Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, April 29, 2021

3,911 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $143.76/cwt -0.26 vs last sale · ≈ $958/hd at 666 lb · 291 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $184.71/cwt -3.28 vs last sale · ≈ $978/hd at 529 lb · 221 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $176.47/cwt +1.47 vs last sale · ≈ $1,011/hd at 573 lb · 205 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,911 930 5,619
Feeder cattle 3,324 254 3,890
Slaughter cattle 385 347 260
Replacement cattle 202 329 1,469

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to two weeks ago: Last sale feeder receipts were very light so no accurate market comparisons can be made. Lower undertones were seen on steers and steady to weak undertones were noted on heifers. Heifer quality was mostly average to attractive, while steer quality was mostly plain to average. Dry conditions have pushed some replacement heifers to market. Buyers looking for high quality grass cattle showed good demand for these offerings. A limited amount of heifers sold as replacements this sale. Flesh conditions were mixed today with most cattle under 750 lbs in light flesh, while most cattle over 750 lbs were in moderate to moderate plus flesh, with a few fleshy cattle on offer as well. Demand overall was moderate for moderate to heavy offerings. Demand was strong early in the sale as several ranchers were in the stands actively bidding on offerings. Demand diminished as these buyers filled loads. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on mixed demand for light offerings. Packers showed lighter demand for slaughter cows this sale and feeding buyers continue to pass on older and thinner cows. Slaughter cows sold mostly 1.00-3.00 lower. Feeding cows sold on mostly good demand this sale as packers showed good demand for high quality young cows. Feeding cows sold generally steady. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average this sale as cows sold late in the day and many were pushing heavy amounts of fill. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 6.00-10.00 lower. Demand to feed these offerings has lightened as corn and other feed cost have risen sharply over the last few weeks.

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 6 194.50 $194.50 $774 —
405–445 423 45 190.00–197.00 $193.75 $820 —
460–488 482 45 186.50–192.50 $188.86 $910 —
510 thin fleshed 510 43 195.00 $195.00 $994 —
510–548 534 178 179.00–187.00 $182.22 $973 -5.77
556–587 573 205 170.00–179.50 $176.47 $1,011 +1.47
607–616 thin fleshed 608 67 176.50–179.00 $176.84 $1,075 —
608–638 625 50 160.00–170.00 $164.59 $1,029 —
643 643 5 148.00 $148.00 $952 —
650–696 661 92 148.00–164.50 $158.31 $1,046 —
702–746 736 112 141.50–149.50 $145.52 $1,071 -6.06
761–791 773 14 131.00–137.00 $135.94 $1,051 —
821 821 4 121.00 $121.00 $993 —
824 824 5 128.00 $128.00 $1,055 —
856–866 863 21 123.00–125.00 $123.95 $1,070 —
885 885 4 120.00 $120.00 $1,062 —
904–939 927 12 107.00–114.00 $109.27 $1,013 —
915–944 937 8 120.00–120.50 $120.38 $1,128 —
982 982 3 114.00 $114.00 $1,119 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
394 394 11 191.00 $191.00 $753 —
420–430 425 15 184.00–188.00 $184.99 $786 —
450–498 468 21 175.00–179.00 $176.26 $825 -7.74
510–540 521 32 166.00–177.00 $170.84 $890 —
563–597 589 17 159.00–169.00 $166.64 $982 —
610–648 643 7 144.00–151.00 $144.95 $932 -6.55
678–693 688 20 143.50–146.00 $144.64 $995 —
734–744 738 20 135.00–137.00 $136.19 $1,005 -9.37
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1081 1081 7 107.00 $107.00 $1,157 —
1083 1083 24 113.50 $113.50 $1,229 —
1144 1144 10 102.00 $102.00 $1,167 —
1291 1291 7 111.00 $111.00 $1,433 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
353 353 7 185.00 $185.00 $653 —
465–470 469 7 180.00–182.00 $181.43 $851 —
540 540 18 176.00 $176.00 $950 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
632 632 11 110.00 $110.00 $695 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
377 377 8 160.00 $160.00 $603 —
426–443 437 21 161.50 $161.50 $706 —
469–491 478 95 158.00–162.00 $160.33 $766 —
500–540 520 76 157.00–159.00 $157.87 $821 —
565 565 11 138.00 $138.00 $780 -11.75
552–598 579 187 148.00–158.00 $152.83 $885 +3.08
605–649 626 120 140.50–152.50 $145.10 $908 -3.17
645–649 647 10 129.00–132.00 $130.50 $844 —
655 thin fleshed 655 102 150.00 $150.00 $982 —
655–683 665 111 136.00–145.50 $142.63 $948 -1.39
662–670 669 41 133.00–134.00 $133.93 $896 -10.09
690 690 9 134.00 $134.00 $925 -10.02
699 699 28 143.00 $143.00 $1,000 -1.02
701–721 713 12 119.00–123.00 $120.64 $860 -14.36
704–748 713 65 128.50–139.00 $133.73 $953 -1.27
743 743 31 139.00 $139.00 $1,033 +4.00
751–761 756 23 126.00–131.00 $128.30 $970 -2.20
769–798 779 6 116.00–121.00 $119.29 $929 -11.21
838 838 6 113.00 $113.00 $947 —
856–881 866 35 116.00–120.00 $118.59 $1,027 —
898 898 14 108.00 $108.00 $970 —
968 968 13 110.50 $110.50 $1,070 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
326 326 9 163.00 $163.00 $531 —
381–399 390 35 156.00–160.50 $158.05 $616 —
403–444 433 11 150.00 $150.00 $650 -7.00
455–498 477 65 145.00–159.00 $153.19 $731 -4.03
509–549 528 41 141.00–156.50 $150.09 $792 -2.92
558–591 586 78 131.00–147.00 $135.80 $796 -7.83
610–639 630 37 131.00–139.00 $137.50 $866 +4.90
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
571 571 31 144.00 $144.00 $822 —
640 640 20 127.00 $127.00 $813 —
1003 1003 54 114.00 $114.00 $1,143 —
1020 1020 4 112.50 $112.50 $1,148 —
1121 1121 7 104.00 $104.00 $1,166 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
484 484 11 157.50 $157.50 $762 —
508–546 524 38 147.00–150.00 $148.68 $779 —
607 607 18 136.00 $136.00 $826 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
479 479 16 135.00 $135.00 $647 —
525 525 6 136.00 $136.00 $714 —
Medium 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
561–577 572 13 121.00–130.00 $127.28 $728 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
502 502 8 129.00 $129.00 $648 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
70 70 1 200.00 $200.00 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
451 451 18 185.00 $185.00 $834 +10.00
805–840 825 7 112.50–123.50 $117.10 $966 -9.90
950–970 964 10 110.50 $110.50 $1,065 —
1082 1082 3 106.00 $106.00 $1,147 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1008 1008 2 108.00 $108.00 $1,089 -6.71
1059 1059 8 102.00 $102.00 $1,080 -14.00
1130 fancy 1130 11 108.00 $108.00 $1,220 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
75 75 1 200.00 $200.00 —
115 115 1 300.00 $300.00 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1100 1100 (<2 yrs)N/A 2 1,450.00 $1,450.00 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
915 915 85-90% 1 61.00 $61.00 $558 +10.00
930–975 941 85-90% 4 54.00–60.00 $55.55 $523 -5.28
995–1325 1157 85-90% 60 53.00–62.50 $57.58 $666 -4.46
1133–1265 1192 85-90% 18 64.50–68.50 $66.31 $790 +0.56
1125–1320 1236 85-90% 26 62.00–68.50 $62.85 $777 -4.59
1055–1268 1243 85-90% 16 59.25–63.50 $59.83 $744 -7.61
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1215–1525 1358 80-85% 11 48.00–63.25 $59.71 $811 -7.79
1325–1387 1362 80-85% 5 64.00–64.50 $64.19 $874 -3.31
1310–1573 1416 80-85% 8 63.50–67.50 $65.86 $933 +2.72
1370–1532 1459 80-85% 25 65.00–69.50 $68.47 $999 —
1440–1485 1470 80-85% 3 72.00–74.00 $72.65 $1,068 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1440–1800 1567 75-80% 16 57.00–65.00 $63.10 $989 —
1580 1580 75-80% 1 69.00 $69.00 $1,090 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1036–1270 1140 9 86.00–89.50 $87.77 $1,001 —
1140–1350 1245 2 72.00–79.00 $75.20 $936 —
1170–1945 1669 22 73.50–84.00 $79.56 $1,328 —
1683–1710 1689 9 87.00–93.00 $91.65 $1,548 —
1535–1900 1698 14 84.50–91.00 $87.98 $1,494 —
1745 1745 2 85.00 $85.00 $1,483 —
1878 1878 8 95.00 $95.00 $1,784 +4.65
1820–2310 2060 16 92.00–100.00 $94.81 $1,953 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
793–1212 991 (<2 yrs)Open 80 71.00–111.00 $89.72 $889
940–1385 1181 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 11 66.00–72.00 $69.90 $826
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
789–1035 838 (<2 yrs)Open 5 72.00–95.00 $89.32 $749
930 930 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 63.00 $63.00 $586

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1095–1518 1186 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 14 1,175.00–1,250.00 $1,229.42
1581 1581 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,100.00 $1,100.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1132–1160 1148 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 17 1,150.00–1,200.00 $1,179.71

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1420 1420 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 2 1,350.00 $1,350.00 —
1503 1503 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,675.00 $1,675.00 —
1533 1533 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 3 1,300.00 $1,300.00 —

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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.