Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, December 10, 2020

5,120 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 $158.84/cwt +3.85 vs last sale · ≈ $916/hd at 577 lb · 439 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $159.55/cwt +7.34 vs last sale · ≈ $761/hd at 477 lb · 263 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $148.95/cwt -0.45 vs last sale · ≈ $777/hd at 522 lb · 261 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,120 5,501 6,688
Feeder cattle 3,949 4,867 6,378
Slaughter cattle 832 412 105
Replacement cattle 339 222 205

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Yearling heifers sold generally steady. Good demand was seen for all yearling on offer. Yearling quality was average this week. Unweaned steer calves under 500 lbs sold 5.00-10.00 lower on a significantly lower quality offering; steers 500 lbs and heavier sold steady to 3.00 higher. Unweaned heifers under 400 lbs were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed; 400-499 lbs heifer calves sold 5.00-10.00 higher; 500-649 lbs heifers sold steady to 2.00 higher; heifers over 650 lbs sold with lower undertones in a narrow comparison. Quality this week was mixed from plain to attractive, however quality this week was not as attractive as last. Many sets of weaned calves were seen this week. Demand for calves was mostly moderate for moderate to heavy offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for heavy offerings. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 higher. Feeding cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 higher. Feeding buyers and packer buyers competed over offerings throughout the sale. Packers opted to send most fleshy cows to slaughter this week. Most cows and bulls offered below average weigh up conditions as all cows and bulls were pushing heavy amounts of fill. 2 year old to young age cows sold on mostly light demand. These cows were of mostly plain to average quality; and sold mostly 4.00-8.00 lower. Quality was significantly lower 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
302 unweaned 302 5 197.50 $197.50 $596 -13.07
345–349 349 20 185.00–197.50 $190.82 $666 —
370 unweaned 370 3 185.00 $185.00 $684 —
350–399 392 60 186.00–199.00 $186.46 $731 —
402–429 unweaned 423 38 180.50–187.00 $182.29 $771 -30.61
406–449 438 64 183.00–186.00 $183.76 $805 -20.24
453–497 475 206 171.00–193.00 $180.02 $855 -0.13
453–493 unweaned 478 51 167.00–189.00 $176.57 $844 -16.26
500–543 unweaned 520 39 160.00–178.50 $172.49 $897 -0.42
502–545 526 205 161.00–177.00 $172.27 $906 +3.00
545 545 3 149.00 $149.00 $812 -20.27
559–595 unweaned 574 64 152.00–160.00 $157.53 $904 +3.81
550–593 577 375 150.00–164.50 $159.06 $918 +2.05
608–632 unweaned 621 58 147.00–149.50 $148.04 $919 -1.93
611–640 632 95 147.00–155.50 $149.04 $942 -1.57
657–677 unweaned 665 15 145.00–146.00 $145.59 $968 +0.61
660–686 678 99 141.00–146.75 $146.41 $993 +6.01
707–711 unweaned 709 11 137.50–138.50 $137.96 $978 +0.36
703–744 724 23 136.00–144.00 $138.81 $1,005 -4.06
728 728 4 137.00 $137.00 $997 -5.87
752 unweaned 752 3 134.00 $134.00 $1,008 —
771–779 774 24 133.50 $133.50 $1,033 -5.76
882–899 891 15 128.50–133.50 $129.82 $1,157 +3.82
906 906 4 133.50 $133.50 $1,210 —
956 956 5 126.50 $126.50 $1,209 -6.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
356–384 374 64 180.00–184.00 $182.73 $683 +6.73
403–441 428 43 170.00–179.00 $173.67 $743 -4.20
433–436 unweaned 436 28 162.50–175.00 $163.39 $712 -22.83
452 unweaned 452 3 169.00 $169.00 $764 —
463–494 478 30 164.00–169.00 $165.83 $793 —
525–526 526 25 151.00–165.00 $157.71 $830 +2.71
582–583 582 7 141.00–145.00 $143.86 $837 -2.14
590–592 unweaned 591 6 145.00–145.50 $145.25 $858 -1.21
600–622 615 9 138.00–140.00 $139.46 $858 —
633 unweaned 633 3 134.00 $134.00 $848 -3.34
655–698 unweaned 681 5 137.00–140.00 $138.15 $941 +2.73
695 695 2 138.50 $138.50 $963 —
712 712 3 127.00 $127.00 $904 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
329 329 11 185.50 $185.50 $610 —
389 389 6 169.00 $169.00 $657 —
481 481 17 164.00 $164.00 $789 —
503 503 2 159.00 $159.00 $800 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
331 331 15 167.00 $167.00 $553 —
331–342 unweaned 339 13 180.00–183.00 $182.10 $617 +7.10
360–379 unweaned 374 12 165.00–170.00 $168.80 $631 -4.38
354–397 383 77 167.00–175.00 $171.01 $655 +3.01
415 415 10 169.00 $169.00 $701 +9.99
404–447 422 191 158.00–170.00 $164.88 $696 +5.87
415–438 unweaned 426 20 157.50–160.00 $159.21 $678 -4.02
458–480 unweaned 469 99 151.00–165.50 $160.60 $753 +9.72
451–499 482 164 148.00–166.00 $158.92 $766 +5.97
506–535 unweaned 519 87 142.00–149.00 $146.17 $759 -2.78
503–540 523 156 142.00–154.50 $149.87 $784 -0.18
506–540 525 18 152.50–157.00 $154.43 $811 +4.38
552–581 570 113 135.00–144.25 $142.16 $810 -0.50
567–595 unweaned 579 68 132.00–144.50 $142.08 $823 +3.15
591 591 49 144.00 $144.00 $851 +1.34
603 unweaned 603 6 134.00 $134.00 $808 +0.15
623–649 635 92 130.00–139.50 $134.68 $855 +2.11
670–673 672 37 124.00–128.50 $127.47 $857 -7.21
727–736 735 18 127.00–129.00 $128.67 $946 —
768 unweaned 768 2 122.00 $122.00 $937 —
779–798 781 23 128.50–132.50 $132.14 $1,032 +4.14
825–848 845 8 127.00–131.00 $130.51 $1,103 +6.01
895 895 1 124.00 $124.00 $1,110 -8.45
900 900 14 126.00 $126.00 $1,134 -4.00
978 978 14 121.00 $121.00 $1,183 -6.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
325–336 331 10 162.00 $162.00 $536 —
390 390 10 152.00 $152.00 $593 -3.00
402 unweaned 402 15 151.00 $151.00 $607 —
409–421 419 28 153.50–157.50 $154.42 $647 +7.17
485 unweaned 485 5 132.00 $132.00 $640 -8.49
768 768 8 121.00 $121.00 $929 —
852 852 7 122.50 $122.50 $1,044 —
953 953 6 115.00 $115.00 $1,096 -2.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1046 1046 32 115.00 $115.00 $1,203 -7.50
1062 1062 13 115.50 $115.50 $1,227 -5.00
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
393 393 5 140.00 $140.00 $550 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
518 518 3 124.00 $124.00 $642 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
261 261 10 177.50 $177.50 $463 —
342 342 30 182.00 $182.00 $622 —
393 393 48 182.00 $182.00 $715 —
485 unweaned 485 2 152.50 $152.50 $740 —
501 501 4 142.00 $142.00 $711 —
548 unweaned 548 2 144.00 $144.00 $789 —
558 unweaned 558 2 138.00 $138.00 $770 —
679 unweaned 679 7 126.00 $126.00 $856 —
698 698 3 125.00 $125.00 $872 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
433 unweaned 433 14 140.00 $140.00 $606 —
490 490 10 144.00 $144.00 $706 —
525 525 4 139.00 $139.00 $730 —
799 799 4 108.00 $108.00 $863 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1140 1140 1 91.00 $91.00 $1,037 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
952 952 85-90% 16 31.50 $31.50 $300 —
1043–1215 1055 85-90% 59 31.00–39.50 $37.92 $400 —
1011–1330 1140 85-90% 99 41.50–51.00 $46.69 $532 —
1025–1328 1186 85-90% 82 40.00–49.25 $45.98 $545 +9.81
1078–1356 1244 85-90% 56 49.00–57.00 $50.79 $632 +0.79
1230–1293 1272 85-90% 3 50.00–51.00 $50.68 $645 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1305 1305 80-85% 1 53.50 $53.50 $698 -2.97
1240–1620 1353 80-85% 76 49.00–60.00 $55.31 $748 +9.28
1305–1465 1389 80-85% 8 42.00–48.00 $44.93 $624 -1.07
1395 1395 80-85% 1 61.00 $61.00 $851 +15.00
1369–1449 1406 80-85% 30 46.00–49.00 $47.70 $671 —
1577 1577 80-85% 5 65.00 $65.00 $1,025 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1478–1630 1529 75-80% 3 60.00–62.00 $61.29 $937 —
1430–1638 1559 75-80% 13 47.00–58.00 $55.42 $864 -0.30
1565 1565 75-80% 1 63.00 $63.00 $986 +7.28
2045 2045 75-80% 1 69.50 $69.50 $1,421 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1950 1950 65-75% 1 71.50 $71.50 $1,394 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1332–1555 1357 9 69.00 $69.00 $936 —
1605–2170 1800 8 68.00–77.00 $74.57 $1,342 —
1749–1885 1821 10 77.00–82.50 $79.73 $1,452 +6.94
1940–2230 2085 2 78.50–83.00 $80.59 $1,680 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
830 thin fleshed 830 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 57.00 $57.00 $473
770–1385 965 (<2 yrs)Open 120 60.00–87.00 $76.11 $734
870–1255 1057 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 33 52.00–73.00 $63.55 $672
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1230 1230 (<2 yrs)Open 2 60.00 $60.00 $738

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1185 1185 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00
1210–1211 1211 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,050.00–1,150.00 $1,069.99
1240 1240 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 1 1,050.00 $1,050.00

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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.