Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, August 19, 2021

3,419 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $199.79/cwt +23.68 vs last sale · ≈ $835/hd at 418 lb · 200 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 steers $155.80/cwt +4.93 vs last sale · ≈ $1,369/hd at 879 lb · 184 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $145.33/cwt +0.32 vs last sale · ≈ $1,276/hd at 878 lb · 120 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,419 3,970 974
Feeder cattle 2,216 1,846 441
Slaughter cattle 759 1,239 328
Replacement cattle 444 885 205

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to two weeks ago(8-05-21): Yearling steers under 850 lbs were not well compared, however steady undertones were noticed. Steers over 850 lbs sold mostly 5.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Yearling heifers under 850 lbs sold mostly 2.00-4.00 higher, heifers over 850 lbs sold mostly 2.00-5.00 higher. Demand was mostly good to very good for all yearlings on offer. Spring born calves sold on moderate to good demand for moderate offerings. Steer calves were too lightly tested last sale to develop a full market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed. The best test for heifer calves was for 400-499 lbs which sold mostly 5.00-15.00 higher. All other heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however higher undertones were noticed on all weights. Quality this week for both calves and yearlings was average to very attractive. The best demand for calves was for fully preconditioned calves. These offerings sold with an $8.00-10.00 premium for most offerings. This led to wide price spreads at times. Several sets of replacement heifers continue to be marketed and consigners continue to offer to abort the heifers at their cost if the buyer wishes to feed them. Market activity was mostly active this week with many bidders both ringside as well as on the internet. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for heavy offerings. Packers took a back seat to other buyers this week as they allowed cow prices to slide. Buyers looking for cows which could be bred purchased a large portion of the cow offering this week. These cows were reported as bred per cwt. Feeding cows sold mostly 3.00-4.00 lower on a lower quality offering. Slaughter cows sold mostly 2.00-3.00 lower on all classes. Slaughter bulls sold 2.00 lower. Several buyers purchased bulls to feed this week including packers. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher. Demand from rebreed buyers was stronger again this sale. Buyers were actively purchasing cows to rebreed for fall calving in southern states. Demand for cow calf pairs was mostly good this sale. Prices for pairs continue to go up in value as calves increase in price.

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
272–276 unweaned 274 18 213.00–228.50 $219.08 $600 +31.20
327 unweaned 327 3 213.00 $213.00 $697 +26.00
355–389 unweaned 363 68 190.00–219.00 $214.05 $777 +33.96
405–444 unweaned 418 200 185.00–209.75 $199.79 $835 +23.68
462–499 unweaned 474 70 171.00–181.50 $177.92 $843 +6.10
515–541 unweaned 532 20 164.50–176.00 $168.40 $896 —
550–597 unweaned 586 24 165.00–169.00 $166.39 $975 —
623–638 unweaned 628 6 145.00–160.00 $154.92 $973 —
664 664 5 177.00 $177.00 $1,175 +5.50
703–740 716 16 165.00–170.00 $167.76 $1,201 +0.99
752–780 761 16 162.00–165.00 $164.04 $1,248 +0.81
801–821 805 36 162.00–162.50 $162.39 $1,307 —
850–899 879 184 152.00–157.50 $155.80 $1,369 +4.93
906–920 908 95 150.00–157.00 $156.23 $1,419 +5.09
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
224 unweaned 224 5 200.00 $200.00 $448 —
371 unweaned 371 4 196.00 $196.00 $727 —
415–420 unweaned 417 9 172.50–179.00 $176.09 $734 —
506 unweaned 506 8 171.00 $171.00 $865 +26.00
705–727 713 17 157.00–162.00 $158.80 $1,132 -4.20
777 777 3 157.00 $157.00 $1,220 +7.73
811 811 9 154.50 $154.50 $1,253 —
895 895 8 142.00 $142.00 $1,271 —
909–913 911 11 143.50–146.00 $144.63 $1,318 —
950 950 7 135.50 $135.50 $1,287 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
911 911 7 134.00 $134.00 $1,221 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
370 370 3 192.50 $192.50 $712 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
627 627 3 167.00 $167.00 $1,047 +0.34

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
274 unweaned 274 9 185.00 $185.00 $507 —
322–349 unweaned 330 34 173.00–190.00 $184.19 $608 +29.19
361–393 unweaned 379 117 173.50–185.00 $182.12 $690 +22.12
405–443 unweaned 423 80 164.00–176.50 $169.74 $718 +13.59
450–475 unweaned 457 35 161.00–170.00 $165.69 $757 +6.51
518–522 unweaned 521 9 154.00–156.00 $154.44 $805 +3.91
563–576 unweaned 567 12 148.10–152.50 $151.01 $856 —
619 unweaned 619 4 136.00 $136.00 $842 —
683 683 8 157.00 $157.00 $1,072 +3.18
718–747 736 50 150.00–157.00 $154.31 $1,136 +2.41
753–772 764 33 150.00–155.00 $153.03 $1,169 +10.03
769 fancy 769 7 159.50 $159.50 $1,227 —
806–832 825 58 148.00–150.00 $149.01 $1,229 +8.01
852–895 878 107 143.25–148.25 $146.07 $1,282 +1.06
866–894 878 13 138.00–140.50 $139.23 $1,222 -5.78
900–933 921 24 140.50–143.00 $142.21 $1,310 +6.21
952–997 973 72 133.00–141.50 $139.10 $1,353 +5.81
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
389 unweaned 389 8 167.00 $167.00 $650 —
1004–1016 1011 21 135.50 $135.50 $1,370 +2.03
1069–1093 1080 11 125.50 $125.50 $1,355 -2.09
1115 1115 2 124.50 $124.50 $1,388 -3.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
382 unweaned 382 3 169.00 $169.00 $646 —
434 unweaned 434 3 161.00 $161.00 $699 —
453 unweaned 453 2 153.00 $153.00 $693 —
706 706 7 147.00 $147.00 $1,038 +0.16
775–793 782 8 145.50–148.00 $147.05 $1,150 +6.73
908 908 2 130.00 $130.00 $1,180 -3.00
993 993 2 130.50 $130.50 $1,296 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
511 511 6 131.00 $131.00 $669 —
581 581 11 146.50 $146.50 $851 —
703 703 3 134.00 $134.00 $942 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
683 683 5 140.00 $140.00 $956 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
696 696 4 150.00 $150.00 $1,044 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
234 unweaned 234 4 212.50 $212.50 $497 —
312 unweaned 312 3 212.00 $212.00 $661 —
463 unweaned 463 13 163.00 $163.00 $755 —
635 unweaned 635 4 142.50 $142.50 $905 —
693 693 6 146.00 $146.00 $1,012 —
950 950 3 133.00 $133.00 $1,264 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1056 1056 4 128.00 $128.00 $1,352 —
1113 1113 2 110.00 $110.00 $1,224 -1.70
1151–1199 1172 9 108.00–113.00 $110.73 $1,298 +7.24
1248 1248 2 96.00 $96.00 $1,198 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1139 1139 8 91.00 $91.00 $1,036 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
991 991 7 120.50 $120.50 $1,194 -7.50

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
943–963 955 85-90% 5 53.00–56.00 $54.18 $517 —
1058–1150 1070 85-90% 8 50.00–51.00 $50.13 $536 —
1000–1355 1182 85-90% 74 50.00–60.50 $57.11 $675 -2.14
1131–1285 1209 85-90% 29 52.00–59.50 $56.87 $688 -7.60
1240–1305 1287 85-90% 15 60.00–63.00 $60.86 $783 —
1288 1288 85-90% 2 66.00 $66.00 $850 —
1070–1392 1290 85-90% 27 59.00–66.00 $61.66 $795 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1368–1420 1375 80-85% 8 59.00–60.00 $59.87 $823 -9.08
1253–1540 1425 80-85% 8 69.00–75.00 $70.82 $1,009 +4.21
1255–1500 1432 80-85% 20 60.50–67.00 $62.87 $900 -11.84
1365–1645 1476 80-85% 58 61.00–69.00 $65.17 $962 +2.84
1340–1541 1490 80-85% 35 58.50–60.00 $58.73 $875 -3.60
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1420–1470 1458 75-80% 4 75.00–75.50 $75.12 $1,095 -0.89
1465–1520 1493 75-80% 2 80.00–82.00 $81.02 $1,210 +5.01
1628–1665 1646 75-80% 11 72.50–76.00 $73.69 $1,213 —
1550–1955 1743 75-80% 9 62.00–70.50 $66.10 $1,152 —
1855–2100 1937 75-80% 3 78.50–80.00 $79.46 $1,539 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1335–1505 1431 5 68.00–80.00 $74.79 $1,070 —
1120–1855 1518 28 81.00–89.00 $84.73 $1,286 —
1300–1915 1585 11 67.00–82.50 $78.72 $1,248 -2.01
1635–2265 1875 38 81.00–89.00 $86.02 $1,613 —
1860–2235 2021 16 90.00–96.50 $92.30 $1,865 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
804–1295 968 (<2 yrs)Open 77 65.00–106.00 $90.05 $872
895–1460 1103 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 53 58.00–79.50 $72.74 $802
1320 thin fleshed 1320 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 59.00 $59.00 $779

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1230–1491 1283 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 51 59.00–65.50 $61.47 $789
1264–1488 1314 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 9 62.00–64.00 $63.50 $834
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1034–1120 1053 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 9 950.00–1,000.00 $988.18
1619 1619 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 1,250.00 $1,250.00

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
861 861 (<2 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 50 1,410.00 $1,410.00

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Cow-Calf Pairs

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
1382–1535 1411 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 21 1,400.00–1,450.00 $1,439.64 -259.42
1448–1475 1452 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 7 1,500.00–1,650.00 $1,628.23 +120.48
1419–1710 1524 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 13 1,485.00–1,700.00 $1,620.54 —
1567–1670 1616 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 21 1,500.00–1,710.00 $1,603.34 +194.40
1593–1750 1641 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 13 1,400.00–1,450.00 $1,433.60 +24.66
1668–1758 1685 Aged (>8 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 16 1,410.00–1,450.00 $1,417.83 —
1551–1735 1687 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 27 1,475.00–1,600.00 $1,570.21 —

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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.