Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, January 14, 2021

1,470 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $114.50/cwt ≈ $1,005/hd at 878 lb · 19 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $105.57/cwt ≈ $956/hd at 906 lb · 14 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $129.90/cwt -9.88 vs last sale · ≈ $799/hd at 615 lb · 11 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,470 5,867 2,739
Feeder cattle 177 5,646 325
Slaughter cattle 516 140 210
Replacement cattle 777 81 2,204

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Steers and heifers were all too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on a significantly lower quality offering. Demand this week was mostly light for light offerings. Quality was mostly plain and most calves were offered in small packages or as singles. Market activity was slow. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for heavy offerings. Packer buyers were reserved as they bid on cow offerings this week, showing mostly light demand for both slaughter and feeding cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower on lean cows. Boning and breaking cows were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend. Feeding cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were average this week and better overall than last. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested last week to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Around 650 bred cows were on offer this sale. Demand was light to moderate. Quality was mostly plain. Young age cows suitable to rebreed were too lightly tested last week to develop any market trend.

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
398 398 2 183.00 $183.00 $728 -21.97
463–476 469 11 158.00–170.00 $164.46 $771 -30.13
520–535 528 2 155.00–157.50 $156.23 $825 -23.05
575–590 583 6 149.00–151.00 $149.99 $874 -5.01
716–735 721 8 125.00–125.50 $125.13 $902 -14.73
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1102 1102 13 108.50 $108.50 $1,196 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
450–467 459 6 152.50 $152.50 $700 -29.64
570 570 4 144.00 $144.00 $821 -11.75

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
345 345 4 160.00 $160.00 $552 -30.00
474 474 4 151.00 $151.00 $716 -11.23
515–540 530 5 138.00–140.00 $139.22 $738 -17.34
577 577 10 136.00 $136.00 $785 -15.10
606–635 615 11 128.00–130.50 $129.90 $799 -9.88
878 878 19 114.50 $114.50 $1,005 —
904–908 906 14 105.00–106.00 $105.57 $956 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
736 736 7 108.50 $108.50 $799 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
438 438 6 110.00 $110.00 $482 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
970 970 4 101.00 $101.00 $980 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1073 1073 3 92.50 $92.50 $993 —

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Feeder Bulls

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1024 1024 5 90.00 $90.00 $922 -19.50

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
895–980 936 85-90% 8 37.50–45.00 $40.58 $380 +1.58
940–945 943 85-90% 2 32.00–33.00 $32.50 $306 -6.50
1003–1240 1124 85-90% 7 35.00–38.50 $36.82 $414 —
1005–1380 1165 85-90% 133 39.00–47.00 $44.03 $513 -1.33
905–1495 1188 85-90% 63 42.00–47.00 $44.96 $534 -0.40
1195–1245 1227 85-90% 14 47.50–52.00 $48.13 $591 -4.87
1160–1350 1296 85-90% 39 47.25–51.00 $47.82 $620 +2.48
1305 1305 85-90% 1 57.50 $57.50 $750 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1235–1590 1383 80-85% 50 48.50–54.50 $51.78 $716 +4.00
1185–1610 1410 80-85% 25 43.00–48.00 $46.55 $656 -8.24
1320–1685 1463 80-85% 14 43.00–48.00 $45.50 $666 —
1528 1528 80-85% 3 51.00 $51.00 $779 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1507–1750 1628 75-80% 10 51.00–53.50 $52.96 $862 —
1590–1785 1659 75-80% 4 54.50–56.50 $55.48 $920 —
1805 1805 75-80% 1 49.50 $49.50 $893 +0.76

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1320–1493 1434 5 78.50–83.00 $81.20 $1,164 —
1335–2100 1712 13 68.00–77.50 $73.44 $1,257 +4.45
1650–1753 1738 7 72.50–74.75 $74.44 $1,294 +5.45
1800 1800 1 86.50 $86.50 $1,557 —
1655–2300 1943 3 82.00–84.50 $82.80 $1,609 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2305 2305 1 78.50 $78.50 $1,809 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
785–1160 941 (<2 yrs)Open 6 81.00–95.00 $88.73 $835
795–1285 972 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 134 54.00–82.00 $71.07 $691

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1045–1060 1056 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,100.00–1,125.00 $1,106.18
1098–1397 1183 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 42 1,300.00–1,410.00 $1,335.23
1217 1217 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 12 975.00 $975.00
1308 1308 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 9 1,185.00 $1,185.00
1284–1378 thin fleshed 1317 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 12 710.00–735.00 $718.72
1317 1317 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 5 850.00 $850.00
1121–1573 1338 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 158 750.00–925.00 $842.38
1345 1345 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,150.00 $1,150.00
1355 1355 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 810.00 $810.00
1363 1363 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,050.00 $1,050.00
1372 1372 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 3 1,025.00 $1,025.00
1145–1688 1379 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 17 1,110.00–1,275.00 $1,215.75
1018–1495 1390 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 69 860.00–1,075.00 $994.39
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1183 1183 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 4 675.00 $675.00
1175–1359 1295 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 16 700.00–810.00 $792.88
1415 1415 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 3 1,200.00 $1,200.00
1565 1565 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 1 775.00 $775.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
933 933 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 8 1,100.00 $1,100.00
969 969 (<2 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 35 1,285.00 $1,285.00
976–1113 1061 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 35 1,085.00–1,325.00 $1,261.65
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1010 1010 (<2 yrs)2nd/3rd Stage (4-9 mo) 2 1,075.00 $1,075.00

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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.