00 $817 —
642 642 3 134.00 $134.00 $860 —

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1200–1230 1225 80-85% 6 60.00–61.00 $60.84 $745 —
1095–1475 1322 80-85% 123 49.00–59.50 $56.47 $747 +1.55
1315–1460 1371 80-85% 5 41.00–49.00 $46.03 $631 -1.18
1380 1380 80-85% 2 46.00 $46.00 $635 -1.21
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1010–1272 1180 85-90% 52 49.50–53.00 $51.45 $607 -1.71
1075–1224 1187 85-90% 11 32.00–38.00 $36.17 $429 -16.99
1095–1254 1205 85-90% 29 44.00–49.00 $46.52 $561 —
1035–1378 1222 85-90% 13 42.00–48.00 $45.24 $553 —
1225 1225 85-90% 1 50.00 $50.00 $612 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1440–1685 1555 75-80% 3 52.00–60.00 $55.72 $866 —
1665 1665 75-80% 2 63.00 $63.00 $1,049 +7.50
1810 1810 75-80% 1 69.00 $69.00 $1,249 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1315 1315 1 72.00 $72.00 $947 —
1485–2250 1838 10 68.00–74.00 $72.79 $1,338 —
1585–1937 1849 4 80.50–83.00 $82.46 $1,525 —
1680–1944 1900 6 79.00–84.00 $83.26 $1,582 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
819–1063 904 (<2 yrs)Open 122 68.00–99.00 $95.29 $861
940–1067 1028 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 50 62.00–75.00 $66.30 $682
1058 thin fleshed 1058 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 51.00 $51.00 $540

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1163 1163 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 2 950.00 $950.00
1195 1195 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 6 985.00 $985.00
1493 1493 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 2 1,085.00 $1,085.00

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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.