Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, July 8, 2021

2,332 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 7-weight M&L 1 steers $164.21/cwt +2.21 vs last sale · ≈ $1,197/hd at 729 lb · 119 head
heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $145.26/cwt +13.88 vs last sale · ≈ $1,120/hd at 771 lb · 74 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $146.88/cwt +2.38 vs last sale · ≈ $1,085/hd at 739 lb · 69 head
HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 2,332 1,313 0
Feeder cattle 840 614 0
Slaughter cattle 1,004 501 0
Replacement cattle 488 198 0

Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers were too lightly tested either this week or last to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed on both steers and heifers. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Several sets of cattle were coming off grass and were in light flesh. Demand for feeder cattle was mostly moderate to good on light offerings. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weight up cows sold on moderate to good demand. Demand following the holiday remains mostly good for feeding cows as both packers and feeding buyers showed good demand for offerings. The last sale took place three weeks ago so comparisons on cows is difficult. Feeding cows sold mostly steady to weak. Slaughter cows sold fully steady on breaking cows, boning and lean cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 2.00-4.00 lower. Cow quality was mostly average to attractive this week, however quality was not as attractive overall compared to last sale. Cows were pushing heavy amounts of fill this sale as temperatures soared into the upper 90's to low 100's. Packers continue to purchase the majority of the cow offering to feed as cow supplies remain large due to drought conditions. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 3.00-5.00 lower on a drastically lower quality offering. Demand for this class of cattle has lightened as it is getting too late in the season to breed for spring calves.

New to these tables? Plain-English explainers ↓

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
379 unweaned 379 8 180.00 $180.00 $682
451 unweaned 451 12 168.00 $168.00 $758
585–589 587 15 178.00–186.00 $181.19 $1,064 -3.81
625 625 5 177.00 $177.00 $1,106 -1.10
675 675 6 175.00 $175.00 $1,181
728 728 108 165.50–166.00 $165.76 $1,207 +3.76
738 738 11 149.00 $149.00 $1,100 -13.00
760–795 792 61 154.50–159.00 $154.89 $1,227 -2.11
805–846 819 6 145.00–152.00 $149.59 $1,225
858–868 860 25 140.00–148.00 $147.04 $1,265
893 893 3 137.00 $137.00 $1,223
923 923 2 134.50 $134.50 $1,241
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
540 540 6 170.00 $170.00 $918
580 580 3 169.00 $169.00 $980 -2.00
613 613 3 156.00 $156.00 $956 -6.64
665–676 669 16 160.00–166.00 $163.73 $1,095 +12.73
673 673 7 163.00 $163.00 $1,097 +12.00
760 760 5 152.00 $152.00 $1,155
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
703 703 2 147.00 $147.00 $1,033

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
643 643 6 152.00 $152.00 $977 -1.03
657–675 671 13 147.00–157.00 $154.74 $1,038 +10.74
739–744 739 69 145.00–147.00 $146.88 $1,085
752–777 771 74 141.50–146.00 $145.26 $1,120 +13.88
813–844 831 14 129.00–131.00 $130.16 $1,082 +2.66
850–877 873 9 125.00–131.00 $128.67 $1,123 +4.17
916–944 931 15 121.00–125.50 $123.07 $1,146 +6.07
970 970 3 126.00 $126.00 $1,222
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
628 628 3 144.00 $144.00 $904 +20.00
668–688 687 30 143.00 $143.00 $982 +11.10
738 738 2 136.00 $136.00 $1,004
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1026 1026 8 120.50 $120.50 $1,236 +12.50
1108 1108 2 115.00 $115.00 $1,274
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
581 581 5 148.00 $148.00 $860
688 688 4 138.00 $138.00 $949
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
588 588 4 134.00 $134.00 $788

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Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1055–1089 1087 15 115.00–122.00 $115.45 $1,255 +2.45
1155–1167 1161 6 109.00–116.00 $112.48 $1,306
1260–1265 1263 4 105.00–107.00 $106.00 $1,339 +6.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
745 745 3 131.00 $131.00 $976
904 904 8 121.50 $121.50 $1,098 +0.50

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Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1310–1446 1377 80-85% 24 58.00–63.50 $61.71 $850
1254–1617 1382 80-85% 99 69.00–79.50 $71.77 $992
1268–1535 1393 80-85% 130 62.50–68.50 $66.73 $930
1265–1640 1421 80-85% 35 61.00–65.00 $62.18 $884 -14.14
1350–1725 1447 80-85% 19 53.00–62.00 $58.21 $842 -18.11
1465–1648 1504 80-85% 20 67.50–73.00 $69.13 $1,040
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
764–985 866 85-90% 20 47.00–56.00 $52.41 $454
1045–1050 1048 85-90% 3 46.00 $46.00 $482
1130–1205 1135 85-90% 20 57.00–60.00 $58.64 $666 -8.46
1075–1273 1163 85-90% 19 64.00–67.00 $65.47 $761 +2.47
1005–1482 1175 85-90% 81 49.00–59.50 $55.95 $657 -9.02
1075–1280 1215 85-90% 8 67.00–72.00 $70.20 $853 +11.80
1060–1340 1229 85-90% 61 59.00–65.00 $61.62 $757 +1.43
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1412 1412 75-80% 3 71.50 $71.50 $1,010
1320–1875 1520 75-80% 5 62.50–67.00 $64.22 $976 -6.35
1465–1793 1605 75-80% 23 70.00–73.50 $70.56 $1,132 +5.92
1413–2040 1654 75-80% 24 74.00–79.50 $76.02 $1,257 -1.10

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YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1465–1493 1484 3 77.00 $77.00 $1,143
1355–1765 1572 17 64.00–81.00 $75.49 $1,187 -7.20
1435–2420 1812 83 82.00–91.00 $87.04 $1,577
990–2343 2026 29 91.00–99.50 $94.80 $1,921
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2365 2365 1 86.00 $86.00 $2,034

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Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
887–1433 1054 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 71 61.00–75.00 $69.21 $729
885–1415 1113 (<2 yrs)Open 81 66.00–89.50 $78.70 $876
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
730 730 (<2 yrs)Open 1 80.00 $80.00 $584
955–1278 1042 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 29 59.00–67.50 $64.90 $676
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
853 853 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 65.00 $65.00 $554
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1160 1160 (<2 yrs)Open 1 76.00 $76.00 $882

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Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
922–952 933 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 19 750.00–775.00 $765.60
1024 1024 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 635.00 $635.00
1108 1108 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 31 800.00 $800.00
1138 1138 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 8 760.00 $760.00
1161 1161 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 12 700.00 $700.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1216 1216 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 10 885.00 $885.00

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1478 1478 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 3 1,425.00 $1,425.00
1499 1499 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 5 1,460.00 $1,460.00
1498–1534 1506 Aged (>8 yrs)Open 30 1,025.00–1,325.00 $1,096.28
1513 1513 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 12 1,660.00 $1,660.00
1611 1611 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 10 1,525.00 $1,525.00
1591–1771 1715 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 29 1,410.00–1,450.00 $1,438.48
1773 1773 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 3 1,700.00 $1,700.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1495 1495 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)Open 5 1,175.00 $1,175.00

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Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1414 1414 (<2 yrs)Open 6 1,700.00 $1,700.00

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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.