Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, March 31, 2022

6,172 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $195.90/cwt +16.47 vs last sale · ≈ $1,232/hd at 629 lb · 410 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 heifers $168.72/cwt +7.16 vs last sale · ≈ $1,041/hd at 617 lb · 320 head
light 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $162.56/cwt +8.06 vs last sale · ≈ $1,163/hd at 716 lb · 255 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 6,172 1,314 7,483
Feeder cattle 5,203 1,005 7,340
Slaughter cattle 244 141 78
Replacement cattle 725 168 65

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last reported sale(3/10/22): Feeder steers under 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher, 550-799 lbs steers sold 5.00-10.00 higher, steers over 800 lbs were not well compared, higher undertones were noticed. Feeder heifers under 550 lbs sold steady to 5.00 higher, heifers over 550 lbs sold mostly 8.00-10.00 higher. Demand was mostly good to very good with the best demand seen for cattle suitable to run on grass and for high quality replacement heifers. Quality this sale was good to very good, with many long strings of high quality one iron home-raised cattle on offer. Many load lots of cattle were seen today as offerings were heavy. Cattle suitable to run on grass were in mostly light flesh, while heavier weight backgrounded cattle were in moderate to fleshy condition. Heifer demand was very good today and many high quality heifers which were slated to be kept as replacements sold to grass cattle buyers this sale. A select portion of the heifer offering was purchased to keep as replacements. Quality and demand for these offerings was very good as a portion of these offerings were sired by prominent AI bulls. A large crowd was on hand today with both order-buyers as well as ranchers actively bidding on offerings.. Market activity was active and bidders were active market participants throughout the sale which stretched late into the evening. Weigh up cows sold on moderate demand and offerings. Comparisons are to three weeks ago as this was the last test of the market. Slaughter cows sold generally steady in a narrow comparison on boning and breaking cows, lean cows sold mostly steady to 1.00 higher. Feeding cows saw the greatest advancement as they sold mostly 2.00-3.00 higher. All cows were very full this sale and offered buyers below average weigh up conditions. Slaughter bulls sold steady to 3.00 higher in a narrow comparison. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady to 5.00 lower. These offerings were of average to attractive quality this week. A portion of the cow offering this week was comprised of bred cows. These cows were of average to attractive quality and sold on mostly moderate demand.

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
303 unweaned 303 6 226.50 $226.50 $686 —
369–382 unweaned 379 20 210.00–224.00 $212.72 $806 —
402 unweaned 402 10 208.50 $208.50 $838 —
408–441 434 30 224.00–226.00 $225.34 $978 +7.84
472–490 486 140 214.00–218.50 $217.31 $1,056 +4.84
470–499 unweaned 489 56 203.50–206.50 $205.35 $1,004 —
510–534 519 130 209.00–219.00 $214.34 $1,112 +7.60
558 thin fleshed 558 4 216.00 $216.00 $1,205 —
572–592 575 80 197.00–210.00 $198.88 $1,144 +6.31
588 unweaned 588 18 185.00 $185.00 $1,088 —
606–647 628 386 184.00–197.00 $195.68 $1,229 +16.25
640 640 24 199.50 $199.50 $1,277 +20.07
656–681 665 64 189.00–193.50 $191.62 $1,274 +25.02
694 694 54 190.00 $190.00 $1,319 +23.40
704–712 709 81 170.00–180.00 $177.86 $1,261 +18.13
762–773 769 51 158.00–164.50 $161.06 $1,239 +11.69
811–839 824 43 145.00–148.00 $147.38 $1,214 —
803–840 829 96 150.00–157.00 $151.14 $1,253 —
864–870 869 37 151.50–152.50 $151.74 $1,319 —
905–906 905 178 146.50–149.00 $146.60 $1,327 —
905–915 912 59 133.00–140.00 $138.69 $1,265 —
956–959 958 33 131.50–139.00 $133.77 $1,282 —
967–988 979 69 141.00–147.50 $142.51 $1,395 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
364 unweaned 364 6 205.00 $205.00 $746 —
376 376 14 216.00 $216.00 $812 +8.07
412–442 436 65 205.00–216.00 $213.78 $932 —
448 unweaned 448 9 192.00 $192.00 $860 —
457–483 473 33 210.50–211.00 $210.69 $997 —
506–538 520 18 186.00–198.00 $191.52 $996 +4.84
572–596 587 135 178.00–193.50 $187.62 $1,101 —
639 639 13 177.00–187.00 $181.62 $1,161 —
660–696 681 87 171.00–178.50 $174.05 $1,185 +14.05
706–738 718 35 154.00–166.00 $158.14 $1,135 —
817 817 16 139.50 $139.50 $1,140 —
869 869 6 143.00 $143.00 $1,243 —
878 878 7 137.00 $137.00 $1,203 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
566 566 7 189.00 $189.00 $1,070 —
949 949 8 135.00 $135.00 $1,281 —
1028 1028 31 134.25 $134.25 $1,380 —
1058–1061 1060 15 131.00–133.50 $132.83 $1,408 —
1227 1227 12 123.00 $123.00 $1,509 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
835 835 24 138.00 $138.00 $1,152 —
1042 1042 3 109.00 $109.00 $1,136 —
1099 1099 4 129.00 $129.00 $1,418 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
518 518 5 176.00 $176.00 $912 —
889 889 15 136.00 $136.00 $1,209 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
344 unweaned 344 6 191.00 $191.00 $657 —
397 397 9 193.00 $193.00 $766 —
416–439 433 29 190.00–191.00 $190.73 $826 +3.73
439 unweaned 439 31 176.50 $176.50 $775 —
472–496 486 172 180.00–194.00 $189.24 $920 -5.73
491 unweaned 491 21 175.50 $175.50 $862 —
517 fancy 517 7 197.00 $197.00 $1,018 —
500–548 527 166 182.50–193.00 $185.40 $977 +1.34
554–585 571 122 171.50–186.00 $180.66 $1,032 +10.03
603–645 617 320 166.50–172.50 $168.72 $1,041 +7.16
654–665 661 138 170.00–175.00 $173.76 $1,149 +14.67
660–685 679 68 165.00–169.00 $166.66 $1,132 +7.57
711 711 55 174.00 $174.00 $1,237 +19.50
700–746 717 200 154.00–163.00 $159.42 $1,143 +4.92
757 757 74 167.50 $167.50 $1,268 —
754–792 779 114 149.00–158.00 $151.82 $1,183 —
778–783 781 22 140.00–145.00 $142.74 $1,115 —
818 818 17 157.00 $157.00 $1,284 +12.00
800–838 827 94 144.50–148.50 $145.95 $1,207 +0.95
865 865 10 145.00 $145.00 $1,254 —
885–898 890 32 134.00–140.50 $138.26 $1,231 —
910 910 9 137.00 $137.00 $1,247 +2.00
923 923 27 131.00 $131.00 $1,209 -4.00
959–994 977 16 130.50–134.00 $132.22 $1,292 —
971–983 979 19 135.00–136.00 $135.69 $1,328 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
361–376 366 11 180.00–191.00 $186.90 $684 +4.90
394 unweaned 394 19 176.50 $176.50 $695 —
410–449 422 13 184.00–190.00 $185.96 $785 +7.84
455 unweaned 455 2 170.00 $170.00 $774 —
470–493 477 27 175.00–180.00 $177.97 $849 +5.20
503–519 516 15 172.50–181.00 $175.62 $906 —
560–592 590 31 165.00–167.00 $166.88 $985 +5.88
631–637 632 16 157.00–164.00 $162.68 $1,028 +8.68
665 665 5 154.00 $154.00 $1,024 +12.00
700–710 705 12 147.00–149.00 $148.01 $1,043 +5.51
745 745 11 137.00 $137.00 $1,021 -5.50
762–779 773 14 140.50–143.50 $141.56 $1,094 -0.44
846 846 39 132.00 $132.00 $1,117 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ Δ last sale
745 745 35 1,175.00 $1,175.00 —
759–773 760 47 1,235.00–1,250.00 $1,235.65 —
893 893 45 1,400.00 $1,400.00 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
399 399 5 180.00 $180.00 $718 —

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
383 383 5 215.00 $215.00 $823 —
458–467 461 9 202.50–210.00 $207.47 $956 —
663 663 4 152.50 $152.50 $1,011 —
944 944 7 125.00 $125.00 $1,180 -8.50
1068 1068 6 111.00 $111.00 $1,185 —

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
960 960 85-90% 2 69.00 $69.00 $662 -3.00
1033–1047 1038 85-90% 9 62.00–64.00 $62.67 $651 —
1080–1124 1119 85-90% 17 67.50–75.00 $68.35 $765 —
1055–1355 1218 85-90% 60 68.00–77.50 $71.12 $866 -8.92
1218–1296 1259 85-90% 14 76.50–81.00 $78.56 $989 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1340–1395 1351 80-85% 5 77.00 $77.00 $1,040 —
1370–1390 1380 80-85% 2 77.00–81.50 $79.23 $1,093 —
1311–1618 1407 80-85% 12 79.50–86.00 $82.98 $1,168 -2.25
1360–1492 1458 80-85% 17 70.00–76.50 $73.32 $1,069 +2.32
1555–1585 1580 80-85% 6 87.00–89.00 $88.67 $1,401 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1498 1498 75-80% 6 82.00 $82.00 $1,228 —
1629 1629 75-80% 7 78.00 $78.00 $1,271 —
1698–1810 1728 75-80% 5 74.00–79.00 $77.36 $1,337 -5.64
1875 1875 75-80% 1 86.00 $86.00 $1,612 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1215 1215 1 93.00 $93.00 $1,130 +13.00
1310–1905 1549 9 90.00–95.00 $91.36 $1,415 —
1530–2138 1869 17 99.00–109.25 $103.58 $1,936 —
2155 2155 1 112.00 $112.00 $2,414 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
809–1170 1006 (<2 yrs)Open 93 98.00–127.00 $117.82 $1,185
930–1193 1049 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 19 80.00–121.50 $94.85 $995
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1117 1117 (<2 yrs)Open 6 100.00 $100.00 $1,117
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
813 813 (<2 yrs)Open 2 87.00 $87.00 $707
1023 1023 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 2 68.50 $68.50 $701

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1029 1029 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 13 1,175.00 $1,175.00
1033–1053 1043 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 25 1,150.00–1,250.00 $1,197.52
1006–1157 1119 Young (2-4 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 70 1,400.00–1,550.00 $1,505.42
1240 thin fleshed 1240 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 25 960.00 $960.00
1155–1510 1290 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 120 1,200.00–1,525.00 $1,444.02
1332 1332 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,350.00 $1,350.00
1281–1712 1407 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 88 1,175.00–1,400.00 $1,265.95
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1193 1193 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 6 1,025.00 $1,025.00
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1496 1496 Aged (>8 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 4 79.50 $79.50 $1,189

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Bred Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1007–1141 1027 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 155 1,375.00–1,460.00 $1,400.91
Medium 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
913–938 922 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 53 1,210.00–1,335.00 $1,257.97
943 943 (<2 yrs)3rd Stage (7-9 mo) 7 1,275.00 $1,275.00

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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.