Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, September 23, 2021

5,488 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 4-weight M&L 1 steers $185.04/cwt +7.79 vs last sale · ≈ $872/hd at 471 lb · 449 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $168.49/cwt -1.00 vs last sale · ≈ $728/hd at 432 lb · 326 head
light 4-weight M&L 1 steers $193.39/cwt +9.73 vs last sale · ≈ $810/hd at 419 lb · 266 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 5,488 2,896 1,188
Feeder cattle 4,513 1,226 678
Slaughter cattle 773 996 438
Replacement cattle 202 674 72

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers were scarcely traded last week so no comparison is available. Steer calves under 500 lbs sold 8.00-12.00 higher, steers over 500 lbs were not well compared, however higher undertones were noticed. Yearling heifer were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Heifer calves all sold steady to 5.00 higher. Quality this week was average to attractive. Demand for yearlings was mostly good. Demand for calves was moderate. The best demand for calves was for light weight calves suitable to develop into yearlings or big heavyweight calves that buyers hoped to have finished before the expiration of the April contract. Heavy supplies of calves continue to come early. Many buyers report corn belt feeders are not ready for calves as they are busy with harvest. Once buyers filled orders demand diminished. Market activity was mostly moderate to active. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand for heavy offerings. Packers showed slightly stronger demand for slaughter cows this week. Harvest has started in the corn-belt and as a result packers are seeing less available supplies as farmers and dairy men are busy with harvest. Slaughter cows sold steady to firm on boning and lean cows, breaking cows sold mostly steady to 2.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Feeding cows sold generally steady. Cows were extremely full today as weigh-ups sold late in the day after the feeder sale. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average which made comparisons difficult. Slaughter bulls sold fully steady. Young age cows suitable to rebreed sold steady. Quality was average to very attractive and similar to last week. Demand remains very good.

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Feeder Steers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
296 unweaned 296 9 238.00 $238.00 $704 —
318–348 unweaned 333 126 219.00–225.00 $221.86 $739 +13.83
362–367 fancy 365 14 225.00–229.00 $227.57 $831 —
359–387 unweaned 375 96 201.00–218.00 $207.67 $779 +14.54
400–433 unweaned 419 266 189.00–199.00 $193.39 $810 +9.73
450–499 unweaned 471 449 177.50–192.50 $185.04 $872 +7.79
501–545 unweaned 523 193 167.00–184.50 $179.46 $939 +12.25
531 531 14 164.00 $164.00 $871 —
559 fancy 559 21 185.50 $185.50 $1,037 —
550–588 unweaned 568 120 162.00–170.00 $165.95 $943 +0.90
602–613 unweaned 606 29 164.00–168.50 $165.60 $1,004 —
605–607 fancy 606 67 170.00–171.50 $170.83 $1,035 —
655–689 unweaned 662 39 155.50–164.00 $162.03 $1,073 +11.52
673 673 24 170.50 $170.50 $1,147 —
700 unweaned 700 4 152.50 $152.50 $1,068 —
709–715 713 38 170.00–174.00 $171.69 $1,224 —
750–761 754 23 165.00–166.00 $165.35 $1,247 —
813–829 828 37 157.00–160.00 $159.76 $1,323 +12.81
852–871 865 42 150.00–158.75 $153.20 $1,325 —
952 952 11 144.50 $144.50 $1,376 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
291 unweaned 291 7 212.50 $212.50 $618 +10.00
342 unweaned 342 17 190.00 $190.00 $650 —
383–392 unweaned 391 20 199.00–200.00 $199.90 $782 —
403–445 unweaned 430 131 175.00–186.00 $182.74 $786 +14.86
461–496 unweaned 472 51 167.00–179.00 $175.31 $827 +10.31
549 unweaned 549 17 164.00–167.50 $166.26 $913 +3.49
558 unweaned 558 3 161.00 $161.00 $898 +3.50
615–645 unweaned 639 15 155.50–157.75 $157.32 $1,005 —
678 unweaned 678 3 150.00 $150.00 $1,017 —
728 728 3 160.00 $160.00 $1,165 +2.00
788 788 4 156.00 $156.00 $1,229 —
806 806 8 148.00 $148.00 $1,193 —
860 860 3 148.00 $148.00 $1,273 —
905 905 5 138.00 $138.00 $1,249 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
465 465 21 181.00 $181.00 $842 —
493 unweaned 493 10 167.00 $167.00 $823 —
557–593 569 9 160.00–164.00 $162.61 $925 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1009 1009 14 133.50 $133.50 $1,347 —
1086 1086 4 132.50 $132.50 $1,439 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
278 unweaned 278 4 191.00 $191.00 $531 —
328–348 unweaned 338 122 181.50–190.00 $184.68 $624 +4.24
370–395 unweaned 387 113 173.00–182.00 $179.16 $693 +6.74
406–445 unweaned 432 326 162.00–175.00 $168.49 $728 -1.00
454–475 unweaned 468 130 158.00–163.00 $159.94 $749 -0.54
501–548 unweaned 519 193 151.00–161.50 $156.30 $811 +2.20
551–599 unweaned 571 111 150.00–157.50 $154.40 $882 +1.11
610–635 unweaned 624 25 149.50–153.00 $151.49 $945 —
660–696 669 32 154.00–155.25 $154.92 $1,036 —
708–735 728 48 150.00–154.75 $153.38 $1,117 —
758–780 770 57 147.00–151.75 $149.60 $1,152 +4.60
808–838 831 31 146.50–148.50 $147.94 $1,229 +3.50
853–896 885 121 140.00–146.00 $143.40 $1,269 +0.47
905–943 912 93 136.00–141.50 $140.52 $1,282 +2.40
960–993 981 32 132.75–136.50 $133.78 $1,312 +1.23
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
303–305 unweaned 303 29 166.50–180.00 $167.44 $507 -4.00
386–390 unweaned 387 10 169.00–178.00 $175.28 $678 +12.28
433–434 unweaned 434 24 157.00–161.00 $160.33 $696 +1.33
458–495 unweaned 470 21 143.00–148.50 $146.57 $689 +1.57
523 unweaned 523 13 145.00 $145.00 $758 —
553 unweaned 553 3 148.00 $148.00 $818 —
730 730 7 149.00 $149.00 $1,088 +4.25
792–795 793 22 145.50–146.50 $145.73 $1,156 +3.32
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
318 unweaned 318 49 182.50 $182.50 $580 +10.50
633 633 11 164.50 $164.50 $1,041 +13.00
699 699 12 148.00 $148.00 $1,035 —
842 842 12 140.50 $140.50 $1,183 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
798 798 2 145.50 $145.50 $1,161 —
1012–1027 1021 28 132.00–132.50 $132.21 $1,350 —
1060–1090 1084 5 128.00–129.00 $128.20 $1,390 —
1100–1118 1111 5 125.00–126.50 $125.59 $1,395 —
1152 1152 3 121.00 $121.00 $1,394 —
1163 1163 2 115.00 $115.00 $1,337 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
561 561 8 151.50 $151.50 $850 —
638 638 6 149.50 $149.50 $954 —
677 677 5 145.00 $145.00 $982 —
713 713 8 139.00 $139.00 $991 —
765 765 18 142.00 $142.00 $1,086 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
324 unweaned 324 6 200.00 $200.00 $648 —
440 unweaned 440 14 161.00 $161.00 $708 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
395 unweaned 395 3 206.00 $206.00 $814 —
547 unweaned 547 3 147.00 $147.00 $804 —
611 unweaned 611 7 140.00 $140.00 $855 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1030 1030 1 119.00 $119.00 $1,226 +4.00

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Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1330–1565 1402 80-85% 112 50.50–59.00 $54.18 $760 +2.08
1381–1694 1428 80-85% 30 57.00–74.00 $59.79 $854 +7.69
1275–1650 1439 80-85% 17 71.00–77.00 $73.64 $1,060 —
1484 1484 80-85% 5 49.50 $49.50 $735 -20.02
1360–1610 1490 80-85% 106 60.00–69.00 $65.91 $982 -3.61
1515 1515 80-85% 1 61.00 $61.00 $924 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
993 993 85-90% 5 43.00 $43.00 $427 -10.50
1033–1160 1120 85-90% 17 37.50–47.50 $43.10 $483 —
1065–1275 1192 85-90% 19 55.00–58.00 $56.46 $673 +6.30
1005–1270 1220 85-90% 13 55.00–65.00 $56.82 $693 -15.18
1025–1585 1243 85-90% 104 48.00–55.50 $51.56 $641 —
1285–1325 1322 85-90% 21 55.00–55.50 $55.02 $727 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1507–1605 1541 75-80% 17 65.00–68.50 $66.23 $1,021 —
1455–1655 1555 75-80% 2 80.00–83.00 $81.40 $1,266 —
1608 1608 75-80% 4 65.50 $65.50 $1,053 +2.50
1542–1850 1678 75-80% 8 74.50–77.00 $75.88 $1,273 —
N/N/A ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1685 1685 65-75% 1 87.00 $87.00 $1,466 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1319–1680 1359 9 89.50–90.50 $90.36 $1,228 —
1483 1483 2 78.00 $78.00 $1,157 +4.98
1637 1637 9 79.00 $79.00 $1,293 +3.83
1505–2215 1843 15 81.00–86.00 $84.57 $1,559 —
1893 1893 2 93.50 $93.50 $1,770 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1900 1900 1 86.00 $86.00 $1,634 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
842–1293 971 (<2 yrs)Open 86 65.00–107.00 $94.15 $914
928–1190 1078 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 16 67.00–84.00 $75.99 $819
1150 1150 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)Open 1 76.00 $76.00 $874
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
975 975 (<2 yrs)Open 1 62.00 $62.00 $604

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1231–1253 1241 Aged (>8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 19 53.00–56.00 $54.43 $675
1416 1416 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 57.00 $57.00 $807
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1208 1208 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 1,050.00 $1,050.00
1066–1360 1217 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 12 1,025.00–1,110.00 $1,081.57

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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.