Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, September 1, 2022

1,185 head sold ·Official USDA report

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

heavy 7-weight M&L 1 heifers $173.95/cwt -3.05 vs last sale · ≈ $1,346/hd at 774 lb · 93 head
heavy 8-weight M&L 1 heifers $166.62/cwt -2.38 vs last sale · ≈ $1,470/hd at 882 lb · 26 head
light 9-weight M&L 1 heifers $162.65/cwt -11.36 vs last sale · ≈ $1,526/hd at 938 lb · 23 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 1,185 1,468 1,892
Feeder cattle 577 948 799
Slaughter cattle 465 411 896
Replacement cattle 143 109 197

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last sale(8-18-22): Feeder steers were all too lightly tested to develop any market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. The best test for for feeder heifers was 750-799 lbs which sold mostly 3.00 lower. All other weights of heifers were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed on heifers 800-999 lbs, while steady undertones were noticed on heifers under 750 lbs and over 1000 lbs. Demand today was mostly light to moderate. Quality was mixed from plain to attractive. Package sizes were small to medium today with many singles in the mix. Higher corn prices over the past two weeks put a damper on demand as buyers adjusted prices lower to reflect higher feed costs. Market activity was mostly moderate this sale. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand for moderate offerings. Western packer buyers continue to show the best demand for cows this week. Eastern packers took a step back and allowed prices to slide lower. Most cows were purchased to send to immediate harvest this sale, however a few set of cows were purchased to feed. Slaughter cows sold mostly 5.00-8.00 lower than two weeks ago. Feeding cows were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however lower undertones were noticed. Weigh up conditions were mostly below average today as temperatures warmed into the mid to upper 90s and most cows and bulls tanked up on water. Slaughter bulls sold 1.00-3.00 lower. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold on mostly moderate to good demand for light offerings. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive and overall higher than last week. Offerings were too lightly tested last sale to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to higher undertones were noticed.

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
248 unweaned 248 2 257.50 $257.50 $639 —
305–330 unweaned 318 2 232.50–255.00 $244.19 $777 —
568 unweaned 568 5 186.50 $186.50 $1,059 —
645 unweaned 645 4 200.00 $200.00 $1,290 —
650 unweaned 650 2 179.00 $179.00 $1,164 —
905–908 907 6 168.00–169.50 $168.75 $1,531 -16.40
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
449 unweaned 449 4 195.00 $195.00 $876 —
475–483 unweaned 480 5 181.00–188.00 $185.23 $889 —
899 899 6 167.00 $167.00 $1,501 —
930 930 3 165.00 $165.00 $1,534 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
808 808 7 140.00 $140.00 $1,131 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
385 unweaned 385 2 165.00 $165.00 $635 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
658 658 17 177.00 $177.00 $1,165 —
702–733 718 12 177.50–178.50 $178.01 $1,278 -0.49
750–790 774 93 168.50–177.00 $173.95 $1,346 -3.05
830 830 22 170.00 $170.00 $1,411 -8.50
853–892 882 26 166.00–168.50 $166.62 $1,470 -2.38
905–948 938 23 159.50–165.00 $162.65 $1,526 -11.36
960–990 975 6 152.00–162.50 $157.17 $1,532 -6.43
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
999 999 12 147.00 $147.00 $1,469 —
1001–1048 1040 35 148.00–159.50 $150.01 $1,560 +0.51
1055 1055 7 153.00 $153.00 $1,614 +0.30
1133 1133 6 142.00 $142.00 $1,609 -4.50
1156 1156 4 145.50 $145.50 $1,682 +11.50
1183 1183 11 140.50 $140.50 $1,662 +6.50
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
435 unweaned 435 3 167.50 $167.50 $729 —
476 unweaned 476 7 166.00 $166.00 $790 —
588 unweaned 588 3 157.50 $157.50 $926 —
680 680 9 168.50 $168.50 $1,146 —
763 763 7 160.00 $160.00 $1,221 -3.24
816–818 817 7 148.50–163.00 $156.78 $1,281 —
872 872 8 157.00 $157.00 $1,369 -4.00
955 955 3 156.00 $156.00 $1,490 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
782 782 5 139.00 $139.00 $1,087 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1227 1227 3 130.50 $130.50 $1,601 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
715 715 2 145.00 $145.00 $1,037 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
675 675 1 175.00 $175.00 $1,181 —

↑ Back to top

Feeder Bulls

Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1001–1005 1002 5 135.00–160.00 $140.02 $1,403 —
1055–1080 1061 5 126.00–135.00 $128.09 $1,359 —
1130 1130 1 126.00 $126.00 $1,424 —
1155–1185 1170 4 123.00–129.00 $125.96 $1,474 -5.04
1209–1233 1215 14 116.00–119.00 $118.42 $1,439 -2.58
1280 1280 1 111.00 $111.00 $1,421 —
Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
840 840 1 150.00 $150.00 $1,260 —
858 858 3 158.00 $158.00 $1,356 —
Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1115–1145 1130 2 116.00–123.00 $119.55 $1,351 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1130 1130 2 120.00 $120.00 $1,356 —

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Cows

Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1293–1535 1365 80-85% 15 89.50–96.00 $93.68 $1,279 -2.07
1230–1560 1415 80-85% 30 67.00–78.50 $74.54 $1,055 —
1305–1487 1431 80-85% 11 75.00–78.00 $77.32 $1,106 —
1299–1610 1477 80-85% 71 79.00–87.50 $84.50 $1,248 -6.93
1273–1715 1486 80-85% 29 78.50–86.00 $82.25 $1,222 -9.18
1655–1660 1658 80-85% 2 87.00–88.00 $87.50 $1,451 —
Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
830 830 85-90% 1 59.00 $59.00 $490 -14.17
1040–1125 1088 85-90% 4 61.00–65.00 $63.23 $688 —
1035–1293 1204 85-90% 27 72.00–77.00 $75.24 $906 —
1060–1288 1216 85-90% 18 78.00–82.00 $79.30 $964 -8.43
1195–1242 1236 85-90% 8 81.00–84.00 $81.36 $1,006 -6.37
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1443–1825 1600 75-80% 23 81.00–86.00 $82.10 $1,314 -7.50
1550–1760 1604 75-80% 7 87.00–91.00 $88.07 $1,413 -1.53

↑ Back to top

Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1250 1250 2 83.00 $83.00 $1,038 -14.00
1270–1683 1522 15 88.00–95.00 $92.91 $1,414 —
1290–1898 1531 37 97.00–106.00 $101.61 $1,556 —
1355–1848 1604 17 81.00–93.00 $88.73 $1,423 —
1610 1610 1 109.00 $109.00 $1,755 —
1420–2295 1865 41 96.00–108.00 $103.42 $1,929 —
1850–2245 2024 10 108.00–114.00 $110.34 $2,233 —
YG2-3 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
2420 2420 1 96.00 $96.00 $2,323 —

↑ Back to top

Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
985 thin fleshed 985 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 1 82.00 $82.00 $808
1032 1032 Young/Middle Aged (2-8 yrs)Open 5 76.00 $76.00 $784
929–1410 1095 (<2 yrs)Open 65 89.00–114.50 $109.64 $1,201
900–1600 1127 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 29 78.00–104.00 $91.03 $1,026
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
820–1160 1028 (<2 yrs)Open 5 80.00–113.00 $88.17 $906

↑ Back to top

Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1059–1315 1165 Young (2-4 yrs)1st Stage (1-3 mo) 10 1,200.00–1,300.00 $1,261.46

↑ Back to top

Dairy Steers

Large 3-4 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
363 363 6 67.50 $67.50 $245 —
459 459 9 65.00 $65.00 $298 —

↑ 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.