Cattle Market Pulse

Billings Livestock Commission Cattle Auction Market Report

Billings, Montana · USDA-reported Auction Livestock

Sale of Thursday, November 3, 2022

3,728 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 heifers $193.76/cwt -1.87 vs last sale · ≈ $916/hd at 473 lb · 252 head
light 6-weight M&L 1 steers $194.99/cwt +2.84 vs last sale · ≈ $1,215/hd at 623 lb · 219 head
light 5-weight M&L 1 steers $205.21/cwt -10.36 vs last sale · ≈ $1,079/hd at 526 lb · 195 head

Receipts

HeadThis saleLast saleLast year
Total receipts 3,728 3,770 4,033
Feeder cattle 3,224 3,275 3,407
Slaughter cattle 244 297 374
Replacement cattle 260 198 252

Market comments — USDA reporter

Compared to last week: Yearling steers and heifer were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady undertones were noticed on steers and higher undertones were noticed on heifers on a higher quality offering. Steer calves under 600 lbs sold mostly 5.00-20.00 lower. Steer calves over 600 lbs sold unevenly steady from 7.00 lower to 8.00 higher. Heifer calves all sold steady to 10.00 lower. Demand was uneven this week. Quality was plain to average with a very limited offering of attractive cattle. Quality was much lower compared to last weeks very attractive offering. Package sizes were mostly small to medium this week. Many sets of short weaned cattle were seen this week and these offerings were met with very light demand. Most short weaned calves looked stressed or on the verge of sick. Market activity was mostly moderate this week. Weigh up cows sold on mostly light to moderate demand and offerings. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested to develop a full market trend, steady undertones were noticed. Most cows were purchased to feed for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. These cows were most thin and would normally go to slaughter. Feeding cows sold with steady undertones. Slaughter bulls were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed sold steady in a narrow comparison. The best demand continues to be for high quality rebreed type cows.

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
313–337 unweaned 327 23 260.00–302.00 $290.02 $948 -15.34
350–394 unweaned 386 27 242.50–280.00 $252.47 $975 -37.65
411–437 unweaned 421 113 233.00–271.00 $251.14 $1,057 -27.65
450–495 unweaned 473 70 207.00–240.00 $220.14 $1,041 -16.05
486 486 14 211.50 $211.50 $1,028 —
512–547 unweaned 526 195 187.00–212.00 $205.21 $1,079 -10.36
561 561 20 190.00 $190.00 $1,066 -20.00
552–595 unweaned 565 128 184.00–200.00 $194.55 $1,099 -9.81
600–642 unweaned 617 120 179.00–193.00 $187.14 $1,155 -4.74
631 fancy 631 99 204.50 $204.50 $1,290 —
655 fancy 655 44 189.50 $189.50 $1,241 —
657 657 23 176.00 $176.00 $1,156 —
660–695 unweaned 676 42 169.00–183.00 $178.46 $1,206 -5.41
712 fancy 712 3 187.00 $187.00 $1,331 —
716–745 725 18 173.00–182.50 $179.99 $1,305 +0.99
756 unweaned 756 9 172.00 $172.00 $1,300 -2.00
759 759 10 172.00 $172.00 $1,305 -8.50
838 838 24 182.75 $182.75 $1,531 —
882 882 26 178.50 $178.50 $1,574 —
887 887 17 170.00 $170.00 $1,508 —
969 969 26 162.50 $162.50 $1,575 —
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
331–335 unweaned 333 8 250.00–257.50 $253.77 $845 +0.77
413–445 unweaned 428 33 221.00–230.00 $225.85 $967 -30.60
468–497 unweaned 486 8 199.00–201.00 $199.72 $971 -9.74
526 unweaned 526 6 188.50 $188.50 $992 -10.36
555–568 unweaned 561 19 176.00–182.00 $179.02 $1,004 -4.98
615–645 unweaned 635 27 165.00–176.00 $171.74 $1,091 +0.79
701 unweaned 701 4 167.00 $167.00 $1,171 —
825 825 4 172.00 $172.00 $1,419 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
438–443 441 22 215.00–219.00 $216.81 $956 —
450 450 11 210.00 $210.00 $945 —
493 unweaned 493 18 175.00 $175.00 $863 —
595 unweaned 595 7 177.00 $177.00 $1,053 —
684 684 4 178.00 $178.00 $1,218 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
377 unweaned 377 13 221.00 $221.00 $833 —
417 unweaned 417 5 217.50 $217.50 $907 —
516 unweaned 516 8 152.50 $152.50 $787 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
640 unweaned 640 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,088 -11.00
665–678 unweaned 674 13 169.00–169.50 $169.35 $1,141 —
839 839 4 162.00 $162.00 $1,359 —

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Feeder Heifers

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
283 unweaned 283 6 245.00 $245.00 $693 —
338–346 unweaned 343 6 215.00–219.00 $216.31 $742 -8.85
350–396 unweaned 388 96 209.00–235.00 $214.60 $833 -8.31
409–443 unweaned 426 55 200.00–211.00 $205.28 $874 -10.97
434 434 4 199.00 $199.00 $864 —
454 454 4 184.50 $184.50 $838 —
450–497 unweaned 473 248 184.00–203.00 $193.91 $917 -1.72
507–544 unweaned 523 99 172.50–188.00 $179.65 $940 -9.52
563–593 unweaned 571 133 159.00–184.25 $178.18 $1,017 -0.71
623 623 9 169.00 $169.00 $1,053 —
604–637 unweaned 627 51 156.00–173.00 $169.26 $1,061 -5.00
653–698 661 18 158.00–161.00 $160.47 $1,061 —
650–675 unweaned 667 3 154.00–162.00 $156.60 $1,045 -13.40
708–725 unweaned 716 8 150.00–156.00 $154.11 $1,103 —
808 808 19 166.25 $166.25 $1,343 —
852–858 855 20 165.00–170.00 $167.74 $1,434 +8.74
861 861 37 160.25 $160.25 $1,380 +1.25
944 944 28 161.50 $161.50 $1,525 +4.27
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
317–342 unweaned 322 17 200.00–227.50 $219.71 $707 +8.88
357 357 3 202.50 $202.50 $723 —
373–393 unweaned 381 9 200.00–204.00 $202.35 $771 -5.91
423–449 unweaned 437 14 187.00–195.00 $189.54 $828 -5.16
466–489 unweaned 484 20 182.00–184.00 $182.38 $883 -0.50
517 517 29 166.00 $166.00 $858 +1.00
511–549 unweaned 525 21 165.00–175.00 $169.06 $888 -1.24
554 unweaned 554 5 151.00 $151.00 $837 -15.00
625–630 unweaned 628 6 149.00–151.00 $150.34 $944 —
715 715 2 170.00 $170.00 $1,216 —
793 793 6 144.00 $144.00 $1,142 —
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
442 unweaned 442 3 189.00 $189.00 $835 —
451 unweaned 451 6 182.00 $182.00 $821 —
511–519 unweaned 515 18 155.00–172.00 $164.38 $847 —
568–584 unweaned 583 22 159.00–160.50 $160.37 $935 -6.18
622 622 3 150.00 $150.00 $933 —
623 unweaned 623 2 155.00 $155.00 $966 —
Medium 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
451 unweaned 451 15 187.00 $187.00 $843 —
709–728 723 26 158.50–167.00 $164.76 $1,191 —
784 784 11 160.00 $160.00 $1,254 —
Medium 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
423–432 unweaned 428 6 150.00–157.50 $153.79 $658 —
452 unweaned 452 7 152.50 $152.50 $689 —
525 unweaned 525 6 145.00 $145.00 $761 —
Small 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
448 unweaned 448 6 110.00 $110.00 $493 —
Medium and Large 2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
422 unweaned 422 4 160.00 $160.00 $675 -9.00

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Feeder Bulls

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
419–428 unweaned 424 10 228.00–235.00 $232.24 $985 -18.92
460 unweaned 460 2 210.00 $210.00 $966 -12.36
501–528 unweaned 511 17 177.00–181.50 $179.48 $917 -13.02
567–596 unweaned 580 17 164.00–169.00 $166.25 $964 —
670 unweaned 670 5 165.00 $165.00 $1,106 +8.50

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Slaughter Cows

Lean ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
745–980 932 85-90% 8 50.00–52.00 $51.03 $476 —
1190 1190 85-90% 1 43.00 $43.00 $512 -15.24
1149–1270 1198 85-90% 14 61.00–63.00 $62.70 $751 +4.46
1015–1383 1219 85-90% 22 50.00–59.00 $53.38 $651 -9.12
1140–1315 1251 85-90% 22 48.00–59.00 $56.48 $707 -7.12
1225–1385 1332 85-90% 3 62.00–69.00 $64.15 $854 —
Boner ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1300–1404 1373 80-85% 22 56.00–62.00 $58.78 $807 -21.22
1340–1480 1417 80-85% 8 57.00–64.50 $60.91 $863 -14.85
1438 1438 80-85% 10 69.50 $69.50 $999 +4.88
1525 1525 80-85% 2 71.00 $71.00 $1,083 —
Breaker ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Dressing Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1503 1503 75-80% 2 84.50 $84.50 $1,270 —
1513–1660 1532 75-80% 10 73.50–76.00 $73.81 $1,131 —
1591 1591 75-80% 4 68.00 $68.00 $1,082 -4.00
1700 1700 75-80% 2 80.50 $80.50 $1,368 —

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Slaughter Bulls

YG1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hdΔ last sale
1400 1400 2 80.00 $80.00 $1,120 —
1640–2075 1829 10 74.00–87.50 $84.95 $1,554 —

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Stock Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
789–1340 946 (<2 yrs)Open 122 91.00–122.50 $114.92 $1,087
930–1490 1030 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 56 63.00–99.00 $87.00 $896
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
775–940 854 (<2 yrs)Open 5 100.00–114.00 $108.02 $922
935–1085 1010 Young (2-4 yrs)Open 4 66.00–85.00 $76.21 $770
Large 1 ($/cwt)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $ ≈ $/hd
1010 1010 (<2 yrs)Open 1 92.00 $92.00 $929

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Bred Cows

Medium and Large 1 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
151–1202 735 Young (2-4 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 10 1,225.00–1,275.00 $1,253.79
1148–1150 1148 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 7 1,225.00–1,275.00 $1,232.15
1225–1330 1267 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 5 1,025.00–1,150.00 $1,097.51
1340 1340 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 1 1,000.00 $1,000.00
1357–1400 1379 Aged (>8 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 14 1,000.00–1,010.00 $1,005.08
1435 1435 Middle Aged/Aged (>5 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 5 1,060.00 $1,060.00
Medium and Large 1-2 ($/head)
Weight (lb) Avg wt AgeStage Head Price range Avg $
1000 1000 Young (2-4 yrs)2nd Stage (4-6 mo) 4 1,150.00 $1,150.00
1191 1191 Middle Aged (5-8 yrs)1st/2nd Stage (1-6 mo) 4 950.00 $950.00

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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.