Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, November 18, 2021

4,850 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $175.20/cwt +6.07 vs last sale · ≈ $919/hd at 525 lb · 441 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $148.85/cwt +0.41 vs last sale · ≈ $782/hd at 525 lb · 426 head
heavy 4-weight M&L 1 heifers $157.24/cwt +6.39 vs last sale · ≈ $748/hd at 476 lb · 294 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,850 5,569 6,434
Feeder cattle 4,252 5,127 5,990
Slaughter cattle 386 328 312
Replacement cattle 212 114 132

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifers were too lightly tested last to develop any accurate market trend. Steer calves under 500lbs sold 5.00-10.00 higher with moderate to good demand; Steers 450-599 lbs sold 5.00; steers over 600 lbs sold mostly steady to 6.00 higher. Heifer calves under 500 lbs sold 5.00 to 8.00 higher, while heifers over 500 lbs sold 3.00-8.00 higher. Calf quality this week was average to attractive, with a few consignments of attractive cattle. Calves were offered in mostly small to medium packages today that sold with moderate demand, with a few load lots on offer that sold with good demand for both steers and heifers. Demand remains limited due to limited trucks. Wide price spreads continue to be seen as buyers continue to focus on buying front end calves and calves with two rounds of vaccinations. Market activity this week was moderate to active with moderate to heavy receipts of feeder cattle. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate demand for light to moderate offerings. The majority of cows recorded this week were purchased for feed. Primarily very lame or severely blemished cows were purchased for immediate harvest. Lower undertones were noticed on all classes of slaughter cows on a light test this and last week. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady on a light comparison, with no comparison for bred replacement cows or heifers. Demand was mostly light. Quality for this class of cows was plain to average this week.

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
260–294 unweaned 286 9 200.00–222.50 $219.41 $628 +19.41
320–332 unweaned 325 7 205.00–208.00 $206.31 $671 -6.57
353–360 355 28 194.00–205.00 $202.61 $719 +11.61
364–397 unweaned 377 44 200.00–219.00 $212.58 $801 +2.12
425 425 7 200.00 $200.00 $850 +0.39
401–449 unweaned 433 180 189.00–213.00 $200.28 $867 +13.51
453–489 unweaned 465 168 185.50–203.00 $196.26 $913 +6.84
462–491 480 48 161.00–186.50 $181.74 $872 +2.68
500–547 unweaned 524 364 164.00–183.50 $176.03 $922 +8.34
520–529 528 77 167.50–173.00 $171.30 $904 -2.70
553–595 unweaned 578 261 159.00–172.00 $168.78 $976 +7.45
603–629 unweaned 623 91 148.00–165.00 $158.03 $985 -1.07
609–639 633 27 145.00–165.50 $152.93 $968 -11.30
653–690 unweaned 667 81 136.00–165.50 $161.80 $1,079 +6.80
698 698 2 158.00 $158.00 $1,103 —
707–715 unweaned 712 25 147.00–155.50 $153.37 $1,092 +11.30
733 733 3 150.00 $150.00 $1,100 -4.00
773 unweaned 773 3 141.00 $141.00 $1,090 —
783 783 2 136.00 $136.00 $1,065 —
813–848 831 4 134.00–152.00 $143.19 $1,190 —
848 unweaned 848 23 160.00 $160.00 $1,357 —
862 862 10 151.50 $151.50 $1,306 —
900–942 916 8 139.00–152.00 $144.01 $1,319 —
977 977 3 152.50 $152.50 $1,490 —
1064 1064 5 136.50 $136.50 $1,452 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
268–283 unweaned 276 4 185.00 $185.00 $511 +30.00
327 unweaned 327 3 186.00 $186.00 $608 +1.44
373 unweaned 373 3 164.00 $164.00 $612 -3.92
426 426 10 132.50 $132.50 $564 -35.00
430–437 unweaned 436 25 178.00 $178.00 $776 +11.49
463–495 unweaned 476 31 150.00–176.00 $166.82 $794 -3.34
515–549 unweaned 541 17 140.00–159.00 $145.98 $790 -6.43
553 553 12 125.00 $125.00 $691 -13.00
580–593 unweaned 587 8 141.00–158.50 $149.85 $880 +2.67
553–596 590 22 145.00–149.00 $148.49 $876 +10.49
600 600 4 139.00 $139.00 $834 —
620 unweaned 620 3 145.00 $145.00 $899 -1.45
657–658 unweaned 657 13 135.50–144.00 $137.46 $903 -13.84
711 unweaned 711 4 136.00 $136.00 $967 +6.00
758 unweaned 758 2 135.00 $135.00 $1,023 —
864 864 4 134.50 $134.50 $1,162 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
634 unweaned 634 19 155.50 $155.50 $986 —
652 unweaned 652 3 132.50 $132.50 $864 -12.39
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
493 493 2 165.00 $165.00 $813 —
507 unweaned 507 3 164.00 $164.00 $831 —
545 545 4 130.00 $130.00 $708 —
617 unweaned 617 6 137.50 $137.50 $848 -2.41

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
280 unweaned 280 4 190.00 $190.00 $532 +10.66
300–327 unweaned 314 15 175.00–190.00 $179.30 $563 -0.80
354–399 unweaned 370 30 160.00–180.00 $163.03 $603 -17.32
371 371 23 170.00 $170.00 $631 —
411–413 412 12 161.00–168.00 $163.34 $673 +5.84
403–447 unweaned 418 142 165.00–181.50 $173.03 $723 +1.01
454–497 unweaned 474 242 148.00–167.00 $157.02 $744 +5.80
473–487 484 52 142.00–162.00 $158.24 $766 +8.64
501–539 516 25 141.00 $141.00 $728 -1.75
508–548 unweaned 525 361 140.00–156.50 $149.70 $786 +0.40
528–549 535 40 140.00–152.00 $146.09 $782 +3.34
550 550 5 154.00 $154.00 $847 —
550–596 unweaned 566 146 147.50–158.50 $152.70 $864 -3.16
616 616 4 126.00 $126.00 $776 -11.18
605–634 unweaned 620 42 133.00–149.00 $145.28 $901 +7.52
618–649 639 38 134.00–142.50 $138.77 $887 +1.59
697 unweaned 697 5 150.00 $150.00 $1,046 +9.02
700–706 unweaned 705 20 144.00–150.50 $149.70 $1,055 +18.70
718 718 23 160.50 $160.50 $1,152 +12.50
754 754 63 161.50 $161.50 $1,218 +6.50
810 810 2 120.00 $120.00 $972 —
837 837 252 162.50 $162.50 $1,360 —
856–863 859 64 152.00–158.50 $155.85 $1,339 —
942 942 7 142.00 $142.00 $1,338 —
958–990 979 6 128.00–133.50 $131.71 $1,289 —
1001 unweaned 1001 5 133.50 $133.50 $1,336 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
155 unweaned 155 6 155.00 $155.00 $240 —
290 unweaned 290 1 170.00 $170.00 $493 +15.94
322–348 unweaned 335 24 152.50–165.00 $157.97 $529 +7.09
356–384 unweaned 366 25 147.50–156.00 $154.18 $564 -5.82
412–447 unweaned 425 77 130.00–159.00 $148.73 $632 +5.01
461–490 unweaned 481 23 142.00–151.00 $144.70 $696 +5.11
483–485 484 4 135.00–145.00 $140.01 $678 +1.01
488 488 3 132.00 $132.00 $644 -7.00
515–542 unweaned 526 42 125.00–145.00 $137.39 $723 +0.88
534 534 11 141.00 $141.00 $753 +2.00
558 unweaned 558 23 133.00 $133.00 $742 -4.15
561 561 7 125.00 $125.00 $701 -6.45
607–643 unweaned 613 13 136.00–140.00 $136.65 $838 +1.65
652–672 unweaned 657 12 133.00–135.00 $134.49 $884 —
700–734 720 14 123.00–135.50 $130.32 $938 —
720 unweaned 720 5 129.50 $129.50 $932 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 unweaned 435 3 154.00 $154.00 $670 —
455 455 11 115.00 $115.00 $523 —
503 unweaned 503 2 130.00 $130.00 $654 —
567–588 unweaned 574 43 146.50–150.00 $148.83 $854 —
624 unweaned 624 7 127.00 $127.00 $792 +3.15
700 unweaned 700 3 115.00 $115.00 $805 —
1010 1010 1 116.00 $116.00 $1,172 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
335 unweaned 335 2 156.00 $156.00 $523 —
355–381 unweaned 374 7 130.00–135.00 $133.64 $500 -7.36
418–448 unweaned 434 10 126.00–130.00 $128.23 $557 —
504–547 unweaned 522 7 131.00–146.00 $137.73 $719 —
535 535 8 137.00 $137.00 $733 —
555 unweaned 555 3 122.50 $122.50 $680 -10.50
614–640 unweaned 620 9 118.00–132.00 $121.21 $752 -13.15
707 707 11 110.00 $110.00 $778 -26.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
298 unweaned 298 4 210.00 $210.00 $626 —
389 unweaned 389 4 213.00 $213.00 $829 —
524 unweaned 524 5 143.00 $143.00 $749 +7.00
599 unweaned 599 23 135.50 $135.50 $812 +0.04
627 unweaned 627 5 143.00 $143.00 $897 —
695 695 3 134.00 $134.00 $931 —
784 unweaned 784 4 138.00 $138.00 $1,082 —
925 925 1 117.00 $117.00 $1,082 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1050–1100 1075 85-90% 2 23.50–29.50 $26.43 $284 -26.21
1020–1245 1095 85-90% 3 31.00–31.50 $31.19 $342 -21.45
858–1302 1127 85-90% 18 45.00–50.00 $47.89 $540 +17.68
900–1285 1142 85-90% 26 25.50–37.00 $30.15 $344 -0.06
1115–1376 1244 85-90% 11 35.50–40.00 $36.87 $459 —
1240–1513 1422 85-90% 3 40.50–45.00 $41.81 $595 +2.22
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1105–1403 1218 80-85% 8 57.50–59.00 $58.32 $710 —
1248–1470 1356 80-85% 16 40.00–47.00 $42.53 $577 -4.40
1405–1468 1437 80-85% 4 39.00–39.50 $39.24 $564 +0.24
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1455 1455 75-80% 1 59.00 $59.00 $858 —
1560 1560 75-80% 2 51.00 $51.00 $796 —
1600 1600 75-80% 3 51.00 $51.00 $816 —
1825 1825 75-80% 1 55.00 $55.00 $1,004 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1232 1232 11 89.00 $89.00 $1,096 —
1530–1762 1704 4 66.00–72.00 $70.65 $1,204 -4.35
1845 1845 2 76.00 $76.00 $1,402 —
2023–2120 2055 3 81.00–83.00 $82.31 $1,691 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
778–1115 943 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 109 51.00–88.00 $78.13 $737
720–1150 976 (<2 yrs)Open 36 68.00–97.00 $87.04 $850
1065 1065 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 55.00 $55.00 $586
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
813–995 874 (<2 yrs)Open 3 53.00–75.00 $66.65 $583
955 955 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 50.00 $50.00 $478
1075 thin fleshed 1075 (<2 yrs)Open 1 49.00 $49.00 $527

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
820 820 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 1 750.00 $750.00

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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.