Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, December 2, 2021

4,214 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 5-weight M&L 1 heifers $149.42/cwt -3.33 vs last sale · ≈ $859/hd at 575 lb · 300 head
heavy 5-weight M&L 1 steers $169.60/cwt +0.82 vs last sale · ≈ $978/hd at 577 lb · 298 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $189.56/cwt +14.35 vs last sale · ≈ $980/hd at 517 lb · 252 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 4,214 4,850 5,501
Feeder cattle 3,923 4,252 4,867
Slaughter cattle 192 386 412
Replacement cattle 99 212 222

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to two weeks ago: Yearling steers were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however higher to sharply higher undertones were noticed. Yearling heifers sold mostly 5.00 lower in a narrow comparison. Demand however remains very good for all yearlings on offer. Steer calves under 400 lbs sold sharply higher, steers over 400 lbs sold mostly 5.00-8.00 higher. Heifer calves under 400 lbs sold sharply higher, 400-599 lbs heifers sold steady to 3.00 higher. Heifer calves over 600 lbs sold 2.00-5.00 higher. Quality this week was average to very attractive for both calves and yearlings. Demand for calves was mostly moderate to good. The best demand continues to be for light weight calves suitable to develop into yearlings. CME positions have continued to inch higher since the last sale. Today, higher bids were seen on finished cattle which added additional fundamental support to the market. Calves were offered in mostly moderate size packages this week with a few light load lots seen. Market activity this sale was mostly active with a large buyer pool actively biding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand this sale. Packer buyers showed slightly stronger demand for cows for immediate harvest. Feeding cow buyers were active as well, bidding aggressively on todays light offering. Slaughter cows sold mostly 3.00-5.00 higher on all classes in a narrow comparison. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to trend, however higher undertones were noticed. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop any market trend.

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
310 310 3 230.00 $230.00 $713 —
358–395 unweaned 381 37 210.00–233.00 $223.04 $850 +10.46
374–398 389 13 227.50–229.00 $228.06 $887 +25.45
405–433 413 30 202.00–214.00 $206.36 $852 +6.36
408–433 unweaned 427 47 205.00–225.00 $210.17 $897 +9.89
465–483 unweaned 473 59 191.00–204.00 $196.29 $928 +0.03
501–549 unweaned 517 242 181.00–195.00 $189.54 $980 +13.51
517 517 10 190.00 $190.00 $982 +18.70
560–596 564 124 165.50–174.50 $168.33 $949 —
556–597 unweaned 586 174 162.00–181.00 $170.51 $999 +1.73
600–641 unweaned 618 157 163.00–170.00 $167.62 $1,036 +9.59
609–632 629 70 163.00–174.50 $164.29 $1,033 +11.36
671 671 13 146.00 $146.00 $980 -12.00
664–682 674 18 159.00–163.00 $161.21 $1,087 +3.21
664–689 unweaned 679 41 154.00–168.00 $161.46 $1,096 -0.34
691 691 10 150.00 $150.00 $1,036 -8.00
710–735 unweaned 718 41 152.00–164.50 $159.19 $1,143 +5.82
713–743 730 44 156.00–166.00 $161.93 $1,182 +11.93
824 unweaned 824 5 150.00 $150.00 $1,236 -10.00
851–857 853 41 163.50–165.50 $164.67 $1,405 +13.17
912 912 126 168.75 $168.75 $1,539 +24.74
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435–436 unweaned 436 5 190.00–197.50 $196.00 $855 +18.00
465–473 unweaned 466 25 187.50–192.50 $191.89 $894 +25.07
488 488 2 175.00 $175.00 $854 —
504–547 534 36 165.00–179.00 $176.63 $943 —
508–547 unweaned 536 16 149.50–179.00 $168.90 $905 +22.92
565–571 567 17 154.00 $154.00 $873 +29.00
610–634 unweaned 623 40 149.50–159.00 $150.31 $936 +5.31
655–663 660 11 145.00–154.00 $148.25 $978 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
463 unweaned 463 8 150.00 $150.00 $694 —
478 478 10 155.00 $155.00 $741 -10.00
544 544 14 160.00 $160.00 $870 +30.00
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
630 unweaned 630 1 151.00 $151.00 $951 -4.50
690 690 2 151.00 $151.00 $1,042 —
1068 1068 10 134.00 $134.00 $1,431 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
404 404 7 162.50 $162.50 $656 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
641 641 4 141.00 $141.00 $904 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
327 327 3 187.50 $187.50 $613 —
334 unweaned 334 4 190.00 $190.00 $635 +10.70
360–388 unweaned 381 34 186.00–190.00 $189.33 $721 +26.30
382–394 385 23 179.00–188.00 $181.21 $698 +11.21
404–418 unweaned 412 20 172.00–180.00 $176.34 $727 +3.31
407–435 418 16 165.00–171.00 $167.34 $699 +4.00
451–478 unweaned 470 146 155.00–168.00 $160.10 $752 +3.08
476–484 479 31 149.00–165.00 $158.23 $758 -0.01
491 491 15 132.00 $132.00 $648 -26.24
505–512 unweaned 511 15 150.50–151.00 $150.90 $771 +1.20
524 fancy 524 66 166.25 $166.25 $871 —
503–543 534 26 149.50–154.00 $153.02 $817 +6.93
552 fancy 552 9 157.00 $157.00 $867 —
554–590 575 137 147.00–153.00 $151.57 $872 -2.43
566–590 unweaned 575 137 142.00–155.00 $148.43 $853 -4.27
589 589 17 136.00 $136.00 $801 —
600–644 613 82 137.00–147.50 $143.66 $881 +17.66
601–640 unweaned 622 94 140.00–152.00 $146.65 $912 +1.37
650–669 656 17 137.00–146.00 $140.04 $919 —
673–692 unweaned 679 16 137.00–145.00 $142.45 $967 -7.55
688 688 7 131.00 $131.00 $901 —
702–718 711 54 135.00–154.50 $148.52 $1,056 -11.98
709–720 unweaned 711 13 135.00–139.00 $138.38 $984 -11.32
758–773 770 17 131.00–156.00 $150.74 $1,161 -10.76
779 unweaned 779 10 136.00 $136.00 $1,059 —
800–834 810 101 146.00–155.00 $151.56 $1,228 +31.56
855 fancy 855 52 156.50 $156.50 $1,338 —
853–888 871 40 146.00–149.00 $148.49 $1,293 -7.36
901–948 910 97 145.00–153.00 $151.35 $1,377 +9.35
1004 1004 8 135.50 $135.50 $1,360 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
320 320 5 155.00 $155.00 $496 —
373 unweaned 373 2 175.00 $175.00 $653 +41.36
402–436 409 94 154.00–160.00 $156.28 $639 —
419 unweaned 419 15 157.00 $157.00 $658 +28.77
493 493 23 142.00 $142.00 $700 —
539 unweaned 539 9 142.50 $142.50 $768 +4.77
583 583 6 142.50 $142.50 $831 —
692 692 30 151.00 $151.00 $1,045 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
460 460 11 145.00 $145.00 $667 +4.99
470–478 unweaned 475 26 139.00–152.00 $143.14 $680 -1.56
524 unweaned 524 9 145.00 $145.00 $760 +7.61
536 536 12 145.00 $145.00 $777 +4.00
553 553 4 135.00 $135.00 $747 +10.00
558–593 unweaned 579 30 135.00–140.00 $136.50 $790 +3.50
618 618 6 135.00 $135.00 $834 —
769 769 6 136.50 $136.50 $1,050 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
476–482 479 14 129.00–137.00 $133.55 $640 —
519 unweaned 519 7 129.00 $129.00 $670 —
559 559 6 125.00 $125.00 $699 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
541 541 12 131.00 $131.00 $709 —
1099 1099 7 129.50 $129.50 $1,423 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
374 374 5 152.50 $152.50 $570 —
475 475 6 125.00 $125.00 $594 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
393 unweaned 393 2 212.50 $212.50 $835 -0.50
410–446 unweaned 432 9 192.50–208.00 $194.13 $839 —
462 unweaned 462 9 185.00 $185.00 $855 —
585 unweaned 585 2 156.00 $156.00 $913 +20.50
986 986 22 135.00 $135.00 $1,331 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
666 666 24 133.00 $133.00 $886 —
718 718 6 123.00 $123.00 $883 —
761 761 10 131.00 $131.00 $997 —
916 916 4 100.00 $100.00 $916 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
548 548 12 133.00 $133.00 $729 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1096 1096 4 122.00 $122.00 $1,337 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
339 unweaned 339 4 180.00 $180.00 $610 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1015–1200 1123 85-90% 5 34.00–35.00 $34.36 $386 -13.53
1133 1133 85-90% 14 34.00 $34.00 $385 -13.89
865–1235 1190 85-90% 22 52.50–55.00 $53.17 $633 —
1035–1341 1204 85-90% 27 38.00–50.00 $42.36 $510 —
1155–1340 1217 85-90% 16 45.50–50.50 $47.35 $576 +10.48
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1275–1635 1404 80-85% 13 53.00–61.50 $56.23 $789 +16.99
1365–1540 1425 80-85% 3 63.00–66.00 $64.86 $924 +25.62
1435–1450 1440 80-85% 3 53.00–54.00 $53.34 $768 +14.10
1450 1450 80-85% 1 52.50 $52.50 $761 —
1310–1491 1461 80-85% 6 42.00–49.00 $46.11 $674 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1590–1675 1625 75-80% 3 65.00–67.50 $65.82 $1,070 +14.82
1650 1650 75-80% 2 63.00 $63.00 $1,040 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1423 1423 8 80.00 $80.00 $1,138 —
1705–1755 1722 3 82.00 $82.00 $1,412 +11.35
1665–1865 1727 6 80.50–87.00 $82.75 $1,429 +12.10
1500–1965 1734 12 62.00–77.00 $71.43 $1,239 +0.78
1835 1835 1 90.50 $90.50 $1,661 +14.50

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
832–935 911 (<2 yrs)Open 20 85.00–99.00 $93.77 $854
810–1180 1023 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 38 51.00–80.00 $62.22 $637
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
985–1080 1026 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 5 44.50–61.00 $47.77 $490

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
975 thin fleshed 975 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 3 775.00 $775.00
1188 1188 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 4 1,085.00 $1,085.00

↑ Back to top

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.